Bear vs Bull

What a Difference a Year Can Make

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What A Difference a Year Can Make:  December 26th 2018 vs. December 26th 2019

Futures are marginally higher following a good report on retail sales by Mastercard.  Trading is quiet, however, as most of Europe, Hong Kong and Australia are closed for Boxing Day.

Mastercard (MA) posted preliminary estimates for 2019 holiday spending and they appear stronger than expectations, and that’s helping send futures higher.

There was no “Christmas surprise” from North Korea although a missile launch is still expected in the coming days (but even if it happens, it shouldn’t impact markets much).

The only notable number out today is Jobless Claims (E: 223K), and we’ll want to see the continued unwind of the Thanksgiving spike higher in claims that occurred two weeks ago.