stock market news today

Seagen attracted the attention of Pfizer and other drugmakers because of the potential of ADCs. Merck & Co. discussed buying Seagen last year, but the companies could not agree on a price. However, it was Pfizer that turned out to be the winner.

The deal

Pfizer Inc has agreed to pay $43 billion for Seagen Inc biotech. and its pioneering class of targeted cancer drugs.

Under the terms, Pfizer will pay $229 a share in cash, the drugmaker said Monday. The companies expect the deal, which includes the debt, to be finalized by the end of this year or early next year.

The deal is an early sign that despite the threat of tighter antitrust controls and higher interest rates, big pharmaceutical companies are ready for some heavy deals this year.

Seagen, which is based outside Seattle, pioneered a class of drugs known as antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs, that can target tumors with a toxic agent.

Drugs could become one of the next big segments of the $375 billion global cancer drug mark

What Is The Future Of Modern TAXIS? Uber Stock News and Forecast: UBER CEO buys stock, should you? | FXStreet

What Is The Future Of Modern TAXIS? Uber Stock News and Forecast: UBER CEO buys stock, should you? | FXStreet

FXStreet News FXStreet News 11.05.2022 16:44
Uber stock under pressure after dismal earnings earlier this week. UBER stock is down 44% so far in 2022. Uber CEO just bought 200,000 shares for $5.3 million. Uber (UBER) stock remains mired in depression with bears in total control after earnings earlier this week. The company unveiled a massive loss that led to CEO David Khosrowshahi penning a letter to employees to explain the earnings and what he feels needs to be done to secure the future of the ridesharing company. Uber Stock News: A loss is a loss First, here is a quick recap on those earnings numbers. Earnings per share (EPS) came in at $-3.04 versus a $-0.24 estimate. Revenue came in at $6.85 billion versus estimates of $6.13 billion. First, the earnings per share number is not really comparable as it includes losses in UBER's equity investments related to stakes in Didi (DIDI), Aurora and Grab. I never really pay attention to statements such as the one I just made, not comparable. A loss is a loss. It does not matter how you phrase it. It is not a loss attributable to regular operations, however, but it is still a loss. It affects cash flow, balance sheet, etc. IT IS A LOSS. Wall Street analysts – let's get this straight. UBER lost $5.9 billion for the quarter. Read next: Don't Worry Coffee Lovers! The Price Of Coffee Futures Falling Amidst Current Market Conditions, Crude Oil (WTI) Recovers Slightly, Palladium Prices Show Steady Downward Price Trend | FXMAG.COM Revenue beat estimates, but what is Uber doing with that money? They invested it and lost $5.6 billion. Well done. UBER CEO David Khosrowshahi then said in a letter to employees, which CNBC got a hold of, that the company would cut back on spending and hiring. Peer LYFT had also produced downbeat forecasts for the ride-hailing sector. Despite it all though Uber CEO David Khosrowshahi has put his money on the table and stumped up $5.3 million for some UBER shares this week. Usually, insider purchases are more significant than insider sales, and this is not a small amount. Although we should note, he does not have a great track record. Previously, he bought shares at $44.92, so nearly a 50% loss then! Read next: Earnings Season: (DIS) Disney Stock Price Awaits Earnings Announcements| FXMAG.COM Should you follow him? Difficult call. We are not as bearish on UBER as some other stocks that soared too high, but UBER is a play on the broad economy. It needs economic activity to remain strong to benefit. If people pull back on spending, UBER will be one of the first things to suffer. Certainly in the short term, we view the risk-reward as being slightly more skewed to the upside now. The bad news is largely in the price, and we may see a short-term bounce if today's CPI is in line. Uber Stock Forecast $28.41 remains our key level and is our bearish pivot. UBER returns to neutral above this level. Both the Money Flow Index (MFI) and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) are showing oversold levels, further strengthening our arguments for a short-term relief rally. UBER stock chart, daily
The Commodities Feed: Anticipating LNG Strike Action and Market Dynamics

Philip Morris Buys Match, Fed Members Spills The Tea And Gold Price Nears Quite Low Values | Saxo Bank

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 11.05.2022 17:29
Summary:  Global equity markets have bounced after the US briefly hit new cycle lows yesterday. One development at the margin that has helped is the sharp decline in longer bond yields, even as a couple of Fed members were out with hawkish comments. A strong 3-year US treasury auction showed strong demand. Elsewhere, gold remains under pressure and is on life support. The data focus today swings to the US and the release of April CPI data.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) - the rebound in US equities succeeded closing above the prior session’s close but met resistance above the 12,500 level in Nasdaq 100 futures. However, this morning Nasdaq 100 futures continue to rally trading around the 12,450-level attempting to break above the 12,500 level again which is needed to close Monday’s selloff range. Sentiment is still weak but a pause in the momentum in US 10-year interest rates is providing some support to US equities in the short-term. Q1 earnings results yesterday confirmed the slowdown in gaming and cryptocurrency trading activity. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSI.I) and China’s CSI300 (000300.I). China’s A shares surged with ChiNext rising 4.3% and CSI300 up 2%. Electric equipment, semiconductors, EV battery, consumer electronics, wind and solar names led the charge higher. EV battery maker, CATL (300750) rose 7.7%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1.7% and Hang Seng TECH Index gained 4.6% by mid-day.  After reporting better than market expected earnings and margin expansion, Li Auto (2015) surged 11%. The COVID related disruption to logistics and production, plus food and daily necessities stockpiling by households seems to make their impact felt on general price levels. China’s April PPI came at +8.0% YoY and CPI at +2.1% YoY, both higher than market expectations.   AUDUSD and USDCAD – the two key commodity currencies broke through key support against the US dollar this week, but so far the reaction to the development has been restrained and would likely take a further slide in risk sentiment, including in the commodity space for a notable extension lower. As the break levels remain nearby, the pairs deserve watching for the trend status and a possible reversal as well – resistance in AUDUSD is 0.7000-0.7050 and support in USDCAD comes in at 1.2900-50. Read next: Don't Worry Coffee Lovers! The Price Of Coffee Futures Falling Amidst Current Market Conditions, Crude Oil (WTI) Recovers Slightly, Palladium Prices Show Steady Downward Price Trend | FXMAG.COM USDJPY and JPY pairs – global sovereign bond yields have tumbled from their highs at the start of the week and crude oil has corrected sharply lower, two developments that support the Japanese yen, as Japan relies so heavily on energy imports and BoJ yield-curve-control policy means that the currency absorbs weakness when the domestic bond market is not “allowed” to. And yet, the JPY bounce on supportive developments has proven surprisingly muted – an opportunity or indication of further weakness to come? Watching for the reactivity in JPY pairs around the US CPI release today and 10-year US T-note auction later today as USDJPY is often one of the more sensitive currencies to US treasury yields. Gold (XAUUSD) dropped below $1850 support yesterday after several Fed officials backed multiple 50 basis point rate hikes. These comments helped drive fresh dollar strength and a continued rise in US real yields ahead of today’s US CPI print. Recent dollar strength, especially against the yuan and rupee has reduced demand from China and India, the world’s two biggest buyers of physical gold. With gold trading near a three-month low, demand for bullion backed ETFs has also ebbed with total holdings falling to a three-week low on Tuesday. Silver (XAGUSD) meanwhile slumped below previous support at $21.5, thereby adding an additional layer of weakness. From a technical perspective, the next key support level in gold is the 61.8% retracement of the March 2021 to March 2022 high at $1827. Crude oil (OILUKJUL22 & OILUSJUN22) traded higher in Asia with Brent bouncing before reaching key support below $100 per barrel. Catalyst for the move ahead of today’s US CPI print was a decline in the Covid19 infections in China providing some cautious optimism about a pickup in demand from the world’s largest importer. The cost of fuel due to lack of refinery capacity and sanctions against Russia remains very elevated with retail gasoline in the US hitting a record. The EIA meanwhile lowered its forecast for US production in 2022 and 2023 while Saudi Arabia and the UAE oil ministers warned that spare capacity is decreasing in all energy sectors. Developments that may offset any slowdown in global consumption due to lower growth and punitive high inflation. Monthly oil market reports from OPEC and IEA on Thursday. US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) – The US yield curve flattened sharply yesterday as hawkish talk from a couple of Fed members (see below) kept the shorter end of the yield curve elevated, while longer yields continued their sharp retreat ahead of a tone-setting 10-year T-note auction today, with the benchmark yield there trading just below 3.00%. The 3-year notes yesterday saw the strongest demand in over a year. What is going on? Fed officials continue to back rate hikes. Fed speakers are back on the wires backing multiple 50 basis point rate hikes, even as that might mean a bumpy ride for the economy and the markets. Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester, in fact, also brought 75bps rate hikes back on the table for H2 if inflation doesn’t recede. US earnings recap. The big negative surprise was Coinbase reporting Q1 revenue of $1.17bn vs est. $1.48bn and a dark Q2 outlook expecting lower trading activity. Unity was in line with Q1 estimates but puts out a very low Q2 revenue figure of $290-295mn vs est. $360mn, but the fiscal year guidance is closer to consensus suggesting timing issues. Electronic Arts surprised investors given the weakness in gaming results recently guiding fiscal year 2023 (the company is not following the traditional calendar year) revenue a bit above consensus. Staying with gaming results, Roblox reported a slowdown in user activity (bookings) as so many other gaming companies have done in Q1. Read next: Stablecoins In Times Of Crypto Crash. What is Terra (UST)? A Deep Look Into Terra Altcoin. Terra - Leading Decentralised And Open-Source Public Blockchain Protocol | FXMAG.COM Philip Morris to buy Swedish Match for SEK 106 per share. This is one of Europe’s largest transactions this year worth $16bn in an all-cash deal translating into a premium of 40%. Philip Morris is acquiring Swedish Match to get assets that are less about visual cigarettes to better cope with increasing regulation around the world against cigarettes. Declining Covid-19 cases in China helped boost sentiment across battered stock markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong overnight. The industrial metal sector has seen a sharp correction during the lockdown with the Bloomberg Industrial Metal Index currently up just 5% on the year after hitting a 39% gain on March 7. As lockdowns start to ease the focus across the sector is likely to return to tight global inventories and the prospect of a revival in demand with the Chinese government likely to initiate projects to support an economic revival. Six major mining companies who derive more than 60% of their revenue from copper have slumped between 25% and 50% from peaks achieved during the past year. What are we watching next? US CPI and 10-year T-note auction today. The 3-year T-note auction yesterday showed the strongest demand for 3-year US paper since early 2021. A 10-year T-note auction is set for today, with yields having retreated to near 3.00% from the highs earlier this week near the 2018 cycle high of 3.25%. Liquidity in the US treasury market is at its weakest levels since the pandemic-outbreak panic moment even before the Fed is set to begin reducing its balance sheet (requiring the market to absorb more treasury issuance). Reactivity in the US treasury market and the US dollar is also worth close observation today on the release of the April CPI data, expected to show the headline rising at only +0.2% MoM, but the core rising +0.4% MoM. The YoY expectations are +8.1%/+6.0% vs. +8.5%/+6.5% in March. EU gas prices jumped on Tuesday and may rise further today after Ukraine’s network operator warned Ukraine won’t accept gas at Sokhranivka, one of two cross-border points handling Russian flows, from today after occupying forces disrupted operation at the compressor station. It’s still possible for gas to be rerouted to the second entry point, Sudzha, allowing European contracts to be fulfilled, it said. How Gazprom reacts to these changes will set the tone in today’s trading. Dutch TTF benchmark gas briefly traded below its 200-day moving average support line at €89/MWh yesterday before ending the day near €100/MWH on the Ukraine news.  Earnings Watch. In Europe this morning the focus is on earnings from E.ON and Siemens Energy given the energy crisis in Europe. Genmab is also important to watch being one of Europe’s largest pure plays within the biotechnology industry. Later in the US session the focus is on Walt Disney given the latest weak results from Netflix and more reopening post the pandemic benefitting Disney’s physical entertainment assets. We will also watch Coupang, the largest e-commerce company in South Korea, given the bad Q1 results from most e-commerce companies. Today: Genmab, E.ON, Siemens Energy, Continental, Toyota, SoftBank, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Delhaize, Mowi, Swedish Match, Walt Disney, Coupang Thursday: Verbund, KBC Group, Brookfield, Fortum, Siemens, Allianz, Merck, Hapag-Lloyd, RWE, Atlantia, Snam, NTT, SoftBank Group, Aegon, Naturgy Energy, Motorola Solutions Friday: Deutsche Telekom, KDDI, Honda Motor, Alibaba Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0715 – ECB's Nagel to speak 0800 – ECB President Lagarde to speak 0800 – ECB’s Vasle to speak 0830 – ECB's Makhlouf to speak 0850 – ECB's Knot to speak 1220 – ECB's Schnabel to speak 1230 – US Apr. CPI 1230 – US Apr. Real Average Hourly Earnings 1600 – US Fed’s Bostic (non-voter) to speak 1800 – US 10-year T-Note auction 2301 – UK Apr. RICS House Price Balance Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher Source: Saxo Bank
Stocks to keep an eye on in the second half of 2023

US Stocks: Earnings - (DIS) Disney earnings and fallen angels | Saxo Bank

Peter Garnry Peter Garnry 12.05.2022 09:13
Summary:  Disney has been through some tough years and over the past year the stock price has fallen significantly as investors are waking up to higher interest rates and a more negative outlook for video streaming. We take a look at Disney and what to expect tonight. The entertainment company has joined a group of fallen angels, which are companies that have experienced a significant drawdown and have negative total return over the past three years. Things will continue to be ugly for equities as long as inflation remains hot and financial conditions tighten. Disney is back to square It has been some turbulent years for Walt Disney reporting FY22 Q2 earnings (ending 31 March) tonight after the US market close. It announced its Disney+ video streaming service in April 2019 pushing the company’s valuation much over the subsequent 9 months as investors were expecting a new distribution channel that could fuel growth. Then came the pandemic and Disney’s physical assets went into a tailspin, but things improved for Disney driven by low interest rates (increasing equity valuations), and later the vaccine which sped up the reopening of society. Meanwhile the pandemic had turbocharged its subscribers for Disney+ delighting investors. Sentiment got supersized to the point where investors were willing to pay a little more than 70 times next year’s earnings. Read next: Tech Stocks Plunging!? Trade Desk Earnings Announcement Pushes Tech Giant Stock Down, Russian Ruble Strengthening and Ford Motor Co. With financial conditions tightening significantly and video streaming being challenged (read our equity note on Netflix earnings outlook) Disney’s equity valuation has come down to earth as a function of the stock price down 46.7% from its March 2021 peak. Tonight investors are expecting revenue of $20.2bn up 29% y/y as Disney is still gaining from base effects related to the reopening of societies, but the q/q growth is expected to by -7.8%. EBITDA is expected to be $4.1bn up from $2.7bn a year ago as the operating margin is expanding back to pre-pandemic levels. Given the recent outlook from technology and entertainment companies, Disney could surprise negatively tonight.Source: Saxo Group Almost 10% of S&P 500 is down over the past three years Yesterday we looked at technology companies with large setbacks, but it got us to go deeper and the equity destruction is quite big when you broaden the lens. In the S&P 500 there are now 43 companies with a drawdown larger than 30% over the past 200 days and that are down on a total return basis over the past three years. As the table below shows there are some quite big names on that list such as Walt Disney, Comcast, Citigroup, PayPal, Starbucks, General Electric, Netflix, Boeing, Ecolab, and Illumina. Read next: (BTC) Bitcoin’s Price Tanks Along With Equities. U.S. Stock Market Awaits CPI Report, Poor Performance From The FTSE 100.  As long as financial conditions and interest rates move higher we remain defensive on equities and will continue to argue that investors need commodities to balance their portfolios. We have described in several equity notes that the period 1968-1982 was very bad for equities in real terms due to inflation. Time will tell whether we get an equally long period with zero real rate returns for equities, given the factors such as urbanization, green transformation (ESG), decade of underinvestment in the physical world, and deglobalization of supply chains to pandemic and lately Chinese Covid-lockdowns, inflation will remain high (3-5%). Forces the cost of capital higher and thus equity valuations down. While US equities have still delivered 40% real return since early 2019 the real returns are eroding fast at these inflation levels. Today’s core CPI m/m print at 0.6% is suggesting inflation will remain elevated for quite some time eating into returns. For bonds the situation looks even more grim (see chart below) and investors are basically losing out on everything except for cash and commodities.Source: Bloomberg Source: Saxo Bank
Tesla Will Struggle To Recover In The Coming Years

Tech Stocks: Tesla Stock News and Forecast: As TSLA struggles, will the TWTR deal still go ahead at $54.20?

FXStreet News FXStreet News 12.05.2022 16:35
Tesla stock falls just over 8% on Wednesday. Twitter stock also falls and is now nearly 20% below its takeover price. TSLA still holding above $700 key support. Tesla (TSLA) stock suffered another humbling day on Wednesday as it yet again suffered more steep losses. As the broader equity market appears to crash, so too does the Tesla share price. This time it dropped by 8% to trade into the low $700s. $700 was the low seen back in February when market panic sold the Ukraine invasion news. Since then Tesla has recovered and held up well. Part of this was the reasonably good earnings quarter it posted. Now though a combination of macro factors and the Twitter (TWTR) deal are weighing on the stock. Read next: Stablecoins In Times Of Crypto Crash. What is Terra (UST)? A Deep Look Into Terra Altcoin. Terra - Leading Decentralised And Open-Source Public Blockchain Protocol | FXMAG.COM Tesla Stock News The latest Tesla recall news hit yesterday, and that certainly helped the stock underperform all the main indices. Tesla has had to recall 130,000 vehicles due to CPU problems affecting the central display unit. There have been a number of recalls for Tesla vehicles this year, none of which seems to have hindered the share price. But this environment has turned more bearish, and any bad news is seized upon. This week we also have had news of a supply problem hindering production at Giga Shanghai, which comes just days after getting the factory back online after covid lockdowns. Adding to pressure on Elon Musk but not directly attributable to Tesla is a report from The Wall Street Journal saying that Elon Musk is facing a federal probe over delays in his filing for his initial stake in Twitter. Read next: Altcoins: What Is Polkadot (DOT)? Cross-Chain Transfers Of Any Type Of Asset Or Data. A Deeper Look Into Polkadot Protocol | FXMAG.COM We also note a report from Bloomberg saying smaller investors and hedge funds will get the chance to invest in the Twitter acquisition by way of special purpose vehicles that pool money together. The minimum investment is $5 million. This is not reassuring in our view. Still scrambling around for investors at this late stage in this type of market does not inspire confidence in the deal going through in its current guise. Hindenberg Research also released a report outlining similar concerns last week. Tesla Stock Forecast $700 remains the key support and target for now. As long as this holds then, there is the chance of a strong bear market rally. But it likely is getting too close for comfort now and should be triggered today. That level most likely has stops just beneath, so it could spike lower on a beak. That would then be the time to reassess. Both the Money Flow Index (MFI) and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) are close to oversold, and a break of $700 could put both into oversold territory. Breaking $700 brings $620 as the next support. Resistance and the bullish pivot is all the way up at $945 now. Read next: Where XRP price could bottom and how to reenter the market| FXMAG.COM Tesla (TSLA) chart, daily
What is next turn for (TSLA) Tesla? Elon Musk-Twitter Interacting With Tesla Stock Price | FxPro

What is next turn for (TSLA) Tesla? Elon Musk-Twitter Interacting With Tesla Stock Price | FxPro

Alex Kuptsikevich Alex Kuptsikevich 19.05.2022 15:45
Tesla stock has always been more volatile than the stock market. It closed the Thursday session on the lowest level since last August, and it is a common question, what is the next turn for the leading EV producer. For now, it looks like the downside impulse is not over yet but did its main part. Musk’s deal with Twitter The list of variables in this stock ranks from the outlook for demand for electric cars (i.e., oil prices) and interest in the ESG agenda, including the economic outlook and monetary policy, and ends with the tone of the tweets of its founder, Elon Musk. But in recent days, it has also been affected by Musk’s deal with Twitter, where Tesla shares were used as collateral. For investors, the latest news of Musk’s potential break-up of the agreement to buy the social network is good news. The opposite is also true. The promotion of the deal has caused Tesla shares to sell off with acceleration in the market. Read next: Altcoins: What Is Polkadot (DOT)? Cross-Chain Transfers Of Any Type Of Asset Or Data. A Deeper Look Into Polkadot Protocol | FXMAG.COM Locally, buyers are eyeing current levels to purchase Tesla Shares in the leading electric car maker are now trading 38% below their peaks at the start of April and 43% below their all-time highs in November last year. The company’s shares are looking better than many other pandemic favourites, which have zeroed in on all and much of the gains from the March 2020 lows, while Tesla has become about ten times more expensive in that time. Read next: Altcoins: What Is Monero? Explaining XMR. Untraceable Cryptocurrency!? | FXMAG.COM Locally, buyers are eyeing current levels to purchase Tesla, which is aggressively ramping up production and is well ahead of other electric car makers in sales in an era of record fuel prices. On the one hand, the technical analysis points to a return of the stock from oversold territory, which could be followed by both a recovery bounce and the start of a new wave of growth that could return the price to levels above $1000 in just a few weeks. On the other hand, the share price may not face much of an obstacle moving down another 10% from current levels, regaining half of the pandemic rally to levels near $650, where it has traded repeatedly since December 2020.
US Stocks: (WMT) Walmart misses the target as (TGT) Target stock suffers 1987-style collapse | FXStreet

US Stocks: (WMT) Walmart misses the target as (TGT) Target stock suffers 1987-style collapse | FXStreet

FXStreet News FXStreet News 19.05.2022 16:32
Walmart started the slide as it missed EPS on Tuesday. Target then suffered a collapse on Wednesday after it missed. Retail stocks led the entire market lower on Wednesday. First Walmart (WMT) and then Target (TGT) gave us exactly the picture that the retail sales number failed to do. Investors got somewhat excited as the retail sales number looked reasonably strong earlier this week. We had mentioned in our commentary that this was largely due to inflation, and it was a lagged report anyway. However, investors chose to take the positives. This optimism was dramatically ruptured on Wednesday when Target released earnings and went max bearish on costs and outlook. Walmart had teed this up Tuesday, but Target really rattled cages. Walmart Earnings Walmart's revenue number actually topped analyst estimates of $140.3 billion, coming in just over $2 billion ahead of analysts' estimate. Earnings per share (EPS) at $1.30 missed the expected $1.48. Margins were hit by rising costs and led Walmart's CEO to say, "US inflation levels, particularly in food and fuel, created more pressure on margin mix and operating costs than expected. We’re adjusting and will balance the needs of our customers for value with the need to deliver profit growth for our future." Walmart stock closed 11% lower on Tuesday, pretty bad but not even close to its competitor. Target Earnings Walmart put us on notice, but things were about to get really ugly. TGT stock fell the most since the 1987 Black Monday crash. TGT stock ended Wednesday down by 25%. Target also beat on revenue, $25.2 billion versus $24.5 billion expected. Earnings per share though also suffered from lower margins. Rising costs are again to blame here. EPS was $2.19 versus $3.06 expected. Profit margins fell to 6% from 8% previously. “We were less profitable than we expected to be, or intend to be over time,” CEO Brian Cornell said in a briefing. “Looking ahead, it’s clear that many of these cost pressures will persist in the near term.” Read next: Altcoins: What Is PancakeSwap (CAKE)? A Deeper Look Into The PancakeSwap Platform| FXMAG.COM As if things were not bad enough on Wednesday, another retailer cut guidance, citing costs and inflationary concerns. This time it was Bath & Body Works. This does at least set up a contrarian trade possibility for next week. More retailers report next week such as Costco (COST), Dollar General (DG), Best Buy (BBY) and Big Lots (BIG). We are at max bearishness for retail now. Any outperformance or bullish outlooks will see a massive rally in our opinion. The risk reward trade is skewed higher. We all expect more of the same. Walmart, Target Key Takeaways Consumer demand is solid. Both companies reported revenue ahead of analyst forecasts. The US consumer is still spending despite rising prices. So far so good. Target did say though that discretionary items saw less interest from consumers who chose instead to focus on lower ticket items. These carry lower margins for retailers. Despite spending holding up, we already are witnessing a shift in consumer spending patterns to lower-cost items. This will continue to hit margins going forward for retailers. Eventually, persistent inflation will lead to consumers cutting back on spending across all areas. Last week's consumer sentiment data from the University of Michigan showed consumer confidence at the lowest level since 2011. Consumers are spending for now, but they know what is coming. Target Stock Forecast Get ready for some serious range expansion. As the legend that is Stanley Druckenmiller puts it, when you get range expansion, the market is preparing for a move in that direction. Well off you go, next stop $100 with a stop at $125 on the way. This coming recession now looks more and more likely. Back in 2019 before the pandemic, Target was trading around $80 to $110. That was without a recession! Target (TGT) stock chart, weekly Read next: Altcoins: What Is Litecoin (LTC)? A Deeper Look Into The Litecoin Platform| FXMAG.COM Walmart Stock Forecast We can see our first target (excuse the pun) in the March 2020 area marked uncertainty and volatility. WMT will trade toward here. After that, it is less clear. WMT is the king of adapting to the market and to consumer demand. It may be better positioned than most to ride out the coming inflationary recession. WMT stock chart, daily
This Week's Tesla Stock Split Could Be The Best Moment To Buy The Stock! Twitter Stock Price Plunged!

Could XAU extend rally? Are Apple, Tesla good to short? | MarketTalk: What’s up today? | Swissquote

Swissquote Bank Swissquote Bank 20.05.2022 10:23
The US equities closed Thursday’s session in the negative following a choppy trading session, as investors’ hearts pounded between buying the dip, or selling further on recession fear. The US 10-year yield declined yesterday, and the sharp retreat in the US yields gave a boost to gold, raising question on whether the gold rally could be sustained, and if yes, how high could it extend. The dollar gave back gains, letting the EURUSD and GBPUSD rally, but the gains may remain short-lived if the dollar skew in market pricing continues. Tesla got kicked out of the S&P’s ESG index, which could have implications on its long-term price potential   On the individual stocks, news that Michal Burry opened a bet against Apple heated conversations about whether Apple is a good ‘short’. And finally, Tesla got kicked out of the S&P’s ESG index, which could have implications on its long-term price potential. Read next: Altcoins: What Is PancakeSwap (CAKE)? A Deeper Look Into The PancakeSwap Platform| FXMAG.COM Watch the full episode to find out more! 0:00 Intro 0:28 Market update 1:20 Is Apple a good stock to short? 3:50 US yields boosted gold. Is gold rally sustainable? 6:25 FX update: euro, pound up on softer dollar 7:58 Tesla out of S&P ESG index: what does it mean for stock performance? Ipek Ozkardeskaya Ipek Ozkardeskaya has begun her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked at HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high net worth clients. In 2012, she started as FX Strategist at Swissquote Bank. She worked as a Senior Market Analyst in London Capital Group in London and in Shanghai. She returned to Swissquote Bank as Senior Analyst in 2020. Follow FXMAG.COM on Google News
GBP: Softer Ahead of CPI Risk Event

(DJIA) Dow Jones Index Rising, Investors Confidence In The Euro Is Looking Bullish As ECB Confirm Interest Rate Increases

Rebecca Duthie Rebecca Duthie 23.05.2022 21:56
Summary: President Joe Biden's announcement of possible easing of tariffs on goods from China fairing well for U.S stocks. Euro expected to continue strengthening. Read next: Xpeng (XPEV) Earnings Results Cause Share Price To Fall  U.S stocks showing signs of recovery The Dow Jones Index rose almost 2% during the trading day on Monday. U.S stocks recovered on Monday in the wake of investors coming-off a 7 week losing streak. The recovery comes after investors received some fresh-trade related information from the Biden Administration. On Monday President Joe Biden announced that he was considering easing tariffs on Chinese goods due to the belief that the tariffs caused financial harm on consumers and businesses. DJIA Price Chart ECB Interest rate hike is confirmed The Euro exchange rate performed well on Monday thanks to the European Central Bank's president confirming that there will be interest rate hikes in July. The Euro responded well to this information and strengthened against both the US Dollar and the Pound. Leading up to the confirmation of the rising interest rates, the Euro had been strengthening, in the wake of the interest rates being risen, investors believe that the Euro will continue to strengthen. Read next: Altcoins: Ripple Crypto - What Is Ripple (XRP)? Price Of XRP | FXMAG.COM Sources: finance.yahoo.com, poundsterlinglive.com Follow FXMAG.COM on Google News
Eurozone Bank Lending Under Strain as Higher Rates Bite

What's The Future Of British Pound (GBP)? Stocks: Snap Has Fallen! How Far Will New Zealand Dollar Go!? | Least worst choices | Oanda

Jeffrey Halley Jeffrey Halley 25.05.2022 11:05
RBNZ hikes by 50-bps The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has raised policy rates by 0.50% to 2.0% this morning, with Governor Orr setting a hawkish tone in the press conference afterwards. In the statement itself, the RBNZ’s “least worst choices” policy seemed to imply that although external risks remained, the domestic economy was strong and could tolerate tighter monetary conditions. Mr Orr seemed to be saying much the same, suggesting that terminal rates could go above 3.0% and would get there sooner, rather than later. We’ll see just how strong the New Zealand economy is in due course, but a hawkish RBNZ has seen the New Zealand dollar rally by 0.70% to 0.6505 today, making it the biggest currency gainer in Asia today. Elsewhere, Singapore’s GDP growth came in tight on expectations, rising by 3.70% YoY for Q1. With inflation data yesterday also less worse than expected, expectations for another unscheduled tightening by the Monetary Authority of Singapore have receded for now. That may bring some relief to the Malaysian ringgit, which has fallen to 3.20 against the Singapore dollar. Snap Has Fallen In Malaysia itself, Inflation data for April continues to remain benign as domestic demand stays subdued. Inflation YoY rose by just 2.30% and will leave Bank Negara, like Bank Indonesia yesterday, in no hurry to tighten monetary policy. Ominously though, the Malaysian ringgit has shown no strength versus the US dollar. USD/MYR remains at recent highs at 4.4000 even as the greenback is experiencing an extended bull market correction versus the G-10 and EMFX elsewhere. If the US dollar turns higher once again, and the MYR resumes its sell-off, Bank Negara’s hand might be forced. Overnight, the recession word weighed on stock markets once again. European PMI data was a mixed bag. Manufacturing PMIs held steady, while Services PMIs fell as consumer demand takes a hit from the rise in the cost of living. That wasn’t enough to stop the euro rally, powered by suddenly hawkish ECB heavyweights. Bank of England, has already signalled a white flag on bringing down inflation The picture was rather grimmer in the United Kingdom where the most honest central bank in the world, the Bank of England, has already signalled a white flag on bringing down inflation and pencilled in a recession next year. UK Manufacturing PMI held steady at 54.6, but Services PMIs plummeted to 51.8. The UK is facing a winter of discontent as the cost of living soars, with the railways RMT union voting to strike over pay negotiations. Expect more of this going forward. Additionally, the Chancellor is apparently preparing to widen the scope of the windfall tax on energy companies, probably to help pay for his cost of living mini-budget. UK stock markets didn’t like that. Finally, the “party gate” report on those lockdown wine frenzies in the No 10 garden is due for release today, potentially putting more pressure on PM Johnson’s leadership. ​ Little surprise that the sterling slumped versus the euro and the US dollar overnight. In the United States, the recession world hit particularly hard after the Snap Inc. induced meltdown by Nasdaq stocks overnight. US New Home Sales plummeted to 591,000 in April, while Richmond Fed Manufacturing slumped to -9 in May. The S&P Global Services Flash PMI for May fell to 53.5, with Flash Manufacturing easing to 57.5. It was the new home sales that really frightened the street, though, as house building, and its ancillary services and suppliers are a good chunk of US domestic GDP. Soaring mortgage interest rates and petrol prices appear to be doing a lot of the Fed’s work for it before it even gets started. Read next: (TRX) TRON USD Decentralised Blockchain Platform That Focuses On Entertainment And Content Sharing. Altcoins: A Deep Look Into The TRON Network | FXMAG.COM If there is one takeout from all of this for me, it is that rising inflation and borrowing rates are already crimping the demand side of the equation. Unfortunately, we are seeing very little sign of price pressures reducing due to a combination of factors, all of which have been thrashed to death here and in research everywhere. The uncomfortable reality is that central banks are going to be forced to continue the tightening path, even as growth slows around the world, because inflation has proven sticky and not transitory. That is the least worst choice central banks need to make in a stagflationary environment. I am asked every day if we have seen the low in the equity market sell-off. Hopefully, I have answered the question. US President Joe Biden’s trip around Asia continues Finally, US President Joe Biden’s trip around Asia continues. Unfortunately, with its emphasis on containing China and hawking a trade agreement empty of potential access to the US domestic market (Congress needs to approve that), the trip is not going to make much headway in re-establishing US leadership in the region. Asia really needs to see the colour of America’s money. Furthermore, the reliability of the US as a partner has taken a further hit today, with White House officials explicitly refusing to rule out the possibility that the US could enact crude oil export restrictions to help cap energy prices domestically. The US doesn’t have a crude oil problem, it has a refining and transportation problem, but let’s not let facts get in the way. I have warned about food nationalism previously, but if President Biden prioritises November’s mid-term elections over the economic war with Russia, and supporting Europe, it really is every man for himself globally. I can’t see that being positive for equities anywhere, or European asset markets full stop, or for Ukraine. Only the Kremlin is likely to be popping champagne as the US does Russia’s divide and conquer for them. This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds. Follow FXMAG.COM on Google News
Expectations of decent sales during holiday season have let Best Buy gain

What's Fed Going To Do!? Which Way Will USD Go? Bitcoin Price (BTC/USD) Is Still Near $30K | Citi says buy the dip in European & EM stocks! | MarketTalk: What’s up today? | Swissquote

Swissquote Bank Swissquote Bank 27.05.2022 10:18
Fed minutes released on Wednesday weren’t as hawkish as many investors feared: the Fed deciders mostly agreed that inflation is too high and labour market is too tight and that they should raise the rates by 50bps for the next two meetings. But, there was no sign that the Fed would go down the 75bp hike road. US Indices, EUR/USD And Gold Price US indices gained for the second day as the FOMC minutes helped improving the investor mood. Nvidia jumped. But the futures are slightly in the negative at the time of writing, as the rally in energy prices certainly throw a shadow on the latest optimism, keeping the inflation worries tight, as the soaring energy prices are one of the major responsible for the skyrocketing inflation. The barrel of US crude rallied above the $115 mark, and consolidates above this level this morning. The US dollar continues softening, the EURUSD tests 1.0750 offers, gold remains bid above the 200-dma though with a fading positive momentum. Turkish Lira (TRY) The lira, on the other remains, and should remain under decent negative pressure as the central bank insists keeping its policy rate at 14% level. And finally, Bitcoin slides below the $30K mark as the ECB points to financial stability concerns due to cryptocurrencies. Read next: Altcoins: Tether (USDT), What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into The Tether Blockchain| FXMAG.COM Watch the full episode to find out more! 0:00 Intro 0:32 Fed is not 'that' hawkish after all! 2:54 Market update 4:19 Dark clouds above our head 5:17 Citi says 'buy the dip' in European & EM stocks 7:14 I say 'be careful' with Turkish BIST & the lira 9:00 FX, commodity update: EUR, Gold and Bitcoin Ipek Ozkardeskaya has begun her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked at HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high net worth clients. In 2012, she started as FX Strategist at Swissquote Bank. She worked as a Senior Market Analyst in London Capital Group in London and in Shanghai. She returned to Swissquote Bank as Senior Analyst in 2020. Follow FXMAG.COM on Google News
Investors Are Awaiting US CPI Print. Earnings Season Is Here! PepsiCo (PEP) And Delta Airlines (DAL) Earnings Are Released This Week!

Striking US Stocks Performance, Crude Oil (BRENT) Nearing $120, Chinese Covid-Zero Influences Markets And More Highlighted In Market Insights Podcast (Episode 335) | Oanda

Jeffrey Halley Jeffrey Halley 30.05.2022 10:37
Jonny Hart speaks to APAC Senior Market Analyst Jeffrey Halley about news impacting the market and the week ahead. It’s June already and a blockbuster week for data releases around the world. First of all, we take a look back at last Friday’s impressive US equity close. Jeff discusses its drivers, its threats, and potentially, its longevity. Then it’s over to Asian equity markets today which are also enjoying a banner day. US Stocks And China   The US Friday session and also covid-zero developments in China over the weekend are driving “most” stock markets higher. Potential banana skin is looming though, with Brent crude rising above $120.00 a barrel in Asia today. Jeff looks at the oil market, what’s driving the price increase, and its potential impact on market sentiment this week. Read next: Altcoins: What Is Monero? Explaining XMR. Untraceable Cryptocurrency!? | FXMAG.COM Holidays And US Non-farm Payrolls There are a number of holidays this week, starting with US markets today, then Greater China is dragon boating on Friday, and the UK has two days off at the end of the week. Happy Jubilee Your Majesty. We discuss how holidays can impact markets. Finally, it’s a wrap of the heavy-duty data calendar across Asia and the US this week, culminating in the US Non-Farm Payrolls. Jeff highlights also, something that markets have been ignoring up until now, the start this week, of Federal Reserve Quantitative tightening. This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds. Follow FXMAG.COM on Google News
Crude Oil Prices Continue to Rise Amid Tight Supply and Economic Uncertainty

Banning Russian Crude Oil In Progress - Will Hungary Join The EU? Fed's Quantitative Tightening, Chinese PMI Is Released This Week. What Will Eurozone Inflation Bring On To The Markets? | Oanda

Jeffrey Halley Jeffrey Halley 30.05.2022 11:11
Asian markets are mostly positive this morning as Shanghai announced a raft of stimulus measures and both Shanghai and Beijing eased Covid-19 restrictions. The devil is in the detail of course, and corkers in both cities still face challenges either going to work, or even being allowed to leave the house. Nor has the reality that the virus only has to get lucky once, prompting the reimposition of tightened covid-zero restrictions, in the minds of investors. Such minutiae are usually ignored by markets when it doesn’t suit the preferred narrative, and so it is today. Asia is pricing in peak virus in China and a recovery in growth. Wall Street Another tailwind was the strong performance by Wall Street on Friday, which closed out a banner week prompting the usual “maybe this is the bottom” response from the financial press and FOMO investors. That was assisted by US data on Friday. Personal Income and Expenditure for April were still robust, but eased from March’s numbers, and Michigan Consumer Sentiment retreated from 65.2 in April to a still-healthy 58.4 for May. Lower data equalling reduced need for Fed tightening equals buy everything. Simple really. Although I must say, I’m struggling to see how a slowing US economy is good for equities, I don’t want to spoil the party though. Crude Oil - EU Banning Russian Crude Another negative headwind being completely ignored by markets is oil prices. Brent crude has edged above USD 120.00 a barrel this morning as the European Union continues its efforts to get Hungary on board for a proposed EU ban on Russian crude imports. The underlying driver though is the massive squeeze on refined products we are seeing around the world, which is lifting the base ingredient for all that diesel and petrol that has got very expensive. The world would have been flapping and wringing its hands about the end of days if we had said Brent crude was above USD 120.00 a barrel a month or two or three or four ago; now it is being ignored. By the way, if China recovers, oil prices will as well; just saying. Read next: Altcoins: Cardano (ADA) What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into Cardano (ADA) | FXMAG.COM Non-farm Payrolls - Fed's Sell-off Also being ignored by markets completely in Non-Farm Payroll week is that the Federal Reserve also starts quantitative tightening this week. The Fed will start to sell USD 47.50 billion of bonds and MBS’ per month, scaling up to USD 95 billion per month by September. Meanwhile, the ECB is still quantitatively easing while talking about hiking rates to errrr, zero per cent. And there is a war in Eastern Europe. Long EUR/USD above 1.0800 anybody? Despite being less than impressed with either the Fed’s guidance or overall performance over the past year or so, at least they’re not the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. I find it highly unlikely they will abruptly swing to less a hawkish stance between now and September, meaning three more 0.50% hikes into September and fewer jokes being made about their credibility. Additionally, the USD 8.5 trillion balance sheet needs to reduce is carb and saturated fat intake, so quantitative tightening it is. From my position as a pilot fish cleaning the teeth of the capital markets sharp on the periphery, none of this is being priced in, although I acknowledge that markets can remain irrational, longer than you can stay solvent. Read next: Altcoins: Tezos (XTZ) What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into The Tezos Platform | FXMAG.COM Chinese PMI Now that I have fulfilled my role as the voice of reason on a Monday, it is time to have a look at what the week ahead brings. Asia’s calendar is dead today with the week’s highlights being China’s Official and Caixin PMIs coming out tomorrow and Wednesday. Wednesday and Thursday also see a swath of manufacturing and services PMIs from the rest of Asia, while Australia releases its April Trade Balance on Thursday. China’s data will have a very binary impact this week if peak-covid is here. Soft data will likely ramp up fears of a slowdown, with a decent showing likely to see hot money flowing in looking for the bottom. Soft data from the rest of Asia will raise fears of spreading China contagion. Watch also for Indonesian Inflation on Wednesday. A high print will increase the pressure on Bank Indonesia to finally hike this month. Holidays Holidays will play their part this week. US markets are closed for Memorial Day today, although electronic trading is open in Asia. Indonesia is closed Wednesday while mainland China and Hong Kong and Taiwan are closed on Friday for the International Dragon Boat Festival. Thursday and Friday see United Kingdom markets closed for a bank holiday and Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. Activity in Asia will likely be muted from Thursday. Follow FXMAG.COM on Google News Eurozone Inflation Today features German May Inflation with Eurozone, French and Italian Inflation tomorrow. High prints will likely increase the hiking noise around the ECB and could extend the euro’s recent gains. The ECB should probably stop quantitatively easing first though. Eurozone and US Manufacturing PMIs are released on Wednesday, along with US ADPO Employment that forecasters will pointlessly use to extrapolate Friday’s data. We also have a Bank of Canada policy decision which should feature a 0.50% hike. Falling NFP? Finally, on Friday, we will see May’s US Non-Farm Payrolls data. Market expectations are a moving target this week, but as of today, markets are expecting a fall from 428,000 in April to a still robust 320,000 for May. Trading the data in the hour after its release has always been a sure-fire way to lose money. But if pushed, I would say a lower number will have the market pricing in less Fed tightening, while a higher number might dish out a cold dose of reality to the bottom-fishers in equity, bond, and currency markets ahead of the mid-month FOMC meeting. This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.
5% for the US 10-Year Treasury Yield: A Realistic Scenario

S&P 500 (SPX) Rallied, So Did Nasdaq And Dow Jones (DJI), In Europe Sentiment Can Be Affected By Very High Crude Oil Price Caused And Russian Oil Ban | Oanda

Jeffrey Halley Jeffrey Halley 30.05.2022 12:55
Asian markets rally on positive Wall Street and China hopes S&P 500, Nasdaq And Dow Jones US markets closed out the week on another positive note after US data alleviated inflation fears and thus, future Fed tightening, and showed strength among US consumers still. Realistically, after such a positive week, it would have taken a lot to knock the FOMO gnomes of Wall Street off their path of bottom-picking nirvana. The S&P 500 rallied by 2.48%, while the Nasdaq leapt by an impressive 3.33%, with the Dow Jones climbed by 1.76%. The rally has continued in Asia, with Nasdaq futures 0.90% higher, with S&P 500 futures up 0.40%, and Dow futures edging 0.10% higher. US OTC markets are closed for Memorial Day. End Of COVID Restrictions? Asia is also turning in a positive performance, following the impressive New York close, and boosted by hopes that China’s Beijing and Shanghai hubs are reopening from virus restrictions and a package of stimulus measures released by the Shanghai local government. Nikkei 225 And CSI 300 Japan’s Nikkei 225 has coat-tailed the Nasdaq 2.10% higher today, with South Korea’s Kospi gaining 1.25%, and Taipei rallying by 1.60%. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite is a more cautious 0.30% higher, with the CSI 300 rising by just 0.40%. The ever-optimistic Hong Kong, however, had leapt 2.50% higher, boosted by hopes of an Evergrande bond deal. Follow FXMAG.COM on Google News Metals In regional markets, Singapore is up just 0.20%, while Kuala Lumpur has fallen 0.25%, and Jakarta is 0.60% lower. A Goldman Sachs report suggesting metals prices have peaked is likely weighing on all three markets, as risk sentiment swings back to more growth-stock orientated markets. Bangkok has gained 0.65%, while Manila has rallied by 1.25%. Australian markets have also liked what they have seen with Wall Street and China, the ASX 200 and All Ordinaries climbing by 1.25% today. Read next: Altcoins: Tether (USDT), What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into The Tether Blockchain| FXMAG.COM Russian Oil Friday’s New York close and Asia’s rally today should be enough to lift European equity markets this afternoon, although the still simmering EU import ban on Russian oil and Brent crude above USD 120.00 a barrel will temper bullish animal spirits. This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.
Rates and Cycles: Central Banks' Strategies in Focus Amid Steepening Impulses

More Efficient Stock Markets Were Accompanied By (USD) US Dollar And US Bonds Yields Weakening Last Week. In This One, Fed Members Speak, US Jobs Data Is Released And HP Stock Price May Be Affected By Earnings | Conotoxia

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 30.05.2022 11:41
Last week brought a rebound in stock markets, breaking a series of weeks of losses, along with a weakening USD and falling bond yields. The current one begins in a similar vein. Learn more on Conotoxia US Jobs Data What are the key events for financial markets and investors in the coming days? In the United States, the employment report may draw attention. In May, the US economy is expected by consensus to add 310,000 jobs. The unemployment rate is likely to remain at 3.6 percent for the third consecutive month, remaining the lowest since February 2020. On the other hand, wages were expected to rise 0.4 percent, which is slightly higher expectations than the 0.3 percent increase in April. On an annual basis, however, it is expected to fall from 5.5 to 5.2 percent. Fed Members Speak Their Minds Several Fed officials will speak on monetary policy this week, and the market has already reduced the chances of US interest rate hikes. At present, investors seem to assume that they may amount to 2.5-2.75 percent in July 2023. As recently as at the beginning of the month, hikes were priced at 3.25-3.5 percent. Read next: Altcoins: Tezos (XTZ) What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into The Tezos Platform | FXMAG.COM Earnings - HP Stock And GameStop Stock Price May Fluctuate The earnings season is underway. Salesforce, Kirkland's, Ambarella, HP and GameStop are expected to announce quarterly results. So far, 97 percent of companies in the S&P 500 index have reported updated results, with 77 percent reporting an EPS surprise and 73 percent reporting a revenue beat, according to Factset data. Monetary Policy - Bank Of Canada (BoC) From a global monetary policy perspective, the Bank of Canada may raise its interest rate by 50 basis points, marking the third consecutive increase in rates in Canada. Also in focus: first-quarter GDP growth data for Canada. In the UK, on the other hand, final PMI estimates are likely to confirm a sharp slowdown in business activity growth in May amid intensifying inflationary pressures and heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Read next: Altcoins: Tether (USDT), What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into The Tether Blockchain| FXMAG.COM Eurozone Inflation - Germany, France, Italy, Spain In Europe, key Eurozone inflation reports will be released, including from Germany, France, Italy and Spain. The Eurozone annual inflation rate is expected to rise again in May, reaching a new record high of 7.7 percent, up from 7.4 percent in April. Unemployment figures will be published in the eurozone, as well as in Germany, Spain and Italy, while France, Italy, Switzerland and Turkey will report updated GDP for the first quarter. Follow FXMAG.COM on Google News Daniel Kostecki, Director of the Polish branch of Conotoxia Ltd. (Forex service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 80.77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
So S&P 500 (SPX) Seems To Be Ready To Really, Can US Bond Yields And US Dollar (USD) Go Any Higher? | Monica Kingsley

So S&P 500 (SPX) Seems To Be Ready To Really, Can US Bond Yields And US Dollar (USD) Go Any Higher? | Monica Kingsley

Monica Kingsley Monica Kingsley 30.05.2022 15:13
S&P 500 turned the corner, yields peaked for now, and dollar likewise. Risk-on sentiment is ruling the day, with value outperforming tech – but at least the latter is also recovering. Stocks though haven‘t turned the corner in earnest, no matter the gains they‘re still about to clock in. Enjoy the rally while it lasts (long entry is a matter of individual trade‘s risk reward ratio – more than a few good percent are still ahead before the fresh downleg strikes. Fed You can look forward for tomorrow‘s extensive analysis, where I‘ll examine the Fed and macroeconomics in the weeks and months ahead vs. the turnaround sequence discussed three weeks ago – unfolding like clockwork. Here‘s a quote from tomorrow‘s article: (…) I don‘t think we‘re looking at a fresh uptrend, there is still much stress (to be reflected in stock prices) in the consumer arena. VIX For now, the key question is the degree to which VIX calms down – would it be able to keep below 23-24 to extend the shelf life of this rally? And for how long would the lull in volatility last? I think the answer is a few short weeks, before it becomes obvious that the fundamentals haven‘t changed. The consumer remains in poor shape, inflation would remain stubbornly high (even as it had indeed peaked), and the credit default swaps for quite a few (consumer sensitive) companies are rising relentlessly, which isn‘t yet reflected in underlying stock prices. I‘m talking financials too – this broad stock market rally has more than a couple of percent higher to go before the weight pulls it back down, and earnings estimates get downgraded again. Stayed tuned for more, enjoy and profit along! Read next: Altcoins: Tether (USDT), What Is It? - A Deeper Look Into The Tether Blockchain| FXMAG.COM Happy extended weekend. Thank you for having read today‘s free analysis, which is available in full at my homesite. There, you can subscribe to the free Monica‘s Insider Club, which features real-time trade calls and intraday updates for all the five publications: Stock Trading Signals, Gold Trading Signals, Oil Trading Signals, Copper Trading Signals and Bitcoin Trading Signals. Follow FXMAG.COM on Google News
S&P 500 Trades 10% Higher Than On May 20th, But Hawks Are About To Hunt Shortly, Probably Bringing Bear Market And People's Unwillingness To Spend Their Money | FxPro

S&P 500 Trades 10% Higher Than On May 20th, But Hawks Are About To Hunt Shortly, Probably Bringing Bear Market And People's Unwillingness To Spend Their Money | FxPro

Alex Kuptsikevich Alex Kuptsikevich 30.05.2022 15:18
US stock indices developed a strong rebound all last week. The S&P500 spot index reached 4200, gaining more than 10% from the lows of May 20. Such a rapid recovery has raised the question of whether we are seeing a brief bear market rally or whether the markets have passed the “bottom” of the correction. The situation looks like touching bear market territory was a red rag for the bulls, who have since turned to aggressive action. Fundamental factors are now on the side of the former, while technical analysis favours the latter scenario. Fighting With Inflation Or Supporting Economic Growth Monetary authorities in the USA and other developed economies are increasing the pace of monetary policy tightening, focusing on fighting inflation rather than supporting economic growth. We continue to get bearish signals from this perspective, as the economy and markets have yet to feel the brunt of rates not seen in over ten years. Meanwhile, inflation and a slowdown in consumer demand due to high rates promise to eat into real corporate profits in the coming months. The tipping point in consumer activity is unlikely to come before we hear from the Fed that there will be no further rate hikes. Read next: Altcoins: What Is Polkadot (DOT)? Cross-Chain Transfers Of Any Type Of Asset Or Data. A Deeper Look Into Polkadot Protocol | FXMAG.COM The S&P500 index has perfectly touched 61.8% of the rally from the lows of March 2020 to January 2022. We have seen some rallies in a falling market during the five-month decline. But so far, touching the formal bear market area (20% decline from the peak) in the S&P500 has attracted buyers. Moreover, by the time the lows were touched earlier this month, the market was already oversold, but there were also signs of divergence between the RSI on the daily timeframes and the index level. This is a clear indication that the selling was not as fierce as before. Read next: Altcoins: What Is Monero? Explaining XMR. Untraceable Cryptocurrency!? | FXMAG.COM S&P 500 The very fact that the S&P500 took a 7-week-long losing streak, one of the longest in history, and has now shown a sharp rebound, is setting a positive mood. The last time we saw such a bullish awakening was in November 2020, after which the stock market added for more than a year, even though there seemed to be no room for growth. Follow FXMAG.COM on Google News
ECB's Knot: July Rate Hike Necessary, Beyond July Uncertain; Canadian CPI Supports Rates on Hold; Global Crypto Market at $1.2 Trillion; Oil Market Tightens with Russian Shipments Drop and China's Support Measures

Stocks: (SPX) S&P 500, Nasdaq And Dow Jones (DJI) Have Increased... But Not In The USA!? | Oanda

Jeffrey Halley Jeffrey Halley 06.06.2022 16:19
Asian markets rise as China eases restrictions Friday’s higher than expected US Non-Farm Payrolls saw Wall Street make an abrupt retreat as easier Fed hiking hopes on a slowing economy were dashed, although I’d argue a slowing US economy wouldn’t be good for equities either. The S&P 500 finished 1.63% lower, the Nasdaq tumbled by 2.47%, and the Dow Jones fell by 1.06%.  Asian equities rise on Beijing reopening - MarketPulseMarketPulse In Asia, an easing of restrictions in Beijing, along with reiterations of easy monetary policy in Japan has shielded Asia from New York’s back-and-forth volatility, lifting sentiment in US futures and North Asian markets. US futures have rebounded with Nasdaq futures rising 0.70%, S&P 500 futures are 0.50% higher, and Dow futures have added 0.40%.   Japan’s Nikkei 225 has risen by 0.60%, unwinding a rocky start. South Korea is closed today, but mainland China’s Shanghai Composite has jumped by 1.05%, with the CSI 300 leaping 1.50% higher. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng has rallied by 1.10% and it appears that reopening news and its positive outlook forward is outweighing any backwards-looking Chinese data like the PMIs for now.   The picture is more mixed in the rest of Asia, possibly thanks to higher oil prices and a soggy New York close. Singapore is 0.15% lower, having unwound most of its earlier losses. Taipei is 0.55% higher, while Jakarta has fallen by 1.50%, led by resources after the government announced it was investigating potential palm oil distribution cartels. Malaysia closed today, while Bangkok is just 0.25% lower, and Manila is down by 0.55%. Australian markets have also been unable to shake off Friday’s weak Wall Street close, ahead of an expected rate hike by the RBA tomorrow. The All Ordinaries are down by 0.25%, with the ASX 200 falling by 0.55%.   With most of Europe closed today, most eyes will be on UK markets, which reopen after a four-day break. The rise in oil prices over the past two days is likely to make cost-of-living concerns front-and-centre again, potentially weighing on sentiment. A potential change of leadership in the UK, regardless of your political views, will be another source of uncertainty. This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.
Diesel Supply Concerns Grow as Russia Bans Exports: Impact on Middle Distillate Markets

Can Apple Stock Plunge Today!? Fed Decision May Affect US Dollar (USD), S&P 500, Gold (XAUUSD) And Crypto (e.g. Bitcoin Price & ETHUSD) | Swissquote

Swissquote Bank Swissquote Bank 15.06.2022 10:28
The Federal Reserve (Fed) will announce its latest rate decision today, but most of the wild ride is certainly done by now; the market fully prices in a 75bp hike at today’s decision. The aggressive rise in hawkish Fed expectations pushed the US 2-year yield to 3.45% on Tuesday. The 10-year yield flirted with 3.50%. The S&P500 lost another 0.38%, while Nasdaq eked out a small 0.20% gain, but after hitting a fresh low since November 2020. The US futures are in the positive this morning, but the market will likely remain tense until the Fed breaks the news that it hikes by 75bp. The updated economic projections and the dot plot have an important weight for future expectations. Bigger rate hikes from the Fed, and the soaring US dollar are certainly not a gift for other central banks. The US dollar is a base currency, and the rapid appreciation in the greenback increases the cost of the goods that the other countries negotiate in terms of US dollars on international markets, starting from oil and commodities. As a result, a stronger US dollar is a bigger inflation threat for the world. This is why, the hawkish Fed expectations have a bigger domino effect power on the rest of the world. The German 10-year yield continues pushing higher, and the EURUSD sees a decent support near the 1.04 threshold after the European Central Bank (ECB) announced an unscheduled meeting to discuss the market turmoil. Cable slipped below the 1.20 mark, and a 25bp hike from the Bank of England (BoE) may not suffice to compensate the hawkish Fed, and the renewed Brexit fears.   Watch the full episode to find out more! 0:00 Intro 0:27 The Fed decision 4:26 Market update 5:32 Gold, Bitcoin down 6:43 FedEx jumps & dividend paying stocks see higher interest 7:41 Expensive dollar threatens ECB, BoE 8:52 FTSE to feel the pinch of engdangered Brexit deal Ipek Ozkardeskaya has begun her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked at HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high net worth clients. In 2012, she started as FX Strategist at Swissquote Bank. She worked as a Senior Market Analyst in London Capital Group in London and in Shanghai. She returned to Swissquote Bank as Senior Analyst in 2020. #Fed #FOMC #decision #dotplot #ECB #unscheduled #meeting #BoE #USD #EUR #GBP #CHF #Bitcoin #MicroStrategy #crude #oil #gold #market #selloff #SPX #Dow #Nasdaq #investing #trading #equities #stocks #cryptocurrencies #FX #bonds #markets #news #Swissquote #MarketTalk #marketanalysis #marketcommentary _____ Learn the fundamentals of trading at your own pace with Swissquote's Education Center. Discover our online courses, webinars and eBooks: https://swq.ch/wr _____ Discover our brand and philosophy: https://swq.ch/wq Learn more about our employees: https://swq.ch/d5 _____ Let's stay connected: LinkedIn: https://swq.ch/cH  
Industrial Metals Outlook: Assessing the Impact of China's Stimulus Measures

Have Tech Stocks Plunged!? FX: So Bank Of Japan Seems To Delay Supporting JPY, British Pound (GBP) Rallied| Stock Markets: S&P 500 Lost 3.2%

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 17.06.2022 12:40
Summary:  The Bank of Japan continues to swim against the stream as it insisted on maintaining its yield-curve-control and negative policy rate at the meeting overnight, with daily operations to defend the yield cap on Japanese government bonds. Elsewhere, US equity markets continued to new lows even as US treasuries found strong support as a batch of weak US data points raises concerns on the US economic outlook.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) The Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 futures fully reversed and more the FOMC pump with S&P 500 futures closing at the 3,671 level yesterday down 3.2%, while technology stocks fell even more. The current drawdown is now the second deepest at the same time into the drawdown compared to previous historical drawdowns underscoring the seriousness of the current market regime. Initial jobless claims weakened yesterday, and the Philly Fed survey showed significant downward pressure on new orders hitting levels typical of recessions. The fear of recession could short-term keep a lid on interest rates and thus ironically support equities and maybe cause a mild rebound over the coming weeks. The VIX forward curve remains well behaved suggesting no panic yet in US equities. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSI.I) and China’s CSI300 (000300.I) The indices were up more than 1% despite ugly selloffs in overseas markets overnight. The fall in property prices in the top 70 cities slowed to -0.2% m/m vs April -0.3%.  Property prices in Tier-1 cities rose 0.4% m/m and the declines in Tier-2 and lower-tier cities moderated. On the other hand, JD.COM’s (09618) JD Retail CEO told Bloomberg that recovery in consumption in China had been slow from the reopening of cities, such as Shanghai. The Company was expecting that it would take a long time for household consumption to recover as the economy and household income had been severely hit over this wave of lockdown. EURGBP and GBPUSD Sterling rallied hard yesterday in the wake of the Bank of England meeting yesterday on the guidance the meeting produced rather than due to the smaller 25-basis point hike. its reversal yesterday took GBPUSD well away from the cycle lows of 1.2000 posted earlier this week, trading as high as 1.2406 late yesterday, just above a major local 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of the recent sell-off at 1.2387 and far above the prior low-water mark from May of 1.2156. A full reversal in GBPUSD requires another rally surge through 1.2500. Elsewhere, sterling hopefuls should have a look at EURGBP, where the latest leg higher above 0.8600 has been sharply reversed, suggesting a more well-defined reversal. Watching the 0.8500 area for whether we follow through lower and back into the range extending below 0.8300 again. USDJPY and JPY pairs With the Bank of Japan voting 8-1 to maintain course and the 0.25% cap on 10-year JGB yields, the JPY weakened sharply after a bout of speculation this week that Governor Kuroda and company might relent on its policy and bring a sharp resetting of the JPY higher. In the background, ironically, a powerful rally in global bonds yesterday was a JPY-supportive development that has eased the JPY-negative impact of the overnight BoJ decision. The BoJ statement did say that the Bank needs to pay attention to the FX level, from which one might infer that there is a JPY weakness level that the BoJ would find unacceptable and could prompt a change of course in the future. From here, the only route to a higher JPY is via a new drop in bond yields and shift away from CB tightening elsewhere or if the Bank of Japan is seen as giving up on its policy at a later date, possibly on coming inflation releases and risks of a weaker JPY raising the cost of living to an unacceptable degree. Crude oil (OILUKAUG22 & OILUSJUL22) Crude oil is heading for its first weekly decline in six with global growth concerns and prolonged lockdowns in China being the main catalyst. On top of that the short-term technical outlook has weakened following several failed attempts to break higher, but given the tight supply outlook, highlighted by the IEA earlier in the week. Support in Brent is likely to emerge already between $116 and $113.25. NY Harbor Diesel (HOc1) and gasoil (GASOILUKJUL22) both trades higher on the week, a reflection of the tightness that despite growth concerns, is likely to keep the energy sector supported.  Gold (XAUUSD)  Gold remains rangebound following a two-day rally that was supported by US growth concerns and a continued rout in cryptos and global stock markets. Together with another dose of weak U.S. data (see below) they helped send US treasury yields and the dollar lower on Thursday, thereby easing some of the recent pressure on bullion.  Total holdings in bullion-backed ETFs have declined by less than 0.25% this past week, a strong sign that investors look to gold for protection against the rout in global markets, together with increased focus on the need to hedge against the risk of stagflation.  On a relative basis gold’s year-to-date outperformance against the S&P 500 has reached 24%, long-end bonds 26% and 75% against blockchain (BKCH:arcx). US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) US treasuries rallied hard yesterday amidst ugly sentiment in the equity market and on a set of weak US data points pointing to a decelerating housing sector (more below), with weekly jobless claims remaining near the highs of the last few months. The US 10-year treasury yield has declined back to the pivotal area around 3.20%, which was the cycle high before the latest surge toward 3.50%. An extension of the rally that takes yields significantly back below that 3.20% mark would suggest that we have reached a cycle peak for now and further consolidation is set to follow, perhaps on concerns for an incoming recession. What is going on? Bank of Japan defies the global tightening wave The Bank of Japan maintained the negative 0.10% policy rate today, confirming that it won't join the Federal Reserve and other major global central banks in tightening monetary policy. The Japanese central bank will keep its target for the 10-year Japanese government-bond yield at+0.25% and announced daily operations to ensure the cap on yields is maintained. While the central bank said we will take additional easing measures without hesitation if needed, there was a rare reference to the yen weakness. Swiss National Bank surprises with 50 basis point hike yesterday The Swiss National Bank, according to surveys, was not expected to hike rates yesterday, though a rapidly growing minority of observers were looking for a rate rise. The hike of 50 basis points brought the policy rate to –0.25% and makes it clear that the SNB is happy to separate itself from ECB policy and allow the CHF to strengthen as one of the tools to combat rising inflation risks in the country. EURCHF sold off below 1.0200 after trading above 1.0400 ahead of the decision. USDCHF slid to lows of 0.9632 from above parity the day before the decision. The Bank of England hikes 25 basis points, sharpens forward guidance language The majority of observers were looking for the 25-basis point move from the BoE, with some residual uncertainty on whether the bank might hike by more due to the large Fed rate hike this week and the weakness in sterling. Three MPC members of the nine voting wanted a 50-bp hike. At the same time, the BoE predicted that CPI would peak slightly above 11% in October, said that it would respond “forcefully” on any signs of worsening inflation, language that kept the short end of the UK yield curve pinned near the cycle highs. China centric commodities remain under pressure China centric commodities such as iron ore SCON2), coal and copper (COPPERUSSEP22) remain under pressure after China advised its covid restrictions probably won’t ease until next year. In addition, the recent spate of weaker than expected economic US data combined with central banks stepping up their fight to combat inflation have raised concerns about the outlook for global growth in general. US economic indicators weaken US building permits and housing starts eased in May to 1.695mn and 1.549mn respectively while the initial jobless claims were at 229k versus 217k expected. Further, Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey printed a negative figure of -3.3 for June, the first such contraction since May 2020. More so, the future activity index was contractionary for the first time since the GFC. Adobe shares slip 5% in extended trading on revenue outlook miss As we highlighted on our podcast yesterday Adobe’s earnings were a test of business investment in marketing and content activities. While the business remains sticky the company put out a revenue outlook at $17.7bn vs est. $17.9bn due some demand weakness, Russia impact and USD headwinds.   What are we watching next? US recession concerns rising The mix of data this week generally raises concerns that the US economy is decelerating, but the evidence is patchy and will need confirmation for this to become a a more entrenched theme. At the same time, equity traders have to figure out whether they should celebrate weak data as something that will eventually lead US yields lower and see the pace of Fed tightening eventually reversing or fret weak data because of the implications for corporate profits. The next US data points of interesting include the preliminary Services and Manufacturing PMI surveys for June next week. Fed blackout period ending The Fed speakers will be back in action as the blackout period ends. Chair Powell is speaking later today at the inaugural conference on the International Roles of the US Dollar. Other Fed speakers are due as well including Esther George who voted for a 50bps rate hike this week. Earnings Watch Next week’s earnings calendar is light but there are three important earnings releases to watch and those are Lennar, FedEx, and Accenture that all will give insights into the US housing market, logistics, and recruitment dynamics. Monday: Kanzhun Tuesday: Lennar Thursday: FedEx, Accenture, Darden Restaurants, FactSet Friday: Carnival, China Gas, CarMax Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0900 – Eurozone May Final CPI 1200 – Poland May Core CPI 1230 – Canada May Teranet/National Bank Home Price Index 1245 – US Fed Chair Powell to make opening remarks at a conference 1315 – US May Industrial Production / Capacity Utilization 1430 – UK Bank of England Chief Economist Pill to speak Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher Source: Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – June 17, 2022 | Saxo Group (home.saxo)
Let's Have A Look At S&P 500 (SPX) And (BTC/USD) Bitcoin Price Charts

Let's Have A Look At S&P 500 (SPX) And (BTC/USD) Bitcoin Price Charts

Monica Kingsley Monica Kingsley 08.08.2022 08:37
S&P 500 bulls made a good run, but didn‘t deal with the bearish outcome looming, The renewed tightening bets spurred by strong headline NFPs figure, will take their toll on risk-on assets that had been driving Friday‘s run. Bets on another 75bp hike in Sep have increased dramatically, practically proving Daly or Kashkari right in that the Fed isn‘t done yet or even close to the Fed funds rate to really get inflation down. While they claim that 2% is doable and soft landing within reach, the progression from 9% downwards just doesn‘t go fast like that. At best (repeating myself for months here), they would get to 5-6% CPI, which means a tough Sep and one more FOMC still this year. Combined with balnce sheet shrinking projections, that would take a great toll on the real economy – one that is being softened by the still very expansive fiscal policy. Let‘s look around the world (apart from the troubles in Europe and Asia such as shown in JPY weakness), many other central banks are tightening, Latin America is also tightening. It‘s not only UK and the implications discussed on Friday: (…) Let‘s have a look at yesterday‘s Bank of England moves, kind of foreshadowing what‘s reasonable to expect from the Fed. In the UK, the prospect of entering recession Q4 2022 amd remaining in it for more than a couple of quarters, is being acknowledged. The central bank though intends to keep tightening anyway, preferring to take on inflation after it ran out of control longer they publicly anticipated. Meanwhile in the States, unemployment claims have edged higher – indicative of growing softness in the labor market. Long-dated Treasuries continue rising as is appropriate in these conditions of economic slowdown slowly gathering pace. Similarly to inflation expectations, they‘re not yet taking the Fed‘s hawkish rhetoric absolutely seriously unlike commodity prices that are at best carving out a bullish divergence (still in the making, therefore without implications yet). Precious metals appear farther along the route of acknowledging the upcoming stagflationary reality as I continue looking for inflation to remain in the stubbornly high 5-6% range no matter the Fed‘s actions over the next 3 FOMC meetings at least. Obviously, the hotter the underlying markets, the more tightening has to be done, and that‘s extra headwind for the markets, and one making the Fed pivot a bit more elusive. The key thing that has changed from the above, is the turn in yields – Treasuries would have a harder time rising now, but given that I expect better CPI on Wednesday (oil is down and hasn‘t bottomed yet etc), yields should retreat in what I look to be a positive market reaction – one of hoping that the Fed wouldn‘t tighten that much as is feared today they would. This wouldn‘t however save the stock market bulls. Consider though as well where the Fed funds rate is now, and how far above 3% Powell can take it. He will try, sure, but even 4% in our debt based economy would prove bridge too far when it comes to any soft landing (stating the very obvious). Back during the last successful one (mid 1990s), we were going through genuinely positive tech revolution that helped cushion restrictive monetary policy – these macro implications for productivity growth don‘t apply now. To feel the daily pulse, let‘s move right into the charts (all courtesy of www.stockcharts.com) – today‘s full scale article features good 6 ones, with more thoughts for premium subscribers. S&P 500 and Nasdaq Outlook S&P 500 is clinging by the finernails, and the only question remains whether we have a few dozen points still to go on the upside to reach even more excessive bullishness, or whether the slow grind lower is assuming the reins from here. The bull trap is almost complete. Credit Markets HYG is going to attract a sell in the not too distant future – more so than it did on Friday. The opening gap was more than half closed, but this isn‘t going to last. All it takes to bring junk bonds down, is more conviction about the Fed‘s hawkish path ahead. Bitcoin and Ethereum Cryptos are slightly up, which bodes well for risk taking. Not expecting huge gains today here or in SPX, but a reversal of Friday‘s setback.
Tesla Will Struggle To Recover In The Coming Years

Wow! Tech Stocks: Tesla Stock Price Impresses With Its Performance!

