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Four Steps to a Bottom

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Technical Update
  • Four Steps to a Bottom

US futures are in the red again this morning although there is again no clear reason why while overseas shares traded mostly “ok” overnight amid mixed economic data.

Japanese PMI Manufacturing Flash beat (53.1 vs. E: 52.6) helping the Nikkei rally but EU data was on the soft side.

As far as US economic data goes today, there are two reports on the housing market this morning: FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.3%) and New Home Sales (E: 625K) while the more important release to watch will be the PMI Composite Flash (E: 54.1) due out shortly after the open.

The Fed speaker circuit also remains busy with Bostic (10:00 a.m. ET, 2:00 p.m. ET), Bullard (11:30 a.m. ET), and Mester (12:30 p.m. ET) all speaking during the Wall Street session today.

Lastly, and likely most importantly for stocks right now, there are a slew of earnings reports today. A few notables include: BA ($3.51) and T ($0.93) ahead of the open and MSFT ($0.96) and V ($1.20) after the close.

Buy the Dip or Fade the Bounce?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Buy the Dip or Fade the Bounce?

US stock futures are down roughly 10 points this morning as yesterday’s big rally and notable post-market gains thanks to strong NFLX earnings are digested and investors look ahead to the Fed Minutes today.

Economically, EU HICP (their CPI equivalent) was in-line with expectations at 2.1% yoy but the core figure was soft, slipping to 0.9% from 1.0% which is mildly dovish for ECB policy outlook.

Looking into today’s session, there is just one economic report due out: Housing Starts (E: 1.221M) which will leave investors primarily focused on the FOMC Minutes due out at 2:00 p.m. ET. Earnings season takes a breather today as there are no major releases.

On that note, the huge beat by NFLX after the close yesterday should help tech shares continue to trade well this morning which could see this rebound extend higher into the Fed release this afternoon.

Tom Essaye on The Wall Street Journal – His Take on U.S. Stocks Rebounding, October 12, 2018

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U.S. Stocks Rebound After Two-Day Rout

“If next week’s data comes in firm and shows us that this economy isn’t losing momentum, then that will likely provide a big confidence boost to stocks, and could help support a rebound,” said Tom Essaye, president of the Sevens Report.

Read the full article here.

Updated Market Outlook Post Pullback

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Putting the Pullback In Context (We’ve Seen Something Similar Twice This Year)
  • Weekly Market Preview (All About Earnings and Data)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet (Market Needs a Confidence Boost)

Futures are moderately lower following a generally quiet weekend, as markets digest Friday’s bounce.

Nothing outright negative occurred over the weekend to cause the resumption of selling. But, there was no improvement in any macro headwinds either and as such markets are digesting Friday’s gains.

There were no notable economic reports overnight.

Today focus will turn towards economic data and we get two important reports: Retail Sales (E: 0.6%) and Oct. Empire Manufacturing Survey (E: 19.3).  Strong readings will give the market a needed boost of confidence as they’ll remind investors the economic remains strong.

On the earnings front, activity picks up starting tomorrow but there are two notable reports today:  BAC (E: $0.62), SCHW (E: $0.64).

Sell Off: Why It Happened and What’s Next

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Sell Off Takeaways: Why We Don’t View It as a Bearish Gamechanger (Yet).
  • Technical Update:  Key Support Levels to Watch
  • Why Didn’t Bond Rally Yesterday? (Important)

Futures are sharply lower as global markets dropped following the Wednesday rout in U.S. stocks.

Nothing new occurred overnight to cause the additional selling this morning and this is all momentum driven.

There was no notable economic data or geo-political news out overnight and the sell-off itself was the focus of most of the financial media.

Today the key event is the Core CPI report (E : 0.2% m/m, 2.3% y/y) out this morning.  This release is even more important than before because if it prints “hot” (core CPI above .4% m/m) that will add to the concern that the Fed is going to get more hawkish and that will add another source of pressure on stocks, which we obviously don’t need right now.  Conversely, if this number is inline of a little light, that could provide a catalyst for markets to try and stabilize.

Yield Breakout (Threat to Stocks?)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Higher Yields Mean for Stocks
  • Jobs Report Preview

Futures are moderately lower following hawkish commentary by Fed Chair Powell and ahead of a critical speech on China by VP Pence.

Fed Chair Powell said in a Q&A after the bell that the Fed is a “long way” from neutral rates and may have to go “past” neutral.  The comments further pressured bonds overnight and extended the rise in global bond yields.

Politically, VP Pence will deliver a very critical policy speech on China that goes beyond economic criticism, and the concern is the speech will make a trade deal even more difficult to achieve.

Today focus will be on bond yields (does the surge in yields/dollar continue?) as well as the Pence speech on China (just how critical will it be?).  Economically, there are two reports, Jobless Claims (E: 213K) and Factory Orders (E: 2.1%) and one Fed speaker, Quarles (8:15 a.m. ET), but none of that should move markets.

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Tom’s Take on the Tech Weakness on Seeking Alpha, September 6, 2018

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stock market update

“Yesterday’s tech weakness, even if it just part of a healthy pullback in an extended sector, does set up a potential danger spot for stocks over the coming days,” says Tom Essaye of The Sevens Report, noting tech has powered stock gains this year even in the face of trade uncertainty.

Read the full article here.

Valuation Update (New Target)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Valuation Update

Futures are slightly higher this morning after a very quiet night as global shares are edging higher after yesterday’s run to new all-time highs in several major US indexes.

Trade concerns continue to ease after yesterday’s favorable developments between the US and Mexico, leading to a further pullback in the dollar which has been the most significant tailwind for stocks over the last week.

Looking ahead to today’s session, there are a few notable economic reports due out: International Trade in Goods (E: -$69.4B), S&P Case-Shiller HPI (E: 0.2%), and Consumer Confidence (E: 126.8) but there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak.

Economic data aside, progress on trade and the subsequent decline in the dollar index have been the primary bullish influences on stocks right now, so as long as the trade situation doesn’t deteriorate today, and the dollar doesn’t materially rally, stocks should be able to continue towards new highs.

To access the full analysis Go Here

New Highs

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Hit New Highs
  • Weekly Market Preview
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet

Futures are extending Friday’s gains following efforts by Chinese authorities to further strengthen the yuan.

The yuan strengthened to a one month high vs. the dollar as Chinese officials re-introduced the “Counter Cyclical Factor” in setting the daily value of the yuan.  That “factor” is widely seen as an intent to ensure yuan strength and avoid a potential breach of 7.00.  And, that support of the yuan is a potential macro positive.

The only notable econ report was German IFO Business sentiment, which beat estimates at 106.4 vs. (E) 105.4.

Today there are no notable economic reports and no important Fed speakers, so focus will remain on any trade headlines (a new trade deal with NAFTA seems imminent and that should be a mild positive on sentiment and stocks).

To read the full report Go Here

Contrarian View: Emerging Markets

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Pre 7:00 Look

• Stock futures are cautiously higher today as the dollar continues to pullback on Trump’s comments about the Fed while investors have doubts about the new round of trade talks between the US and China.

• The dollar is down another 30 basis points+ this morning, extending its multi-session downtrend which should continue to act as a modest tailwind for stocks this week.

• British CBI Industrial Trends Survey was a mild miss at 7 vs. (E) 10 as Brexit concerns continues to weigh on sentiment.

• There are no economic reports or Fed speakers today.

To read the full report Go Here