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It’s All About Escalation (And What Can Go Wrong)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • It’s All About Escalation (And What Can Go Wrong)
  • ISM Manufacturing Report Takeaways

Stock futures recovered from overnight losses as investors digest President Biden’s State of the Union speech, and a slight de-escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Geopolitically, President Biden announced that the U.S. would close its airspace to Russian planes during the open of his State of the Union address, however overnight, Russia expressed willingness to resume talks with Ukrainian leadership today and that is raising hopes for a ceasefire deal, fueling moderate risk-on money flows.

Economically, the Eurozone HICP Flash was hot with the headline jumping to 5.8% vs. (E) 5.3% which is adding to angst about stagflation.

Today, there are a few data points to watch including: Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 14.6M) and the first look at official February jobs data in the form of the ADP Employment Report (E: 320K).

Additionally, there are two Fed speakers around the time of the open: Evans (9:00 a.m. ET) and Bullard (9:30 a.m. ET) before Fed Chair Powell will begin his semi-annual Congressional testimony at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Bottom line, the Russia-Ukraine conflict will continue to dominate the headlines and markets today, and any de-escalation could trigger a further relief rally. However, investors will be watching Powell closely for any signs of a change in policy which could also impact markets.

FOMC Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • ISM Manufacturing Index – Takeaways

U.S. futures are trading slightly lower along with most overseas markets following mostly inline economic data and a less-hawkish-than-feared RBA meeting outcome.

The RBA struck a slightly dovish tone in their latest meeting announcement, especially with regard to inflation, which is pressuring bond yields this morning.

Today is lining up to be a fairly slow day with just one economic data point due out: Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 12.4M) while the focus will begin to shift to the November FOMC meeting which begins this morning.

There is a 52-Week Treasury Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and while it is not typically a widely followed auction, the results could shed new light on investor expectations for rate hikes next year, and therefore could impact markets ahead of tomorrow’s Fed announcement.

Lastly, earnings season remains in full swing with several notable results due out today from: PFE ($1.08), UAA ($0.15), COP ($1.53), ZG ($0.16), TMUS ($0.54), LYFT (-$-0.04), PGR ( $1.09).

Market Multiple Table: October Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table: October Update
  • ISM Services Index – Takeaways

Stock futures are down more than 1% and bond yields continue to climb higher amid renewed stagflation fears while traders look ahead to this week’s U.S. jobs data.

Economically, data was disappointing overnight as German Manufacturers Orders fell by -7.7% vs. (E) -2.1% in August and EU Retail Sales for the same month rose just 0.3% vs. (E) 0.8%.

Meanwhile, U.K. 10-year Gilt breakevens jumped 10 basis points to the highest since 2008 (above 4%) as surging energy costs add to inflation concerns.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on the September ADP Employment Report (E: 428K) ahead of the bell while there is one Fed official speaking this morning: Bostic (9:00 & 11:30 a.m. ET). The bond market is continuing to have a significant impact on stocks right now so if there is a spike higher in yields in the wake of the private payrolls print, expect stocks to remain under pressure today.

Market Multiple Table (Deterioration from May)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • June Market Multiple Table (Deterioration from May)
  • ISM Manufacturing PMI: Why It Wasn’t As Good As It Seemed

Futures are little changed following a generally quiet night of news as markets await the first employment report of the week.

Economic data was sparse but disappointing, as German Retail Sales fell –5.5% vs. (E) -2.6% while Euro Zone PPI rose 7.6% yoy vs. (E) 7.3% and those disappointing numbers are weighing slightly on European indices.

Today’s focus will be on the ADP Employment Report (E: 627k) and if it’s much weaker than expected, or there’s some specific mention about labor shortage issues, expect that to be a headwind on stocks.  There are also three Fed speakers today, Evans (12:00 p.m. ET), Harker (12:00 p.m. ET), and Kaplan (6:05 p.m. ET) but we don’t expect them to move markets.