FXStreet News FXStreet News 08.08.2022 16:38
Tesla stock falls 6% on Friday as rally starts to stall. TSLA stock is up 31% in the past month. Elon Musk said a recession is likely to last 18 months but be mild. Tesla stock fell on Friday as commentary from Elon Musk was taken as relatively bearish. The Tesla CEO said that the US looked set for a mild recession, probably in the ballpark of 18 months. Also more noteworthy in our view, Tesla stock is up nearly 32% in the past month and was due for a stall. Regular readers will have noted that your author has been short Tesla for some time. Luckily, I saw the writing on the wall and closed the position some 25% ago in the infancy of the rally. Also read: Tesla Stock Deep Dive: Price target at $400 on China headwinds, margin compression, lower deliveries Now it may be time to review the short thesis. This equity rally has been long in duration and percentage now and may be set to stall. The catalyst for the rally, that of falling yields, is reversing after Friday's strong jobs report. That strong report has given the Fed more ammunition to go for 75 basis points again in September. We are likely to see rhetoric turn notably hawkish this week from Fed speakers. Tesla stock news Also of note were other somewhat bearish comments from Elon Musk about the long-awaited Tesla Cybertruck. “Cybertruck pricing, it was unveiled in 2019, and the reservation was $99," Musk said. "A lot has changed since then, so the specs and the pricing will be different.” One has to assume this is a warning that prices will be higher given inflation and supply chain issues, but perhaps the biggest news piece is the imminent Tesla stock split. This is due to take place after August 17, which will be the record date. The Tesla stock split is to be a 3-for-1, so that Tesla shareholders on August 17 will receive an additional two extra shares in the form of a special dividend. Trading on a stock split-adjusted basis is scheduled to begin on August 25. Stock splits are generally seen as beneficial to stock prices simply due to human psychology – we like things that are perceived as cheaper even if in reality they are not. Tesla stock forecast Tesla recently marked its monthly gain of over 30% by flashing overbought on both the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Money Flow Index (MFI). It also retraced to the 200-day moving average but has not consolidated above there. The $945-to-$975 zone was an area of major resistance, and TSLA stock price has failed here. Momentum looks to be stalling, and Tesla is nothing if not a momentum play. This week could be interesting with Wednesday's CPI. That will dictate yields and the next Fed move, both of which will be the dominant factors in the next move for Tesla stock. Tesla chart, daily
Turbulent Times Ahead: USD Smile and JPY's Future - Q3 2023 Analysis

US Close – Stock rally faded, Nvidia’s warning, Oil rebounds, Gold above $1800, and Bitcoin eyes breakout

Ed Moya Ed Moya 09.08.2022 08:16
With persistent inflation and a strong labor market, the Fed is on a clear path to raise rates. This week is all about inflation and many traders are expecting to see the inflation to decelerate. Headline inflation is widely expected to decrease on a month-over-month over basis.  The focus will probably fall on core and those prices will remain elevated.  Much of Wall Street was stunned that the Biden administration was able to pass something before the midterm elections.  The Senate was able to pass a $430 billion landmark tax, climate, and health-care bill. Investor appetite for risk was healthy early from the news on American clean power jobs and on a new EV tax credit. A small future tax on buybacks did not spoil the initial stock market rally, but may make some companies run up their repurchases before the end of the year.  US stocks were unable to hold onto the early euphoria after Nvidia reminded us of the troubling macro environment as supply chain issues persist.  Nvidia Tech stocks were dragged down after Nvidia was the bearer of bad news and highlighted a significant slowdown was happening in gaming. Nvidia is going to have disappointing revenue numbers and they expect challenging market conditions to persist in the third quarter.  Nvidia is one of those companies that does things right and has the majority of analysts backing their stock(37 buys, 11 holds, and 1 sell). Nvidia’s warning is reminding traders of how severe the macro impacts might be on tech for the rest of the year.    FX The dollar rally is on hold, but it is far from over. Falling Treasury yields as some investors scramble to the sidelines should remind investors demand for safe-havens won’t be fading away anytime soon.  Corporate America gloom will remain the dominant theme for the third quarter and that should keep the dollar supported despite the current exhaustion with its rally. The interest rate differential has mostly been priced in for the dollar’s advantage and that could get even wider if Wednesday delivers a hotter-than-expected inflation report.  Oil Oil prices are rebounding as the recession riddled outlook and crude demand destruction calls were overdone. A slightly weaker dollar also provided a boost for commodities, but that might not last.  Energy traders digested a Goldman Sachs note that made a case for higher oil prices.  Goldman emphasized that the oil market is stuck in a larger deficit and you can’t argue against that. Much attention remains with Iran nuclear deal talks, but it seems unlikely a breakthrough will happen anytime soon.  Tehran seems like they are willing to negotiate, but an imminent decision to agree to the EU’s proposal seems unlikely.     Gold Gold prices are trying to get its groove back as Treasury yields drop and risk appetite struggles to reassert itself. Gold might struggle to rally much further until we get beyond this massive inflation report. It seems Wall Street is expecting pricing pressures to moderate here and that has been good news for bullion.  While headline inflation might ease, the focus should be on core and that probably will remain hot. Crypto Bitcoin remains near its recent highs as crypto traders are looking to see if the crypto winter is over. The return of some meme stock mania is taking away some attention from cryptos, but that might not matter.  The selling pressure has significantly eased and momentum traders could pounce on the break of the $25,000 level.  This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds. US Close - Stock rally faded, Nvidia's warning, Oil rebounds, Gold above $1800, and Bitcoin eyes breakout - MarketPulseMarketPulse
Australian CPI Expected to Rise to 5.2%: Impact on AUD/USD and RBA's Rate Hike Dilemma

US Tech Stocks: Reduced Bitcoin Mining May Be One Of Reasons Why Nvidia Stock Price May Be Fluctuates

Peter Garnry Peter Garnry 09.08.2022 10:42
Summary:  Nvidia has see a dramatic reduction in demand for its GPUs related to its gaming segment. While there might be some weakening of demand in gaming the real driver is most likely Bitcoin mining which has seen a plunge in profitability forcing many Bitcoin miners to end operations and flood the market with used GPUs causing prices to tumble. The lower GPU prices are forcing Nvidia to write down its inventory by $1.3bn. Shares opened 8% lower but have recovered half the losses as the company says the long-term gross margin profile is intact. What happened to the gross margin? A little more than two months ago Nvidia announced FY23 Q1 results showing record revenue, but today the graphics card maker is pre-announcing Q2 results cutting its gross margin (GAAP) guidance for the Q2 quarter (ending 31 July) from 65.1% to 43.7% and expected revenue of $6.7bn compared to previously announced $8.1bn. The shortfall in revenue is driven by its gaming segment which Nvidia is saying is impacted by the macroeconomic backdrop. The fall in demand in its gaming segment has also meant that Nvidia has too much inventory and has been forced to adjust prices. The company is therefore booking a $1.3bn inventory write-down. It is a well-known fact that Nvidia’s GPUs are heavily used in Bitcoin mining despite the graphics card maker has never officially linked its business to the industry. Because Nvidia does not know precisely the end use case of their GPUs, revenue related to Bitcoin mining likely ends up in both its datacenter and gaming segments. The falling demand for Nvidia’s GPUs has nothing to do with the gaming industry but instead the profitability of the Bitcoin mining industry. As the chart below shows, the profitability of Bitcoin mining has shrunk from being massively profitable in late 2021 to almost loss-making today. This naturally drives lower demand for additional GPUs used in Bitcoin mining and it also forces miners out of business which subsequently floods the market with old GPUs. This increase in available GPUs through secondary sales has caused GPU prices to fall dramatically as revealed by Gizmodo back in June. Nvidia says long-term outlook is unchanged The last time Nvidia saw a dramatic decline in its share price was back in late 2018 as Bitcoin mining profitability went negative following Bitcoin’s massive speculative rally in late 2017 drumming up demand for GPUs for mining. This time is no different. Long-term Nvidia is riding many of the most important technology vectors, but a key risk of course is the growing tensions between the US and China which could alter its supply chains and market opportunity. Nvidia has 102 partners in China which is roughly 12% of its total number of partners. Despite the significant guidance being cut investors are bidding up shares after being down 8% on the open. Nvidia shares have corrected half of the initial decline down only 4%. The reason is likely that the company states that it believes that its long-term gross margin profile is intact. Nvidia weekly share price | Source: Saxo Group Bitcoin mining profitability | Source: https://en.macromicro.me/charts/29435/bitcoin-production-total-cost Source: Nvidia shares down 4 on guidance cut | Saxo Group (home.saxo)
The Commodities Feed: Delayed LNG Strike Action and Tightening Oil Market Fundamentals

US Indices Decreased Slightly Yesterday. S&P 500 Lost Ca. 0.1%, Nasdaq 100 Decreased By Over 0.3%

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 09.08.2022 12:50
Summary:  Revenues misses and weaker-than-expected guidance from Nvidia and others dragged technology names and stirred some concerns about potentially more downward earnings revision from other companies. Moderation of U.S. consumers’ inflation expectations helped provide a bid for long-end treasuries and brought the yield curve further inverted. What is happening in markets?    Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)  U.S. equities pared a 1% rally in the morning and finished moderately lower, S&P 500 -0.12%, Nasdaq 100 -0.37%.  Tech giant Nvidia (NVDA:xnas) reported preliminary Q2 revenues of US$6.7 billion, missing the expected US$8.1 billion by 17%. The company said demand for its video game processors being weak and the challenging market conditions will persist in Q3.  Share prices of Nvidia fell 6.3%. Palantir Technologies (PLTR:xnys) plunged 14% after reporting guidance expecting slower growth.  The news sparked some concerns among investors’ about more earnings downgrades for the technology sectors. U.S. 2-10 yield curve getting more inverted U.S. treasuries started to rally during London hours, as German bunds and gilts gained, and traded well bids, especially the longer end of the curve, throughout the U.S. session. The long-end was help by moderation of U.S. consumers’ expectations of incoming inflation. In the New York Federal Reserve Banks’s consumer survey, U.S. consumer expectations for inflation over the coming 1 year fell to 6.2% in July  (vs 6.8% in June) and expectations for inflation over the coming 3 years fell to 3.2% in July (vs 3.6% in June), the lowest since April 2021.  In the survey, consumers’ 5-year inflation expectations came down to 2.3% in July (vs 2.8% in June). The 10-year yield declined 7bps to 2.76%.  As the 2-yield was down only 2bps to 3.21%, the 2-10 year yield spread further inverted to -45bps, approaching its -56bps low in 2000.  Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIQ2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Stocks traded in Hong Kong and mainland bourses finished Monday moderately lower, Hang Seng Index -0.77%, CSI300 -0.2%.  Chinese internet, online education and Chinese property stocks traded in Hong Kong were mostly down.  Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH.I) lost 1.8%, Alibaba (09988:xhkg) -4.4%, Tencent (00700:xhkg) -2.7%, Xiaomi (0181:xhkg) -3.6%, JD.COM (09618:xhkg) -3.3%. After the market close, a report from Bloomberg saying that India, the largest overseas market of Xiaomi, is going to restrict the company from selling smartphones cheaper than 12,000 rupees (USD150).  Cathay Pacific (00293:xhkg) gained 1.4% following Hong Kong’s announcement of cutting inbound travelers’ hotel quarantine to 3 days from 7 days.  In the mainland, the lockdown of Hainan, a southern resort island, triggered some buying of traditional Chinese medicine and Covid-treatment related names.  Australian dollar rallied against the U.S. dollar DXY (DXU2) finished Monday trading 0.2% lower.  Among the G10 currencies, the Australian dollar was the top performer and rallied 1.1% versus the greenback.  Euro and JPY were little changed against the U.S. dollar. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) WTI Crude gained 1.6% to USD90.45, being helped by stronger Chinese import figures. What to consider? Nvidia preannounced weaker-than-expected revenues Nvidia pre-announced preliminary Q2 revenues coming at USD6.7 billion (-19% QoQ, +3% YoY), 17% below the company's prior guidance and below market expectations.  Weaknesses in the processors for the gaming industry, and to lesser extents, the data center and professional visualization industries dragged down revenues.   Softbank's Vision Funds suffered large losses Softbank reported a net loss of 3.16 trillion yen and its Vision Funds business segment reported pretax losses of JPY2.33 trillion. The pre-exit unrealized losses in the Vision Funds 1 & 2 were USD10.9  billion for listed stocks and USD8.9 billion for unlisted stocks.  The company announced smaller additional share buyback authorization of 400 billion yen and said that the company may not use all of it in the coming 12 months. For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast. Source: APAC Daily Digest: What is happening in markets and what to consider next – August 9, 2022 | Saxo Group (home.saxo)
(NVDA) Nvidia Stock Price Plunged! Meme Stocks' Performance Seems To Be Surprisingly Good

(NVDA) Nvidia Stock Price Plunged! Meme Stocks' Performance Seems To Be Surprisingly Good

Swissquote Bank Swissquote Bank 09.08.2022 12:23
Nvidia shares dived 6.30% yesterday on news that the company missed its revenue projection by $1.4 billion due to slower demand for PCs and gaming. Nvidia pulled other US chipmakers into the negative along with it, and brought the question of whether the chip rally, which was triggered by a $52 billion government help is over. US Dollar Index Amid NFP The dollar index gave back gains following the blowout NFP figures printed on Friday. Investors are confident that inflation in the US may have peaked last month, as the New York Fed's Survey of Consumer Expectations showed steep drops in inflation expectations in July. Forex - EUR/USD and more In the FX, the EURUSD is steady around the 1.02 level, waiting for the dollar to soften on ‘good news’ to make a further attempt toward the 1.0350 mark, where stands the 50-DMA. Given that the European Central Bank (ECB) played its biggest cards at last meeting, there is not much upside potential from the ECB standpoint. On the dollar-yen front, traders now call the end of a particularly winning long USDJPY trade this year. View on Flipboard!   Watch the full episode to find out more! 0:00 Intro 0:23 Nvidia plunges on slowing earnings 1:44 The revenge of energy stocks 3:10 Crude oil: where to? 4:59 Meme stocks rally, but gains are fragile 6:06 US inflation expectations ease before CPI print 7:52 FX update: EURUSD steady, USDJPY under pressure For economists, inflation expectations are more important than the actual data. Find out why! ▶️ Discover today's market highlights on our #MarketTalk with @IpekOzkardeskay: https://t.co/XnXQYVPS3H pic.twitter.com/v4SJEssR8z — Swissquote (@Swissquote) August 9, 2022 Ipek Ozkardeskaya Ipek Ozkardeskaya has begun her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked at HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high net worth clients. In 2012, she started as FX Strategist at Swissquote Bank. She worked as a Senior Market Analyst in London Capital Group in London and in Shanghai. She returned to Swissquote Bank as Senior Analyst in 2020. #Nvidia #earnings #drop #chip #energy #meme #stocks #BBBY #AMC #XOM #Chevron #crude #oil #US #inflation #expectations #EUR #USD #JPY #SPX #Dow #Nasdaq #investing #trading #equities #stocks #cryptocurrencies #FX #bonds #markets #news #Swissquote #MarketTalk #marketanalysis #marketcommentary _____ Learn the fundamentals of trading at your own pace with Swissquote's Education Center. Discover our online courses, webinars and eBooks: https://swq.ch/wr _____ Discover our brand and philosophy: https://swq.ch/wq Learn more about our employees: https://swq.ch/d5 _____ Let's stay connected: LinkedIn: https://swq.ch/cH
Talking S&P 500, Nasdaq, Gold, Bitcoin And More - 09/08/22

Talking S&P 500, Nasdaq, Gold, Bitcoin And More - 09/08/22

Monica Kingsley Monica Kingsley 09.08.2022 16:00
S&P 500 bulls were clearly rejected, and it‘s highly questionable whether they would make another run. I doubt they would. And even if, it‘s bound to get rejected as none of the bearish fundamental reasoning ceased to apply, and it‘s getting reflected in the chart technicals as well. As stated yesterday: (…) The renewed tightening bets spurred by strong headline NFPs figure, will take their toll on risk-on assets that had been driving Friday‘s run. Bets on another 75bp hike in Sep have increased dramatically, practically proving Daly or Kashkari right in that the Fed isn‘t done yet or even close to the Fed funds rate to really get inflation down. While they claim that 2% is doable and soft landing within reach, the progression from 9% downwards just doesn‘t go fast like that. At best (repeating myself for months here), they would get to 5-6% CPI, which means a tough Sep and one more FOMC still this year. Combined with balnce sheet shrinking projections, that would take a great toll on the real economy – one that is being softened by the still very expansive fiscal policy. Given tomorrow‘s CPI that‘s likely to come in better than the markets fear it would (i.e. in support of the inflation has peaked thesis), the room for disappointment in inflation trades is there, and the hopes that the Fed might not get as aggressive on a better CPI figure, wouldn‘t balance that out in my view. Here comes a fitting question just in that allows me to develop these thoughts further to the benefit of the whole audience: Q: CPI wednesday will certainly show much lower numbers than previously (mainly because oil was recently much cheaper than in May, June). FED has proven to be rather readily dovish in such events. Investors will see the US companies and the US technology sector as the safe haven. Because elsewhere in the world (mainly in politically and economically weak Europe) is a mess. US as safe-heaven was proven by recent Apple and Amazon earnings and also by recently approved US government stimulus for micro-chip / semiconductor production. Isn't this environment rather bullish for US equities especially to the near future ?? Outflow of money from Europe into strong and safe US. A: I doubt the Fed would react dovishly to softening inflation as they have to take on the pesky inflation expectations (it was a key lesson of the 1970s when they didn‘t). It gives them optically a better chance at taking inflation down fast – and the markets would wake up to their dovish perception mistake, should they make it in the first place. The fiscal stimulus is though being faded in the stock market, it‘s closer to the case of sell the news than anything else. The money flows are going to be selective about what assets they would lift, and odds are it wouldn‘t be parked in tech for too long if Treasuries stop revolting against the Fed‘s rate raising. Such a time point would come over the nearest months ahead, but still I am not counting on any giant Nasdaq run, or rather any run to speak of (no matter the degree of Treasuries‘ next move). To feel the daily pulse, let‘s move right into the charts (all courtesy of www.stockcharts.com) – today‘s full scale article features good 6 ones, which I am unlocking today in full so that you get a better the regular care premium subscribers get, especially before tomorrow‘s inflation data. S&P 500 and Nasdaq Outlook S&P 500 is turning down, and Friday‘s signal is getting repeated – i.e. getting stronger. The daily indicators have also deteriorated, but the volume and sectoral internals message is the most important here. Credit Markets HYG indeed attracted sell – and the reversal to the downside needs a confirmation today in terms of rising volume and daily close anywhere in the Friday‘s daily range. Gold, Silver and Miners Precious metals want to turn up, and miners are at least on a daily basis following. Echoing yesterday‘s premium thoughts, they aren‘t selling too hard on the turn towards anticipating tougher tightening ahead. With hikes to be paused after Sep for a while, the metals would have an easier time before that FOMC day in Sep. Next week‘s CPI will have a short-term effect only – the consequences of recognizing inflation as sticky no matter what the Fed has done already, would be greater. This moment awaits still. Crude Oil Crude oil‘s rebound isn‘t yet turning the tide, and the approaching seasonality spells trouble ahead. I‘m still leaning towards the $88 support slowly giving way as $85 approach comes next – we may land in the low 80s really before rebounding early November. Copper Copper‘s short-term bullish move is encouraging, but the vulnerability to the hawkish Fed moves and rhetoric remains – it would probably play out after the CPI only, which applies also to oil. Bitcoin and Ethereum Cryptos are clearly reversing, and that‘s a good sign for those betting on a bearish resolution of tomrorow‘s inflation data overall.
Russia-Ukraine War - October 10th: Russian Air Strikes

Risk, Uncertainty And Invasion Of Ukraine. Is Risk Unavoidable Nowadays?

Peter Garnry Peter Garnry 10.08.2022 10:00
Summary:  Concentrated equity portfolios are common for many retail investors leading to very high risk. We show that by blending a 5-stock portfolio 50/50 with an ETF that tracks the broader equity market the risk is brought down considerably without sacrificing the long-term expected return. If an investor is willing to lower return expectations a bit then the ETF tracking the equity market can be switched to track an asset allocation and reduce risk even more. Finally, we highlight the risk to real wealth from inflation and what can potentially offset some of that risk. Risk is...? What should you know about it? Last year I wrote about my personal approach to managing my own capital which we got a lot of positive feedback from. Given equities would peak a few months later the note was quite timely. With equities significantly lower from their recent peak and the recent bounce in equities, we are taking a slightly different angle to risk management. We are laying out what risk is and what the typical retail equity investor can do to avoid having too much risk should equities begin falling again. First we need to distinguish between risk and uncertainty. Risk can formally be described as process that is quantifiable with a certain confidence bound related to the sampling size; in other words, a process in which can have statistics. Uncertainty is defined as unquantifiable such as the invasion of Ukraine, because the event is unique and thus has no meaningful prior. If we look broader at risk it all starts with the ultimate definition of risk which is avoidance of ruin. While being an important concept and something that can be avoided if an investor refrain from using leverage, ruin can also be losing 98% of wealth; it is just not complete ruin. But it is ruin enough that you need a 4900% gain to get back illuminating the asymmetry between gains and losses. The most normal definition of risk is the variance of some underlying process (for instance a stock) which is a statistically measure of how much a process varies around its mean value. The higher the variance the higher probability of big moves in either direction. Since most retail investors are equity investors, and thus long-only investors, we should care more about the downside risk than the upside risk (gains) as I want as much variance if its lower bound is above zero return. Focusing on downside risk/returns leads to a concept called semi-variance which only focuses on the returns below a certain threshold, often zero, and describes the downside risk. The problem with this approach is that the underlying assumption is a well-behaved distribution of negative returns. Now, we know financial markets and equities are fat-tailed meaning that we observe many more big moves (both gains and losses) than what the normal distribution would indicated. This means that the semi-variance will underestimate the true risk because of the asymmetry in returns. These observations have lead to concepts such as conditional value-at-risk which is a fancy word for calculating the average return of the say 1% or 5% worst returns. This measure has many wonderful statistical properties with one of them being that it is less sensitive to the assumptions of the underlying distribution of returns. A somewhat related concept which is easier to understand is maximum drawdown which is defined as the decline in portfolio value from the maximum value to the lowest value over the entire investment period. Because of the asymmetry of gains and losses, traders focus a lot on this measure and cut losses to avoid big drawdowns or large single period losses (daily, weekly, monthly). How to reduce risk? 5-stock rule The typical return investor has limited capital and thus often end up with portfolios holding only 3-5 stocks as minimum commission otherwise would equates to high transaction costs. The first plot shows the returns of a 5-stock portfolio in European equities in which we select randomly five stocks in January 2010 and let them run through time. If one stock is delisted or bought we just place the weight in cash. We do this 1,000 times to the intrinsic variance in outcomes of such portfolios. A considerable percentage of these 1,000 portfolio end up with a negative return over this 12,5 year period which in itself is remarkable, but the number of portfolios that end with extremely high total returns is also surprisingly high. In other words, a 5-stock portfolio is a lottery ticket with an extreme variance in outcome. The blue line and area represent the median total return path and its variance if these random 5-stock portfolios are blended 50/50 with a the STOXX 600 Index. The striking result is that the median expected return is not changed but total risk (both gains and losses) is reduced considerably. The sharpe ratio, which measures the annualised return relative to the annualised volatility, improves 20% on average by adding an equity market component. So most retail investors can drastically improve their risk-adjusted returns by adding an ETF that tracks the overall equity market without sacrificing the expected return. Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group If move on to the maximum drawdown concept we see on the first plot how much the maximum drawdown is reduced by adding the equity market to the 5-stock portfolio. All retail equity investors that have a small concentrated equity portfolio should seriously move to a portfolio where the 5 stocks are kept but reduced to 50% of the portfolio with the freed up cash invested in an ETF that tracks the overall equity market. If an investor is willing to lower expectations for long-term returns, then the ETF tracking the equity market can be substituted with an ETF holding a balanced basket of many different asset classes including government bonds, credit and different types of equities. We use the Xtrackers Portfolio UCITS ETF as an example and should not be viewed as a recommendation but one example of a diversified asset allocation. As the second plot shows the expected distribution of maximum drawdowns from combining 5 stocks with an ETF tracking multiple asset classes is better compared to the other solution combining only with the equity market. The risk-adjusted return is now 43% better than the simple 5-stock portfolio. Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group Given equities have bounced back in July and so far also in August retail investors have an unique opportunity to bolster portfolios in the case we get another setback in equity markets. Our view is still that inflation will continue to surprise to the upside and that financial conditions will continue to tighten further adding headwinds for equities. At the same time deglobalisation is accelerating adding unpredictable sources of risk to the overall system. Inflation always says its' word These classical approaches to reduce equity risk mentioned above hold for normal environments but if we get into trouble with a prolonged inflationary period such as in the 1970s or a deflation of equity valuation among technology and health care stocks then we could get prolonged period of negative real rate returns. We have two periods in US equity market history since 1969 in which it took 13 and 14 years to get back to a new high in real terms. Our overall theme in our latest Quarterly Outlook was about the tangible world and our bet is that tangible assets will continue to be repriced higher against intangible assets and if we are right investors should consider commodities to offset the risk to real wealth from inflation. Source: Bloomberg Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/the-retail-equity-investors-guide-to-risk-management-09082022
Tepid BoJ Stance Despite Inflation Surge: Future Policy Outlook

Walt Disney Results Are Beyond All Expectations. Large Chinese Company Fires More Than 9K Employees!!! Market Newsfeed - 11.08.2022

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 11.08.2022 10:40
Summary:  Risk on mode activated with a softer US CPI print, both on the headline and core measures. Equities rallied but the Treasury market reaction faded amid the hawkish Fedspeak. The market pricing of Fed expectations also tilted more in favor of a 50 basis points rate hike for September immediately after the CPI release, but this will remain volatile with more data and Fed speakers on tap ahead of the next meeting. Commodities, including oil and base metals, surged higher as the dollar weakened and demand outlook brightened but the gains appeared to be fragile. Gold unable to hold gains above the $1800 level. What is happening in markets?   Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)  U.S. equities surged after the CPI prints that came in at more moderate level than market expectations. Nasdaq 100 jumped 2.9% and S&P500 gained 2.1%. Technology and consumer discretionary stocks led the market higher. Helped by the fall in treasury yields and better-than-feared corporate earnings in the past weeks, the Nasdaq 100 has risen 21% from its intraday low on June 16 this year and may technically be considered in a new bull market. The U.S. IPO market has reportedly become active again this week and more activities in the pipeline. Tesla (TSLA:xnas) climbed nearly 4% on news that Elon Musk sold USD6.9 billion of Tesla shares to avoid fire sale if having to pay for Twitter. Walt Disney (DIS:xnys) jumped 7% in after-hours trading on better-than-expected results. U.S. yields plunged immediately post CPI but recouped most of the decline during the US session The yields of the front-end of the U.S. treasury curve collapsed initially after the weaker-than-expected CPI data, almost immediately after the CPI release, 2-year yields tumbled as much as 20bps to 3.07% and 10-year yield fell as much as 11bps to 2.67%. Treasury yields then spent the day gradually climbing higher. At the close, 2-year yields were only 6bps at 3.21% and the 10-year ended the day at 2.78% unchanged from its previous close. The 2-10 yield curve steepened by 6bps to -44bps. Hawkish Fedspeak contributed to some of the reversal in the front-end from the post-CPI lows. At the close, the market is pricing in 60bps (i.e. 100% chance of at least a 50bps hike and about 40% chance of a 75bps rate hike) for the September FOMC after having come down to pricing in just about 50bps during the initial post-CPI plunge in yields. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIQ2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hang Sang Index declined nearly 2% and CSI300 was down 1.1% on Wednesday. Shares of Chinese property developers plunged.  Longfor (00960) collapsed 16.4% as there was a story widely circulated in market speculating that the company had commercial paper being overdue. In addition, UBS downgraded the Longor together with Country Garden, citing negative free cash flows in the first half of 2022.  Country Garden (02007) fell 7.2%.  After market close, the management held a meeting with investors and said that all commercial papers matured had been duly repaid. China High Speed Transmission Equipment (00658) tumbled 19% after releasing negative profit warnings.  The company expects a loss of up to RMB80 million for first half of 2022. Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical (00874) declined 4.1% after the company filed to the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong that the National Healthcare Security Administration was investigating the three subsidiaries of the company for allegedly “obtaining funds by ways of increasing the prices of pharmaceutical products falsely”. Wuxi Biologics (02269) dropped 9.3% as investors worrying its removal from the U.S. unverified list may be delayed in the midst of deterioration of relationship between China and the U.S. Oversized USD reaction on US CPI The US dollar suffered a heavy blow from the softer US CPI print, with the market pricing for September FOMC getting back closer to 50 basis points just after the release. As we noted yesterday, the July CPI print is merely noise with another batch of US job and inflation numbers due ahead of the September meeting. USD took out some key support levels nonetheless, with USDJPY breaking below the 133.50 support to lows of 132.10. Next key support at 131.50 but there possibly needs to be stronger evidence of an economic slowdown to get there. EURUSD broke above 1.0300 to its highest levels since July 5 but remains at risk of reversal given the frothy equity strength. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Oil prices were relieved amid the risk on tone in the markets as softer US CPI and subsequent weakness in the dollar underpinned. WTI futures rose towards $91.50/barrel while Brent futures were at $97.40. EIA data also suggested improvement in demand. US gasoline inventories fell 4,978kbbl last week, which helped push gasoline supplied (a proxy for demand) up 582kb/d to 9.12mb/d. This was slightly tempered by a strong gain in US crude oil inventories, which rose 5,457kbbl last week. Supply concerns eased after Transneft resumed gas supplies to three central European countries which were earlier cut off due to payment issues. European Dutch TTF natural gas futures (TTFMQ2) European natural gas rallied amid concerns over Russian gas supplies and falling water levels on the key Rhine River which threatens to disrupt energy shipments. Dutch front month futures rose 6.9% to EUR 205.47/MWh as a drought amid extreme temperatures has left the river almost impassable. European countries have been filling up their gas storage, largely by factories cutting back on their usage. Further demand curbs and more imports of liquefied natural gas are likely the only option for Europe ahead of the winter. Gold (XAUUSD) and Copper (HGc1) Gold saw a run higher to $1800+ levels immediately after the US inflation report as Treasury yields plunged. However, the precious metal gave up much of these gains after Fed governors warned that it doesn’t change the US central bank’s path toward higher rates this year and next. With China also ceasing military drills around Taiwan, geopolitical risks remain capped for now easing the upside pressure on Gold. Copper was more buoyant as it extended gains on hopes of a stronger demand amid a fall in price pressures.   What to consider? Softer US CPI alters Fed expectations at the margin The US CPI print came in weaker than expected for both the headline and the core measures. The headline softness was driven by huge drops in energy prices from June levels, with the entire energy category market -4.6% lower month-on-month and gasoline down -7.7%, much of the latter on record refinery margins collapsing. The ex-Food & Energy category was up only +0.3% vs. the +0.5% expected, with soft prices month-on-month for used cars and trucks (-0.4%) and especially airfares (-7.8%) dragging the most on figure – again primarily a result of lower energy prices. While this may be an indication that US inflation has peaked, it is still at considerably high levels compared to inflation targets of ~2% and the pace of decline from here matters more than the absolute trend. Shelter costs – the biggest component of services inflation – was up 5.7% y/y, the most since 1991. Fed pricing for the September meeting has tilted towards a 50bps rate hike but that still remains prone to volatility with another set of labor market and inflation prints due ahead of the next meeting. Fed speakers continued to be hawkish Fed speaker Evans and Kashkari were both on the hawkish side despite being some of the most dovish members on the Fed panel. Evans again hinted that tightening will continue into 2023 as inflation remains unacceptably high despite a first sign of cooling prices. The strength of the labor market continued to support the case of a soft landing. Kashkari reaffirmed the view on inflation saying that he is happy to see a downside surprise in inflation, but it remains far from declaring victory. He suggested Fed funds rate will reach 3.9% in 2022 (vs. market pricing of 3.5%) and 4.4% in end 2023 (vs. market pricing of 3.1%). China’s PPI inflation eased while CPI picked up in July China’s PPI came in at 4.2% YoY in July, notably lower from June’s 6.1%).   The decline was mainly a result of lower energy and material prices.  The declines of PPI in the mining and processing sectors were most drastic and those in downstream industries were more moderate.  CPI rose to 2.7% YoY in July from 2.5% in June, less than what the consensus predicted.  Food inflation jumped to 6.3% YoY while the rise in prices of non-food items moderated to 1.9%. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.8% YoY in July, down from June’s 1.0%. In its 2nd quarter monetary policy report released on Wednesday, the People’s Bank of China expects the CPI to be at around 3% for the full year of 2022 and the recent downtrend of the PPI to continue. China issues white paper on its stance on Taiwan China ended its military drills surrounding Taiwan on Wednesday, which lasted three days longer what had been originally announced. In a less confrontational white paper released, the Taiwan Affairs Office and the Information Office of China’s State Council reiterated China’s commitment to “work with the greatest sincerity” and exert “utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification”.  The paper further says that China “will only be forced to take drastic measures” if “separatist elements or external forces” ever cross China’s red lines.  Walt Disney results beat estimates Disney reported solid Q2 results with stronger than expected 152.1 million Disney+ subscribers, up 31% YoY and beating market expectations (148.4 million).  Revenues climbed 26% YoY to USD21.5 billion and adjusted EPS came in at USD1.09 versus consensus estimates (USD0.96). Singapore Q2 GDP revised lower The final print of Singapore’s Q2 GDP was revised lower to 4.4% YoY from an advance estimate of 4.8% earlier, suggesting a q/q contraction of 0.2% as against gains of 0.2% q/q earlier. The forecast for annual 2022 growth was also narrowed to 3-4% from 3-5% earlier amid rising global slowdown risks. Another quarter of negative GDP growth print could now bring a technical recession in Singapore, but the officials have, for now, ruled that out and suggest a mild positive growth in Q3 and Q4. Softbank settled presold Alibaba shares early and Alibaba let go of a large number of employees The news that Softbank expects to post a gain of over USD34 billion from early physical settlement of prepaid forward contracts to unload its stake in Alibaba (09988:xhkg/BABA:xnas) and Alibaba laid off more than 9,000 staff between April and June this year added to the pressures over the share price of Alibaba.   For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.   Source: APAC Daily Digest: What is happening in markets and what to consider next – August 11, 2022  
Elon Musk Sells 8 Millions Tesla Stocks? Here Is Why!

Why Elon Musk Sells His Tesla Shares? Here Is The Answer!

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 11.08.2022 11:10
What is happening? The CEO of the world's largest electric car company has sold about $8.4 billion worth of Tesla shares over the past week. According to documents provided to regulators, the series of transactions took place between August 5 and 9, 2022, shortly after the August 4 shareholder meeting in Austin. As recently as April of this year, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO wrote that he "has no plans for another stock sale," after divesting a stake worth $8.5 billion to buy Twitter. This is not the first time Elon Musk has confused his public. The businessman seems to frequently abuse his influence, throwing around bold statements and increasing the expectations of his followers. When asked recently if he had stopped selling Tesla, for the time being, he replied "yes. In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners don’t come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock." However, it's hard not to get the impression that the CEO is simply taking advantage of the recent rebound in the share price. It is possible that his goal is not just to finance the deal, but to try to protect his private fortune. Such a major sale of an important shareholder had a significant impact on both Twitter and Tesla's stock price. Elon Musk failure or a smart plan? Twitter rose at the opening by almost 4%, thanks to the increasing likelihood of the deal being finalized, which may have been due to Musk's recent tweet. Most of the news coming out of the courtroom also reinforces analysts' belief that the Tesla CEO will be forced to buy the company. The platform's stock price has gained more than 35% over the past month, with a price target. Tesla, influenced by the news of the sale of a large stake by the most important person in the company, has lost around 7% over the past four sessions. The company itself gained more than 44% from its July 16 bottom to its August 4 peak at the shareholder meeting. Tesla, like many technology companies, has gained significantly from the recent bear market rally. This growth can also be attributed to Tesla's results, in which it beat expectations for earnings per share (EPS) by more than 26%. However, the macroeconomic analysis is rather pessimistic for the electromobility market in the short and midterm. During recessions, companies are usually unable to achieve high expected growth rates by falling consumer demand. More often than not, revenues fall, profits decline, and as a result, stock prices fall as well.   RafaÅ‚ Tworkowski, Junior Market Analyst, Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.   Source: Elon Musk sells nearly 8 million Tesla shares, justifying it by the Twitter lawsuit
Key Support Levels in Forex Pairs: EURUSD, GBPUSD, and EURGBP

Apple Stock Price Hit $170 On Thursday! What About New iPhones Production? Energy Stocks: BP Increased By Over 1% Yesterday!

Swissquote Bank Swissquote Bank 12.08.2022 10:46
US equities could hardly consolidate gains they posted following the Wednesday’s softer-than-expected inflation data in the US, even as the producer price index printed the first monthly decline since April 2020. The barrel of US crude rebounded to $94 as the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that the biggest US oil companies’ combined deficit is almost back to the historical lows, and that the soaring gas prices boosted the use of oil-power generation, and that the ‘substantial’ gas-to-oil switching is, in return, set to boost crude consumption for the rest of the year, even as demand growth from other parts of the economy slows. Technology stocks and cryptocurrencies remain on a positive path as well, for now. Apple hit $170 yesterday Oil stocks gained along with the rebound in crude prices. But technology stocks and cryptocurrencies remain on a positive path as well, for now. Apple hit $170 yesterday, as Amazon is preparing to test its 200-DMA to the upside. Elsewhere, gold remains under pressure, while Bitcoin tests $25K resistance- Ethereum’s final test before the Merge update was succesful, hinting that major cryptocurrencies could extend gains during the weekend. Watch the full episode to find out more! 0:00 Intro 0:30 Post-CPI rally remains short-lived 3:33 Oil jumps as IEA warns of ‘substantial’ oil-to-gas demand shift 5:12 Oil stocks gain, tech stocks remain on positive path, too 7:55 Gold soft, Bitcoin & Ethereum up on ETH’s successful pre-Merger test #MarketNews Some stock market #bulls are watching a technical indicator for clues on whether a summer rebound in #US equities will roll on. 👇https://t.co/k7q9LZhAsZ — Swissquote (@Swissquote) August 12, 2022 Ipek Ozkardeskaya Ipek Ozkardeskaya has begun her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked at HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high net worth clients. In 2012, she started as FX Strategist at Swissquote Bank. She worked as a Senior Market Analyst in London Capital Group in London and in Shanghai. She returned to Swissquote Bank as Senior Analyst in 2020. #crude #oil #rally #IEA #warning #BP #XOM #Apple #Amazon #Bitcoin #Ethereum #Merge #test #US #inflation #data #Gold #XAU #SPX #Dow #Nasdaq #investing #trading #equities #stocks #cryptocurrencies #FX #bonds #markets #news #Swissquote #MarketTalk #marketanalysis #marketcommentary _____ Learn the fundamentals of trading at your own pace with Swissquote's Education Center. Discover our online courses, webinars and eBooks: https://swq.ch/wr _____ Discover our brand and philosophy: https://swq.ch/wq Learn more about our employees: https://swq.ch/d5 _____ Let's stay connected: LinkedIn: https://swq.ch/cH  
The Gold Rally Is Continuing To Stall, This Could Be A Good Year For Crude Oil

WTI Astonishing Streak! Japan Jumps. China, Australia And South Korea Are In Trouble?

Marc Chandler Marc Chandler 12.08.2022 15:15
Overview: The markets are putting the finishing touches on this week’s activity. Japan, returning from yesterday’s holiday bought equities, and its major indices jumped more than 2%. China, South Korea, and Australia struggled. Europe’s Stoxx 600 is firmer for the third consecutive session. It is up about 1.3% this week. US futures are also firmer after reversing earlier gains yesterday to close lower on the day. The US 10-year yield is flat near 2.88%, while European benchmarks are 4-6 bp higher. The greenback is mixed. The dollar-bloc currencies and Norwegian krone are slightly firmer, while the Swedish krona, sterling, and the yen are off around 0.3%-0.6%. Emerging market currencies are also mixed, though the freely accessible currencies are mostly firmer. The JP Morgan Emerging Market Currency Index is up about 1.15% this week, ahead of the Latam session, which if sustained would be the strongest performance in three months. Gold is consolidating at lower levels having been turned back from $1800 in the middle of the week. Near $1787.50, it is up less than 0.7% for the week. September WTI is edging higher for the third consecutive session, which would match the longest streak since January. US natgas surged 8.2% yesterday but has come back offered today. It is off 2.3%. Europe’s natgas benchmark is snapping a three-day advance of nearly 8% and is off 1.8% today. Iron ore rose 2.2% yesterday and it gave most of its back today, sliding almost 1.7%. September copper is unchanged after rallying more than 3.3% over the past two sessions. September wheat has a four-day rally in tow but is softer ahead of the Department of Agriculture report (World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates). Asia Pacific   Japan and China will drop some market sensitive high-frequency economic data as trading begins in the new week.  Japan will release its first estimate of Q2 GDP. The median in Bloomberg's survey and the average of a dozen Japanese think tanks (cited by Jiji Press) project around a 2.7% expansion of the world's third-largest economy, after a 0.5% contraction in Q1. Consumption and business investment likely improved. Some of the demand was probably filled through inventories. They added 0.5% to Q1 growth but may have trimmed Q2 growth. Net exports were a drag on Q1 (-04%) and may be flat. The GDP deflator was -0.5% in Q1 and may have deteriorated further in Q2. Some observers see the cabinet reshuffle that was announced this week strengthening the commitment to ease monetary policy. The deflation in the deflator shows what Governor Kuroda's successor next April must address as well. China reports July consumption (retail sales), industrial output, employment (surveyed jobless rate), and investment (fixed assets and property).  The expected takeaway is that the world's second-largest economy is recovering but slowly. Industrial output and retail sales are expected to have edged up. Of note, the year-to-date retail sales compared with a year ago was negative each month in Q2 but is expected to have turned positive in July. The year-over-year pace of industrial production is expected to rise toward 4.5%, which would be the best since January. The housing market, which acted as a critical engine of growth is in reverse. New home prices (newly build commercial residential building prices in 70 cities) have been falling on a year-over-year basis starting last September, and likely continued to do so in July. Property investment (completed investment in real estate) likely fell for the fourth consecutive month. It has slowed every month beginning March 2021. The pace may have accelerated to -5.6% year-over-year after a 5.4% slide in the 12-months through June. The surveyed unemployed rate was at 4.9% last September and October. It rose to 6.1% in April and has slipped back to 5.5% in June. The median forecast in Bloomberg's survey expects it to have remained there in July. Lastly, there are no fixed dates for the lending figures and the announcement of the one-year medium-term lending facility rate. Lending is expected to have slowed sharply from the surge in June, while the MLF rate is expected to be steady at 2.85%. Over the several weeks, foreign investors have bought a record amount of Japanese bonds.  Over the past six weeks, foreigners snapped up JPY6.44 trillion (~$48 bln). It may partly reflect short-covering after the run-in with the Bank of Japan who bought a record amount to defend the yield-curve control cap of 0.25% on the 10-year bond. There is another consideration. For dollar-based investors, hedging the currency risk, which one is paid to do, a return of more than 4% can be secured. At the same time, for yen-based investors, hedging the currency risk is expensive, which encourages the institutional investors to return to the domestic market. Japanese investors have mostly been selling foreign bonds this year. However, the latest Ministry of Finance data shows that they were net buyers for the third consecutive week, matching the longest streak of the year. Still, the size is small. suggesting it may not be a broad or large force yet. Although the US 10-year yield jumped 10 bp yesterday, extending its recovery from Monday's low near 2.75% for a third session, the dollar barely recovered against the yen.  After falling 1.6% on Wednesday, after the softer than expected US CPI, the greenback rose 0.1% yesterday and is edging a little higher today. Partly what has happened is that the exchange rate correlation with the 10-year yield has slackened while the correlation with the two-year has increased. In fact, the correlation of the change in the two-year and the exchange rate is a little over 0.60 and is the highest since March. The dollar appears to be trading comfortably now between two large set of options that expire today. One set is at JPY132 for $860 mln and the other at JPY134 for $1.3 bln. Around $0.7120, the Australian dollar is up about 3% this week and is near two-month highs. It reached almost $0.7140 yesterday. The next technical target is in the $0.7150-$0.7170 area. Support is seen ahead of $0.7050. Next week's data highlight is the employment data (August 18). The greenback traded in a CNY6.7235-CNY6.7600 on Wednesday and remained in that range yesterday and today. For the second consecutive week, the dollar has alternated daily between up and down sessions for a net change of a little more than 0.1%. The PBOC set the dollar's reference rate at CNY6.7413, tight to expectations (Bloomberg's survey) of CNY6.7415. Europe   The UK's economy shrank by 0.6% in June, ensuring a contraction in Q2.  The 0.1% shrinkage was a bit smaller than expected but the weakness was widespread. Consumption fell by 0.2% in the quarter, worse than expected, while government spending collapsed by 2.9% after a 1.3% pullback in Q1. A decline in Covid testing and slower retail sales were notable drags. The one bright spot was business investment was stronger than expected. The June data itself was miserable, though there was an extra holiday (Queen's jubilee). All three sectors, industrial output, services, and construction, all fell in June and the trade balance deteriorated. The market's expectation for next month's BOE meeting was unaffected by the data. The swaps market has about an 85% chance of another 50 bp hike discounted.  Industrial output in the eurozone rose by 0.7%, well above the 0.2% median forecast in Bloomberg's survey and follows a 2.1% increase in May.  The manufacturing PMI warned that an outright contraction is possible. Of the big four members, only Italy disappointed. The median forecast in Bloomberg's survey anticipated a decline in German, France, and Spain. Instead, they reported gains of 0.4%, 1.4%, and 1.1% respectively. Industrial output was expected to have contracted by 0.1% in Italy and instead it reported a 2.1% drop. In aggregate, the strength of capital goods (2.6% month-over-month) and energy (0.6%) more than offset the declines in consumer goods and intermediate goods. The year-over-year rise of 2.4% is the strongest since last September. The disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the uneven Covid outbreaks and responses are as Rumsfeld might have said known unknowns.  But the disruptive force that may not be fully appreciated is about to get worse. The German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration is warning that water in the Rhine River will fall below a critical threshold this weekend. At an important waypoint, the level may fall to about 13 inches (33 centimeters). Less than around 16 inches (40 centimeters) and barges cannot navigate. An estimated 400k barrels a day of oil products are sent from the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp region to Germany and Switzerland. The International Energy Agency warns that the effects could last until late this year, and hits landlocked countries who rely on the Rhine the hardest. Bloomberg reported that Barge rates from Rotterdam to Basel have risen to around 267 euros a ton, a ten-fold increase in a few months. The strong surge in the euro to almost $1.0370 on Wednesday has stalled.  The euro is consolidating inside yesterday's relatively narrow range (~$1.0275-$1.0365). The momentum traders may be frustrated by the lack of follow-through. We suspect a break of $1.0265 would push more to the sidelines. The downtrend line from the February, March, and June highs comes in slightly above $1.0385 today. The broad dollar selloff in response to the July CPI saw sterling reach above $1.2275, shy of the month's high closer to $1.2295. Similar to the euro, sterling stalled. It has slipped through yesterday's low (~$1.2180). A break of the $1.2140 area could see $1.2100. That said, the $1.20 area could be the neckline of a double top and a convincing break would signal the risk of a return to the lows set a month ago near $1.1760. America   Think about the recent big US economic news.  It began last Friday with a strong employment report, more than twice what economists expected (median, Bloomberg survey) and a new cyclical low in unemployment. The job gains were broadly distributed. That was followed by a softer than expected CPI and PPI. Some observers placed emphasis on the slump in productivity and jump in unit labor costs. Those are derived from GDP figures and are not measured separately, though they are important economic concepts. Typically, when GDP is contracting, productivity contracts and by definition, unit labor costs rise. In effect, the market for goods and services adjusts quicker the labor market, and the market for money, even quicker. If the economy expands as the Atlanta Fed GDPNow tracker or the median in Bloomberg's survey project (2.5% and 2.0%, respectively), productivity will improve, and unit labor costs will fall. Barring a precipitous fall today, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ will advance for the fourth consecutive week.  The 10-year yield fell by almost 45 bp on the last three week of July and has recovered around half here in August. That includes five basis points this week despite the softer inflation readings. The two-year note yield fell almost 25 bp in the last two weeks of July and jumped 34 bp last week. It is virtually flat this week around 3.22%. The odds of a 75 bp rate hike at next month's FOMC meeting fell from about 75% to about 47%. The year-end rate expectation fell to 3.52% from 3.56%. Some pundits claim the market is pricing in a March 2023 cut, but the implied yield of the March 2023 Fed funds futures contract is 18 bp above the December 2022 contract. It matches the most since the end of June. Still, while the Federal Reserve is trying to tighten financial conditions the market is pushing back. The Bloomberg Financial Conditions Index is at least tight reading since late April. The Goldman Sachs Financial Condition index is the least tight in nearly two months.  US import and export prices are the stuff that captures the market's imagination.  However, the preliminary University of Michigan's consumer survey, and especially the inflation expectations can move the markets, especially given that Fed Chair Powell cited it as a factor encouraging the 75 bp hike in June. The Bloomberg survey shows the median expectation is for a tick lower in inflation expectations, with the one-year slipping to 5.1% from 5.2%. The 5-10-year expectation is seen easing to 2.8% from 2.9%. If accurate, it would match the lowest since April 2021. The two-year breakeven (difference between the conventional yield and the inflation-protected security) peaked in March near 5% and this week reached 2.70%, its lowest since last October. It is near 2.80% now. Mexico delivered the widely anticipated 75 bp hike yesterday.  The overnight rate target is now 8.50%. The decision was unanimous. It is the 10th consecutive hike and concerns that AMLO's appointments would be doves has proven groundless. The central bank meets again on September 29. Like other central banks, it did not pre-commit to the size of the next move, preserving some tactical flexibility. If the Fed hikes by 75 bp, it will likely match it. Peru's central bank hiked its reference rate by 50 bp, the 10th consecutive hike of that magnitude after starting the cycle last August with a 25 bp move. It is not done. Lima inflation was near 8.75% last month and the reference rate is at 6.50%. The Peruvian sol is up about 1.2% this month, coming into today. It has appreciated by around 3.25% year-to-date, making it the second-best performer in the region after Brazil's 8.1% rise. Argentina hiked its benchmark Leliq rate by 950 bp yesterday to 69.5%. It had delivered an 800 bp hike two weeks again. Argentina's inflation reached 71% last month. The Argentine peso is off nearly 23.5% so far this year, second only to the Turkish lira (~-26%). The US dollar fell slightly below CAD1.2730 yesterday, its lowest level since mid-June. The slippage in the S&P 500 and NASDAQ helped it recover to around CAD1.2775. It has not risen above that today, encouraged perhaps by the firmer US futures. Although the 200-day moving average (~CAD1.2745) is a good mile marker, the next important chart is CAD1.2700-CAD1.2720. A convincing break would target CAD1.2650 initially and then CAD1.2600. While the Canadian dollar has gained almost 1.4% against the US dollar this week (around CAD1.2755), the Mexican peso is up nearly 2.4%. The greenback is pressing against support in the MXN19.90 area. A break targets the late June lows near MXN19.82. The MXN20.00 area provides the nearby cap.       Disclaimer   Source: Heading into the Weekend, Dollar's Downside Momentum Stalls
Central Banks' Rates Outlook: Fed Treads Cautiously, ECB Prepares for Hike

Large Chinese Gas Companies Delisting Their American Stocks! What Is Going To Happen?

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 16.08.2022 08:50
Summary:  PetroChina, Sinopec, Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical, Chalco and China Life Insurance notified the New York Stock Exchange on 12 Aug 2022 of their intended application for voluntary delisting of their American depository shares and terminating the relevant ADR programs. The question now is if this is an example set for mega-cap Chinese internet and platform companies to follow. Five Chinese Central State-Owned Enterprises (“Central SOEs”) apply for delisting from the New York Stock Exchange   On August 12, 2022, after the close of the regular session of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, PetroChina (00857:xhkg/PTR:xnys), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, also known as Sinopec (00386:xhkg/SNP:xnys), Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical (00338:xhkg/SHI:xnys), Aluminum Corporation of China, also known as Chalco (02600:xhkg/ACH:xnys), and China Life Insurance (02628:xhkg/LFC:xnys) announced that they had notified the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) that they are will apply for delisting of their American depository shares (“ADSs”) from the NYSE. It is expected that the American Depository Receipt (“ADR”) programs will be terminated between September 1 and October 16, 2022, and the ADSs issued under these ADR programs can be surrendered for their underlying H shares, which will continue to trade in the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (“SEHK”). PetroChina, Sinopec, Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical and Chalco are Central SOEs that are owned (80.4%, 68.8%, 32.2%, and 50.4% respectively) and controlled by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (“SASAC”).  These, together with 93 others that are also owned and controlled by the SASAC are known as Central SOEs or “Yang Qi” in Chinese.  China Life Insurance, not one of those under the SASAC, is not a Central SOE in the strict sense but it is usually considered a Central SOE due to the fact that it is 62.4% owned and controlled by the Ministry of Finance.  All five companies are on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) conclusive list of identified entities under the HFCAA    In the U.S., the Sarbanes-Oxley Act enacted in 2002 requires publicly traded companies to give the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) access to audit work papers. In 2009, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) issued a rule that forbids overseas regulatory authorities from inspecting Chinese auditing firms without CSRC’s prior approval and audit work papers containing state secretes from being taken outside China.  The PCAOB’s attempt to inspect the China-based affiliates of the “Big”-4” accounting firms in 2010 was rejected by the CSRC.  The SEC subsequently prosecuted these China affiliates of the Big-4 and the cases were subsequently settled. In order to tighten the enforcement of the audit work papers requirement provided in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the U.S. enacted the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“HFCAA”) in 2020 which provides that companies failing to make available audit work papers for inspection by the PCAOB cannot be traded in a U.S. exchange.  Since March 2022, the SEC has put 162 Chinese companies listed in a U.S. bourse first on a provisional list and then 155 of them subsequently on a conclusive list of issuers identified under the HFCAA. After rounds of negotiations, the U.S. and China have so far not been able to come to some resolutions.  While the Chinese authorities have sounded optimistic, especially earlier in April and May, about eventually reaching an agreement with the U.S., SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has expressed doubts about any eventual agreement.PetroChina, Sinopec, Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical, Chalco, and China Life Insurance are among those on the conclusive list and facing the plausibility of being delisted by the U.S. regulators from the NYSE.  The deadline for delisting is in 2024 but the U.S. Congress is considering passing a bill to bring the deadline forward to 2023.  Actions were seemingly in concert  Each of the five companies notified the NYSE on the same day, August 12, and provided similar reasons for their decisions in their filing with the SEHK, namely relatively small capitalization of H shares being represented by ADSs, small ADS trading volume compared to the turnover of H shares and administrative burden for performing reporting and disclosure. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) said on Friday that the delisting decision had been made out of these companies’ own business decisions. Nonetheless, given the identical timing, similar reasons provided and status of Central SOEs, one has to wonder if they were acting in concert with coordination from the Chinese authorities.  The other two Central SOEs controlled by the SACAC and on the SEC conclusive list, China Eastern Airlines (00670:xhkg/CEA:xnys) and China Southern Airlines (01055:xhkg/ZNH:xnys) will probably apply for ADS delisting soon as well.  Chinese internet and platform companies are the focus in the coming weeks  While these Central SOEs are thinly traded on the NYSE, the shares of Chinese internet and platform private enterprises, including Alibaba (09988:xhkg/BABA:xnys), Baidu (09888:xhkg/BIDU:xnas), Bilibili (09626:xhkg/BILI:xnas), JD.COM (09618:xhkg/JD:xnas), Pinduoduo (PDD:xnas), Sohu (SOHU:xnas), iQiyi (IQ:xnas), KE Holdings (BEKE:xnys), Weibo (09898:xhkg/WB:xnas), Tencent Music Entertainment (TME:xnys) are widely held and actively traded on the NYSE or Nasdaq.  For examples, Bilibili and Weibo have larger average daily turnover in Nasdaq than in the SEHK and Pinduoduo, iQiyi, KE Holdings, Sohu and are listed only on Nasdaq and Tencent Music on the NYSE.  Alibaba is on the provisional list and the other names above are on the conclusive list of issuers identified under the HFCAA. All of them will be subject to mandatory delisting from the NYSE or Nasdaq if the Chinese and U.S. regulators cannot reach an agreement to resolve the audit work paper inspection issue in the coming months.  Given these internet and platform companies hold a huge amount of potentially sensitive data of hundreds of millions of Chinese individuals as well as numerous private as well as public enterprises and institutions, the plausibility of the Chinese government being willing to make a concession to the SEC and PCAOB regarding the latter’s unfiltered access to audit work papers of these companies is getting increasingly slim in the midst of pervasive Sino-American strategic competition.  Through the voluntary delisting of nstitutional money which is restricted by their investment mandates and retail investors who tend to have a home bias will unload their holdings instead of exchanging their ADSs for H shares.  In the case of those companies that do not yet have a listing in the SEHK, the uncertainty and disruption will be even more significant.  The southbound stock connect flows of money from mainland investors may mitigate somewhat the impact but some turbulence initially can probably be expected.   Source: China Update: State-owned giants seek to delist from the New York Stock Exchange
China: PMI positively surprises the market

Hurtful News For Chinese Economy... Is China Able To Get Up? US Use The Situation

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 16.08.2022 09:40
Summary:  The weaker-than-expected economic data from China caught much of the attention and dragged U.S. bond yields and commodities lower. U.S. equities have been in a 4-week rally. Investors are weighing if the U.S. economy is heading into a soft-landing or a recession and if the Chinese economy can recover in the coming months. What is happening in markets? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)  U.S. equities opened lower on weak economic data prints from China as well as a weaker-than-expected Empire State manufacturing survey but climbed towards midday and finished higher. S&P 500 rose 0.4%. Nine of its 11 sectors gained, with shares of consumer staples and utilities outperforming. Nasdaq 100 rose 0.75%, led by a 3% jump in Tesla (TSLA:xnas).  U.S. treasury yields fell Treasury yields fell across the front end to the belly of the curve after a bunch of weak economic data from China and the Empire State manufacturing survey came in at -31.3, much weaker than 5.0 expected. Two-year yields fell by 7bps to 3.17% and 10-year yields declined 5bps to 2.78%.  Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIQ2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hong Kong and mainland Chinese equities tried to move higher in early trading but soon reversed and turned south, Hang Seng -0.7%, CSI300 -0.1%.   The People’s Bank of China cut its policy on Monday but the unexpected move did not stir up much market excitement. The visit of another delegation of US lawmakers to Taiwan within 12 days of Speaker Pelosi’s visit stirred up concerns about the tension in the Sino-American relationship.   Container liner, Orient Overseas (00316:xhkg) plunged nearly 15%.   Stocks that have a dual listing of ADRs, in general, declined on Monday’s trading in Hong Kong following Friday’s decisions for five central SOEs to apply for delisting from the New York Stock Exchange, PetroChina (00857:xhkg/PTR:xnys) -3.4%, Sinopec (00386:xhkg/SNP:xnys) -2.9%, Alibaba (09988:xhkg/BABA:xnys) -1.2, Baidu (09888:xhkg/BIDU:xnas) -1%, Bilibili (09626:xhkg/BILI:xnas) -1%. SMIC (00981:xhkg) dropped more than 6% on analyst downgrades.  Chinese property names dropped as home prices continued to fall in China.  USD broadly firmer against G10 FX, expect JPY The US dollar started the week on the front foot, amid a weaker risk sentiment following a miss in China’s activity data and the disappointing US manufacturing and housing sentiments. The only outlier was the JPY, with USDJPY sliding to lows of 132.56 at one point before reversing the drop. The 131.50 level remains a key area of support for USDJPY and a bigger move in the US yields remains necessary to pierce through that level. The commodity currencies were the hardest hit, with AUDUSD getting in close sight of 0.7000 ahead of the RBA minutes due this morning. NZDUSD also plunged from 0.6450 to 0.6356. The Chinese yuan weakened and bond yields fell after disappointing economic data and surprising rate cuts USDCNH jumped more than 1% from 6.7380 to as high as 6.8200 on Monday following the weak credit data from last Friday, disappointing industrial production, retail sales, and fixed assets investment data released on Monday morning, and unexpected rate cuts by the People’s Bank of China. The 10-year Chinese government bond yield fell 8bps to 2.67%, the lowest level since April 2020, and about 20bps below the yield of 10-year U.S. treasury notes. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil prices had a variety of headwinds to deal with both on the demand and the supply side. While demand concerns were aggravated due to the weak China data, and the drop in US Empire State manufacturing – both signaling a global economic slowdown may be in the cards – supply was also seen as being possibly ramped up. There were signs of a potential breakthrough in talks with Iran as Tehran said it sent a reply to the EU's draft nuclear deal and expects a response within two days. Meanwhile, Aramco is also reportedly ramping up production. WTI futures dropped back below $90 while Brent touched $95/barrel. Metals face the biggest brunt of China data weakness Copper led the metals pack lower after China’s domestic activity weakened in July, which has raised the fears of a global economic slowdown as the zero-Covid policy is maintained. Meanwhile, supply side issues in Europe also cannot be ignored with surging power prices putting economic pressure on smelters, and many of them running at a loss. This could see further cuts to capacity over the coming months. Iron ore futures were also down. What to consider? Weak Empire State manufacturing survey and NAHB Index Although a niche measure, the United States NY Empire State Manufacturing Index, compiled by the New York Federal Reserve, fell to -31.3 from 11.1 in July, its lowest level since May 2020 and its sharpest monthly drop since the early days of the pandemic. New orders and shipments plunged, and unfilled orders also declined, albeit less sharply. Other key areas of concern were the rise in inventories and a decline in average hours worked. This further weighed on the sentiment after weak China data had already cast concerns of a global growth slowdown earlier. Meanwhile, the US NAHB housing market index also saw its eighth consecutive monthly decline as it slid 6 points to 49 in August. July housing starts and building permits are scheduled to be reported later today, and these will likely continue to signal a cooling demand amid the rising mortgage rates as well as overbuilding. European power price soared to record high European power prices continue to surge to fresh record highs amid gas flow vagaries, threatening a deeper plunge into recession. Next-year electricity rates in Germany advanced as much as 3.7% to 477.50 euros ($487) a megawatt-hour on the European Energy Exchange AG. That’s almost six times as much as this time last year, with the price doubling in the past two months alone. UK power prices were also seen touching record highs. European Dutch TTF natural gas futures were up over 6%, suggesting more pain ahead for European utility companies. China’s activity data China’s July industrial production (3.8% YoY vs consensus 4.3% & June 3.9%), retail sales (2.7% YoY vs consensus 4.9% & June 3.1%), and fixed asset investments (5.7% YTD vs consensus 6.2% & June 6.1%) released this more were weak across the board.  Property investment growth dropped to -6.4% YTD or -12.3% YoY in July, well below market expectations of -5.7% YTD.  Surprising rate cuts from the PBOC met with muted market reactions The People’s Bank of China cut its policy 1-year Medium-term Lending Facility Rate by 10bps to 2.75% from 2.85% and the 7-day reverse repo rate by 10bps to 2.0% from 2.1%.  Market reactions to the surprising move were muted as credit demand, as reflected in the aggregate financing and loan growth data was weak in China. BHP ‘s FY22 results better than expected The Australian mining giant reported FY22 results beating analyst estimates with strong EBITDA and EBITDA margin. Coal segment performance was ahead of expectations while results from the copper and iron ore segments were slightly below expectations.  The company announced a larger-than-expected dividend payout and a higher capex plan for 2023. RBA minutes due to be released this morning Earlier in the month, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised the cash rate by 50bps to 1.85% and the accompanying Statement on Monetary Policy emphasized an uncertain and data-dependent outlook. The RBA releases its minutes from the July meeting today, and the market focus will be on the range of options discussed for the August hike and any hint of future interest rate path.  US retailer earnings eyed After disappointing results last quarter, focus is on Walmart and Home Depot earnings later today. These will put the focus entirely on the US consumer after the jobs data this month highlighted a still-tight labor market while the inflation picture saw price pressures may have peaked. It would also be interesting to look at the inventory situation at these retailers, and any updated reports on the status of the global supply chains.     For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast. Source: APAC Daily Digest: What is happening in markets and what to consider next – August 16, 2022
Online Sales Are Becoming A Part Of Everyday Life. Supermarkets Are Having A Good Time

Online Sales Are Becoming A Part Of Everyday Life. Supermarkets Are Having A Good Time

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 17.08.2022 09:15
Home Depot (HD) and Walmart (WMT) are among the largest US retailers whose results seem to show the attitude of the average American consumer towards spending money. HD is a chain of large-format home improvement shops, very similar to Europe's Leroy Merlin. WMT, on the other hand, is the largest US retail chain. Last month, Walmart spooked markets by lowering its profit forecasts and warned of a rapid decline in demand. However, the results announced today said sales were up more than 8% year-on-year to $152.9 billion against expectations of $150.8 billion. Online sales alone rose by as much as 12%. The company is struggling with a gigantic inventory problem (worth $61 billion at the end of Q1), prominent among the backlog of products is apparel, for example. To deal with this, discounts have been introduced on many products, thereby boosting sales by stimulating demand. At present, the value of stock amounts to USD 59.9 billion. However, the increased sales do not translate directly into profits. "The actions we’ve taken to improve inventory levels in the US, along with a heavier mix of sales in grocery, put pressure on the profit margin for Q2 and our outlook for the year," - CEO Doug McMillon said. Walmart's second-quarter net income rose to $5.15bn, or $1.77 per share (EPS) against Wall Street analysts' estimates of $1.62. In the same period a year ago, net income was $4.28bn, or $1.52 per share (EPS). Walmart maintained its forecast for the second half of the year. It expects US shop sales to grow by about 3% (excluding fuel), in the second half of the year, or about 4 per cent for the full year. It expects adjusted earnings per share to decline 9% for the year. Home Depot also announced a 5.8% increase in sales, to 43.8 billion against expectations of $43.36 billion. Net sales were up 6.5% year-over-year, marking the highest quarterly sales in the company's history. "Our team has done a fantastic job serving our customers while continuing to navigate a challenging and dynamic environment," - CEO Ted Decker said, commenting on the company's results. Net income increased to $5.17 billion, up 7.6% year-over-year. EPS was $5.05 against analysts' forecasts of $4.94. Walmart and Home Depot gain 4.7% and 1.9%, respectively, on the market open. The retailers' results show that, despite the looming recession, consumers are spending money and the situation could be not that bad in the short term. However, at the same time, the figures for financing this spending are alarming. A large proportion of Americans are covering higher prices with credit cards, which must eventually be repaid, according to data published by Bloomberg. The worsening outlook for economic health, alarming PMI levels and the bond yield curve all translate into possible future deterioration in consumer health.   Rafał Tworkowski, Junior Market Analyst, Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.  Source: Retailers announce strong results - shares rise
Investors Selling Down Companies That Face Balance Sheet Tightening From Runaway Inflation

Let's See S&P 500, Nasdaq, WWE And Other Stocks Performance

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 17.08.2022 12:00
Relevance up to 05:00 2022-08-18 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results.   As it became known from the report of the US Department of Commerce, the number of houses, the construction of which was started in the country in July, decreased by 9.6% compared to the previous month and amounted to 1.446 million in annual terms. The figure was the lowest since February last year. According to the revised data, in June the number of new buildings amounted to 1.599 million, and not 1.559 million, as previously reported. Experts predicted a decline to 1.54 million from the previously announced level in June. US industrial output rose 0.6% month-on-month in July, doubling the 0.3% rise expected by analysts. According to the revised data, industrial production did not change in June, while a decrease of 0.2% was previously reported. Production in the processing industry increased by 0.7% compared to June, while experts expected a more moderate growth of 0.2%. A month earlier, the indicator fell by 0.4%, and not by 0.5%, as previously reported. In addition, investors are waiting for the publication of the minutes of the July meeting of the Federal Reserve on Wednesday and the report on retail sales in the US on Friday. Also this week, many leading US retailers publish quarterly reports. AJ Bell financial analyst Danny Hewson noted that many US investors have taken a wait-and-see attitude, hoping to get new information from the Fed's minutes and retailers' reports, on the basis of which it is possible to understand what exactly consumers are saving on during a period of high inflation. The value of the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 16:47 GMT+3 increased by 0.05% - up to 33930.76 points. Standard & Poor's 500 has fallen 0.11% since the market opened to 4292.49 points. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.35% to 13,081.46. Shares of Walmart Inc. jumped by 5.5%, being the leader of growth in the Dow Jones index. The largest US retailer posted a strong quarterly report and improved its full-year outlook. Walmart's adjusted earnings for the fiscal quarter ended July 31 were $1.77 per share, above analysts' forecast of $1.62 per share. Revenue increased by 8.4% and reached $152.86 billion, while experts on average predicted the figure at $150.99 billion. Quotes Home Depot Inc. increase by 1.4%. The US-leading home improvement chain posted record revenues and net income in the quarter, even though the number of purchases at its stores fell by 3%. Target and Lowe's will report on Wednesday, while department store chain Kohl's will report on Thursday. World Wrestling Entertainment's share price is up 3.2% after the wrestling tournament organizer increased net profit and revenue slightly more than market expectations in the second quarter of 2022. Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery shed 0.3% on rumors of new cost-cutting measures. In particular, the staff of the subsidiary streaming service HBO will be reduced by about 14%. Zoom Video Communications' capitalization fell 5.6% after Citi analysts downgraded the recommendation for the company's shares to "sell" from "neutral" levels.   Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/288768
Summer's End: An Anxious Outlook for the Global Economy

Crypto Market Is Dependent On Stock Market. The Correlation Between Nasdaq 100 And BTC

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 17.08.2022 15:27
Michael Burry is a well-known US investor who became famous for betting on the collapse of the US real estate market and the burst of the bubble in 2008. On 15 August, he filed a 13F form with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), revealing the positions of his fund, Scion Asset Management. To the surprise of many, the investment portfolio turned out to be almost completely empty. Burry held shares worth 165 million at the end of the first quarter. These included companies such as Google, Meta and Stellantis. However, the latest report filed with the regulator revealed that all of it had been sold and the glorified investor's only long position is in GeoGroup, a company involved in running private prisons, but the value of the position is negligible at just under $3.31 million. The investor has recently been posting a number of tweets suggesting the end of the bear market rally. This has sent shock waves across the market, as the investment manager has usually been successful in predicting the market moves, famous for his incisiveness. If there were to be large declines in the broad traditional market, e.g. equities, what could this mean for crypto? The correlation between BTC and the Nasdaq 100 seems to be apparent, but after the last all-time high reading of 0.84 in May, it dropped to around 0.48 at the end of June. What is unfortunate, however, is that the correlation has been rising with subsequent waves of declines and peaked near local lows. If the stock market were to actually experience a crash, a strong reaction from the crypto market can be expected. The recent increase in correlation may be due to the increasing participation of token trading institutions. Michael Burry's attitude was addressed by Mati Greenspan CEO of Quantum Economic, stating that predicting the timing and scale of a crash is almost impossible. "Predicting a stock crash is a lot like predicting an earthquake. You know one will happen every so often but you can never tell exactly when or how severe it will be" - Greenspan said. On the Conotoxia MT5 platform, BTC is seeing its fourth day of decline, losing more than 0.7% at 10:30 GMT+3, while ETH is gaining less than 0.3%, drawing its first upward candle in three days. Rafał Tworkowski, Junior Market Analyst, Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.   Source: Michael Burry closed almost all his positions - what could another stock market crash mean for crypto?
The US PCE Data Is Expected To Confirm Another Modest Slowdown

Fed Reptesentatives Are Committed To Holding Back Price Growing And Control The Inflation According To Expectations

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 18.08.2022 13:17
Last night's publication of the minutes of the last Fed meeting, which took place at the end of July, may have affected the US dollar's trading. The policymakers touched on the regulation of the digital asset market for the first time at such a meeting. According to the published minutes, Fed officials remain very attentive to inflation risks and are committed to lowering price growth and keeping inflation expectations under control. A commitment to tightening monetary policy can take place, even if it comes at the expense of economic growth, the FOMC minutes show. The July discussion touched on the possible risks of too many and too large interest rate hikes. There was also talk that the Fed may be pursuing too much restrictive monetary policy than is necessary to restore price stability in the economy. The Fed, for the moment, seems unconcerned about GDP data and the risk of a sustained slowdown or official recession, as officials said the economy is stable for now, pointing to strong job growth, a low unemployment rate and elevated wage growth. Moreover, there was also discussion of the possibility of a later upward revision of earlier GDP readings, which are revised over time. There was also a statement regarding possible further action by the Federal Reserve. Policymakers discussed the possibility of slowing the pace of interest rate hikes at some point, but this will require data readings that can be considered satisfactory in terms of the impact of current hikes on slowing inflation. Meanwhile, for the moment, it may be crucial to maintain a restrictive stance to avoid a loosening of inflation expectations. Initially, after the release of the minutes, the EUR/USD exchange rate rose to 1.0200, before retreating to the region of 1.0150 this morning. The reaction thus appears to be mixed, without leading to a major impulse, and the exchange rate of the main currency pair has remained in consolidation since the morning of August 16. On Wall Street, on the other hand, indexes were down after the publication. The S&P500 fell 0.3 percent and the Nasdaq 100 fell 0.6 percent. The committee also turned its attention to the world of digital assets. Participants recognized the growing importance of digital assets and their increasing interconnectedness with other segments of the financial system, underscoring the need to establish a robust supervisory and regulatory framework for the sector to adequately mitigate potential systemic risks. Several participants mentioned the need to strengthen supervision and regulation of certain types of non-bank financial institutions, according to published minutes. Daniel Kostecki, Director of the Polish branch of Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.   Source: Highlights from the Fed minutes
The Commodities Feed: China's 2023 growth target underwhelms markets

Apple Concentrated On Vietnam Productions As China Having Problems With Energy Supply

Marc Chandler Marc Chandler 18.08.2022 14:03
Overview: The sell-off in European bonds continues today. The 10-year German Bund yield is around four basis points higher to bring three-day increase to about 22 bp. The Italian premium over Germany has risen by almost 18 bp over these three sessions. Its two-year premium is widening for the fifth consecutive session and is above 90 bp for the first time in almost three weeks. The 10-year US Treasury yield is a little softer near 2.88%. Most of the large Asia Pacific equity markets fell, with India a notable exception. Europe’s Stoxx 600 snapped a five-day rally yesterday with a 0.9% loss. It is slightly firmer today, while US futures are hovering around yesterday’s closing levels. The greenback is firm against most of the major currencies. The Australian and Canadian dollars  and Norwegian krone and sterling are the most resilient today. The Philippines, like Norway hiked 50 bp but unlike Norway, the currency has not been bought. Most emerging market currencies are softer today. Gold is trying to break a three-day slide after approaching $1760. It settled last week at $1802. October WTI found a base a little below $85.50 and is around $88.50 near midday in Europe. The week’s high was set Monday by $91.50. US natgas is up 1.1% to recoup yesterday’s loss in full. Europe’s benchmark is extended this week’s run. It finished last week near 205.85 and now is around 232.00, a 12.7% gain after 6% last week. Iron ore ended a four-day 8% slide. September copper is recovering from the early drop to near two-week lows ($354.20) and is now near 362.00. A move above yesterday’s high (~$365) would be constructive. The sell-ff in September wheat has accelerated. It is off for the fifth consecutive session and is at its lowest level since January. After falling around 3% in three days from last Friday, it is off more than 5% between yesterday and today. Asia Pacific For good reasons, Beijing and Washington suspect the other of trying to change that status quo over Taiwan  The visits by US legislators may be only the initial efforts by Congress to force a more aggressive US position. It could come to a head in the fall when a bill that wants to recognize Taiwan as a major non-NATO ally and to foster Taiwan's membership in international forums will draw more attention. Meanwhile, US-Taiwan trade talks will begin later this year that was first aired a couple of months ago. At the same time, the Biden administration has been considering lifting some of the tariffs levied by the previous administration, but China's militaristic response to the visits makes it more difficult. Biden wants to lift the tariffs not to reward Beijing but to ease the costs to Americans. The Consumer Technology Association, an industry group, estimated that the tariffs have boosted the bill for American consumer technology companies by around $32 bln. The tariffs are paid to the US government. It seems that in lieu of lifting the tariffs, a broad exclusion process is possible. Related but separately, the Nikkei Asia reported that Apple is in talks to produce its watches and computers in Vietnam for the first time  Two suppliers have been producing Apple Watches in northern Vietnam. A couple of months ago, reports indicated that Apple would more some production of its tablets to Vietnam. Apple's ecosystem is establishing a presence in Vietnam, with nearly two dozen suppliers have factories now, almost doubling since 2018. As a result of these forces and the movement of capacity outside of China, Vietnam's trade surplus with the US is exploding. The $33 bln surplus in 2016 ballooned to $91 bln last year and was nearly $58 bln in the first half. For the past five years, the dollar has traded in a roughly 2% band around VND23000. The greenback is near the upper end of the range. Australia's July jobs report was disappointing  It lost almost 87k full-time positions after gaining nearly 53k in June. Part-time positions increased (46k), leading to a 40.9k loss of overall jobs. The median forecast (Bloomberg survey) was for a gain of 25k jobs. The unemployment rate slipped to a new record low of 3.4% (from 3.5%) but this was due to a sharp drop in the participation rate (66.4% from 66.8%). Ostensibly, this could give the central bank space to be more flexible at its September 6 meeting. However, the futures market as taken it in stride that has left the odds of a 50 bp hike next month essentially unchanged around 57%. This is essentially where it was at the end of last week and the week before. Many are now familiar with China's rolling lockdowns to combat Covid and the implosion of property market, a key engine of growth and accumulation  A new threat has emerged. The extreme weather has seen water levels in Sichuan's hydropower reserves as much as 50% this month, according to report, prompting the shuttering of factories (hub for solar panels, cement, and urea). Dazhou, a city of nearly 3.5 mln people, imposed a 2 1/2-hour power cuts this week that were expanded to three hours yesterday. Office buildings in Chengdu, the provincial capital, were barred from using air conditioning. Many areas in central and northern China imposed emergency measures to ensure the availability of drinking water. The heat and drought threaten summer crops and risk greater food-driven inflation. At the same time, Shanxi, which provides about a quarter of China's coal is worried about floods, it has suspended the operation of more than 100 mines since June. The government-imposed measures to boost output and Shanxi coal output rose by around 16% in H1.  The dollar is confined to a narrow range, straddling the JPY135 area  It has held `below last week's high around JPY135.60 and above the JPY134.55, where options for $700 mln expire today. The Australian dollar has been sold aggressively this week. It began near $0.7115 and tested $0.6900 today, meeting the (50%) retracement objective of the rally from the mid-July low (~$0.6880). It was only able to make a marginal new low today, suggesting that the selling pressure has abated. The next retracement (61.8%) is closer to $0.6855. Initial resistance is seen around $0.6950. After slipping a little yesterday, the greenback returned to its recent highs against the Chinese yuan around CNY6.7960. This year's high was set in May near CNY6.8125. Between Covid lockdowns, the weather disruptions, and the continued unwinding of the property bubble, a weaker yuan may the path of least resistance. The PBOC set the dollar's reference rate at CNY6.7802 compared with expectations from Bloomberg's survey of CNY6.7806. The yuan is falling for the sixth consecutive month against the dollar. Europe The eurozone may not have completed its banking and monetary union, but the ECB said that it would harmonize how banks offer crypto assets and have sufficient capital and expertise  Crypto companies have negotiated with national authorities in several EMU member countries, but common EU licensing rules are unlikely any time soon. There is a patchwork of differing national rules, and in some countries, some types of crypto activity may require a banking license, for example. Norway's central bank hiked its deposit rate by 50 bp and indicated it would "most likely" lift rates again next month What makes today's move somewhat more aggressive that it may appear is that the hike took place at a meeting that did not include an economic update and projections for the future path of policy. Norges Bank acknowledged that the policy rate trajectory would be faster than projected in June and the inflation risks being higher for longer. The deposit rate now sits at 1.75%. Another 50 bp hike next month (September 22) seems likely followed by a 25 bp move in November, the last meeting of the year. The euro briefly popped a little above $1.02 on what was initially seen as dovish FOMC minutes in the North American afternoon yesterday  However, it returned to yesterday's lows low near $1.0145 before finding a bid. The week's low was set Tuesday slightly below $1.0125, which is ahead of the retracement objective we identified near $1.0110. The euro is consolidating as the US two-year premium over Germany falls to its lowest level in a nearly a month (2.54%), and almost 25 bp below the peak seen after the US jobs data on August 5. Labor disputes are crippling UK trains, buses, subways, and a key container port today. Sterling slipped to $1.1995, its lowest level since July 26. The nicking of the neckline of a possible double top was not a convincing violation and sterling has recovered to the $1.2060 area in the London morning. If this is not the peak in sterling, it seems close. Tomorrow, the UK is expected to report a decline in July retail sales, excluding gasoline. This measure of retail sales rose by 0.4% in June, the first increase since last October. The median forecast (Bloomberg survey) is for a 0.3% fall. The swaps market is pricing in a 50 bp hike at the mid-September BOE meeting and about a 1-in-5 chance of a 75 bp move. America US interest rates softened and dragged the dollar lower following the release of the FOMC minutes  The market seems to have focused on the concern of "many" members that it could over-tighten but there was no sign that this was going to prevent them for raising rates further. Indeed, it suggest that the risk of inflation expectations becoming embedded was greater. More hikes were appropriate, the minutes said, and a restrictive stance may be required for "some time". The minutes also played the recent pullback in commodity prices as an indicator of lower inflation, which it still says the evidence is lacking. When everything was said and done the September Fed funds futures were unchanged for the fourth consecutive session. Autos and gasoline held by retail sales in July, but excluding them, retail sales rose by 0.7%, matching the June increase  The core measure, which also excludes building materials and food services rose a solid 0.8%. Retail sales account for around 40% of personal consumption expenditures. The July PCE is due next week (August 26) and picks up service consumption too. The early call is for it to rise by 0.5%. However, it too is a nominal report, and in real terms, a 0.3%-0.4% gain would be a strong showing. The retail sales report lent credence to anecdotal stories about department stores discounting prices to move inventory. Amazon's Prime Day (July 12-13) was claimed to be the biggest so far. Online sales overall surged 2.7%. Today's data includes weekly jobless claims, the Philadelphia Fed survey, existing home sale, and the index of Leading Economic Indicators  Th four-week average of weekly jobless claims rose to 252k in the week ending August 5. Recall the four-week moving average, used to smooth out some of the noise bottomed in the week ending April 1 at 170.5k. They averaged around 238k in December 2019, which was the highest since the first half of January 2018. Continuing claims have edged higher in recent weeks, but at 1.428 mln, they are roughly 20% below the peak at the start of this year. The Philadelphia Fed survey is particularly interesting today because of the disastrous Empire State survey. The median forecast in Bloomberg's survey is for a -5 reading after -12.3 in July. Meanwhile, existing home sales have fallen for five months through June. In fact, new home sales have been fallen every quarter since the end of 2020, with the exception of Q3 21. They fell by an average of 1.7% in Q1 22 and 3.8% in Q2 22. The median forecast is for a nearly 5% decline in July. The market tends not to get excited about the leading economic index series. Economists expected the fifth consecutive decline. The only month it rose this year was February. The US dollar extended its recovery against the Canadian dollar to reach almost CAD1.2950, its highest level since August 8 today  It was pressed lower by new offers in the European morning that drove it back to almost CAD1.2900. The market may take its cues from the S&P 500 and the general risk appetites in the North American session. With the intraday momentum indicators stretched, yesterday's post-FOMC minutes low near CAD1.2880 may offer sufficient support. The greenback rose to a five-day high against the Mexican peso yesterday around MXN20.09. It is consolidating and straddling the MXN20.00 area. Our reading of the technical condition favors the dollar's upside, and the first important target is near MXN20.20. The US dollar gapped higher against the Brazilian real yesterday and approached the BRL5.22 area, where the 20-day and 200-day moving averages converge. The opening gap was closed late on the pullback spurred by the reading of FOMC minute headlines. The price action is similar to the peso, where the dollar has traded heavily since last month but appears to have found a bottom. A break above BRL5.22 would target the month's high near BRL5.3150.       Disclaimer   Source: Fed Minutes were Not as Dovish as Initially Read
Saxo Bank Podcast: Nvidia And Siemens Earnings, The Budget Statement From UK And More

Online Gaming Is Still The Biggest Source Of Income. Diablo Immortal Is The Most Downoloaded Game On The IOS

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 18.08.2022 17:14
NetEase is a Chinese technology company that operates in three segments - online games, search engine (Youdao) and online music (Cloud Music). The company operates both in China and internationally. It is famous for games such as 'The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War', 'Vikingard', 'Lifeafter' and 'Knives Out'. Its shares have fallen more than 10% since the beginning of the year, along with other companies in the Chinese technology sector, by the Chinese government's ambiguous action in the area of interference in their operations, fears of delisting in the US and deteriorating economic indicators in China. However, it is fair to say that its price has still proved to be far more resilient to the issues mentioned above than those of Tencent, Alibaba and Baidu. The company's revenue was 23.2 billion renminbi (US$3.5 billion) in the second quarter, growing 12.8 % year-on-year, slightly beating Wall Street analysts' expectations. Cloud Music revenue grew the most to 2.2 billion renminbi ($327.2 million), rising 29.5% year on year. Online gaming remains the most important revenue stream, with Q2 revenue of 18.1 billion renminbi ($2.7 billion). This increased by 15% compared to the same period a year ago. This was mainly due to the debut of Diablo Immortal, co-developed by NetEase with Blizzard Entertainment. According to the company's report, it became the most downloaded game on the IOS platform in some regions. Major franchise titles had their longevity extended, including the fantasy series Westward Journey and Westward Journey Online, as well as Identity V and Infinite Lagrange. "Players continued to gravitate to our longstanding games in the second quarter, highlighting our strength in game operations longevity. Moreover, the launch of Diablo® Immortal™ attracted the attention of gamers around the world, showcasing our exceptional mobile game development capabilities" - stated CEO William Ding. Revenue fell sharply in the Youdao area, down 29.5% year on year. However, this is the smallest source of revenue and only amounted to 956.2 million renminbi ($142.8 million) in the quarter. Q2 saw a net profit of $790 million, due to lower costs of player retention costs compared to new player acquisitions. Earnings per share (EPS) for those listed in New York were $1.22 on an adjusted basis, beating analysts' estimates by 17 cents. NetEase shares gained almost 3% before the market opened. Rafał Tworkowski, Junior Market Analyst, Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.   Source: NetEase increases profits despite declining revenues
German Business Confidence Dips, ECB's Lagarde Hosts Central Banking Conference in Portugal, EUR/USD Drifts Higher

Fed's Plan Is To Push For More Rate Hikes To Boost Dollar (USD)!?

