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Jobs Report Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview
  • May JOLTS Takeaways

Futures are modestly lower to start Q3 as traders await key economic data and commentary from Fed Chair Warsh.

Economically, the EU Manufacturing PMI dipped to 51.4 but slightly topped estimates of 51.3 while Eurozone HICP (CPI equivalent) favorably fell to 2.4% vs. (E) 2.6% y/y.

Today, there are multiple important economic reports to watch as the third quarter begins, including the ADP Employment Report (E: 117K), Jobless Claims (E: 220K), ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 53.9), and Construction Spending (E: 0.2%).

Additionally, Fed Chair Warsh will speak alongside a panel of global central banking peers beginning just ahead of the bell (9:00 a.m. ET) before the Treasury will hold a 4-Month T-Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Finally, there are a few noteworthy earnings releases to watch today including GIS ($0.82), FDS ($4.44), and MSM ($1.27).

Markets will be looking for more Goldilocks economic data (particularly stable but not “too hot” labor market numbers), a less hawkish tone from Warsh, and more strong quarterly corporate results in order for the Q2 market rally to persist into Q3.

 

Understanding Where Earnings and Revenue Growth Is Coming From

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Understanding Where Earnings and Revenue Growth Is Coming From
  • Visual – Money Is Moving From the Hyperscalers
  • JOLTS Data Takeaways

Futures are mildly lower as geopolitical tensions flared in the Middle East overnight with the U.S. and Iran launching a fresh wave of military strikes against one another which sent crude oil prices and global bond yields higher.

Economically, China’s May Service PMI was solid (54.4 vs. E: 52.2) while the EU Composite PMI was better than feared (48.5 vs. E: 47.5) but still in contraction territory. Paired with the latest EU PPI release, which showed a headline increase of 4.9% vs. (E) 4.5% Y/Y, the data rekindled stagflation fears in the Eurozone.

Looking ahead to today’s session, focus appears to be shifting back to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, so any material developments (good or bad) will likely impact markets with traders keenly watching oil prices as a bellwether.

On the data front, “jobs week” kicks off with today’s ADP Employment Report (E: 120K) due out ahead of the bell, while data on Factory Orders (E: 4.3%) and the ISM Services Index (E: 53.9) will both be released shortly after the opening bell. The stronger the growth data/cooler the inflation data, the better for stocks.

Additionally there are two Fed officials scheduled to speak today: Barr (9:00 a.m. ET) and Logan (4:00 p.m. ET) and investors will be looking for a less-hawkish tone regarding potential rate hikes in 2026 in order for the risk-on rally to continue.

Finally, on the earnings front, quarterly results from MDT ($1.54), M ($0.02), AVGO ($2.02), CRWD ($0.13), AI ($-0.74), and FIVE ($1.70) are all due to be released. The semiconductor/AI-names will be particularly important as tech earnings/revenue growth has been a major market tailwind in Q2.

 

What the Government Shutdown Means for Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Government Shutdown Means for Markets
  • JOLTS & Case Shiller HPI Takeaways

Markets are trading with a risk-off tone this morning as stock futures are lower, bonds are steady and gold broke out to record highs above $3,900 after the government shutdown for the first time since 2018 at midnight.

Economically, the final Eurozone Manufacturing PMI for September edged up to 49.8 vs. (E) 49.5 while the EU’s Core CPI Flash met estimates at 2.3% y/y but the data is not materially impacting markets with the government shutdown news dominating headlines.

While the implications of the government shutdown will remain top of news, there are multiple important economic reports today including the ADP Employment Report (E: 50K), ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 49.0), and Construction Spending (E: -0.1%). There is also one Fed official scheduled to speak: Barkin (12:15 p.m. ET).

Some late season earnings to watch include reports from CAG ($0.33) and RPM ($1.87), however, the government shutdown is likely to continue to dominate the newswires today so any signs of progress towards some sort of spending agreement in Congress would likely spark a relief rally while rising political tensions that could prolong the shutdown could prompt further losses in risk assets.

 

The Sector Winner from a “Run-Hot” Economy

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Sector Winner From a “Run-Hot” Economy
  • Pending Home Sales Takeaways

Futures are lower and bonds are rallying modestly amid the growing threat of a government shutdown this week.

Economically, China’s official Manufacturing PMI edged up 0.4 points to 49.8 vs. (E) 49.6 in September.

