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Technical Update: Potential Bottom Forming?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Technical Update: Still Trending Lower But Potential Prospects of a Bottom Forming
  • Charts: S&P 500 Downside Target Reached, VIX in Compressing Range

Stock futures are modestly higher with global shares amid positive news out of China regarding covid policies.

China announced shortened quarantine times for incoming visitors in the latest move to ease covid-restrictions and potentially move away from their zero-Covid policy stance.

Economically, the German GfK Consumer Climate Index for July was no worse than feared at -27.4 vs. (E) -27.9 which is easing concerns about a swift drop-off in global economic growth.

Today, there are several economic reports to watch for: International Trade in Goods (E: -$102.0B), Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 1.8%), and most importantly Consumer Confidence (E: 101.0). Investors will want to see a continued slowdown in the data, but not to the degree that would raise concerns about a “hard landing.”

Two Fed officials are also scheduled to speak today: Barkin (8:00 a.m. ET) and Daly (12:30 p.m. ET) and there is a 7-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move yields and influence stock trading.

 

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Tom Essaye Quoted in Market Watch on June 23rd 2022

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Don’t trust the stock-market bounce until S&P 500 is back above 3,800: analysts

Since the beginning of last week, 3,800 has become a new ceiling for the S&P 500 as sellers have repeatedly stepped in and overwhelmed the tentative, weakhanded bids…said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a Thursday note. Click here to read the full article.

Why Stocks Rallied Last Week

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Rallied Last Week
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can the Rally Continue?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  More Important Growth Data This Week

Futures are slightly higher mostly on momentum from last week’s rally and following a quiet weekend of news.

In China, the economic reopening continued as Shanghai reported no new COVID cases for the first time in two months while Beijing allowed most schools to reopen on Monday.

Geo-politically, Russia defaulted on a debt payment, but this was widely expected so it’s not impacting markets.

Today focus will be on economic data via Durable Goods (E: 0.5%) and Pending Home Sales (E: -2.5%) and markets will want to see continued moderation in the data (so a slowing of activity, but not a steep drop that might imply a “hard” economic landing).

What Would A Recession Mean for Markets?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Would A Recession Mean for Markets?

Futures are moderately higher thanks mostly to momentum from Thursday’s close and despite more underwhelming economic data.

Economically, UK Retail Sales met expectations but fell sharply (–4.7% yoy) while the German Ifo Business Expectations Index missed estimates (85.8 vs. (E) 87.3).

Geo-politically, Russia continues to advance in the Donbas as Ukraine has withdrawn from the city of Severodonetsk.

Today focus will be on the inflation expectations in the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, and if we see a decline below 3.3% that could further the idea that inflation is peaking (and extend the rally in stocks).  Other data today includes New Home Sales (E: 587K) and one Fed speaker, Daly at 4:00 p.m. ET, but they shouldn’t move markets.

When Could the Selling Stop?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • When Could the Selling Stop?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet

Stock futures are solidly higher this morning, rebounding from last week’s more than 5% selloff while global markets stabilized following a mostly quiet weekend.

President Biden and St. Louis Fed President, Jim Bullard, both downplayed the threat of a severe recession on Monday which is helping drive risk-on money flows this morning while there were no market-moving economic reports overnight.

From a catalyst standpoint, there is just one economic report today: Existing Home Sales (E: 5.40M) and two Fed officials are scheduled to speak: Mester (12:00 p.m. ET) and Barkin (3:30 p.m. ET).

Bottom line, for this morning’s relief rally to continue today the market will need to see stable price action in bond markets, economic data meet or beat expectations and Fed officials to maintain an optimistic tone as that could see the S&P 500 test near term resistance between 3,780 and 3,840.

Economic Breaker Panel: June Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Economic Breaker Panel – June Update
  • Economic Data Takeaways – Further Signs of Slowing Growth

Stock futures are bouncing modestly with European shares and bond markets are stable this morning as inflation data met expectations in the Eurozone and the BOJ decision was viewed as dovish versus expectations.

The BOJ maintained a very easy monetary policy, sending the yen back towards recent lows while Eurozone HICP (their CPI equivalent) came in at 8.1% vs. (E) 8.1% y/y which is helping markets stabilize this morning.

Looking into today’s session, there is one economic report to watch: Industrial Production (E: 0.4%) and the market will be looking for a strong print to ease concerns surrounding this week’s soft survey-based factory data and bolster the outlook for economic growth in the face of an aggressive Fed.

Fed Chair Powell is also set to deliver a speech at 8:45 a.m. ET and any comments on the economy or future policy plans could move markets today.

Finally, today is quadruple witching options expiration so expect very heavy volumes and the potential for momentum to build in either direction as derivatives traders square their books into the end of the quarter. In the S&P 500 3,650, 3700, and 3750 will all be key levels to watch into the afternoon today.