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 19.08.2022 10:37
Summary:  Better than expected economic data continued to support sentiment in US in contrast to Europe, where ECB’s Schnabel's warning on the growth/inflation picture aggravated concerns. Fed speakers meanwhile continued to push for more rate hikes this year, aiding dollar strength despite lack of a clear direction in long end yields. EUR and GBP broke below key support levels, but oil prices climbed higher amid improving demand outlook but sustained supply issues. Focus now on Jackson Hole next week. What is happening in markets? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)  In its second lightest volume session of the year, U.S. equities edged modestly higher, S&P 500 +0.23%, Nasdaq 100 +0.26%. As WTI crude climbed 2.7%, rebounding back above $90, the energy space was a top gainer aside from technology. Exxon Mobil (XOM:xnys) gained 2.4%.  Cisco (CSCO:xnas) surged 5.8% after reporting better-than-expected revenues. Nvidia (NVDA:xnas), +2.4% was another top contributor to the gain of the S&P 500 on Wednesday.  95% of S&P 500 companies have reported Q2 results, with about three-quarters of them managing to beat analyst estimates. On Friday there is a large number of options set to expire.  The U.S. treasury yield curve bull steepened on goldilocks hope The U.S. 2-10-year curve steepened 7bps to -32bps, driven by a 9bp decline in the 2-year yield.  In spite of hawkish Fed official comments and the August Philadelphia Fed Index bouncing back to positive territory, the market took note of the falls in the prices paid diffusion index and the prices received index from the survey and sent the short-end yields lower.  Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIQ2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Both Hang Seng Index and CSI300 declined about 0.8%.  Tencent (00700:xhkg) rose 3.1% after reporting results that beat estimates as a result of better cost control and adverting revenues. Other China internet stocks traded lower, Bilibili (09626:xhkg) -4.2%, Baidu (09888:xhkg) -4.5%, Alibaba (09988:xhkg) -2.1%, JD.COM (09618:xhkg) -2.5%. The surge of Covid cases in China to a three-month high and the Hainan outbreak unabated after a 2-week lockdown, pressured consumer stocks.  Great Wall Motor (02333:xhkg) led the charge lower in autos, plunging near 6%.  Other automakers fell 2% to 4%.  Geely (00175:xhkg) fell 3.1% after reporting 1H earnings missing estimates.  A share Chinese liquor names declined, Kweichow Moutai (600519:xssc) -1.2%, Wuliangye Yibin (000858:xsec) -1.6%. Chinese brewers were outliner gainers in the consumer space, China Resources Beer (00291:xhkg) +4.8%, Tsingtao Brewery (00168:xhkg) +1.9%. Chinese property developers traded lower with Country Garden (02007:xhkg) losing the most, -5.2% , after warning that 1H earnings may have been down as much as 70%. The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) is looking at the quality of real estate loan portfolios at some financial institutions.  EURUSD and GBPUSD break through key support levels Dollar strength prevailed into the end of the week with upbeat US economic data and a continued hawkish Fedspeak which continued to suggest more Fed rate hikes remain in the pipeline compared to what the market is currently pricing in. EUR and GBP were the biggest loser, with both of them breaking below key support levels. EURUSD slid below 1.0100 handle while GBPUSD broke below 1.2000 despite a selling in EGBs and Gilts. USDJPY also broke above 136 in early Asian trading hours despite lack of a clear direction in US 10-year yields and a slide in 2-year yields. AUDUSD testing a break below 0.6900 as NZDUSD drops below 0.6240. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Oil prices reversed their drop with WTI futures back above $90/barrel and Brent futures above $96. Upbeat US economic data has supported the demand side sentiment in recent days. Moreover, President Xi’s comment that China will continue to open up the domestic economy also aided the demand equation. Supply concerns, meanwhile, were aggravated by geopolitical tension around a potential incident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Shell hinted at reducing the capacity of Rhineland oil refinery due to the lower water level on the Rhine river and said the situation regarding supply is challenging but carefully managed. Gold (XAUUSD) still facing mixed signals The fate of gold has been turned lower again this week with the yellow metal facing decline of 2.5% so far in the week and breaking below the $1759 support, the 38.2% retracement of the July to August bounce. Stronger dollar, along with Fed’s continued hawkish rhetoric, weighed. Silver (XAGUSD) is also below the key support at $19.50, retracing half of its recent gains. The short-term direction has been driven by speculators reducing bullish bets, but with inflation remaining higher-for-longer, the precious metals can continue to see upside in the long run. What to consider? Existing home sales flags another red for the US housing market US existing home sales fell in July for a sixth straight month to 4.81 mn from 5.11 mn, now at the slowest pace since May 2020, and beneath the expected 4.89 mn. Inventory levels again continued to be a big concern, with supply rising to 3.3 months equivalent from 2.9 in June. This continues to suggest that the weakening demand momentum and high inventory levels may weigh on construction activity. US economic data continues to be upbeat The Philly Fed survey outperformed expectations, with the headline index rising to +6.2 (exp. -5.0, prev. -12.3), while prices paid fell to 43.6 (prev. 52.2) and prices received dropped to 23.3 (prev. 30.3). new orders were still negative at -5.1, but considerably better than last month’s -24.8 and employment came in at 24.1 from 19.4 previously. While this may be a good signal, survey data tends to be volatile and a long-term trend is key to make any reasonable conclusions. Jobless claims also slid to 250k still suggesting that the labor market remains tight. Fed speakers push for more rate hikes St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard flagged another 75 basis point rate hike at the September meeting and hinted at 3.75-4% Fed funds rate by the end of the year with more front-loading in 2022. Fed’s George, much like Fed’s Daly, said that last month’s inflation is not a victory and hardly comforting. Bullard and George vote in 2022. Fed’s Kahskari said that he is not sure if the Fed can avoid a recession and that there is more work to be done to bring inflation down, but noted economic fundamentals are strong. Overall, all messages remain old and eyes remain on Fed Chair Powell speaking at the Jackson Hole conference on August 25. Japan’s inflation came in as-expected Japan’s nationwide CPI for July accelerated to 2.6% y/y, as expected, from 2.4% y/y in June. The core measure was up 2.4% y/y from 2.2% previously, staying above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target and coming in at the strongest levels since 2008. Upside pressures remain as Japan continues to face a deeper energy crisis threat into the winter with LNG supplies possibly getting diverted to Europe for better prices. Still, Bank of Japan may continue to hold its dovish yield curve control policy unless wage inflation surprises consistently to the upside. Cisco’s revenues came in flat, beating a previously feared decline Cisco Systems reports July 2022 quarter revenues of USD13.1 billion, down 0.2% YoY but better than the consensus of a 3% decline.  Net income came in at USD3.4 billion, -3.2% YoY but more than 1 percentage point above consensus.  The fall in product order was also smaller than feared.  The company guided the fiscal year 2023 revenue growth of +4% to +6%, ahead of the 3% expected and FY23 EPS of USD3.49 to USD3.56, in line with expectations as gross margin pressures are expected to offset the impact of higher sales.  NetEase’s Q2 results beat NetEase (09999:xhkg/NTES:xnas) reported above-consensus Q2 revenues, +13% YoY, and net profit from continuing operations, +28%.  PC online game revenues were above expectations, driven by Naraka Bladepoint content updates and the launch of Xbox version.  Mobile game segment performance was in line.  Geely Automobile 1H earnings missed estimates on higher costs Chinese automaker Geely reported higher-than-expected revenue growth of 29%YoY in 1H22 but a 35% YoY decline in net profit which was worse than analyst estimates.  The weakness in profit was mainly a result of a 2.6 percentage point compression of gross margin to 14.6% due to higher material costs and production disruption, higher research and development costs, and the initial ramping-up of production of the Zeekr model.  The company maintains its sales volume target of 1.65 million units, an growth of 24% YoY, for the full year of 2022.    For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.   Source: APAC Daily Digest: What is happening in markets and what to consider next – August 19, 2022
Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) Shares Gained +300% But Can Lose It All!

Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) Shares Gained +300% But Can Lose It All!

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 19.08.2022 16:55
Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) shares have gained 300% since the beginning of August after many previously opened short positions were closed. According to Seeking Alpha data, the short interest on BBBY currently stands at a whopping 41.9% (nearly half of the shares available for trading are sold short). At its peak, BBBY shares reached a price of $30. Today, however, they appear to be down almost 45% ahead of the market opening at 14:00 GMT+3 - this could be the company's worst day since its IPO in 1992. BBBY shares were already down almost 20% yesterday, as investors began to realise potential gains. One of those investors is celebrity billionaire investor Ryan Cohen. He sold his shares, earning $68.1 million (56% on invested capital). According to a report filed with the SEC, Cohen's RC Ventures sold millions of shares on Tuesday and Wednesday in a price range of $18.68 to $29.21. Since then, according to Bloomberg data, the activist investor has asked the company to consider selling the business, reached an agreement to add three independent directors to the board and pushed for the departure of CEO Mark Tritton. Shares also peaked in March 2022, when Cohen first disclosed a 9.8% stake in the company. "The ailing retailer’s share price rise of late has defied logic," - said Danni Hewson, an analyst at AJ Bell. The company has hired the law firm, Kirkland & Ellis, to help it deal with its hard-to-manage debt, media reports said yesterday. Kirkland & Ellis is a well-known advisory firm that plans to help its client by raising new funds and refinancing debt. Other so-called 'meme stocks' also fell on Friday before the open. GameStop (GME) lost 6.5% and AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) 4.7% at 14:00 GMT+3. Rafał Tworkowski, Junior Market Analyst, Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.   Source: Bed Bath & Beyond loses more than 45% before the open - the end of the short squeeze?
Oil Prices Soar on Prospect of Soft Landing, Eyes Set on $80 Breakout

Retail traders saved markets by keeping trades open during tough times

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 21.08.2022 15:44
Relevance up to 19:00 2022-08-24 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. The market analysis posted here is meant to increase your awareness, but not to give instructions to make a trade. After the spring fever, which ended with a global sell-off of all indices and a bearish reversal, many retail traders again tried to get back into the game. However, before the S&P 500 had time to accelerate, a new blow from the meme-stock market brought new losses to the bulls. However, the survey showed that traders are not ready to follow the bearish trend. Retail traders saved markets by keeping trades open during tough times According to analysts, this time it was a fairly large army of "mom-dad" investors that suffered, that is, traders with little trading experience and without a strong educational base. Wall Street was talking about this type of investor when they tried to explain the July rise in cryptocurrencies. Now they are suspected of provoking the latest global surge in US indices.In my opinion, if this reflects the real state of affairs, then only partially. Yes, one cannot but agree that the retail investor base has changed dramatically in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise of social media (hello Reddit) and online trading sites and apps has created younger and more market-savvy individuals who complement the more traditional older investors who make monthly contributions to their pension funds. This army of traders, if it can be suspected of naivety, then after the last two extremely volatile years of trading, they have clearly gained experience and are in no hurry to part with their money. Wall Street analysts paint us a portrait of a fickle, speculative day trader who just wants to make a quick buck, especially in the riskier and more complex parts of financial markets like cryptocurrencies. To some extent this is true, let's not deny the obvious. This is also a direct consequence of the surge in liquidity in financial markets after the pandemic, which the Federal Reserve is now trying to reverse. Yet research shows that retail investors are not as easy-going as institutional investors might have thought.For example, a survey of 1,000 retail investors in the United States conducted by the social investment platform eToro in June, when the market was in a bearish peak, showed that 80% of them buy or sell assets monthly or less often. At the time of the survey, about 65% of respondents were holding their investments, 29% were holding and buying more, and only 6% had sold. These numbers give us a completely different picture of what is happening in small trades. According to the traditional school of investing, young investors are less likely to keep their investments. Yet 42% of investors aged 18 to 34 did just that, and 43% held and bought more. Sold only 15% of the total. Typically, retail investors are late to the peak of profitable deals and exit them last and with the worst hangover. Many of them lost some headroom earlier this year, when the S&P 500 (.SPX) posted its worst first half performance in more than half a century. Of course, one might think that retail investors are generally not the most sophisticated or nimble, and that they probably suffered huge losses as the market went against them for months on end. But if they had given up and sold them, the market crash could have been even worse. And more importantly, according to this survey, they never really left. They kept their positions in the trades, not allowing the market to collapse even more. And it's impressive. Therefore, the sharks of Wall Street immediately suspected these hurry-ups that it was they who were now pulling the markets up. Just this week, retail investors were again taken aback by the wild swings in shares of home improvement retailer Bed Bath & Beyond. Meme shares soared over 130% at the start of the week, but fell 20% on Thursday and 40% in early trading on Friday. It comes after billionaire Ryan Cohen suddenly sold his stake in troubled retailer Bed Bath & Beyond - just days after he went bullish on stock options. For Cohen himself, the deal could bring in between $55 million and $60 million. But the traders, who hurried to invest in the newly popular funds, did not do well. Not good for other meme companies. Retail favorites GameStop and AMC Entertainment continued their decline on Friday, leaving most of their weekly profits behind. GameStop and AMC Entertainment lost between 4% and 6%. E-commerce firm Vinco Ventures plunged 17%. Interestingly, Cohen also owns a stake in GameStop. And yet, despite the current dip, BBBY and call option buying volumes by retail investors are up more than 70 times their all-time average, with current five-day net buying up to $188 million on Wednesday.     However, the market is still on a positive wave: step away from meme stocks and look towards the luminaries: the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rebounded almost 20% and 25%, respectively, from their mid-June lows. This has certainly been helped by the strong growth in retail investor buying, which currently averages $1.36 billion per day, with a 21-day moving average of over $27 billion. Moreover, the data shows that retail investors remained active buyers throughout the January-June market downturn. Yes, the 21-day moving average fell to $23 billion over the summer, but it's still well above last year's low of about $21 billion. What does this tell us? That the markets don't want to accept the reality of a bearish downturn, preferring to hold positions and bet on the bulls as soon as there is the slightest opportunity for growth. According to the technical data, the bearish decline is already in full swing. Thus, Citi analysts have identified 22 bear market rallies since the 1920s, lasting from two to 128 trading days and ranging in size from 11% to 47%. There were three such episodes from 2001 to 2002, four in the period 2008-2009, and two this year. However, I want to caution you. The influence of retail traders on the markets is largely seasonal. It's August now, when liquidity is low and the big investment companies usually take their staff on vacation, so it's the off season... and an opportunity for the retail bulls, who have increased their influence due to this factor. In late August - early September, the market of large investors will revive, and the game will follow different rules. The real economy is slow to recover, a recession is waving a red flag in China, the conflict in Ukraine is dragging on, and the coronavirus promises us a fresh strain this season. So there are not so many grounds for optimism. With this in mind, we can expect a rather difficult autumn-winter season, including for traders.   Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/319451
China Rolled Out A Special Loan Program! Fed's News

China Rolled Out A Special Loan Program! Fed's News

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 22.08.2022 12:33
Summary:  Equities closed last week on the defensive as a rising US dollar and especially US treasuries weighed. The US 10-year yield is threatening the 3.00% level for the first time in a month ahead of the important US July PCE inflation data and Fed Chair Powell’s speech on Friday. How forcefully will Powell push back against the virtual melt-up in financial conditions after the market felt the Fed pivoted to less tightening at the July meeting?   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) S&P 500 futures are still rolling over as the US 10-year yield zoomed to 3% on Friday with the index futures trading just above the 4,200 level this morning. The next levels on the downside sit around the 4,100 to 4,170 range, but in the longer term the 4,000 level is the big level to watch. Energy markets are still sending inflationary signals which is key to watch for sentiment this week. In terms of earnings, Palo Alto Networks and Zoom Video will report earnings. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSI.I) and China’s CSI300 (000300.I) Hang Seng Index and CSI300 were moderately higher, +0.2% and +0.8% respectively. Chinese developers gained on today’s larger-than-expected cut in the 5-year loan prime rate and last Friday’s report that the PBoC, jointly with the Housing Ministry and the Ministry of Finance to roll out a program to make special loans through policy banks to support the delivery of stalled residential housing projects. Great Wall Motor (02333:xhkg) soared 11%. In A-shares, auto names were among stocks that outperformed. Xiaomi (01810:xhkg) dropped 3% after reporting Q2 revenues -20% YoY and net profit -67% YoY, largely in line with expectations.  US dollar dominates focus in forex this week The US dollar rally picked up speed last week, with key levels falling in a number of USD pairs last week that now serve as resistance, including 1.0100 in EURUSD and 1.2000 in GBPUSD, both of which now serve as resistance/USD support. A significant break of EURUSD parity will likely add further psychological impact, and more practically, an upside break in yields at the longer end of the US yield curve is playing a supportive roll, one that will intensify its driving roll if the benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield follows through higher above the 3.00% level it touched in trading overnight. A complete sweep of USD strength also threatens on any significant follow through higher in USDCNH as it threatens an upside break here (more below). The next key event risk for the US dollar arrives with this Friday’s Jackson Hole symposium speech from Fed Chair Powell (preview below). USDCNH Broad USD strength is helping to drive a move to new cycle highs above 6.84 as the week gets underway, but CNH is not weak in other pairings with G10 currencies, quite the contrary. Still, a move in this critical exchange rate will remain a focus, and the contrast between an easing PBOC (moving once again overnight) and tightening central banks nearly everywhere else is stark. The USDCNH moving higher will receive considerable additional focus if the 7.00 level. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil turned lower in the Asian overnight after modest gains last week as the focus continues to alter between demand destruction fears and persistent supply shortages. Fears of an economic slowdown reducing demand remains invisible in the physical market but it has nevertheless seen crude oil give up all the post Russia invasion gains while speculators or hedge funds have cut bullish bets on WTI and Brent to the lowest since April 2020. WTI futures trades back below $90/barrel while Brent futures dipped below $96. Still, the gas-to-fuel switch led by record gas prices in Europe has seen refinery margins strengthen again lately and it now adds to the fundamental price-supportive factors. Focus may turn back to Iranian supply early in the week though, with reports that a deal is ‘imminent’. Cryptocurrencies The crypto market took a major hit on Friday with the total crypto market cap diving by more than 9 %, but prices have stabilized over the weekend. The total market cap is now close to the psychological $1 trillion level. US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) Rising US Treasury yields are pushing back against the strong improvement in financial conditions of recent weeks after the US 10-year Treasury yield benchmark jumped to new highs on Friday, well clear of the prior range after a few teases higher earlier in the week and bumping up against the psychologically key 3.00% level. Any follow through higher toward the 3.50% area highs of the cycle would likely add further pressure to financial conditions and risk sentiment more broadly. What is going on? German PPI shocks on the upside Germany’s July PPI smashed expectations to come in at 5.3% MoM, the biggest single gain since the Federal Republic started compiling its data in 1949 and above the consensus estimate of 0.7%. The data suggests potentially a lot more room on the upside to Eurozone inflation, and a lot more pain for German industries. European PMIs due this week will gather attention, as will Germany’s IFO numbers. Berkshire Hathaway wins approval to acquire Occidental Petroleum Warren Buffett’s industrial conglomerate that recently increased its stake in Occidental Petroleum to over 20% following the US Climate & Tax bill which adds more runway for oil and gas companies has now won regulatory approval for acquiring more than 50% the oil and gas company. This means that Berkshire Hathaway is warming up to its biggest acquisition since its Burlington acquisition. The power shortage in China China is currently being hit by a heatwave with a large part of the country experiencing -degree Celsius temperatures since the beginning of August. The surge in air conditioning caused electricity consumption to soar. To make things worse, drought has reduced hydropower output.  Some provinces and municipalities, especially Sichuan, are curbing electricity supply to industrial users in order to ensure electricity supply for residential use. This has caused disruptions to manufacturing production and added to the headwinds faced by the Chinese economy. China cut its 5-year loan prime rate loan prime more than expected China’s National Interbank Fund Center, based on quotes from banks and under the supervision of the PBoC, fixed the 1-year loan prime rate (“LPR”) 5 bps lower at 3.60% and the 5-year loan prime rates (“LPR”) 15 basis points lower at 4.30%. The larger-than-expected reduction in the 5-year LPR, which is the benchmark against which mortgage loan rates in China are set at a spread, may signal stronger support from the PBoC to the housing market.  The Chinese authorities are coming to the developers’ aid in delivering pre-sold homes Last Friday the Housing Ministry, the Ministry of Finance, and the PBoC, according to Xinhua News, jointly rolled out a program to make special loans through policy banks to support the delivery of presold residential housing projects which are facing difficulties in completion due to lack of funding.  Investors will monitor closely this week to gauge if there is additional information about the size of the program and if the PBoC will print money to fund it.  The resurgence of Covid cases in China Daily locally transmitted new cases of Covid-19 in China persistently stated above 2,000 since August 12, 2022, with Hainan, Tibet, and Xinjiang being the regions most impacted. The constituent companies of the Hang Seng Index will increase to 73 from 69 Hang Seng Indexes Company announced last Friday to add China Shenhua Energy (01088:xhkg), Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (01929:xhkg), Hansoh Pharmaceutical (03693:xhkg), and Baidu (09888:xhkg) to the Hang Seng Index, bringing the latter’s number of constituent companies to 73 from 69. The changes will take effect on September 5, 2022. In addition, SenseTime (00020:xhkg) will replace China Pacific Insurance (02601:xhkg) as a constituent company of the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index.  Australian share market at a pivotal point After rising for five straight weeks including last week's 1.2% lift, many market participants hold their breath this rally will continue. However, standing in the way are profit results from a quarter of the ASX200 companies to be released this week. For the final week of profit results, we hear from Qantas (Australia's largest airline), Whitehaven Coal (Australia's largest coal company), as well as other stocks that are typically held in Australian superannuation funds; including Coles, Woolworths, Wesfarmers, Endeavour. And lastly about 20 companies trade ex-dividend this week, however they are not expected to move the market's needle. Money managers increased their commodity exposure for a third week to August 16 The Commitment of Traders (COT) Report covering positions and changes made by money managers in commodities to the week ending August 16 showed a third week of net buying with funds adding 123k lots to 988k lots, a seven-week high. The buying was broad led by natural gas, sugar, cattle and grains with most of the selling concentrated in crude oil and gold. More in our weekly update out later. Prior to the latest recovery in price and positions hedge funds had been net sellers for months after holding 2.6 million lots at the start of the year. What are we watching next? USD and US Treasury yields as Jackson Hole Fed conference is the macro event risk of the week Friday The US dollar strengthened sharply, with EURUSD challenging near parity, USDCNH breaking higher today after another PBOC rate cut, and USDJPY not far from cycle highs. US Treasury yields have supported the move with the entire curve lifting over the last couple of weeks and longer yields pulling to new local highs last week. The Fed has pushed back consistently against the market’s pricing of a Fed turnaround to easing rates next year with partial success, as expectations for rate cuts have shifted farther out the curve and from higher levels. This week, the key test for markets is up on Friday as the US reports the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, the July PCE inflation data, while Fed Chair Powell will also speak on Friday, offering the most important guidance on how the Fed feels about how it feels the market understands its intentions.   Earnings to watch Plenty of important earnings releases this week with the largest ones listed below. Today’s key focus is Palo Alto Networks, Zoom Video, and XPeng. Cyber security stocks have done reasonably well over the past year despite valuations coming down as demand is still red hot, Analysts expect Palo Alto Networks to report revenue growth of 27% y/y. Zoom Video, which was the pandemic superstar, is also reporting today with estimates looking for 9% revenue growth, down considerably from 54% y/y growth just a year ago. Monday: Palo Alto Networks, Zoom Video, XPeng Tuesday: CATL, Intuit, Medtronic, JD.com Wednesday: LONGi Green Energy, Royal Bank of Canada, PetroChina, Ping An Insurance Group, Nongfu Spring, Mowi, Nvidia, Salesforce, Pinduoduo, Snowflake, Autodesk Thursday: South32, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Fortum, Delivery Hero, AIA Group, China Life Insurance, CNOOC, CRH, Dollar General, Vmware, Marvell Technology, Workday, Dollar Tree, Dell Technologies, NIO Friday: Meituan, China Shenhua Energy, China Petroleum & Chemical Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0800 – Switzerland SNB weekly sight deposits 1230 – US Jul. Chicago Fed National Activity Index 2300 – Australia Aug. Flash Manufacturing/Services PMI 0030 – Japan Aug. Flash Manufacturing/Services PMI Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher   Source: Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – August 22, 2022
Oil Price Surges Above $91 as Double Bottom Support Holds

All Eyes On Fed Chair Powell's Speech. Latest Natural Gas Developments

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 22.08.2022 12:52
Summary:  The US dollar wrecking ball is in full swing, taking even USDCNH to new highs for the cycle after another rate cut in China overnight. Longer US treasury yields are also pressuring financial conditions and risk sentiment as the 10-year benchmark yield threatens 3.00% again. The chief event risk for the week will be the Jackson Hole, Wyoming speech from Fed Chair Powell. We also discuss the latest natural gas developments in Europe, speculative positioning in the commodities markets, the long term perspective for tangible vs. intangible stock returns over the last couple of decades, upcoming earnings, & more. Today's pod features Peter Garnry on equities, Ole Hansen on commodities and John J. Hardy hosting and on FX. Listen to today’s podcast - slides are found via the link Follow Saxo Market Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher If you are not able to find the podcast on your favourite podcast app when searching for Saxo Market Call, please drop us an email at marketcall@saxobank.com and we'll look into it.   Questions and comments, please! We invite you to send any questions and comments you might have for the podcast team. Whether feedback on the show's content, questions about specific topics, or requests for more focus on a given market area in an upcoming podcast, please get in touch at marketcall@saxobank.com.   Source: Podcast: USD and US yields brewing up trouble ahead of Jackson Hole
Gold Has A Chance For Further Downside Movement - 30.12.2022

Gold Is At Risk Of Being Liquidated!? Ukraine Shipment Accelerates

Ole Hansen Ole Hansen 22.08.2022 13:47
Summary:  Our weekly Commitment of Traders update highlights future positions and changes made by hedge funds and other speculators across commodities and forex during the week to August 16. A week that potentially saw a cycle peak in US stocks and where the dollar and treasury yields both traded calmly before pushing higher. Commodities meanwhile continued their recent recovery with funds being net buyers of most contracts, the major exceptions being gold and crude oil Saxo Bank publishes weekly Commitment of Traders reports (COT) covering leveraged fund positions in commodities, bonds and stock index futures. For IMM currency futures and the VIX, we use the broader measure called non-commercial. Link to latest report This summary highlights futures positions and changes made by hedge funds across commodities and forex during the week to August 16. A week that potentially saw a cycle peak in US stocks with the S&P 500 reversing lower after reaching a four-month high, and where the dollar and treasury yields both traded calm before pushing higher. Commodities meanwhile continued their recent recovery with all sectors, except precious metals and grains recording gains. Commodities Hedge funds were net buyers for a third week with the total net long across the 24 major commodity futures tracked in this update rising by 14% to reach a seven week high at 988k lots. Some 56% below the recent peak reached in late February before Russia’s attack on Ukraine drove an across-the-board volatility spike which forced funds to reduce their exposure. Since then and up until early July, worries about a global economic slowdown, caused by a succession of rapid rate hikes in order to kill inflation, was one of the key reasons for the slump in speculative length.Returning to last week, the 123k lot increase was split equally between new longs being added and short positions being scaled back, and overall the net increase was broad led by natural gas, sugar, cattle and grains with most of the selling being concentrated in crude oil and gold. Energy: Weeks of crude oil selling continued with the combined net long in WTI and Brent falling by 26k lots to 278k lots, the lowest belief in rising prices since April 2020. Back then the market had only just began recovering the Covid related energy shock which briefly sent prices spiraling lower. While funds continued to sell crude oil in anticipation of an economic slowdown the refined product market was sending another signal with refinery margins on the rise again, partly due surging gas prices making refined alternatives, such as diesel, look cheap. As a result, the net long in ICE gas oil was lifted by 24% to 62k lots while RBOB gasoline and to a lesser extent ULSD also saw net buying. The net short in Henry Hub natural gas futures was cut by 55% as the price jumped by 19%. Metals: Renewed weakness across investment metals triggered a mixed response from traders with gold seeing a small reduction in recently established longs while continued short covering reduced bearish bets in silver, platinum and palladium. With gold resuming its down move after failing to find support above $1800, the metal has been left exposed to long liquidation from funds which in the previous two weeks had bought 63.3k lots. Copper’s small 1% gain on the week supported some additional short covering, but overall the net short has stayed relatively stable around 16k lots for the past six weeks. Agriculture: Speculators were net buyers of grains despite continued price weakness following the latest supply and demand report from the US Department of Agriculture on August 12, and after shipments of grains from Ukraine continued to pick up speed. From a near record high above 800k lots on April 19, the net long across six major crop futures went on to slump by 64% before buyers began dipping their toes back in to the market some three weeks ago. Buying was concentrated in bean oil and corn while the wheat sector remained challenged with the net long in Kansas wheat falling to a 2-year low. The four major softs contract saw strong buying led by sugar after funds flipped their position back to a 13.4k lots net long. The cocoa short was reduced by 10% while the coffee long received a 25% boost. Cotton’s 18% surge during the week helped lift the long by 35% to 44.7k lots.     Forex A mixed week in forex left the speculative dollar long close to unchanged against ten IMM futures and the DXY. Selling of euro saw the net short reach a fresh 2-1/2-year high at 42.8k lots or €5.3 billion equivalent while renewed selling of JPY, despite trading higher during the reporting week, made up most of the increase in dollar length. Against these we saw short covering reduce CHF, GBP and MXN short while CAD net long reached a 14-month high.    What is the Commitments of Traders report? The COT reports are issued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the ICE Exchange Europe for Brent crude oil and gas oil. They are released every Friday after the U.S. close with data from the week ending the previous Tuesday. They break down the open interest in futures markets into different groups of users depending on the asset class. Commodities: Producer/Merchant/Processor/User, Swap dealers, Managed Money and otherFinancials: Dealer/Intermediary; Asset Manager/Institutional; Leveraged Funds and otherForex: A broad breakdown between commercial and non-commercial (speculators) The reasons why we focus primarily on the behavior of the highlighted groups are: They are likely to have tight stops and no underlying exposure that is being hedged This makes them most reactive to changes in fundamental or technical price developments It provides views about major trends but also helps to decipher when a reversal is looming   Source: COT: Gold and oil left out as funds return to commodities
iPhones Banned in Chinese Offices: Tech Tensions Escalate

China's Plan For Dying Property Markets. Nasdaq 100 And S&P 500

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 23.08.2022 08:37
Summary:  Equities were sold off on Monday, continuing a slide from their summer rally high, in the midst of position adjustments ahead of the Jackson Hole central banker event later this week. U.S. 10-year yields returned to above 3%. China cut its 5-year loan prime rates and plans to extend special loans to boost the ailing property markets. What is happening in markets?   Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)  U.S. equities lost ground and continued to retrace from the high of the latest rally since mid-June.  The market sentiment has become more cautious ahead of Fed Chair Powell’s speech this Friday at the Jackson Hole symposium and a heavy economic data calendar, S&P 500 – 2.1%, Nasdaq 100 -2.7%.  The rise of U.S. 10-year bond yield back to above 3% added to the selling pressures in equities.  Zoom Video (ZM:xnas) fell 8% in after-hours trading as the company reported Q2 revenues and earnings missing estimates and cut its full year revenues guidance. U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) Bonds were sold off as traders adjusted positions ahead of the Jackson Hole.  The treasury yield curve bear flattened with 2-year yields surging 8bps to 3.30% and 10-year yields climbing 4bps to 3.01%, above the closely watched 3% handle.  Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIQ2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hang Seng fell 0.6% while CSI300 climbed 0.7% on Monday. Chinese developers gained on today’s larger-than-expected cut in the 5-year loan prime rate and the Chinese authorities plan to provide special loans through policy banks to support the delivery of stalled residential housing projects, CIFI (00883:xhkg) +11.5%, Country Garden (02007:xhkg) +3.2%.  China extended EV waivers from vehicle purchase tax and other fees to the end of 2023, but the share price reactions of Chinese EV makers traded in Hong Kong were mixed.  Great Wall Motor (02333:xhkg) soared 11%, benefiting from launching a new model that has a 1,000km per charge battery while Nio (09866:xhkg) and Li Auto(02015:xhkg) fell 4.2% and 1.4% respectively. Xiaomi (01810:xhkg) dropped 3.3% after Q2 revenues -20% YoY and net profit -67% YoY, on lower smartphone shipments (-26% YoY).  Smartphone parts suppliers, AAC Technologies (02018:xhkg) and Sunny Optical (02382:xhkg) declined 5.6% and 4.2% respectively.  The share price performance of the four companies that will be added to the Hang Seng Index was mixed, Baidu (09888:xhkg) +0.9%, China Shenhua Energy (01088:xhkg) +2.1%, Hansoh Pharmaceutical (03692:xhkg) +3.2% but Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (01929:xhkg) -0.6%.  SenseTime (00020:xhkg) gained 4.2% as the company will replace China Pacific Insurance (02601:xhkg) -2.8% as a constituent company of the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index.  ENN Energy (02688:xhkg) plunged more than 14% after reporting H1 results below market expectations.  China retailer Gome (00493) collapsed 20% after resuming trading from suspension and a plan t buy from the controlling shareholder a stake in China property assets.  EURUSD falls below parity, eyes on 0.9500 The latest concerns on the European energy crisis weighed on the Euro which was seen sipping below parity to the US dollar. Higher US yields and gains in the US dollar also underpinned, taking EURUSD to lows of 0.9926. The European recession is coming hard and fast, and the PMIs today will likely signal increasing pressure on the region. Also on the radar will be Fed Chair Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole later this week, with a fresh selloff in the pair likely to target 0.9500 next. USDCNH heading to further highs After PBOC’s easing measures on Monday, the scope for further yuan weakness has increased. USDCNH broke above 6.8600 overnight and potentially more US dollar strength this week on the back of a pushback from Fed officials on easing expectations for next year could mean a test of 7.00 for USDCNH. Still, the move in yuan is isolated, coming from China moving to prevent the yuan from tracking aggravated USD strength rather than showing signs of desiring a broader weakening. EURCNH has plunged to over 1-month lows of 6.8216 on the back of broader EUR weakness. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil prices made a recovery overnight despite the strength in the US dollar. A global shift from gas to oil, from Europe to Asia, has taken a deeper hold amid gas shortage fears accelerating in the wake of another upcoming maintenance of the Nordstream pipeline. Diesel and refinery margins have also been supported as a result, with Asia diesel crack rising to its previous high of $63 amid low inventory levels. WTI futures reversed back to the $90/barrel levels and Brent were back above $96. Comments from Saudi Energy Minister threatening to dial back supply also lifted prices, but these were mis-read and in fact, focused more on the mismatch between the tightness in the futures and the physical market. Gold (XAUUSD) and Silver (XAGUSD) Gold broke below the key $1744 support and is now eying $1729, the 61.8% retracement of the July to August bounce. Dollar strength and a run higher in US yields weighed on the shine of the yellow metal, which has seen downside pressures since last week after touching the critical $1800-level. Hawkish Fed talk this week could further weigh on the short-term prospects for Gold. Silver also dipped below the key 19 handle, erasing most of the gains seen since late July.   What to consider?   German year-ahead power prices hit a fresh record high German year-ahead power prices surged to EUR 700/MWh with Dutch TTF gas prices close to EUR 300/MWh. The surge came on the back of another leg higher in natural gas prices which rose over 8% in Europe amid concerns around the next scheduled 3-day maintenance of the Nordstream pipeline. It appears that demand destruction remains the most obvious but painful cure right now, along with a longer-term focus on ensuring a broad-based supply of energy from coal, gas, nuclear, solar, hydrogen, and more.  Australia and Japan services PMIs plunged into contraction Australia saw its services PMI drop to 49.6 in August in a flash print, from 50.9 in July. Manufacturing PMI, however, held up at 54.5, just weakening slightly from last month’s 55.7. The spate of rate hikes seen from Reserve Bank of Australia is likely taking its toll on demand and manufacturing. Meanwhile, prices remain elevated amid the persistent supply chain issues, and more rate hikes are still on the cards. Japan’s flash manufacturing PMI for August came in lower at 51.0 from 52.1 previously, nut stayed in expansion territory. Services PMI however plunged into the contraction zone below 50, coming in at 49.2 for a flash August print from 50.3 in July. The fresh COVID wave in Japan, although comes without any broad-based new restrictions, is impeding the services demand and will likely weigh on Q3 GDP growth. Europe and UK PMIs may spell further caution The Euro-area flash composite PMI and the UK flash PMI for August are both due to be released on Tuesday. Following a slide in ZEW and Sentix indicators for July, the stage is set for a weaker outcome on the PMIs too. July composite PMI for the Euro-area dipped into contractionary territory at 49.9, while the UK measure held up at 52.1. The surge in gas and electricity prices continue to weigh on GDP growth outlook, with recession likely to hit by the end of the year. China’s plan to provide loans to ensure delivery of presold residential projects is said to be of the size of RMB 200 billion Last Friday, Xinhua News reported that the PBoC, jointly with the Housing Ministry and the Ministry of Finance rolled out a program to make special loans through policy banks to support the delivery of stalled residential housing projects but the size of the program was not mentioned.   A Bloomberg report yesterday, citing “people familiar with the matter”, suggested the size of the support lending program could be as large as RMB 200 billion.  Beijing municipal government rolled out initiatives to promote hydrogen vehicles The municipal government of Beijing announced support for the construction of hydrogen vehicle refueling stations with RMB500 million for each station, aiming at building 37 new stations by 2023 and bringing the adoption of fuel-cell cars to over 10,000 units in the capital. Earlier in the month, the Guangdong province released a plan to build 200 hydrogen vehicle refueling stations by 2025. Since last year, there have been 13 provinces and municipalities rolling out policies to promote the development of the hydrogen vehicle industry.  Earnings on tap Reportedly there have been shorts being built up in Dollar Tree (DLTR:xnys) as traders are expecting that discount retailer missing when reporting this Thursday.   On the other hand, investors are expecting Dollar General (DG:xnys) results to come in more favourably, , which also reports this Thursday.  Key earnings scheduled to release today including Medtronic (MDT:xnys), Intuit (INTU:xnas), JD.COM (09618.xhkg/JD.xnas), JD Logistics (02615:xhkg), Kingsoft (02888:xhkg), and Kuishaou (01023:xhkg). Singapore reports July inflation figures today Singapore's inflation likely nudged higher in July, coming in close proximity to 7% levels from 6.7% y/y in June. While both food and fuel costs continue to create upside pressures on inflation, demand-side pressures are also increasing as the region moves away from virus curbs. House rentals are also running high due to high demand and delayed construction limiting supplies. The Monetary Authority of Singapore has tightened monetary policy but more tightening moves can be expected in H2 even as the growth outlook has been downwardly revised.     For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast   Source: APAC Daily Digest: What is happening in markets and what to consider next – August 23, 2022
Market Risk Sentiment Adjusts as Investors Eye US Inflation Data

US Equities Falling Down, EURUSD Is On The Topic

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 23.08.2022 11:01
Summary:  US equities continued to push sharply lower yesterday as the strong US dollar is in focus as EURUSD dropped well below parity yesterday. US Treasury yields are playing their part in pressuring sentiment as the US 10-year yield benchmark rose above 3.00%. The next important event risk is this Friday’s Jackson Hole, Wyoming speech from Fed Chair Powell, as the Fed is expected to remind the market that it remains in full inflation-fighting mode, pushing back against the impression that it may be set to cut rates next year.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) S&P 500 futures extended their losses yesterday as the US 10-year yield moved above the 3% level and the Fed Funds futures curve moved lower across the whole curve (meaning less rate cuts expected next year). Markets are beginning to second-guess their aggressive bets in July on inflation cooling fast enough to warrant rate cuts next year as the galloping energy crisis makes it difficult for inflation to cool. Tangibles-driven themes such as commodities, logistics, energy storage and financials were the relative winners in yesterday’s session. S&P 500 futures are now in the support zone from before the last leg up that started on 10 August; we see the 4,100 level as the next level to watch on the downside and then the 100-day moving average at 4,085. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSI.I) and China’s CSI300 (000300.I) Hang Seng Index and CSI300 were both down about 0.6%. A Bloomberg report yesterday, citing “people familiar with the matter”, suggested the size of the central bank and other authorities’ support lending program to developers could be as large as RMB 200bn. The reaction of the share prices of Chinese Property developers were mixed, Country Garden (02007:hkg) +3.1%, Longfor (00960:xhkg) -1.4%. Postal Savings Bank of China (01658:xhkg) plunged 5.5% after the Chinese bank reported net profit miss with a 10 bps y/y fall in net interest margin to 2.27% in H1. Gross loans grew 13% y/y in H1 but at a more tepid growth of 3% q/q.  Non-performing loans ratio overall was steady at 0.8% but mortgage NPL ratio climbed by 8 bps to 0.52%. US dollar rally following through The US dollar rally continued apace yesterday, as EURUSD traded well below parity and closed at its lowest level in nearly twenty years yesterday. GBPUSD has teased below 1.1760, its lowest level since a one-off pandemic-outbreak spike in early 2020, while other USD pairs are not yet at extremes of the cycle, including AUDUSD, still well above the sub-0.6700 lows of July, and USDJPY, which has not yet challenged the cycle high north of 139.00. There is clearly a reflexive situation at the moment in the US dollar, risk sentiment and US treasury yields. USDCNH Broad USD strength remains behind the weaker CNH in the USDCNH exchange rate as the CNH continues to rise versus, for example, the EUR, while the CNHJPY exchange rate trades near the important 20.00 area. Any more significant move in this critical exchange rate could quickly steal some of the focus away from the US dollar. The contrast between an easing PBOC (moving once again earlier this week) and tightening central banks nearly everywhere else is stark. The next important level for the pair is 7.00, with the range high of the last decade near 7.20. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil prices made a sharp U-turn higher on Monday after the Saudi Energy Minister talked about a potential production cut after saying the futures market has become increasingly disconnected from underlying fundamental developments, a view that we share. His comment supported the market on a day where risk appetite generally took a knock from the stronger dollar and falling equity markets. A global shift from gas to oil, from Europe to Asia, has taken a deeper hold amid gas shortage fears accelerating in the wake of another upcoming maintenance of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and heatwaves in China. Diesel prices trades higher supported by refinery margins, the so-called crack spread hitting seasonal highs around the world. Gold (XAUUSD) and Silver (XAGUSD) Gold broke below the key $1744 support on Monday before finding support at $1729, the 61.8% retracement of the July to August bounce. Dollar strength and a run higher in US yields weighed on the shine of the yellow metal, which has seen downside pressures since last week after touching the critical $1800-level. Hawkish Fed talk this week could further weigh on the short-term prospects for Gold. Silver also dipped below the key 19 handle, erasing most of the gains seen since late July. German year-ahead power prices hit a fresh record high German year-ahead power prices surged to EUR 700/MWh with Dutch TTF gas prices close to EUR 300/MWh. The surge came on the back of another leg higher in natural gas prices which rose over 13% in Europe amid concerns around the next scheduled 3-day maintenance of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. It appears that demand destruction remains the most obvious but painful cure right now, along with a longer-term focus on ensuring a broad-based supply of energy from coal, gas, nuclear, solar, hydrogen, and more. US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) US treasury yields rose yesterday, with the 10-year benchmark closing above 3.00% for the first time in over a month yesterday. Rising yields are likely an important driver of weaker risk sentiment after the melt-up in the wake of the late July FOMC meeting, but practically, a move toward the cycle highs from June near 3.50% (in the lead-up to the FOMC meeting on June 16) is needed to seize the spotlight. The behavior of the treasury market in the wake of the Jackson Hole conference speech from fed Chair Powell this Friday is an important next step, particularly if Powell provides strong guidance on the pace or importance of the Fed’s balance sheet tightening (QT). What is going on? EURUSD falls below parity, eyes on 0.9500 The latest concerns on the European energy crisis weighed on the Euro which was seen sipping below parity to the US dollar. Higher US yields and gains in the US dollar also underpinned, taking EURUSD to lows in the low 0.9900’s this morning. The European recession is coming hard and fast, and the PMIs today will likely signal increasing pressure on the region. The next step for the US dollar is the Fed Chair Powell speech this Friday as discussed below. Australia and Japan services PMIs plunged into contraction Australia saw its services PMI drop to 49.6 in August in a flash print, from 50.9 in July. Manufacturing PMI, however, held up at 54.5, just weakening slightly from last month’s 55.7. The spate of rate hikes seen from Reserve Bank of Australia is likely taking its toll on demand and manufacturing. Meanwhile, prices remain elevated amid the persistent supply chain issues, and more rate hikes are still on the cards. Japan’s flash manufacturing PMI for August came in lower at 51.0 from 52.1 previously, nut stayed in expansion territory. Services PMI however plunged into the contraction zone below 50, coming in at 49.2 for a flash August print from 50.3 in July. The fresh COVID wave in Japan, although comes without any broad-based new restrictions, is impeding the services demand and will likely weigh on Q3 GDP growth. Palo Alto outlook remains strong The cyber security company reported last night Q4 revenue and EPS above estimates and Q1 outlook is slightly above estimates while the FY outlook is well above consensus estimates. Q4 networks billing growth was 44% vs est. 25% suggesting demand is accelerating and bolstering our view that the cyber security industry is a high growth and counter-cyclical industry in the years to come. Shares were up 9% in extended trading. Zoom shares were down 8% in extended trading The popular video conferencing software that rose to prominence during the pandemic is lowering its FY outlook relative to previous announcements. The slowdown in their business is due to slower enterprise growth which could be a function of Microsoft and other major technology companies that have entered the enterprise business for video conference. What are we watching next? Europe and UK PMIs may spell further caution. The Euro-area flash composite PMI and the UK flash PMI for August are both due to be released on Tuesday. Following a slide in ZEW and Sentix indicators for July, the stage is set for a weaker outcome on the PMIs too. July composite PMI for the Euro-area dipped into contractionary territory at 49.9, while the UK measure held up at 52.1. The surge in gas and electricity prices continue to weigh on GDP growth outlook, with recession likely to hit by the end of the year. USD and US Treasury yields as Jackson Hole Fed conference is the macro event risk of the week Friday The US dollar and yields are setting risk sentiment on edge as EURUSD has plunged well through parity. US Treasury yields have supported the USD rally with the entire curve lifting over the last couple of weeks and longer yields closing at new one-month highs. The Fed has pushed back consistently against the market’s pricing of a Fed turnaround to easing rates next year with partial success, as expectations for rate cuts have shifted farther out the curve and from higher levels. The next focus is this Friday’s Jackson Hole symposium speech from Fed Chair Powell, who is expected to stay on message and maintain credibility on fighting inflation after the two large 75 basis point hikes at the last two meetings. The Fed’s attitude toward quantitative tightening may be a focus in the speech as well, with the pace of QT supposedly set to pick up in coming weeks to $95B/month. So far, the QT has been slow out of the gates, with the balance sheet currently only some $115B smaller than at its mid-April peak. Earnings to watch Today’s earnings focus is on CATL and JD.com, with especially CATL being important as the world’s largest battery manufacturer to the car industry and thus pivotal for the electrification of the transportation sector. CATL is expected to report revenue growth of 126% y/y in Q2 as EV adoption is accelerating, but key risks ahead are rising input costs across lithium and energy. JD.com is expected to report 3% revenue growth in Q2 as growth is grinding to a halt on very weak consumer confidence in China. Today: CATL, Intuit, Medtronic, JD.com Wednesday: LONGi Green Energy, Royal Bank of Canada, PetroChina, Ping An Insurance Group, Nongfu Spring, Mowi, Nvidia, Salesforce, Pinduoduo, Snowflake, Autodesk Thursday: South32, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Fortum, Delivery Hero, AIA Group, China Life Insurance, CNOOC, CRH, Dollar General, Vmware, Marvell Technology, Workday, Dollar Tree, Dell Technologies, NIO Friday: Meituan, China Shenhua Energy, China Petroleum & Chemical Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0715-0800 – Eurozone Aug. Flash Manufacturing and Services PMI 0830 – UK Aug. Flash Manufacturing and Services PMI 1000 – UK Aug. CBI Trends in Total Orders and Selling Prices 1100 – ECB's Panetta to speak 1345 – US Aug. Flash Manufacturing and Services PMI 1400 – US Aug. Richmond Fed Manufacturing 1400 – Eurozone Aug. Flash Consumer Confidence 1400 – US Jul. New Home Sales 2300 – US Fed’s Kashkari (non-voter) to speak  Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher   Source: Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – August 23, 2022
The Metaverse Will Offer Everyone Endless Possibilities

Snapchat Lost Even More Than Expected! TikTok Is One Of The Reasons. Microsoft Stays Positive

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 23.08.2022 11:16
We've had arguably one of the busiest quarterly earnings seasons in history, which showed how companies are behaving in a rapidly changing inflationary environment. The overall findings seem to have been positive, and likely contributed to a bear market rally in the broad stock market, accompanied by dovish Fed signals and a lower US CPI inflation reading. How did technology companies perform? Companies in this category typically base their high valuations on the prospect of growth and increasing profits. That's why analysts were especially curious to see how well-known brands would behave in a difficult environment and what resilience they would show.  Alphabet (GOOG) and Meta (META) are advertising giants, but the characteristics of their businesses are quite different. The former (Google's parent company) makes its money largely from SEO and the latter from social media campaigns such as Facebook and Instagram. The companies' results showed that SEO seems to be more of a priority for customers, and therefore revenue along with GOOG's profits appeared to be more stable. Google's revenue rose 12.6% year-on-year, while Meta's fell by less than 1%, while profits fell 13.6% and 35.7%, respectively. Despite passing some Wall Street analysts' estimates, Microsoft proved more recession-proof than expected. Bill Gates' company reported $51.9 billion in Q2 revenue (up 12.4% year-on-year) and net income of $16.7 billion (up 1.7% year-on-year).  "We continue to expect double-digit revenue and operating profit growth in constant currency and U.S. dollars," - said Microsoft CFO Amy Hood, at the earnings conference. She added that Microsoft will extend the life of its server and network hardware to six years from four years. The company made a similar move in 2020, intending to cut costs.   The biggest problems for technology companies also producing hardware, such as Microsoft (manufacturing Xbox) in addition to high exchange rates volatility, may remain rising production costs and a hard-to-quantify drop in demand due to the recession. One company that may have disappointed many with its results and caused a big drop in its stock price was Snapchat. The platform's shares lost 39% in a single session after the results were released.  Snapchat reported a drop in revenue to $1.11 billion, compared to the expected $1.14 billion. However, earnings per share, to which investors seem to pay the most attention, instead of falling by 1 cent, slipped twice as much, by 2 cents per share. This happened despite an increase in the number of active daily users - 3.2 million more than estimated. Snapchat, despite becoming increasingly unpopular in Central and Eastern Europe is still frequently used in Western Europe and the United States, but it has long struggled with relatively sizable revenue fluctuations and problems maintaining growth rates through app monetization issues. Additionally, with increasing competition from other platforms like TikTok, the company's future may not look too rosy. Most of the leading technology companies, despite an apparent slowdown in growth, maybe in relatively good shape. Their revenues are usually stable, and the biggest challenge is cost containment - hence the companies' announcements about layoffs and cost optimization, and focusing on their most profitable areas of business. According to CNBC, about 50% of technology companies are already planning to carry out layoffs, which appears to be related to the macroeconomic situation.   Rafał Tworkowski, Junior Market Analyst, Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.   Source: Technology companies earnings recap - what do they signal?
What Should We Expect Before Winter? Will Energy Crisis Come?

What Should We Expect Before Winter? Will Energy Crisis Come?

Peter Garnry Peter Garnry 22.08.2022 18:44
Summary:  Financial conditions loosening over the past six weeks were a natural evolution of the US economy improving in July, but the Fed is poised to hike potentially 75 basis points at the September meeting to tighten financial conditions even more as the nominal economy is still running too hot to get inflation meaningfully lower. The most likely scenario is weaker equities as winter approaching as the energy crisis will hurt. Financial conditions will soon begin tightening again S&P 500 futures are trading 3.4% lower from their high last week touching the 200-day moving average before rolling over again. Sentiment has shifted as the market is slowly pricing less rate cuts for next year with Fed Funds futures curve on Friday (the blue line) has shifted lower compared to a week ago (the purple line) as inflationary pressures are expected to ease as much as betted on by the market over the past month. Fed member Bullard recently said that he was leaning towards 75 basis points rate cut at the September FOMC meeting to cool the economy further. If the Fed goes with 75 basis points while the real economy is seeing lower activity it will mean that financial conditions will begin tightening more relative to the economic backdrop. Financial conditions have been loosening since June but expectation is that we will see another leg of tightening to levels eclipsing the prior high and with that US equities will likely roll over. S&P 500 futures are now well below the 4,200 level and currently in the congestion zone from before the last leg higher. The next gravitational point to the downside is the 4,100 and below that just above 4,000. December put options on the S&P 500 are currently bid around $208 which roughly a 5% premium for getting three-month downside protection at-the-money. S&P 500 futures | Source: Saxo Group   Fed Funds futures forward curve | Source: Bloomberg   US financial conditions | Source: Bloomberg The US is headed for a recession, but when? US financial conditions eased in July lifting equities and with good reasons we can see. The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (the broadest measure of economic activity) rose to 0.27 in July from -0.25 in June suggesting a significant rebound in economic activity. The rebound was broad-based across all the four major sub categories in the index with the production index rising the most. The three-month average is still -0.09 with -0.7 being the statistical threshold for when this indicator suggests that the US economy is in a recession. The probability is therefore still elevated for a recession but the slowdown in the US economy has eased which is positive factor for US equity markets. Predicting the economy is difficult but our thesis going into the winter months on the Northern hemisphere is that it is very difficult to avoid a recession, at least in real terms, when the economy is facing an energy crisis. The most likely scenario is that the US economy will slide into a nominal recession but continue at a fast clip in nominal terms.          China is facing a 2008-style rescue of its real estate sector We have written earlier this year about the downfall of Evergrande and the other Chinese real estate developers. The stress in China’s real estate sector was a big theme earlier this year but has since faded, but recently the Chinese central bank has eased rates and today the government is planning a $29bn rescue package of special loans for troubled developers. Tensions in Chinese real estate are weighing down on the economy through lower consumer confidence and investors are increasingly reducing exposure to China has we have highlighted in our daily podcast. The PBoC (central bank) is urging banks to maintain steady growth of lending, but with the market value of banks relative to assets having declined for many years the market is no longer viewing the credit extension as driven by sound credit analysis, but more as an extended policy tool of the government with unknown but likely less good credit quality.   Source: Equities are rolling over as conditions are set to tighten
Switch Splatoon 3 Broke All Previous Sales Records, The Closer To Winter The More Visible Crisis

Tech Stocks Market: Nvidia May Release Its Growth Rate. People Are Not Interested In Playing Games Anymore?

Peter Garnry Peter Garnry 23.08.2022 14:17
Summary:  Nvidia, Salesforce, and Snowflake report earnings tomorrow providing more clarity on technology spending and the outlook for the overall technology sector. Nvidia is expected to report a big drop in its growth rate due to weakening demand in gaming and more importantly crypto mining. Salesforce is expected to show solid growth and here investors will focus on the Slack integration and what it means for growth ahead. Snowflake's growth rate is coming down and thus investors will demand improvements in the operating income. Nvidia: turbulence to continue Earlier this month Nvidia cut its outlook, which we covered in an equity update, driving by excess inventory of GPUs leading to price pressures in GPUs. Lower demand for GPUs, which we believe is mainly driven by less favourable dynamics for crypto mining, is forcing Nvidia to lower its sales outlook, cutting prices, and writing down its existing inventory. Nvidia has gone to great length explaining off the weakness as due to a slowdown in gaming, but the companies in gaming are not showing the decline in demand consistent with the slowdown Nvidia is experiencing. Because Nvidia does not know very well the end-use cases of their GPUs it is difficult for them to segment revenue, but in our view the economics of crypto mining tied to the Bitcoin price is the best explanation for the historical variance in revenue. Nvidia’s slowdown is tied to cryptocurrencies and thus higher interest rates is not only a key risk to Nvidia’s equity valuation, but it is also a risk to their demand as higher interest rates could lower cryptocurrency prices substantially from current levels. Nvidia is expected on Wednesday to report only 3% y/y revenue growth in FY23 Q2 (ending 31 July) down from 46% y/y in FY23 Q1 (ending 1 May) which is an abrupt slowdown in growth. It also highlights Nvidia’s biggest business risk. The chipmaker does not fully understand its demand function which can lead to a mismatch in supply and demand. The key question for investors is to what extent Nvidia expects growth to come back but more importantly whether they will change their outlook for operating margins. Nvidia financials | Source: Bloomberg Salesforce: can Slack sustain the growth? Salesforce is reporting FY23 Q2 (ending 31 July) results on Wednesday with analysts estimating revenue growth of 21% y/y which is in line with the long-term growth rate the company has enjoyed for 10 years. The Slack acquisition which has now been fully integrated is one of the key drivers for future growth and an acquisition that has expanded the company’s addressable market and market position in cloud business application software. Salesforce is competing against Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP, and has shown over the years that it gain market share plowing back a lot of its profits back into growth. With rising interest rates the pressure is on Salesforce to lift its operating margin and investors are likely demanding a surprise on operating margin rather than revenue in tomorrow’s earnings release. Salesforce financials | Source: Bloomberg Snowflake: consumption model vs economic uncertainty It is rare for Berkshire Hathaway to engage in technology companies let alone IPOs, but that is exactly what the investment firm did with Snowflake back in 2020. The company sits in the data analytics and cloud intersection providing a novel approach to data warehousing on the cloud at a low costs. The company has grown revenue from $97mn in 2018 to around $1.2bn in 2021 and revenue growth is expected at 72% y/y in FY23 Q2 (ending 31 July) but down from 104% y/y a year ago, but this should be expected as all high growth companies always see their growth rate coming down. The question is to what degree the growth rate is decaying over time. The company has recently disappointed analysts and there might be a downside risk to Snowflake’s results as the business model is centered around consumption which means that if technology spending is slowing down then it will hit Snowflake’s growth rate immediately. Secondly, the company’s high equity valuation relative to revenue means that investors will want to see a big improvement in operating income. Snowflake financials | Source: Bloomberg Source: Earnings preview: Nvidia, Salesforce, and Snowflake
The Canadian Dollar Gains Momentum as Crude Oil Prices Surge

Wall Street: The Worst Day Since June. Bitcoin (BTC) And Ethereum (ETH) Can Feel The Tension In The Air

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 23.08.2022 14:35
According to Coinmarketcap data, the total capitalization of cryptocurrencies has fallen to nearly $1 trillion, showing a major shift in sentiment among traders and investors in recent days. The last time market capitalization was at this level was in late July. The possible trend reversal does not only apply to cryptocurrencies. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 have fallen from their local highs of August 16 by 5.7% and 3.8%, respectively. This is a significant change for such large indexes. Interest rates on U.S. 5-year Treasury bonds, after recording a local low of 2.55% on August 1, have risen to 3.17% in recent weeks, as Fed policymakers' statements proved more hawkish than expected. These are potential signs of a deteriorating outlook again, which should not be ignored. A chart of the Crypto Fear & Greed Index may show a decline in crypto market sentiment and an increase in investor fear. As recently as last week, the index showed a reading of 44, and now it is 28 points. Despite the partial decrease in the correlation between bitcoin and the S&P 500, it still seems to be high. Especially since it has historically risen during crashes - the last peak in the correlation was reached in mid-May, when both markets were down. BTC and ETH, despite finding support at $20,700 and $25,300, respectively, could be more exposed to the downside due to deteriorating economic data and market sentiment.  On the Conotoxia MT5 platform as of 12:00 GMT+3, one of the strongest falling tokens is EOS, which is losing nearly 9% after a 7-day gain of 48%. EOS is the native token of the EOSIO network. In practice, the project provides blockchain developers with a set of necessary tools and services to build and scale decentralized applications. The project's first whitepaper was released in 2017, and the team conducted an ICO, securing more than $4 billion in investment. It was one of the largest crowdfunding events in the history of cryptocurrencies.   Rafał Tworkowski, Junior Market Analyst, Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Source: Does data signal more short-term declines in the crypto market?
In Germany, The Next-Year Prices For Energy Are Astonishing! Why?

In Germany The Next-Year Prices For Energy Are Astonishing! Why?

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 24.08.2022 09:03
Summary:  Equities were sold off on Monday, continuing a slide from their summer rally high, in the midst of position adjustments ahead of the Jackson Hole central banker event later this week. U.S. 10-year yields returned to above 3%. China cut its 5-year loan prime rates and plans to extend special loans to boost the ailing property markets. What is happening in markets? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)  U.S. equities lost ground and continued to retrace from the high of the latest rally since mid-June.  The market sentiment has become more cautious ahead of Fed Chair Powell’s speech this Friday at the Jackson Hole symposium and a heavy economic data calendar, S&P 500 – 2.1%, Nasdaq 100 -2.7%.  The rise of U.S. 10-year bond yield back to above 3% added to the selling pressures in equities.  Zoom Video (ZM:xnas) fell 8% in after-hours trading as the company reported Q2 revenues and earnings missing estimates and cut its full year revenues guidance. U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) Bonds were sold off as traders adjusted positions ahead of the Jackson Hole.  The treasury yield curve bear flattened with 2-year yields surging 8bps to 3.30% and 10-year yields climbing 4bps to 3.01%, above the closely watched 3% handle.  Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIQ2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hang Seng fell 0.6% while CSI300 climbed 0.7% on Monday. Chinese developers gained on today’s larger-than-expected cut in the 5-year loan prime rate and the Chinese authorities plan to provide special loans through policy banks to support the delivery of stalled residential housing projects, CIFI (00883:xhkg) +11.5%, Country Garden (02007:xhkg) +3.2%.  China extended EV waivers from vehicle purchase tax and other fees to the end of 2023, but the share price reactions of Chinese EV makers traded in Hong Kong were mixed.  Great Wall Motor (02333:xhkg) soared 11%, benefiting from launching a new model that has a 1,000km per charge battery while Nio (09866:xhkg) and Li Auto(02015:xhkg) fell 4.2% and 1.4% respectively. Xiaomi (01810:xhkg) dropped 3.3% after Q2 revenues -20% YoY and net profit -67% YoY, on lower smartphone shipments (-26% YoY).  Smartphone parts suppliers, AAC Technologies (02018:xhkg) and Sunny Optical (02382:xhkg) declined 5.6% and 4.2% respectively.  The share price performance of the four companies that will be added to the Hang Seng Index was mixed, Baidu (09888:xhkg) +0.9%, China Shenhua Energy (01088:xhkg) +2.1%, Hansoh Pharmaceutical (03692:xhkg) +3.2% but Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (01929:xhkg) -0.6%.  SenseTime (00020:xhkg) gained 4.2% as the company will replace China Pacific Insurance (02601:xhkg) -2.8% as a constituent company of the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index.  ENN Energy (02688:xhkg) plunged more than 14% after reporting H1 results below market expectations.  China retailer Gome (00493) collapsed 20% after resuming trading from suspension and a plan t buy from the controlling shareholder a stake in China property assets.  EURUSD falls below parity, eyes on 0.9500 The latest concerns on the European energy crisis weighed on the Euro which was seen sipping below parity to the US dollar. Higher US yields and gains in the US dollar also underpinned, taking EURUSD to lows of 0.9926. The European recession is coming hard and fast, and the PMIs today will likely signal increasing pressure on the region. Also on the radar will be Fed Chair Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole later this week, with a fresh selloff in the pair likely to target 0.9500 next. USDCNH heading to further highs After PBOC’s easing measures on Monday, the scope for further yuan weakness has increased. USDCNH broke above 6.8600 overnight and potentially more US dollar strength this week on the back of a pushback from Fed officials on easing expectations for next year could mean a test of 7.00 for USDCNH. Still, the move in yuan is isolated, coming from China moving to prevent the yuan from tracking aggravated USD strength rather than showing signs of desiring a broader weakening. EURCNH has plunged to over 1-month lows of 6.8216 on the back of broader EUR weakness. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil prices made a recovery overnight despite the strength in the US dollar. A global shift from gas to oil, from Europe to Asia, has taken a deeper hold amid gas shortage fears accelerating in the wake of another upcoming maintenance of the Nordstream pipeline. Diesel and refinery margins have also been supported as a result, with Asia diesel crack rising to its previous high of $63 amid low inventory levels. WTI futures reversed back to the $90/barrel levels and Brent were back above $96. Comments from Saudi Energy Minister threatening to dial back supply also lifted prices, but these were mis-read and in fact, focused more on the mismatch between the tightness in the futures and the physical market. Gold (XAUUSD) and Silver (XAGUSD) Gold broke below the key $1744 support and is now eying $1729, the 61.8% retracement of the July to August bounce. Dollar strength and a run higher in US yields weighed on the shine of the yellow metal, which has seen downside pressures since last week after touching the critical $1800-level. Hawkish Fed talk this week could further weigh on the short-term prospects for Gold. Silver also dipped below the key 19 handle, erasing most of the gains seen since late July.   What to consider? German year-ahead power prices hit a fresh record high German year-ahead power prices surged to EUR 700/MWh with Dutch TTF gas prices close to EUR 300/MWh. The surge came on the back of another leg higher in natural gas prices which rose over 8% in Europe amid concerns around the next scheduled 3-day maintenance of the Nordstream pipeline. It appears that demand destruction remains the most obvious but painful cure right now, along with a longer-term focus on ensuring a broad-based supply of energy from coal, gas, nuclear, solar, hydrogen, and more.  Australia and Japan services PMIs plunged into contraction Australia saw its services PMI drop to 49.6 in August in a flash print, from 50.9 in July. Manufacturing PMI, however, held up at 54.5, just weakening slightly from last month’s 55.7. The spate of rate hikes seen from Reserve Bank of Australia is likely taking its toll on demand and manufacturing. Meanwhile, prices remain elevated amid the persistent supply chain issues, and more rate hikes are still on the cards. Japan’s flash manufacturing PMI for August came in lower at 51.0 from 52.1 previously, nut stayed in expansion territory. Services PMI however plunged into the contraction zone below 50, coming in at 49.2 for a flash August print from 50.3 in July. The fresh COVID wave in Japan, although comes without any broad-based new restrictions, is impeding the services demand and will likely weigh on Q3 GDP growth. Europe and UK PMIs may spell further caution The Euro-area flash composite PMI and the UK flash PMI for August are both due to be released on Tuesday. Following a slide in ZEW and Sentix indicators for July, the stage is set for a weaker outcome on the PMIs too. July composite PMI for the Euro-area dipped into contractionary territory at 49.9, while the UK measure held up at 52.1. The surge in gas and electricity prices continue to weigh on GDP growth outlook, with recession likely to hit by the end of the year. China’s plan to provide loans to ensure delivery of presold residential projects is said to be of the size of RMB 200 billion Last Frida, Xinhua News reported that the PBoC, jointly with the Housing Ministry and the Ministry of Finance rolled out a program to make special loans through policy banks to support the delivery of stalled residential housing projects but the size of the program was not mentioned.   A Bloomberg report yesterday, citing “people familiar with the matter”, suggested the size of the support lending program could be as large as RMB 200 billion.  Beijing municipal government rolled out initiatives to promote hydrogen vehicles The municipal government of Beijing announced support for the construction of hydrogen vehicle refueling stations with RMB500 million for each station, aiming at building 37 new stations by 2023 and bringing the adoption of fuel-cell cars to over 10,000 units in the capital. Earlier in the month, the Guangdong province released a plan to build 200 hydrogen vehicle refueling stations by 2025. Since last year, there have been 13 provinces and municipalities rolling out policies to promote the development of the hydrogen vehicle industry.  Earnings on tap Reportedly there have been shorts being built up in Dollar Tree (DLTR:xnys) as traders are expecting that discount retailer missing when reporting this Thursday.   On the other hand, investors are expecting Dollar General (DG:xnys) results to come in more favourably, , which also reports this Thursday.  Key earnings scheduled to release today including Medtronic (MDT:xnys), Intuit (INTU:xnas), JD.COM (09618.xhkg/JD.xnas), JD Logistics (02615:xhkg), Kingsoft (02888:xhkg), and Kuishaou (01023:xhkg). Singapore reports July inflation figures today Singapore's inflation likely nudged higher in July, coming in close proximity to 7% levels from 6.7% y/y in June. While both food and fuel costs continue to create upside pressures on inflation, demand-side pressures are also increasing as the region moves away from virus curbs. House rentals are also running high due to high demand and delayed construction limiting supplies. The Monetary Authority of Singapore has tightened monetary policy but more tightening moves can be expected in H2 even as the growth outlook has been downwardly revised.     For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast Source: APAC Daily Digest: What is happening in markets and what to consider next – August 23, 2022
Coffee Is In Danger As Its Suppliers Have Troubles With Crops

Coffee Is In Danger As Its Suppliers Have Troubles With Crops

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 24.08.2022 12:30
Summary:  A zany day for US data as the August flash S&P Global Services PMI suggests a deepening contraction is afoot in the US services sector after an already weak July reading that contrasted with strength in the ISM Services survey for July. What are we supposed to believe. Elsewhere, crude oil has cemented its comeback with an extension higher yesterday and coffee is at risk of a further rise on supply woes. In equities, we look at the latest in the Tesla/Twitter saga, earnings ahead including NVidia after the close today, and an interesting company in the EV batter supply chain in Europe. Today's pod features Peter Garnry on equities, Ole Hansen on commodities and John J. Hardy hosting and on FX. Listen to today’s podcast - slides are found via the link Follow Saxo Market Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher If you are not able to find the podcast on your favourite podcast app when searching for Saxo Market Call, please drop us an email at marketcall@saxobank.com and we'll look into it.   Questions and comments, please! We invite you to send any questions and comments you might have for the podcast team. Whether feedback on the show's content, questions about specific topics, or requests for more focus on a given market area in an upcoming podcast, please get in touch at marketcall@saxobank.com.   Source: Podcast: Crude oil bounce extends. Zany mismatch in US Services sector surveys
OPEC+ Are Expected To Keeping Oil Production Unchanged, AUD/USD Trades At Its Highest Levels

Saudi's Are Threatening The World By Reducing Oil Supply!?