Today kicks off jobs week with the August JOLTS report (E: 7.100 million) due out shortly after the bell. The closer the headline is to estimates, the better as a too-hot or too-cold print could weigh on already shaky markets amid the government shutdown worries.

Additionally, Consumer Confidence (E: 96.0), the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: -0.2%), the FHFA House Price Index (E: 6.7%), and Chicago PMI (E: 43.5) will all be released today.

There are a handful of Fed speakers today: Collins (9:00 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (1:30 p.m. ET), and Logan (7:10 p.m. ET), and the more dovish their tone, the better for markets as two more rate cuts in 2025 are still largely priced in.

Finally, there are a few late-season earnings releases to watch: PAYX ($1.21), UNFI ($-0.22), NKE ($0.28).

 

Credit Spreads Are More Elevated Than You Think

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Credit Spreads: More Elevated Than You Think
  • Case-Shiller Home Price Index Points to Cooling Inflation
  • JOLTS Decline But Top Estimates

Futures are modestly higher this morning as traders digest yesterday’s pullback ahead of today’s Fed decision.

Economically, Eurozone GDP rose +1.4% y/y vs. (E) +1.2% which is supporting the tentative risk-on price action this morning.

Today, focus will be on economic data early with the ADP Employment Report (E: 75K), Advanced Q2 GDP (E: 2.5%),  and Pending Home Sales (E: 0.2%) all due to be released.

Attention will then turn to the Fed meeting with the FOMC Announcement at 2:00 p.m. ET and Fed Chair Powell’s Press Conference at 2:30 p.m. ET with traders most focused on the prospects of a September rate cut.

Finally, earnings season continues as well and the following companies results have the potential to move markets, particularly the Mag-7 names reporting today: KHC ($0.64), HUM ($6.32), META ($5.83), MSFT ($3.35), CVNA ($1.10), QCOM ($2.72), ADP ($2.22), HOOD ($0.31).

 

A Four Way Assault on the Bullish Mantra

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Stocks Drop and What’s It Mean for Markets? (Four Reasons)
  • JOLTS Data Takeaways – “Solid Enough” for Now
  • Chart: The S&P 500 Violated It’s 2024 Uptrend Yesterday
  • Chart: The “Short-Vol Trade” Is Beginning to Unravel (More to Come)

Stock futures are lower again this morning as the hawkish money flows of early Q2 continue with the 10-Yr yield at YTD highs ahead of Powell’s speech on the economy today.

Economically, China’s Composite PMI met estimates at 52.7 while the EU’s “Narrow Core HICP” (their Core-CPI equivalent) favorably fell from 3.1% to 2.9% vs. (E) 3.0%.

Today, there are two important economic reports due out: The ADP Employment Report (E: 150K) before the open and then the ISM Services Index (E: 52.7). Good economic news has been bad for markets lately, so softening growth numbers and low/falling inflation metrics in today’s data are the best case scenario for stocks today.

Beyond the data this morning, there are several Fed officials scheduled to speak: Bowman (9:45 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (12:00 p.m. ET), Powell (12:10 p.m. ET), and Barr (1:10 p.m. ET).

Powell’s speech at Standford shortly after 12:00 p.m. (ET) will get the most attention as traders look for him to reiterate the key takeaways from the March FOMC meeting (likely summer rate cut, three cuts in 2024 expected). Any hints at “higher for longer” will add to the hawkish money flows that have been weighing on stocks so far in Q2.

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Is It Time to Buy Gold

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is It Time to Buy Gold? Bull Case vs. Bear Case
  • ISM Services Index Takeaways – Still Healthy Readings But Cracks Emerge
  • JOLTS Plunge Below Pre-Pandemic Trend

U.S. equity futures are tracking global stocks higher this morning. More underwhelming economic data overseas is helping bolster the case for rate cuts from the world’s biggest central banks in the first quarter of 2024.

Economically, German Manufacturer’s Orders fell -3.7% vs. (E) +0.5% in October. Eurozone Retail Sales edged up just +0.1% vs. (E) +0.3%. This is helping drive a bid in bond markets amid dovish money flows across asset classes today.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on economic data early. The ADP Employment Report (E: 123K), International Trade in Goods and Services (E: -$64.1B) and Productivity and Costs (E: +4.8%, -0.9%) data will release before the bell.

