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What’s the VIX Saying About This Market?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What’s the VIX Saying About This Market?

Futures are solidly higher as Thursday’s bounce extended overnight following additional reminders that global disinflation is still on going.

The EU Flash HICP (their CPI) rose 4.3% vs. (E) 4.6% and Core HICP increased 4.5% vs. (E) 4.8%, sending an important reminder that disinflation is still on going.

There was no material progress in avoiding a government shutdown overnight (which at this point is likely).

Today focus will be on the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.9% y/y) and put simply, if that number meets or is below expectations, then this bounce back rally should continue.  If the Core PCE Price Index is higher than expectations, don’t be shocked if stocks give back these early gains.  Finally, there is one Fed speaker today, Williams at 12:45 p.m. ET, but he shouldn’t move markets.

What's the VIX Saying

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Will the Restart of Student Loan Payments Hurt the Economy?

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Will the Restart of Student Loan Payments Hurt the Economy: Strengthen your market knowledge with a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Will the Restart of Student Loan Payments Hurt the Economy?

Stock futures are lower with European shares after some hawkish ECB chatter and more bad EU economic data overnight.

The ECB’s Klass Knot noted overnight that a September rate hike is being “underestimated” by markets. This is weighing on risk assets modestly this morning.

Economically, German Manufacturers’ Orders collapsed by -11.7% vs. (E) -4.0% in July while Eurozone Retail Sales in July met estimates with a monthly decline of -0.2%. The data offered fresh evidence that the European economy is threatening to fall into recession despite ongoing calls for a global soft landing.

Today’s focus will be on economic data this morning with International Trade in Goods and Services (E: -$68.0B) and the ISM Services Index (E: 52.4) due to be released. The market is looking for signs of slowing demand but not a sharp downturn in growth.

The ISM will be the more important report to watch.  If we get a number that is “too hot” or “too cold” will likely see yesterday’s stock market declines extended, while a Goldilocks print will help markets stabilize.

There is also one Fed speaker today: Collins (8:30 a.m. ET). If she pushes back on the peak rate narrative or rate cuts in 2024, that will add another headwind to stocks and other risk assets today.

Economy

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Why Stocks Dropped Again

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Dropped (Again)
  • A Question About Silver

Futures are sharply lower following a very negative earnings pre-announcement from FedEx (FDX).

FedEx (FDX) earnings were terrible as the company reported EPS of $4.37 vs. (E) $5.10 and guidance was even worse with estimates of $2.75 vs. (E) $5.46.  The company sited significant macro-economic deterioration and the CEO warned about a “worldwide recession.”

Economically results were mixed as Chinese data beat estimates while UK Retail Sales were soft (–5.4% vs. –3.9%).

Today focus will be on Consumer Sentiment (E: 59.9) and more specifically the five-year inflation expectations.  In August they were 2.9% and if they rise back above 3.0% that’ll only compound the damage from Tuesday’s CPI and push stocks lower, while a decline below 2.9% will help offset CPI and help support stocks (although I think it’d take a sharp from below 2.9% for stocks to fully erase these early losses).

What is Evergrande and Why Isn’t It Causing More Problems?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What is Evergrande and Why Isn’t It Causing More Problems?

Futures are modestly lower on more negative China headlines following an otherwise quiet night.

Chinese authorities have extended anti-pollution directives to multiple cities and that’s causing a sharp drop in some industrial commodities (iron ore specifically) which is weighing on resource stocks in Europe.

Economically, UK Retail Sales missed estimates falling –0.9% vs. (E) 0.5% although the report isn’t moving markets.

Focus today will be on Consumer Sentiment (E: 72.0) and specifically inflation expectations, and if they spike higher (as we saw in the Fed survey earlier this week) don’t be surprised if there’s additional downward pressure on stocks.  Also, today is a “Quadruple Witching” options expiration which could mean big volumes and increased volatility into the close.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Yahoo Finance on August 19, 2021

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Stocks in Choppy Trading Ahead of Big Options Day: Markets Wrap

This week’s options expiration is likely amplifying the volatility…wrote Tom Essaye, a former Merrill Lynch trader who founded “The Sevens Report” newsletter. Click here to read the full article.