Marc Chandler Marc Chandler 24.08.2022 12:57
Overview:  A simply dreadful flash US PMI stopped the dollar's four-day rally in its tracks. It followed news that the eurozone, Japan, and Australia's composite PMIs are below 50 boom/bust level. However, the dollar recovered, even if not fully as the market seemed unconvinced that the data could change Fed Chair Powell's message at Jackson Hole on Friday. A consolidative tone is evident today. Asia Pacific equities were mixed. China and Hong Kong fell more than 1% while South Korea, Australia, and India posted gains. Europe’s Stoxx 600 is off for the fourth consecutive session, the longest spill in a couple of months. US futures are straddling unchanged levels. The US 10-year yield is around 3.04%, little changed, while European benchmark rates are 2-4 bp higher. Japan’s 10-eyar yield edged up near 0.22% is once again drawing close to the cap. Gold is firm near $1750, but unable to build much on yesterday’s nearly $12 rally. October WTI is extending its rally since the Saudi’s threatened to reduce supply and Israel is pushing back against the US-Iran deal. US natgas fell 5% yesterday and is about 1.75% firmer today. The European natgas benchmark has jumped almost 7% today to recoup fully yesterday’s 6.5% pullback, which snapped a four-day rally. Iron ore rose 0.5%. It was the third advancing session, the longest rally this month. September copper is giving back about half of yesterday’s 1.2% gain. September wheat is up 2% to bring the gain to 9% since last Thursday.   Asia Pacific In addition to the usual corporate analysis and credit, ESG ratings and investment orientation have become increasingly important. However, the meaning of ESG and ratings not uniform. Arguably, it is where "organic" was a couple of decades ago, and it is still evolving. Some of dismissive and suggest it is a "woke” fad. Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the largest pension fund in the world, reports that seven of the eight ESG funds it invests in beat the benchmarks in the fiscal year that ended in March. Over the past five years, it said that all eight funds have outperformed. Since US Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, a few other US elected officials have visited Taiwan. UK officials and Japanese officials have either visited or planned to visit Taipei. China has continued its aerial harassment of the island. and repeatedly crossing the median line in the Taiwan Straits. In a recent report, the Atlantic Council argued that one of the lessons from Ukraine, is that the US "strategic ambiguity" is not an effective deterrence, and that the US should be unequivocal in its support. These developments, alongside reports that US military advisors have been in Taiwan since before the 2020 election and the number of "misstatements" by President Biden that were clear signs of support that were "walked back", all play into the hardliners in Beijing who think the US is trying to change the status quo. Congress is considering a bill that would codify some of it. The US strategic ambiguity is ostensibly not about one-China but on how the US would respond to Beijing's use of military power to unite the country. This was not meant to deter China as the military planners would have to game out the US response no matter its declaratory policy. The chief function is to deter Taiwan from declaring independence unilaterally and dragging the US into a war of its making. However, Taiwan, as it stands now, is not a member of organizations based on state sovereignty, like the UN and IMF. The bill that is likely to get more attention in Q4 proposes to recognize Taiwan as an important non-NATO ally and seek to promote Taiwan's membership in international forums. Both sides are giving the other reason to think that they are trying to change the status quo. The dollar is in a narrow range against the Japanese yen today of around a third of a yen on either side of yesterday's settlement, which was slightly above JPY136.75. US yields are slightly softer, and the dollar is closer to session lows (~JPY136.35) in the European morning. The greenback can spend the North American session on the JPY136-handle. The Australian dollar is also in a narrow range as the market awaits fresh news. It has spent most of the local session and the European morning below yesterday's $0.6930 settlement. Meanwhile, the greenback has edged higher against the Chinese yuan. It made a marginal two-year high almost at CNY6.8680. In the past two week, the yuan has fallen by a little more than 2% against the dollar, which has risen broadly. The setting of the PBOC's reference rate today could be the first sign that officials want the market to go slowly. The dollar fix was at CNY6.8388, a wider than usual gap and below the market (Bloomberg survey) estimate for CNY6.8511. Of note, the US dollar did not make a new high against the offshore yuan today. Yesterday's high of almost CNH6.8850 held. Europe On top of the energy crisis, and extreme weather, an economy seemingly slipping inexorably toward a recession, while inflation is still accelerating, Italy's national election is a month away. The three-party alliance on the right continues to dominate drawing about 47% support. The Brothers of Italy remains the largest, accounting for a little more than half that support. Many observers assume that the success of the right reflects a shift in the Italian politics. However, the simpler explanation is the disarray of the center-left. The Democratic Party draws second highest support, less than half a percentage point (within the margins of error) of the Brothers of Italy. The problem is that the center-left has been unable to form a pact like the right has done. The once populist power, the Five Star Movement, the largest party in the current parliament, appears to have lost its way, a partly the cause and effect of its fragmentation. There are several other small groupings that would be more at home with the center-left but have been able to coalesce into an alliance. Still, it is notable that Brothers of Italy leader Meloni argued for more Europe in her debate with the Democratic Party leader Letta. Letta sounded like the nationalist, advocating a temporary price control for gas. Meloni backed an EU-wide cap, which Draghi supported. As Benjamin Franklin told the thirteen colonies on the east coast of the North American continent they prepared to fight against the greatest empire at the time, "hang together or hang separately."  Italy's 10-year premium over Germany is near 2.35%. It reached a two-year high in mid-June slightly above 2.40%. In late July, it also tested 2.40%. Italy offers around 100 bp more than Germany for two-year borrowing. The peak since the Covid panic in March 2020, was set late last month near 1.30%. The extra that is demanded from Italy is not about inflation. Italy's two-year breakeven (difference between the conventional yield and inflation-protected security) is about 4.40% compared with Germany's two-year breakeven near 7.10%. Italy's 10-year breakeven is slightly below 2.25%. Germany's is near 2.45%. Both report August's EU harmonized CPI next week. In July, Italy's inflation stood at 8.4%, just below Germany's 8.5%. Not only is Italian inflation lower than Germany's and is expected to remain so, but it is also growing faster. On a workday adjusted basis, the Germany economy grow 1.4% year-over-year in Q2. Italy expanded by 4.6%. The UK's online paper, The Independent, reported that UK imports from Russia have plummeted by nearly 97% since the invasion. They totaled GBP33 mln in June, it noted, citing data from the Office of National Statistics. The collapse reflected government sanctions and actions of companies seeking alternatives to Russian goods beyond the official sanctions. Today' s is Ukraine's Independence Day and marks the sixth month since the Russian invasion. Reports suggest the US will announce a new $3 bln arms package for Kyiv. The euro was squeezed to almost $1.0020 yesterday after the disappointing US data, but it was short-lived, and it finished the North Americans session near $0.9970. The single currency is in about a third of a cent range today and has not been able to resurface above $1.0, where there are large options that expire there tomorrow (2 bln euros) and Friday (1 bln euros). An expiry today for 720 mln euros at $0.9950 has likely been neutralized. Sterling traded in a broad range yesterday (~$1.1720-$1.1880) and exceeded both sides of Monday's range. However, the close was neutral, well within Monday's range, which set the tone for today's quiet session. Sterling has been confined to less than half a cent range above $1.1800. It settled near $1.1835 and has spent most of the Asian session and the European morning below it. The next level of support is seen in the $1.1760-80 band. America There can no explaining away the weakest composite US PMI since May 2020 and drop in new home sales five-times more than the median forecast in Bloomberg's survey. Yet did not seem to be bipolar as conventional wisdom has it, swinging between recession and inflation anxiety. The implied yield of the October Fed funds contract rose two basis points to 2.95%, unchanged on the week. Another way to look at it, the odds of a 75 bp hike in September stands at almost 60% compared with 52% at the end of last week and slightly less than 50% the prior week (August 12). Nor did equities recover from Monday's gap lower opening. Indeed, while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ largely traded within Monday's range, the Dow Industrials continued to sell off. It is approaching the (38.2%) retracement of the rally off the mid-July low (~30144) found near 32700. A similar retracement in the S&P 500 is near 4095. The NASDAQ found support near its retracement around 12350. The US reports the preliminary estimate of July durable goods orders. The real sector data has held up better than the survey data. One element of durable goods orders that may not be appreciated by economists yet is what appears to be a surge in US arms sales abroad. There seems to be a synchronized arms build-up and demand for US-made weapons is clear. Separately, today's report will be flattered by the jump in Boeing orders. The company reported 130 orders last month, the most since June 2021 after 50 orders in June. Of those orders 27 came from foreign companies up from 20 in June, and the most since January. On the other hand, its deliveries fell to 26 from 51, the least since February. The focus is on the Fed's Jackson Hole symposium that begins tomorrow. Fed Chair Powell is set to speak Friday (10 am ET). Some observers expect him to play up the element in the minutes that recognized the risk that the central bank would tighten too much. However, in the minutes, it was set up in contrast to the bigger risk that inflation getting embedded into business and household expectations. We recognize the market's penchant for reading/hearing a dovish twist to Powell and the Fed even though they are tightening policy faster than most observers had imagined even a few months ago. The pace of the balance sheet adjustment is also set to double starting next month. Separate from the FOMC minutes, the minutes from the discount rate meeting were reported yesterday, and both the Minneapolis and St. Louis Feds called for 100 bp hike in the discount rate before the July 26-27 FOMC meeting but did not convince their colleagues. Nine favored a 75 bp increase, while the KC Fed called for a 50 bp increase. George, the President of the KC Fed supported a 75 bp increases in the Fed funds target at last month's meeting.   The US dollar posted a big outside down day yesterday against the Canadian dollar, trading on both sides of Monday's range and settling below Monday's low. However, there has been no follow-through today and a consolidative tone is evident. It settled near CAD1.2955 and has spent no time below it so far today. It has been capped around CAD1.2985. With softer equities, we ae inclined to see the greenback push back above CAD1.3000 and see resistance near CAD1.3020-30. The US dollar fell yesterday for the second day against the Mexican peso. Its 0.80% drop was the most in nearly two weeks. Selling today has extended its loss to around MXN19.9365, a four-day low. Mexico reports CPI for the first half of August. It is expected have accelerated, with the year-over-year rate rising to 8.55% form 8.14%. The core rate is seen slightly above 7.8% from 7.75%. The central bank meets late next month and another 75 bp hike seems most likely.      Disclaimer   Source: New Recession Worry Stalls Dollar Express but Doesn't Derail It
Detailed Analysis of GBP/USD 5-Minute Chart

Nike, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci And Adidas Selling Their Collections. Results? See For Yourself!

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 24.08.2022 13:54
The NFT, even after huge declines in trading volume in recent months, seems to have attracted the interest of investors - speculators in this market can still look for potential investment opportunities, and NFT projects are outdoing themselves with more and better unveilings of their venture. Strong interest in NFT has naturally attracted the world's best-known apparel and accessories brands. According to data from Dune Analytics, Nike, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Tiffany earned a total of $260 million from the sale of their NFTs.  Nike received the most revenue from NFT sales. Collections were sold for as much as $185.3 mln, with a secondary market turnover of $1.3 bln and more than 67,000 concluded transactions. In second place is Dolce & Gabbana, which earned $25.7 mln. They are followed by Tiffany ($12.6 mln), Gucci ($11.6 mln) and Adidas ($10.9 mln). After the rise of the first big collections, such as Bored Ape Yacht Club and Crypto Punks, which generated billions of dollars in sales, it was the turn for global fashion brands. They began experimenting with technology to reach more customers and generate new revenue streams. There are minimal costs involved in selling NFTs, especially for companies with a such large following as Nike and Adidas, for example. Therefore, margins from token sales can be very high, and revenues mostly turn into pure profit.  Despite waning interest in NFTs, they can still have a significant impact on new trends in corporate branding. Nike and Adidas have already indicated that they intend to develop NFTs in the Metaverse, which could affect the perception of these brands as innovative and unique, also in the virtual world.  It's worth remembering, however, that an alarmingly large number of projects can't sustain a sufficient level of interest. After its peak at the first offering, excitement tends to drop in the secondary market, and with its prices. NFTs seem to have more resilience to decline if they are the equivalent of something real and have additional functionality. One of the few success stories on the market is the collection of entrepreneur and influencer Gary Vee. VeeFrieds, despite the questionable quality of the graphics, produced a great return on investment. The print price of one NFT ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 ETH, and at the current value of the collection, early investors were able to make between 300 and 1,000% gains. In addition, the token gives the holder the right to participate in one of the leading NFT events - Beacon, organized by Gary Vee. The businessman also enjoys a very loyal following, who believe in the words and vision of the idol, so they are rather reluctant to sell their ownership rights, represented by the token.  RafaÅ‚ Tworkowski, Junior Market Analyst, Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Source: Nike, Gucci and other big brands make millions from NFT sales despite falling interest
The US Dollar Index Is Expected A Pullback Rally At Least In The Near Term

Doubts On The Health Of US Consumers After Dollar Tree Comments

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 26.08.2022 09:47
Summary:  U.S. equities rallied ahead of the Jackson Hole Powell keynote. Comments from discount retailer Dollar Tree about pressures to cut prices and customers shifting to “needs-based consumable products” cast doubts on the health of U.S. consumers. The market chatters and then a WSJ article on a potential deal between the U.S. and China on access to audit working papers and avoiding Chinese ADR delisting sent the share prices of China internet stocks and ADRs soaring. What is happening in markets? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)  U.S. equities rallied for the second day in a row ahead of the much anticipated Powell speech at the Jackson Hole symposium on Friday, S&P 500 +1.4%, Nasdaq 100 +1.8%.  Discount retailers, Dollar General (DG:xnys) and Dollar Tree (DLTR:xnys) reported Q2 results.  Discount General beat the relatively high expectations and finished the session down modestly -0.6%.  Peer Dollar Tree’s results fared weaker with in-line Q2 results but a downward revision of full-year EPS due to its plan to cut prices sent its share price 10.2% lower.   U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) U.S. treasury yield fell 7 to 8 basis points from the belly to the long-end of the curve after a strong 7-year auction. The change in 2-year yields was relatively modest, -2bps. Flows were light ahead of Chair Powell’s keynote speech at the Jackson Hole event on Friday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIQ2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) China internet stocks rallied dramatically in a typhoon-shortened session in Hong Kong on Thursday, JD.COM (09618:xhkg) +11%, Bilibili (09626:xhkg) +10.3%, Baidu (09888:xhkg) +9.2%, Alibaba (09988:xhkg) +8.8%, Meituan (03690:xhkg) +8%, Tencent (00700:xhkg) +4.8%.  Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH.I) surged 6%.  Investors found optimism in the 19-point stimulus package as well as chatters among traders about unverified progress on resolving the audit working papers access issue in the heart of the Chinese ADR delisting risk.  During New York hours, the Wall Street Journal ran an article, suggesting that the U.S. and China are nearing a deal to allow American regulators to inspect in Hong Kong the audit working papers of Chinese companies listed in the U.S.  The NASDAQ Golden Dragon China Index soared 6.3%. Compared to their respective Hong Kong closing levels, Alibaba +4.5%, Meituan +4.0%, Tencent +2.1%.  Chinese property names rallied across the board by 2% to 5%.   The performance in A-shares was more measured, CSI 300 fluctuated between gains and losses and finished the session 0.8% higher.   Coal miners, oil and gas, and crude tankers stocks surged in Hong Kong as well as mainland bourses.  Mainland investors did not participate much in the sharp move higher as southbound flows registered a net outflow. AUDUSD on the backfoot in early Asian hours The USD rebound returned in early Asian hours on Friday amid a sustained hawkish tilt inn Fed commentaries ahead of Powell taking the stage at the Jackson Hole summit. AUDUSD saw downside pressures and slid to sub-0.6960 from an overnight high of 0.6991. AUDNZD found support at 1.1200 and may be looking at new highs of the cycle with the current account differentials at play. USDJPY caught a bid early as well, and rose to 136.70 with focus squarely on high Powell’s comments can take the US yields. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Hawkish Fed comments and further prospects of Iran deal saw crude oil reversing lower in the overnight session. However, modest gains have returned this morning with the supply side remaining a key focus with Brent futures close to $100 and WTI at $93+. Saudi Arabia was joined by Libya and Congo in supporting the view that supply curbs may be needed to stabilise the oil market. Further concerns on Kazakhstan’s supply also emerged amid repair works required on three damage moorings at the port facility. What to consider? Some more hawkish Fed comments before we get to Powell Several Fed speakers were on the wires echoing the same message on inflation and more rate hikes. The markets are still holding their breath for wat Powell has to say later today. James Bullard (2022 voter) reiterated his year-end target of 3.75% to 4% and market expectation is not too far from that now. Esther George (2022 voter) was more open about rates going above 4%, but stayed away from a specific guidance for the September meeting. Patrick Harker (2023 voter) said rates need to be lifted into restrictive territory. Raphael Bostic (2024 voter) told the WSJ it's too soon to call inflation’s peak and that he hasn't decided yet on a 50 or 75bps rate hike next month. Tokyo CPI surprises to the upside Japan’s Tokyo inflation for August has come in close sight of the 3% mark, with headline at 2.9% y/y vs. expectations for 2.6%. The core measure was also above expectations at 2.6% y/y, coming in despite measures to help cool price pressures. Further gains can be expected later in the year as cheaper cell phone fees are reversed, and we also see threats of an energy crisis in Japan as LNG imports get diverted to Europe. This will continue to erode the purchasing power and keep the risk of a BOJ pivot alive. Europe’s energy woes French power prices soared 15% to EUR 900/MWh, more than 10x last year’s price amid expanding nuclear outages. Meanwhile in Germany, power prices for next year soared as much as 23% to an all-time high of EUR 792/MWh. UK and Italy also recorded fresh highs in power prices while Spain's parliament approved a law aimed at cutting energy use. The UK will announce its financial commitment for a new nuclear plant, Sizewell C, next week. The U.S. and China are said to nearing a deal in resolving the Chinese ADR audit papers inspection issue According to a Wall Street Journal article, Chinese securities regulators “are making arrangements for U.S.-listed Chinese companies and their accounting firms to transfer their audit working papers and other data from mainland China to Hong Kong” and “would allow American accounting regulators to travel to Hong Kong to inspect the audit records”. It is important to note that an agreement has yet to be reached and the regulators from both sides remain silent about it so far.  One of the hurdles to the proposed arrangement of transfer of audit working papers from the mainland to Hong Kong can satisfy the U.S. regulators, particularly the U.S. SEC Chair Gensler who has emphasized “full access”.  If this turns out to happen, it will not only benefit the Chinese companies that are listed in the U.S. but also sets the U.S. and China in a more conciliatory mood at least in some financial matters, and shows case the uniqueness of the position of Hong Kong.  German business sentiment is not that bad in August The headline reading is out at 88.5 versus expected 86.8 and prior 88.6. This is only a bit softer than the previous month. The same goes as well for the current conditions (out at 97.5 in August versus prior 97.7) and the expectations (80.3, unchanged compared to July). Overall, business sentiment remains soft. But given the quick economic deterioration, it could have been much worse. We still expect sentiment to further fall in the coming months as the German economy sinks into a recession. The energy crisis is hitting very hard consumers and companies – thus leading to lower demand and corporate investment. Yesterday, Germany’s benchmark year-end power kept rising (+13% in one day) to a new record of EU725/MWH. So far, the German government has spent roughly €60bn to limit the impact of higher energy prices on households and corporations. This represents about 1.7% of GDP according to the calculations of the Belgium-based think tank Bruegel. In percentage of GDP, this is still much less than many other European countries (3.7 % of GDP for Greece, 2.8 % for Italy and 2.3 % for Spain, for instance). In any case, this is unsustainable, of course. Softer July US PCE print would not derail Fed’s tightening After a softer CPI report in July, focus will turn to the PCE measure – the version of the CPI that is tracked by the Fed to gauge price pressures. Lower gasoline prices mean that PCE prints could also see some relief, although we still upside pressures to inflation given that energy shortages will likely persist and easing financial conditions mean that inflation could return. We would suggest not to read too much into a softer PCE print this week, as the stickier shelter and services prices mean that the 2% inflation target of the Fed remains unachievable into then next year. This suggests that the aggressive tightening by the Fed will likely continue, despite any likely softness in the PCE this week. U.S. discount retailers reported mixed Q2 results, highlighting pricing pressures ahead Dollar General (DG:xnys) reported revenue growth of 9% YoY to $9.4 billion, in line with the consensus estimate, and EPS of $2.98, +10.6% YoY, above the consensus estimate of $2.94.  Same-store sales in Q2 grew 4.6% YoY, above the consensus at +3.8%.  In the company’s guidance for 2022, revenue growth was raised to +11% from previously +10.0-10.5% and the same-store-sales growth was raised to +4.0-4.5% from +3.0-3.5%.  Q2 results from another discount retailer, Dollar Tree (DLTR:xnys) were however weaker, with revenue growth of 6.7% YoY to $6.77 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $6.79 billion.  EPS came in at $1.60, in line with expectations.  Same-store-sale for the quarter was +4.9%, below the consensus estimate at +5.0%.  The company lowered its 2022 full-year EPS guidance to $7.10-$7.40 and said that 60% of the cut was due to cutting prices.  The management said that they “expect the combination of this pricing investment at Family Dollar and the shoppers’ heightened focus on needs-based consumable products will pressure gross margins in the back half of the year”.  The comments from Dollar Tree casts a shawdow over the health of consumers in the U.S. in general.  Earnings on the tap Meituan (03690:xhkg) is scheduled to report Q2 results on Friday after the market close.  Analysts are upbeat about the food and grocery delivery platform’s potential in being benefited from the recovery of consumer demand amid the reopening and cost control initiatives.  The consensus estimate (as per the Bloomberg survey) for Q2 revenue is to grow 11% YoY to RMB48.59billion and adjusted net loss of RMB2.17 billion.  Coal miner China Shenhua Energy (01088:xhkg) and oil and gas company Sinopec (00386:xhkg) are also scheduled to report on Friday.      For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.   Source: APAC Daily Digest: What is happening in markets and what to consider next – August 26, 2022
German Business Confidence Dips, ECB's Lagarde Hosts Central Banking Conference in Portugal, EUR/USD Drifts Higher

The US Dollar Trades Near Cycle Highs Ahead Of The Speech

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 26.08.2022 09:55
Summary:  Markets are steady ahead of a widely anticipated speech at the US Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole, Wyoming conference from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, although he may do little more than remain on message on the Fed’s plans for tightening policy. The US dollar trades near cycle highs ahead of the speech, with US treasury yields having eased back a bit yesterday on a strong 7-year treasury auction. In Europe, power and natural gas prices continue their ascent from already dire levels, thereby supporting demand for fuel-based products.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) S&P 500 futures bounced back 1.4% to the 4,200 level in what seems to have been a technical move ahead of Jerome Powell’s keynote speech at Jackson Hole which is expected today. For equities the main question is how central banks are seeing structural in the years to come because that will be linked to the terminal rate the Fed sees as neutral for the economy and inflation. The US 10-year yield is trading around the 3.05% level this morning and we expect a quiet session in US equities unless Powell’s speech delivers a hawkish tone which could then erase yesterday’s gains. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSI.I) and China’s CSI300 (000300.I) After staging an impressive bounce from the trough of a 2-month losing streak yesterday, Hong Kong equities opened higher before giving back much of its gains to end the morning session 0.7% higher. Yesterday’s 3.6% rally in the Hang Seng Index and 6% surge in Hang Seng TECH Index were fueled by initially chatters among traders about unverified progress on resolving the audit working papers access issue in the heart of the Chinese ADR delisting risk. During New York hours, the Wall Street Journal ran an article, suggesting that the U.S. and China are nearing a deal to allow American regulators to inspect in Hong Kong the audit working papers of Chinese companies listed in the U.S. The news sent Chinese ADRs soaring, the NASDAQ Golden Dragon China Index +6.3%. US dollar steady on the strong side ahead of Jackson Hole Yesterday saw some tactical chopiness in USD pairs, as the greenback sold off to support in places and criss-crossed parity in EURUSD terms before settling back to the strong side ahead of Fed Chair Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole conference today. Powell is widely expected to stay on message on the Fed’s hopes to get ahead of the curve, but surprises are possible if his language is a bit more pointed than expected or he brings stronger guidance on the importance of QT, etc. Next event risks for the USD in the wake of today’s Powell speech (and July PCE inflation print as noted below) are next Friday’s payrolls/earnings report, the Sep 13 Aug. CPI data release, and then the Sep 21 FOMC decision. AUDNZD The Antipodean currency pair closed yesterday at its highest level since 2017 in a bid to escape the range that has prevailed since then, with a bit more range toward 1.1300 that stretches all the way back to 2013. If the pair can make a notable foray above these levels, it might suggest that traders are viewing the pair from a current account perspective, as Australia has been running record surpluses on its formidable complex of commodity exports, while New ZEaland is running unprecedented deficits on rising costs for energy imports. In the longer term perspective, AUDNZD has traded above 1.3500 as recently as 2011. Crude oil (CLV2 & LCOV2) Crude oil trades steady with Brent trading around $100 per barrel with a tightening supply outlook offsetting the recessionary drums that have been banging ever louder in recent weeks. Focus on today’s Jackson Hole speech from Fed Chair Powell and its potential impact on bond and currency markets, and with that the general level of risk appetite in the market. EU gas and power reached new peaks on Thursday on worries about Russian gas supplies following the upcoming 3-day maintenance supporting demand for crude-based products like diesel and heating oil. The prospect of a revived Iran nuclear deal still receiving some attention although a deal may only have a small immediate impact, small change compared with the soon to expire US SPR release program which saw 8 million barrels pumped into the market last week. In Brent, the next level of upside interest can be found at $102.50. Copper (COPPERUSDEC22) Copper has settled into a $3.55 to $3.73 range after making a steady recovery from the June/July +30% collapse. The primary focus remains on China and the government’s efforts to shore up its troubled property sector and its slowing economy in general. This past week we have seen rate cuts and the announcement of a 1 trillion-yuan economic stimulus program, including a 300-billion-yuan investment in infrastructure projects, which will boost the consumption of industrial metals, including copper. Above the current range copper may target $3.85/lb next but it will likely require a rally above $4/lb before speculators reverse the net short they have held since April. US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) US treasury yields fel back a few basis points, but the 10-year benchmark still trades above 3.00% today ahead of Fed Chair Powell’s speech. (More below – special focus on longer end of the yield curve on any QT guidance in the speech). A strong auction of 7-year treasuries yesterday helped bring support to the market after the weak 5-year auction the prior day. What is going on? ECB meeting minutes suggest another 50-basis points hike The meeting minutes point to another 50-basis point hike at the September 8 ECB meeting, a move that is actually more than fully priced in by the market. At the same time, the ECB minutes noted that it saw “no evidence of significant second round effects” in which wages drive an inflationary spiral. The central bank’s “TPI” or Transmission Protection Instrument meant to prevent peripheral sovereign yield spreads from widening excessively was widely discussed and is clearly a hot potato politically. An FT article noted that hedge funds have built up a nearly EUR 40 billion speculative short in Italian BTPs Additional hawkish Fed comments before we get to Powell Several Fed speakers were on the wires echoing the same message on inflation and more rate hikes. The markets are still holding their breath for what Powell has to say later today. James Bullard (2022 voter) reiterated his year-end target of 3.75% to 4% and market expectation is not too far from that now. Esther George (2022 voter) was more open about rates going above 4% but stayed away from a specific guidance for the September meeting. Patrick Harker (2023 voter) said rates need to be lifted into restrictive territory. Raphael Bostic (2024 voter) told the WSJ it's too soon to call inflation’s peak and that he hasn't decided yet on a 50 or 75bps rate hike next month. German business sentiment is not that bad in August The headline IFO Survey reading was out at 88.5 versus 86.8 expected and 88.6 prior. This is only a bit softer than the previous month. The same goes as well for the current conditions (out at 97.5 in August versus prior 97.7) and expectations (80.3, unchanged compared to July). Overall, business sentiment remains soft. But given the quick economic deterioration, it could have been much worse. We still expect sentiment to further fall in the coming months as the German economy sinks into a recession. The energy crisis is hitting consumers and companies very hard – thus leading to lower demand and corporate investment. Yesterday, Germany’s benchmark year-end power kept rising (+13% in one day) to a new record of EU725/MWH. So far, the German government has spent roughly €60bn to limit the impact of higher energy prices on households and corporations. This represents about 1.7% of GDP according to the calculations of the Belgium-based think tank Bruegel. In percentage of GDP, this is still much less than many other European countries (3.7 % of GDP for Greece, 2.8 % for Italy and 2.3 % for Spain, for instance). In any case, this is unsustainable, of course. The US and China are getting closer to resolve Chinese ADR audit papers inspection issue According to a Wall Street Journal article, Chinese securities regulators “are making arrangements for US-listed Chinese companies and their accounting firms to transfer their audit working papers and other data from mainland China to Hong Kong” and “would allow American accounting regulators to travel to Hong Kong to inspect the audit records”. It is important to note that an agreement has yet to be reached and the regulators on both sides remain silent about it so far. One of the hurdles to the proposed arrangement of transfer of audit working papers from the mainland to Hong Kong will be whether it can satisfy the US regulators, particularly the SEC Chair Gensler who has emphasized “full access”. If this turns out to happen, it will not only benefit the Chinese companies that are listed in the US but also sets the US and China in a more conciliatory mood at least in some financial matters, and shows case the uniqueness of the position of Hong Kong U.S. discount retailers reported mixed Q2 results, highlighting pricing pressures ahead Dollar General (DG:xnys) reported revenue growth of 9% y/y to $9.4bn, in line with the consensus estimate, and EPS of $2.98, +10.6% y/y, above the consensus estimate of $2.94.  Same-store sales in Q2 grew 4.6% y/y, above the consensus at +3.8%. In the company’s guidance for 2022, revenue growth was raised to +11% from previously +10.0-10.5% and the same-store-sales growth was raised to +4.0-4.5% from +3.0-3.5%. Q2 results from another discount retailer, Dollar Tree (DLTR:xnys) were however weaker, with revenue growth of 6.7% y/y to $6.77bn, slightly below the consensus estimate of $6.79bn.  EPS came in at $1.60, in line with expectations. Same-store-sale for the quarter was +4.9%, below the consensus estimate at +5.0%.  The company lowered its 2022 full-year EPS guidance to $7.10-$7.40 and said that 60% of the cut was due to cutting prices. The management said that they “expect the combination of this pricing investment at Family Dollar and the shoppers’ heightened focus on needs-based consumable products will pressure gross margins in the back half of the year”. The comments from Dollar Tree cast a shadow over the health of consumers in the US in general.  Meituan is scheduled to report Meituan (03690:xhkg) is scheduled to report Q2 results on Friday after the market close. Analysts are upbeat about the food and grocery delivery platform’s potential benefitting from the recovery of consumer demand amid the reopening and cost control initiatives.  The consensus estimate (as per the Bloomberg survey) for Q2 revenue is to grow 11% YoY to RMB48.59 billion and an adjusted net loss of RMB2.17 billion What are we watching next? The Kansas City Fed hosts its annual symposium in Jackson Hole This year’s theme is “Reassessing Constraints on the Economy and Policy”. The symposium will last until Saturady. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will speak today. Given the loosening of financial conditions since the June FOMC meeting, the market has been concerned that Powell will echo the pushback against the notion that the Fed knows that it is set to materially slow its pace of policy tightening after the September 21 FOMC rate decision (majority looking for another 75 basis points). Data dependency will likely be underlined in his speech, but any guidance on the Fed’s approach to QT could also garner considerable attention as longer treasury yields pull back higher toward the cycle highs from June. Softer July US PCE print would not derail Fed’s tightening After a softer CPI report in July, focus will turn to the PCE measure – the version of the CPI that is tracked by the Fed to gauge price pressures. Lower gasoline prices mean that PCE prints could also see some relief, although we still upside pressures to inflation given that energy shortages will likely persist and easing financial conditions mean that inflation could return. We would suggest not to read too much into a softer PCE print this week, as the stickier shelter and services prices mean that the 2% inflation target of the Fed remains unachievable into then next year. This suggests that the aggressive tightening by the Fed will likely continue, despite any likely softness in the PCE this week. Earnings to watch Today’s earnings focus is Meituan which is expected to see 11% y/y revenue growth with estimates expecting to see growth accelerating into Q3, so this will be the market’s focus in today’s earnings release. The latest stimulus efforts by the Chinese government and lifting of mobility restrictions could provide tailwind for the consumer into Q3. Today: Meituan, China Shenhua Energy, China Petroleum & Chemical Next week’s earnings releases: Monday: Fortescue Metals, Haier Smart Home, Foshan Haitian Flavouring, Agricultural Bank of China, BYD, Pinduoduo, Trip.com, DiDi Global Tuesday: Woodside Energy, ICBC, China Yangtze Power, Midea Group, Tianqi Lithium, Bank of Montreal, China Construction Bank, Bank of China, Great Wall Motor, COSCO Shipping, Partners Group, Baidu, Crowdstrike, HP Wednesday: MongoDB Thursday: Pernod Ricard, Broadcom, Lululemon Athletica, Hormel Foods Friday: BNP Paribas Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0800 – Italy Aug. Consumer/Manufacturing Confidence surveys 1230 – US Jul. Personal Income/Spending 1230 – US Jul. PCE Inflation 1400 – US Fed Chair Powell to speak at Jackson Hole, Wyoming 1400 – US Aug. Final University of Michigan Confidence Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher   Source: Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – August 26, 2022
Cross-Chain Interoperability Solutions Have The Potential To Significantly Improve

Samsung Securities Announced About Setting Up Its Crypto Exchange!

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 26.08.2022 14:50
Samsung Securities, a company engaged in asset management, stock issuance and other financial services, has announced that it will set up its crypto exchange in 2023. The company is expected to start in Korea and later plans to expand to other markets.   The division mentioned above of the company is part of Samsung's large-scale structure, which is part of the so-called chaebols (giant Korean conglomerates). It operates in a wide range of sectors of the global economy - from producing weapons and smartphones to selling clothing or even providing financial services.   The "Securities" division already has experience in implementing crypto-related investment technologies and products. It established the first blockchain ETF (exchange-traded fund) in Asia in June, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. It gives investors exposure to companies developing and investing in crypto technology.   The company is in talks with regulators and authorities to obtain the necessary approvals and licenses to establish the foundation of the exchange. Mirae Asset Securities and five other domestic companies are also planning to launch their investment platforms, but they do not have as much experience as the rival Samsung.   Earlier this month, the Securities division was one of three financial institutions in South Korea to partner with the country's largest exchange, Bithumb. The partnership meant Samsung Securities customers could indirectly invest in cryptocurrencies through the company's app.   Despite its inflexibility, chaebol has an established market position with enormous outreach and influence. For this reason, acquiring more clients on attractive terms may be easy for the firm, and it could be a significant competitor to Coinbase, Binance FTX or KuCoin.    South Korea seems to be aspiring to become a technology leader in the market. In early August, a "Korea Blockchain Week" event was held in Seoul, bringing together industry leaders, crypto regulation projects revealed are relatively lenient compared to those proposed by authorities in the US, and local companies are interested in further investments in blockchain technology in the DeFi and system infrastructure segments, among others. These plans could make South Korea a hub for the development of crypto technology and companies.  Market losses after recent days of sideways movement   On the Conotoxia MT5 platform, bitcoin and ethereum are losing 1% and 3%, respectively, today at 11 GMT+3. The leading tokens have been outside the previously drawn price channel for a week. The local possible support levels for BTC and ETH are $20700 and $1530, respectively. Their crossing could mean further declines. The continuation of the correction may be indicated by technical indicators such as the MACD, whose histogram for ETH has been falling steadily for a week and a half and now is near zero. In contrast, BTC reached the negative area a few days ago and seems to be falling lower and lower each consecutive day.    The EOS token seems to be losing the most heavily on the trading platform, recording a daily decline of 6.5% at 11:00 GMT+3. EOS is the native token of the EOSIO network, where the project provides blockchain developers with a set of essential tools and services for building and scaling decentralized applications (dApps). Rafał Tworkowski, Junior Market Analyst, Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service)   Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.   Source: Samsung plans to open a cryptocurrency exchange - will it succeed in dominating another sector? Market losses after several days of stabilization.
Sterling Underperformance: Anticipation Builds Ahead of BoE Announcement

Life After Fed Chair Powell's Speech: Focus On August Jobs Report, Strong Dollar And More

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 29.08.2022 10:00
Summary:  After a hawkish message from Fed Chair Powell at Jackson Hole on Friday, and the focus is squarely on the US jobs report this week and August CPI due on September 13 to move the needle on the magnitude of the September rate hike. Still, the deliberation will now move to where the terminal rates are seen and how long they would be held there. We also get a further update on US economic momentum from the ISM indices and consumer confidence on the radar. European energy crisis situation and the ECB rate hike expectations will develop with the Eurozone CPI prints and the progress on Nord Stream maintenance. China’s manufacturing PMI will be key given the recent heatwaves, as will be Australia’s final manufacturing PMI.   From Powell to jobs After a hawkish message by Fed Chair Powell at the Jackson Hole conference on Friday, focus shifts to the August jobs report in the US to steer between a 50 vs. 75 basis points rate hike at the September meeting. Last month’s robust employment gains of 528k outperformed market expectations boosted the dollar, although the gains were reversed a few days later with a soft CPI report. Both of these reports have to send out a consistent message this time to seal the deal on a 75bps rate hike at the September meeting. Consensus expectations are for gains of 300k on nonfarm payrolls for August, with a steady unemployment rate of 3.5% and slight weakness in average earnings to 0.4% MoM from 0.5% earlier. Meeting or slightly exceeding these forecasts would put the ball in the court of the CPI release, but another strong outperformance could bump up the tightening expectations. Still, our sense is that that the deliberation should now move to how long the Fed will stay at the peak rate, as well as Quantitative Tightening which goes into full gear from September. US economic momentum has likely improved with lower gasoline prices Lower prices at the pump has seemingly helped the US economy reverse from the slowdown concerns, with Chairman Powell also getting the confidence to say that the economic momentum is strong. Consumer confidence, due on Tuesday should likely show a pickup with lower gasoline prices. The easing of financial conditions last month, in contrast to the Fed’s goal of tightening, may also have supported consumer sentiment. ISM manufacturing, which is scheduled to be reported on Thursday, may reflect the weakness seen in the S&P survey, but will still be lifted by the backlog in auto vehicle production. Housing sales may continue to moderate, but housing prices continue to rise and no systemic risks are seen. China manufacturing PMIs expected to decelerate in the midst of heatwaves The median forecasts of economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect China’s official NBS manufacturing PMI to edge up to 49.3 in August from 49.0 in July but remains firmly in the contractionary territory and the Caixin manufacturing PMI to slide to 50.1 in August from 50.4 in July, approaching the threshold between expansion and contraction. The heatwaves and drought-induced power curbs caused Sichuan and Chongqing to shut-down manufacturing activities for six days and eight days in August respectively. The province of Sichuan accounts for 4.2% of China’s industrial production and is an important manufacturing hub for semiconductor and solar panel industries. Both Sichuan and the municipality of Chongqing, which accounts for 2.1% of China’s industrial production, are crucial manufacturing centres for industrial components, including auto parts. During the month, a Covid outbreak hit Yiwu, an export-focussed manufacturing hub in Zhejiang, and could have contributed to dragging on the Caixin manufacturing PMI, which has a higher weight for SMEs in the eastern coastal region. The median forecast for the August official NBS non-manufacturing PMI is 52.2, down from last month’s 53.8 but remains in the expansionary territory.  The key Australian economic data to watch, and why key stocks will move in response On the same day China releases manufacturing data, which will be watched closely by commodity investors and Australian investors alike, given key commodities such iron ore, copper, nickel, coal are essential to Chinese manufacturing, investors will then quickly turn their attention to Australia’s August manufacturing indicators. Although Australia is not manufacturing economy, given services contribute 70% to GDP, manufacturing is still closely looked at as many top ASX companies are key producers and manufacturers. This includes energy companies like Woodside, Caltex, Viva Energy, as well as global packaging company, Amcor and global vaccine maker CSL, as well as global mining juggernauts BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue. So, when manufacturing data comes out, if its stronger than expected, (above a read of 51), then you might see an increase in buying in some of Australia’s key manufacturers. That being said, it’s really important to note that last month’s gauges pointed to slower growth in factory activity with higher interest rates, higher wages, and a lack of workers slowing activity. So it will be key to see if manufacturing continues to slow. Eurozone inflation and Nord Stream maintenance will be key for the ECB There is no question on the direction in Eurozone inflation, given the extensive reports on gas prices and power costs in the region over the last few days. However, some softening may be warranted after an all-time high of 8.9% was reached on the Eurozone inflation print in July, given the easing in pump prices in August. Still, gas supply concerns continue to remain top-of-mind for Germany with Gazprom announcing another leg of maintenance for the Nord Stream pipeline this week. Food prices are also seeing another pickup, and further gains in the headline print in Q4 cannot be ruled out. Calls for a 75 basis points rate hike by the European Central Bank have already picked up, and these could gain further traction if we see a strong CPI print this week. However, if Nord Stream supply comes back on time after its 3-day scheduled maintenance, and with some potential increases in capacity as has been hinted, that could mean a substantial decline in European gas prices and relief in utility costs in the months to come. India/South Korea GDP will re-affirm Asia’s steady growth India and South Korea GDP report GDP growth in Asia this week, along with inflation figures as well in South Korea. A double-digit GDP growth print is expected for India, with consensus at 15.2% YoY amid a strong recovery in services demand, albeit on a weak base. Commodity price gains are however likely to return and weigh on growth recovery going forward, as will slower global demand. But the RBI remains in a position to push further with its rate hikes to get a grip on inflation. South Korea’s Q2 GDP is however likely to remain steady, and focus will instead be on August inflation as that remains a bigger problem with over 6% prints being seen lately.   Key economic releases & central bank meetings this week Monday 29 August United Kingdom Market Holiday Australia Retail Sales (Jul) Japan Coincident Index Final (Jun), Unemployment rate (Jul)   Tuesday 30 August Thailand Industrial Production (Jul) Germany Import Prices (Jul), Inflation (Aug) Spain Inflation Rate (Aug), Business Confidence (Aug) United Kingdom Mortgage Approvals (Jul) Eurozone Consumer Confidence Final (Aug) US House Price Index (Jun), US Conference Board Consumer Confidence (Aug)   Wednesday 31 August South Korea Industrial Production (Jul) Japan Industrial Production (Jul) China NBS Manufacturing PMI (Aug) France Inflation Rate (Aug) Germany Unemployment Rate (Aug) Hong Kong Retail Sales (Jul) Eurozone Core Inflation Rate (Aug) Italy Inflation Rate (Aug) United States MBA Mortgage Applications (26 Aug), United States ADP Employment Change (Jun) India GDP (Q2) Canada GDP (Q2)   Thursday 1 September S&P Worldwide Manufacturing PMIs South Korea GDP Growth Rate (Q2), Exports (Aug) Japan Capital Spending (Q2) Australia Home Loans (Jul) Indonesia Inflation Rate (Aug) Germany Retail Sales (Jul) United Kingdom Nationwide Housing Prices (Aug) Italy GDP Growth Rate (Q2), Unemployment Rate (Jul) Eurozone Unemployment Rate (Jul) United States Jobless Claims (Aug)   Friday 2 September South Korea Inflation (Aug) Germany Balance of Trade (Jul) United States Non-Farm Payrolls (Aug) Unemployment Rate (Aug), Factory Orders (Jul)   Key earnings releases this week Monday: Haier Smart Home, Foshan Haitian Flavouring, Agricultural Bank of China, BYD, Pinduoduo, Trip.com, DiDi Global, CITIC Securities Tuesday: Woodside Energy, ICBC, China Yangtze Power, Muyuan Foods, SF Holdings, Shaanxi Coal, Midea Group, Tianqi Lithium, Ganfeng Lithium, Bank of Montreal, China Construction Bank, Bank of China, Great Wall Motor, COSCO Shipping, Partners Group, Baidu, Crowdstrike, HP Wednesday: MongoDB, Brown-Forman, Veeva Systems   Thursday: Pernod Ricard, Broadcom, Lululemon Athletica, Hormel Foods Friday: BNP Paribas Fortis   Source: Saxo Spotlight: What’s on investors and traders radars this week?
USDA's WASDE Update: Wheat Tightens, Corn Loosens

The US 2-year Treasury Yield Reached The Highest Since 2007!

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 29.08.2022 10:20
Summary:  Equity markets plunged on Friday in the wake of Fed Chair Powell’s speech, in which he invoked famed Fed inflation fighter Volcker and warned against a premature easing of policy. While US yields are only modestly higher in the wake of the speech, the US dollar is soaring, bringing a new unwelcome tightening on global liquidity. Particularly intense focus on USDJPY as the Bank of Japan faces a new challenge from JPY weakness as it insists on maintaining its maximum easing policy.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) US equities posted their worst session since at least June in the wake of Fed Chair Powell’s Jackson Hole speech on Friday, with the S&P 500 losing over 3% on the session and trading lower still overnight to start the week, with the psychologically key 4,000 level looming into view. The Nasdaq sliced over 4% lower and traded near its 55-day moving average overnight, in the 12,400 area. Sentiment looks fragile, with any further rise in treasury yields and the US dollar the key risk for driving a possible worsening of sentiment this week. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIQ2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) After having staged an impressive bounce from the trough of a 2-month losing streak last week on the back of reports that the U.S. and China regulators were reaching a deal to avoid the delisting of Chinese companies from U.S. bourses, Hang Seng Index fell nearly 1% on Monday following the post-Jackson Hole selloff in U.S. equities. In addition, in statements from the U.S. and China regulators last Friday regarding access to audit work papers, the interpretations looked rather different in some key aspects. According to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the agreement gives the U.S. regulator, “complete access to the audit work papers, audit personnel, and other information”. On the other hand, in its announcement and Q&As with reporters, China Securities Regulatory Commission emphasized that audit work papers and other information will be “obtained by and transferred through Chinese regulators”. Meituan (03690:xhkg) outperformed, +3.7% after reporting a solid Q2 and continuous order growth in June and August. CSI 300 dropped 0.7%.  US dollar and especially USDCNH in the wake of Fed Chair Powell’s speech A forceful new USD rally was set in motion in reaction to Fed Chair Powell’s speech on Friday, with more aggravated strength versus Asian currencies on Monday as yields rose and the JPY weakened (more on USDJPY below), but also as China allowed its currency to drop versus the US dollar, a key development in cementing the impact of this USD move globally. The most salient potential driver for further USD strength this week would be strong US data (especially on Friday’s August US jobs and earnings report) that drives Treasury yields higher. USDJPY While the focus is generally on the US dollar this week already and the broader fallout should the greenback continue its aggravated ascent, the stakes are very high for USDJPY, which risks a new upward spiral that will challenge the Kuroda-led Bank of Japan as it insists on maintaining it accommodative policy in the face of rising yields elsewhere.  A massive bout of volatility may lie ahead if market participants decide to take on the BoJ, which will eventually likely cave at some unknown level higher, perhaps 150 in USDJPY if it rises that far? Crude oil prices (CLV2 & LCOV2) Crude oil trades higher extending last week’s gain with supply concerns more than offsetting the potential negative growth/demand impact of Powell’s higher-for-longer interest rate speech on Friday at Jackson Hole. An Iran nuclear deal has yet to be reached with a breakthrough unlikely to add much in terms of additional barrels before next year. Libya, one of OPEC’s most volatile producers saw deadly clashes in the capital over the weekend sparking fears over supply to an energy starved Europe. In a addition high gas prices in Europe and Asia will continue to underpin demand and prices for diesel and heating oil. Brent is currently stuck in a range around $100 with resistance around $103 and support at $98. Gold (XAUUSD), silver (XAGUSD), platinum (XPTUSD) and copper (COPPERUSDED22) ... have tumbled the most since Friday after Fed’s Powell signaled that interest rates would keep rising and remain elevated for longer. The US 2-year Treasury yield reached the highest since 2007 with additional headwinds seen from the stronger dollar. The markets belief in the Fed’s ability to combat inflation helped drive the one-year inflation swap down to 3.06%, a one-year low. We maintain the view of gold being a hedge against the belief the Fed will be successful in lowering inflation without hurting economic growth to the point where the focus returns to central bank support but given the renewed breakdown on Friday and continuation today, the price may in the short term once again look at critical support below $1700. US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) US treasury yields rose across the board on Friday, actually quite modestly relative to the attention given to Fed Chair Powell’s speech, but the move followed through further in the Asian session Monday as the US dollar also rose, a toxic combination for risk sentiment. The US 10-year benchmark yields trades near the highs last week above 3.10% this morning, with the chief focus on the 3.50% area high established in mid-June if yields continue to rise. This week features important US data through Friday’s US jobs report. What is going on? Powell’s message at Jackson Hole gets serious While Powell still stayed away from clearly defining a rate path or the expected terminal rates for the Fed, his strong message did suggest that the fight against inflation is far from over. Powell reiterated that the decision on September 21st on whether the Fed will lift rates by 50bps or 75bps will be driven by the “totality” of data since the July meeting. That puts a great deal of emphasis on the US jobs report due on September 2nd, and the US CPI report due September 13th. There was also some emphasis on rates being held at the peak rate for some time, but there isn’t a substantial change to the market’s expectation of the Fed path yet, with cuts still seen for next year by the money markets. Other Fed speakers still see higher terminal rates Inflation remains the overarching theme in all the Fed talk, and no comfort is being taken from the softening in July inflation. Mester (2022 voter) accepted that the Fed hasn’t reached neutral rates yet and said that rates need to go above 4% and held there for some time. Bostic (2024 voter) also suggested a higher terminal rate of 3.5-4.75% compared to what was reflected in the June dot plot, and said rates need to be held there for some time and rate cut talks are premature. Soft US July PCE inflation confirms the dip in the CPI data Lower petrol prices cooled price pressures in July, and this has been re-confirmed by the PCE print on Friday. The headline came in at 6.3% YoY (vs. 6.8% expected) while core was at 4.6% YoY (vs. 4.7% expected). The market reaction to these softer numbers was however restrained as the hawkish message from Powell at Jackson Hole took the limelight. The magnitude of the September rate hike still remains a coinflip, but the Fed members have refused to take comfort with the softer CPI print and continue to push for an aggressive fight against inflation. ECB speakers remain committed to inflation fight despite recession risks A host of ECB speakers at the weekend continued to push for aggressive rate hikes to fight inflation. Schnabel, speaking at Jackson Hole, said rates must be raised, even into a recession. Kazaks also emphasised the need for further front-loading of rate hikes after the 50bps rate hike announced by the central bank in July. In fact, there were hints of a 75bps rate hike. There were also some concerns on a weaker EUR, as that fuels further inflationary pressures and the benefit of cheaper exports is diminished by supply chain disruption. Villeroy said that the neutral rate should be reached before the end of the year while Kazaks said he would get there in the first quarter of next year. Energy prices continue to climb in France Last Friday, the French 1-year electricity forward was close to €1,000 per MWh (versus €900 per MWh for Germany). This represents an increase of +1000 % compared with the long-term average of 2010-2020. Since Autumn 2021, the French government has capped electricity and gas prices (electricity price increase was capped at +4 % this year). But this is very costly for public finances (about €20bn so far this year). The cap on energy prices will expire at the end of the year for gas and in February 2023 for electricity. The government is not planning to extend it further. More targeted measures to help the poorest part of the population to cope with higher energy prices is the most likely scenario. The risk of electricity shortage is real in France this winter. During the summer, electricity demand is around 45 GWh. During the winter, higher consumption will push electricity demand around 80-90 GWh. This will put under tension all the electricity infrastructure, thus increasing the risk of shortage. We think that France is certainly in a worse position than Germany when it comes to energy supply (in the short-term). The world's fourth largest iron ore miner, Fortescue releases 2nd highest profit on record Fortuecue Metals (FMG) posted a 40% drop in full-year profits, mirroring the steep declines in iron ore prices. Despite iron ore shipments hitting a record, Fortescue posted a A$6.2 billion profit, down from the A$10.35 billion last year. So what’s next? It’s pledged another record year of iron ore shipments (187-192mt) and wants to accelerate its push into clean energy, aiming to produce an initial 15 million tons a year of green hydrogen by 2030, to help its heavy industry and long-distance transport decarbonize. It will spend $600-$700 million to do so this financial year. As we covered last week in our BHP interview, iron ore demand is likely to slow over the coming 30 years (that’s where Fortescue’s income comes from). Meanwhile, the world requires double the amount of green metals. So the question remains; can Fortescue diversify its business in time? Fortescue’s shares are up 21% from their July low, with investors hoping China infrastructure stimulus will support iron ore demand and boost the company’s earnings.  What are we watching next? The US dollar is the wrecking ball here for risk sentiment – any rise in US yields would make things worse The rising US dollar is bad enough for global markets as the greenback is a financial condition unto itself, but if US treasury yields continue to rise this week, this could prove double trouble for global markets and potentially aggravate the sudden downside momentum tilt set in motion on Friday by Fed Chair Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole conference.   China manufacturing PMIs, scheduled to release this week, are expected to decelerate in the midst of power curbs The median forecasts of economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect China’s official NBS manufacturing PMI to edge up to 49.3 in August from 49.0 in July but remains firmly in the contractionary territory and the Caixin manufacturing PMI to slide to 50.1 in August from 50.4 in July, approaching the threshold between expansion and contraction. The heatwaves and drought-induced power curbs caused Sichuan and Chongqing to shut-down manufacturing activities for six days and eight days in August, respectively. The median forecast for the August official NBS non-manufacturing PMI is 52.2, down from last month’s 53.8 but remains in the expansionary territory.  Earnings to watch This week’s earnings will tilt towards a Chinese focus, but from a macro perspective we are watching Lululemon on Thursday to get an update on the US consumer. Expectations are still looking for a +20% y/y revenue growth in the current quarter so the bar is set high on the outlook. Monday: Haier Smart Home, Foshan Haitian Flavouring, Agricultural Bank of China, BYD, Pinduoduo, Trip.com, DiDi Global, CITIC Securities Tuesday: Woodside Energy, ICBC, China Yangtze Power, Muyuan Foods, SF Holdings, Shaanxi Coal, Midea Group, Tianqi Lithium, Ganfeng Lithium, Bank of Montreal, China Construction Bank, Bank of China, Great Wall Motor, COSCO Shipping, Partners Group, Baidu, Crowdstrike, HP Wednesday: MongoDB, Brown-Forman, Veeva Systems Thursday: Pernod Ricard, Broadcom, Lululemon Athletica, Hormel Foods Friday: BNP Paribas Fortis Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0800 – Switzerland SNB Weekly Sight Deposits 1300 – ECB Chief Economist Lane to speak 1430 – US Aug. Dallas Fed Manufacturing survey 1815 – US Fed Vice Chair Brainard to speak 2330 – Japan Jul. Jobless Rate 0130 – Australia Jul. Building Approvals Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher   Source: Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – August 29, 2022
Speech At Jackson Hole Triggered Masacric Slide In Equities! US Treasury Yields Reaction

Speech At Jackson Hole Triggered Masacric Slide In Equities! US Treasury Yields Reaction

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 29.08.2022 10:46
Summary:  Fed Chair Powell's Jackson Hole speech was credited with triggering the ugly slide in equities and broader risk sentiment on Friday, but the modest reaction in US treasury yields suggests that the Fed was only moderately more hawkish than anticipated. Regardless, the market slide has already developed ugly momentum and could test next supports if US data this week continues to support higher yields and a stronger US dollar, an important financial condition in its own right. We also discuss the latest commodity price developments and weak precious metals on the stronger US dollar and remarkably persistent view that hefty disinflation is just around the corner. Today's pod features Ole Hansen on commodities and John J. Hardy hosting and on FX. Listen to today’s podcast - slides are found via the link. Follow Saxo Market Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher If you are not able to find the podcast on your favourite podcast app when searching for Saxo Market Call, please drop us an email at marketcall@saxobank.com and we'll look into it.   Questions and comments, please! We invite you to send any questions and comments you might have for the podcast team. Whether feedback on the show's content, questions about specific topics, or requests for more focus on a given market area in an upcoming podcast, please get in touch at marketcall@saxobank.com.   Source: Podcast: Markets stumble after Powell's Jackson Hole speech
At The Close On The New York Stock Exchange Indices Closed Mixed

US Stock Market Strongly Recovers Without Any Predispositions!

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 29.08.2022 12:46
Relevance up to 05:00 2022-08-30 UTC+2 Key US stock market indexes, the Dow Jones, the NASDAQ, and the S&P 500, dropped sharply on Friday and closed in negative territory. Over the past month, the US stock market strongly recovered from its decline of the previous several months. This was a rather paradoxical recovery, as there was nothing that could have triggered it. Now, everything falls into place. Friday's only key event on the economic calendar was a speech by Fed chairman Jerome Powell at the meeting in Jackson Hole. The US personal spending and income data, which was slightly below expectations, could not have caused Friday's slump. Powell assured the market that monetary tightening would continue and that a period of high interest rates would be longer than previously expected. He did not give any new information, and it was clear that one single monthly decrease of inflation could not indicate a downtrend. For example, the CPI decreased in May, only to surge in the following months. It remains unclear why investors went long on US stocks. It might have been a capital outflow from the EU to the US - the EU is also expected to enter a recession. However, the recession has already begun in the US - investors might have found the US economy to be more stable amid the difficult geopolitical situation in the EU. In addition, the Federal Reserve is actually taking steps to fight inflation, unlike the ECB. Jerome Powell noted on Friday that the regulator would be closely following macroeconomic data, indicating that the pace of interest rate increase could be slowed down in the near future. However, interest rates would still be hiked from the current level of 2.5%. The Fed funds rate is expected to reach 3.5% at the very least, which would weigh down on US risky assets. The strange upsurge in the US stock market could have possibly been a bull trap, deliberately triggered by major market players to sell their stocks at higher prices. Now, equities and US stock indexes are likely to drop once again and hit new yearly lows. In the meantime, the Fed is likely to increase interest rates at least until the end of 2022. Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. The market analysis posted here is meant to increase your awareness, but not to give instructions to make a trade. Source: Forex Analysis & Reviews: Jerome Powell triggers slump in US stock market  
Bayer Invented A New Drug For Type II Diabetes. Astonishing Revenue!

Bayer Invented A New Drug For Type II Diabetes. Astonishing Revenue!

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 29.08.2022 15:16
The medical giant is after another phase of testing a new drug for type II diabetes and chronic kidney disease. The test results proved positive, and analysts have issued further favourable investment recommendations. Bayer is a German medical company that produces medical equipment, drugs and supplements. It operates globally and has about 100,000 employees, generating more than 44 billion euros in revenue last fiscal year.  In the last quarter, the company announced a whopping €12.8 billion in revenue (an 18.1% year-on-year increase) thanks to favourable currency movements and price increases. Despite a significant increase in net profit (up 87%), the company still posted a loss of €298 million. Despite a significant reduction in costs in the last quarter, the corporation is still struggling to optimize them. This applies especially to the high price of energy, materials and the war in Ukraine. Dealing with intense competition from companies such as Pfizer, Roche, and Novartis remains problematic.  Last year, the company spent as much as 5.4 billion euros on research and development. This enormous amount is used to develop more breakthrough devices and drugs. One of them is Kerendia (finerenone). It's a medicine to treat type II diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Today, the results of the third phase of clinical trials were released, showing that the use of the drug allows a significant decrease in the mortality rate of the mentioned diseases. Kerendia has thus been approved for distribution in the US, Europe and China and could become an essential source of revenue for the company in the coming years.  Bayer has also begun new clinical trials of a thrombosis drug (asundexian). The company said on Sunday that the next phase will test the effectiveness and safety of asundexian in patients with atrial fibrillation and those suffering from certain types of stroke. According to Bloomberg, this is the next step in the company's plan to refresh its drug portfolio, which is under threat from low-cost competitors.  JPMorgan and Barclays have issued a buy recommendation for the German giant, maintaining their previous target price of €75 and €90, respectively. According to MarketScreener data, the current average target price is 78.91 euros for all 24 recommendations. This implies a possible increase in the share price of more than 46%, while the lowest and highest target prices are 55 and 106 euros, respectively. At the close of trading on Friday, the company's share price was €53.70.    Rafał Tworkowski, Junior Market Analyst, Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.   Source: Bayer’s drug effective - a medical giant with new recommendations from investment banks
The Japanese Yen Retreats as USD/JPY Gains Momentum

After The Speech Global Equity Markets Are Not Risking Anymore! Nasdaq 100 Below Its 50-day Average!

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 30.08.2022 09:06
Summary:  The rise in U.S. treasury yields pressured growth stocks with the Nasdaq 100 falling below its 50-day average, which puts it back in a precarious position. Fed Kashkari said he was glad to see the markets fell after Chair Powell’s Jackson Hole speech to tighten financial conditions. Global equity markets have certainly got the message and are in a risk-off mood. What is happening in markets?   Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)  US Stocks fell for the second day, but modestly compared to Friday’s sell-off that was triggered by Fed Chair Powell vowing rates will stay higher for longer to cool runaway inflation while suggesting there will be no pivot to cutting rates in 2023, S&P 500 -0.7%, Nasdaq 100 -1%.  Minneapolis Fed president Kashkari said that “he certainly was not exited to see the stock market rallying” after the last FOMC meeting and “people now understand the seriousness of our commitment to getting inflation back down to 2%.” Tech stocks dragged the markets lower, Nvidia -2.8%, Tesla -1.1%.  Twitter (TWTR:xnys) dropped 1.1% after Elon Musk ad subpoenaed a Twitter whistleblower to share information.  Meanwhile, gains in value stocks somewhat held up the market last night, with the oil, gas, and agricultural sectors rising 1-2%. It comes as Oil prices rose 4% on Monday as potential OPEC+ output cuts and conflict in Libya helped to offset a strong U.S. dollar. While the Ag sectors were supported higher after the wheat price jumped 4.9% and corn rose 2.2% (at its highest level in 2 months) after heat damage worsened US crops more than expected. As such it appears markets are back to their risk off modus operandi, selling down growth names (which are based on future earnings which gets diminished amid higher rates), and instead, buying value (commodities), with rising cashflows. U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) US treasury yield rose across the curve.  The 2-year yield rose to as high as 3.48% during the day, the highest level since November 2007, before paring the rise to settle 3bps higher at 3.42%.  The 10-year yield rose 7bps to 3.11%,  taking the 2-10 year curve steepened by 3bps to -32bps.  Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIQ2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hong Kong and mainland China equities traded relatively calm in the midst of a large post-Jackson Hole selloff in the U.S., Hang Seng Index -0.7%, CSI 300 -0.4%.  The deal made between the U.S. and China regulators last Friday regarding access to audit work papers did not trigger much new buying in China internet stocks on Monday as it had already been well wired before the official announcement.  Further, there is much remained to be seen if the agreement will be implemented to the satisfaction of both sides as the U.S. and China regulators seem to differ in their interpretation.  Meituan (03690:xhkg) gained 2.6% after reporting solid Q2 results, which Hang Seng Tech Index dropped 1.2%. China’s industrial profits slumped to contracting 14.5% YoY from (v.s. +1.1% in June) and a fall of 11.3% sequentially from June.  The weakness was mainly driven by upstream sectors.  Coal mining stocks initially slumped but rallied later in the days and finished higher in Hong Kong and mainland bourses.   Geely (00175:xhkg) rose 1.7% as the automaker’s Zeekr line of EVs will be the first to use a new battery from CATL that provides over 1,000km range per charge.  SMIC (00981:xhkg), -2.1%, announced spending USD7.5 billion to build a plant in Tianjin to make 12-inch wafers. Chinese banks traded weak as Reuters reported that China’s central bank and bank regulators had been making calls to banks to push them to make more lending to support the real economy than put their funds in financial investments.  USDJPY weakness to bring back pressure on Bank of Japan USDJPY is back to testing its record July highs despite little change in money market pricing of the Fed rate path following Powell’s hawkish speech at Jackson Hole. The peak Fed funds rate is still priced in at 3.8%, while some of the Fed speakers have started to suggest 4%+ levels that may be needed to combat inflation. This brings the September dot plot in focus, but we get the jobs and CPI data before that as well. Any further upward re-pricing of the Fed path, if resulting in gains in US 10-year yields, could very well take USDJPY to new highs with Japanese yields still remaining capped due to the Bank of Japan’s yield curve control policy. If however, US data underwhelms, the room on the downside for USDJPY is tremendous. USDCNH made a new high at 6.9327 Wider interest rate differentials between the U.S. dollar and the renminbi and a weaker economic outlook in China continued to pressure the renminbi weaker. USDCNH surged to as high as 6.9327 on Monday during Asian hours before paring it as the greenback fell against most of the G10 and emerging market currencies in London hours.  In Asia this morning, USDCNH is trading at 6.9066. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil prices saw their best day in a month amid threats of a decline in supply from OPEC cuts and production outages in Libya. Brent futures rose above $105/barrel although some softening was seen in the Asian morning, while WTI rose to $97/barrel. This follows news from last week that Kazakhstan’s exports of crude may be impacted for months because of damage to its port facility. Meanwhile, negotiations between Iran and the US over the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal could drag on for weeks, easing fears of an imminent surge in supply. What to consider? The volatility index rises to its highest level in 9 weeks, suggesting more volatility is coming. And the fundamentals back this up with US yields spiking After the Fed’s 8-minute Jackson Hole speech, the volatility index surged to its highest level in 9-weeks, forming an uptrend pattern, suggesting more market volatility is ahead. We believe the market is only just beginning to price in higher for longer interest rates and inflation. The bond market is affirming this with yields spiking again. But what is also alarming, is that the futures market is still pricing in that the Fed will cut rates in 2023. This is despite the Fed suggesting it won’t pivot to cutting rates. The other issue is keeping markets on notice is that; if the Fed makes more hawkish remarks and hikes rates more than expected, then the market will face further volatility, and selling in growth sectors and names that are interest rate sensitive, are likely to come under pressure. Shell CEO cautions against a prolonged European gas crisis Shell CEO Ben van Beurden gave comments from Norway’s ONS conference, suggesting that Europe could face gas shortages for a number of winters. This disproves reports suggesting that Europe has already built reserves for the winter demand, and reaffirms our belief that a move to broad-based energy supply will continue to be top of mind in the long run. In the near term, demand destruction appears to be the only possible solution, and Van Beurden stressed need for efficiency savings as well as rationing. Eurozone inflation and Nord Stream maintenance will be key for the ECB There is no question on the direction in Eurozone inflation, given the extensive reports on gas prices and power costs in the region over the last few days. However, some softening may be warranted after an all-time high of 8.9% was reached on the Eurozone inflation print in July, given the easing in pump prices in August. Still, gas supply concerns continue to remain top-of-mind for Germany with Gazprom announcing another leg of maintenance for the Nord Stream pipeline this week. Food prices are also seeing another pickup, and further gains in the headline print in Q4 cannot be ruled out. Calls for a 75 basis points rate hike by the European Central Bank have already picked up, and these could gain further traction if we see a strong CPI print this week. However, if Nord Stream supply comes back on time after its 3-day scheduled maintenance, and with some potential increases in capacity as has been hinted, that could mean a substantial decline in European gas prices and relief in utility costs in the months to come. ECB Lane tones dials back on jumbo rate hike expectations ECB chief economist Lane was on the wires on Monday, and hinted at a more steady pace of rate hikes in a “step-by-step” manner rather than jumbo rate hikes. This appears to be a pushback against calls for a 75bps rate hike at the September meeting, as he made the case to allow the financial system to absorb the rate changes. Moreover, on inflation, Lane said long-term inflation expectations remain close to the two per cent target, while near-term inflation expectations are quite elevated. BYD reported 1H earnings at the high end of the preannounced range Chinse auto maker BYD (01211) reported 1H revenues growing 66% YoY to RMB 151 billion.  In terms of segments, auto revenues surged 130% YoY while mobile handset revenues contracted 4.8% YoY. Net profits jumped 206% to rMB3.595 billion, at the top end of the preannounced range of CNY2.8-3.6 billion. Volume growth (353K new energy passenger vehicles in 2Q, +265% YoY) beat market expectations despite two rounds of price increases in 2022 and supply chain disruptions.  The company’s EV market share rose to 29% (vs 17% in 2021).  Pinduoduo delivered Q2 results showing stronger than peer sales growth Pinduoduo (PDD:xnas), a leading eCommerce platform with strong penetration into agricultural products and online shoppers from rural areas., reported 1H total revenue growing at 36% YoY, far exceeding the 3% YoY consensus estimate.  The company attributed the revenue growth to a recovery in consumption since mid-May, successful promotion campaigns, and 48-hour daily necessity supply packs for people facing lockdown.  The company’s strong market position in rural areas and agriculture-related products also help it stand out from its rivals.  In Q2, the company achieved a 20 percentage point improvement in margins, reaching 33.5%, but the management cautioned investors that the margin compression was attributed to temporary cost savings early in the quarter and spending had increased since mid-May.  Non-GAAP EPS came in at Rmb7.54, +161% Uranium companies and other nuclear-related companies are back in the spotlight  Elon Musk said countries should not shut down existing nuclear power plants as Europe grapples with an energy crisis “If you have a well-designed nuclear plant, you should not shut it down - especially right now”, said Musk during an energy conference in Norway. That resulted in the Global X Uranium ETF climbing 7.4% on Monday to its highest level since June 8, supported by US uranium stocks rising. Uranium stocks in the Asia-Pacific region to watch include Australia’s Paladin, Deep Yellow and Boss Energy, as well Japan’s Kansai Electric Power and Tokyo Electric Power, as well as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. In South Korea watch Doosan Enerbility, Kepco. And in Europe, monitor Yellow Cake and Kazatomprom.      For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.   Source: APAC Daily Digest: What is happening in markets and what to consider next – August 30, 2022
Natural Gas Prices Extended The Recovery

Natural Gas Prices Still Fell Besides Russia Shuts The Key Nord Stream Pipeline Down. Dependence Coming To An End?