What Can Go Right and What Can Go Wrong?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Can Go Right and What Can Go Wrong?
  • Weekly Economic Preview:  More Tapering Talk?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  All About Friday’s Jobs Report.

Futures are modestly higher thanks to more solid economic data combined with generally in-line inflation metrics.

The Chinese, EU, and UK final May manufacturing PMIs all largely met expectations and confirmed the global economic recovery is continuing (and importantly not deteriorating).

EU HICP (their CPI) rose 2.0% vs. (E) 1.9%, but the core reading was in line with expectations at 0.9% and as such not spiking inflation fears.

Focus today will be on the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 60.9) and the market will want to see a “Goldilocks” number that shows the economic rebound is continuing, but that activity isn’t so hot that it increases inflation fears.  If we get that “Goldilocks” number stocks can extend the early rally.

Is a Bad ISM PMI Really Worth a 3% Pullback?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview
  • Is A Bad ISM Really Worth a 3% Pullback?

Futures are enjoying a modest oversold bounce despite more trade noise and disappointing economic data.

On trade, the U.S. imposed $ 7.5 billion worth of tariffs on the EU following a WTO ruling.  But, while the headline is scary, this was widely expected and not a new negative.

Economic data was soft again as Japanese and EU composite PMIs and the UK services PMI all missed estimates.

Today the focus will be on economic data and the key report is the ISM Non-Manufacturing Index (55.4).  If it badly misses expectations, concerns about a broader economic slowdown will grow further, and that will weigh on stocks again.  We’ll also be watching Jobless Claims (E: 215K) for any signs of slowing in the labor market.

There are also several Fed speakers today, but with rate cuts expected, I doubt they will say anything too material.  Speakers today include:  Quarles (8:30 a.m. ET), Mester (12:10 p.m. ET), Clarida (6:35 p.m. ET).

Why Are Stocks Falling? Blame Auto Sales (seriously). April 4, 2017

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Below is an excerpt from today’s Sevens Report. Cut through the noise and understand what’s truly driving markets, as this new political and economic reality evolves—start your free two-week trial today. 

Economic data was the major influence on markets yesterday, and while most of the focus was on the ISM Manufacturing PMI and the Markit manufacturing PMI, (both of which were in line with expectations), the real market mover was the disappointing auto sales report.

Auto Sales Responsible Auto sales fell to 17.0M saar vs. (E) 17.2M saar, and that number joins a growing chorus of caution signs on the auto industry, including fears about used car pricing and used car debt.

Bottom line, auto sales aren’t as popular as the ISM Manufacturing PMI, but the auto industry in the US is massive and very cyclical, and if we are starting to see the beginnings of a pullback in the auto industry that’s not a good sign for the broader economy. That’s why the disappointing auto sales number hit stocks so hard yesterday, even in the face of in-line manufacturing PMIs.

Bigger picture, the “gap” between soft and hard economic data continued to widen yesterday, as the soft PMI survey data was strong while the hard March auto sales data was disappointing. That gap between sentiment/survey data and actual hard economic numbers must be closed sooner rather than later, and it’s a growing risk to stocks.

ISM Manufacturing Index

• The Index fell to 57.2 vs. (E) 57.1

Takeaway

The trend in the manufacturing sector of the economy remains healthy according to the latest release from the ISM. The March ISM Manufacturing Index did edge back for the first time since August, slipping from 57.7 to 57.2 month over month, but the headline was still narrowly ahead of estimates (57.1).

The details of the report were solid as New Orders remained notably strong at 64.5. That was a slight pullback from February’s reading of 65.1; however, it was the second-largest reading in more than three years (after February). New export orders also were at a three-year-plus high of 59.0 while Employment jumped 4.7 points to 58.0, the highest level in almost six years. Rounding out the report’s internals, Prices Paid rose to 70.5, the highest reading since May 2011, underscoring a potential uptick in inflation in the US.

Bottom line, the ISM release showed some slight moderation month over month, but the general trend remains strong which is a positive (although again, this surging survey data needs to start being confirmed by hard economic numbers).

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