The Real Risk to Stocks

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Real Risk to Stocks
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are higher following news a government shutdown will be avoided and despite mixed economic data.

Senate Majority Leader Schumer announced a deal to fund the government and avoid a shutdown tomorrow, although this was always expected (and this does not address the Debt Ceiling).

Economic data was mixed as the Chinese manufacturing PMI fell below 50 (49.6 vs. (E) 50.1) while UK GDP handily beat estimates at 5.5% vs. (E) 4.8%, but the data isn’t moving markets.

Today the key report will be Jobless Claims (E: 335K) and markets will want to see them drop back towards 300k.  We also get the Final Q2 GDP (E: 6.7%) but at this point, that’s a very “old” number. There are also numerous Fed speakers today including more Powell/Yellen testimony along with Williams (10:00 a.m. ET), Bostic (11:00 a.m. ET), Harker (11:30 a.m. ET), Evans (12:30 p.m. ET), Bullard (1:05 p.m. ET), and Daly (2:30 p.m. ET).

Finally, today is the last trading day of the month and quarter so some additional volatility on month/quarter-end positioning shouldn’t be a surprise.