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 30.08.2022 09:18
Summary:  Markets traded mostly sideways yesterday as the US dollar’s advance was stymied and US yields pushed back slightly lower. China continues to allow its currency to trade toward the lows for the cycle versus the US dollar as the 7.00 area nears in USDCNH. The euro bobbed back up toward parity versus the US dollar yesterday as natural gas prices fell even as Russia shuts the key Nord Stream pipeline down for a purported few days of maintenance.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) US equities stabilised yesterday following that knee-jerk reaction on Friday to the Jackson Hole presentations with S&P 500 futures touching and bouncing off the 50-day moving average closing above the critical 4,000 level. S&P 500 futures are trading around the 4,044 level this morning sandwiched between the 100-day moving average above this level and the 50-day moving average below suggesting a bigger move is shaping up in either direction. The next big shift in sentiment will be when we get the US August CPI print on 13 September as that is the key data point to shape expectations from current levels. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIQ2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hong Kong and mainland China equities pulled back moderately, Hang Seng Index -0.9%. Tech names were weak. Hang Seng Tech Index plunged as much as 3% before bouncing off the lows to finish the morning session down 1.7%.  According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, smartphone sales in China fell 2.9% YoY in the period between Jan and July. Despite reporting solid 1H results, China automaker, BYD (01211:xhg) slid 0.6%. In A-shares, mining stocks, gas, electric equipment, and auto parts underperformed, CSI 300 -0.5%. Pinduoduo (PDD:xnas), a leading Chinese eCommerce platform listed on Nasdaq reported strong 2Q results, showing stronger than peer gross merchandise value growth and better-than-expected margin improvement. US dollar and especially USDCNH The US dollar tried higher, but failed to follow through as risk sentiment stabilized and US Treasury yields eased back lower. The USDCNH rate, however, continues to push toward the high of the cycle, trading near 6.92 this morning. EURUSD trades near parity this morning after natural gas prices fell sharply in Europe yesterday and despite ECB Chief Economist Lane arguing for steady rate increases (pushing back against the pricing of a possible 75 basis point move at next week’s ECB meeting). Incoming data this week will be critical for USD direction. JPY weakness to bring back pressure on Bank of Japan USDJPY is back to testing its record July highs despite little change in money market pricing of the Fed rate path following Powell’s hawkish speech at Jackson Hole. The peak Fed funds rate is still priced in at 3.8%, while some of the Fed speakers have started to suggest 4%+ levels that may be needed to combat inflation. This brings the September dot plot in focus, but we get the jobs and CPI data before that as well. Any further upward re-pricing of the Fed path, if resulting in gains in US 10-year yields, could very well take USDJPY to new highs with Japanese yields still remaining capped due to the Bank of Japan’s yield curve control policy. If, however, US data underwhelms, the room on the downside for USDJPY is tremendous. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil prices saw their best day in six weeks amid threats of a decline in supply from OPEC and production outages in Libya. Brent futures rose above $105/barrel although some softening was seen in Asia overnight, while WTI rose to $97/barrel. This follows news from last week that Kazakhstan’s exports of crude may be impacted for months because of damage to its port facility. Meanwhile, negotiations between Iran and the US over the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal could drag on for weeks, easing fears of an imminent surge in supply. Pro Farmer tour see lowest US corn production since 2019 The just completed Pro Farmer tour across the US grain belt helped drive corn futures in Chicago to a two-month high on Monday after the tour saw the US corn crop at 13.76 bn bushels, below USDA forecasts for 14.36 billion bushels. Pro Farmer predicted a soybean crop of 4.54 billion, in line with the USDA’s latest forecast. Wheat, supported by corn’s rally, touched its highest since July 12 despite news that Ukraine agricultural exports could rise to 6.5 million ton in October, double the volume in August.  The soybean vs corn ratio needs to stay low (favouring corn) ahead of the South American planting season in order to persuade farmers there to plant more of the fertilizer intensive crop. US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) US treasury yields eased lower yesterday. An interesting paper presented at the Jackson Hole conference at the weekend suggests that the Fed will have a hard time delivering on quantitative tightening without causing harm to financial market functioning, which could mean less supply of treasuries from the Fed if its shies away from reducing its balance sheet at the previously touted pace of $95 billion/month. Otherwise, incoming US data is the focus through the August CPI release on September 13. What is going on? Shell CEO warns of prolonged European gas crisis Shell CEO Ben van Beurden gave comments from Norway’s ONS conference, suggesting that Europe could face gas shortages for a number of winters. This disproves reports suggesting that Europe has already built reserves for the winter demand and reaffirms our belief that a move to broad-based energy supply will continue to be top of mind in the long run. In the near term, demand destruction appears to be the only possible solution, and Van Beurden stressed the need for efficiency savings as well as rationing. ECB Lane dials back on jumbo rate hike expectations ECB chief economist Lane was on the wires on Monday and hinted at a steady pace of rate hikes in a “step-by-step” manner rather than jumbo rate hikes. This appears to be a pushback against calls for a 75bps rate hike at the September meeting, as he made the case to allow the financial system to absorb the rate changes. Moreover, on inflation, Lane said long-term inflation expectations remain close to the two per cent target, while near-term inflation expectations are quite elevated. BYD reported 1H earnings at the high end of the preannounced range Chinese automaker BYD (01211) reported 1H revenue up 66% y/y to RMB 151bn. In terms of segments, auto revenue surged 130% y/y while mobile handset revenues contracted 4.8% y/y. Net profits jumped 206% to RMB 3.6bn, at the top end of the preannounced range of RMB 2.8-3.6bn. Volume growth (353K new energy passenger vehicles in 2Q, +265% y/y) beating market expectations despite two rounds of price increases in 2022 and supply chain disruptions. The company’s EV market share rose to 29% (vs 17% in 2021). Pinduoduo delivered Q2 results showing stronger than peer sales growth Pinduoduo (PDD:xnas), a leading eCommerce platform with strong penetration into agricultural products and online shoppers from rural areas, reported 1H total revenue up 36% y/y, far exceeding the 3% y/y consensus estimate. The company attributed the revenue growth to a recovery in consumption since mid-May, successful promotion campaigns, and 48-hour daily necessity supply packs for people facing lockdown. The company’s strong market position in rural areas and agriculture-related products also help it stand out from its rivals. In Q2, the company achieved a 20 %-point improvement in margin, reaching 33.5%, but the management cautioned investors that the margin compression was attributed to temporary cost savings early in the quarter and spending had increased since mid-May. Non-GAAP EPS came in at RMB 7.54, +161% y/y. Shares in Uranium companies and other nuclear-related companies are back in the spotlight Japan has signaled its openness to more nuclear power, at the same time, Tesla founder Elon Musk has applauded uranium as an energy alternative, during an energy conference in Norway. Uranium stocks moved higher as a result on Monday in the US, which boosted the Global X Uranium ETF up 7%, to its highest level since June 8. Shares in the Asia-Pacific region followed. Australian stocks saw the most significant moves given the country has the largest uranium reserves globally. Australia’s Paladin rose 11%, Deep Yellow 15% and Boss Energy 10%, while Rio Tinto (which owns a deposit) rose over 1%. Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Tokyo Electric Power gained 3%. Companies to watch in Europe, include Yellow Cake and Kazatomprom. What are we watching next? August U.S. job report is out on Friday There should not be a major surprise. The economist consensus expects a 300,000 payrolls increase in August and a stable unemployment rate at 3.5 % - this is a five-decade low. If this is confirmed, it all points to a healthy labor market (despite the moderate pace of job increases). Today, the U.S. government will also release July data on vacancies and quits. Expect job openings to remain elevated, thus pointing to resilient demand for labor. These figures are unlikely to play a major role at the September FOMC meeting since it is well-known that labor market data are lagged indicators. Inflation remains the main point of concern, as mentioned by Fed Chair Jerome Powell last week at Jackson Hole Symposium. August EZ CPI will be painfully high The consensus expects a new increase of 9 % year-over-year when the data will be released on Wednesday. This should convince European Central Bank (ECB) policy makers to raise borrowing costs by a sizable increase on September 8. At Jackson Hole, ECB’s executive board member Isabel Schnabel indicated the central bank has no other choice but to act with ‘determination’. This is a matter of credibility. According to Bloomberg, traders now price a 50 % chance of a 75-basis points rate hike in September. Earnings to watch Today’s earnings focus is China are lithium miners Tianqi Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium as the growth in electric vehicles sales is putting enourmous pressure on availability of lithium and prices of lithium carbonate. Baidu is another Chinese earnings release to watch today as the company’s footprint in online advertising will give insights into economic activity. Later in the US, earnings to watch are Crowdstrike in the cyber security industry and HP in computing hardware. Today: Woodside Energy, ICBC, China Yangtze Power, Muyuan Foods, SF Holdings, Shaanxi Coal, Midea Group, Tianqi Lithium, Ganfeng Lithium, Bank of Montreal, China Construction Bank, Bank of China, Great Wall Motor, COSCO Shipping, Partners Group, Baidu, Crowdstrike, HP Wednesday: MongoDB, Brown-Forman, Veeva Systems Thursday: Pernod Ricard, Broadcom, Lululemon Athletica, Hormel Foods Friday: BNP Paribas Fortis Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0700 – Spain Flash Aug. CPI 0830 – UK Jul. Net Consumer Credit 0830 – UK Jul. Mortgage Approvals 0900 – Euro Zone Aug. Confidence Surveys 1115 – ECB's Vasle to speak 1200 – Hungary Rate Decision 1200 – US Fed’s Barkin (Non-voter) to speak 1200 – Germany Aug. Flash CPI 1300 – US Jun. S&P CoreLogic Home Price Index 1400 – US Aug. Consumer Confidence 1400 – US Jul. JOLTS Job Openings 1500 – US Fed’s Williams (voter) to speak 1600 – ECB Speakers Holzmann and others 2030 – API's Weekly Crude and Fuel Stock Report 0130 – China Aug. Manufacturing/Non-manufacturing PMI Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher   Source: Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – August 30, 2022
The US Dollar Index Is Expected A Pullback Rally At Least In The Near Term

Markets Finally Catch Their Breath After The Speech As Dollar Stops Growing

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 30.08.2022 11:31
Summary:  Today we look at the lackluster session yesterday as risk sentiment found relief after the brief wipeout in the wake of the Fed Chair Powell speech on Friday. Helping to ease pressure on sentiment were the USD halting its rise and US yields easing back lower. In commodities, we look at the latest on the natural gas situation in Europe as Russia is set to shut down a key pipeline for purported maintenance. The corn and wheat outlook, pressure on discretionary spending and related stocks due to soaring energy prices, upcoming earnings reports and more also on today's pod, which features Peter Garnry on equities, Ole Hansen on commodities and John J. Hardy hosting and on FX. Listen to today’s podcast - slides are found via the link. Follow Saxo Market Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher If you are not able to find the podcast on your favourite podcast app when searching for Saxo Market Call, please drop us an email at marketcall@saxobank.com and we'll look into it.   Questions and comments, please! We invite you to send any questions and comments you might have for the podcast team. Whether feedback on the show's content, questions about specific topics, or requests for more focus on a given market area in an upcoming podcast, please get in touch at marketcall@saxobank.com.   Source: Podcast: High energy costs will crowd out discretionary spending
Canadian Dollar Falters as USD/CAD Tests Key Support Amidst Rising Oil Prices and Economic Data

"Fight Against Inflation Is Our Primary Concern..." Central Banks Predicate

Craig Erlam Craig Erlam 30.08.2022 16:05
Stock markets are bouncing back on Tuesday following a rocky couple of weeks as investors grew nervous about the economic impact of tightening. Fed Chair Jerome Powell could not have been more clear on Friday on the central bank’s tightening stance and unlike the warnings from his colleagues, the message appeared to have finally gotten through. Which makes today’s move all the more curious. It’s not the fact that we’re seeing a rebound as equity markets don’t move in straight lines, rather it’s the strength of it that is interesting. Prior to Friday’s speech, investors appeared determined to cast aside warnings in favour of the dovish pivot narrative and today’s moves may suggest the same could still be true after a brief pullback. With a 75 basis point rate hike now viewed as the more likely outcome from the Fed in a few weeks and ECB officials putting a similar move on the table ahead of its meeting next week, how strong of a recovery can we really expect in equity markets? Central banks have made it perfectly clear now that the fight against inflation is their primary concern and a hard landing may just be the price to pay. While that may change if we see any significant improvement on the inflation front over the coming months, the risks still appear more tilted to the downside for the economy. A big moment for bitcoin Bitcoin is enjoying a slight recovery today after surviving a brief dip below $20,000 over the weekend. The hawkish sentiment by Powell took its toll at the end of the week but crypto bulls are fighting back to defend what could be a key level. We may need to see more of the resilience displayed in recent months as a failure to do so could quickly see bitcoin retesting the June lows. For a look at all of today’s economic events, check out our economic calendar: www.marketpulse.com/economic-events/ This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.   Source: A curious rebound
Taiwanese Soldiers Shooting At Civilian Drons And Other Factors Affecting  Stock Markets

Taiwanese Soldiers Shooting At Civilian Drons And Other Factors Affecting Stock Markets

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 31.08.2022 10:06
Summary:  Whiplash in global sentiment as the US equity market ended yesterday on a sour note at new local lows, only to see the mood brighten considerably in Asia, perhaps in part due to a massive plunge in crude oil prices. Sentiment toward the euro has certainly improved this week, as the single currency posted strong gains nearly across the board yesterday on another steep drop in natural gas prices and fresh hawkish rhetoric from an ECB member ahead of next Thursday’s meeting.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) S&P 500 futures reversed hard yesterday after pushing through above the 100-day moving average closing below the 4,000 level at 3,987. The culprit was more hawkish comments from both the Fed and ECB on top of very strong JOLTS Job Openings supporting the view that the labour market remains tight, likely leading to more wage pressures. Also, the S&P CoreLogic house index for June showed that house prices slowed down significantly on m/m basis highlighting the negative impact from higher mortgage rates. S&P 500 futures are trading back above the 4,000 level this morning with the 50-day moving average sitting around the 4,017 level is a key support level to watch today. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIQ2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) In U.S. trading the night before, Hang Seng Index Futures tumbled 2.3% in a confluence of factors including Taiwanese soldiers on front-line islands firing shots at civilian drones believed flying from mainland China, a newswire report saying the U.S. regulator, PCAOB, selected Alibaba (BABA:xnys/09988:xhkg) for audit inspection commencing in September, Berkshire Hathaway reducing holdings in BYD, Covid-related lockdown concerns, and the continuous decline of the U.S. equity markets. Hang Seng Index gapped down by nearly 2% at the Asian market open but managed to crawl back all the loss and turn to a gain of 0.5% at the time of writing. The tech space led the charge higher, Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH.I) surged by 2.4%. In A shares, CSI 300 reversed the downtrend in the morning and bounced to 0.8% higher. Surging euro take the single currency higher across the board The EURUSD exchange rate was stable-to-stronger as the EU continues to build natural gas supplies ahead of the winter and as the price for gas dropped sharply yesterday again. More hawkish comments from the ECB, this time from Nagel, who argued for “front-loading” rate hikes, also helped the euro higher. The Euro was higher across the board, with EURCHF surging nearly to 0.9800 and EURUSD staying above parity despite the USD strength elsewhere. The bigger level in the latter is toward the 1.0100 local range high and former range low. Next Thursday’s ECB will be critical for the euro outlook, with the market leaning for a 75 basis point hike. Selling pressure in GBP ramps up Pessimism built in sterling after Goldman Sachs hinted that peak inflation in the UK could reach 22% in early 2023 and downgraded its GDP forecast. GBPUSD touched lows of 1.1622 before settling around 1.1660.  EURGBP pushed higher to 0.8600, its strongest level since early July. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil on track for a third monthly drop took a 7.5% tumble on Tuesday after recording the best day in six weeks on Monday. Both highlight a market suffering from low liquidity and lack of direction. Brent has returned to $100 with the slower growth and demand narrative once attracting sellers. In addition, a two-day plunge in EU gas prices also weighing on sentiment while new Covid infections and the worst heatwaves in decades in China added to the negative sentiment. On the supply side the Iraq turmoil is not having any impact on oil supplies while an Iran nuclear deal still lingers. Ahead of today’s EIA weekly stock report, the API last night reported a 600k barrels increase in oil stocks with big draws seen in gasoline and diesel. Further volatility can be expected in European gas prices over the coming days, and that could spill over to crude oil as well. EU Gas traders watch Nord Stream 1 and political initiatives to suppress power prices Dutch TTF benchmark gas which touched €350/MWh on Friday trades €270/MWh on the opening with focus on Gazprom’s announced 3-day closure of the NordStream 1 pipeline for maintenance, and whether it will reopen on September 3 or remain shut as part of Putin’s gas war against Europe. The closure coinciding with maintenance in Norway, including at the giant Troll fields. NordStream 1 currently supplies Europe with 33 mcm/day compared with its capacity of 167 mcm/day. A re-opening on September 3 could send prices tumbling further towards €200/MWh, a level still high enough to curb demand. Gas has also been losing altitude in response to rapidly filling storage sites, although daily flows will be needed throughout the winter, and signs the EU is preparing to intervene to dampen soaring power prices. Gold (XAUUSD) Gold remains troubled by the recent hawkish shift by the US Federal Reserve, but the downside pressure has eased a bit by a weaker dollar and geopolitical tensions. The price nevertheless trades below support-turned-resistance at $1729/oz with $1715/oz support preventing another attempt to challenge key support at $1680/oz. A host of Fed speakers were on the wires yesterday, and all of them focused on inflation, suggesting aggressive action from the Fed will continue. Meanwhile, Taiwanese soldiers fired shots to ward off civilian drones flying close to islands near China, spooking fears that tensions could escalate. What is going on? First shipment of wheat out of Ukraine arrives in Africa The first export of wheat from Ukraine since the invasion of Russia in February has arrived in Djibouti, east Africa. The 23,000-ton shipment is bound for Ethiopia which is struggling with ongoing drought and conflict. A recent agreement between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the UN and Turkey, has allowed 50 ships to resume shopping grain around the world. Wheat harvest was also seen picking up in Canada as yields improved amid better weather conditions, helping to ease supply worries in the key agricultural crop. US consumer confidence and JOLTS data came in better-than-expected US consumer confidence rose to its highest level in three months to come in at 103.2 in August from 95.7 previously. Both the expectation index and present situation index saw improvements, rising to 75.1 (prev. 65.6) and 145.4 (prev.139.7), respectively. This could be partly driven by lower pump prices, but also signals that a healthy job market report may be coming this week. The 1-year ahead inflation expectation fell to 7.0% (prev. 7.4%), which was a seven-month low. Meanwhile, US JOLTS rose to 11.239mln in July, above the expected 10.45mln and previous 10.698mln, hinting that the labor market remains tight. German CPI’s upside surprise, ECB still leaning towards front-loading Germany CPI came in higher than expected at 7.9% YoY (vs. 7.5% prev and 7.8% expected) while the MoM print was slightly softer at 0.3% (vs. 0.9% prev and 0.4% expected). Food and energy price gains underpinned, but fuel rebate helped to take some pressure off. Meanwhile, ECB speakers continued to push for more front-loaded rate hikes, in contrast to ECB’s Lane calling for more step-by-step increases on Monday and signaling recession concerns yesterday. THe ECB’s Nagel argued for front-loading rate tightening and Knot clearly said he’s leaning towards a 75bp hike in September, but he is open to a discussion, as did Muller. Wunsch also vouched for rates in restrictive territory, and Vasle (non-voter) said the September rate hike should exceed 50bps. Pricing for the ECB meeting next Thursday closed yesterday around +65 basis points. Taiwan shot at drones flying close to its offshore islands Taiwan’s authorities said in a statement Taiwanese soldiers fired shots in three incidents on Tuesday to ward off drones flying close to small offshore islands controlled by Taiwan. The statement did not identify where these civilian drones were from but said that the drones flew away in direction of Xiamen, a coastal city in mainland China. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen previously urged Taiwan’s military force to take “appropriate by necessary” actions to drive away civilian drones having been buzzing Taiwan’s military installations on its front-line islands. Crowdstrike reports better than expected results Shares were higher in US extended trading, following a 0.7% rise in the regular session after reporting second-quarter results that topped expectations, while it also raised its forecasts for the year. The cyber security giant reported revenue rose to $535mn, up from $337.7mn last year. Annual recurring revenue grew 59% to $2.14bn compared to the same time last year. This is a somewhat of a testament that cyber security is a defensive industry, as it is able to somewhat thrive regardless of economic conditions weakening. Chinese lithium miners are seeing explosive growth Tiangqi and Ganfeng, two of the world’s largest lithium miners, both reported very strong results seeing net income increasing multiples times from last year as lithium carbonate prices have risen 80% this year in China driven by supply shortages of lithium and extremely rapidly growing demand for electric vehicles. What are we watching next? The EU will hold an emerging energy meeting on 9 September This happens while the EU is set to meet its gas storage filling goal (80 %) two months ahead of target. Germany, which is one of the largest European economies most dependent on Russian gas, is also on track to meet its national storage goal before the deadline expires. In recent weeks, the EU has scaled up efforts in order to avoid energy rationing this winter. On this emergency meeting, Spain is expected to propose that the entire EU apply the ‘Iberian exception’ to set electricity prices. In mid-April 2022, the European Commission agreed that Spain and Portugal create a temporary mechanism to decouple the price of gas from that of electricity for a period of 12 months. Concretely, the price of gas was capped to an average of €50 per megawatt-hour. This resulted in electricity bills being halved for about 40 % of Spanish and Portuguese consumers with regulated rates. This could be applied at the EU scale. The Chinese Communist Party national congress commences on Oct. 16 The politburo decided to propose to schedule the next once-every-five-year National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (the “CCP”) for Oct 16, 2022.  The 2,300-odd delegates attending the National Congress will elect the CCP’s Central Committee which consists of 205 full (voting) members and 170 alternate (non-voting) members. The full members of the Central Committee will elect among themselves the 25 members of the Politburo and the members of the Politburo will then choose among themselves the seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, who are the highest leaders of the CCP.  The National Congress will review the CCP’s work over the past five years and formulate policy directions and action plans for the next five years.  Today is the first report of US ADP Payrolls Change using new methodology The ADP Research Institute and Stanford Digital Economy Lab have revised the methodology for the ADP’s monthly employment report, arguing that the new report will offer a better view on the labor market, with breakdowns of weekly data for the prior month and more data on changes in pay. Only time will tell whether the market will begin to trust this data more than the official nonfarm payrolls “establishment” survey. Earnings to watch Today’s US earnings focus is MongoDB expected to report 42% y/y revenue growth in FY23 Q2 (ending 31 July) with operating profit getting very close to break-even. The database company has been running positive cash flow from operations over the past two quarters, but investors would like to see operating income (includes share-based compensation) break-even as well. Today: MongoDB, Brown-Forman, Veeva Systems Thursday: Pernod Ricard, Broadcom, Lululemon Athletica, Hormel Foods Friday: BNP Paribas Fortis Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0755 – Germany Aug. Unemployment Change/Rate 0800 – Poland Flash Aug. CPI 0900 – Eurozone Flash Aug. CPI 1200 – US Fed’s Mester (voter) to speak 1215 – US Aug. ADP Private Payroll change 1230 – Canada Jun. GDP 1345 – US Aug. Chicago PMI 1430 – EIA's Weekly Crude and Fuel Stock Report 2300 – South Korea Q2 GDP 0145 – China Aug. Caixin Manufacturing PMI Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher   Source: Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – August 31, 2022
It Was Possible That Tesla Would Move Closer To Resistance

Tech Stocks: Could Tesla Stock Price Reach $300?

FXStreet News FXStreet News 30.08.2022 16:17
Tesla falls to the first point of support. TSLA should bounce on Tuesday as markets recover. Tesla stock still looking overvalued as the sector rerates. A more or less normal day for stock markets on Monday took place after the sharp sell-off on Friday. Monday's performance was somewhat better than expected or less bad than many feared. Equity markets held up relatively well with the main indices losing less than 1%. Fears of capitulation were short-lived. This should set up a recovery rally for Tuesday and Wednesday and then probably markets will flatline ahead of Friday's employment report. Also read: Tesla Stock Deep Dive: Price target at $400 on China headwinds, margin compression, lower deliveries Tesla stock news The good news for bulls was that Monday's price action opened on the lows at $280, retested it in the first half, and then put in place a double bottom on an intraday basis that set Tesla (TSLA) stock higher for the remainder of the session. Overall, it was a pretty boring day. Tesla had a range of about $7 on the day, but there was no follow-through from Friday's sell-off. Is this consolidation just a holding pattern before further falls or a base building for a recovery? Tesla stock forecast TSLA stock longer-term view remains bearish with the series of lower tops identified by our trendline below. As we can see, Tesla is stuck in a high-volume area (grey bars on the right). High-volume areas are stabilization zones, and markets tend to move from one to another. Below $281 and above $314, volume thins out, so we would expect Tesla to move quickly through those zones. The recent Fed hawkish commentary from Powell puts the risk-reward in favor of the downside in my view, so I would be looking for TSLA stock to break $281 and a swift move through light volume until we reach the next high volume zone at $240. However, ahead of Friday, there is likely to be some recovery and then stabilization around $300. TSLA 1-day chart
Analyst Favorites: Sunrun, Block, and Nvidia Lead the Pack Among Saxo's Top Traded Stocks with 17% Upside Potential

European Central Bank - There Is A Need To Strengthen Measures That Curb Inflation

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 31.08.2022 15:18
Relevance up to 10:00 UTC+2 The more euro falls, the more often European policymakers say there is a need to strengthen measures that curb inflation. ECB board member Joachim Nagel even stated that the next rate hike should not be delayed for fear of a potential recession. Unsurprisingly, these comments fueled speculation on how much the European Central Bank needs to raise interest rates at its meeting next week to keep the balance between the economy sliding into recession and countering further inflation. With the figure already at a record 8.9%, markets are divided over whether policymakers will raise rates by 50 basis points straight away or resort to changing them by 75 basis points at once. If the ECB increases rates by 75 points, euro will correct upwards, which will allow buyers to keep parity under their control. However, there are policymakers calling for restraint in the tightening of monetary policy. Executive Board member Fabio Panetta recently said the current rate hike will ease inflationary pressures anyway, while Chief Economist Philip Lane pointed out that sustained economic growth is more important than the observed inflationary pressures associated with the energy crisis. Although much of the surge in inflation is due to energy problems, there are fears that it could spread to other areas. Nagel mentioned that he supported last month's decision to raise rates by 50 basis points because a larger move minimizes the risk of future price increases being out of control. In terms of the forex market, there is a risk of further sharp fall in EUR/USD. Buyers need to hold above 1.0000 because moving down will make it hard for the pair to recover. Meanwhile, going beyond 1.0050 will give confidence to buyers in pushing the quote to 1.0090 and 1.0130. If euro falls below 1.0000, the bear market will continue, which would push the quote to 0.9970, 0.9940, 0.9905 and 0.9860. Pound is currently below the 17th figure, which creates certain difficulties for buyers. There is very little chance of a strong upward correction, especially if sellers take control of 1.1650. If buyers fail to stay above this level, there will be another set of sell-offs towards 1.1590. Then, its breakdown will lead to subsequent declines to 1.1530 and 1.1480. Only a rise above 1.1720 will bring the pair to 1.1760 and 1.1840. Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. The market analysis posted here is meant to increase your awareness, but not to give instructions to make a trade. Source: Forex Analysis & Reviews: ECB members are calling for tighter monetary policy
USD/JPY Weekly Review: Strong Dollar and Yen's Resilience in G10 Currencies

The ECB Is Paying The Price For Its Decision. Risk Assets Are Struggling In The Aftermath Of Powell’s Speech.

Kenny Fisher Kenny Fisher 31.08.2022 15:34
Stock markets in Europe turned lower again on Wednesday while US futures are more mixed, similar to what we saw in Asia overnight. Conditions remain choppy in the aftermath of Jackson Hole last week. There’s clearly a lack of conviction in the markets following a lot of hawkish central bank commentary in recent days. The narrative that investors want to believe is that inflation has peaked and is falling in the US and that a soft landing is plausible. That doesn’t necessarily align with what we’re hearing. Add to that the increasingly hawkish language from other central banks amid severe economic headwinds and the reality of the situation is seemingly becoming impossible to ignore. With 75 basis point hikes now on the table for the US, EU and UK next month, among others, it may not be entirely surprising that investors are taking a more cautious stance. ECB paying the price for dragging its feet amid record inflation The inflation data from the eurozone this morning won’t have hurt the odds of a 75 basis point hike, that’s for sure. Inflation in the bloc rose 9.1% in August, up from the previous record of 8.9% in July. With core inflation also jumping to 4.3% from 4%, the pressure is seriously mounting on the ECB to be more aggressive. The central bank is paying the price for its decision to leave the deposit rate at -0.5% for as long as it did and may have to be much more forceful now as a result. Price pressures are becoming more widespread, with energy increases easing slightly but food, alcohol and tobacco inflation accelerating to 10.6%. The inflation situation is, unfortunately, going to get worse, perhaps much worse, before it gets better, considering what’s to come with energy this winter. Gas flows halted, nervy few days ahead Gas flows through Nord Stream One have now paused for the three-day maintenance period. While Europe is keen to stress its storage levels are well ahead of schedule, the failure of flows resuming on Saturday would be a massive blow ahead of what is already going to be a nervy and expensive winter. European gas prices are near their recent highs and will likely remain so over the coming days until flows resume. If they don’t, prices could rise much further. Can bitcoin hold out much longer? Risk assets are struggling in the aftermath of Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole, the only exception arguably being bitcoin which fell heavily in the immediate aftermath but has now found its feet. In fact, it’s posting gains of more than 1% today, bucking the trend we’re seeing elsewhere, with risk assets generally underperforming. Once more we’re seeing resilience in bitcoin around $20,000; the question is how long can it hold out if sentiment doesn’t improve? For a look at all of today’s economic events, check out our economic calendar: www.marketpulse.com/economic-events/ This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.
EUR/USD Faces Ongoing Decline Amid Budget and Market Turbulence

Avalanche (AVAX) Lost 12% After Being Accused Of Paying For Slander Reputation!

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 31.08.2022 17:08
Avalanche (AVAX) on 29 August, lost almost 12% on a day when a new whistleblower accused it of paying lawyers to attack its competitors' reputations. Since the bottom two days ago, the cryptocurrency's price now seems to have recovered some of its losses, rising by around 10 per cent, presumably after the accusations lost credibility in the eyes of investors. CryptoLeaks is a young news site that aspires to become WikiLeaks - known for shedding light on the crimes of governments. Two days ago, the site published an article accusing Ava Labs of paying lawyers from the Roche Freedman law firm to damage the reputation of its competitors.  The alleged evidence was a statement by one of the insiders. However, the claims made in the article appear to be exaggerated, and the evidence is too weak to support allegations of a deliberate and paid legal battle against competitors.  According to Santiment data, Avalanche became the most searched token (by keywords) shortly after the article's release.   How did the AVAX price react? Most likely, as a result of CryptoLeaks, the AVAX token fell by a whopping 12%, but shortly after scepticism about the article began to gain traction, the listing rebounded. At the end of the day, the cryptocurrency had lost just 3.1%, and the token recovered all of its losses the following day. Furthermore, the price declines of 29 August coincided with a correction in other currencies, making it reasonable to believe that the accusations' impact on sentiment was much smaller.  Today on the Conotoxia MT5 platform at 11:00 GMT+3, AVAX is trading at $19.35, losing 1.4%. The price is below the 10, 20, 50, and 100-day moving averages. The MACD indicator may point to a potential trend reversal after the histogram started to turn back from negative territory. Although not yet in the overbought zone (below 30 points), the RSI signal line seems to be relatively low (less than 35 points), which could indicate a possible trend reversal. On the other hand, looking at the chart from a broader perspective, it seems that it may still be in a downtrend. It seems that there are still storm clouds looming over the cryptocurrency market in the form of a hawkish Fed, an economic slowdown, an energy crisis and a big unknown in the form of inflation.   Rafał Tworkowski, Junior Market Analyst, Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.59% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.   Source: Avalanche recovers after accusations against the project are met with scepticism
Earnings, Soft PMIs, and Market Dynamics: Impact on Yields, Dollar, and Key Developments

Amazing Year For Disney! A 26% Increase In Revenue And A Whopping 53% Increase In Net Profits Year-on-year

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 31.08.2022 17:23
August seemed to be a month of high volatility, most likely due to the turbulent economic environment and a relatively good quarterly earnings season. We seem to be in for a very interesting bear market rally, with a possible peak in the middle of last month. At that time, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices fell 3.2% and 3.9%, respectively. They set a peak (in mid-August), gaining 17.4% and 23.3% (the average historical magnitude of a bear market rally) from their local low (mid-June).    Disney (DIS) The entertainment market giant posted a 1-month gain of 5.9%. The stock had been declining for a year and a half, most likely influenced by extreme pessimism about the company's ability to continue to grow. As a result, the recession and lower consumer spending may have posed an additional threat to revenue from theme parks and streaming platforms. Since its peak in early 2021, Disney shares have fallen by 52.2%.  A short-term trend reversal occurred when Disney announced solid Q3 results (the financial year starts earlier than the calendar year for Disney). There was a 26% increase in revenue and a whopping 53% increase in net profits year-on-year. Net earnings per share were 10 per cent higher than expected. Among the main reasons for such a phenomenal jump in results is the expansion of owned streaming services, namely Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+.   Charles Schwab (SCHW) SCHW is a leading financial company engaged in brokerage, market making, investment banking, consulting and investment advisory services. Its share price rose by 5.5% last month. As for the stock price of other companies, Q2 results proved to be crucial the previous month.  The company reported an increase of as much as 31 per cent in interest income, which is the company's primary source of revenue (more than 50 per cent). Thus, SCHW's revenue and net profit increased by 11.7% and 41.7%, respectively. EPS (earnings per share) turned out to be 6.6% higher than Wall Street analysts' expectations. As a result, expectations of further possible interest rate rises and rising volatility (from which the brokerage business may benefit) appear to push the stock even higher.   Disney and Charles Schwab may be among the more interesting companies of August due to their phenomenal earnings despite the deteriorating macroeconomic environment.    Source: Leaders among the giants — stocks of the month?
Rising Tensions in Japan Amid Currency Market Concerns and BOJ Insights

Necessary Points That Must Happened For S&P 500 Index to Rise

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 31.08.2022 15:38
Relevance up to 14:00 UTC+2 Stock futures are trading mixed on Wednesday after a sharp fall yesterday. Investors are worried about the ultra-tight monetary policy of the US Federal Reserve aimed at curbing inflation. The US dollar index and Treasury yields moved higher. The Dow Jones futures gained 0.2%, while the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ futures lost 0.1% and 0.2% respectively. European stock indices also slipped to trade at their lowest level in more than six weeks. This decline was caused by the eurozone inflation report and the downbeat data from France and Germany. Rising inflation in the eurozone is viewed as the number one problem by the European Central Bank. The regulator is very likely to announce further rate hikes next week in order to limit soaring prices. When pursuing tighter monetary policy, the ECB will have to find the balance between fighting inflation and pushing the economy into a recession. The inflation rate in the eurozone has already reached a record level of 9.1% and is seen to accelerate further. Yet, analysts wonder whether the regulator will raise the rate by 50 basis points or straight by 75 basis points. In the commodities market, oil has slightly lost ground and is now set to test monthly lows for the third time. The price of natural gas also went up. Hopes that the US central bank will ease its monetary tightening are gradually fading away, which is a bearish factor for stocks and bonds. Of course, investors consider the incoming data when looking for clues regarding monetary policy. Yet, the jobs report from the US will most likely cause another massive sell-off in the stock market. Meanwhile, Asian stocks are trading in positive territory thanks to tech companies. At the same time, Japan's stock indices have dropped. Shares of Chinese EV maker BYD Co. tumbled the most after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. trimmed its stake in the company. As for the S&P 500 technical outlook, buyers may get a small chance for an upward correction. For this, they will have to break above the level of $4,003. If the fundamental data from the US is positive, this level may be the key point to watch. Depending on a successful breakout of this range, the S&P 500 index may continue to rise. Otherwise, it may return to monthly lows and extend its fall. If the downtrend continues, a breakout below $3,968 will push the quote to the next downward target of $3,940. This will open the way towards the area of $3,905 where the downward pressure may slightly ease. An upside movement will be confirmed only when bulls take control over the resistance of $4,003. Then, the level of $4,038 will serve as the next target. Only then will the price move further to $4,064 where large sellers will return to the market. Some of you may want to take profit on long positions. The level of $4,091 will act as a more distant target. Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. The market analysis posted here is meant to increase your awareness, but not to give instructions to make a trade. Source: Forex Analysis & Reviews: US premarket trading on August 31, 2022. Stock market enters correction after yesterday's fall  
Investors Selling Down Companies That Face Balance Sheet Tightening From Runaway Inflation

Investors Selling Down Companies That Face Balance Sheet Tightening From Runaway Inflation

Saxo Strategy Team Saxo Strategy Team 01.09.2022 08:54
Summary:  The S&P500 fell 4.2% in August, erasing half of July’s rally, with investors selling down companies that face balance sheet tightening from runaway inflation and higher for longer interest rates. Meanwhile, in August, investors bought into sectors contributing to inflation. At Saxo, we think these trends will probably continue. We cover everything you need to know about what is happening in markets today and what to consider next. What is happening in markets? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)  U.S. equities declined for the fourth day in a row, with S&P 500 down 0.78%, the Nasdaq 100 falling 0.57%.The month of August ended with S&P 500 losing 4.24% and Nasdaq 100 down 5.22%.  The markets were in a risk-off mood with the focus being fixed on rising bond yields and the hawkish stance of the central bank in the U.S. and across the pond in Europe, and with an eye on the job report coming out of the U.S. tomorrow.  Chewy (CHWY:xnys) dropped 7.9%, as the pet retailer lowered guidance for 2022 revenues, citing customer pulling back on discretionary items. The consumer trade-down echoed the general trend found in other U.S. retailers.   Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY:xnas) tumbled 21.3% after announcing a plan to close about 150 stores. Nvidia (NVDA:xnas) plunged 5% in extended hours after the company warned that the new U.S. rules restricting the export of artificial intelligence may substantially affect the company’s sales to China.  U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas)   Yields took a blip lower initially after the weaker-than-expected ADP Employment report but surged higher to finish the day at the high.  The benchmark 10-year note yield closed at 3.19%.  Cleveland Fed President Mester joined the recent chorus of hawkish fedspeaks vowed to get inflation down “even if the economy were to go into recession” and “it will be necessary” to raise the Fed fund rate to “above 4% by early next year and hold it there”.  The U.S. treasury yield curve bear steepened, with the 2-year yield +5bps as the belly to the long-end yields jumped 8bps to 9bps. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg)   Hang Seng Index gapped down by nearly 2% at the open but managed to crawl back all the losses to finish the day flat.  China consumption stocks led the market higher in anticipation of incremental policy stimuli and recovery of consumer demand during the mid-autumn festival, Xiabuxiabu Catering (00520:xhkg) +9.4%, Haidilao (06862:xhkg) +6.5%, China Tourism Group Duty Free (01880:xhkg) +7.1%, Li Ning (02331:xhkg) +3.9%, Anta Sports (02020:xhkg) +1.5%.  In the auto space, BYD (01211:xhkg) tumbled nearly 8%, following news of Berkshire Hathaway reducing its stake in the company. On the other hand, Nio (09866:xhkg) and XPeng (09868:xhkg) rose more than 2%.  Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH.I) gained 1%, with performance divergence among stocks.  Tencent (00700:xhkg) gained 1.1% while Baidu (09888:xhkg) dropped by 3.3% on operating margin contraction. China banking shares traded in Hong Kong were mixed after ICBC (01398:xhkg), China Construction Bank (00939:xhkg), and Bank of China (03988:xhkg) reported growth in revenues and profits but higher non-performing loan ratios. Coal mining and oil stocks fell on the Hong Kong bourse as well as the mainland bourses on weaker energy prices.  CSI 300 bounced from the early sell-off and closed little changed.     Australia's ASX200 (ASX:XASX) closes higher for the 2nd month, but on the first day of September equities unwind the August rally and cut July’s rally  Australia’s market has rallied for two straight months. But the rally is likely to run out of steam iin September, with Aussie equites to face selling pressure. September is historically the worst month for equities, with the ASX200 losing 0.6% each month on average since the index was formed. The reason for this? Companies pay out their yearly dividends in September. Today, many major companies go ex-dividend, transferring the dividend right to shareholders. Companies going ex-dividend include BHP, Whitehaven Coal, AGL and Credit Corp. This month, the ASX faces a host of extra issues. The RBA is tipped to hike interest rates at its September meeting next Tuesday, front loading rate hikes for the next few months. This comes at a time when home prices marked their steepest decline in four decades and building approvals for private homes, fell to their lowest level since 2012. This means banks will face selling pressure. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2)   EIA reported a decline in crude oil inventory of 3.3 million and gasoline inventory of 1.1 million with SPR slowing to 3 million barrels, so resulting in an overall draw of 6.4 mb/d, but the reaction in the oil market remained muted. Production was adjusted higher by 0.1 mb/d to 12.1 mb/d. No change in net trade with imports and exports both declining 0.2 mb/d. WTI futures still trading below $90/barrel in Asian morning as focus shifts back to demand concerns, and Brent futures were below $96. USDJPY heading to 140   The late move higher in US 10-year yields has come back to haunt the yen, with Bank of Japan still remaining committed to keeping its 10-year yields capped at 0.25%. USDJPY rose to fresh 24-year highs of 139.44 in early Asian trading hours, and heading straight to 140 unless we see some verbal intervention coming through from the Japanese officials today. Risk abound with US jobs data due on Friday, and dollar momentum remaining strong. EURUSD still above parity with ECB’s rate hike in focus for next week, beyond the vagaries of gas supplies. GBPUSD however made fresh 2022 lows at 1.1586 as economic weakness remains in focus.    What to consider?  Fed’s Mester calls for over 4% Fed funds rate Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester backed rates to go above 4% early next year and holding it there, while also clearly calling for no rate cuts in 2023. On inflation, Mester noted it is too soon to say inflation has peaked and wage pressures show little sign of abating, while the fight against inflation will be a long one. This message should get stronger if jobs, and more importantly CPI, data continues to be strong. At the same time, we now have Quantitative Tightening going to its full pace and Mester said that balance sheet reduction could take three years or so. New US ADP jobs data disappointed, but wage data remain upbeat While it is hard to trust estimates on the US ADP report given that it is using a new methodology and market impact/trust is only likely to build over time, it was notable that the headline came in at less than the half of the median estimate. Employment change for August was 132k vs expectations of 300k – clearly putting Friday’s NFP release in focus. ADP said that the data suggests a shift toward a more conservative pace of hiring. ADP noted that the median change in annual pay (ADP matched person sample) was +7.6% YoY for Job-Stayers, and +16.1% YoY for Job-Changers, still suggesting a pretty tight labor market.    Eurozone August CPI continues to climb According to the preliminary estimate, it was out at 9.1% year-over-year versus prior 8.9% and expected 9.0%. Core CPI, which is highly watched by the European Central Bank (ECB), is still uncomfortably high at 4.3% year-over-year. This is likely that double-digit inflation in the eurozone will become a reality by year-end. The Bundesbank has already warned that German inflation could peak around 10% year-over-year in the coming months. Expect a lively debate among the ECB Governing Council about the pace of tightening on 8 September. Several governors are leaning towards an aggressive hike (meaning 75 basis points) while a minority of governors and the ECB chief economist Philip Lane would rather prefer a step-by-step increase in order to take into consideration the risk of recession. US stocks wipe out half of the July rally, what is behind this and what’s next? The S&P500 fell 4.2% in August, erasing half of July’s rally, with investors selling down companies that face balance sheet tightening from runaway inflation and higher for longer interest rates. Meanwhile, in August, investors bought into sectors contributing to inflation (The Oil & Gas sector rose 9%, Agricultural 6%, Fertilizers 5%, and Food Retailers 3%). Meanwhile, investors topped up exposure to stocks/sectors that benefit from higher rates, which is why Insurance rose 3%. Inversely, the most selling was in sectors that will likely suffer from slower growth, higher rates, and inflation (Home Furniture fell 14% in August, Semiconductors lost 10%, Office REITs slid 10%). Notably, the S&P500 closed under its 200-day moving average for the 100th day. The last time this occurred was in the GFC. And since then, this is also the only time the S&P500 and Nasdaq have not made a typical V-shape recovery. This is something Saxo’s strategists Peter Garnry and Jessica Amir warned of, and recently highlighted in the Quarterly Outlook. As uncertainty remains, and comments from Fed and ECB speakers are increasingly bearish; we think growth sectors (tech, consumer spending, and REITs) will face further pressure given their futures earnings will dimmish. Inversely we expect commodities to continue to outperform.     China’s official manufacturing PMI edged up but remained in contractionary territory  China’s official NBS manufacturing PMI edged up to 49.4 in August from 49.0 in July, above expectations but remaining in contractionary territory. The improvement was largely driven by the rise of the new orders sub-index to 49.8 in August from 48.5 in July and helped by strong activities in the food and beverage industries ahead of the mid-autumn festival.  Covid-related disruptions and energy rationing were negative factors pressuring manufacturing activities.  Heatwaves and drought-induced power curbs have caused Sichuan and Chongqing to shut-down manufacturing activities for six days and eight days in August respectively. The stepping up of pandemic controls in quite a number of cities affected the survey negatively. The non-manufacturing PMI decelerated to 52.6 in August from 53.8 in July.  Both the services sector and the construction sector weakened.     Caixin China Manufacturing PMI is expected to fall to 50.0 The median forecasts of economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect the Caixin manufacturing PMI to slide to 50.0 in August from 50.4 in July, right at the threshold between expansion and contraction.  The official NBS Manufacturing PMI released yesterday showed that improvements were found in large and medium-sized enterprises but the activities in small businesses decelerated t a 47.6 reading in August from 47.9 in July.  Moreover, during the survey month, a Covid-19 outbreak hit Yiwu, an export-focussed manufacturing hub in Zhejiang, and might drag on the Caixin manufacturing PMI, which has a higher weight for medium and small-sized businesses in the eastern coastal region.   Australian manufacturing data falls, pressured by higher rates, wages, and scarcity of staff  Manufacturing only contributes 30% to GDP, however, two key sets of weaker manufacturing data will be reflected on by professional investors today. Manufacturing data released by AI Group showed activity fell into contractionary territory, following six months of expansion. The drop in Australian PMI to 49.3 in August was triggered by slower growth in factory activity from higher interest rates and wages, and a lack of workers. The other set of manufacturing data released from S&P Global showed manufacturing fell to a reading of 53.8 in August, down from 55.7 in July. Significantly, the reading was revised lower from the flash (preview reading) and was the lowest read in a year. As such, investors may see selling pressures in key manufacturing stocks. ASX manufacturers and producers to watch include; Woodside, Caltex, Woodside, Whitehaven and Viva Energy, in energy, which may also see profit-taking after gaining a post as some of this year’s best ASX performers. Other companies to watch include Amcor, the global packaging giant. CSL, the global vaccine, and blood therapy business. As well as BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue, global mining producers.  US ISM manufacturing data due today Lower prices at the pump has seemingly helped the US economy reverse from the slowdown concerns, with Chairman Powell also getting the confidence to say that the economic momentum is strong. ISM manufacturing, which is scheduled to be reported on Thursday, may reflect the weakness seen in the S&P survey, but will still be lifted by the backlog in auto vehicle production. Consensus estimates expect ISM manufacturing to cool slightly from July’s 52.8 and come in at 51.9 in August, still remaining in expansionary territory. ISM employment will also be key to watch ahead of the NFP data due on Friday.  Singapore’s first digital bank launch Grab and Singtel have entered an alliance to roll out a banking app next week in Singapore called GXS, that will be Singapore's first digital bank. This is mostly targeted to younger users and small businesses, tapping on Grab's food and ride-hailing customers, in order to improve the penetration of financial services in Singapore. A savings account is also in the offering, with no minimum balance requirement, in direct competition to the traditional banks.   For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.   Source: APAC Daily Digest: What is happening in markets, what to consider – September 1, 2022
Let's See S&P 500 (SPX) And Credit Market's Performance

Let's See S&P 500 (SPX) And Credit Market's Performance

Monica Kingsley Monica Kingsley 01.09.2022 15:14
S&P 500 dicey premarket upswing fizzled out right after the open, volume picked up, and market breadth correspondigly deteriorated. Bonds confirmed, and the higher yields didn‘t even send the dollar much upwards. Together with the sea of red in commodities and precious metals, this smacks of deleveraging, still of the relatively orderly flavor if you look at the well behaved VIX at 26 only. The steep post Jackson Hole downswing will pause, but there isn‘t a sign that would happen precisely today yet. Looking at the daily chart of CRB Index, crude oil, gold and silver with the miners, odds are that we would see a repeat of yesterday‘s action today as well – to a good degree. Not much has really change since my yesterday‘s review of real assets and cryptos, and especially the crude oil setback (reinforced by the Iran deal speculation Europe is pinning its eyes on) is generally worrying. The Fed keeps hammering the same message, and short end of the curve keeps duly rising. Tombstone reminder for those overstaying in the S&P 500 rally to the 200-day moving average, would be „don‘t fight the Fed – the central bank doesn‘t have your bank now, and would act on the out of control inflation“. I hope you‘re enjoying the very lively Twitter feed, which comes on top of getting the key analytics right into your mailbox. Plenty gets addressed there, but the analyses over email are the bedrock. Still, the next days would feature generally shorter analyses per the legal update on my homepage. Let‘s move right into the charts (all courtesy of www.stockcharts.com). S&P 500 and Nasdaq Outlook S&P 500 bears still have the undeniable strategic initiative, and the pace of the downswing is really all that‘s being questioned. Earnings are still to deteriorate, and P/E to go down – inflation isn‘t declining fast enough, so equities react appropriately. CFA material 101. Read next: FX: GBP/USD May Catch Us By Surprise Soon! Tomorrow's US NFP May Let Boost USD (US Dollar) Or Arouse Concerns Over Fed's Strategy| FXMAG.COM Credit Markets HYG rested a little only on intraday basis, and objectively speaking it‘s downswing didn‘t trigger a genuine bloodbath in stocks. This can change but the steady dollar kind of doesn‘t hint at that right next. The S&P 500 bears should take it easy, because the coming days would be and feel like a consolidation compared to what we have been just through.
Apple Stock Price (APPL) May Be Fluctuating Next Week As iPhone 14 Is Said To Be Revealed

Apple Stock Price (APPL) May Be Fluctuating Next Week As iPhone 14 Is Said To Be Revealed

FXStreet News FXStreet News 01.09.2022 16:33
AAPL stock falls again on Wednesday as the sell-off continues. Equities remain under pressure ahead of the employment report on Friday. AAPL stock also waiting for next week's iPhone 14 release details. Apple (AAPL) stock continued its recent run of poor form as the stock once again closed lower on Wednesday. Apple has now registered three straight days of losses as equity markets come to terms with Fed Chair Jerome Powell utilizing himself last week. The doveish tilt that the market seemed to imply was firmly rebutted by Powell, and the equity market has been under continued selling pressure ever since. Also read: Apple Stock Deep Dive: AAPL price target at $100 on falling 2023 revenues Apple stock news Apple investors are now looking to next week for a catalyst to stem recent losses. September 7 is when most observers expect the iPhone 14 to be released. Details around pricing will be the key aspect, and as ever Wall Street analysts have been coming out with more and more bullish prospects. The latest from Bank of America says a price hike for the iPhone 14 over the iPhone 13 could see a boost to earnings in the region of $0.10 to $0.20 on EPS. It seems demand for iPhones will remain inelastic in the eyes of Wall Street, while clearly, the consumer looks to be shifting to lower-cost goods from what we have seen recently from retailers. iPhones are a luxury good and should see a slowdown in demand based on price hikes and inflationary trends. Margins will come under pressure from rising input costs, and the situation in China looks increasingly bearish. The property sector is beginning to falter alarmingly. The only Apple bullish caveat to add is the potential for massive monetary easing from China. We saw how the loose US policy juiced financial assets during the pandemic, and China may embark on its own financial juicing if the economy continues to decline. We do not think this will be enough to stem earnings compression for Apple though. The strong US dollar is another headwind for a firm that does business globally but reports in dollars. Apple stock forecast Enough of the long-term prognosis. How are we shaping up for some swing trading? Ok, first take a look at the AAPL stock daily chart. The downtrend continues with failure at the 200-day moving average, a continued sell-off from the overbought Relative Strength Index (RSI) and now support from the 50-day moving average. Below $171 looks bearish. AAPL daily chart The AAPL stock 15-minute chart below shows the areas of stability and high volume. Current levels around $158 are seeing stabilization. A move above $162 or below $156 will see further buying or selling pressure, so this range is key to playing a breakout scenario. AAPL 15-minute
Brent hits one-month high! Saudi and Russian cuts supporting recent moves

Increases on the New York Stock Market. Fall In Raw Materials

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 02.09.2022 08:42
At the close of the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones rose 0.46%, the S&P 500 rose 0.30%, and the NASDAQ Composite fell 0.26%. The leading performer among the components of the Dow Jones index today was Johnson & Johnson, which gained 4.00 points or 2.48% to close at 165.34. Amgen Inc rose 5.20 points or 2.16% to close at 245.50. Merck & Company Inc rose 1.79 points or 2.10% to close at 87.15. The losers were Boeing Co shares, which lost 6.59 points or 4.11% to end the session at 153.66. Dow Inc. gained 2.04% or 1.04 points to close at 49.96, while Salesforce.com Inc shed 1.66% or 2.59 points to close at 153. .53. Leading gainers among the S&P 500 index components in today's trading were DXC Technology Co, which rose 7.75% to hit 26.70, General Holdings Inc, which gained 5.72% to close at 233.01, and also Moderna Inc, which rose 5.05% to end the session at 138.95. The losers were shares of NVIDIA Corporation, which lost 7.67% to close at 139.37. Shares of Hormel Foods Corporation shed 6.56% to end the session at 46.98. Quotes of Monolithic Power Systems Inc decreased in price by 6.11% to 425.47. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were Hempacco Co Inc, which rose 63.41% to hit 8.35, GigaCloud Technology Inc, which gained 61.43% to close at 23.65, and also shares of Virax Biolabs Group Ltd, which rose 58.69% to end the session at 5.57. American Virtual Cloud Technologies Inc was the biggest loser, shedding 52.17% to close at 0.22. Shares of Newage Inc lost 46.87% and ended the session at 0.12. Quotes of Okta Inc decreased in price by 33.70% to 60.60. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that fell in price (2231) exceeded the number of those that closed in positive territory (901), while quotes of 101 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 2,416 companies fell in price, 1,333 rose, and 244 remained at the level of the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, fell 1.20% to 25.56. Gold futures for December delivery lost 1.13%, or 19.55, to hit $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI October futures fell 3.54%, or 3.17, to $86.38 a barrel. Brent oil futures for November delivery fell 3.71%, or 3.55, to $92.09 a barrel. Meanwhile, in the Forex market, EUR/USD fell 1.11% to hit 0.99, while USD/JPY edged up 0.89% to hit 140.20. Futures on the USD index rose 0.91% to 109.65.         Relevance up to 04:00 2022-09-03 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/291092
The Current War Between China And The United States Over Semiconductor Chips Is Gaining Momentum

Tech Stocks: Apple Stock Price (APPL) - Bulls May Reach Almost $190!

Jing Ren Jing Ren 05.09.2022 12:55
  AAPL (Apple Stock): Wave ⑤ is the final leg in a large cycle impulse a. As in the previous review, which was a few weeks ago, AAPL suggests the development of the primary fifth wave, taking the form of an ending diagonal (1)-(2)-(3)-(4)-(5) of the intermediate degree. Wave ⑤ is the final leg in a large cycle impulse a. Most likely, the market has completed the construction of an intermediate correction (4) in the form of a minor triple zigzag W-X-Y-X-Z. Thus, now the price is moving up, in the intermediate wave (5). It is assumed that wave (5) will take the form of a standard zigzag A-B-C, as shown on the chart, where wave A is a minute impulse. It is possible that the bulls in wave (5) will go to 189.34. At that level, wave (5) will be equal to wave (3). Alternative Scenario An alternative scenario assumes that the cycle wave a is fully completed. Thus, in the last section of the chart, we see a downward corrective movement of the stock price in a cycle wave b, which may take the form of a double zigzag â“Œ-Ⓧ-â“Ž of the primary degree. It seems that the first two primary sub-waves â“Œ-Ⓧ have already been formed. There is a high probability that the bears in the final sub-wave â“Ž, in the form of an intermediate simple zigzag, will be able to bring the market to 118.80. At that level, primary wave â“Ž will be at 100% of wave â“Œ. We will add this pair on our watchlist.
Are There Any Chances That Amazon Will Find Itself Under Another Downward Pressure?

Tech Stocks: (AMZN) Amazon Stock Price Nearing $160?

Jing Ren Jing Ren 06.09.2022 10:10
Could Amazon Stock Price draw a zigzag?  AMZN shares are expected to develop a zigzag, which consists of sub-waves a-b-c of the cycle degree. Perhaps the market has completed the formation of the first major wave a, it represents a bullish 5-wave impulse. Since the end of last year, there has been a decline in the price, which may indicate the beginning of the construction of a bearish correction b. This correction may take the form of a zigzag â’¶-â’·-â’¸. Most likely, in the near future we will see a continuation of the depreciation of stocks in the final intermediate wave (5), which may end the primary impulse wave at 93.41. At that level, wave (5) will be at 76.4% of previous impulse (3). Read next: Russia Suspends Flow Through The Nord Stream 1 Pipeline, Cotton Futures, Gold Prices Increase For The First Time In 3-weeks| FXMAG.COM After the end of the impulse wave â’¶, the stock is expected to rise in the primary correction â’·. Another scenatio for AMZN Let's consider a scenario in which the market has completed the formation of the primary wave â’¶. According to this markup, the wave â’¶ has the form of a leading diagonal (1)-(2)-(3)-(4)-(5). In this case, in the last section of the chart, we see a price increase within the bullish correction â’·. It is assumed that the correction wave â’· will take the form of an intermediate double zigzag (W)-(X)-(Y), where the actionary wave (W) is also a double zigzag W-X-Y of a lesser degree. It is possible that the correction â’· will be at 61.8% of wave â’¶. Thus, its completion is expected to reach the level of 154.91. An approximate scheme of possible future movement is shown on the chart.
Apple's Stock Price Reaction To The Release Of New Products

Apple Stock Price Plunged On Friday! When Is The iPhone 14 Coming Out? iPhone 14 Is Expected To Be Announced Next Week!

FXStreet News FXStreet News 30.08.2022 02:25
AAPL stock falls nearly 4% Friday on global equity sell-off. Jackson Hole hawkish tilt behind sell-off. Apple sends out invites for an event on September 7. Apple (AAPL) stock fell sharply on Friday in line with a global rout in equities. The strongly worded hawkish missive from Fed Chair Powell did the trick and sent equity markets into a risk-off tailspin. Not just equity markets, but all risk assets took a hit as the Nasdaq was the worst performer. Now over the weekend Bitcoin cracked below $20,000. Apple stock news Some conflicting positive and negative news for Apple has appeared over the past few sessions. Susquehanna was quite bullish last week in estimating iPhone 13 production would rise to 100 million from a previous 88 million. Overall Susquehanna looks for about an 8% sales growth versus last year for the iPhone. Meanwhile, Politico reported late last week that the DOJ is in the early stages of making an antitrust complaint against Apple and could bring a lawsuit as early as this year. Finally, September 7 looks like the launch date for the new iPhone 14. Reports claim Apple has sent out media invitations to an event on September 7, which it is widely assumed will be the product launch announcement. Apple stock forecast Equity markets look likely to be in for a tough Autumn after Powell carefully scripted the narrative on Friday. Remember, he had most of the summer to plan out what he wanted to say. So he knew the importance of citing Vockler, and he knew what he wanted to achieve when he used words like "pain" and "below trend growth". The plan was well thought out. He wants equity markets lower to hit demand and so bring inflation down. Whatever Apple does may struggle to overcome such a challenging macro backdrop. Apple does remain above its 200-day moving average but has failed at the trend line and to test previous highs above $179. First, we have a failure, but we need confirmation of a bearish trend now. That will come with a break of the 200-day moving average. Once that is in place, then the target needs to be a break of $129, the June lows. That is needed to maintain food for the bears. September is historically not a great one for Apple, and interestingly neither are product launches much of a catalyst for the share price. Apple stock chart, daily
US and European Equity Futures Mixed Amid Economic Concerns and Yield Surge

Demand For Platinum In the Automotive Sector Is Above 2018 And 2019 Levels

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 06.09.2022 13:27
In the precious metals sector, platinum has struggled to capture the attention of investors. The precious metal managed to hold its critical long-term support at around $800 an ounce. The World Platinum Investment Council drew attention to the growing dichotomy in the market for platinum as a precious metal. According to the WPIC Platinum Quarterly report, the precious metal had a surplus of 349,000 ounces in the second quarter. The report says total surplus may increase to 974,000 ounces for the year, compared to a previous estimate of 627,000 ounces. The council noted that the outflow of funds from exchange-traded funds backed by platinum affected prices. However, despite the growing surplus, the market is still tight. Platinum remains undervalued by investors who only look at supply and demand factors. Investment demand has the most significant impact on demand for platinum, as the market experienced significant outflows in the second quarter. The report also noted that the outflow of ETFs outpaces the drop in supply by 8%. According to the WPIC, 89,000 ounces of platinum leaked from the ETF markets between April and June. The council said that the demand for bullion and coins is mixed, with purchases in North America rising to a new high of 292,000 ounces after quarantine. However, the weak yen in Japan prompted some investors to sell their physical metal. According to analysts, this year, the total demand for bullion and coins will fall by 47,000 ounces, which is 14% less than in 2021. In addition to investment demand, WPIC said that industry demand for platinum remains stable. And in the second quarter, automotive demand for platinum increased 8% to 50,000 ounces. Even with the global recession, demand for platinum in the automotive sector is above 2018 and 2019 levels. Platinum remains an important metal in automotive catalytic converters, which are used to remove harmful emissions from gasoline and diesel engines. Automotive demand makes up a significant portion of the platinum market. WPIC expects total industrial demand to fall 15% to 2.132 million ounces. At the same time, industrial demand continues to outpace global economic growth. Although there will be a significant surplus of platinum this year, demand from China remains a major surprise and a main driver of the market shortfall. WPIC noted that information on platinum imports to China is limited. However, they estimate that China received 1.3 million ounces in the first half of this year. However, this estimate is not included in the official supply and demand forecast. Significant levels of negative demand for ETFs and an outflow of stocks were enough to meet China's demand for imports and keep prices from rising. WPIC was able to test the demand from China: the current surplus will turn into a deficit. While platinum prices have fluctuated for most of 2022, the WPIC said that robust demand is expected to provide some support for the precious metal.     Relevance up to 10:00 2022-09-08 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. The market analysis posted here is meant to increase your awareness, but not to give instructions to make a trade. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/320919
Oil Is An Indicator Of The Health Of The Global Economy

Liz Truss As The New Party Leader. OPEC+ And Production Cut

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 06.09.2022 09:50
Summary:  While the US markets were closed overnight for Labor Day, the futures this morning in Asia are indicating some respite after weeks of red. The US dollar was also softer in early Asian hours, while the focus remains on the European energy crisis and the EU emergency meeting scheduled for Friday. A token cut by OPEC+ and diminishing hope of a revival of the Iran nuclear deal supported oil prices, although China’s tightening restrictions continue to pose demand concerns. Sterling made a sharp recovery after new UK PM Liz Truss announced plans to freeze energy bills, easing some short-term concerns. Consensus expects another 50 basis points rate hike from Reserve Bank of Australia today, and US ISM services will be on the radar later. What is happening in markets? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)  U.S. stock markets were closed for Labor Day. U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) The treasury market was closed for Labor Day. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hang Seng TECH Index (HSTECH.I) plunged 1.9% as a Bloomberg story, citing people familiar with the matter, said that the Biden administration is considering imposing restrictions on US investments in Chinese technology companies, Bilibili (09626:xhkg) -3.2%, JD.COM (09618:xhkg) -3.0%, Tencent (00700:xhkg) -2.9%, Alibaba (09988:xhkg) -2.4%. Hang Seng Index fell 1.2%. Chengdu, the largest city in western China, extended its pandemic control lockdown for another three days. The spread of Covid-19 cases and pandemic control measures fueled risk-off sentiment in the market.  Over the weekend, the U.S. Trade Representative said that it received requests from more than 350 American companies to plead for keeping the “Section 301” tariff on goods imported from China, and the Biden administration will remain in place during the review. BYD (01211:xhkg) fell 5.9%, as exchange filing showed that Berkshire Hathaway continued to off-load its stake in BYD.  Other car makers lost as well, Geely (00175) -7%, NIO -6,9, Li Auto 02.3(August).  Thermal coal prices surged in China, following the news that Russia’s Gazprom suspended the supply of natural gas to Germany on the Nord Stream pipeline.  Share prices of coal miners gained, Yancoal Australia (03668:xhkg) +6.6%, Yankuan (01171:xhkg) +12.2%, China Coal (01898:xhkg) +8.3%.  Caixin China Services PMI came in at 55.0, edging down slightly from 55.5 in July but above market expectations. CSI300 spent the day in range-bound trading.  GBPUSD falls to fresh lows, EUR in focus this week The USD lost some ground early in Asia on Tuesday with GBPUSD making the most gains to rise towards 1.1600 as the appointment of new Prime Minister and her plan to freeze energy bills spelled some short-term relief. EURUSD saw a brief drop to 20-year lows below 0.99 yesterday but rose back to 0.9960+ levels in early Asian trading. EURGBP seen sliding slower to 0.8600 but downside may be limited if ECB decides to go for a 75bps rate hike today. But the energy situation and the EU summit on Friday certainly garners more attention with some tough decision ahead. USDJPY retreated from Friday’s 24-year highs of 140.80 to 140.30-levels with Japan’s household spending underperforming expectations at 3.4% y/y vs. expectations of 4.6% y/y. Wage pressures, which remain a key focus for Bank of Japan, also eased with labor cash earnings up 1.8% y/y from last month’s 2.0% y/y. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil prices rose on Monday as OPEC+ announced an output cut of 100k bpd in October (more details below). The intention appears to be to keep Brent prices capped at $100/barrels. WTI futures rose to $89/barrel while Brent was above $95/barrel. Price action was also supported by a diminishing hope of a revival of the Iran nuclear deal. US and Iranian positions have diverged in recent days, and it is now expected that the negotiations could stretch beyond the US midterm elections in November. Still, it is key to watch the demand concerns picking up as well, particularly as China lockdowns were extended and will likely remain strict ahead of the CCP meeting on October 16. What to consider? OPEC+ announced a production cut by 100k bpd A token cut by OPEC+ last night of 100k barrels per day just reverses the output increase agreed to last month. The decision was ‘symbolic’, with the new quotas taking effect for October. The amount is significantly small compared to a 100 million bpd market but it shows that OPEC+ wants to set a floor near $100/barrel in Brent. Saudi Arabian oil minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman had warned last week that a cut was a possibility given what he said was a disconnect between financial and physical oil markets. The RBA meets today, and is expected to raise rates to 2.35% regardless of the property market struggling Consensus expects the RBA to hike rates by 0.5% which will take Australia’s official interest rate to 2.35%. That will be the highest rate since 2015. However, interest rates futures are pricing in a smaller hike, of just 0.4%. The RBA will likely then proceed to rise rates over the rest of 2022 and then continue to rise rates into the 2023, in a bid to stave off inflation. The issue is, the RBA only has one tool to fight inflation, which is rising rates. But the property market is already struggling to absorb the 1.75% in hikes from May, with property prices falling at their quickest pace since the 80s and construction seeing its biggest decline since 2016. This has seen banks margins (profits) be squeezed, and they face a further squeeze. Why? Australia has one of the highest debt levels in the world (Debt to GPD is 126%). So if the RBA keeps rising rates to slow inflation, it could cause a credit issue and debt to income levels are at risk of hitting GFC highs. RBA outcomes for investors, traders and the macro landscape We highlighted sectors to watch and why yesterday in the Saxo Spotlight. That's worth a quick read. Today, we will be watching what the RBA estimates inflation to be, at the end of the year, remembering the RBA previously said it expects inflation to peak at under 8%. But consider, we traditionally see peak energy (coal) demand later this year, which is likely to support coal prices higher. As such, we think the RBA will rise its inflation target and may allude to commentary about keeping rates higher. For investors and traders, we will be watching energy stocks, which will likely get extra bids today and see momentum rise (not only because of the energy crisis in Europe), but also because Australian energy prices (coal) remains supported, with Australian energy reserves expected to also run out next year. For traders, the currency pair that we are watching is the AUDEUR for an extension to the upside, on the basis that Europe will need to increase energy imports and its balance of trade will likely continue to worsen, vs the Australian balance of trade, likely to hit another record high, with Australian LNG and coal exports to see a lift in demand.    PBOC cuts FX deposit reserve requirement ratio by 200 bps to restrain yuan weakness The PBoC announced that the central bank is cutting the reserve requirement ratio for foreign exchange deposits (the “FX RRR”) to 6% from 8%, effective September 15.  The cut is expected to release about USD19 billion (2% of the USD954 billion FX deposits outstanding) in FX liquidity for banks to make loans in foreign currencies.   The PBoC last cut the FX RRR to 8% from 9% on May 15, in an attempt to send a signal to the market to put a pause to the depreciation of the USDCNY which had weakened from 6.40 to 6.80 in one month (April 15 to May 13, 2022).  After the surge of the USDCNY from 6.75 to above 6.90 in about half a month since Aug 15, the PBoC apparently wants to send a signal again to the market to slow the speed of the renminbi depreciation against the U.S. dollar. Liz Truss won the contest to become the next UK Prime Minister In the UK, the Conservative party has voted for Liz Truss as the new party leader, making her the UK’s next Prime Minister. Her promises range from quick action on energy security to alleviating the cost-of-living crisis for the hardest hit by price rises, all while cutting corporate and other taxes. She has announced a GBP 130bn plan to freeze energy bills, a recipe for ballooning fiscal deficits, an issue that is already an ingredient in sterling’s steep fall this year, so an even steeper recession is in the wings. This could come either from a drop in real GDP due to soaring inflation aggravated by further sterling declines or as demand is crushed by a steep recession due to the need for the Bank of England to accelerate its pace of rate hikes or more likely a combination of the two. Longer term, investments in fracking shale gas and new North Sea exploration could pay dividends. Russia makes a clear case of weaponizing gas supplies While the Kremlin had earlier said that they were halting gas supplies on Nord Stream 1 for a technical fault, it has now clearly said that gas supplies to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline will not resume in full until the “collective west” lifts sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Russia is still supplying gas to Europe via Soviet-era pipelines through Ukraine that have remained open despite the invasion, as well as the South Stream pipeline via Turkey. But supplies along the northern pipeline routes, including Nord Stream 1 and the pipelines through Ukraine, have fallen by more than 90% since September last year. Higher supplies from Norway, the UK, north Africa and increased imports of LNG have helped to an extent offset the loss of Russian supplies. Energy summit in EU on Friday EU leaders will meet this Friday to discuss a cap on energy prices across EU countries to limit the disruptions from soaring and illiquid pricing markets, although given limits on generation capacity, much of them due to Russia’s cutting off of gas supplies - possibly semi-permanently in the case of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline – some sort of rationing plan may be required. See our colleague Christopher Dembik’s piece on at the difficult choices Europe faces on this issue here. US ISM services PMI due today With the services sector of the US economy slowing, there are expectations of a slight retreat in August US ISM services, but it should still remain above the 50-mark which differentiates between expansion and contraction. The S&P services PMI for August had also shown a slight decline to 44.1, with the payroll data hinting at still-strong labor market conditions in the services economy.   For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/apac-daily-digest-6-sept-2022-06092022
Stock Market: Could Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC) Stock Price Plunge To $10?

Stock Market: Could Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC) Stock Price Plunge To $10?

FXStreet News FXStreet News 06.09.2022 15:52
Merger between DWAC and Trump Media & Technology Group on the rocks. 1-year extension of merger requires 65% affirmation vote from shareholders. DWAC still under investigation by the SEC. You heard it hear first, folks. Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC) shares might soon trade more than 50% lower at $10. That is because $10 was the initial price that shares traded at before DWAC announced its merger with the Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG). The whole reason DWAC has traded much higher than $10 over the past year is that it was slated to merge with TMTG, the owner of Donald Trump's TRUTH Social app, a sort of social media substitute for the MAGA world. That deal looks to be in limbo however. Reuters is reporting that the largely retail base of investors in DWAC have not voted on their proxy statements to extend the merger agreement by one year. The extension is necessary as the Securities & Exchange Commission is continuing to review the merger and is looking into whether the merger was agreed to prior to DWAC's formation. If so, executives at DWAC would be in serious legal jeopardy. DWAC shares are down more than 21% in Tuesday's premarkat at $19.25. DWAC needs 65% of shareholders to approve the merger extension, but a Reuters source told the news outlet that as of Monday night they were no where close to that figure. Digital World officials are scheduled to announce the vote results on September 6. DWAC stock forecast If the extension fails to get approval, then the chart below serves little point. DWAC is trading at $19.25 in the premarket, well below the low from June 30 at $22. A list minute extension approval would however mean that shares would at least spike to resistance at $32 to $33. DWAC daily chart
The Commodities Feed: China's 2023 growth target underwhelms markets

Rate Hike Didn't Turn AUD Upside Down. S&P 500 (SPX) Decreased By 0.41%, Nasdaq Lost 0.74%.