Finally, there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today. So the market will be looking for a still healthy but not “hot” ADP print, steady trade data, and a continued decline in unit labor costs (wage inflation) to help support soft-landing hopes and extend the November rally.

Is It Time to Buy Gold

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What Are GLP-1 Drugs and Why Do They Matter to Markets?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Are GLP-1 Drugs and Why Do They Matter to Markets?

U.S. equity futures are trading lower this morning as a credit downgrade of China’s debt is overshadowing mostly good Composite PMI data overseas.

Overnight, Moody’s cut their outlook for Chinese debt to negative. This weighed on Asian shares and EM stocks, as well as domestic equity futures.

Economically, China’s Composite PMI favorably rose to 51.6 vs. (E) 50.1 in November. While the Eurozone Composite PMI remained in contraction, but notably firmed to 47.6 vs. (E) 47.1 last month.

Two key economic reports to watch today: JOLTS (E: 9.4 million job openings) and the ISM Services Index (E: 52.4). Investors will want to see more evidence that supports a soft landing in the data.

Finally, there is one Fed economist speaking today: Gibson (10:00 a.m. ET) but his comments should not materially move markets.

What Are GLP-1 Drugs and Why Do They Matter to Markets?

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Why Are Yields Rising?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Are Yields Rising?
  • What the Removal of Speaker McCarthy Means for Markets (We Didn’t Need This Right Now)
  • JOLTS Data Takeaways
  • OPEC+ (JMMC) Meeting Preview

U.S. stock futures are rebounding from overnight losses as European markets turn positive following mixed economic data while yields are stabilizing after this week’s rapid rise.

Markets are continuing to digest the implications of the removal of McCarthy as Speaker of the House. Yields were initially higher overnight, likely on worries of a more pronounced threat of a government shutdown next month. They have since stabilized and are only little changed in morning trade, helping support steady stock futures in the pre-market.

Economically, the September EU Composite PMI came in at 48.7 vs. (E) 48.4, while Retail Sales fell -1.2% vs. (E) -0.2% in August and PPI fell a steep -11.5% vs. (E) -11.7%. On balance, the data was not a reason for the ECB to become more hawkish. Which is helping global bond markets (and equities) stabilize this morning.

Today, focus will be on economic data early with the ADP Employment Report (E: 150K), ISM Services Index (E: 53.5), and Factory Orders (E: 0.2%). The “hot” JOLTS headline roiled markets yesterday so markets are likely to welcome any cooling labor market indicators and look for easing price measures in the ISM release as those developments could help bonds bounce back and stocks recover some of this week’s losses.

Later, the focus will turn to central bank speak with several Fed officials scheduled to speak including: O’Neill Paese, Schmidt, Bowman, and Goolsbee. A lot of hawkish rhetoric has been digested in recent sessions. So any more dovish-leaning commentary would also be welcomed by stocks and other risk assets.

Why Are Yields Rising

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What the Near Government Shutdown Means for Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Near Government Shutdown Means for Markets (Higher Yields)
  • ISM Manufacturing Index Takeaways – Better Than Feared

Futures are little changed this morning. More evidence of cooling inflation was offset by global central bankers continuing to threaten more rate hikes.

Economically, Swiss CPI came in at 1.7% vs. (E) 1.8% y/y in September. The Core figure fell to 1.3% from 1.5% previously which was the latest report to confirm the ongoing trend of global disinflation.

The RBA held policy rates steady at 4.10% overnight. But joined the growing chorus of ECB and Fed officials who have reiterated future hikes on the table. Global yields edged higher in early trade which is keeping a lid on equity futures this morning.

Looking into today’s session, we will receive data on Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 15.3 million). But more importantly, jobs week kicks off with today’s JOLTS release which is expected to show 8.9 million job openings.

An inline or modestly lower-than-expected JOLTS headline would be welcomed as it would help dial back some of the recent hawkish money flows. While an unexpected increase could spark a continued rise in yields, adding pressure to equity markets.

Finally, there is a 52-Wk Treasury Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and while we typically do not monitor Bill auctions too closely, stocks came for sale and yields rose right at 11:30 a.m. yesterday. When the results of a 3-Month and 6-Month Bill auction hit the wires with higher yields than previous (hawkish). So if we see weak demand and higher yields in the late morning auction today, that could be a drag on equities and other risk assets.

What the Near Government Shutdown Means for Markets (Higher Yields)

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