What the Fed Decision Means for Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Decision Means for Markets: Not as Hawkish as Feared (But That’s Not as Positive as It Used to Be)
  • FOMC Decision Takeaways
  • Retail Sales and Empire State Manufacturing Index Takeaways – A Further Loss of Momentum

Stock futures are down more than 2% this morning, tracking global shares lower as investors digest the latest central bank decisions, a rebound in rates and recession fears.

The Swiss National Bank surprised markets with a 50 bp hike overnight which is compounding fears about aggressive central bank policy in the face of slowing growth ahead of this morning’s BOE announcement.

Today, focus will be on the Bank of England announcement early and if we see another hawkish decision, stocks could extend this morning’s decline on a combination of rising rate fears and growing concerns about future economic growth.

From there, focus will turn to economic data in the U.S. with Jobless Claims (E: 220K), Housing Starts and Permits (E: 1.695M), and the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (E: 5.5) all due to be released this morning. With the Fed set on tackling inflation in the months ahead, the market will want to see strong data to show the economy can weather sharply tightening financial conditions.

Then in the late morning, the Treasury will hold an auction for 4-Week and 8-Week Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET. Bottom line, if we see rates rise materially today, especially on the shorter end of the yield curve, then stocks are likely to extend this morning’s declines on aggressive policy concerns.

Updated Fed Preview (75 bp Hike Today)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Updated FOMC Preview – The Fed Will Hike 75 bp Today (And That May Not Be Bad for Markets)
  • A Look at the TIPS Market Reveals Increased Confidence in the Fed

Futures are modestly higher as bond yields and the dollar pulls back ahead of the Fed and an emergency ECB meeting that will address fragmentation and the bank’s bond-buying programs sparking risk-on money flows this morning.

Economically, Chinese Fixed Asset Investment, Industrial Output, and Retail Sales were all better than feared overnight which is easing concerns about the health of global growth trends.

Looking into today’s session, there is a slew of economic data due out in the U.S. including: Retail Sales (E: 0.1%), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: 5.5), Import & Export Prices (E: 1.2%, 1.3%), and the Housing Market Index (68). At this point, the Fed is expected to hike aggressively in the months ahead to tame inflation regardless of the state of economic growth, so the stronger the data, the better for risk assets.

After the flurry of data in the morning, the market focus will shift to the Fed with the FOMC Announcement at 2:00 p.m. ET and the Fed Chair Press Conference 2:30 p.m. ET. As discussed in more detail in today’s report, a 75 basis point hike may not cause further losses in equities as long as investors gain confidence in the Fed’s ability to get inflation under control. That will be the key to how stocks and other markets react to today’s decision.

FOMC Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Meeting Preview
  • The S&P 500 Approaches Downside Target: Chart

Stock futures are modestly higher this morning as yesterday’s sharp declines are digested while bond yields pulled back from multi-year highs as focus remains on the Fed.

The 10s-2s spread inverted again overnight after GS and JPM changed their forecasts to reflect a 75 bp hike tomorrow which is in line with rate market expectations. This dynamic is a sharp change in expectations from just the end of last week and largely the reason for the carnage in equities yesterday.

Economic data was slightly better than feared overnight between the German ZEW Survey and the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, but good data is being seen as hawkish in this aggressive policy environment.

Looking into today’s session, we will get another read on U.S. inflation via the PPI report (E: 0.8% m/m, 11.0% y/y) but the release is not likely to materially shift policy expectations at this point with the June FOMC Meeting getting underway this morning.

Bottom line, the latest declines in stocks have been due to a rapid repricing of Fed rate hike expectations, from 50 basis points as recently as last week to 75 basis points as of yesterday and whether stocks can stabilize here will likely depend on how the bond market (namely Fed Funds futures) trade today and through the conclusion of the Fed meeting tomorrow. New highs in yields and another yield curve inversion will weigh on stocks while stabilization in rates could lead to some degree of a relief rally.

Three Keys to a Bottom Updated (Not Good)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Three Keys to a Bottom Updated (Not Good)
  • Weekly Market Preview: All About the Fed
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Survey Data in Focus

Global stocks are trading sharply lower and bond yields rose to new multi-year highs overnight amid fears that the Fed is getting more aggressive into an economic slowdown.

In the wake of Friday’s hot CPI report, rate markets are now pricing in a 75 basis point hike by the Fed in the next three months which saw the 10s-2s spread invert overnight underscoring renewed and growing recession worries.

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports, and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak.

There are two Treasury Bill auctions at 11:30 a.m. ET (3-Month Bills and 6-Month Bills). And while they are typically lesser followed, the results could shed light on market expectations of Fed policy in the coming months and if we see rates continue to surge higher, especially those with shorter duration, then concerns about a more aggressive stance by the Fed will likely keep pressure on risk assets today.