ING Economics ING Economics 07.09.2022 08:28
Surging bond yields won't help risk sentiment Source: shutterstock Macro outlook Global: US equities returned from their holiday yesterday, but the mood remained gloomy, with the S&P500 dropping 0.41% and the NASDAQ falling 0.74%. The session wasn’t particularly brutal. Both indices just fell at the open and stayed low. Equity futures remain in the red today, so the slow bleed in equities looks like it will continue today. However, given the sharp pick up in 2Y US Treasury yields (+11.6bp), it is a bit surprising that equities didn’t fall even more. 10Y yields also added 16bp, taking them to 3.349%. There is probably still some more upside here, but after these moves, we may see a bit of consolidation. Bond futures aren’t suggesting much direction currently. The EUR continues to lose ground to the USD, and EURUSD is now 0.9894. The AUD also took no comfort from yesterday’s 50bp rate hike from the Reserve Bank of Australia and has slid to 0.6729. At 1.1508, Cable is also well down and we are probably looking at a 1.14 handle before long. The JPY has also continued its ascent, rising to 143.24. It’s not clear what or how this dollar rampage will be ended. The USD is looking a bit overbought right now, so like bonds, we may see a pause in the carnage before too long. The CNY led the other Asia Pacific currencies in retreat yesterday, moving to 6.9545. G-7 Macro: European labour market and revised 2Q22 GDP figures are on today’s calendar, together with German July industrial production (-0.6%MoM fall expected). These are followed later by the US Trade numbers for July which are expected to show the trade deficit narrowing to USD70.2bn. Markets may withhold some of their firepower for tomorrow's ECB meeting.  Australia: At 0930 SGT, Australia releases its 2Q22 GDP numbers. We are looking for a slightly stronger than consensus 1.0%QoQ figure (consensus is 0.9%QoQ). Yesterday’s net export contribution and last week’s capex figures both indicate some upside to the consensus forecast. The GDP numbers won’t directly affect the RBA’s rate-setting thinking, but they will highlight the scale of the job that needs to be done to get inflation back down to target. China: China will release trade data today. We expect export growth to exceed import growth, leading to a trade balance of nearly USD100bn in August. Our expectation of almost no growth in imports reflects the weakness of the domestic economy, though the big trade balance could help support GDP growth slightly. Taiwan: Taiwan will also release trade data today. We should see a similar picture to that in Mainland China with exports growing faster than imports. The key detail to watch is semiconductor-related exports and imports. This is especially important for imports, which will provide a hint about the growth prospects of semiconductor exports that are so important for Taiwan’s economy. Korea: The current account balance recorded a surplus of USD 1.1bn in July but the goods trade account turned to a deficit of USD -1.2 bn, the first time it has done so since April 2012. This is mostly due to higher energy prices, but also, export growth slowed due to weak IT demand and weak exports to China.  In the financial account, domestic stock equity investments by foreigners declined for the sixth straight month, while bond investment continued its increase from January 2020. Japan: USDJPY slid to 143 for the first time since 1998. Rate differential widening is the main reason for this depreciation. The recent better-than-expected US data probably also pushed the yen weaker. USDJPY may show some correction this morning, but the trend direction is not likely to change any time soon. We expect there will be more verbal intervention but this is unlikely to be effective at this point. Japan’s last intervention to curb depreciation was in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis. Despite the yen’s rapid depreciation, we still don’t believe it will trigger a policy shift by the Bank of Japan. What to look out for: China trade data and ECB meeting Australia GDP (7 September) China trade (7 September) Taiwan trade (7 September) US trade balance (7 September) Japan GDP (8 September) Australia trade balance (8 September) ECB policy meeting (8 September) US initial jobless claims (8 September) Philippines trade (9 September) China CPI inflation (9 September) US wholesale trade (9 September) Read this article on THINK TagsEmerging Markets Asia Pacific Asia Markets Asia Economics Disclaimer This publication has been prepared by ING solely for information purposes irrespective of a particular user's means, financial situation or investment objectives. The information does not constitute investment recommendation, and nor is it investment, legal or tax advice or an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any financial instrument. Read more
Brent hits one-month high! Saudi and Russian cuts supporting recent moves

On The New York Stock Exchange, The Number Of Securities Fell In Price

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 07.09.2022 08:33
At the close on the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones fell 0.55% to a one-month low, the S&P 500 fell 0.41%, and the NASDAQ Composite fell 0.74%. The leading performer among the components of the Dow Jones index today was Visa Inc Class A, which gained 0.88 points (0.45%) to close at 198.64. Boeing Co rose 0.57 points (0.38%) to close at 152.39. Johnson & Johnson rose 0.44 points or 0.27% to close at 163.18. The losers were 3M Company, which shed 5.05 points or 4.15% to end the session at 116.60. Intel Corporation was up 2.75% or 0.86 points to close at 30.36, while Goldman Sachs Group Inc was down 1.51% or 4.99 points to close at 326. .49. Leading gainers among the S&P 500 index components in today's trading were Rollins Inc, which rose 6.05% to 35.78, Enphase Energy Inc, which gained 4.93% to close at 292.82, and SolarEdge Technologies Inc, which rose 4.22% to end the session at 278.38. The biggest losers were Moderna Inc, which shed 6.13% to close at 130.08. Shares of Church & Dwight Company Inc shed 4.69% to end the session at 80.23. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Inc, which rose 91.28% to hit 28.50, IVERIC bio Inc, which gained 66.31% to close at 15.70, and also shares of HyreCar Inc, which rose 58.12% to end the session at 1.27. Shares of Creatd Inc were the biggest losers, losing 48.11% to close at 0.19. Shares of Addentax Group Corp lost 39.52% and ended the session at 5.80. Quotes of Rigetti Computing Inc decreased in price by 37.09% to 2.29. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that fell in price (2121) exceeded the number of those that closed in positive territory (1009), while quotes of 117 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 2,468 companies fell in price, 1,299 rose, and 194 remained at the level of the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, rose 3.54% to 26.91, hitting a new monthly high. Gold futures for December delivery lost 0.62%, or 10.75, to hit $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI October futures fell 0.14%, or 0.12, to $86.75 a barrel. Brent oil futures for November delivery fell 3.19%, or 3.05, to $92.69 a barrel. Meanwhile, in the Forex market, the EUR/USD pair remained unchanged 0.24% to 0.99, while USD/JPY edged up 1.58% to hit 142.80. Futures on the USD index rose 0.66% to 110.24. Relevance up to 05:00 2022-09-08 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/291695
USD/JPY Weekly Review: Strong Dollar and Yen's Resilience in G10 Currencies

The US Stock Market Has Been Bearish For Three Weeks Now

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 07.09.2022 09:24
The main US stock indices – DOW Jones, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 – closed lower on Tuesday. Overall, the US stock market has been bearish for three weeks now, in line with our expectations. The upward correction of stock indices a month ago raised a lot of questions. The current movement, however, makes sense. The Fed will remain hawkish and will be hiking rates for a longer period of time than expected previously. It remains to be seen whether inflation slows down further. Under the QT program, almost $100 billion will be withdrawn from the US economy every month. Naturally, in light of all these factors, demand for risk assets decreases but increases for safe havens. That is why bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies cannot show any growth. In our view, the latest macro reports were quite strong. Thus, the ISM Services PMI and NonFarm Payrolls exceeded market forecasts. Meanwhile, unemployment somewhat increased, but the overall situation remains quite stable to sound the alarm. Although a recession in the United States seems inevitable, the state of the economy is not as bad as it might seem. Anyway, positive macro results are not enough to keep the stock market from falling. We see the main US indices hitting yearly lows by the end of 2022. What happens afterward will depend solely on the FOMC's rhetoric. US inflation for August is due on September 14. In case of a significant slowdown, monetary pressure on the economy could be eased. The Fed does not want the economy to slide into a recession but its main priority now is fighting inflation. If recession risks could be minimized, the regulator would not miss a chance to do that. If inflation keeps going down, there will be no need for 0.75% rate hikes as well as for more aggressive actions. For the stock market, inflation results for August mean almost nothing because the Fed still remains hawkish. We suggest that the bear market will stop when the regulator starts to hint at the end of the rate hike cycle, that is as early as December 2022. As for the tightening cycle itself, it may end in the first six months of next year. In other words, indices still have plenty of time to fall.       Relevance up to 06:00 2022-09-08 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. The market analysis posted here is meant to increase your awareness, but not to give instructions to make a trade. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/321003
Brent hits one-month high! Saudi and Russian cuts supporting recent moves

The Number Of Securities That Rose In Price On New York Market

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 08.09.2022 08:22
At the close in the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones rose 1.40%, the S&P 500 index rose 1.83%, the NASDAQ Composite index rose 2.14%. The leading performer among the components of the Dow Jones index today was 3M Company, which gained 3.95 points or 3.39% to close at 120.55. Nike Inc rose 3.33 points or 3.17% to close at 108.48. Home Depot Inc rose 2.74% or 7.93 points to close at 297.47. The biggest losers were Chevron Corp, which shed 2.01 points or 1.28% to end the session at 155.11. Verizon Communications Inc was up 0.02 points (0.05%) to close at 41.08, while Caterpillar Inc was up 0.20 points (0.11%) to close at 180. 86. Leading gainers among the S&P 500 index components in today's trading were SolarEdge Technologies Inc, which rose 11.85% to 311.36, Enphase Energy Inc, which gained 8.02% to close at 316.31, and also shares of DexCom Inc, which rose 7.73% to end the session at 88.37. The biggest losers were APA Corporation, which shed 3.04% to close at 36.67. Shares of Old Dominion Freight Line Inc shed 2.95% to end the session at 263.98. Quotes of Halliburton Company decreased in price by 2.85% to 28.68. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were Imara Inc, which rose 71.79% to hit 2.01, Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Inc, which gained 27.72% to close at 36.40, and shares of Spero Therapeutics Inc, which rose 26.55% to end the session at 1.43. The biggest losers were Cleantech Acquisition Corp, which shed 28.36% to close at 6.77. Shares of Newage Inc lost 25.20% and ended the session at 0.09. First Wave BioPharma Inc (NASDAQ:FWBI) was down 23.22% to 3.24. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that rose in price (2,400) exceeded the number of those that closed in the red (723), while quotes of 131 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 2715 companies rose in price, 1027 fell, and 217 remained at the level of the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, fell 8.44% to 24.64. Gold futures for December delivery added 0.92%, or 15.70, to $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI October futures fell 5.96%, or 5.18, to $81.70 a barrel. Brent oil futures for November delivery fell 5.70%, or 5.29, to $87.54 a barrel. Meanwhile, on the Forex market, EUR/USD rose 1.08% to hit 1.00, while USD/JPY edged up 0.72% to hit 143.82. Futures on the USD index fell 0.62% to 109.52.   Relevance up to 05:00 2022-09-09 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/291873
USD Stable as Oil Prices Rebound Ahead of US CPI Report Release

Bearish Is Dominating Market Sentiment Among Individual Investors

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 08.09.2022 13:29
Summary:  Going back to 1987 individual investors have only been this bearish in less than 2% of the time. Extreme pessimism is often a good starting point for being contrarian and betting on a rebound. In today's equity note we test whether history has shown that it is a good idea to bet on being long equities when bearishness is dominating market sentiment among individual investors. Extreme pessimism is often fuel for a good rebound The American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) asks their members every about their sentiment using the question ”I fell that the direction of the stock market over the next 6 months will be”. From these answers AAII compute the percentage of their members that answered this question in terms of bullish, neutral, or bearish. The spread between the percentages being bullish vs bearish declined today to -35.2% which is an extremely negative reading only observed in less than 2% of the time. The question is whether this statistics have any information value for traders and investors. While the question is examining expectation over a 6-month horizon, it is more interesting to observe whether it has any predictive power over a shorter time horizon. First we identify all the weeks when the bull-bear spread has been lower than -30, which is 37 times since 1987. Three of these observations have been within the last 12 weeks. In our analysis we then calculate the forward 1, 4, 8, and 12-week return going long the S&P 500 Index if the spread is below -30. The table below shows the excess return over S&P 500 on such a strategy which is done by subtracting the average S&P 500 return since 1987 for these different time horizons. If a signal has any informational value then it should be able to beat the passive returns by just being invested in US equities. The average excess return in percentage is -0.11% for the 1-week holding period but then jumps to 1.33% for the 4-week horizon and 1.29% and 1.49% for the 8-week and 12-week holding period respectively. This looks good at first sight, but the average always comes with variance and if we apply a standard t-test on the samples of each holding period scenario then we see that the probability of these different samples being statistically significant from zero excess return is not very high. The best test statistic is for the 4-week holding period at t = 1.28 which correspond to a p-value of 0.21, which is not statistically significant under normal circumstances. In a low signal-to-noise process such as the equity market the question is whether the odds are good enough to bet on. The confidence interval is -0.79% to 3.46% after all, so we let each trader decide for himself whether the odds are stacked in favour of a rebound. One should note that many of the most bearish readings are clustered in time which means that the 34 observations that we are calculating our statistics on are not truly independent and thus the statistical significance is weaker than the numbers displayed below suggest. Outside the world of statistics, yesterday’s price action felt technical across both bond and equities as there was no real news driving the move. It seems the market might be positioning itself differently ahead of the important US CPI print on Tuesday where a lower than estimated inflation figure could ignite a short-term rally equities. These considerations are worth melting into the decision process of whether this is a good time to go long again.     Source: Do the odds favour a rebound in equities | Saxo Group (home.saxo)
Apple's Stock Price Reaction To The Release Of New Products

Apple's Stock Price Reaction To The Release Of New Products

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 08.09.2022 16:02
On Wednesday, September 7, Apple's long-awaited event took place, at which new versions of the Cupertino company's products were presented. How did the company's US-listed shares react to the event? Apple Inc. unveiled the new iPhone 14, which has so-called safety features as standard. These include the ability to detect collisions and emergency SOS sending via satellite - a feature that allows users to send text messages in an emergency without access to cellular services. In addition, on Wednesday was the launch of the new AirPods Pro and Apple Watches. Apple's share price gained 1 percent on Wednesday, closing at $155.96. Better than the company itself, however, seemed to be the suppliers of components for the new products. Shares of Skyworks and Texas Instruments rose 1.7 percent, followed by Qualcomm, up 1.5 percent, and Qorvo, up 1.4 percent at the close of yesterday's session. Source: Conotoxia MT5, Apple CFD, D1 Apple stock price in recent times Apple's share price, after peaking in January 2022 in the area of $182, has retreated to the vicinity of $130 in early June. Currently, the share price seems to be in the middle of its annual fluctuation range, at $155. This gives the company a capitalization of $2.5 trillion, making it the largest in the world. In turn, the price-to-earnings ratio for Apple is 25, making it one of the largest in the last decade. In December 2020, this popular valuation ratio reached 35.40, while Apple's revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 was $82.959 billion, up 1.87 percent from a year earlier. And Apple's revenue for the twelve months ended June 30, 2022 was $387.542 billion, up 11.63 percent from a year earlier. What is the outlook for Apple's stock price? According to the MarketScreener portal collecting recommendations from Wall Street analysts, the company has 26 buy recommendations, eight hold recommendations and zero sell recommendations. Institutions pointing to buy Apple shares include Credit Suisse with a target price of $201 and JP Morgan with a target price of $200. The average target price is $181.50, while the so-called Street High, or highest recommendation on Wall Street, is $220, and the Street Low is $130, according to Market Screener data. Source: Conotoxia MT5, MarketScreener - lowest, average and highest target price for Apple shares.   Daniel Kostecki, Director of the Polish branch of Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
Brent hits one-month high! Saudi and Russian cuts supporting recent moves

Increases On The Close Of The New York Stock Exchange

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 09.09.2022 08:41
  At the close of the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones rose 0.61%, the S&P 500 rose 0.66% and the NASDAQ Composite rose 0.60%. Salesforce.com Inc was the leading gainer among the components of the Dow Jones index today, up 3.62 points or 2.36% to close at 156.90. JPMorgan Chase & Co rose 2.70 points or 2.33% to close at 118.60. Goldman Sachs Group Inc rose 4.82 points or 1.46% to close at 335.38. The losers were 3M Company shares, which lost 1.28 points or 1.06% to end the session at 119.27. Apple Inc was up 1.51 points (0.97%) to close at 154.45, while Honeywell International Inc was down 1.27 points (0.67%) to close at 187. 82. Leading gainers among the S&P 500 index components in today's trading were Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, which rose 18.85% to 708.85, Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc, which gained 7.89% to close at 30 .62, as well as shares of Invesco Plc, which rose 4.77% to close the session at 17.36. The biggest losers were McCormick & Company Incorporated, which shed 6.71% to close at 79.30. Shares of Kraft Heinz Co lost 3.38% to end the session at 36.06. Quotes Campbell Soup Company fell in price by 2.98% to 47.84. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were ShiftPixy Inc, which rose 176.54% to 31.00, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals Inc, which gained 51.01% to close at 27.03, and shares of Rubius Therapeutics Inc, which rose 48.58% to close the session at 1.29. The drop leaders were Troika Media Group Inc, which shed 26.83% to close at 0.48. Shares of Ensysce Biosciences Inc shed 17.71% to end the session at 0.33. Quotes of Biophytis fell in price by 17.67% to 0.91. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that rose in price (1,743) exceeded the number of those that closed in the red (1,342), and quotes of 154 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 2274 companies rose in price, 1485 fell, and 268 remained at the level of the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, fell 4.18% to 23.61. Gold Futures for December delivery lost 0.47%, or 8.20, to hit $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI October futures rose 0.99%, or 0.81, to $82.75 a barrel. Brent oil futures for November delivery rose 0.59%, or 0.52, to $88.52 a barrel. Meanwhile, in the Forex market, the EUR/USD pair remained unchanged, 0.01% to 1.00, while USD/JPY was up 0.25% to hit 144.05. Futures on the USD index fell 0.17% to 109.65. Relevance up to 05:00 2022-09-10 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/292080
At The Close On The New York Stock Exchange Indices Closed Mixed

Positive Expectations For Adobe, The Equity Market Is Positioning For A Better

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 09.09.2022 11:20
Summary:  Sentiment had gotten too bearish and equities are now pushing potentially forcing short positions to be covered. The recent sessions seem to driven by technical flows as there has been little new information on the macroeconomy. It seems that the market is positioning itself for a positive surprise in the US August inflation report on Tuesday. The earnings calendar is quite light next week with the key earnings focus being Adobe that is a bellwether in the US technology sector. The software maker is expected to post strong results but a stronger USD and weaker advertising market may cloud the outlook for Adobe. Equities continue to rebound ahead of important CPI print As we indicated yesterday in our equity note without having anything statistical significant to show, the odds were leaning in favour of a rebound in equities as sentiment was historically bad and usually followed by gains. S&P 500 futures closed above the 4,000 level yesterday and are pushing today above the 50-day moving average trading around the 4,039 level. The next big resistance level to watch is the 4,072 level which was the highest exhaustion point in the recent cycle. The past couple of sessions’ price action seems to be driven by technical flows on top of a weaker USD, and maybe the moves are a sign of the equity market positioning itself for a better than expected US August inflation report on Tuesday which is really the key event that will shape expectations in equities in the weeks to come. Can Adobe rise above the dark clouds? The earnings calendar is light these weeks as the market is waiting for Q3 earnings releases to roll in a month from now. Next week earnings calendar of important earnings is listed below with our focus on Adobe. The software maker has surprised negatively in the past four earnings releases due weaker than estimated outlook causing its share price to tumble 44% from its highs. In the past couple of months the share price has stabilised as expectations are no longer deteriorating. Analysts expect Adobe to report revenue growth of 12.6% y/y and expanding operating margin as recent cost cutting is beginning to improve profitability. Adobe is part of the high quality pocket in the equity market with a high market share and double digit organic growth rates expected over the coming years. Key risks to consider for Adobe are the strong USD, corporate spending slowdown on digitalization, and generally weakness in the global advertising industry. Monday: Oracle Tuesday: DiDi Global Wednesday: Inditex Thursday: Polestar Automotive, Adobe   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/equity-rebound-us-cpi-report-and-adobe-earnings-09092022
Rising Tensions in Japan Amid Currency Market Concerns and BOJ Insights

European Stock Indices End Up Week With Increases

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 10.09.2022 12:18
On Friday, key European stock indices rose dramatically. The positive previous closing of trading on the US stock market became the major catalyst for growth in European stocks. At the same time, strong performance of Asian stocks also had a beneficial effect. Moreover, stock market participants continue to discuss the outcome of the European Central Bank's September meeting on monetary policy.   By the time of writing, the STOXX Europe 600 index of Europe's leading companies increased by 1.41% to 419.92 points. Meanwhile, the shares of German energy company Uniper SE (+10.5%) were top gainers among STOXX Europe 600 components. Meanwhile, the French CAC 40 gained 0.69%, the German DAX added 0.89%, and the British FTSE 100 rose by 0.98%. The day before, Buckingham Palace announced the death of British Queen Elizabeth II. Despite this news, the London Stock Exchange operated as normal today. Top gainers and losers The shares of British fire protection company London Security PLC fell by 4.8%. In the first half of fiscal 2022, the company cut pretax profits due to the permanent rise in costs amid inflationary pressures. The stocks of UK retailer ASOS PLC rose by 1.6%. The company predicted revenue and profit in the current fiscal year at the level of market expectations. At the same time, ASOS PLC's sales in August were weaker than analysts expected. Market sentiment European investors on Friday focused on the results of the European Central Bank's September meeting. On Thursday, the regulator increased the benchmark lending rate to 1.25% per annum, the deposit rate to 0.75% and the rate on margin loans to 1.5%. At the same time the discount rate was raised by 0.75 percentage points for the first time in history. In addition, representatives of the Central Bank noted that the regulator intends to continue raising the rate at the upcoming meetings. Thus, the chairman of the European Bank Christine Lagarde said that further pace of interest rate increases will depend on statistical data. During the September meeting, the ECB also raised the forecast of consumer prices in 2022 to 8.1%, in 2023 to 5.5% and in 2024 to 2.3%. At the June meeting of the regulator's representatives, the preliminary figures were 6.8%, 3.5% and 2.1%, respectively. According to the new forecast of the European Central Bank, gross domestic product growth in the eurozone this year will be 3.1% against the previously predicted 2.8%. At the same time, GDP forecasts for next year were worsened to 0.9% from 2.1%, and for 2024 to 1.9% from 2.3%. Meanwhile, an important downward factor for the stock market in Europe is still the global energy crisis with its consequences for the economy of the region. Since the beginning of this week, gas prices have been under pressure due to disruptions in supply chains from Russia to Europe. The end of August saw the world gas prices soar above USD 3,500 per 1,000 cu.m., setting new historical records. The reason for such a dramatic price jump was Gazprom's announcement that Nord Stream, one of the main gas pipelines to Europe, would shut down for three days to perform maintenance. However, Nord Stream did not come out of the scheduled maintenance. Meanwhile, Russia canceled the deadline for resuming gas supply through the pipeline. Gazprom attributed this state of affairs to malfunctions on the Trent 60 gas compressor unit due to an oil leak. The Nord Stream pipeline has been operating at less than 20 percent of its capacity of late, and the recent suspension has raised fears about Europe's energy supply in the run-up to winter. Experts believe that permanently rising energy prices will further increase inflation in the eurozone, which is already rapidly approaching double digits. On Friday morning it was reported that industrial production in France fell in July for the first time since April. This means that the country's leading companies have cut production amid falling demand and high price pressures. Thus, the decrease in July was 1.6% in monthly terms against an increase of 1.2% in June. At that, analysts forecasted the reduction of industrial production only by 0.5%. Previous trading results Last Thursday, European stock market indicators closed in the green zone. Stock market participants were anxiously awaiting the publication of the results of the September European Central Bank meeting on monetary policy. The positive closing of the Wednesday trading on the US stock market proved to be an additional catalyst for the European indices growth yesterday. As a result, the composite indicator of Europe's leading companies STOXX Europe 600 rose 0.5% to 414.09 points. Meanwhile, France's CAC 40 gained 0.33%, Germany's DAX declined a symbolic 0.09% and Britain's FTSE 100 gained 0.33%. Genus Plc, a British animal genetic breeding company, soared more than 13 percent on revenue growth in its fiscal year. French IT company Atos SE is down nearly 15%. The market capitalization of Darktrace, a British cybersecurity systems developer, plummeted 31%. On Thursday, the company reported a return to pre-tax profits for the current fiscal year and nearly doubled its revenue. At the same time, Darktrace management also confirmed the end of talks with U.S. investment firm Thoma Bravo about the possible sale of Darktrace. The share price of Melrose Industries PLC, a British supplier of jet engines and auto parts, fell 2.3%. The day before, the engineering company reported an increase in pre-tax losses in the last fiscal half-year to 358 million pounds from 275 million pounds, noted a year earlier. In addition, earlier the international business newspaper Financial Times reported that Melrose Industries PLC plans to spin off its GKN car division into a new company registered in Britain. The value of securities of the British chain of restaurants and pubs Restaurant Group PLC increased by 2.1%. In January-June, Restaurant Group tangibly reduced its pretax loss due to strong revenue growth. UK food processor and retailer Associated British Foods PLC is down 7.6%. The retailer projected a 40% increase in sales for the fiscal year ending Sept. 17. At the same time, the company warned of a possible decline in adjusted profits next fiscal year amid rising energy prices and a stronger US dollar. The market capitalization of Finnish paper product manufacturer Stora Enso went up 2.8% on news about its purchase of Dutch carton manufacturer De Jong Packaging Group. The deal is valued at 1.02 billion euros. The share price of French retailer Carrefour rose by 2%. The stock price of French financial conglomerate Societe Generale rose by 2.6%. Quotes of the Dutch manufacturer of medical equipment Koninklijke Philips NV declined by 0.2%. Earlier, the French media reported that the Paris prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the recall of respiratory devices by the Dutch company. An important upward factor for the European stock indexes on Thursday was the strong positive dynamics of Wall Street the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed Wednesday's trading session with a 1.4% increase, breaking a seven-day sequence of permanent declines.     Relevance up to 20:00 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/321326
📈 Tech Giants Soar, 💵 Dollar Plummets! Disney-Charter Truce, Wall Street's AI Warning!

Fed May Hike The Rate By 75bp, Oracle (ORCL) And Adobe (ADBE) To Release Their Earnings Shortly

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 12.09.2022 16:08
Summary:  Fed officials gathered around Chair Powell to sing a consistently hawkish chorus and prepared the market for a 75bp rate hike on September 21. This week’s CPI report will be the last key data point before the Fed meets and the bar for convincing the policymakers to deliver a smaller than 75bp hike is high. The U.S. dollar’s uptrend will probably remain intact. Across the pond in the U.K., there is a host of data scheduled to release ahead of the Bank of England making its rate decision. China’s August industrial production and retail sales, and year-to-date fixed asset investment would potentially surprise the downside and point to the continued weakness of the economy. US CPI print will point to higher and stickier price pressures With the labor market remaining strong in the U.S. over the last few months, the focus has remained on the inflation data to predict the path of the Fed’s rate hikes. Clearly, all of the Fed’s members have had a unified hawkish stance since the Jackson Hole conference, and many have clearly hinted at a 75bps rate hike for September. Tuesday’s US CPI report is the one to watch, as it can move the market pricing of the Fed’s rate path and is the last key data point scheduled to release ahead of the September 21 Fed meeting. After some softening in July, it can be expected that the headline print may ease further in August as well given the decline in gasoline prices. Still, the inflation print is likely to stay elevated due to the stickier shelter and services costs, as well as still-high energy and food prices. Consensus estimates point to a mild decline of 0.1% MoM while the core remains strong at 0.3% MoM. A host of UK economic data is due, but the central bank decision shifted to September 22 We get a snapshot of the state of the UK economy this week. UK inflation has already touched double digits last month with a 10.1% YoY print. Price pressures are likely to remain elevated this month as well, despite some softening in fuel prices, as food and services costs continue to rise. Further gains in inflation can be expected in October, but the capping of household energy bills may help to soothe inflationary pressures thereafter. Labor market data for three months to July is also due, and unemployment rate and wage data will be on the watch. Retail sales for August, due on Friday, will continue to show the impact of the cost-of-living crisis that has been seen in the UK due to the rising energy bills. UK consumer confidence is at record lows, and this will likely show up in the retail sales print this week. Bloomberg consensus estimates point to a 0.5% MoM deceleration in retail sales (including auto fuel). However, the pain on the economy from energy costs will likely ease towards the end of the year due to the government support, but that suggests further tightening in monetary policy may be on the cards. The Bank of England decision is now due on September 22, which would give the central bank time to assess the fiscal measures as well as the Fed’s rate hike path. Slower export growth, power shortage, and pandemic controls would probably have taken their toll on China’s August activity data China’s activity data for August, scheduled to release on Friday, would probably be at risk of missing the median forecasts in the Bloomberg survey, which has industrial production at 3.8% YoY in August (vs 3.8% YoY in July), retail sales at 3.2% YoY in August (vs 2.7% YoY in July), and fixed asset investment year-to-date 5.5% YoY (vs 5.7% YoY). The heatwave-induced power shortage caused disruption to production in Sichuan and delays in infrastructure construction. The pandemic control measures affected the manufacturing and export hub of the city of Yiwu in Zhejiang province in August. The much weaker than expected export growth data for August released last week and the continuously weak data in the property market also pointed to potentially downside surprises to these forecasts.  Japan producer prices to remain high Japan’s August producer prices for August are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, and gains are likely to extend further as oil and commodity prices remained elevated and the Japanese yen weakened further. Bloomberg consensus expectations are for producer prices to reach 8.9% YoY in August from 8.6% YoY previously. While a high base from last year may justify some cooling in input prices into the end of the year, demand pressures are picking up as well as the latest wave of Covid in Japan seems to get under control, and higher global prices and weaker currency continue to underpin further price pressures. Can the USD momentum extend further? We saw the USD cool-off slightly last week following the uptick in the hawkish rhetoric from other global central banks. The European Central Bank went ahead with a 75bps rate hike, while also guiding for more jumbo rate hikes to come. The Japanese authorities also got more stern with their warnings against the fall of the yen, but there were no signs of the accommodative policy being tweaked. The recovery in the yen and the euro helped to cool off the recent gains in the greenback, as dis some positioning ahead of the US CPI release for this week. However, Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Lowe hinted that the pace of rate hikes may slow. The Fed will likely stay more aggressive than other global central banks, given the ammunition provided by the resilience of the US economy. Only a big miss in US CPI could move the needle on Fed rate hike expectations for now, and consequently on the US dollar. But for the most part, there are reasons to believe that the USD gains are likely to continue for now. What Australia’s central bank will be watching this week. And if the data is stronger than expected, you could see the AUDUSD extend its short term run up We’ve seen the RBA’s tone shift back to dovish of late, despite the RBA expecting inflation to peak later this year. And for the RBA to stay dovish, they’ll need to see falling inflation and falling employment. With that said, the next data set the RBA will be watching/assessing, ahead of their next interest rate decision (October 4), will be this unemployment data release for August on Thursday. Australia’s unemployment is at 50-year low, 3.4%. That’s where the rate is expected to remain for August. However, the other key data to watch is the employment change. This could give rise as to how much the RBA will be able to lift rates by, next month. In July data showed Australia’s employment fell from a record high, with 41,000 jobs being lost. While for August Bloomberg’s survey of economists suggests 35,000 jobs were added. Some forecasts are bleak though, estimating Australia lost 15,000 jobs.  If the data is showing more jobs were lost, it will give the RBA less room to rise rates. Currently RBA interest rate futures expect the rates to peak at 3.6% next month. If more jobs were added than expected, we could see the AUDUSD extend its rally off its 2-year low. Ethereum merge will draw attention The Ethereum blockchain’s much-anticipated software upgrade, the so-called Merge, is expected to take place this week, according to its core developers. The new system, known as "proof-of-stake", will slash the Ethereum blockchain's energy consumption by 99.9%, developers say. Most blockchains, including bitcoin's, devour large amounts of energy, sparking criticism from some investors and environmentalists. We wrote about this here, and this is a key event to watch this week. The merge could make Ethereum more favourable to pension funds and other institutional investors that are under the scanner for environmental concerns, but there is also come scepticism an how scalable Ethereum could become and if it becomes more susceptible to attacks by hackers. Oracle and Adobe are reporting results this week The earnings calendar is light as most U.S. companies have reported and Q3 earnings releases will roll in a month from now. Oracle (ORCL:xnys) and Adobe System (ADBE:xnas) are the two most notable releases this week.  The Oracle results will include the contributions for the first time from Cerner, a medical information technology provider for which it paid USD28.3 billion.  On Oracle’s core business, investors will focus on how the company’s enterprise software business fared in competition with increasingly popular cloud services by providers such as Amazon and Microsoft.  Adobe System has surprised negatively in the past four earnings releases due to weaker than expected outlook and has seen its share price tumbling 45% since the beginning of the year. In the past couple of months, the share price has stabilised as expectations are no longer deteriorating. Analysts expect Adobe to report revenue growth of 12.6% y/y and expanding operating margin as a result of cost cutting. Adobe is part of the high quality pocket in the equity market with a high market share and double-digit organic growth rate expected over the coming years. Key risks to consider for Adobe are the strong USD, corporate spending slowdown on digitalization, and general weakness in the global advertising industry. Key economic releases & central bank meetings this week Monday, Sep 12 US: NY Fed Survey of Consumer Expectations (Aug)UK: Monthly GDP (Jul)Italy: Industrial Production (Jul)Eurozone: ECB’s de Guindos and Schnabel speakIndia: CPI (Aug)India: Industrial production (Jul) Tuesday, Sep 13 US: CPI (Aug)Japan: PPI (Aug)Australia: Consumer confidence Index (Sep)Australia: Business confidence Index (Aug)Germany: ZEW survey (Sep)UK: Labour market report (Aug)   Wednesday, Sep 14 US: PPI (Aug)Japan: Core machine orders (Jul)UK: CPI (Aug)UK: RPI (Aug)UK: PPI (Aug)Eurozone: Industrial production (Jul)India: WPI (Aug)New Zealand: Current account balance (Q2)Hong Kong: Industrial production (Q2)Hong Kong: PPI (Q2)Thursday, Sep 15US: Jobless claims (weekly)US: Retail sales (Aug)US: Philly Fed manufacturing survey (Sep)US: Empire State manufacturing survey (Sep)US: Industrial production (Aug)US: Business inventories (Jul)Japan: Trade data (Aug)Japan: Tertiary industry activity index (Jul)Australia: Unemployment rate (Aug)UK: Bank of England decision (Sep)Eurozone: ECB’s Centeno speaksIndonesia: Trade dataNew Zealand: Real GDP (Q2) Friday, Sep 16 US: University of Michigan consumer survey (Sep, preliminary)UK: Retail salesEurozone: Harmonized CPI (Aug, final)Eurozone: ECB’s Rehn speaksChina: Industrial production (Aug)China: Retail sales (Aug)China: Urban fixed-asset investment year-to-date (Aug)Singapore: Non-oil domestic exports (Aug) Key earnings releases this week Monday: Oracle (ORCL:xnys), Tuesday: DiDi Global (DIDIY:xnas) Wednesday: Industria de Deseno Texgtil SA (ITX:xmce) Thursday: Polestar Automotive (PSNY:xnas) Friday: Adobe (ADBE:xnas) Source: Saxo Spotlight: What’s on investors and traders radars this week? | Saxo Group (home.saxo)
Oil Prices Soar on Prospect of Soft Landing, Eyes Set on $80 Breakout

What Makes Alphabet (GOOGL), Pool Corp. And Others Are Such "Solid"? Stock Market: What Is The Difference Between Growth And Value Stocks?

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 12.09.2022 21:46
In a nutshell, investors in the stock market can divide companies into two baskets. One is "growth," or growth-type companies, and the other is "value," or companies with value. The former are, for example, start-ups that currently may not even have their own equipment in the office, but are leasing it, but promise investors that they will make "amazing" profits in a few years. Their valuations, despite their current lack of much value can be very high, because they can be driven by expectations. The second group, value companies, usually do not promise investors hundreds of percent earnings growth, while they have an established business, can pay regular dividends or conduct systematic process restructuring to raise margins. Source: Conotoxia MT5, NOBL ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF. Solid value and dividend companies will attract investors? According to Goldman Sachs in a note quoted by Bloomberg, stocks of high fundamental quality, value stocks, dividend-paying companies and companies with exposure primarily to drawing income from the U.S. market are four areas that could drive performance through the end of the year, according to analysts from Goldman Sachs. "Rising cost of capital will limit valuation expansion and prompt investors to reward companies with high-quality fundamental metrics." - analysts led by David Kostin wrote in a note. As an example, they give a quality basket of 50 companies created by Goldman Sachs, which includes stocks that are highly rated for a mix of strong balance sheets, stable sales and earnings growth, above-average return on equity and low historical downside risk.  Companies included in the Goldman Sachs index basket The basket includes Alphabet, Pool Corp., Church & Dwight, Coterra Energy, First Republic Bank and American Tower, among others - CFDs and DMAs on shares of these companies can be found on the Conotoxia MT5 platform. According to Goldman Sachs analysts, value stocks could outperform if the Fed would succeed and inflation would soon peak, and the companies' dividends could offer "exposure to the fundamental growth of the S&P 500 while minimizing exposure to equity valuation risk." Source: Conotoxia MT5, DVY iShares Select Dividend ETF Meanwhile, companies with domestic sales in the U.S. have outperformed those with more exposure to foreign sales, particularly in Europe and emerging markets. The economic situation in Europe is dire, and despite concerns about the U.S. equity market, "it offers greater potential for absolute and risk-adjusted returns than the recession-ridden European markets" - write the GS analysts. Daniel Kostecki, Director of the Polish branch of Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Source: Value and dividend companies with potential (conotoxia.com)
Brent hits one-month high! Saudi and Russian cuts supporting recent moves

Increases At The Close Of The New York Stock Exchange

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 13.09.2022 08:02
At the close in the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones rose 0.71%, the S&P 500 index rose 1.06%, the NASDAQ Composite index rose 1.27%. The leading performer among the components of the Dow Jones index today was Apple Inc, which gained 6.06 points or 3.85% to close at 163.43. Quotes of American Express Company rose by 4.01 points (2.53%), closing the session at 162.45. Salesforce Inc rose 3.04 points or 1.87% to close at 165.63. The biggest losers were Amgen Inc, which shed 10.07 points or 4.07% to end the session at 237.62. Home Depot Inc was up 2.23 points (0.74%) to close at 297.54, while Johnson & Johnson was down 0.07 points (0.04%) to end at 165. .64. Leading gainers among the S&P 500 index components in today's trading were DXC Technology Co, which rose 5.98% to hit 28.36, APA Corporation, which gained 5.01% to close at 40.00, and shares of Fortinet Inc, which rose 4.20% to end the session at 55.84. The biggest losers were The Mosaic Company, which shed 6.76% to close at 52.44. Shares of Amgen Inc lost 4.07% to end the session at 237.62. Quotes of CF Industries Holdings Inc decreased in price by 4.05% to 99.48. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were Neurobo Pharmaceuticals Inc, which rose 101.30% to hit 0.56, InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc, which gained 70.42% to close at 18.78, and also shares of Ventyx Biosciences Inc, which rose 64.98% to end the session at 38.11. The biggest losers were Tuesday Morning Corp, which shed 31.19% to close at 0.19. Shares of WeTrade Group Inc lost 30.19% and ended the session at 1.11. Akari Therapeutics PLC was down 27.88% to 0.75. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that rose in price (2,360) exceeded the number of those that closed in the red (764), while quotes of 160 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 2431 companies rose in price, 1384 fell, and 259 remained at the level of the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, rose 4.74% to 23.87. Gold futures for December delivery added 0.43%, or 7.45, to $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI crude for October delivery rose 1.36%, or 1.18, to $87.97 a barrel. Brent oil futures for November delivery rose 1.44%, or 1.34, to $94.18 a barrel. Meanwhile, on the Forex market, EUR/USD rose 0.81% to hit 1.01, while USD/JPY edged up 0.21% to hit 142.82. Futures on the USD index fell 0.60% to 108.08.       Relevance up to 05:00 2022-09-14 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/292447
Reduction In Demand For Power In UK, Bank of Japan Plans To Maintain Current Policy

Reduction In Demand For Power In UK, Bank of Japan Plans To Maintain Current Policy

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 13.09.2022 09:26
Summary:  Equity sentiment remained upbeat and the US dollar weakened further despite a surge higher in US Treasury yields. Globally sustained inflation pressures, such as those in Japan’s producer prices and New Zealand’s food prices, continues to raise concerns. US inflation print for August takes all the attention today with impact likely to reverberate through markets but unlikely to change the Fed’s upcoming rate hike at the September meeting. Precious metals tested key resistance levels and crude oil prices made a recovery as well. The lack of consensus on EU energy proposals may spark some concerns. What is happening in markets? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) extend their bear market bounce U.S. equities extended the bear market bounce for the fourth day amid a relatively uneventful and light volume day. The S&P 500 rose 1.1%, Nasdaq 100 up 1.2%. It comes despite bond yields rising, with the 30-year yield hitting a new high of 3.53%. Meanwhile the volatility index, the VIX rose for the first time in four days to 23.9, suggesting uncertainty could be brewing. Noteworthy moves in US stocks   Apple (AAPL:xnas) contributed to the days move, accounting for more than 60 points of the 151 points in Nasdaq 100, after the stock surged 3.9% on strong pre-order data of the new iPhone 14. A larger number of call options were traded on Apple shares on Monday. Twitter (TWTR:xnys) lost 1.7% after it sent a letter to Elon Musk and said the company intends to enforce Musk’s agreement to buy the company. Oracle (ORCL:xnys) reported sales growth of 18% to $11.4 billion, with higher contributions from cloud computing and the newly acquired Cerner, a health records provider. Adjusted EPS came in at $1.03, below the analyst consensus of $1.06 as per the Bloomberg survey. Oracle shares gained 1.3% in after-hours trading. Gilead Sciences (GILD:xnas) surged 4.2% following the settlement of an HIV drug intellectual property dispute. Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY:xnys) gained 3.2% as regulators approved the company’s psoriasis drug.  US treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) The treasury yield curve bear steepened on Monday, with the 30-year yield finishing the day at 3.51%, a new high just a little above the previous high print in June. The long-end, yields of the 10-years through 30-years jumped 5 to 6 bps after the poor 3-year notes and 10-year notes auctions, in particular the latter. The 10-year auction stopped at a yield of 3.33%, which was 2.7 bps higher than the notes were trading at 1:00 pm New York time when the results were announced. The 10-year notes weakened to finish the day at 3.36%. In addition to the USD41 billion 3-year and USD32 billion 10-year auctions, eight corporate new issues with a total size of about USD12 billion came to the market yesterday. The decline in the inflation expectations print in the New York Fed’s survey of consumer expectations did not move the treasury markets which had the day’s focus on supply. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hong Kong and China markets were closed on Monday for a public holiday.  Overnight in U.S. trading, the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index bounced by 2.8%.  Chinese EV maker, NIO (NIO:xnys) soared 13.7% following Deutsche Bank and BoA Merrill Lynch analysts reiterating “buy” rating as well as reiterating and raising price targets respectively.  EURUSD recovery extended, but risks ahead EURUSD tested highs of 1.02 on Monday amid some optimism on Ukraine’s military advances and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel signaling support for further interest-rate hikes in Europe. Gains however cooled later with ECB's Scicluna suggesting the central bank will continue with rate hikes but they are unlikely to be as large as the 75bps hike seen last week. Meanwhile, EUR/GBP printed a fresh YTD high of 0.8722 before unwinding the gains later. Pressure could build on EUR as the EU energy proposals will likely face some opposition, and US CPI data today will also be on watch. Russia may also increase the energy pressure on Europe if Ukraine’s advances stick. Crude oil prices (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil prices saw some recovery on Monday amid a softer USD as well as weaker US inflation expectations from the NY Fed offset some of the weaker dollar concerns. Iran nuclear deal also seems to be making little progress, delaying any possible relief on the supply side. WTI futures rose to $88/barrel while the Brent futures were up at $94/barrel. US CPI data due later today is key to further gauge the path of Fed’s rate hikes from here, and the EU energy proposals will also be a key catalyst. Gold (XAUUSD) and Silver (XAGUSD) Gold rose on Monday as the dollar extended its retreat from a record high ahead of US inflation data due later today, which could potentially slow down the pace of Fed’s rate hikes if the headline print is softer than expected. Gold tested $1734, the 21-day SMA and 38.2% retracement of the August slump, but was rejected and back below $1730 in early Asian trading. Silver also rallied sharply to touch the $20-mark supported by a weaker dollar, higher gold prices and signs of tightness supporting the copper market. Last Tuesday speculators held the largest short position in three years and the continued rally is now forcing broad short covering.   What to consider? US CPI print will point to higher and stickier price pressures With the labor market remaining strong in the U.S. over the last few months, the focus has remained on the inflation data to predict the path of the Fed’s rate hikes. Clearly, all of the Fed’s members have had a unified hawkish stance since the Jackson Hole conference, and many have clearly hinted at a 75bps rate hike for September. Tuesday’s US CPI report is the one to watch, as it can move the market pricing of the Fed’s rate path and is the last key data point scheduled to release ahead of the September 21 Fed meeting. After some softening in July, it can be expected that the headline print may ease further in August as well given the decline in gasoline prices. Still, the inflation print is likely to stay elevated due to the stickier shelter and services costs, as well as still-high energy and food prices. Consensus estimates point to a mild decline of 0.1% MoM while the core remains strong at 0.3% MoM. EU proposes mandatory cuts to power use and profit levies It is expected that the EU draft energy plan will include mandatory power demand cut, an “exception and temporary” levy on oil, gas, coal and refining companies, as well as revenue caps for non-gas fuelled power generators. There is likely to be opposition from some of the member states, as the plan is detailed out tomorrow. Here is another sign inflation is not peaking; New Zealand food inflation hits a 13-year high New Zealand food prices rose 8.3% over the year to August 2022, which is the biggest annual increase since July 2009, according to data from Statistics New Zealand. The surge was mainly driven by a 8.7% increase in grocery food prices compared to a year ago, after fruit and vegetable prices rose 15%. Prices for staples like, eggs, yogurt, and cheddar cheese saw the largest moves in grocery prices. Companies to look at that sell food and dairy products to supermarkets include Costa Group (CGC), as well as A2 Milk (A2M) and Bega Cheese (BGA) and Synlait Milk (SM1). The New Zealand dollar rose to a two-week high against the USD, on expectation the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) will need to keep hiking rates. Japan producer prices remain above expectations Japan’s August PPI was up 9.0% y/y (vs. 8.9% y/y expected) while last month’s was also revised higher to 9.0% y/y from 8.6% y/y previously. The m/m print was slightly softer at 0.2% vs. 0.4% expected, but continued to show rising cost pressures amid the surge in commodity prices and a weaker yen. This suggests more CPI pain is in the pipeline, and the resolve of Bank of Japan to maintain accommodative policy will continue to be tested. New York Fed 1-year consumer inflation expectations at 10-month lows The latest NY Fed consumer inflation expectation gauges declined sharply, suggesting easing price pressures. Expectations for US inflation three-years ahead fell to two-year lows to come in at 2.8% in August, while the one-year ahead gauge was at 5.7%, a 10-month low. Meanwhile, inflation expectations on a five-year horizon fell to 2% from 2.3% previously, suggesting that inflation expectations remain anchored. Gloomy economic outlook for the United Kingdom According to the Office of National Statistics, UK GDP grew only 0.2% month-over-month in July. This is less than expected (0.4 % month-over-month). The weakness is mostly centered on the industry and the construction sector. This is worrying. There is no big bank holiday effect. However, there is anecdotal evidence of a reduction in demand for power because of cost, but it was also a hot month. In addition, the UK July industrial production fell 0.3% month-over-month versus expected +0.3%. Expect negative print in the eurozone for the same period too. California’s electricity infrastructure is under severe tension According to data released over the weekend by California Independent System Operator, demand on California’s power grid hit an all-time high on 6 September above 50,000 MW. The last two times it was close to this threshold was in 2007 and in 2017. The situation is getting worse and worse. Oracle reported sales in line with expectations but missed EPS estimates Oracle (ORCL:xnys) reported sales growth of 18% to $11.4 billion, in line with expectations. The sales growth was largely attributable to contributions from cloud computing and the newly acquired Cerner, a health records provider. Adjusted income came in at USD1.68 billion, a 33% drop from last year quarter and missing analyst estimates.  Adjusted EPS was $1.03, below the analyst consensus of $1.06 as per the Bloomberg survey. The earnings miss was partly due to FX losses which were results of a stronger dollar. Banking job cuts? Goldman Sachs is getting ready for jobs cuts. Who’s next? Goldman to report a 40% drop in earnings, which will foreshadow job cuts. However, there could be a lot of stake; in July Goldman said it planned to slow hiring and reinstate performance reviews. There is a huge question looming about how banks will get work with global deal volumes having dropped by about $1 trillion from a year ago. Investment banks are reliant on equity capital markets and IPOs and our sense is that more job cuts could be coming with inflation set to continue to rise, and push up the yield curve, and official interest rates into next year. For investors the takeaway here is that while markets remain uncertainty and rates are rising, investment banks will likely continue to face pressure. Banking ETFs, such as Vanguard Financials ETF (VFH) and Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) are both down about 13% from their October 2021 peaks. Although they are both rallying amid the bear market bounce lately, we think the sector is likely to pair back again once stronger US data comes out and Fed suggests more rate hikes are coming.   For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.     Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/apac-daily-digest-13-sept-2022-13092022
Asia morning bites - 16.05.2023

Nintendo And Sales Success, Natural Gas Prices In Europe Trade At Their Lowest

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 13.09.2022 09:35
Summary:  The equity market rally extended further yesterday, in part on hopes that Ukrainian battleground successes bring the chance of the war ending sooner rather than later and as natural gas prices in Europe trade at their lowest in more than a month. Today’s August US CPI release will be the critical event risk for whether the improvement in sentiment can extend. A hot core CPI number could yet spoil the party, while another soft number like July’s could boost the “peak Fed” narrative for a while and see the rally extend if treasury yields also drop in response.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) US equities extended their gains yesterday with S&P 500 futures rallying another 1.5% closing at 4,130. This morning the index futures are continuing higher as the market is clearly positioning itself for a positive US August inflation figure later today which could see S&P 500 futures extend to 4,200. It is worth keeping in mind that the medium-term outlook has not changed much on inflation and a significant slowdown in the US releasing its oil reserves could quickly add renewed pressure on energy prices. But the key event to watch today is the US August CPI report out at 12:30 GMT. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Shenzhen returned from a long weekend and traded moderately higher, Hang Seng Index +0.4%, CSI 300 +0.7%. HSBC (00005:xhkg) climbed 1.8% after its CFO said the bank was considering resuming share buybacks in the second half of next year and raising staff pay in 2023. Alibaba (09988:xhkg) gained 2.4%. NIO (09866:xhkg) jumped 17.2% following analysts reiterating “buy” on the EV maker.  Chinese biotech stocks traded in Hong Kong fell after US President Biden signed an executive order to develop a strategy to “mitigate risks posed by foreign adversary involvement in the biomanufacturing supply chain”, Wuxi Biologics -18.4%, Wuxi AppTec (02359:xhkg) – 14.4%, Genscript Biotech (01548:xhkg) -8.4%.  USD status, please European currencies surged yesterday on hopes that Ukrainian battlefield successes will compound and bring peace sooner rather than later. EURUSD rose up through key local resistance at 1.0100, but the move didn’t well, with plenty of backfilling. Elsewhere, the USD is in technical limbo in pairs like USDCAD (the 1.3000 area refusing to completely let go) and AUDUSD (a strong sense that the choppy bearish trend is ending would be a solid surge-and-hold above 0.7000.) Today’s US CPI release could give us a firmer sense of USD direction, with weaker inflation across the board relative to expectations and an easing back lower of treasury yields likely required to take the USD firmly lower. JPY crosses back higher as yields rise Expect JPY crosses to the be the most sensitive to any sharp move in US treasury yields off the back of the US August CPI data today. After surging to new local highs yesterday, the JPY bounced back a bit. The focus in USDJPY is on the cycle top near 145.00, a break of which likely sets the clock ticking for actual market intervention from Japan’s ministry of finance. Gold (XAUUSD) and Silver (XAGUSD) Gold rose on Monday as the dollar extended its retreat from a record high ahead of US inflation data due later today, which could potentially slow down the pace of Fed’s rate hikes if the headline print is softer than expected. Gold tested $1734, the 21-day SMA and 38.2% retracement of the August slump, and after getting rejected it retraced to $1720 during Asian trading. Silver meanwhile jumped 5% before running into profit taking around $20 with the added support from signs of a tightening copper market and short covering from speculators who in the week to September 6 raised their short bets to a three-year high. Focus on US CPI and its impact on the dollar and future rate hike expectations. Crude oil (CLV2 & LCOX2) Crude oil continues to trade above levels that otherwise could signal additional weakness amid worries about demand from China due to harsh anti-virus restrictions and the world in general as central banks attempt to dampen inflation by lowering economic activity through aggressive rate hikes. Instead, the oil market, just like most other commodities, has received support from a weaker dollar and fading prospect of an Iran nuclear deal anytime soon. However, the potential for a fresh and strong upside push in crude oil has faded as the world is going through a period of lower growth. Focus being the collapse of Russian defenses in Ukraine and the response from Moscow, the impact of a potential price cap on Russian oil, and monthly oil market reports from OPEC today and IEA tomorrow. US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) The 10-year US Treasury benchmark traded steady near the highs for the recent cycle above 3.30% after an auction of 10-year T-notes yesterday saw demand near the lower end of the range of recent months. A 3-year treasury auction yesterday saw better demand metrics. Treasury traders are watching today’s important US CPI release for clues on whether yields will continue to rise toward the cycle top at 3.50% or ease back again. A 30-year T-bond auction is up after the CPI release today. What is going on? Gloomy economic outlook for the United Kingdom According to the Office of National Statistics, UK GDP grew only 0.2 % month-over-month in July. This is less than expected (0.4 % month-over-month). The weakness is mostly centered on the industry and the construction sector. This is worrying. There is no big bank holiday effect. However, there is anecdotal evidence of a reduction in demand for power because of cost, but it was also a hot month. In addition, the UK July industrial production fell 0.3 % month-over-month versus expected +0.3 %. Expect negative print in the eurozone for the same period too. Ocado sees big miss in Q3 on revenue The UK online grocery retailer reports revenue of £532mn vs est. £557mn as the cost-of-living crisis bites the UK consumer. Ocado sees the value of the average basket down by 6% and energy costs are putting pressure on the operating margin. Nintendo shares surge 5% on game launch record The Japanese game developer announced its biggest Switch console game launch success Splatoon 3 with 3.45mn sold units in Japan in its opening weekend. The success is building on the previous years of strong sales figures for its Switch console and games sold on the console. Shares are up 745% over the past 10 years excluding dividends. Oracle hit expectations in Q1 results The software maker was solid in its performance in its FY23 Q1 results (ending 31 August) delivering $11.4bn in revenue up 18% y/y. The 15-17% revenue growth guidance for the current quarter is also in line with estimates and Oracle indicated that the acquisition of Cerner was going according to plan providing the company with more strengths in its cloud offering. California’s electricity infrastructure is under severe tension According to data released over the weekend by California Independent System Operator, demand on California’s power grid hit an all-time high on 6 September above 50,000 MW. The last two times it was close to this threshold was in 2007 and in 2017. The situation is getting worse and worse. EU proposes mandatory cuts to power use and profit levies It is expected that the EU draft energy plan will include mandatory power demand cut, an “exception and temporary” levy on oil, gas, coal and refining companies, as well as revenue caps for non-gas fuelled power generators. There is likely to be opposition from some of the member states, as the plan is detailed out tomorrow. A rare “triple-dip” La Ninã spanning three northern hemisphere winters is coming Changing temperatures around the world have led to several climate emergencies so far in 2022, from historic flooding, above average temperatures and drought. Parts of the world are expected to experience severe weather for the rest of the year and into 2023, as part of a rare "triple dip La Niña" event according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In Australia it may lead to heavy rain and flooding in the coming months while South America and equatorial Africa could see a repeat of the droughts experienced during the past couple of years. A development that could strengthen concerns about a global food crisis with inventories of several key food items falling to a multi-year lows. Japan producer prices remain above expectations Japan’s August PPI was up 9.0% y/y (vs. 8.9% y/y expected) while last month’s figure was also revised higher to 9.0% y/y from 8.6% y/y previously. The m/m print was slightly softer than expected at 0.2% vs. 0.4% but continued to show rising cost pressures amid the surge in commodity prices and a weaker yen. This suggests more CPI pain is in the pipeline, and the resolve of Bank of Japan to maintain accommodative policy will continue to be tested. New York Fed 1-year consumer inflation expectations at 10-month lows The latest NY Fed consumer inflation expectation gauges declined sharply, suggesting easing price pressures. Expectations for US inflation over three years annualised fell to a two-year low at 2.8% in August, while the one-year ahead gauge was at 5.7%, a 10-month low. Meanwhile, inflation expectations on the five-year horizon fell to 2% annualised from 2.3% previously, suggesting that inflation expectations remain anchored. What are we watching next? U.S. August CPI is out today This is a first estimate and the latest release before the Federal Reserve’s September 20-21 meeting. In July, CPI rose 8.5 % on a yearly basis (much slower than the 9.1 % increase in June). The economist consensus expects inflation to continue decelerating at 8.1 % in August. But core CPI will likely be up. This shows that inflation is broad-based and also expanding into the services sector, for instance. At Saxo Bank, we believe the peak in inflation has passed in the United States in June. But this should not influence the path of monetary policy tightening in the short-term. Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting on 15-16 September This the first time since 2019 that Asian leaders are meeting in person in a bigger strategic forum. Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin are officially joining the summit and India’s Modi is expected to join as well. Given the recent military success in Ukraine, the pressures are mounting on Russia and Putin Earnings to watch The next important earnings release to watch is Inditex, one of Europe’s largest fashion retailers, which is expected to report revenue growth of 12% y/y in FY23 Q2 (ending 31 July) but with the operating margin expected to show downside pressure. Wednesday: Inditex Thursday: Polestar Automotive, Adobe Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0800 – Norway Aug. Region Survey 0900 – Germany Sep. ZEW Survey 1000 – US Aug. NFIB Small Business Optimism 1230 – US Aug. CPI 1700 – US 30-year T-bond Auction 2030 – API's Weekly Report on US Oil and Fuel Inventories During the day: OPEC’s Monthly Oil Market Report Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/macro/market-quick-take-sep-13-2022-13092022
EU Gloomy Picture Pointing To A Gradual Approach To Recession

Energy Crisis Cause Recession In The European Union And Great Britain

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 13.09.2022 13:21
Goldman Sachs say a difficult macroeconomic environment in Europe may continue to put pressure on assets, even despite a positive risk/reward ratio, financial support and measures to reduce energy demand. They remarked that they remain wary due to the energy crisis, monetary tightening and the political backdrop around Italy's elections, and only signs of an "imminent market downturn" could change their view. "Our economists expect the energy crisis to push both Europe and the UK into recession, albeit relatively mild, and forecast an acceleration in policy tightening by both the ECB and the Bank of England," Goldman Sachs strategists wrote. The technical picture also points to at least another wave of decline in European indices, which should lead to an update of the yearly lows. European equities have lagged the S&P 500 this year in dollar terms as euro weakened more than 10%. Meanwhile, the region's credit markets continue to be much more stressed than stocks. On the bright side, Europe's 12-month earnings projections are yet to see any major downsides. Although the region's income-based estimates have fallen this year, they still remain above levels reached during the 2008 financial crisis. Relevance up to 11:00 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. The market analysis posted here is meant to increase your awareness, but not to give instructions to make a trade. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/321558
The Japanese Yen Retreats as USD/JPY Gains Momentum

Apple Stock Price Skyrockets! iPhone 14 Is Said To Be The Rocket Propeller!

FXStreet News FXStreet News 13.09.2022 16:08
Apple stock soars as new iPhone 14 boosts demand for the stock. iPhone 14 sales are reportedly strong despite some critics. Apple stock now soaring to near all-time highs. Apple (AAPL) stock began the week strongly when it dragged the main indices higher as the tech and overall market leader powered ahead by nearly 4%. By the close Apple reached $163.43, having briefly traded above $164 earlier on Tuesday. Apple stock news The stock was pushed higher on the back of a positive note from noted Apple analyst Dan Ives at Wedbush. We should also note he is largely bullish on Apple, which has been the consistently correct call. In a note, to the client, Ives said demand is solid and ahead of the iPhone 13. Also, customers appear to be going for the more expensive models – the iPhone Pro and Max models. Higher prices mean higher margins for Apple. "We expect this heavy Pro/Pro Max mix to continue with China also a major sway factor as more consumers in this key region head to the Pro model," Ives added. This will come as welcome news as some people have been openly stating that the new iPhone 14 does not have enough features to differentiate it from the iPhone 13 and so sway customers to switch. Yahoo Entertainment reported on a cheeky meme from Steve Jobs's daughter Eve. Apple stock forecast Regular readers will notice from the lack of a disclaimer at the bottom of this page that I have cut my short position. I did this last week thankfully before the rally got going. My take is more a macro view than stock specific. I cannot see the equity market making new lows now, and this rally looks set up to continue. CPI should decline when it is released today. Oil and commodity prices are much lower. That will further fuel the Fed pivot and soft landing theory, and so equities should keep rallying. It will take a few months of CPI releases before people realize this is not going to drop enough for the Fed to pivot. Apple has performed very nicely from a technical perspective of late. The strong summer rally saw a near-perfect 50% Fibonacci retracement before bouncing above the 50-day and now 200-day moving averages. The next target is now $171.40 to fill the gap. The bullish pivot is the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement and 50-day moving average at $158.32. Apple stock daily
Rising Tensions in Japan Amid Currency Market Concerns and BOJ Insights

Stock Market: Who Ended The Day With A Profit And Who With A Loss

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 14.09.2022 08:36
  At the close on the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones fell 3.94% to a one-month low, the S&P 500 fell 4.32%, and the NASDAQ Composite fell 5.16%. Chevron Corp was the top gainer among the components of the Dow Jones index today, losing 3.09 points or 1.90% to close at 159.41. Quotes of The Travelers Companies Inc fell by 3.11 points (1.88%) to end trading at 162.22. Walmart Inc lost 2.85 points or 2.06% to close at 135.22. The losers were Boeing Co shares, which lost 11.41 points or 7.19% to end the session at 147.31. Intel Corporation was up 2.27 points (7.19%) to close at 29.29, while Home Depot Inc was down 19.61 points (6.59%) to close at 277. 93. Leading gainers among the S&P 500 index components in today's trading were Corteva Inc, which rose 0.87% to hit 62.65, Twitter Inc, which gained 0.70% to close at 41.70, and shares CF Industries Holdings Inc, which rose 0.67% to end the session at 100.15. The biggest losers were Eastman Chemical Company, which shed 11.34% to close at 84.11. Shares of NVIDIA Corporation lost 9.47% and ended the session at 131.31. Quotes of Meta Platforms Inc decreased in price by 9.37% to 153.13. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were Akero Therapeutics Inc, which rose 136.76% to hit 29.05, Aditx Therapeutics Inc, which gained 113.75% to close at 0.37, and also shares of Comera Life Sciences Holdings Inc, which rose 100.00% to end the session at 3.86. The biggest losers were Cardiff Oncology Inc, which shed 41.12% to close at 1.89. Shares of Rent the Runway Inc shed 38.74% to end the session at 3.02. Quotes of InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc decreased in price by 35.73% to 12.07. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that fell in price (2827) exceeded the number of those that closed in positive territory (354), while quotes of 82 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 3,015 stocks fell, 811 rose, and 188 remained at the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, rose 14.24% to 27.27, hitting a new monthly high. Gold futures for December delivery lost 1.64%, or 28.50, to hit $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI October futures fell 0.26%, or 0.23, to $87.55 a barrel. Brent oil futures for November delivery fell 0.67%, or 0.63, to $93.37 a barrel. Meanwhile, on the Forex market, EUR/USD fell 1.44% to hit 1.00, while USD/JPY edged up 1.23% to hit 144.59. Futures on the USD index rose 1.37% to 109.58. Relevance up to 05:00 2022-09-15 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/292655
Yen (JPY) Takes A Stab At Resilience, The Grains Sector Has Survived Well

Yen (JPY) Takes A Stab At Resilience, The Grains Sector Has Survived Well

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 14.09.2022 08:55
Summary:  Equity markets were slammed for their worst losses in more than two years yesterday on a shocking August US CPI print, which showed core inflation rising at twice the anticipated pace for the month. This was a rude shock after a recent strong rally in equities, and US treasury yields jumped, and the US dollar soared as the market rushed to price in the risk that the Fed might hike 100 basis points next week.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) US equities erased most of the gains since 6 September as the market’s positioning ahead of the US August CPI report was completely wrong. Not only did the headline inflation figures not fall m/m, but the core figure is up 0.6% m/m and has been fluctuating around 0.5% m/m for a year suggesting that inflation is getting entrenched at a level suggesting 5-6% annualised inflation in the US. The Fed Funds futures curve immediately shifted downwards lifting peak Fed funds rate at close to 4.5% from around 4% the day before the inflation report. S&P 500 futures tumbled 5.4% from its intraday peak and Nasdaq 100 futures plunged 6.7% from its intraday high. The 3,900 and 12,000 levels are the key levels to watch on the downside in S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures respectively. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Shares traded in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Shenzhen declined on the back of the worst day in more than two years last night in US equities, with Hang Seng Index at -2.6% and CSI 300 -1.2%. Among the top losers, Techtronic Industries (00669:xhkg) plunged 10.6%, Hua Hong Semiconductor (01347:xhkg), Bilibili (09626:xhkg) and Baidu (09888:xhkg) dropped more than 5%, JD.COM (09618:xhkg) and Alibaba (09988:xhkg) slid about 4%. Tencent (000700:xhkg), -1.4%, had an educational game being approved under a company controlled by Tencent’s executives including co-founder Pony Ma. This is the first time Tencent got a game approval this year though being an educational game, it will unlikely be a significant money-making title. CNOOC (00883:xhkg) and COSCO Shipping Energy outperformed, rising 2%-3%. A typhoon is approaching Shanghai and Ningbo causing major container ports in Shanghai and Ningbo to suspend operations. USD rips back higher – suddenly threatening cycle top after CPI data After the shocking August CPI number from the US yesterday, the US dollar soared higher, taking EURUSD all the way back below parity after nearly trading 1.0200 earlier this week. Elsewhere, the USD was universally higher, with a pair like AUDUSD slamming all the way to the low 0.6700's and therefore not far from the cycle low, while NZDUSD actually posted a cycle low, and GBPUSD trading south of 1.1500 after trading north of 1.1700. Moves by the Bank of Japan and verbal intervention from the Japanese Ministry of Finance helped temper the USD move this morning (more below). Now the focus shifts to next week's FOMC meeting, where the market is now pricing the rising risk that the FOMC could hike 100 basis points. JPY takes a stab at resilience on the anticipation of intervention The Bank of Japan carried out a “rate check” in the FX market, which is widely seen as a precursor for actual market intervention. This tamed the USDJPY move higher from sub-142.00 levels to nearly 145, as the gains were pared back to 144.00, with the JPY also firmer broadly. Finance Minister Suzuki said nothing could be ruled out in response to the weakening JPY and that if the current trend persisted, stepping into markets is an option. But as past experience has shown, intervention often only creates temporary volatility if the underlying issue is not addressed - in this case, the Bank of Japan's insistence on maintaining very low rates and controlling yields out to 10 years. If yields continue to rise globally, Japanese officialdom will have an enormous and likely unwinnable fight on its hands if the Bank of Japan fails to change its policy. Gold (XAUUSD), Silver (XAGUSD) and copper (COPPERUSDEC22) ... all tumbled following the stronger than expected US CPI print, thereby reversing some of the recent weak dollar-led gains. Prior to the release copper had been on a tear reaching $3.7/lb as the LME market continued to signal the tightest market conditions since November on increased demand from China. Gold trades near $1700 and close to the current floor around $1680 after the CPI print strengthened the view the FOMC will have to remain hawkish and continue to aggressively hike rates. However, the risk to economic growth while inflation remains stubbornly high may bring back worries about stagflation, a development that may lend support to investment metals. Continued focus on the dollar and the markets pricing of future inflation expectations. Crude oil (CLV2 & LCOX2) Crude oil traded higher on Tuesday before the hotter-than-expected US CPI print helped send most commodity prices, including oil, lower on fears aggressive rate hikes could curb demand. Earlier the market traded up after OPEC maintained their 2023 outlook for a 2.7 million barrel per day increase in global demand. The EIA delivered the same message last week and the IEA is likely to do the same today when their monthly oil market report is released. Developments that highlight the current discrepancy between the (lower) price action and what these major forecasters are seeing. A recovery later in the day was supported by the Biden admin saying it will consider starting refilling strategic reserves when WTI falls below $80. Ahead of today’s EIA stock report, the API reported a 6m bbl crude stock build, a 3.2m bbl drop in gasoline and 1.8m bbl build in distillates. US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) Treasury yields jumped yesterday on the shocking August US CPI data, with the yield curve flattening aggressively as the hot data point saw the market rushing to price in the risk of more aggressive moves to counter inflation at coming meetings. The 10-year yield was taken back toward the cycle top from mid-June at 3.50%. A further rise above this yield level will continue to drive the risk of weaker sentiment and USD strength. What is going on? US August CPI shocks with high core inflation reading The headline US CPI data came in slightly above expectations, with a year-on-year reading of 8.3% vs. 8.1% expected and a month-on-month reading of +0.1% vs. -0.1% expected, a real surprise given sharp drops of late in gasoline prices. But the real shock was the core Ex Food and Energy inflation reading of +0.6% month-on-month, twice what was expected. This triggered an enormous slide in risk sentiment as the market rushed to price the risk that the FOMC might hike as much as 100 basis points next week. As of this morning, about 85 basis points is priced for the meeting. The grains sector maintained a bid on Tuesday ... while most other commodities took a tumble after the US CPI print once again raised concerns about aggressive growth and demand killing rate hikes. With demand being relatively constant the grains sector held up well as the sector continued to focus on supply risks and dwindling inventories. The US Department of Agriculture this week slashed its estimates for soybean supplies from the US, the second-largest producer after Brazil where a lingering “triple-dip” La Nina repeat could bring dry conditions in the coming months. In addition, wheat exports have been cut because of the war in Ukraine, and there’s uncertainty over Ukraine’s grain export corridor after criticism from Putin. Inditex 1H revenue beats estimate The Spanish fashion retailer delivered first-half revenue of €14.9bn vs est. €14.6bn on top of delivering EBITDA margin of 27.1% vs est. 26.8%. Inditex reiterates guidance of online sales exceeding 30% of revenue by 2024. New lockdowns in China Two cities around Beijing announced lockdowns due to Covid risks. Shijiazhuang (over 2.3 million inhabitants) asked all residents of Yuhua district to work from home for a period of three days (expected to end on Friday morning). Sanhe (around 440,000 inhabitants) implemented a full lockdown of its entire population at least until Saturday morning. This underscores the supply chain risks during the winter period in the event China experiences a bigger Covid outbreak. UK August CPI comes in slightly above expectations at core UK inflation came in at 9.9% on the headline versus a slightly higher print expected, but the core inflation level rose to a new cycle high of 6.3%, just above the 6.2% expected. Price pressures are likely to remain elevated this month as well, despite some softening in fuel prices, as food and services costs continue to rise. Further gains in inflation can be expected in October, but the capping of household energy bills may help to soothe inflationary pressures thereafter. Cheniere was the one shining light on Wall Street overnight Cheniere, the US’ biggest LNG exporter, saw its shares rise 3.1% yesterday while markets saw a sea of red when US inflation data came out higher than expected. The highlights the fact that energy companies can and have been able to outperform the market. The largest US exporter of liquefied natural gas boosted its full-year 2022 profit forecast beyond analysts’ expectations as shipments are already set to depart their dock sooner than anticipated. What are we watching next? Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting on 15-16 September This the first time since 2019 that Asian leaders are meeting in person in a bigger strategic forum. Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin are officially joining the summit and India’s Modi is expected to join as well. Given the recent military success in Ukraine, the pressures are mounting on Russia and Putin Ethereum merger will draw attention The Ethereum blockchain’s much-anticipated software upgrade, the so-called Merge, is expected to take place tomorrow morning, according to its core developers. The new system, known as "proof-of-stake", will slash the Ethereum blockchain's energy consumption by 99.9%, developers say. Most blockchains, including Bitcoin's, devour large amounts of energy, sparking criticism from some investors and environmentalists. The merge could make Ethereum more favourable to pension funds and other institutional investors that are under the scanner for environmental concerns, but there is also come skepticism on how scalable Ethereum could become and if it becomes more susceptible to attacks by hackers. France is expected to enter a recession next year Barclays is the first major international bank to forecast a recession in France next year (2023 GDP growth at minus 0.7 %). This is highly likely, in our view. But it is certainly too early to assess the depth of the recession at this stage. It will depend on the evolution of the energy crisis and the risk of energy rationing. Forecasting is always a complicated task. This is even more complicated now due to the elevated level of uncertainty regarding the short-term economic path. Expect other European countries to enter a recession next year (the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary etc.). Earnings to watch Inditex has already reported before the European equity market opens (read earnings review above), so the next earnings release in focus is Adobe tomorrow. Analysts expect revenue growth of 12.6% y/y with operating margin jumping back again following cost reduction exercises. The key risks for Adobe are the strong USD, falling technology spending, and lower advertising growth lowering demand for content creation. Today: Inditex Thursday: Polestar Automotive, Adobe Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0800 – IEA's monthly Oil Market Report 0900 - Eurozone Jul. Industrial Production 1230 - US Aug. PPI 1230 - Canada Jul. Manufacturing Sales 1430 - US DoE Weekly Crude Oil and Product Inventories 1430 - ECB's Villeroy to speak 2245 - New Zealand Q2 GDP 2350 - Japan Aug. Trade Balance 0120 - China Rate Announcement 0130 - Australia Aug. Employment Data  Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher     Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/macro/market-quick-take-sep-14-2022-14092022
The Current War Between China And The United States Over Semiconductor Chips Is Gaining Momentum

How Did The US Inflation Print Affect Tech Stocks? Check Apple Stock, Amazon And Other Companies' Reaction

FXStreet News FXStreet News 14.09.2022 16:41
META stock falls over 9% on Tuesday in a market meltdown. Nasdaq is down 5%, and S&P 500 is down 4% by comparison. Meta Platforms underperforms markedly versus main indices. Meta Platforms (META) stock fell sharply on Tuesday as the market digested the US CPI print. A higher than expected number led to a sharp sell-off in equities with all the main indices closing sharply lower. However, tech took the biggest brunt of the selling with Apple and Alphabet down 6%, amazon down 7%, and Meta Platforms down a whopping 9%. Meta Platforms stock news Why the big divergence from big tech? Usually, these are seen as haven plays. All are supposed to be cash generative. The problem is big tech is generally seen as having the most to lose from higher interest rates. This may be true for some but not all. The higher the growth rate of a stock, then the bigger effect a change in interest rates has on its performance. That is why FAANG was such an outsized performer during the Fed juiced says of monetary stimulus post-pandemic. Higher growth rates get discounted by the prevailing rate of interest. If those interest rates are forecast to rise, then the present value calculation gets reduced. Adding to tech pressure and especially for the aforementioned companies is the strength of the US dollar. These are global companies, many of whom generate more than half of their revenues in overseas currencies. When that overseas currency depreciates (think euro, yen, GBP, etc.), then all of a sudden those foreign revenues are worth less in dollar terms. This affects revenues and leads to the hilarious lines we see in corporate earnings reports – "in constant currency". When are currencies ever constant? Adding to the sentiment of Meta stock this morning is news that South Korea has fined it and Alphabet (GOOGL) over violation of privacy laws, according to Reuters. Meta Platforms stock forecast META is just on massive support at around $154. Breaking this, the next level is the pandemic low at $137. The double top at $184 keeps a lid on bulls, and only a break there begins to look interesting for the bearish narrative to end. META stock chart, daily
At The Close On The New York Stock Exchange Indices Closed Mixed

On The New York Stock Exchange, The Securities Rose Yesterday

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 15.09.2022 08:46
At the close in the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones rose 0.10%, the S&P 500 rose 0.34%, and the NASDAQ Composite rose 0.74%. Chevron Corp was the top gainer among the components of the Dow Jones index today, up 3.86 points or 2.42% to close at 163.27. Quotes Johnson & Johnson rose by 3.33 points (2.06%), ending trading at 164.66. Merck & Company Inc rose 1.36 points or 1.59% to close at 86.95. The losers were shares of Honeywell International Inc, which lost 5.01 points or 2.71% to end the session at 179.97. 3M Company was up 2.44% or 2.94 points to close at 117.53, while Dow Inc was down 1.67% or 0.80 points to close at 47.07. . Leading gainers among the S&P 500 components in today's trading were Coterra Energy Inc, which rose 7.22% to hit 32.23, APA Corporation, which gained 6.72% to close at 41.74, and shares of Moderna Inc, which rose 6.17% to end the session at 139.40. The biggest losers were Nucor Corp, which shed 11.31% to close at 120.71. Shares of Centene Corp lost 6.79% to end the session at 83.92. Quotes of DISH Network Corporation decreased in price by 6.27% to 17.18. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were Avenue Therapeutics Inc, which rose 53.87% to hit 0.36, Aileron Therapeutics Inc, which gained 38.49% to close at 0.27, and also shares of Dawson Geophysical Company, which rose 41.44% to close the session at 1.57. The biggest losers were Neurobo Pharmaceuticals Inc, which shed 43.61% to close at 16.86. Shares of Vintage Wine Estates Inc shed 40.33% to end the session at 3.30. Quotes of Aditx Therapeutics Inc decreased in price by 38.22% to 11.43. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that rose in price (1,578) exceeded the number of those that closed in the red (1,506), while quotes of 124 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 1,956 stocks fell, 1,770 rose, and 254 remained at the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, fell 4.07% to 26.16. Gold futures for December delivery lost 0.63%, or 10.90, to hit $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI October futures rose 1.68%, or 1.47, to $88.78 a barrel. Brent oil futures for November delivery rose 1.23%, or 1.15, to $94.32 a barrel. Meanwhile, in the forex market, the EUR/USD pair was unchanged 0.08% to 1.00, while USD/JPY fell 0.97% to hit 143.15. Futures on the USD index fell 0.15% to 109.36.   Relevance up to 05:00 2022-09-16 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/292844
Gold's Hedge Appeal Shines Amid Economic Uncertainty and Fed's Soft-Landing Challenge

Yen's (JPY) Lack Of Conviction For Strength, Meeting Of President Xi And President Putin, Australia’s Employment Data

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 15.09.2022 10:00
Summary:  Some respite in US equities last night, amid bottom hunting and a cooler US PPI report. UK CPI also eased from record highs, but there is nothing that could change the downtrend that remains in place globally. The USD remained steady despite threats of direct intervention by the Bank of Japan and downplaying of the 7-handle by Chinese authorities. Oil prices jumped on hopes of easing restrictions in parts of China. Focus today on Australia’s jobs report which could guide the path of rate hikes from here, but also key to watch will be the Xi-Putin meeting and how the geopolitical situation develops. What is happening in markets?   Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) clawed back from an intraday sell off on Wednesday US equity markets rebounded in late trade on Wednesday after an intraday sell off. The S&P 500 ended up 0.3%, Nasdaq 100 up 0.8%. Hedge funds did some buying in the technology space, but it wasn’t enough the significantly move the needle. The most gains were seen in the Oil and Gas sector with Energy stocks rising the most after the crude oil price rebounded 2%. The Consumer discretionary followed higher. The bearish tone remains in equities with the market toying with the idea that the Fed will raise rates by 100bps (1%). In fact there is a 25% chance the Fed will raise rates by 1% at their meeting next week. Regardless of how high they hike, 0.75% or 1%, the technical picture looks bearish as well. The S&P 500 may head back to test support at around 3,738 and June lows at 3,636. Noteworthy US market moves Moderna (MRNA:xnas) gained 6.2% after the company said it is open to selling Covid vaccines to China. Starbucks (SBUX:xnas) rose 5.5% after the company raised its sales and profit outlook, expecting 7%-9% p.a. comparable sales growth and 15-20% earnings growth over the next three years. Twilio (TWLO:xnys) jumped 10% after announcing a plan to cut 11% of its workforce. Shares of railroad operators dropped on probable labor strike, Union Pacific (UNP:xnys) -3.7%, CSX (CSX:xnas) -1%. U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) The flattening went on for a second day in a row as traders took to their hearts that the Fed would be hawkish for the rest of the year and the odds for cracking the economy down the road increased. While 2-year to 10-year yields climbed 2 to 4 basis points, the yield of the 30-year long bond continued to slide and finished the session 6bps lower at 3.45%.  Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Shares traded in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Shenzhen declined on the back of the U.S. stocks’ worst day in more than two years, Hang Seng Index -2.5%, CSI 300 -1.1%. Industrials, semiconductors, and healthcare were among the top losers, Techtronic Industries (00669:xhkg) -10.0%, Hua Hong Semiconductor (01347:xhkg) -5.7%, Wuxi Biologics (02269:xhkg) -4.9%, BeiGene (06160:xhkg) -4.5%. Tech hardware stocks declined following a 31.2% YoY falls in China’s smartphone shipments in July, Sunny Optical (02382:xhkg) -4.2%, Xiaomi (01810:xhkg) -3.3%. China internet stocks traded weak, Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH.I) -2.8%, Bilibili (09626:xhkg) -5.2%, Baidu (09888:xhkg) -5.7%, JD.COM (09618:xhkg) -4.2%, Alibaba (09988:xhkg) -4.1%. Fosun (00656:xhkg) tumbled 6.9% on unconfirmed reports claiming that a couple of Chinese regulators had told investors to review their equity and credit exposures to Fosun.  Bank of Japan’s rate-checking: a precursor to direct intervention or just more of verbal intervention? Even as the USD stayed firm overnight, USDJPY retreated from near-145 levels to 143 amid fears of potential FX intervention by Japanese authorities. On Wednesday, the BOJ conducted a so-called rate check in the market, asking for an indicative price at which it could buy yen, a move widely seen as a precursor to intervention. Both the finance minister and the nation’s top currency official also warned that all options were on the table. Japan last intervened to buy the yen in 1998.The 145-level is becoming the tolerance limit for Japanese authorities, but real intervention lack so far and only volatility goes up as threats ramp up. Yen lacks conviction for strength due to fundamental weakness stemming from yield differential with the US. Crude oil (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil prices gained momentum overnight and remained steady in early Asian hours amid reports of the White House looking at refilling its strategic reserves at around $80/barrel. EIA’s weekly inventory report was mixed, with a large build in crude oil and a fall in gasoline. WTI futures rose above $88/barrel while Brent was above $94. Demand side factors also saw a modest improvement with Chinese city of Chengdu looking at easing restrictions from today. However, a looming rail strike in the US is likely to cause some disruption in the commodity markets.   What to consider? US core PPI hotter-than-expected US August PPI relieved some of the pressures seen from the CPI report a day earlier with the headline still in negative territory at -0.1% m/m (exp. -0.1%; prev. -0.4%) and slightly softer on a y/y basis at 8.7% (exp. +8.8%; prev. +9.8%). Core measure however beat expectations at 0.4% m/m (exp. +0.3%; prev. +0.3%) and 7.3% y/y (exp. +7.1%; prev. +7.7%). Lower energy prices helped to cool the headline print, and this may mean somewhat softer CPI prints in the coming months, but still inflation remains uncomfortably higher than the Fed’s 2% target. UK CPI cools but no relief for BOE UK inflation eased slightly to come in at 9.9% y/y (prev. 10.1%, exp. 10.0%) and 0.5% m/m (prev. 0.6%, exp. 0.6%), but it isn’t enough to call for a peak in inflation yet. Prime Minister Liz Truss announced plans to freeze an increase in energy bills due to hit in October, a move economists say will reduce the severity of a further spike in prices this winter. Even with those measures, inflation will remain above the BOE’s 2% goal well into next year. President Xi and President Putin are expected to meet in person for first time since February On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held in Uzbekistan today and tomorrow, President Xi and President Putin are expected to meet up for the first time after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Analysts are expecting the two leaders to discuss the sale of Russian oil and natural gas to China and the use of the rubble and the renminbi to settle bilateral trade, in addition to their positions regarding the respective core interest of each side, i.e. Ukraine and Taiwan.  Newswires suggest that the US is considering sanctions on China A Reuters story citing an anonymous source suggests that the U.S. is considering options for a sanctions package against China as part of its attempts to deter China from taking military actions against Taiwan. The story further says that the European Union is under pressure to follow suit.  China’s state-owned media downplayed the importance of the 7-handle in the Yuan State-owned China Securities Journal downplayed the importance of whether the renminbi breaks 7 the figure or not and says that there is no basis for the renminbi to depreciate in the long run. Australia’s jobs data out today will be watched closely by the RBA, when determining how much to rise rates by in October Today’s employment data is expected to show Australia’s unemployment rate remained at 50-year lows, at 3.4% in August. The RBA will also be watching to see how much employment changed in August. In July employment fell from its record high, with 41,000 jobs lost. As for today’s figures to watch; Bloomberg’s survey of economists expect 35,000 jobs to have been added last month. If more jobs are added than expected, you may see a selloff in growth sectors, such as technology, consumer discretionary and property as the RBA will have more room to hike rates. Inversely, employment falls and or unemployment rises, the RBA will have less room to hike and as such you may see an equity rally. Currently RBA interest rate futures expect rates to rise by 0.25% next month. For those watching currency markets, keep in mind the AUDUSD is being pressured to 2-year lows. However if data is stronger than expected, you may see a short lived-knee jerk rally the AUDUSD.   For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/apac-daily-digest-15-sept-2022-15092022
Stocks to keep an eye on in the second half of 2023

Energy Prices Remain Very Volatile, Activities In The Markets

Swissquote Bank Swissquote Bank 15.09.2022 10:31
US equities eked out small gains yesterday as dip buyers timidly came in, but risks remain tilted to the downside with the disappointing inflation figures, and the risk of the largest rail strike in the US since 1992. Crude Oil Prices Released yesterday, the US producer price data didn’t enchant investors. The headline figure fell for the second consecutive month but the core PPI strengthened, hinting that most of the easing in producer inflation was due to cheaper energy prices – which however remain very volatile, and which, more importantly carries a decent upside risk. The barrel of American crude flirted with the $90 mark yesterday, without however being able to clear resistance at this level. Energy companies gained despite news that Europeans are looking to raise $140 billion euros from energy companies to help households and businesses survive through winter. The situation on the stock market The S&P500 recover a part of losses yesterday, as Nasdaq gained 0.84%. But the risks remain clearly tilted to the downside. The US dollar remains relatively strong near the 20-year highs, the EURUSD consolidates below parity as gold slipped back below $1700 per ounce. The USDJPY retreated on expectation that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) could intervene to stop the yen’s depreciation. Ethereum trades around $1600 as Merger Upgrade is now imminent! Watch the full episode to find out more! 0:00 Intro0:24 Dip buyers return to a risky market2:31 US crude flirts with $90pb3:41 US rail strike risk weighs on sentiment4:55 Energy stocks rally despite EU measures to cope with crisis7:07 Gold under pressure7:50 BoJ could intervene to strengthen the yen8:52 Ethereum Merges today! Ipek Ozkardeskaya Ipek Ozkardeskaya has begun her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked at HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high net worth clients. In 2012, she started as FX Strategist at Swissquote Bank. She worked as a Senior Market Analyst in London Capital Group in London and in Shanghai. She returned to Swissquote Bank as Senior Analyst in 2020. #US #PPI #inflation #rail #strike #USD #EUR #JPY #BoJ #rate #check #Gold #XAU #crude #oil #BP #XOM #Chevron #Coterra #windfall #taxes #energy #crisis #Bitcoin #Ethereum #Merge #update #SPX #Dow #Nasdaq #investing #trading #equities #stocks #cryptocurrencies #FX #bonds #markets #news #Swissquote #MarketTalk #marketanalysis #marketcommentary ___ Learn the fundamentals of trading at your own pace with Swissquote's Education Center. Discover our online courses, webinars and eBooks: https://swq.ch/wr ___ Discover our brand and philosophy: https://swq.ch/wq Learn more about our employees: https://swq.ch/d5 ___ Let's stay connected: LinkedIn: https://swq.ch/cH
US 20-City house prices decreased by 1.3% month-on-month

Ethereum Is Waiting For Merge, Local Governments In China Are Supporting The Demand For Real Estate

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 15.09.2022 10:14
Summary:  Yesterday’s session was a muted affair as the market picked up the pieces in the wake of Tuesday’s huge slide in the market after a hot US August CPI number. Tomorrow sees the expiry of options on trillions of notional value in equities and futures, which may have added to the volatility this week. The US dollar remains strong as surging US treasury yields threaten new multi-year highs ahead of the US August Retail Sales release later today.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) US equities are scratching around after the enormous sell-off triggered by the hot US CPI release on Tuesday. Some of the scale of the volatility on Tuesday could be due to options exposures, as options of trillions of dollars on notional equities and futures expire on Friday. If the US August Retail Sales release today leads to even higher yields, stocks could find themselves under renewed pressure. The technical focus is on the recent pivot lower just below 3,900 in the S&P 500 and the 12,000 area low in the Nasdaq 100 index.  USD strength continues, threatens cycle highs A bit of consolidation yesterday in USD pairs after the huge comeback strengthening move in the US dollar in the wake of the Tuesday US August CPI release, but the USD rallied anew from late yesterday and overnight, with the action pinned near the cycle highs in some USD pairs, such as USDSEK, USDNOK and NZDUSD, but elsewhere with a bit of range left to play with. The August Retail Sales release today should garner attention as a strong number could underline the risk of higher US yields and a Fed tightening cycle that extends longer and higher than currently expected if US consumers are getting a second wind after the shock of higher gasoline prices has eased notably since the beginning of the summer. USDJPY has rebounded from yesterday’s lows as traders treat JPY crosses with care, knowing that new highs in the key USDJPY pair are likely to bring actual market intervention from the Bank of Japan/Ministry of Finance. Gold (XAUUSD) Gold trades below $1700 and close to an area around $1680 that has provided support on several occasions during the past two years. The yellow metal turned lower after Tuesday’s CPI shocker raised the prospect of a one percent rate hike next week and a terminal Fed Funds target rate around 4.5% (up 2% from the current level) before March next year. Developments and speculation that continue to underpin the dollar while undermining dollar denominated commodities, such as precious and industrial metals. Crude oil (CLV2 & LCOX2) Crude oil trades sideways with the stronger dollar and expectations for higher US rates hurting the prospect for future demand being offset by news that China’s Chengdu, locked down for weeks, plans to ease measures. The impact of China’s zero-Covid tolerance strategy this year has led to the biggest drop in oil demand in more than three decades according to the IEA. In their latest monthly oil market report, they predicted a continued slowdown in global demand ahead of year-end before accelerating to rise by 2.7 million barrels a day in 2023. Oil market tightness at the beginning of 2023 would be led by a potential 1.9 million barrels Year on year drop in Russian production by February due to sanctions. US natural gas US natural gas trades back above $9 per MMBtu and up 13% on the week as a looming rail strike (see below) would reduce supplies of coal, forcing power generators to rely more heavily on natural gas at a time where demand for cooling remains elevated due to expectations for hotter-than-normal weather across the Midwest and Eastern parts of the US. US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) US 10-year yields are now pinned at the highs for the cycle near 3.50% ahead of today’s US August Retail Sales release. Interesting to see how the market treats a strong data point – with a deepening inversion as the market prices a more aggressive Fed (as happened on the surprisingly strong CPI release Tuesday) or with the entire curve lifting. Exceptionally weak data would also be interesting as it would challenge the rising yields trend/narrative. What is going on? U.S. inflation remains broad-based The producer price index (PPI) dipped 0.1 % month-over-month in August. This reflects cheaper gasoline prices (minus 13 % in August compared to July) and to a lesser extent lower freight costs. However, less volatile elements of the index rose more than expected. The core price index was up 0.4 % on a monthly basis. The numbers like those seen in Tuesday’s US CPI report confirm that U.S. inflation is still broad-based and inflation pressures are unbroken. This opens the door to a new interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve next week. The majority of the market expects a 75 basis point hike but a minority (between 10 % and 20 % of market participants depending on which indicators we monitor) bet on a 100 basis point hike in the cards. Chinese cities move to boost housing demand Local governments across China have moved to encourage property demand after the Chinese central government called for measures to ease the crisis. Some 120 have loosened restrictions on funds for property purchases. This news supported beleaguered Chinese developers’ stocks in trading on Thursday. Ethereum Merge The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum, is very close to its expected Merge, scheduled to be within the next hour. Ethereum will go through a major upgrade which fundamentally changes the way that transactions are validated on the blockchain, and it will reduce the energy consumption for running the network with around 99.95%. What are we watching next? Looming rail worker strike in the United States The two largest railroad trade unions said they will strike if the ongoing negotiations with employers about higher salaries and better work conditions fail. The strike could start as early as tomorrow and could have a very negative impact on the U.S. economy. Estimates suggest this could cost the economy nearly $2bn per day. In the United States, rail freight represents almost a third of the total domestic freight. Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting today and tomorrow This is the first time since 2019 that Asian leaders are meeting in person in a bigger strategic forum. Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin are officially joining the summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan and India’s Modi is expected to join as well. Given the recent Ukrainian military success against Russia, the pressures are mounting on Russia and Putin, which will test a Russian-China "friendship” that at a meeting of Xi and Putin during the Beijing Olympics and just ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was declared to be “entering a new era” and “without limits”.  Earnings to watch Today, focus is firmly on Adobe’s earnings report today after the close. The company has seen a wild ride in recent years, pumped to remarkable heights by late 2021 due to its steady solid growth and high profitability with a backdrop of seemingly ever falling yields, only to see the share price crushed in half since its 2021 peak, first due to the seismic shift higher in yields, but compounded by faltering growth rates for the company starting two quarters ago. Today: Polestar Automotive, Adobe Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0900 – Eurozone Jul. Trade Balance 0915 – ECB's Guindos to speak 1230 – US Weekly Initial Jobless Claims 1230 – US Sep. Empire Manufacturing 1230 – US Aug. Retail Sales 1430 – EIA's Natural Gas Storage Change  Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/macro/market-quick-take-sep-15-2022-15092022
Oil Prices Soar on Prospect of Soft Landing, Eyes Set on $80 Breakout

Falls On The New York Stock Exchange, Who Lost The Most?

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 16.09.2022 08:17
At the close of the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones fell 0.56% to a one-month low, the S&P 500 fell 1.13% and the NASDAQ Composite fell 1.43%. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated was the top performer in the Dow Jones Index today, up 13.14 points or 2.58% to close at 522.91. JPMorgan Chase & Co rose 1.75 points or 1.51% to close at 117.87. Goldman Sachs Group Inc rose 4.36 points or 1.33% to close at 331.62. The losers were Salesforce Inc, which shed 5.50 points or 3.43% to end the session at 154.78. Microsoft Corporation was up 2.71% or 6.84 points to close at 245.38, while Visa Inc Class A was down 2.03% or 4.04 points to close at 195. .37. Leading gainers among the S&P 500 index components in today's trading were Humana Inc, which rose 8.37% to 497.24, Wynn Resorts Limited, which gained 7.48% to close at 65.23, and shares of Paramount Global Class B, which rose 5.16% to close the session at 23.05. The losers were Adobe Systems Incorporated, which shed 16.79% to close at 309.13. Shares of Albemarle Corp shed 6.49% to end the session at 286.75. West Pharmaceutical Services Inc lost 5.91% to 273.63. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were Heartbeam Inc, which rose 85.60% to hit 2.32, Neurobo Pharmaceuticals Inc, which gained 47.21% to close at 24.82, and shares of Nabriva Therapeutics AG, which rose 40.65% to end the session at 0.27. The drop leaders were Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Inc, which shed 55.65% to close at 16.63. Shares of Eloxx Pharmaceuticals Inc lost 40.97% to end the session at 0.22. Quotes Color Star Technology Co Ltd fell in price by 39.54% to 0.07. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that fell in price (2188) exceeded the number of those that closed in positive territory (909), and quotes of 125 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 1991 stocks fell, 1759 rose, and 265 remained at the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, rose 0.42% to 26.27. Gold futures for December delivery lost 2.08%, or 35.55, to hit $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI October futures fell 3.84%, or 3.40, to $85.08 a barrel. Brent oil futures for November delivery fell 3.56%, or 3.35, to $90.75 a barrel. Meanwhile, in the Forex market, the EUR/USD pair was unchanged 0.20% to 1.00, while USD/JPY was up 0.23% to hit 143.48. Futures on the USD index rose by 0.06% to 109.44.     Relevance up to 05:00 2022-09-17 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/293021
Steady BoE Rate Expectations Amid Empty Event Calendar in the UK

China Is Ready To Work With Russia, Ethereum Merge Successfully Completed

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 16.09.2022 09:58
Summary:  U.S. equity markets declined again on the economic good news which added to investors’ worries about more and for longer rate hikes from the Fed. The Chinese Yuan weakened and broke the 7-handle. China's August activity data is scheduled to release today. What is happening in markets?   Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) face further pressure as US eco news brightens        US equities closed lower on Thursday with the S&P500 losing 1.1% taking its weekly loss to almost 4%, while the Nasdaq fell 1.4%, losing 4.6% across the week, with both major indices eroding last week’s gain. Investors are growing cautious, as new economic data gives the Fed room to raise rates, and keep them higher for longer to control inflation. Retail sales unexpectedly rose in August, showing consumer spending is far from collapsing and jobless claims fell for the fifth straight week, suggesting employers worker demand remains healthy despite an uncertain outlook. For the market to turn around, it will need to see earnings multiples expand, as that supports share price growth. And we need to see earnings per share move up from a decline, to growth. But if the Fed keeps hiking rates, and the energy crisis continues, this scenario means tech stock earnings multiples are likely to see earnings per share (EPS) growth pressure. On the flip side, EPS in energy continues to gain momentum. Big movers in US shares Adobe shares fell 17%, weighing on the Nasdaq and S&P 500 after the software giant announced $20 billion deal to buy design start up Figma. The weakness flowed through to other tech stocks, with Apple shedding 1.9% and Salesforce sliding 3.4%. Meanwhile oil stocks also copped selling after the WTI oil price fell below $86 after the US announced it would restock oil reserves but without a trigger price. Bank stocks were a bright spot, with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan rising more than 1% apiece. U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) The U.S. short-end yields continued to charge higher, 2-year yields up 7bps to finish the session at 3.86%, flattening the 2-10 year curve to -42bps, as the 10-year yields up 5bps to 3.44%.  The 30-year yields, however remained well anchored at 3.47%, up only 1bp and not far from the pre-CPI release levels. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hang Seng Index edged up by 0.4%, helped by the rise in Chinese developers, while the CSI 300 dropped by 0.9%.  Securities Times reported that more than 120 cities have relaxed providence fund policies to boost the local property markets and other media reported that a large number of cities had loosened home purchase restrictions.  Country Garden (02007:xhkg) surged by 8.7% followed by Guangzhou R&F (02777:xhkg) up 8.6%, CIFI (00884:xhkg) up 7%, China Resources Land (01109:xhkg) up 4.9%, and China Overseas Land & Investment (00688:xhkg) up 4%. Catering names gained on news that Chengdu was relaxing its lockdown, Xiabuxiabu (00520:xhkg) up 5.5%.  Li Auto (02015:xhkg) fell 2.3% as the President of the company reduced his shareholding. EV names overall were also pressured by the news that China’s ambassador to the U.S. warned against the potential risks of the US trying to cut China off the EV supply chains.  Solar names were down following reports about the European Union was going to ban manufactured goods with forced labour in them and raised concerns about much of China’s solar products originated from Xinjiang. Australia’s ASX200 The ASX200 is on tracking lower this week, after losing 0.7% Monday to Thursday with the technical indicators suggesting the market is likely to head lower from here and it could retest the lows set in June. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. We saw commodity stocks march up this week, with coal companies Coronado Global rising 13%, New Hope up 5%. It’s also worth noting these are some of this year’s best performing stocks on the ASX, with Coronado up 82%, New Hope up 182%, while the coal giant Whitehaven is up 266% YTD, supported by the coal price hitting new highs this week, as well as the coal futures price. Meanwhile, with crop prices likely to go higher amid La Nina, Agri business Elders rose 4%. Elsewhere, technical buying picked up in oil and gas companies including Woodside, supporting its shares rise ~4%, with Beach Energy following. USDCNH breaks above 7 handle USDCNH broke 7.00 and the markets is expecting little reactions from the PBOC given the latest state-owned media’s effort to downplay the importance of the 7-handle. Crude oil (CLU2 & LCOV2) Crude oil prices slumped overnight as demand concerns came back into the focus. The International Energy Agency said that China faces its biggest annual drop in demand in more than three decades as COVID-19 lockdowns weigh on growth. Oil demand could fall by 420kb/d, or 2.7% this year. This led to the IEA trimming its estimate of global demand. It now sees consumption rising by only 2mb/d. Further, supply situation also seemed to fluctuate with the US Department of Energy walking back on its SPR refill stance by saying that it didn’t include a strike price (that was said to be around $80/barrel) and it isn’t likely to occur until after fiscal 2023. WTI futures fell below $85/barrel while Brent futures touched lows of $90/barrel. Oil technical levels to watch For traders and investors, for WTI to reverse its downtrend, it needs to close above resistance at $97.66, which is what our technical analyst pointed out here. So the next level for you to watch, is if it breaks above $90.40, it would signal an uptrend, for this to occur, the market will need good news, perhaps even bright news from China, the biggest oil consumer. Regardless, right now, oil is in a bear trend and if it closes below $81.20 the bear run-lower could be extend to $78.48-$74.27. Gold (XAUUSD) The yellow metal saw a drop to $1,660/oz down more than 2% to over 2-year lows, amid expectations of more aggressive rate hikes by the Fed as strong US economic data underpinned. Markets are now pricing in a more than 75bps rate hike by the Fed at the September meeting, and a terminal rate of ~4.5%. What to consider? Mixed US data, but further upward pricing of the Fed rate path US retail sales saw the headline rising 0.3% m/m in August (exp -0.1%, prev -0.4%) but the core retail sales print was weaker than expected at -0.3% m/m (exp 0%, prev 0.0%). The slower retail spending does reflect the current slowdown in goods spending despite services remining strong and supporting the overall consumer strength in the US. Meanwhile, initial jobless claims were lower than expected at 213K (exp 226K, prev 218K). That is the lowest since early June and the 5th consecutive decline (the high reached 262K), suggesting that labor markets still remain tight. Regional Fed indices offset each other The regional Fed indices on manufacturing gave contrasting signals with the Philly Fed index falling -9.9 vs +2.8, but the Empire improving markedly to -1.5 vs -13.0 estimate. For both indices, the prices paid components did fall and has moved markedly lower over the last few months, but still remains with a positive number (i.e., more businesses reporting higher prices vs lower prices). For the Philly Fed, the price paid came in at 29.8 v 43.6. For the Empire, the prices paid came in at 39.6 vs 55.5. Australia’s latest economic news shows employment growth is slowing with the jobless rate rising for the first time in 10 months; giving the RBA less room to hike rates Australia’s unemployment rate unexpectedly rose in August, rising from 3.4% to 3.5% with less jobs being added to economy than expected (33,500 instead of the 35,000). Given employment has fallen from its 50-year peak, and job growth is slowing, the RBA effectively has a solid barrier in its way preventing it from rapidly rising rates over the coming months, with room of a 0.5% hike being taken off the table. For equity investors, this supports risk-appetite slightly increasing in the banking sector, given employment nears its peak and credit might not be squeezed as hard as feared, thus property price growth also might not continue to fall as rapidly as forecast. For currency traders, the AUDUSD sharply fell from its intraday high (0.6769) and now faces pressure back to two-year lows, where support is at 0.61358, implying it may fall 10%. Further to that, the currency pair faces downside simply as the market is pricing in 0.25% RBA hike next month, versus the more aggressive US Fed Reserve’s hike potentially being 100bps (or 1%) next week. Slower export growth, power shortage, and pandemic controls would probably have taken their toll on China’s August activity data China’s activity data for August, scheduled to release today, would probably be at risk of missing the median forecasts in the Bloomberg survey, which has industrial production at 3.8% YoY in August (vs 3.8% YoY in July), retail sales at 3.2% YoY in August (vs 2.7% YoY in July), and fixed asset investment year-to-date 5.5% YoY (vs 5.7% YoY). The heatwave-induced power shortage caused disruption to industrial production in Sichuan. The heatwave might have also caused delays in infrastructure construction which was largely outdoor and offset some of the positive impacts of accelerated credit extension. The pandemic control measures affected the manufacturing and export hub of the city of Yiwu in Zhejiang province in August. The much weaker expected export growth data for August released last week and the continuously weak data in the property market also pointed to potentially downside surprises to these forecasts.  While a favourable base effect and stronger auto sales in August could have boosted retail sales, tightened pandemic control measures might have damped catering and other services and dragged down retail sales growth.  Russian President Putin said he appreciated China’s “balanced position” on Ukraine President Xi and President Putin met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held in Uzbekistan.  The Russian president said he values China’s “balanced position” on Ukraine and he backs the latter’s “One China” principle and opposes “provocations” by the U.S. on the issue of Taiwan.  On the other hand, the readout released by China only did not touch on Ukraine.  As in the readout, Xi told Putin that “China is ready to work with Russia in extending strong support to each other on issues concerning their respective core interests”. China’s State Council reiterated support for the economy and opening up trade and investment In a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, China’s State Council rolled out an additional RMB200 billion relending quota to support key industries in the real economy and pledged to support international trade and open up to foreign investment. Ethereum Merge – a new chapter in crypto Yesterday, the second-largest cryptocurrency Ethereum successfully underwent its merge from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake. From consuming around 0.2% of the world’s electricity, Ethereum now consumes a fraction of that. Our Crypto analyst calls it a new chapter not only for Ethereum but crypto in general. Read more here.    For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.     Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/apac-daily-digest-16-sept-2022-16092022
EM Index Inclusions and Exclusions: India Thrives, Egypt Faces Challenges

The Markets Are Concentrated On Inflation, Crude Oil Is Down

Swissquote Bank Swissquote Bank 16.09.2022 10:24
US railroad companies and the unions representing their workers reached a tentative agreement early Thursday to prevent a rail strike in the US. Avoiding a rail strike is good news, but not good enough to give a smile to investors. The markets remain too focused on inflation. Increases and decreases The S&P500 closed the session more than 1% lower, as US retail sales and jobless claims – which both hinted that the US economy remains relatively resilient to the Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hikes - didn’t help keeping the Fed hawks at bay. The US 2-year yield spiked to 3.90%, the mortgage rates in the US topped 6%, the US dollar consolidated a touch below the 110 level, Ethereum lost 10% and gold dived to $1660 per ounce. US crude took a good 4% dive. But this time, it wasn’t just the recession talk, it was because the Americans rectified a beginner’s mistake that they have made earlier this week, saying that they will refill their strategic oil reserves if prices fall below $80 per barrel. Waiting For Reports We will likely close this week on a sour note. Next on the economic calendar are the final European CPI read, which will confirm that inflation spiked to 9.1% in August, and the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment, which will hopefully not print a significantly positive number, because the Fed hawks got strong enough the week before the Fed decision. Watch the full episode to find out more! 0:00 Intro 0:25 US rail strike will likely be avoided! 2:08 But sentiment remains sour on strong US data 3:57 World Bank points at recession 5:04 Crude oil down as Americans understand their mistake 6:41 Strong dollar weighs on major peers 6:55 Joke of the day 7:09 Ethereum down 10% post Merge upgrade 7:51 Adobe dives 17% on Figma acquisition 8:44 Watch EZ final CPI & UoM Consumer Sentiment today! Ipek Ozkardeskaya Ipek Ozkardeskaya has begun her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked at HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high net worth clients. In 2012, she started as FX Strategist at Swissquote Bank. She worked as a Senior Market Analyst in London Capital Group in London and in Shanghai. She returned to Swissquote Bank as Senior Analyst in 2020. #US #rail #strike #inflation #USD #EUR #GBP #Gold #XAU #crude #oil #natgas #energy #crisis #Bitcoin #Ethereum #Merge #update #Bitcoin #Adobe #Figma #SPX #Dow #Nasdaq #investing #trading #equities #stocks #cryptocurrencies #FX #bonds #markets #news #Swissquote #MarketTalk #marketanalysis #marketcommentary ___ Learn the fundamentals of trading at your own pace with Swissquote's Education Center. Discover our online courses, webinars and eBooks: https://swq.ch/wr ___ Discover our brand and philosophy: https://swq.ch/wq Learn more about our employees: https://swq.ch/d5 ___ Let's stay connected: LinkedIn: https://swq.ch/cH
ECB press conference brings more fog than clarity

The Situation On The European Markets Is Getting Worse

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 17.09.2022 08:25
On Friday, key European stock indices declined dramatically. Market participants analyzed the alarming data about the record acceleration of inflation in the EU countries. The negative dynamics on the US exchanges became an additional downward factor for the European stock market. At the time of writing, the STOXX Europe 600 index of Europe's leading companies fell by 1.2% to 409.8 points. Meanwhile, the French CAC 40 sank by 1.47%, the German DAX decreased by 1.71%, and the British FTSE 100 lost 0.06%. Top gainers and losers The shares of carmaker Volkswagen AG dropped by 2%, the stocks of Mercedes-Benz Group AG fell by 2.2% and BMW AG lost 1.4%. The market capitalization of European logistics companies Deutsche Post AG and Royal Mail Plc crashed by 7.3% and 10.3% respectively. The main reason the decline in quotes fell was that the US rival of these companies, FedEx, published weak preliminary data reports. Shares of German energy company Uniper SE dropped by 13% due to the news that its management continues to discuss with the German government a possibility of increasing the state's stake in the company to the major share, which potentially opens the way to its full nationalization in the future. Market sentiment Friday morning saw fresh statistics on consumer prices in the euro region. Thus, the annual inflation rate in the European Union rose to 9.1% in August from July's 8.9%, thereby breaking a historical record. Meanwhile, auto sales in the eurozone rose 4.4% year-over-year in August. The figure broke a 13-month losing streak. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), last month the number of registered cars in the countries of the European Union amounted to 650,305 thousand against 622,821 thousand in August 2021. According to the report of the National Statistics Office of Great Britain (ONS), last month retail sales in the country declined by 1.6% for the month and 5.4% for the year, which was the maximum drop for the whole year. At the same time the market had forecast a decline of only 0.5% for the month and 4.2% for the year. The weak UK data was further evidence that the local economy is sliding into recession, as the cost of living crisis is permanently reducing the spending of local households. The Bank of England will hold its next meeting at the end of next week. Analysts believe the British Central Bank will increase the interest rate by 75 basis points. Next Thursday, the regulator will have to adjust its next steps in monetary policy, taking into account the measures of the new government of Liz Truss on limiting energy prices. Recall that during the August meeting, representatives of the Bank of England predicted that inflation in the country will peak at 13.3% by the end of 2022, after which the UK will plunge into recession and will not emerge from it until early 2024. Earlier, British financial conglomerate Barclays predicted a recession in Europe in the first half of 2023. In addition, analysts at the bank suggested that the economy of the Euro-region will decrease by more than 1% during the calendar year. On Friday the participants of the European stock market returned to the discussion of the prospects of monetary policy tightening by the leading central banks of the world. On Thursday, representatives of the World Bank said that recession risks in 2023 are increasing against the background of a simultaneous rise in central bank rates and the energy crisis in Europe. Earlier, the International Monetary Fund said a slowdown in the global economy was imminent. At the same time, Indermit Gill, chief economist at the World Bank, stressed that he was concerned about global stagflation (a period of low growth and high inflation). Recall that last Thursday at its September meeting the European Central Bank raised the prime rate on loans to 1.25% per annum, the rate on deposits - to 0.75% and the rate on margin loans - to 1.5%. At the same time the rate of discount rate increase immediately by 0.75 percentage points for the first time in history. In addition, members of the Central Bank noted that the regulator intends to continue raising the rate in the upcoming meetings. Thus, the ECB chairman Christine Lagarde said that the further pace of interest rate increases will depend on the incoming statistical data. An important downward factor for key indicators of European stock exchanges on Friday was also the weak results of the last trading session on the US stock market. Thus, the Dow Jones Industrial Average index declined 0.56% on Thursday, falling to a one-month low. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 shed 1.13% and the NASDAQ Composite dropped 1.43%. Previous trading results On Thursday, European stock market indicators closed in the red zone, ending in a minus for the third consecutive session. Market participants were walking away from risky assets amid concerns about the prospects of the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy tightening amid slowing economic growth. As a result, the composite indicator of Europe's leading companies STOXX Europe 600 fell by 0.65% to 414.78 points. In this case, the maximum decline among the components of STOXX Europe 600 showed securities of the Swiss online pharmacy Zur Rose Group AG (-10%) and the German supplier of warehouse equipment Kion Group (-6.7%). Meanwhile, the French CAC 40 decreased by 1.04%, the German DAX lost 0.55% and only the British FTSE 100 grew by 0.07%. The value of securities of Finnish telecommunication equipment manufacturer Nokia dropped 1.2% and that of Ericsson, a Swedish telecommunication equipment manufacturer, dropped 2.9%. The day before, analysts at Swiss financial conglomerate Credit Suisse upgraded recommendations for Nokia shares to "above market" from "neutral" and lowered them for Ericsson to "below market" from "above market. Quotes of the British-Dutch oil and gas company Shell fell by 1.1%. Earlier, the media reported that the chief executive officer of the oil giant - Ben van Beurden - will leave his post at the end of 2022. At the same time, from January 1, 2023, the company will be headed by Wael Savan, who currently serves as director of complex gas development. The market capitalization of the French energy company Electricite de France SA decreased by 0.6%. On the eve of the company's management announced that against the backdrop of reduced electricity generation at nuclear power plants, its profits for 2022 will be significantly lower than previously expected. The value of Hungarian airline Wizz Air stock dropped by 5.6% on news about the purchase of 75 A321neo planes from the Dutch Airbus. At the same time Airbus share price fell by 0.6%. Fashion retailer H&M's stock price dropped 0.5%. Earlier the company reported lower-than-forecasted quarterly sales. Market capitalization of Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis declined by 0.4%. The day before representatives of the pharmaceutical giant said that the company became the subject of an investigation by the Swiss Antitrust Commission on the use of patents. The British online retailer THG Holdings PLC plummeted 18.4% The day before the company said that its sales this year would be below forecasts amid falling consumer appetite. The key reason for the spectacular fall of the French index the day before was the weak statistical data on consumer prices in France. Thus, in August the annual inflation rate in the country declined only to 5.9% from July's 6.1%. At the same time, the market forecasted a more significant slowdown in consumer price growth. Meanwhile, in the past month, consumer confidence in the UK went into negative territory for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic in mid-2020. On Thursday, European exchanges continued to discuss data on annual inflation in the United States, which fell only to 8.3% in August from July's 8.5%. Analysts anticipated earlier that the annual consumer price index in the country would fall to 8.1% by the end of the last month. The final data caused noticeable pessimism in world markets, because the level of inflation in August will be carefully evaluated by the Federal Reserve System at the September meeting next week. Analysts are confident that the regulator will not give up another rate hike of 75 basis points amid a slight decline in the consumer price index. Thus, last week the head of the US Federal Reserve Jerome Powell said the central bank was ready to "act decisively" to fight the record level of consumer prices in the country. As of today, about 90% of the market believes that the US Federal Reserve will raise its benchmark interest rate by 75 basis points. At the same time, the likelihood that the rate will only be raised by 50 basis points next week has all but disappeared.   Relevance up to 19:00 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/321958
At The Close On The New York Stock Exchange Indices Closed Mixed

Fall Of Indices At The Close Of The New York Stock Exchange

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 19.09.2022 08:07
At the close on the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones fell 0.45% to hit a monthly low, the S&P 500 index fell 0.72%, and the NASDAQ Composite index fell 0.90%. The leading performer among the components of the Dow Jones index today was Home Depot Inc, which gained 4.43 points (1.63%) to close at 275.97. Amgen Inc rose 3.48 points or 1.53% to close at 231.14. Johnson & Johnson rose 2.52 points or 1.53% to close at 167.60. The losers were Boeing Co shares, which fell 5.49 points or 3.67% to end the session at 144.29. Chevron Corp was up 2.60% or 4.17 points to close at 156.45, while Walt Disney Company was down 2.28% or 2.52 points to close at 108. 25. Leading gainers among the S&P 500 index components in today's trading were Iron Mountain Incorporated, which rose 3.35% to hit 55.29, Newmont Goldcorp Corp, which gained 3.09% to close at 43.71, and also Dollar Tree Inc, which rose 2.89% to end the session at 141.92. The biggest losers were FedEx Corporation, which shed 21.40% to close at 161.02. Shares of WestRock Co lost 11.48% to end the session at 34.15. Quotes of International Paper fell in price by 11.21% to 35.23. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were Panbela Therapeutics Inc, which rose 53.06% to hit 0.58, Applied Opt, which gained 50.40% to close at 3.76, and shares of Axcella Health Inc, which rose 29.57% to end the session at 2.41. The biggest losers were Aditx Therapeutics Inc, which shed 58.52% to close at 4.31. Shares of Esports Entertainment Group Inc lost 46.15% and ended the session at 0.18. Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Inc lost 45.94% to 8.99. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that fell in price (2294) exceeded the number of those that closed in positive territory (816), and quotes of 121 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 2,586 stocks fell, 1,158 rose, and 233 remained at the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, rose 0.11% to 26.30. Gold Futures for December delivery added 0.38%, or 6.35, to hit $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI October futures rose 0.29%, or 0.25, to $85.35 a barrel. Brent oil futures for November delivery rose 0.81%, or 0.74, to $91.58 a barrel. Meanwhile, in the forex market, the EUR/USD pair remained unchanged 0.10% to 1.00, while USD/JPY fell 0.40% to hit 142.95. Futures on the USD index fell 0.02% to 109.43.   Relevance up to 05:00 2022-09-20 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/293169
Gold's Hedge Appeal Shines Amid Economic Uncertainty and Fed's Soft-Landing Challenge

Chengdu Returns To Normal Life, The Entry Of Genting Group Into The Competition

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 19.09.2022 08:30
Summary:  Sentiment in U.S. equities has been dampened by rising expectations of larger rate hikes for the rest of the year and profit warnings and depressed remarks from the management of heavy-weight companies about their business outlook and the economy. All eyes are on the FOMC meeting this Wednesday. China’s August industrial production, retail sales, and infrastructure construction surprised on the upside but housing market activities and home prices remained sluggish. What is happening in markets?   Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) are looking bearish again US equities closed off the week with the biggest loss since January after heavy-weight companies were hit by a series of company earnings and guidance woes, with their pain being compounded by rising bond yields. S&P 500 was down 0.7% on Friday and down 4.8% for the week and Nasdaq 100 dropped 0.6% on Friday and 5.8% for the week, wiping out the prior week’s gains. The Nasdaq 100 is now down 29% from its November 2021 peak and the technical indicators on the monthly chart tend to suggest further downside ahead. Big US stock movers   Last week there were a number of industrial titans, first Dow Chemical (DOW:xnys), Eastman Chemical (EMN:xnys), Huntsman (HUN:xnys), Nucor (NUE:xnys), and capped with FedEx (FDX:xnys) warning about grim demand outlook.  FedEx only missed EPS for the August quarter massively but also cut its Nov quarter EPS guidance and completely withdrew the FY2023 guidance, citing significantly worsened macroeconomic trends both internationally and in the US. FedEX tumbled 21.4% on Friday. Amazon (AMZ:xnas) declined 2.2%, following FedEx’ warning. General Electric (GE:xnys) warned the supply chain pressure is having a negative impact on profits.  Uber (UBER:xnys) dropped 3.7% after the ride-hailing services provider following a major data breach in its computer network caused by a hacker.  Amazon (AMZ:xnas) declined 2.2%, being dragged down by the woes in FedEx.  Adobe (ADBE:xnas) slid another 3.1% on Friday and a massive 19.4% in two days since the software maker announced a USD20 billion offer to acquire Figma, collaborated product design platform at 100x of the latter’s recurring revenue. For more discussion on FedEx and Adobe, please refer to Peter Garny’s note here.  Last Friday, over USD3 trillion notional of options expired on Friday and S&P3900 puts traded about 95,000 contracts.  U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) Trading in treasuries on Friday was mixed, with yields of -2-year and 10-year notes unchanged at 3.86% and 3.45% respectively as 5-year yields came off 3bps to 3.63%, and 30-year bonds underperformed for the first time during the week, seeing yield rising 4bps to 3.51%. Treasuries pared their early losses (higher yields) after the 5-10 year inflation expectations in the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey fell to 2.8%, the lowest since July 2021.  The underperformance in the 30-year bonds was attributable to supply, including a USD12 billion 20-year treasury bond auction on Tuesday and expected corporate issuance of about USD20 billion this week.  The latest data shows that the holding of Japan, the largest foreign holder of U.S. treasury securities, fell USD2 billion to USD1.23 trillion and China, the second largest holder, saw its holdings increase by USD2.2 billion to USD970 billion in July.     Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Shares traded in Shanghai and Shenzhen plunged, with CSI 300 down 2.4%.  The General Office of the State Council issued guidelines to encourage securities firms, funds, and financial guarantee companies to lower fees.  Shares of brokerage firms fell across the board in mainland bourses by nearly 5%.  East Money (300059:xsec) tumbled 10.8%. Chinese brokerage companies listed in Hong Kong also plunged, with GF Securities (01776:xhkg) down by 8.6%, CITIC Securities (06030:xhkg) down by 5.0%, Huatai Securities (06886:xhkg) down by 4.8%.  Chinese property stocks fell in both the mainland bourses and Hong Kong bourse, following the report that new home prices 2nd to 4th tier cities fell sharply again in August despite the recent relaxation of home purchases in a large number of cities.  The weakness of the property sector in the fixed asset investment data in August and the news that the city of Suzhou resumed home purchase restrictions on non-residents in four districts added to the woes in the developer space.  Country Garden (02007:xhkg) tumbled 7.6%.  The EV space declined, falling from 1% to 4.5% following the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s Vice Ministry said that there are “blind investments” and overlapping projects in EV in some provinces and municipalities.  In the China internet space, Kuaishou (01024:xhkg) led the charge lower, down more than 7%, as Alibaba (09988:xhkg), Tencent (00700:xhkg), Meituan (03690:xhkg), and Bilibili (09626:xhkg) down from 1.5% to 4.4%.  Australia’s ASX200 has wiped out July’s rally. Focus will be on RBA minutes released Tuesday The ASX200 shed 2.3% last week, erasing July’s gain but faring better than US equities. The market woes have not only come after Australian 10-year bond yield rose to fresh highs, up 0.2% last week, while hovering in 8-year high neighbourhood. But secondly, market sentiment has also been capped as the Fed is set to aggressively hike rates, which pressures Australia’s tech stocks, with many Aussie tech companies making the majority of their revenue from the US. And thirdly, metal commodities have come under pressure again of late, as China’s demand continues to wane. In fact, fresh Chinese export data shows their rare earths and aluminium exports surged yoy. Meanwhile total China’s imports of steel plunged 16% yoy, corn fell 44% and wheat dropped 25% yoy. The trifecta of issues is seeing the ASX200’s technical indicators on the day, week and month charts flag further downside is ahead. Australian dollar on notice with the Fed to hike this week The AUDUSD is under pressure after hitting a new low last week, 0.6727 US cents, which is about a two year bottom. Despite already losing 7% this year, the commodity currency, the AUDUSD is on notice again this week with the Fed expected to hike by 75bps (0.75%) at its Wednesday meet, which will take the Fed funds rate to 3-3.25%. There is also a slim chance (25% chance) of a full percentage hike of 100bps (1%) after the hotter-than-expected August inflation. Either way, the fundamentals support the US dollar gaining momentum against the Aussie, especially as the RBA is limited in its hiking power and likely to only hike by 0.25% next month. Also consider a jump in the US 10-year yield will likely further bolster the USD. A slightly softer USD heading into the FOMC week The USD is slightly softer going into the FOMC week amid some profit-taking, but it still remains the haven of choice with massive amounts of policy tightening packed into the week. AUDUSD pared some of the recent losses amid China reopening optimism and RBA’s Kearns saying that Aussie home buyers could benefit from higher rates. USDCAD rose to near 2-year highs on Friday at 1.3308, partly oil induced, but also due to increasingly sour sentiment and perceptions that BoC-Fed policy will likely diverge in wake of the latest disappointing Canadian employment data vs still-tight US labor markets. USDJPY will be a key focus with both FOMC and BOJ meetings scheduled in the week, and possibility of another round of strong verbal intervention from the authorities is seen. EURUSD is back above parity, as ECB members stay hawkish, but risks remain titled to the downside in the near term. Crude oil (CLU2 & LCOV2) With massive central bank action scheduled in the week, it can be safely assumed that demand concerns will likely remain center-stage. A spate of rate hikes is aggravating concerns of an economic slowdown, but easing of restrictions in China’s Chengdu today will ease some of the concerns. Dalian will also exit restrictions today. Nevertheless, more supply disruptions remain a risk. Germany seized the local unit of Russian oil major Rosneft PJSC, including three refineries. One of those is now preparing for short-term restrictions in crude supplied via the Druzhba pipeline. WTI futures were seen higher above $85/barrel in early Asian hours, while Brent futures were close to $92. Gold (XAUUSD) Gold saw some recovery after touching support of $1660/oz on Friday as interest rate hike bets picked up following the hotter-than-expected August CPI in the US last week. Further resilience in economic data out of the US has further kept interest rates expectations on an upswing, while rising geopolitical and economic risks are doing little to entice haven buying as the US dollar still remains the prime safe-haven choice. Gold was back close to $1680 this morning in Asia. The risk of the FOMC sending the US economy into a recession before getting inflation under control is rising and, once that occurs, the dollar is likely to turn sharply lower, thereby supporting fresh demand for investment metals. What to consider? University of Michigan survey remains optimisticThe preliminary September University of Michigan sentiment survey saw the headline rise to 59.5 from 58.5, just short of the expected 60, but nonetheless marking a fourth consecutive rise. Notably, the rise in forward expectations was starker than in current conditions, with the former also coming in above consensus expectations. Also, key were the inflation expectations, which echoed what was seen in the Fed surveys last week. The 1yr slowed to 4.6% from 4.8% and the 5yr expectations slowed to 2.8% from 2.9%.   China’s August activity data improved better-than-expected China’s activity data for August came in at stronger than expected growth rates.  Industrial production grew 4.2% Y/Y in August beating the consensus estimate of 3.8% Y/Y and improving from last month’s 3.8% Y/Y.  Higher output in automobile and power generation offset the impact from slower activities in other industries such as pharmaceuticals and computers.  Retail sales grew 5.4% Y/Y in August, well exceeding the 3.3% Y/Y median forecast from the Bloomberg survey and the 2.7% YoY in July. A favourable base effect and stronger auto sales during the month boosted retail sales and more than offset the drag from tightened pandemic control measures and a slow housing market.  Fixed asset investment grew 6.4% Y/Y in August, notably accelerating from the 3.6% Y/Y in July, led by 14.8% Y/Y growth in infrastructure and 10.7% Y/Y growth in manufacturing investments while investment in properties slowed further to a decline of -13.9% Y/Y in August from July’s -12.1%.  China’s property prices in lower-tier cities continued to decline in August According to data released by the National Bureau, the weighted average of new home prices in the top 70 cities in China fell 1.1% Y/Y (vs -0.6% Y/Y in July), driven largely by declines in property prices in lower-tier cities.  The easing of home purchase restrictions by local governments has so not been able to stop the decline in property prices in lower-tier cities.  Sequentially, new home prices in Tier-2, Tier-3, and Tier-4 cities dropped by about 5% M/M annualized while new home prices in Tier-1 cities rose by 1.6% M/M annualized.  An unexpected seventh bidder for Macao gambling licenses created uncertainties about incumbent operators In a tender for the six 10-year casino operating licenses, the six incumbent casino operators faced an unexpected rival from the Malaysian Genting Group which submitted a bid into the tender.  As the maximum number of licenses remains at six, the entry of Genting Group into the competition may mean one of the incumbent license holders might be ousted. Chengdu exits lockdown Chengdu, the largest city in Western China ends its nearly 3-week-long lockdown today and allows its 21 million population to leave their home and resume most aspects of normal life.  Residents are required to do PCR tests at least once a week.  Hong Kong considers ending hotel quarantine for inbound travelers The Hong Kong Government is reviewing and considering plans to end the hotel quarantine requirements for inbound travelers.  Currently, travelers to Hong Kong are required to be quarantined in a hotel for 3 nights and followed by four-day medical monitoring at home and then another 3 days of self-monitoring without mobility restriction.  The news may lift the share price of travel-related stocks, such as Cathay Pacific (00293:xhkg).   For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/apac-daily-digest-19-sept-2022-19092022
Oil Prices Soar on Prospect of Soft Landing, Eyes Set on $80 Breakout

What Can We Expect From Standard&Poor 500 (S&P 500)?

Conotoxia Comments Conotoxia Comments 19.09.2022 16:42
Today, U.S. stock index contracts seem to indicate the possibility of a cash market opening on the downside. Investors may be estimating the possibility of Fed action, and not just this week, but for the rest of the year. Currently, the market may believe that the Federal Reserve will not end the cycle of hikes below the 4 percent level, but above it. This could put pressure on company valuations on Wall Street. Have low-interest rates helped the Wall Street stock market? Since 2008, the US stock market has been able to enjoy the ongoing bull market that followed the Great Financial Crisis. Back then, both the financial markets and the economy were supported by very low-interest rates or asset purchase programs. From 2008 until the beginning of 2022, the average federal funds rate was 0.58 percent, and the average price-to-earnings P/E ratio for the entire S&P 500 index had a value of 25. Currently, the P/E for the S&P 500 is 21.49, according to wsj.com, and the federal funds rate rose to 2.33 percent in September. The market, in turn, seems to expect that it could rise above 4 percent in the next two quarters. Source: Conotoxia MT5, US500, W1 Current valuations on Wall Street According to data from wsj.com, the forward P/E ratio, which is the one showing the future earnings of companies in relation to the current stock price, is 17.48 for the S&P 500, while the Nasdaq 100 has a value of 22.57. The current values are 21.49 and 24.97, respectively. This may mean that the market expects that the earnings of U.S. companies may increase next year, which may be good news, but on the other hand, interest rates may rise at the same time. This, in turn, could have a negative impact on company valuations and could cause rates to potentially be lower than they were during a period of low-interest rates. If investors can choose between the U.S. dollar soon at 4.5 percent interest, or riskier stocks with a P/E ratio of 17, it seems that some of them may choose the U.S. dollar over stocks and thus demand for them may be lower. Another group of investors, on the other hand, may forgo risk in favor of safety until valuations become more attractive relative to interest rate levels. This, in turn,  could  happen in one of two ways, either U.S. companies will begin to rapidly expand earnings (which may be difficult in an environment of a slowing economy) or stock prices will find lower levels. Forecasts for the S&P500 at the end of 2022 According to analysts surveyed by Reuters, the S&P 500 could end this year at 4280 points. This is the median forecast of nearly 50 strategists surveyed by Reuters in the second half of August 2022. The median forecast for 2022 is down from 4400 points in a Reuters survey conducted in late May. Survey respondents, therefore, seem to be optimistic about the index's year-end result after all. This could mean a return to the peaks of August this year.   Daniel Kostecki, Director of the Polish branch of Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service) Materials, analysis and opinions contained, referenced or provided herein are intended solely for informational and educational purposes. Personal opinion of the author does not represent and should not be constructed as a statement or an investment advice made by Conotoxia Ltd. All indiscriminate reliance on illustrative or informational materials may lead to losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Are valuations on Wall Street currently attractive? (conotoxia.com)
Saxo Bank Podcast: The Risk Of An Escalation In The US-China Confrontation, The Risk Of An Escalation In The US-China Confrontation And More

Tesla, Apple And Nike Rose, The United States Can Send Military Forces To Taiwan

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 20.09.2022 08:53
Summary:  Ahead of the Fed’s interest rates decision with rates expected to rise by 0.75%, the price of the 10-year yield rose to 3.5% for the first time since 2011. Normally this puts equities in a precarious position, however, investors looked past this as a big red flag. The most buying overnight in US equities was in the Materials sector after commodity prices rallied, while sizeable moves were also in big tech names. Sentiment flowed to the ASX, with lithium and coal stocks being bid the most, after their commodity prices hit new record highs. And as such, the risk-on mood is set to flow through the Asia-Pacific today. Ahead, all eyes are on Australia's RBA meeting minutes and the reaction to Japan's CPI hitting a 31-year high. For the latest in markets and what to consider next, read today's APAC DD. What is happening in markets?   Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) Ahead of the Fed’s Wednesday interest rates decision with rates expected to rise by 0.75%, the price of the 10-year yield rose to 3.5% for the first time since 2011 and the 2-year note popped to a 15-year high of 3.96%. Normally this would put equities on the back foot and in a precarious position. As such this remains a big red flag for equities that are interest rate sensitive (tech, property, consumer spending). However, overnight equities looked past the noise and ended on a high note. But indeed, it was a volatile session. The S&P500 was down 1% earlier in the day, but marched higher in the final hour, supported by strong moves in big tech names. The S&P500 not only wiped out the day’s earlier loss but Friday’s fall too, closing up 0.7%. We saw 9 of the 11 sectors rise, led my Materials, Consumer Discretionary, and Industrials, while Heath Care was a laggard. Nasdaq 100 gained 0.8%. Big US stock movers Tesla (TSLA:xnas) gained about 2% on plans to increase the price of its supercharger stations in Europe. Apple (AAPL:xnas) rose 2.5% on news of Apple planning to fix the shaking iPhone 14  camera. Nike (NKE:xnys) gained 3% with investors betting their results later this week might not be as bad as feared. We think there could also be an upside scenario in 2023 for Nike if mainland China strengthens with its easing of lockdowns over the next 12 months, which would likely boost sportswear sales and margins. Afterhours Ford (F:xnys) warned that inflation had caused supplier costs to rise by $1 billion in the current quarter, joining a chorus of major companies experiencing the same macro challenges ripping through the economy. Ford shares fell 4.4% after hours, suggesting they will open lower when normal trading resumes. Moderna (MRNA:xnas), BioNTech(BNTX:xnas), and Novavax (NVAX:xnas) fell 7% to 8% after President Biden said in a CBS 60 Minutes interview that “the Covid pandemic is over”. U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) hit new highs The 10-year yield briefly exceeded 3.5% to 3.52% intraday for the first time since 2011, in an otherwise quiet session with the cash treasuries market being closed in London and Tokyo for holiday. The 10-year notes managed to pare some of their losses and finished the day at 3.49%, up 4bps from last Friday. The short end of the curve underperformed ahead of Wednesday’s FOMC, with 2-year yields climbing 7bps to a new closing high at 3.94%.  Australia’s ASX200 hits a two-day high, supported by Lithium and Coal stocks Today the Australian share market opened 1% higher in the first 10 minutes of trade, following Wall Street’s rally. Some of the biggest moves are in lithium and coal. Lithium companies are surging after the lithium price rallied to a brand-new record high, with the lithium carbonate price hitting a new record of $73,315 a ton in China (according to Asia Metal Inc). Core Lithium (CXO) is a stock to watch after it agreed with Tesla (TSLA) to extend the termination date for its binding offtake (sales) agreement to October 26. The extension allows the companies to negotiate a full form binding offtake agreement. Other lithium stocks to watch include Pilbara Minerals (PLS) after its shares rallied 3.6% in early trade, to a brand new record high of A$4.80. Elsewhere, Fortescue (FMG) rose about 1% on plans to decarbonize its business with a A$6.2 billion plan. Also, keep an eye on Oz Minerals (OZ) with the copper miner seeking a $10 billion potential sale to BHP (BHP). Speaking of BHP (BHP), its shares are up 1.8% after the NYSE listed BHP rallied overnight amid the risk-on mood. Risk-on mood setting up in Asian trade today Despite expectations of massive tightening moves being delivered globally this week and the surge in US 10-year yields above 3.5% overnight, the Asia session kicked off with risk-on sentiment. US equity futures extended gains and the USD was weaker, with the Japanese yen stronger at 143 despite CPI touching 3% in August. GBPUSD surged higher to 1.1460 while EURUSD extended gains to get close to 1.0050 levels amid ECB’s hawkishness and some relief on gas prices as well. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Yesterday the Hang Seng Index dropped 1%, dragged down by technology and China property stocks. Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH.I) declining 2.1 % with Alibaba (09988:xhkg) down 3.6%, Bilibili (09626:xhkg) down 5.6%.  In the China property space, Longfor (00960:xhkg) dropped 6.1% and Country Garden (02007:xhkg) slid 3.3%.  EV makers underperformed, with NIO (09866:xhkg), Li Auto (02015:xhkg), and Xpeng (09868:xhkg) plunging from 4% to 6%. U.S. President Joe Biden’s affirmative response to the question about sending U.S. forces to fend Taiwan off Chinese military actions added to investors’ concerns about an escalation in Sino-American tension.  Following the news that the Hong Kong Government is reviewing and considering plans to end the hotel quarantine requirements for inbound travelers, Hong Kong tourism and retail stocks rallied, Cathay Pacific Airways (00293:xhkg) up nearly 1%, travel agency EGL (06882:xhkg) soaring 11.5%, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (01929:xhkg) rising 6.2%.  In mainland bourses, the approaching of the National Day golden week holiday and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s public consultation on promoting cross-border tourism pushed up tourism, catering, and beverage stocks. Coal mining stocks also gained. Solar power, semiconductors, and beauty care stocks dropped. CSI300 finished the day little changed.  Crude oil (CLU2 & LCOV2) Some support was seen to crude oil demand on Monday despite the risks of massive central bank tightening this week. A somewhat softer USD as well hoped of easing movement restrictions in China helped crude oil eke out a modest gain, despite the potential for increased supply. The US announced that it will offer an additional 10mbbl from its strategic reserve. Only last week it was reported that the Department of Energy was looking at plans to start replenishing the stockpile. UAE also said it was accelerating its plan to produce 5mb/d of crude oil by 2025. WTI futures rose back towards $86/barrel while Brent futures were above $92. What to consider? US NAHB in its ninth month of decline NAHB Housing Market Index reported its ninth consecutive decline to 46.0, beneath the prior 49.0 and expected 47.0. The weaker-than-expected data highlighted the pessimism hitting the US housing market due to the rising mortgage rates, and housing starts may be set to cool further in the coming months. However, no systemic risks are seen as the housing market remains a lagged indicator. Australia’s RBA expected to increase inflation expectations as coal pushes up and La Nina hits The RBA meeting minutes released today at 11.30am Sydney time, will be dissected for clues that the RBA will be increasing its inflationary expectations. Particularly as the coal price, where Australia gets the majority of its energy from, hit another record high (and coal is not in peak demand season yet). On top of that the RBA will probably allude to La Nina’s threat on Australia. We think the RBA may touch on wheat prices picking up again, given they are up 16% from August. Frost and rain in South America has impacted their wheat supply, dryness in the US will reduce their supply, plus heavy rains are headed for Australia for the third year in a row. So global wheat supply is expected to be short again and push up inflationary pressures. The AUDUSD might see a knee jerk reaction higher if the RBA alludes to this. However, we expect the AUDUSD to come under pressure, as the magnitude of the Fed’s hike supports the favoured currency, the USD moving up. Japan CPI hits a 31-year high Japan’s August CPI touched the dreaded 3% YoY mark from 2.6% previously, coming in at the strongest levels in over three decades and significantly above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target level. The core measure, which excludes fresh food and energy, also come in higher-than-expected at 1.6% YoY. With the wage growth remaining restrained, this may mean nothing for Bank of Japan which remains committed to maintaining its yield curve control policy. However, the markets may start to test the BoJ’s resolve once again, especially with US 10-year yields also touching 3.5% overnight while JGB yields remain capped at 0.25%. Hong Kong’s unemployment rate came in at 4.1% Hong Kong released the city’s unemployment rate which came in at 4,1% for the June to August period, 0.2 percentage points lower from last the May to July period. The underemployment rate fell to 2.0% from 2.2%.  U.S. President Joe Biden gave an affirmative response regarding sending forces to fend Taiwan off from mainland China When being asked in a CBS 60 Minutes interview whether the U.S. would send forces to defend Taiwan in case of military actions from mainland China, President Biden replied: “Yes, if in fact, there was an unprecedented attack.”  In answering a follow-up question about if the U.S, unlike in Ukraine, would send forces men and women to defend Taiwan, Biden said: “Yes.”   For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/apac-daily-digest-20-sept-2022-20092022
USD/JPY Weekly Review: Strong Dollar and Yen's Resilience in G10 Currencies

The Bloomberg Grains Index Continues Its Steady Growth, The Lithium Price Hits Record

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 20.09.2022 09:01
Summary:  Equity markets consolidated some of the recent losses yesterday as traders mull a cavalcade of central bank meetings this week, topped by the FOMC meeting tomorrow. The market has been burned in its attempts at pricing “peak Fed” in recent months and now Fed rate expectations are running steadily higher into tomorrow’s meeting. Can the Fed deliver on the hawkish side of a market that has finally begun to respect what this Fed is all about?   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) Yesterday US equities touched new lows intraday for the cycle lower that started on 17 August, but despite weak sentiment and downward momentum the market turned around rallying into gains. S&P 500 futures rallied 1.9% from its lows to the close and the positive momentum is continuing this morning with the index futures trading around the 3,929 level. The US 10-year yield is still sitting just below 3.5% and any meaningful push above the 3.5% level will likely renew the headwinds for equities. The rally in US equities was driven by no news so the setup feels almost like the rally ahead of the Jackson Hole event and the recent US CPI report. The market wants good news and a positive surprise, but the question is whether the FOMC will deliver that tomorrow. We doubt it believing the Fed will rather fail being too hawkish than being too dovish. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hong Kong equities rallied, with Hang Seng Index rising 1.3% and Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH.I) climbing 2.3%. Alibaba (09988:xhkg), Meituan (03690:xhkg), JD.COM (09618:xhkg), and Netease (09999:xhkg) surged 3% to 4%. EV stocks rebounded, with XPeng (09868:xhkg) soaring nearly 9%, NIO (09866:xhkg), and Li Auto (02015:xhkg) rising nearly 6%. Macao casino stocks were among the outperformers, rising from 3% to 6% across the board. CSI300 Index was little changed, with solar power, energy storage, and auto outperforming. Major Chinese banks fixed their 1-year and 5-year Loan Prime Rates unchanged this morning. USD traders mull FOMC meeting this Wednesday The US dollar slightly on its backfoot yesterday and overnight as EURUSD criss-crosses parity and USDJPY is locked in a tight range ahead of tomorrow’s FOMC meeting. The degree to which the Fed is able to surprise the market on the hawkish side and trigger another rise in US treasury yields (possibly it as important to see longer US yields rising, not just an adjustment at the front-end of the US yield curve to absorb,  for example, a higher than expected Fed “dot plot” forecast for next year) will determine whether the US dollar is set for another significant surge to cycle highs in the wake of the meeting. AUDNZD breaks higher through major level Despite a nominally dovish set of RBA minutes overnight, AUDNZD leaped to a new six-year high overnight, clearing the 1.1300 level. The diverging current account developments in recent quarters are likely a key driver as Australia features a formidable commodity portfolio and has become a current account surplus nation at a time when New Zealand’s reliance on energy imports has taken a toll on its trade balance, which has gone into a steep deficit. The next focus is perhaps 1.1430, the high from 2015 and highest since AUDNZD traded in a range north of 1.2500 for much of the 2008-2012 time frame. Gold (XAUUSD) Gold putting in a higher low compared with Friday was the takeaway from Monday’s price action. The yellow metal has settled into a 20-dollar range near a two-year low ahead of Wednesday’s FOMC meeting and while the risk of a 1% hike cannot be ruled out, the market seems the be settling for another 75 bp hike, a development that may ease some of the recent selling pressure which has seen speculators flip their positions back to a net short, a relatively rare occurrence. Today’s price action is likely to be just noise ahead of Wednesday with algo-driven strategies likely to be in the driving seat, given the dollar and yield movements the overall say on the direction. Below $1854, last week's low in gold, the market may target the 50% retracement of the 2018 to 2020 rally at $1618. Crude oil (CLV2 & LCOX2) The best that can be said about Monday’s price action in energy is that traders don’t currently know which leg to stand on, a situation made worse by thin liquidity. With another interest rate hike looming and with global growth slowing there are good reasons to call for lower prices. Lower prices were also sought in response to news China may grant export permissions for excess fuel supplies, and the US announcing it will offer an additional 10 million barrels from its strategic reserves. Against these a softer dollar and recovering equity markets and continued worries about Russian supply once the EU embargo begins in early December helped sent Brent and WTI back in black following a near seven-dollar round trip. More of the same can be expected until a clearer picture emerges. US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) US treasury yields continue to trade near the peak of the cycle as the market wonders whether the 10-year can explore new territory for the cycle above 3.50% the cycle high from back in June, as well as whether any adjustment higher in Fed rate hike expectations will be entirely felt at the front end of the yield curve, as the inversion has fallen close to the cycle extreme near –0.50% for the 2-10 yield spread as the 2-year rate pushed close to 4.00%. What is going on? The euro area looks set to enter a recession According to Bloomberg, economists see an 80 % chance of a recession in the euro area in the next twelve months. This now looks inevitable. Last week, Barclays downgraded its 2023 growth forecast for France to minus 0.7 %. The Bank of France also published its three main scenarios for the French economy for next year. A recession is one of them (expected drop in GDP of minus 0.5 %). This is not its baseline, though. The length and amplitude of the recession in the eurozone will highly depend on the evolution of the energy crisis and on the risk of energy rationing. This is a bit too early to know exactly how much GDP will drop next year. Economists also expect that the European Central Bank (ECB) will continue to tighten monetary conditions (financial conditions are still loose in the euro area based on the latest credit growth data). More than half consider a second 75 basis-point rate hike is likely in October. This is only the beginning. It is likely the ECB will continue until early next year (when the recession might be officially announced). Covid vaccine related stocks tumble on Biden declaring pandemic over Shares in Moderna and BioNTech fell 7% and 9% respectively as the Biden administration declared the pandemic for over. The designation follows other countries and will lower the alertness among health care regulators and likely lower the demand for Covid vaccines as only the very high-risk people in the population will get a vaccine and booster shoots. This is worse than expected news for Covid vaccine manufacturers such as Moderna and BioNTech that are now forced to expand their product portfolio to offset this weakness. US NAHB declines for ninth month in a row NAHB Housing Market Index reported its ninth consecutive decline to 46.0, beneath the prior 49.0 and expected 47.0. Save for two panicky months during the early 2020 pandemic break-out, this is the lowest levels cine 2014, but for perspective, the indicator was sub-20 for most of 2008 through 2011. The weaker-than-expected data highlighted the pessimism hitting the US housing market due to the rising mortgage rates, and housing starts may be set to cool further in the coming months. Japan CPI hits a 31-year high Japan’s August CPI touched the dreaded 3% YoY mark from 2.6% previously, coming in at the strongest levels in over three decades and significantly above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target level. The core measure, which excludes fresh food and energy, also come in higher-than-expected at 1.6% YoY. With wage growth remaining restrained, this may mean nothing for Bank of Japan, which remains committed to maintaining its yield curve control policy. However, the markets may start to test the BoJ’s resolve once again, especially with US 10-year yields also touching 3.5% overnight while JGB yields remain capped by BoJ YCC policy at 0.25%. Grains trade mixed but remains in an uptrend The Bloomberg Grains Index continues its steady ascent after hitting a low point two months ago with global weather concerns, dwindling stockpiles and uncertainty about the Ukraine grain deal being the focus. Chicago wheat nevertheless fell on Monday on an expected increase in Russia’s crop that will compete with US exports already challenged by a strong dollar. Soybeans was supported by Chinese export demand while corn traded sideways but finding support at its 21-day moving average. Lithium prices and stocks back at records Lithium equities are back in focus as the lithium price hits a fresh record after tripling in the past year fuelled by electric vehicle demand. Recently the IEA forecast lithium demand to accelerate more than 40 times over the next two decades. The lithium carbonate price has also had an extraordinary run, up 1,000% from its covid low as supply remains a concern. Shares in Albemarle Corp (ALB:xnys), the world’s biggest lithium company and its neighbour Livent (LTHM:xnys), as well as SQM (SQM:xnys), the world’s second biggest lithium producer are on watch with their shares trading near their peaks. US President Biden wows support for Taiwan When being asked in a CBS 60 Minutes interview whether the U.S. would send forces to defend Taiwan in case of military actions from mainland China, President Biden replied: “Yes, if in fact, there was an unprecedented attack.” In answering a follow-up question about if the U.S, unlike in Ukraine, would send forces men and women to defend Taiwan, Biden said: “Yes”. China’s Emerging Industries PMI slightly improved Emerging Industries PMI (EPMI) in China climbed slightly to 48.8 in September from 48.5 in August. The modest improvement was below market expectations and the 48.8 print was the lowest September figure (EMPI is not seasonally adjusted) since 2014 when the survey first started, suggesting weak growth momentum. What are we watching next? Sweden’s Riksbank set for largest hike in decades today The market is divided on whether the Riksbank hikes 75 basis points or a full 100 basis points, either of which would be the largest hike in nearly 30 years. One factor possibly tilting the odds in favour of a larger move is the exchange rate, as EURSEK trades near the range high of 10.90 since 2020, and USDSEK is less than three percent from its all-time high, which was just above 11.00 back in 2001. SEK is traditionally very sensitive to risk sentiment, so a larger hike may only impress beyond a knee-jerk reaction if broader sentiment and the outlook for Europe improves. FOMC meeting tomorrow Many headlines discuss whether the Fed is set to hike 75 or 100 basis points tomorrow. The Fed generally doesn’t like to surprise markets too much, so arguably it is safe in “only” hiking another 75 basis points as the 100-basis point odds are priced rather low. The more likely hawkish surprise scenario is one in which the Fed sets the “dot plot” of Fed policy forecasts for 2023 higher than the market currently expects – possibly as high as 5.00% for the median expectation. Another item to watch is the Fed’s forecast of PCE inflation for 2023 and 2024, together with where it places the first forecasts for inflation in its first set of forecasts for 2025. Earnings calendar this week This week our earnings focus is on Lennar on Wednesday as US homebuilders are facing multiple headwinds from still elevated materials prices and rapidly rising interest rates impacting forward demand. Later during this week, we will watch Carnival earnings as forward outlook on cruise demand is a good indicator of the impact on consumption from tighter financial conditions. Today: Haleon Wednesday: Lennar, Trip.com, General Mills Thursday: Costco Wholesale, Accenture, FactSet Research Systems, Darden Restaurants Friday: Carnival Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0730 – Sweden Riksbank Interest Rate Announcement 0800 – ECB's Muller to speak 1230 – Canada Aug. Teranet/National Bank Home Price Index 1230 – US Aug. Housing Starts & Building Permits 1230 – Canada Aug. CPI 1700 – ECB President Lagarde to speak 2030 – API's Weekly Crude and Fuel Stock Report Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/macro/market-quick-take-sep-20-2022-20092022
On The New York Stock Exchange, More Indices Fell

On The New York Stock Exchange, More Indices Fell

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 21.09.2022 08:42
At the close of the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones fell 1.01% to a one-month low, the S&P 500 index fell 1.13%, and the NASDAQ Composite fell 0.95%. The leading performer among the components of the Dow Jones index today was Apple Inc, which gained 2.42 points (1.57%) to close at 156.90. Quotes Boeing Co rose by 1.06 points (0.73%), ending trading at 145.94. 3M Company lost 0.12 points or 0.10% to close at 116.52. The biggest losers were Nike Inc, which shed 4.79 points or 4.47% to end the session at 102.42. Caterpillar Inc was up 2.26% or 4.12 points to close at 177.99, while Home Depot Inc was down 2.23% or 6.25 points to close at 274. 17. Leading gainers among the components of the S&P 500 in today's trading were Wynn Resorts Limited, which rose 2.90% to hit 67.80, Valero Energy Corporation, which gained 2.63% to close at 107.42, and also shares of Expedia Inc, which rose 2.09% to end the session at 104.63. The fallers were shares of Ford Motor Company, which fell 12.32% to close at 13.09. Shares of Iron Mountain Incorporated shed 9.84% to end the session at 50.65. Quotes of Generac Holdings Inc decreased in price by 6.99% to 183.49. The leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were Sobr Safe Inc, which rose 234.98% to 3.05, Powerbridge Technologies Co Ltd, which gained 60.62% to close at 2.20. as well as Neurobo Pharmaceuticals Inc, which rose 42.40% to end the session at 20.79. The biggest losers were Virios Therapeutics Llc, which shed 75.50% to close at 0.49. Pagaya shares shed 67.24% to end the session at 2.29. Quotes of Integrated Media Technology Ltd decreased in price by 46.07% to 1.03. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that fell in price (2599) exceeded the number of those that closed in positive territory (546), while quotes of 129 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 2,705 companies fell in price, 1,091 rose, and 227 remained at the level of the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, rose 5.43% to 27.16. Gold futures for December delivery shed 0.29% or 4.80 to hit $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI crude for November delivery fell 1.19%, or 1.02, to $84.34 a barrel. Brent oil futures for November delivery fell 1.14%, or 1.05, to $90.95 a barrel. Meanwhile, in the Forex market, EUR/USD was flat at 0.49% at 1.00, while USD/JPY edged up 0.35% to hit 143.71. Futures on the USD index rose 0.39% to 109.89. Relevance up to 05:00 2022-09-22 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/293539
Russian Referendum In The Occupied Territory Of Ukraine And More

Russian Referendum In The Occupied Territory Of Ukraine And More

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 21.09.2022 10:28
Summary:  Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 on tenterhooks after bond yields hit record highs, the US dollar index hits a record with markets bracing for the Fed’s jumbo hike. Shocking German PPI and Riksbank’s 100bps rate hike sets the stage for the FOMC to deliver a hawkish surprise. Ford becomes the second major company to downgrade their outlook, seeing its shares slide 12%, and sending another warning signal on the upcoming earnings season. Hang Seng rallies on the prospect of ending hotel quarantine. Russia-Ukraine tensions on a boil, sending wheat futures up 7%. What is happening in markets? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) on tenterhooks after bond yields hit record highs The US benchmark indices came under further pressure overnight (with the S&P500 down 1.1%, the Nasdaq 100 losing 0.9%) with investors selling equities and bonds and buying the US dollar, with markets on tenterhooks for the Fed’s jumbo rate hike on Wednesday. Added pressure came when the US 2-year bond yield hit 4% and the 10-year US bond yield hit 3.6%. Those are treasury yields’ highest levels since 2011, and they are better yields than the S&P500’s 1.7%. Meanwhile the US dollar index hit a record high as investors took shelter in the currency. Investors and traders are bracing for the Fed to boost rates to levels not seen since before the 2008 financial crisis. But is there more downside? The risk is that the Fed paves out a hawkish dot plot, or raises rates more than the 75 bps expected. That scenario will pressure equities. However, if the Fed believes inflation is rolling over, and signals this is peak hawkishness, then equities may see a knee jerk reaction and whipsaw higher. The technical indicators on the day and week chart for the S&P500 and Nasdaq imply further pressure are ahead. Big U.S. stock movers All 11 sectors in the S&P 500 fell on Tuesday, with Real Estate, Materials, and Consumer Discretionary falling the most, and Information Technology, Consumer Staples, and Energy relatively outperformed. Ford (F:xnys) tumbled 12.3% after the automaker said that inflation is making supplier costs USD 1 billion higher than expected in the current quarter. Gap (GPS:xnys) lost 3.2% on reports that the apparel retailer is cutting 500 corporate jobs in response to growing costs and weaker sales. Casino stocks gained as investors found optimism from relaxed Covid test requirements for passengers boarding a flight in Macao and the prospect of loosening hotel quarantine restriction in adjacent Hong Kong, through which many travelers arrive in Macao. Wynn Resorts (VYNN:xnas) gained 2.9% and Las Vegas Sands (LVS:xnys) climbed 1.2%. Apple’s (AAPL:xnas) shares rose 1.6% on Tuesday with estimates now suggesting the company’s most expensive iPhone, the iPhone 14 Pro model accounts for 60-65% of total iPhone 14 shipments, which is up from the previous estimated range of 55-60%. This means Apple could have a positive outlook when they release their next quarterly earnings in late October. U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) were sold off again with 10-year yields reaching 3.6% intraday The sell-off in bonds continued on Tuesday.  The 5-year and 10-year segments of the treasury curve were hit most, with 10-year yields reaching a new intra-session high at 3.60% before paring and settling at 3.56%, up by 7bps from Monday.  The woes in the treasury markets stared across the pond in Europe following the larger-than-expected 100bp hike by the Riksbank in Sweden and the jaw-dropping 45.8% Y/Y increase in German PPI. A solid 20-year treasury bond auction, which stopped through 1.3bps and had a low award to primary dealers (8.1%), helped treasuries stage a short-lived rally and saw yields off their session highs before being sold (yields higher) again as a block sale of 7,200 contracts in the 5-year at 108-221/4 hit the tape.  The 2-year segment relatively outperformed, rising only 3bps in yield to finish the day at 3.97%, a touch below 4%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) rallied on the prospect of ending hotel quarantine   Hong Kong equities rallied on Tuesday, with Hang Seng Index rising 1.2% and Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH.I) climbing 2.0%. China’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said the Chinese Government supports Hong Kong’s efforts to have “close, extensive contact” with the rest of the world. It was interpreted as a nod to Hong Kong’s plan to scrap the hotel quarantine requirement. Cathay Pacific Airways (00293) rose 2.2%. Stocks in the retail space gained, with jewellers surging from 2% to 7%. Macao casino stocks rose from 3% to 15% across the board, following the enclave extending the validity of PCR tests from 48 hours to 7 days for any person boarding a flight in Macao. Mainland state-owned media continued to publish articles with a positive tone to boost investor confidence. The latest was Securities Daily’s op-ed claiming that investors should have confidence in China’s long-term growth as the Government has launched quite a number of stimulus measures. CCTV says President Xi is committed to ensuring the stability of industrial and supply chains.  The China internet pace gained and Alibaba (09988:xhkg), Baidu (09888:xhkg), Meituan (03690:xhkg), JD.COM (09618:xhkg), and Netease (09999:xhkg) surged 2% to 4%.  EV stocks rebounded, with XPeng (09868:xhkg) soaring nearly 9%, NIO (09866:xhkg), and Li Auto (02015:xhkg) rising around 5%.  CSI300 Index was little changed, with solar power, energy storage, and auto outperforming.  Australia’s ASX200 to unwind yesterday’s rally. But watch for green and gold shoots in agricultural stocks The futures imply the ASX200 could unwind yesterday’s rally and rally 1.1% following US equites. However bright sparks might be seen in the soft commodity space with Wheat prices jumping 7.6% overnight as undersupply fears grip the market. It could be worth watching GrainCorp (GNC) and Elders (ELD).   Australian dollar against the NZ Dollar scales to 7-year highs The Aussie dollar against the kiwi dollar, the AUDNZD leaped to new highs, clearing the 1.1344 level. What supports this currency pair moving is the large divergence between Australia’s exports rising (Australia’s trade surplus rising), versus New Zealand’s imports increasing due to higher costs of energy products (and its trade deficit rising). If this continues, this supports AUDNZD. Want to know more? Australia’s trade account surplus trades near a record high, as Australia is exporting a record amount of coal and LNG. Inversely, the New Zealand economy is trading at a deficit for the second month in a row, as its heavily reliant on energy imports, which have increased significantly in price. What to watch if you are trading this pair? On Thursday September 22, NZ releases its Balance of Trade data. If there is another large deficit, we could see the AUDNZD leap up again. The next focus is perhaps 1.1516, the high of 2015. USDJPY range-bound despite the surge in US yields USDJPY saw some gains on Tuesday but the cap at 144 still prevailed despite the US 10-year yields making a fresh high. The verbal intervention from the Japanese authorities in the last few weeks, and the rate-check from last week, has helped to calm yen traders. However, if the FOMC delivers a hawkish surprise this week and Bank of Japan maintains its dovish policy, further pressure on the yen cannot be ignored. That may prompt another round of intervention from the Japanese authorities, spooking 2-way volatility, but still throwing up some potential trading opportunities as discussed here. Crude oil (CLU2 & LCOV2) suffers on the back of a stronger USD Crude oil prices were lower on Tuesday following the Riksbank’s hawkish surprise and a run higher in US Treasury yields as well as the US dollar. The fresh release announcement from the US strategic reserves scheduled through November also added to the downside. API inventories also saw crude stocks rising for the third straight week, and there were inventory builds across the board. WTI futures dipped below $84/barrel while Brent futures dipped below $91. This comes despite rising war tensions in Ukraine (see below) as the focus has shifted to the massive monetary policy tightening being delivered this week. What to consider? Riksbank goes for a 100bps rate hike, setting the stage for FOMC The Swedish Riksbank surprised yesterday with a 100-basis point hike to take the rate to 1.75%, a move only a minority were looking for. This, in addition to guidance that the Riksbank would look to continue hiking rates, took Swedish yields higher, but didn’t do much for the currency. The decision to hike by 1% was unanimous, prompted by the highest level of CPIF inflation since 1991 and the negative implication it could have on the upcoming wage negotiation which will lock in pay growth for the next three years. However, with global tightening wave turning more hawkish that expectations after ECB’s 75bps rate hike and Riksbank’s 100bps, the stage is being set for the FOMC to deliver above expectations as well. Shocking August German PPI According to the German statistics office Destatis, the PPI rose by 7.9% month-on-month in August. This is much higher than the consensus (2.4%). This shows that forecasting in the current macroeconomic environment is more challenging than ever. On a year-over-year basis, the increase is at 45.8%. This is an historical record. The continued jump is explained by higher energy prices (+139% year-over-year). But not only. Actually, inflation is broad-based. Prices for intermediate goods, for capital goods and for non-durable consumer goods are much higher too. This will probably get worse in the short-term. In the eurozone, it is unlikely the peak in inflation has been reached (contrary to the situation in the United States). Russia-Ukraine tensions heat up Russia is trying to stage a referendum on annexing the regions of Ukraine its forces still control. There were heightened geopolitical tensions regarding Russia and Ukraine where the separatists are to hold a referendum in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye on September 23rd-27th, although Ukraine and its allies have denounced the referendums as illegal and few countries are likely to recognize the results. An update from Putin on the matter is being awaited, where there have been some suggestions that he is considering introducing martial law and full mobilisation of the Russian army - the speech has now reportedly been delayed until 06:00BST/01:00EDT Wednesday. The move threatens to escalate the conflict even further, potentially giving Putin the formal legal basis to use nuclear weapons to defend what Moscow would consider Russian territory. China’s Emerging Industries PMI slightly improved Emerging Industries PMI (EPMI) in China climbed slightly to 48.8 in September from 48.5 in August.  The modest improvement was below market expectations and the 48.8 print was the lowest September figure (EMPI is not seasonally adjusted) since 2014 when the survey first started, suggesting weak growth momentum.  Reserve Bank of Australia minutes hint at more, but slower, rate hikes RBA minutes from the September 6 meeting suggested that there is more room for interest rates to go up, but there is no pre-set path given the uncertainties surrounding the growth/inflation outlook. After a 50bps rate hike announced at the September meeting, and with global tightening race picking up to make a 75bps as the new 25bps, expectations for further RBA rate hikes of that magnitude could have potentially gained traction. However, the RBA has said that it will consider either 25bps or 50bps for the upcoming meetings. While another 50bps can still be expected in October, given that inflation reached 6.1% (vs. target of -3%), the pace of tightening is set to slow from there. Chinese banks kept Loan Prime Rates unchanged China’s leading banks fixed the 1-year and 5-year loan prime rates unchanged at 3.65% and 4.30% respectively, as expected.  Ford, the second major company to downgrade their outlook Investors have been hit with the second major company downgrade in two weeks, with Ford (F) joining FedEx (FDX) in guiding of a challenging economic environment ahead. As mentioned yesterday, Ford warned inflation will cost its business $1 billion in the quarter, sending Ford shares down 12%, which is the stocks biggest loss in over 10 years. The automakers expect EBIT to range between $1.4b -$1.7 billion when it reports results next month. Lennar’s results may provide some insights into the U.S. housing market With 30-year fixed rate mortgage interest rates jumping above 6% for the first time in 14 years, since Sept 2008 and home affordability has fallen to historically low levels, investors are concerned about the state of the U.S. housing markets.  Results from a leading home builder Lennar (LEN:xnys) this Wednesday after market close will give a good opportunity for investors to gauge the latest market conditions in the U.S. housing market. Analysts, as per the survey by Bloomberg, are estimating revenue growth of 30% Y/Y and 8.3% Y/Y EPS growth in the quarter ending Aug 31, 2022.  Investors, however, will focus on the management’s comments and forward guidance.    Check out here for our views on the FOMC meeting and the Bank of Japan this week. For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast. Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/apac-daily-digest-sept-21-2022-21092022
Acquisition Of Aveva By Schneider Electric, Wheat Prices And More

Acquisition Of Aveva By Schneider Electric, Wheat Prices And More

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 21.09.2022 10:36
Summary:  Equity markets traded sideways ahead of today’s important FOMC meeting as the Fed is set to bring at least another 75 basis points of tightening and expectations for further tightening are at the highs for the cycle. At the longer end of the yield curve, US yields have risen to new eleven-year highs, helping the US dollar to new highs for the cycle in places, including against the Chinese yuan. The Bank of Japan meets tonight in Asia and has shown no signs of backing down from its cap on bond yields, creating enormous attention as yields have risen again elsewhere. What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) US equities came under pressure yesterday as US yields advanced with the 10-year yield reaching as much as 3.6%. The market is split on tonight’s FOMC decision but consensus among economists is still a 75 basis point rake hike. We argued yesterday that if the Fed wants to tighten financial conditions a lot they need a surprise which argues for a 100 basis point hike. In any case, the guidance in the dot-plot and the subsequent press conference will be key for equity sentiment in the near-term. Yesterday’s low in S&P 500 futures at 3,643 is the key support level to watch on the downside and 3,800 after that. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hang Seng Index gave back all its gains yesterday and more, falling over 1% ahead the U.S. FOMC meeting. Mega-cap China interest stocks declined from 1% to 3%, dragging the Hang Seng Tech Index down by over 2%.  Energy stocks outperformed coal mining names up from 1% to 2%.  COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation (01138:xhkg) soared more than 8%. Bloomberg reported that Chinese refiners are applying for quotas from the Chinese government to export as much as 16.5 million tons of fuel oil, such as gasoline and diesel.  CSI 300 fell nearly 1% and making a new low last since May this year. USD traders mull FOMC meeting today A minority of observers are looking for another 75-basis point move from the Fed, as discussed below, with forward guidance also playing a roll, although the market continues to price the end-2023 policy rate at below even the end-2022 rate, with the peak rate somewhere in between, despite FEd pushback. The USD has traded to new highs in places, like against all 5 of the smallest G10 currencies and is near the cycle high versus sterling, while EURUSD and USDJPY still trade slightly away from cycle extremes. The Fed will want to maintain a hawkish tone here, but as US 2-year yields have risen sharply to nearly 4%, the bar is somewhat high for a hawkish surprise. Watching the reactivity in treasury yields and risk sentiment for the impact on the US dollar – particularly how USDJPY might treat a fresh strong surge in longer US yields after the 10-year broke above the former cycle high since 2010 of 3.50% yesterday. USDJPY USDJPY could be set for considerable volatility over the next 24 hours as the Bank of Japan meets tonight in Asia’s Thursday session. The pressure for the Bank of Japan to adjust its yield-curve-control strategy has built further on the surge to new cycle highs in longer US yields yesterday above the 3.50% level. The Bank of Japan and Ministry of finance have recently pushed back rather hard on the latest blast of JPY weakness, but will likely be challenged on where and when they intend to intervene against JPY weakness if the BoJ overnight refuses to adjust its policy and if the Fed surprises hawkish at tonight’s FOMC meeting and the entire US yield curve lifts. The 145.00 area is the cycle high, with 150.00 the next obvious psychological level. Gold (XAUUSD) Gold trades near a two-year low but within a relatively narrow 20-dollar range ahead of today’s FOMC meeting (see below). Weeks of selling have seen speculators accumulate a net short position in COMEX futures, a relatively rare occurrence, and one that could set the stage for a surprise upside move, should the dollar and yield retrace some of their recent strong gains. Resistance however remains firm at $1680 while below $1654, last week's low, the market may target the 50% retracement of the 2018 to 2020 rally at $1618. Crude oil (CLV2 & LCOX2) Crude oil remains rangebound with a slight negative tilt ahead of today’s FOMC rate hike given its impact on the dollar and growth expectations. The Fed decision will be followed by other central banks from Europe to Asia which are also expected to announce growth reducing rate hikes. The long-term outlook remains price supportive with US production struggling to find a higher gear and Saudi Aramco saying lack of investments could see spare capacity being wiped out. Also focus on Russia from where seaborne exports is lower this month and where Putin is looking into his toolbox for ideas to reverse his disastrous war against Ukraine. Ahead of today’s EIA stock report the API reported builds in crude oil as well as fuel products. Wheat sees largest gain since March on Russia tensions Wheat futures in Chicago (+7.6%) and Paris (+4.1%) jumped on Tuesday after Russia said it intended to hold votes on annexing the three regions of Ukraine still under its control (see below). Such a move raises the risk of a full Russian mobilization and would increase tensions with Europe and the US while casting more doubts over grain supplies from the Black Sea area, especially the UN sponsored export corridor from Ukraine which recently has helped ease supply worries for wheat and sunflower oils. Also focus on today’s FOMC rate hike and its impact on the dollar. December wheat (ZWZ2) at $8.88 trades near the highest level since July but may face resistance at $9.14/bu, the 200-day moving average. US Treasuries (TLT, IEF) US treasury yields spilled over to new cycle highs yesterday ahead of tonight’s FOMC meeting as the market has sensed a hawkish determination from the Fed to forge ahead with rate hike and provide no sense that it set to pivot to a more neutral stance, although that would have to come at some point. The 10-year benchmark rose to a new cycle high yesterday above 3.50%, posting the highest yield since 2011. What is going on? Shocking August German PPI According to the German statistics office Destatis, the PPI rose by 7.9 % month-on-month in August. This is much higher than the consensus (2.4 %). This shows that forecasting in the current macroeconomic environment is more challenging than ever. On a year-over-year basis, the increase is at 45.8 %. This is an historical record. The continued jump is explained by higher energy prices (+139% year-over-year). But not only. Actually, inflation is broad-based. Prices for intermediate goods, for capital goods and for non-durable consumer goods are much higher too. This will probably get worse in the short-term. In the eurozone, it is unlikely the peak in inflation has been reached (contrary to the situation in the United States). Russia-Ukraine tensions heat up Heightened geopolitical tensions regarding Russia and Ukraine where the “separatists” are to hold a referendum in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhya on September 23rd-27th, although Ukraine and its allies have denounced the referendums as illegal, and few countries are likely to recognize the results. An update from Putin on the matter is being awaited, where there have been some suggestions that he is considering introducing martial law and full mobilisation of the Russian army - the speech has now reportedly been delayed until 06:00BST/01:00EDT Wednesday. The move threatens to escalate the conflict even further, potentially giving Putin the formal legal basis to use nuclear weapons to defend what Moscow would consider Russian territory. Riksbank’s 100bps rate hike sets the stage for FOMC The Swedish Riksbank surprised yesterday with a 100-basis point hike to take the rate to 1.75%. This, in addition to guidance that the Riksbank would look to continue hiking rates, took Swedish yields higher, but didn’t do much for the currency, which fell to new cycle lows versus the EUR and USD after a kneejerk jump. The decision to hike by 1% was unanimous, prompted by the highest level of CPIF inflation since 1991 and the negative implication it could have on the upcoming wage negotiation which will lock in pay growth for the next three years. However, with global tightening wave turning more hawkish that expectations after ECB’s 75bps rate hike and Riksbank’s 100bps, the stage is being set for the FOMC to deliver above expectations as well. Schneider Electric agrees to acquire Aveva for £9.4bn The French industrial giant is announcing this morning that it has agreed to acquire UK-based engineering and software group Aveva for £31 per share valuing the company at £9.4bn. Schneider Electric already owns 60% of Aveva and a full consolidation will bolster Schneider Electric’s ambitions in software within the engineering industry. Rio Tinto joins BHP in saying Copper’s near-term outlook is challenged Rio Tinto’s CEO has joined a suite of companies, including BHP, saying copper’s short-term outlook faces pressure. From supply-chain issues to 30-year high inflation and restricted demand from China, the metal is seeing less demand, and supply is outpacing supply. However, that is not expected to be the case in the longer term with Goldman Sachs predicting copper demand will exceed supply by 2025 and will push prices to twice their current levels. Copper is used in everything from buildings to automobiles, to wiring in homes and mobile phones. Germany nationalises utility company Uniper The German government is injecting €8bn into Uniper to avoid a collapse of the German utility taking full control of Finland-based utility Forum’s shares in Uniper. What are we watching next? Can the Fed surprise hawkish at FOMC or are we nearing peak tightening expectations? The Powell Fed has kept a hawkish tone in recent communications, clearly indicating a desire to forge ahead with rate hikes. After the strong August US CPI print, a minority of observers are even looking for a 100-bp move from the Fed today, though we are more likely to get 75 basis points. This is a quarterly meeting that will bring the latest Fed forecasts for the economy and for the policy rate, a chance for the Fed to send a further message on where it sees its policy evolving for the remainder of this year and next. The forecast in the “dot plot” of Fed policy rate forecasts for the end of 2022 will receive close attention. Currently the market is looking for a policy rate of about 4.2% through the December meeting, which would mean a 75-bp hike today, another in November, followed by a 50-bp hike in December. The Fed raising the 2023 forecast to a median of 5% might make an impression as well, although the market has persistently priced the Fed to begin easing yields at some point next year, figuring that the economy will be in recession at some point next year. This meeting also brings the first batch of 2025 forecasts for the economy and Fed policy, and another way that the Fed could guide hawkish would be in raising PCE core inflation forecasts for next year and/or 2024 (last two forecasts have kept the last of these at 2.3% YoY) or surprising with its 2025 forecast. Earnings calendar this week This week our earnings focus is on Lennar today as US homebuilders are facing multiple headwinds from still elevated materials prices and rapidly rising interest rates impacting forward demand. Later during this week, we will watch Carnival earnings as forward outlook on cruise demand is a good indicator of the impact on consumption from tighter financial conditions. Today: Lennar, Trip.com, General Mills Thursday: Costco Wholesale, Accenture, FactSet Research Systems, Darden Restaurants Friday: Carnival Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 1400 – US Aug. Existing Home Sales 1430 – EIA’s Weekly Crude and Fuel Stock Report 1800 – US FOMC Rate Announcement / Policy Statement 1830 – US Fed Chair Powell Press Conference 2100 – New Zealand Q3 Westpac Consumer Confidence 2130 – Brazil Selic Rate announcement 2245 – New Zealand Aug. Trade Balance 2300 – New Zealand RBNZ Deputy Governor Hawkesby to speak Bank of Japan meeting Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/macro/market-quick-take-sep-21-2022-21092022
At The Close On The New York Stock Exchange Indices Closed Mixed

Falls At The Close Of The New York Stock Exchange

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 23.09.2022 08:16
At the close of the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones fell 0.35% to a 3-month low, the S&P 500 fell 0.84%, and the NASDAQ Composite fell 1.37%. Merck & Company Inc was the top performer among the components of the Dow Jones in today's trading, up 2.98 points or 3.53% to close at 87.51. Quotes Johnson & Johnson rose by 2.90 points (1.78%), ending trading at 166.18. Salesforce Inc rose 2.52 points or 1.71% to close at 150.15. Shares of American Express Company were the leaders of the fall, the price of which fell by 5.68 points (3.82%), ending the session at 143.03. Boeing Co was up 3.20% or 4.58 points to close at 138.71, while Goldman Sachs Group Inc was down 2.43% or 7.79 points to close at 312. .92. Among the S&P 500 index components gainers today were Eli Lilly and Company, which rose 4.85% to 310.87, Merck & Company Inc, which gained 3.53% to close at 87.51. , as well as shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, which rose 2.63% to end the session at 71.29. The biggest losers were Caesars Entertainment Corporation, which shed 9.44% to close at 37.62. Shares of Ball Corporation lost 8.66% to end the session at 49.23. FactSet Research Systems Inc dropped 8.29% to 394.75. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were Spero Therapeutics Inc, which rose 167.74% to hit 2.20, Avenue Therapeutics Inc, which gained 105.90% to close at 0.44, and also shares of Panbela Therapeutics Inc, which rose 46.39% to end the session at 0.35. Top Ships Inc. was the biggest loser, shedding 44.06% to close at 0.12. Shares of Ecmoho Ltd lost 42.72% and ended the session at 0.10. Quotes of Pintec Technology Holdings Ltd decreased in price by 28.80% to 0.42. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that fell in price (2596) exceeded the number of those that closed in positive territory (546), while quotes of 120 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 3,011 stocks fell, 765 rose, and 257 remained at the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, fell 2.29% to 27.35. Gold futures for December delivery added 0.24%, or 4.00, to $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI crude for November delivery rose 0.54%, or 0.45, to $83.39 a barrel. Brent oil futures for November delivery rose 0.50%, or 0.45, to $90.28 a barrel. Meanwhile, in the Forex market, the EUR/USD pair remained unchanged 0.04% to 0.98, while USD/JPY fell 1.14% to hit 142.40. Futures on the USD index rose by 0.65% to 111.07.   Relevance up to 05:00 2022-09-24 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/293918
Worrisome Growth Signals in Eurozone PMI: Recession Risks Loom Amid Persistent Inflation Pressures

Inflation Expectations In Malaysia And Singapore, Costco Shares Fell And More

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 23.09.2022 08:53
Summary:  Massive tightening was delivered globally after the Fed’s 75bps rate hike, which saw Bank of England, SNB, Norges Bank, and several emerging market central banks joining the race. Bond yields rose to fresh multiyear highs, with 10yr hitting 3.70% and 2yr well above 4%. The strength in the US labor market continues to hint at more room for tightening, and equities slumped. Japan’s intervention to defend the yen put some brakes on the dollar rally, but it would likely be ‘temporary’ at best, and focus shifts to US/UK and Eurozone PMIs today. What is happening in markets?   The Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) pressured by bond yields rising. S&P500 experiencing a rare technical breach With a parade of central banks joining the Fed in boosting rates to curb inflation, the US 10-year yield rose to 3.7% (its highest since 2011), while the two-year yield rose for the 11th day (which its longest rally in over three decades). This upward pressure in safe-haven yields is luring investors away from investing in companies exposed to inflation and facing earnings slowdowns. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.4%, on Thursday, shedding 3% over the week, while the S&P500 lost 0.8% on Thursday, falling 3% Monday-Thursday. Of note, the S&P500 is experiencing a rare technical breach, as it trades under its 200-day moving average for over 100 sessions. The last time this occurred in the last 30 years; was in the tech bubble when the index fell 50% before hitting its trough, and before that, the Global Financial Crisis, when the index fell 40% before hitting its trough. The technical indicators show the index is poised for more downside with the June bottom likely to be retested in the coming weeks, then the next level of support is perhaps about the psychological level 3,500, which is 9.1% lower below current levels. Get to know the best performer in the US stock market this week, with the most momentum, General Mills The US’s biggest wheat producer General Mills (GIS) has outperformed the S&P500 this week and risen 7.4% and claimed the best performing post this week. It’s vital to reflect on why this is the case. We’ve been speaking about the Wheat (WHEATDEC22) price of late, being supported higher due to deteriorating global wheat supply, and now with Russia mobilizing fleet against Ukraine, the wheat price move supported higher again, on concerns Ukraine’s export terminal will be shut once more. Wheat is also in a technical uptrend, so we think stocks General Mills could be a stock to watch ahead, as its earnings are likely to swell. In the S&P500 this week, following General Mills (GIS) higher is; Kellogg and Campbell Soup, as the second and third best performers in the S&P500. Costco (COST) was down over 2% post-market on Thursday despite reporting better-than-expected earnings results.  Australia’s ASX200 (ASXSP200.1) to react to the Fed after being closed yesterday for a public holiday On Friday morning the futures are surprisingly calm, with the ASX200 suggested to only open 0.3% lower. So far this week, the ASX200 has once again outperformed global equities and only lost 0.5%, which is a stark contrast to the S&P500’s drop of 3%.  All eyes will be in cybersecurity stocks with Optus investigating a cyber-attack which may have led to authorized access of customer information. In terms of economic news to watch, S&P Global releases September PMI results. As for stocks to watching Fonterra might see increased bids after its APAC chief executive said she sees strong sales ahead for dairy protein. Rio Tinto will also be on watch after it signed a pact to promote low-carbon solutions for the steel value chain. Rio’s focus areas include low-carbon technology, blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace optimization and carbon capture utilization. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was at 11-year lows yesterday amid the massive global tightening as well as rising geopolitical tensions. HSI later recovered some of the losses to end the day down 1.6%. Hong Kong's de-facto central bank mirrored the tightening and raised its base lending rate by 75 basis points to 3.5% with immediate effect. Hong Kong’s banks have waited through five rounds of rate hikes this year before moving. More pain is in store for Hong Kong’s borrowers, as the HKMA has been conducting its monetary policy in lockstep with the Fed since 1983 to maintain the local currency’s peg to the US dollar. EV shares tumbled with Xpeng down 11.6% and Nio falling 7.5%. Property sector continued to show weakness, with NWD down 3.4%. Meanwhile, CSI300 ended the day down 0.9% EURCHF ignored the intervention warnings EURCHF surged to 0.9700+ levels from 0.9465 after the SNB’s 75bps rate hike remained short of market’s expectation of a 100bps move. USDCHF also moved higher to touch 0.9850 from sub-0.9650 levels, but that was helped by a weaker US dollar following Japan’s intervention to defend the yen. With higher inflation forecasts, one can argue that there will be more room for the SNB to raise rates, and the CHF’s haven status could also come to its rescue as the case for economic slowdown gets stronger with the massive global tightening being delivered. Crude oil (CLU2 & LCOV2) focus back on supply issues Crude oil edged higher as OPEC warned of additional cuts to output. Nigeria’s oil minister, Timipre Sylva, said that OPEC would consider additional cuts if crude prices fall because current levels are affecting the budget of some member states. This helped the crude oil market to shrug off the massive tightening being delivered. A softer USD in the aftermath of Japan’s intervention also created room for the oil prices to focus on the demand-supply fundamentals. WTI futures rose to highs of $86/barrel before some easing, while Brent touched $92+.   What to consider? SNB delivers a 75bps rate hike The 75bps rate hike by the Swiss National Bank lifted the policy rate out of NIRP to 0.50% but disappointed the markets which had started to look for a 100bps rate hike. Guidance that further rate hikes cannot be ruled out was also accompanied by repeating guidance that they are willing to intervene in FX markets as necessary with Chairman Jordan subsequently stressing they are ready to step in to prevent excessive weakening or strengthening of the Franc. Bank of England goes for a dovish 50bps as recession concerns imminent While the consensus was looking for a 50bps rate hike from the Bank of England, market had started to price in a case for 75bps rate hike as well and so the decision to hike rates by 50bps was a slight disappointment. More so, the decision was not unanimous with three members supporting a 75bps move and one calling for a smaller 25bps move. However, the BoE confirmed that they are going to reduce their holdings of government bonds by GBP 80bln over the next 12 months, although the schedule remains open to amendments. Additionally, the BoE retained its guidance that they will continue to “respond forcefully” as necessary to inflation and while the peak forecast was reduced vs August’s update, it remains elevated and well above target. Finally, the Bank has downgraded its view on the UK economy in the near-term, Q3 2022 is now expected to see GDP declining by 0.1% (vs August projection of +0.4%), for a second quarter of contraction; a forecast which, if confirmed by the ONS release, implies the economy is already in a technical recession. US jobless claims suggests a resilient labor market Initial jobless claims marginally rose to 213k from the revised lower 208k but it was beneath the expected 218k. Meanwhile, continued claims fell to 1.379mln (prev. 1.401mln), also lower than the consensus 1.4mln, and dipped beneath 1.4mln for the first time since mid-July. While the strength in the labor market still remains intact given the large number of open positions in the American job market, some moderation can be expected in the coming months with the rapid pace of tightening and still-strained supply chains affecting output. However, as the Fed noted yesterday, the pace of rate hikes is set to continue despite some economic/labor market pain. Japan’s intervention temporarily strengthens the yen Japan’s first market intervention in over two decades came right after a hawkish FOMC and a steady policy decision by the Bank of Japan, with the widening yield differential between the US and Japan continuing to weigh on the Japanese yen. The intervention announcement came as USDJPY surged above 145 – the level that has been the line in the sand for last several weeks – and pair dropped to 140.36 over the next few hours. But as with most unilateral interventions, the effect was short-lived and USDJPY returned to 142+ levels subsequently, just as we had expected here. More steps remain likely, and the US Treasury said it understood Tokyo's move, but stopped short of endorsing it. Eurozone PMIs on the card to gauge how hawkish ECB can get Eurozone PMIs are likely to dip further into contractionary territory as energy price hikes weigh on spending and business plans. Manufacturing PMIs are likely to ease to 48.8 in September from 49.6 previously, and services are expected to fall to 49.1 from 49.8, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates. A weaker-than-expected number could temper the hawkish ECB bets for the October meeting. Singapore and Malaysia inflation to see further upside pressures Singapore’s headline inflation likely jumped further above the 7% mark in August from a reading of 7% YoY in July, underpinned by higher food and energy prices globally, higher rents due to under-supply, and demand side pressures from regional reopening and a pickup in tourism. Malaysia’s continued ban on chicken exports is also adding to the food inflation, and further tightening from the Monetary Authority of Singapore at the October meeting remains likely. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s inflation also likely rose further in August from 4.4% YoY in July due to higher commodity prices and weaker ringgit, as well as the strength in consumer demand. Bank Negara Malaysia’s next meeting is only scheduled in November, before which we will have another CPI print out. However, it can be assumed that monetary tightening will likely continue. Costco outperforms. Is this a sign of what to expect for fourth quarter earnings season? Costco reported fourth quarter earnings results that beat average analysts forecast, with total revenue hitting $72.09 billion, vs the $70.3 billion expected. It comes as fourth quarter membership fees rose 7.5% year on year, to $1.33 billion and accounted for 2% of the retailer's revenue. Although the company typically raises membership fees every five to six years (with its last fee increase in June 2017), Costco held off on rising fees “at this time”. Costco flagged that it sees some beginnings in the inflation situation improving, while it also expects to sell an overstock of holiday goods this season, which was left over from last year. Costco shares fell 2% post market after their results, implying its shares will sour when the market opens.    For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/apac-daily-digest-sept-23-2022-23092022
Middle Distillate Inventories Are Tight Around The Globe

The Global Container Shipping Is Weakening, The Bank of England Decisions And More

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 23.09.2022 09:02
Summary:  Markets continue to absorb the impact of the FOMC meeting and other central banks continuing to tighten yesterday, with the chief concern for risk sentiment actually the leap in long US treasury yields yesterday, which more directly affect asset valuation models. The US 10-year yield benchmark jumped nearly 20 basis points yesterday to above 3.70% and thus to a new 11-year high. Elsewhere, the latest consumer confidence survey in Europe showed record low sentiment ahead of flash September Manufacturing and Services PMI’s out this morning from France, Germany and the Eurozone.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) Further weakness in US equities with the S&P 500 futures posting a new lower close for the cycle and continuing down this morning trading around the 3,770 level. The next big level to watch on the downside is 3,740 in S&P 500 futures which was the big support level multiple times back in July. US equities are naturally being dragged lower from the US bond yields pushing higher with the US 10-year yield rallying to 3.71% the highest since early 2010. In addition, the US leading indicators for August were weakening further with the y/y index pushing into the most negative level since the Great Financial Crisis excluding the dip during the pandemic suggesting the US economy could slip into a recession within the next 6-9 months. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was at 11-year lows yesterday amid the massive global tightening as well as rising geopolitical tensions. HSI later recovered some of the losses to end the day down 1.6%. Hong Kong's de facto central bank mirrored the tightening and raised its base lending rate by 75 basis points to 3.5% with immediate effect. Hong Kong’s banks have waited through five rounds of rate hikes this year before moving. More pain is in store for Hong Kong’s borrowers, as the HKMA has been conducting its monetary policy in lockstep with the Fed since 1983 to maintain the local currency’s peg to the US dollar. EV shares tumbled with XPeng down 11.6% and Nio falling 7.5%. The property sector continued to show weakness, with NWD down 3.4%. Meanwhile, CSI300 ended the day down 0.9%. USDJPY volatile on BoJ intervention Japan’s first market intervention to support the yen in over two decades came right after a hawkish FOMC and a steady policy decision by the Bank of Japan, with the widening yield differential between the US and Japan continuing to weigh on the Japanese yen. The intervention announcement came as USDJPY surged above 145 – the level that has been the line in the sand for last several weeks – and pair dropped to 140.36 over the next few hours. But as with most unilateral interventions, the effect was short-lived and USDJPY returned to 142+ levels subsequently, just as we had expected here. More steps remain likely, and the US Treasury said it understood Tokyo's move, but stopped short of endorsing it. EURCHF ignored the intervention warnings EURCHF surged to 0.9700+ levels from 0.9465 after the SNB’s 75bps rate hike remained short of market’s expectation of a 100bps move. USDCHF also moved higher to touch 0.9850 from sub-0.9650 levels, but that was helped by a weaker US dollar following Japan’s intervention to defend the yen. With higher inflation forecasts, one can argue that there will be more room for the SNB to raise rates, and the CHF’s haven status could also come to its rescue as the case for economic slowdown gets stronger with the massive global tightening being delivered. Gold (XAUUSD) holding up despite the dollar and yield strength Gold has held up well despite multiple rate hikes and the dollar reaching multi-year highs against several major currencies.  By continuing to raise interest rates while also raising expectations for lower growth and rising unemployment the FOMC is signaling a recession is a price worth paying for getting inflation under control. Putin’s increasingly desperate measures and threats regarding his war in Ukraine has helped support gold and shield it from losses but geopolitical support aside, the yellow metal may struggle as long yields continue to rise and the market continues to price inflation sub 3% in a year from now. Resistance has moved to $1690 while below $1654, last week's low, the market may target the 50% retracement of the 2018 to 2020 rally at $1618. Crude oil (CLX2 & LCOX2) Crude oil remains stuck near the lower end of its recent tight range with the Powell versus Putin battle (demand versus supply) not having a clear winner so far. Brent and WTI are nevertheless both heading for a small fourth weekly loss as the global economic outlook grows darker following a week where central banks around the world, led by the US Fed continued to apply the brakes through rate hikes in order to curb runaway inflation. A difficult and potentially volatile quarter awaits with multiple and contradictory uncertainties having their say in the direction. WTI support at $82 and $87.50 in Brent. Wheat futures jump driven by Ukraine and weather concerns Chicago and Paris wheat futures, two of the best performing commodities markets this week, trade at a two-month high supported by risks of a deepening conflict in Ukraine putting the UN supported grain export corridor at risk, and dry weather in crop areas of Argentina and the U.S. Plains. This despite a forecast from the International Grains Council pointing to an increased 2022/23 global wheat production. Paris Milling wheat (EBMZ2) reached €350 per ton on Thursday with support now the previous triple top at €340 per ton. In Chicago the December wheat contract (ZWZ2) reached a $9.22 per bushel high but for a second day in a row failed to close above the 200-day moving average at $9.16 per bushel. US treasuries (TLT, IEF) A key day for longer US treasuries yesterday, with the US 10-year treasury benchmark closing nearly 20 basis points higher yesterday to a prominent new cycle high above 3.70%. Perhaps the most interesting development was that the move sharply steepened the US yield curve, with the 2-10 slope rising to -41 bps from below -50 bps the day before. Are markets concerned the Fed cycle will extend for longer, that more treasury supply will be coming from the Fed’s QT picking up pace or from the Bank of Japan selling treasuries to fund intervention, that the US growth outlook is actually more positive than previously thought or all of the above? Whatever the cause, US long treasury yields are likely to prove a key driver across markets as long as they continue to rise to new cycle highs. What is going on? US jobless claims suggest a resilient labor market Initial jobless claims marginally rose to 213k from the revised lower 208k but it was beneath the expected 218k. Meanwhile, continued claims fell to 1.379mn (prev. 1.401mn), also lower than the consensus 1.4mln, and dipped beneath 1.4mln for the first time since mid-July. While the strength in the labor market remains intact given the large number of open positions in the American job market, some moderation can be expected in the coming months with the rapid pace of tightening and still-strained supply chains affecting output. However, as the Fed noted yesterday, the pace of rate hikes is set to continue despite some economic and labor market pain. SNB delivers a 75bps rate hike The 75 bps rate hike by the Swiss National Bank lifted the policy rate out of NIRP to 0.50% but disappointed the markets which had started to look for a 100bps rate hike. Guidance that additional rate hikes cannot be ruled out was also accompanied by repeating guidance that they are willing to intervene in FX markets as necessary with Chairman Jordan subsequently stressing, they are ready to step in to prevent excessive weakening or strengthening of the Franc. Bank of England goes for a dovish 50bps as recession concerns imminent While the consensus was looking for a 50bps rate hike from the Bank of England, market had started to price in a case for 75bps rate hike as well and so the decision to hike rates by 50bps was a slight disappointment. More so, the decision was not unanimous with three members supporting a 75bps move and one calling for a smaller 25bps move. However, the BoE confirmed that they are going to reduce their holdings of government bonds by GBP 80bln over the next 12 months, although the schedule remains open to amendments. Additionally, the BoE retained its guidance that they will continue to “respond forcefully” as necessary to inflation and while the peak forecast was reduced vs August’s update, it remains elevated and well above target. Finally, the Bank has downgraded its view on the UK economy in the near-term, Q3 2022 is now expected to see GDP declining by 0.1% (vs August projection of +0.4%), for a second quarter of contraction; a forecast which, if confirmed by the ONS release, implies the economy is already in a technical recession. Global container shipping rates are in free fall The collapse in global container shipping rates is gathering pace with the Drewry Composite down 10% on the week to $4,472 per 40 feet box, and lowest since Dec 2020. Down 57% from the Sept 21 peak but still three times higher than the pre-pandemic average, suggesting further downside as the global economy continues to lose steam. All the major China to US and EU routes have slumped. Costco earnings are strong Costco reported fourth quarter earnings results that beat average analysts' forecast, with total revenue hitting $72bn vs est. $70.3bn. It comes as fourth quarter membership fees rose 7.5% y/y to $1.33bn and accounted for 2% of the retailer's revenue. Although the company typically raises membership fees every five to six years (with its last fee increase in June 2017), Costco held off on rising fees “at this time”. Costco flagged that it sees some beginnings in the inflation situation improving, while it also expects to sell an overstock of holiday goods this season, which was left over from last year. The retailer said that the biggest cost pressures were now in labour expenses. General Mills, the best performer in the S&P500 this week The US biggest wheat producer General Mills has outperformed the S&P500 this week and risen 7.4% due to a much better than expected earnings release and strong wheat prices recently related to Russia’s escalation in its war in Ukraine. AUDNZD hit a new high after NZ trade balance disappointed again AUDNZD rallied to fresh 9-year high at 1.1371 with the next potential target in focus being the 2015 high at 1.1430. The uptrend continued after NZ reported its trade balance worsened in August trade data after NZ’s imports accelerated while exports have declined. The deficit in NZ Trade Balance widened further to -$12.28B vs. the prior release of -$11.97B on an annual basis. This is a stark contrast to Australia, which is reporting record surpluses in its trade balance, due to exporting record amounts of coal. What are we watching next? Eurozone PMIs on the card to gauge how hawkish ECB can get Eurozone PMIs are likely to dip further into contractionary territory as energy price hikes weigh on spending and business plans. Manufacturing PMIs are likely to ease to 48.8 in September from 49.6 previously, and services are expected to fall to 49.1 from 49.8, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates. A weaker-than-expected number could temper the hawkish ECB bets for the October meeting. Chicago Fed National Activity Index and US financial conditions With US leading indicators y/y dipping into the most negative territory since the Great Financial Crisis excluding the dip during the pandemic, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index and US financial conditions updates for August and latest week respectively are important to watch for equity sentiment. Earnings calendar this week Today’s earnings focus is Carnival reporting FY22 Q3 results (ending 31 August) with revenue expected to rise 800% y/y to $4.9bn as the cruise line industry is coming back from years of subdued demand due to the pandemic. Today: Carnival Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0715-0800 France, Germany, Eurozone Flash September Manufacturing and Services PMI 0830 - UK Sep. Flash Manufacturing and Services PMI 1230 - Canada Jul. Retail Sales 1345 – US Manufacturing and Services PMI 1800 - US Fed Chair Powell to speak at event Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/macro/market-quick-take-sep-23-2022-23092022
US Inflation Slows as Spending Stalls: Glimmers of Hope for Economic Outlook

Tech Stocks: Tesla Stock Price Decreased By 2% On September 21st

FXStreet News FXStreet News 22.09.2022 15:38
Tesla stock gyrates wildly around the Fed interest rate decision. TSLA eventually closed down over 2% on Wednesday. Tesla is likely to struggle further along with all equities. Tesla (TSLA) swung around pretty wildly as the Fed decision was announced. The gyrations were partly to do with positioning and also lingering hopes for a Fed pivot. Equity markets sold off on the initial 75 bps rate hike. It was more the dot plot showing higher rates in 2023 that caught many by surprise. No Fed pivot in 2023 was not what equity bulls had been hoping for, but the press conference began slightly more dovish with talk of a "pause" and phrases like "data dependent" getting equity bulls' hopes up. The Nasdaq surged into positive territory before finally bowing to the inevitable. Rates are going higher, and equities will have to take some more pain. Tesla stock news All this overshadows any specific Tesla news, of which there is little anyway. Reuters had earlier reported that Tesla was looking to close some showrooms in China, but the company has supposedly denied this. Outside of that, the news was relatively light, an unusual move for Tesla. The attention will now begin to focus on the next set of quarterly earnings, which are due on October 20. Tesla has reported strong sales growth in China, so investors will be looking for clarity on projections there. Delivery lead times have been slashed on the mainland as well, with the Shanghai Giga factory getting upgraded. The question remains how much of this falling delivery time is attributable to falling demand. The last set of data from China appeared to show not much as Tesla nearly tripled its sales growth in China from a year prior. Tesla stock forecast Tesla stock once again failed at the upper resistance at $314 on Wednesday. This was in line with the rally and sharp sell-off of US equities into Wednesday's close. Now we wait to see how much follow-up there is on the sell side. The medium-term outlook is bearish with higher yields now offering a viable alternative to equity investments. In the current climate, safety offered by bonds (especially short-term bonds held to maturity) will likely tempt investors. Below $314 Tesla, therefore, looks bearish with a target of $281 and then $265. TSLA daily chart
The Grains Sector Saw Continued Demand| Acceleration In The Sale Of Gold

Fed Monetary Policy Will Drive Investment In Dividend Stocks

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 23.09.2022 13:48
Summary:  The FOMC will push interest rates much higher from here to rein in inflation and with that lowering equity valuations. This means that higher P/E ratios, also called growth stocks, will suffer relative more compared to lower P/E companies and especially those with high dividend yields and that have proven their robustness over the past 10 years. Dividend stocks are in high demand and have been outperforming the global equity market by 14% since November and will likely continue to do well over the coming six months. The monetary pivot in November 2021 kickstarted dividend investing Since November last year when the Fed pivoted on its temporary inflation thesis and indicated that it would significantly tighten financial conditions to rein in inflation, dividends aristocrats* (see definition below) have outperformed the global equity market by 14.2% and are only down 10.7% this year compared to 21.2% for the MSCI World. The question is whether the relative outperformance can continue for dividend stocks. The FOMC’s decision on Wednesday to hike the US policy rate by another 75 basis points and sending a hawkish signal through its dot-plot and economic forecasts (read our in-depth take on the FOMC decision in our Thursday Quick Take note) will add more tailwind for dividend stocks. The reason for that is that higher interest rates will reduce equity valuations through a higher discount rate on future cash flows. Lower equity valuations will, all things being equal, have a larger impact on higher P/E ratio companies than those with low P/E ratios, because high P/E companies have a larger part of their value coming from cash flows expected far into the future. As our table below shows, the dividend aristocrats generally have lower valuation multiples and thus have less interest rate sensitivity. In addition, higher interest rates coupled with potential recession and uncertainty lift the value of companies with higher more predictable income stream in the short-term. It is worth noting that over the past five years, global dividend stocks have delivered a significantly worse return for shareholders than the global equity market. There are many ways to define good dividend paying companies and in this equity note we have focused on the SPDR S&P 500 Global Dividend Aristocrats UCITS ETF, but there is also the iShares MSCI World Quality Dividend ESG UCITS ETF which focuses on companies with high dividend yield and quality characteristics (strong return on capital and strong balance sheets). Below we have listed the 10 largest holdings in each ETF. SPDR S&P 500 Global Dividend Aristocrats UCITS ETF – 10 largest holdings H&R Block LTC Properties South Jersey Industries Unum Universal Pinnacle West Capital Northwest Bancshares IBM OGE Energy Spire MSCI World Quality Dividend ESG UCITS ETF – 10 largest holdings Microsoft Apple Roche Cisco AbbVie Merck Texas Instruments Unilever Qualcomm Novartis The chart below shows the 5-year weekly prices on the SPDR S&P Global Dividend Aristocrats UCITS ETF * S&P Global defines dividend aristocrats as the highest dividend yielding companies within the S&P Global Broad Market Index (BMI) that have followed a policy of increasing or stable dividends for at least 10 consecutive years. Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/hawkish-fomc-means-more-tailwind-for-dividend-stocks-23092022
For What It Is Worthy To Pay Attention Next Week 23.01-29.01

Markets Affected By The Announcement Of Tax Cuts In The UK, The Intervention Of The Japanese Authorities

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 26.09.2022 09:07
Summary:  The global macro environment took another beating late last week with disappointing Eurozone PMIs and a UK mini-budget causing a havoc in markets as it fueled further debt and inflation concerns. Dollar dominance continued with sterling pressured despite higher UK yields, and risk off tone is likely to continue as Russia-Ukraine tensions in focus. The yen’s intervention risks also on watch as Japan returns from holiday today. Oil prices slid to multi-month lows amid a stronger dollar and demand concerns, with supply factors turning supportive for now, weighing on energy stocks. What is happening in markets?   The Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) continue to tumble on rising interest rates  The selloff last Friday continued its long stretch of turbulence, which first kicked off following Powell’s hawkish Jackson Hole speech on August 26, then was exacerbated by a much-stronger-than expected CPI on September 13. And the selloff has most recently been bolstered by the hawkish rate and economic projections released after the FOMC meeting last Wednesday. Adding to the woes, earnings warnings from heavy-weight industrial and transportation companies have warned of weaker demand and an opaque outlook. The S&P 500 lost 12% and Nasdaq 100 dropped 13.9% over the period. Of note, last Friday, financial conditions tightened further, with US 2-year yields soaring to 4.2%, the highest since 2007, while the dollar soared to a new high and dragged down stocks, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ending Friday down 1.7% lower.   Big US stock movers: oil and gas stocks plunge as oil falls to an eight-month low  All 11 sectors in the S&P500 closed lower on Friday, with Energy falling the most, 6.8%, after WTI crude declined by about 5% to an eight-month low after the US dollar hit its highest level in two decades on fears rising interest rates will tip major economies into a recession. APA Corp (APA:xnas) and Marathon Oil (MRO:xnys) fell about 11%. FedEx (FDX:xnys) fell 3.4% with its US$2.7 billion cost-saving by cutting flights, deferring projects, and closing offices facing skepticism. Ford (F:xnys) fell 3.6%, following a WSJ report that Ford delayed vehicle deliveries due to supply chain issues in getting Ford logo badges to put on its vehicles. On the upside, Generac Holdings (GRNC:xyns), Domino’s Pizza (DPZ:xyns) shares rose the most in the S&P 500 on Friday, gaining 3.2% and 3.1% respectively, perhaps with traders closing shorts as their stocks are continuing to hit new lows on a yearly basis.  U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) rattled by soaring U.K. bond yields  In London trading hours before New York came in, U.S. treasuries were rattled by the jaw-dropping, emerging market style meltdown in U.K. Gilts, as 5-year UK Gilts soared 50bps and 10-year Gilts jumped 33bps in yields in an hour, following the announcement of a massive loosening of fiscal policy of nearly 2% of GDP by the new U.K. government. Investors are worried as when the U.K. acted similarly last time in 1972, inflation soared and the U.K. had to go to the IMF for a loan in 1976. When New York came in, bids emerged for U.S. treasuries, in particular, for the long end of the curve. 10-year and 30-year yields fell 3bps to 3.68% and 3.61% respectively while 2-year yields finished the session 8bps higher at 4.20%, the highest level since 2007.    Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) glided lower  Hang Seng Index continued its losing streak and tumbled 1.2% to its lowest level last seen in 2011.  Materials, healthcare, China Internet, EV, shipping, and consumer stocks led the market lower.  In the materials sector, Ganfeng Lithium (01772:xhkg) plunged 5%, followed by MMG (01208:xhkg) down 3.6%, and China Shenhua (01088:xhkg)  off 3.4%.  Despite the weakness in international crude oil prices, PetroChina (00857:xhkg) and Sinopec (00386:xhkg) managed to bounce by around 1.5%. Alibaba (09988:xhkg), Tencent (00700), and Meituan (03690:xhkg) declined by nearly 3%. Hong Kong’s end of hotel quarantine requirement lifted the share price Cathay Pacific (00293:hk) by 1% while Chinese airlines declined moderately.  Hong Kong luxury retailers gained, with Oriental Watch (00398:xhkg), Luk Fook and Chow Sang Sang rising from 0.5% to 2.2%. Banks in Hong Kong gained in anticipation of improvement in net interest margins following the lenders increased their prime rates, BOC Hong Kong (02388:xhkg) rising 3.8%, Hang Seng Bank (00011:xhkg) up by 2.5%. In mainland A shares, CSI300 swung between modest gains and losses and finished the day down by 0.3% and declining to within 3% from its April low. In terms of sectors, electronics, semiconductors, autos, coal, and solar power were among the worst laggards, while banks and appliances outperformed. Australia’s ASX200 (ASXSP200.1) to be pressured by oil prices pulling back  This week Australia’s share market will likely take its lead from commodity prices pulling back, with oil stocks like Woodside (WDS:xasx), Santos (STO:xasx) and Worley (WOR:xasx) to take a hair cut. Inversely, the coal price has continued to move higher, along with coal futures, so there is likely to be further upsdise in coal stocks including; New Hope, Whitehaven (WHC:xasx) and Coronado (CRN:Xasx) Washington Soul Patts (SOL:xasx). Dollar dominance continues, sterling battered The dollar rallied broadly, hitting a new all-time high against a currency basket and pushing the euro to a 20-year low while the pound plunged to a fresh 37-year low below 1.10 after the new UK government unveiled a massive fiscal stimulus plan to boost economic growth, which is sure to send inflation soaring even higher and force the BOE to do even more QT. Safe-haven demand also boosted the greenback amid risks from the escalation of Russia tensions and more signs of a slowing Chinese economy, which raised concerns about the outlook for global economic growth.  Crude oil (CLU2 & LCOV2) inches below key supports Crude oil prices fell sharply last week with the focus fixed on demand concerns while supply issues turned supportive. The continued surge higher in dollar and yields, aided by not just the FOMC but also the UK fiscal expansion measures into the end of the week, drove a slump in risk appetite. Brent crude fell to a nine-month low of $86.15/bbl, and this may warrant an OPEC action to support prices. Russia also warned it will not supply commodities to nations that join any agreement to cap prices for its crude. WTI crude traded below $80/bbl in early Asian trading hours as the new week kicked off.   What to consider? US PMIs come in better than expectations US flash PMIs for September surpassed expectations across the board, as manufacturing rose to 51.8 (prev. 51.5, exp. 51.1) and services, despite remaining in contractionary territory, printed 49.2 (prev. 43.7, exp. 45.0). Composite lifted to 49.3 from 44.6. At the same time, the inflation components of the PMIs continue to show some relief, with the report showing that supplier shortages eased and both cost and selling prices for both goods and services were at fresh lows, while still-high compared to the usual levels.  Eurozone PMIs disappoint, but ECB speakers (including Lagarde) will be in focus this week Both manufacturing and services PMIs for the Eurozone came in weaker-than-expected in a flash reading for September, with rising energy costs and decline in purchasing power weighing on manufacturing activity as well as the services sector. The headline reading fell to 48.2 in September from 48.9 in August. New orders disappointed, and the outlook was bleak as well. Manufacturing continues to be hit harder by elevated commodity prices. The reading slipped to 48.5 from 49.6. The services figure came in a bit higher at 48.9, but still fell from 49.8 in the previous reporting period. While supply bottlenecks eased, surging energy prices suggest these could reverse again. UK’s historic tax cuts raise the case for a BOE’s emergency rate hike New UK Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced a mini-budget on Friday, which included wide-ranging tax cuts of the order of GBP 45bn, adding to an estimated cost of GBP 60bn for the energy plan. Instead of stabilizing markets, the announcement sparked mayhem as it promised even more inflation at a time when the UK is set to slide into a crippling stagflationary recession as prices soar. Bank of England last week stuck with a 50bps rate hike as recession is likely on the cards. Bonds were sold off and the sterling dipped to 37-year lows, suggesting UK’s inflation-fighting credibility at stake and demands risk premia.  Investors pile into insurance against further market sells offs. Over the last four weeks money managers have spent US$34 billion purchasing put options, which provides protection against a further fall in stock markets (according to the Financial Times). According to the article, ‘Investors pile into insurance against further market sell-offs', $9.6 billion was spent in the last weeks alone on options protecting against downside risks.  Will Japanese authorities intervene further to defend the yen? The Japanese authorities intervened in the currency markets for the first time in two decades last Thursday. USDJPY’s move above 145 following a hawkish FOMC and a still-accommodative Bank of Japan prompted the intervention, and dragged the pair to sub-141 levels before some of the move was retraced. However, Japan was closed on Friday for a holiday, and returns to trading today. Moreover, Governor Kuroda will make a speech and talk to reporters today. We believe the yen could weaken further given the pressure from yield differentials between the US, which continues to rise to fresh highs, vs. the yields in Japan which continue to remain capped. Meanwhile, the intervention last week has been possibly unilateral, suggesting it may not be long-lasting. This continues to raise the possibility of further intervention from the Japanese authorities, especially if USDJPY rises back above 145. Russia referendums results may create market volatility The four Moscow-held regions of Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia – began voting on Friday on whether to become part of Russia, and results may be expected this week. The referendums are reminiscent of one in 2014 that saw Ukraine’s Crimea annexed by Russia. The four regions’ integration into Russia – which for most observers is already a foregone conclusion – would represent a major new escalation of the conflict. The threat of nuclear weapons will also keep risk off on the table, with Putin threatening to use “all means” to protect the annexed Russian territory. Hong Kong ended hotel quarantine for arrivals Effective from today, Hong Kong ended its requirements for people arriving Hong Kong to be under hotel quarantine.  Under the new arrangement, people arrive to Hong Kong from overseas and Taiwan are still required to undergo three days of medical surveillance at home or hotels.  They can go out, including taking public transportation and going to work but are still denied access to some public venues such as restaurants during the medical surveillance as well as required to take RAT daily for seven days plus three PCR tests on day 2, 4 and 6 each.  For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast .     Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/apac-daily-digest-sept-26-2022-26092022
Oanda Podcast: US Jobs Report, SVB Financial Fallout And More

The United States And Investments In New Sources Of Energy, Demand For The iPhone 14 Is Low

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 26.09.2022 09:25
Summary:  Market sentiment continues to deteriorate as markets test the lows of this bear market on the surging US dollar and US treasury yields, although the latter came down sharply from the highs Friday as the equity market sell-off accelerated. The strong US dollar posted new highs for the cycle against many DM currencies, while sterling is in crisis mode, plunging to an all-time low at one point overnight below 1.0500 to the US dollar.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) Last week was hectic with many central bank decisions, BoJ currency intervention and Russian military mobilisation. This morning US equities are not in a better mood with S&P 500 futures down 0.7% trading around the 3,680 level as the US 10-year yield continues to move trading at 3.76%. The VIX Index has also pushed to almost 30 and the VIX forward curve slipped into inversion on Friday signaling a potential panic selloff is in the making. We expect pressures to continue in equities, but with sentiment already historically low, there could be a short-term rebound if S&P 500 futures can hold the line around the June lows at around the 3,640 level. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hang Seng Index fluctuated between modest gains and losses and was 0.4% lower as of writing. HSBC (00005:xhkg) and Standard Charted (02888:xhkg) tumbled around 8% as the Pound Sterling was in turmoil. The market however was supported by rallies in China internet stocks, the China catering space, EV names, and Macao casino stocks. In mainland bourses, tourism, catering, semiconductors, solar power and EV rebounded, CSI300 up by 0.3%. Strong USD, weak GBP The US dollar strength has continued to start this week, as the greenback posted new cycle highs versus most other G10 currencies, with the notable exception of USDJPY, which did trade back higher above 144.00, but continues to respect the threat of official intervention from Japan after last week’s episode. Most intense focus at the moment is on the collapsing pound sterling, which crashed to an all-time low below 1.0500 overnight, down more than 5% in a couple of trading sessions. More on whether sterling’s slide will lead to an emergency move from the Bank of England below. The EURUSD traded to new cycle lows below 0.9600 overnight. There are no real chart points for that exchange rate until the all-time low of 0.8230 from the year 2000. Gold (XAUUSD) under pressure A hawkish Fed and the continued rise in real rates and not least the surging US dollar has seen gold fall towards the lowest since April 2020. Last week’s 1.9% drop, however, was relatively muted given the +3% rally in the dollar index and a 24 basis points jump in the US ten-year nominal and real yield, but as long the dollar continues its relentless rise and until the market reaches peak hawkishness and yields start to top out, gold will struggle to act as a defense against stagflation. Ahead of last week's slump money managers had increased short bets on gold to become the most bearish in more than four years. Having dropped below $1654 on Friday, the market may now target the 50% retracement of the 2018 to 2020 rally at $1618. Focus being the dollar, US inflation data and Russia geopolitical developments. Crude oil (CLX2 & LCOX2) The unrelenting pressure on commodities, including crude oil, continues following Friday’s gloomy session which saw accelerated dollar strength and growth pessimism cause a ripple through markets. The result being a near 5% drop in crude on Friday and weakness remained the theme overnight in Asia as the dollar ripped higher against most major currencies, not least a collapsing sterling. WTI trades below $80 per barrel while a return to the mid-80's in Brent may soon see OPEC+ action to support prices. With Russia repeating its warning of not supplying commodities to nations that join any agreement to cap prices for its crude, and with the market increasingly having priced in a recession, the energy sector could be the first to find support once the dollar stabilises. US treasuries (TLT, IEF) US treasury yields pulled sharply higher on Friday, but treasuries finally found support later in the session before melting lower again to start the week in Asia – taking the 10-year treasury yield back toward the cycle high near 3.80%. The next focus higher for the US 10-year benchmark is 4.00% after the cycle high 3.50% level fell last week. This was the highest yield posted all the way back in the 2009-10 period. What is going on? Right bloc wins Italian election, with Brothers of Italy’s Giorgia Meloni set to be next PM of Italy The bloc will have at least 114 Senate seats, ten more than the level required for a majority.  The three right-leaning parties Brothers of Italy, League and Forza Italia won about 43% of the popular vote, with 25% going to Brothers of Italy. The new government will have to scramble to put together a new budget for approval by the Italian parliament and the EU. Populist pressures could see the new government calling for large deficit spending that former PM Draghi refused to consider. Meloni has promised to roll back some of the reform measures introduced by Draghi, a move that could risk the EU withholding some portion of the EUR 200 billion of extraordinary EU pandemic budget funds targeted for Italy. US PMIs come in better than expected US flash PMIs for September surpassed expectations across the board, as manufacturing rose to 51.8 (prev. 51.5, exp. 51.1) and services, despite remaining in contractionary territory, printed 49.2 (prev. 43.7, exp. 45.0). The Composite lifted to 49.3 from 44.6. At the same time, the inflation components of the PMIs continue to show some relief, with the report showing that supplier shortages eased and both cost and selling prices for both goods and services were at fresh lows, while still high compared to the usual levels.  Eurozone PMIs disappoint, but ECB speakers (including Lagarde) will be in focus this week Both manufacturing and services PMIs for the Eurozone came in weaker-than-expected in a flash reading for September, with rising energy costs and decline in purchasing power weighing on manufacturing activity as well as the services sector. The headline reading fell to 48.2 in September from 48.9 in August. New orders disappointed, and the outlook was bleak as well. Manufacturing continues to be hit harder by elevated commodity prices. The reading slipped to 48.5 from 49.6. The services figure came in a bit higher at 48.9, but still fell from 49.8 in the previous reporting period. While supply bottlenecks eased, surging energy prices suggest these could reverse again. Apple iPhone 14 initial sales below previous introductions According to initial surveys demand for the iPhone 14 is running below previous model instructions suggesting consumers are holding back due to lower disposable income. The lower initial sales figures are in contrast to the pre-orders of the iPhone 14, but these pre-orders do not come with an obligation to buy. It is also worth noting that Apple has begun assembling some of its iPhone 14 in India.  The United States is boosting investments in new sources of energy Over the weekend, the U.S. government has announced it will provide up to $50 million as a reward to private nuclear fusion firms. They will need to provide pre-conceptual nuclear fusion reactor designs within 18 months of receiving their award. Fusion is considered by experts as a clean energy source with less radioactive waste than existing nuclear power plants. If they succeed, this could help accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable and greener economy. At the same time, the United States is the developed country with the most conventional nuclear capacity under construction, according to the latest data of the World nuclear association. While many European countries are debating whether nuclear energy is safe or not, the reality is that it is one of the safer sources of energy. Radioactivity resulting from uranium use diminishes quickly with time. About 40 years after it is done making power, the radioactivity of the fuel bundle falls by over 99 %. Most of the industrial waste we manage never gets less toxic over time…not even in a million years. Investors pile into insurance against further market sell offs During the last four weeks money managers have spent US$34 billion purchasing put options, which provides protection against a further fall in stock markets (according to the Financial Times). US$9.6 billion was spent in the last weeks alone on options protecting against downside risks, according to the Financial Times article ‘Investors pile into insurance against further market sell-offs'. What are we watching next? Sterling crisis after UK’s historic tax cuts may bring emergency rate hike New UK Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced a mini budget on Friday, which included wide-ranging tax cuts approximately GBP 45 billion, adding to an estimated cost of GBP 60bn for the energy plan. Instead of stabilizing markets, the announcement sparked mayhem as it promised even more inflation at a time when the UK is set to slide into a crippling stagflationary recession as prices soar. The Bank of England last week stuck with a 50bps rate hike as recession is likely on the cards. Bonds were sold off and the sterling dipped to 37-year lows, suggesting UK’s inflation-fighting credibility at stake and demands risk premia, in other words, the Bank of England may be forced to announce an emergency rate hike to stabilize the currency. Will Japanese authorities intervene further to defend the yen? The Japanese authorities intervened in the currency markets for the first time in two decades last Thursday. USDJPY’s move above 145 following a hawkish FOMC and a still-accommodative Bank of Japan prompted the intervention, and dragged the pair to sub-141 levels before some of the move was retraced. However, Japan was closed on Friday for a holiday, and returns to trading today. Bank of Japan Governor Kuroda has been out speaking this morning, with no new signals on offer. The yen could weaken further given the pressure from yield differentials between the US, which continues to rise to fresh highs, vs. the yields in Japan which continue to remain capped. Meanwhile, the intervention last week has been possibly unilateral, suggesting it may not be long-lasting. This continues to raise the possibility of further intervention from the Japanese authorities, especially if USDJPY rises back above 145. Earnings calendar this week The Q3 earnings season kicks off in three weeks but there are still earnings releases being released not following the traditional calendar. The action this week will be on Thursday with earnings from H&M, Nike, and Micron Technology, with earnings from Micron being the most interesting to watch as we already know H&M and Nike are seeing weak demand. Micron has exposure to the consumer electronics industry and manufactures memory chips in Asia which means that the company sits in at the intersection of many interesting trends. Tuesday: Ferguson Wednesday: Paychex, Cintas Thursday: Polestar Automotive, H&M, Nike, Micron Technology, CarMax Friday: Carnival (postponed from last week), Nitori Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0800 – Germany Sep. IFO Survey 0800 – Switzerland SNB Weekly Sight Deposits 1230 – US Chicago Fed National Activity Index 1300 – ECB President Lagarde to speak 1400 – US Fed’s Collins (Voter this year) to speak 1430 – ECB’s Centeno to speak 1600 – US Fed’s Bostic (non-Voter) to speak 1600 – UK Bank of England’s Tenreyro to speak 1835 – New Zealand RBNZ Governor Orr to speak 2000 – US Fed’s Mester (Voter) to speak Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/macro/market-quick-take-sep-26-2022-26092022
Oil Prices Soar on Prospect of Soft Landing, Eyes Set on $80 Breakout

Very Dramatic Moves In Forex Markets With The Euro (EUR) And The Pound (GBP)

Swissquote Bank Swissquote Bank 26.09.2022 11:13
The FX markets kick off the week on an extremely chaotic note. Both the pound and the euro are being severely punished for the political decisions that are taken in the UK and in Italy respectively. Elections in Italy As expected, the far-right candidate Giorgia Meloni won a clear majority in Italy at yesterday’s election, with Brothers of Italy gaining more than 25% of the votes. And Meloni’s right-wing alliance with Salvini’s League and Berlusconi’s Forza Italia got around 43% of the votes: the terrible consequence of the pandemic, the war and the energy crisis. Situation the major currency  The EURUSD has been shattered this morning. The pair dived to 0.9550. But it’s almost worst across the Channel, if that’s any consolation. Investors really hated the ‘mini budget’ announced in UK last Friday. Investors were expecting to hear about a huge spending package from Liz Truss government, but the package has been even HUGER than the market expectations. UK’s 10-year yield jumped more than 20% since last week, the FTSE dived near 2% and Cable tanked below 1.0350 in Asia this morning. Elsewhere, the US dollar index took a lift, and the dollar index is just crossing above the 114 mark at the time of talking. Stock market Outlook Gold dived to $1626 on the back of soaring US dollar. US crude oil plunged below $80 per barrel. The S&P500 fell to the lowest levels since this summer, whereas the Dow Jones fell below the summer dip. Happily, the European equities are better bid this morning, but investors remain tense and worried. Watch the full episode to find out more! 0:00 Intro 0:24 Italy turns right, euro gets smashed 4:15 UK assets treated like EM after the ‘MINI’ budget 7:45 USD rallies, XAU, oil under pressure 8:49 US stocks dive to, or below summer lows on Fed fear Ipek Ozkardeskaya Ipek Ozkardeskaya has begun her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked at HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high net worth clients. In 2012, she started as FX Strategist at Swissquote Bank. She worked as a Senior Market Analyst in London Capital Group in London and in Shanghai. She returned to Swissquote Bank as Senior Analyst in 2020. #Italy #election #Meloni #UK #mini #budget #EUR #GBP #selloff #USD #rally #crude #oil #XAU #BP #APA #XOM #recession #energy #crisis #SPX #Dow #Nasdaq #investing #trading #equities #stocks #cryptocurrencies #FX #bonds #markets #news #Swissquote #MarketTalk #marketanalysis #marketcommentary ___ Learn the fundamentals of trading at your own pace with Swissquote's Education Center. Discover our online courses, webinars and eBooks: https://swq.ch/wr ___ Discover our brand and philosophy: https://swq.ch/wq Learn more about our employees: https://swq.ch/d5 ___ Let's stay connected: LinkedIn: https://swq.ch/cH
Steady BoE Rate Expectations Amid Empty Event Calendar in the UK

Podcast: Very Weak Global Sentiment And View Of Gold, Shares And Crude Oil

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 26.09.2022 11:52
Summary:  Today we look at very weak global sentiment as the US dollar and US treasury yields continue to soar, taking US equities to the key cycle lows as we wonder what shape the capitulation will take - a quick test and reverse or a more profound move driven by poor liquidity? Elsewhere, we note sterling's historic drop and suggest that it is time for the Bank of England to step in with an emergency rate hike - or else. Crude oil, gold, stocks to watch today (including Apple with some concern around iPhone 14 orders) and more are on today's pod, which features Peter Garnry on equities, Ole Hansen on commodities and John J. Hardy hosting and on FX. Listen to today’s podcast - slides are found via the link. Follow Saxo Market Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean engraver If you are not able to find the podcast on your favourite podcast app when searching for Saxo Market Call, please drop us an email at marketcall@saxobank.com and we'll look into it.   Questions and comments, please! We invite you to send any questions and comments you might have for the podcast team. Whether feedback on the show's content, questions about specific topics, or requests for more focus on a given market area in an upcoming podcast, please get in touch at marketcall@saxobank.com.   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/podcast/podcast-sep-26-2022-26092022
Declines At The Close Of The New York Stock Exchange, The Drop Leaders Were Nike Inc Shares

Retail Investors Posted The Biggest Losses On European Stock Market

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 26.09.2022 12:46
European stock indices hit new yearly lows and the main index of the UK broke through its summer low amid a sell-off triggered by rising recession risks. The Stoxx50 index lost 0.6% in early European trade. Miners and retail investors posted the biggest losses, while tech stocks scored gains. The Stoxx50 index broke through its yearly low. The FTSE 100 index updated its summer low. Today, it bounced slightly off the psychological level of 7,000: Italy's FTSE MIB dropped by 0.1%, following Giorgia Meloni's win of a clear majority in Sunday's Italian election. The European benchmark index plummeted by 21% from its January high amid a collapse in the market triggered by rising recession risks, the energy crisis, and the hawkish stance of the large central banks. Investors are closely monitoring the inflation situation. The European Central Bank is forecast to raise the interest rate by 75 basis points at the next meeting. "In terms of our central bank expectations at this juncture, risks of them over-tightening have significantly increased and that leading to a recession has increased too," Wei Li, global chief investment strategist at BlackRock Inc. said. Relevance up to 10:00 2022-09-27 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. The market analysis posted here is meant to increase your awareness, but not to give instructions to make a trade. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/322646
US Nonfarm Payrolls Disappoint: Impact on Dollar and EUR/USD Analysis

Many Of Big Losers On The Close Of The New York Stock Exchange

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 27.09.2022 08:10
At the close in the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones fell 1.11% to hit a 52-week low, the S&P 500 fell 1.03%, and the NASDAQ Composite fell 0.60%. Walmart Inc was the top gainer among the components of the Dow Jones index today, up 1.25 points (0.96%) to close at 131.31. Apple Inc rose 0.34 points (0.23%) to close at 150.77. Procter & Gamble Company rose 0.13 points or 0.10% to close at 135.71. The biggest losers were The Travelers Companies Inc, which shed 4.88 points or 3.14% to end the session at 150.60. Boeing Co was up 2.99% or 3.92 points to close at 127.34, while Chevron Corp was down 2.63% or 3.81 points to close at 140.96. . Leading gainers among the components of the S&P 500 in today's trading were Wynn Resorts Limited, which rose 11.99% to 66.80, Las Vegas Sands Corp, which gained 11.81% to close at 39.66. as well as Costco Wholesale Corp, which rose 2.98% to end the session at 480.30. The losers were DISH Network Corporation, which shed 6.12% to close at 14.27. Shares of The AES Corporation shed 5.48% to end the session at 22.96. Quotes of Halliburton Company decreased in price by 5.17% to 23.31. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were LAVA Therapeutics NV, which rose 97.50% to 4.74, DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd, which gained 42.87% to close at 0.45. as well as shares of Panbela Therapeutics Inc, which rose 25.96% to close the session at 0.34. The biggest losers were Powerbridge Technologies Co Ltd, which shed 68.57% to close at 0.50. Shares of Scienjoy Holding Corp lost 43.77% to end the session at 1.67. Quotes of Snow Lake Resources Ltd fell in price by 40.88% to 1.88. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that fell in price (2652) exceeded the number of those that closed in positive territory (536), while quotes of 132 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 2,592 stocks fell, 1,248 rose, and 275 remained at the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, rose 7.82% to 32.26, hitting a new 3-month high. Gold futures for December delivery lost 1.56%, or 25.90, to hit $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI crude for November delivery fell 2.82%, or 2.22, to $76.52 a barrel. Futures for Brent crude for December delivery fell 2.81%, or 2.39, to $82.64 a barrel. Meanwhile, in the Forex market, EUR/USD fell 0.84% to hit 0.96, while USD/JPY edged up 0.94% to hit 144.66. Futures on the USD index rose by 0.98% to 114.07.   Relevance up to 05:00 2022-09-28 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/294320
Tesla’s Shares Are The Most Expensive|Apple Started Production In India

Tesla’s Shares Are The Most Expensive|Apple Started Production In India

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 27.09.2022 09:27
Summary:  Bond yields surged and the US dollar picked up strength once more, pressuring US equities for the fifth day. The S&P 500 finished Monday at its lowest closing level in 2022. Investors continued to dump the U.K. Gilts and the Pound Sterling. Australia’s ASX200 could be boosted by M&A and earnings, but pressure remains. China’s central bank raised its risk reserve requirement on banks’ forward FX sales. Australia’s Federal government considers new coal mines, we cover what you need to know. For the latest in markets, with trading and investing ideas, read today's market insights. What is happening in markets? The Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) trade at their lowest levels in 2022 The sell-off in equities continued as bond yields continued to surge, and the US dollar picked up strength, which pressed the S&P500 lower for the 5th straight day, seeing the index for the biggest 500 stocks fall 1%, while the Nasdaq 100 gave up 0.5%. The S&P500 not only took out June’s low but closed at its lowest level in 2022. VIX jumped to 32.3. And we think the market is now trading at a level that could perhaps see a very short-term relief technical rally, with the market in oversold territory and the S&P500 trading 9% under its 50-day moving average. Although we could see quant traders likely to swoop and trigger a rally, we emphasize that headwinds still remain in place; as bond yields and the USD are still charging, financial conditions and valuation remain pressured by the Fed’s pledge to tighten liquidity, and we are still likely to see more earnings downgrade. So the overarching pressure on equities remains, which is why we think a potential rally will likely be very short-lived. Australia’s ASX200 (ASXSP200.1) rallies, boosted by M&A and earnings, but pressure remains After falling 1.6% on Monday to 6,469, the Australian share market opened 0.4% higher on Tuesday boosted by earnings results and M&A talk. A company to watch might be Santos, after selling down its PNG LNG in a $1.1 billion deal. Another company to watch is Synlait Milk as it tripled its financial 2022 net profit after tax to NZ$38.5 million, after sales rose 21% to $NZ1.66 billion. Over 2021/2022 the average milk price was NZ$9.30 per kilo of milk solid, and it forecasts for that to rise to an average of NZ$9.50 in 2022/2023. The milk company gave few clues about profits ahead with no financial guidance, but it expects a similar level of profitability in financial 2023 as in financial 2021. Selling in U.S. treasuries (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) continued as yields surged to new highs Continuous melt-down in U.K. government bonds (10-year Gilt yields jumped 42bps to 4.24%) across the pond and a poor 2-year U.S. treasury note auction pushed treasury yields to a new high, with the 10-year note yielding soaring 24bps to finish the day at 3.92%, putting the psychologically important 4% handle within reach.  The 2-year yield rose 14bps to 4.34%.  The 10-year real rate, represented by the 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) jumped to as high as 1.62% before settling at 1.59%, a new high since 2010. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) ended lower but casino stocks were a bright spot Hang Seng Index fluctuated between modest gains and losses and finished the session 0.4% lower. HSBC (00005:xhkg) and Standard Charted (02888:xhkg) tumbled more than 7% as the Pound Sterling was in turmoil. The market however was supported by rallies in China internet stocks, with Meituan (03690:xhkg) up by 4.5%, and Tencent (00700:xhkg) rising nearing 3%.  Macao said that it will resume receiving tour groups from mainland China in November. The news boosted Macao casino stocks, Sands China (01928:xhkg) soared 15.7%, followed by SJM (00880:xhkg) and Wynn Macau (01128:xhkg) each rising more than 11%.  XPeng (09868:xhkg) jumped 8.7% after the EV maker’s founder bought USD30 million worth of shares in the company.  Ahead of the National Day golden week holiday, China catering stocks surged, led by Xiabuxiabu’s 14.4% surge and followed by Haidilao (06862:xhkg) and Jiumaojiu (09922:xhkg) rising more than 6%. Following the plunge in gold prices, share prices of gold mining companies dropped sharply, led by Zijin Mining (02899:xhkg) falling nearly 9%, Zhaojin Mining declining more than 5%.  In mainland bourses, tourism, catering, semiconductors, solar power, and EV stocks rebounded. CSI300 Index fell 0.5%. GBPUSD reversed Monday’s flash crash, but risks seen ahead Sterling reversed from the flash crash seen in the Asian session on Monday, and thin liquidity conditions may be a reason for the sharp drop. The new all-time lows were set at 1.0350 but GBPUSD recovered later to trade closer to 1.0800-levels even as BOE’s lack of action (read below) continued to weigh on sterling. BOE’s Chief Economist Pill is scheduled to make a statement on Tuesday, and lack of real action may mean further downside in sterling. EURGBP below 0.90 may mean room for further spikes as the UK inflation picture deteriorates significantly. JGB futures test the Bank of Japan’s patience again The 10-year Japanese government bond futures tested the Bank of Japan’s yield cap of 0.25% this morning as global bonds continued to be sold off following the hawkish Fed last week doubled up by the UK fiscal plan. Japan’s 2-year yield also rose above 1% for the first time since 2015, but these are outside the scope of BOJ’s yield curve control policy. This suggests the central bank may need to increase the pace of its bond buying for longer maturities, as it did in June. USDJPY is also back in close sight of 145, the level above which we saw the direct intervention by the Japanese authorities last week. Still, the scope for intervention may be lower this time as the yen has strengthened against most other currencies other than the USD. EURJPY is still below 140 from 143+ levels at the time of intervention, while GBPJPY is down from 164 to ~154. Crude oil (CLU2 & LCOV2) at year-lows Crude oil prices stabilized in the Asian morning after dipping to the lowest levels since January as tighter global monetary policy continues to underpin recession concerns. Meanwhile the rally in the US dollar continues to stretch further, as we had expected, weighing on the overall commodities sector. WTI futures drifted closer to $77/barrel while Brent futures stayed below $85. Hawkish Fed remarks overnight continue to underpin more USD gains, but the question now is at what levels OPEC will step in to pare supplies and stem the rout. What to consider? Bank of England’s lack of action As a fallout from UK’s fiscal plan, the sterling slid to record lows of 1.0350 on Monday and this prompted calls for an immediate action from the Bank of England to stem the slide in the currency or stabilize inflation expectations. However, all that the BOE did was to try to calm the market nerves with some words rather than action, and delayed any hopes of a rate hike to the next meeting scheduled on November 3. The risk of rate hikes being ineffective to restore sterling credibility may be seen, but BOE’s currency reserves are also rather limited and can only cover about two months of imports. This suggests sterling can remain prone to more wild swings. Fed speakers maintain a hawkish rhetoric Cleveland Fed President Mester was on the wires in the late US hours, reaffirming that further rate hikes will be needed and will need a restrictive stance for some time, while she added it can be better to act more aggressively in an uncertain environment and that pre-emptive action can prevent the worst-case outcome. Collins also spoke about getting inflation under control even if that mean deteriorating labour markets, while Logan (2023 voter) also stressed on the 2% inflation goal. Fed’s 2023 rate cuts bets are easing since the hawkish FOMC last week, More Fed speakers are lined up for Tuesday, including Powell, Bullard, Evans and Kashkari. However, focus may be more on what BOE’s Chief Economist Pill has to say. German Ifo survey slips to new lows Germany’s Ifo business-climate index fell to 84.3 points in September from a revised figure of 88.6 points in August, data from the Ifo Institute showed Monday. This is its lowest value since May 2020 and below expectations of 87.1. The Ifo president said that the German economy is slipping into a recession, as business confidence worsened considerably due to the escalating energy crisis. No Russian oil price cap for the moment The EU countries announced they will delay the introduction of an oil price cap on Russian imports. At least two countries, Cyprus and Hungary (the Hungarian government is one of the most vocal European governments criticizing the sanctions against Russia) have expressed opposition to the oil cap proposal. Expect intense negotiations ahead in order to reach a compromise. For this matter, the EU requires unanimity among member countries. Each country has an effective veto. Australia’s Federal government considers new coal mines; pressuring coal equites The Australian Federal government is considering 29 applications for new expanded coal mines. Coal is already a AUD$63 billion export industry for the nation down under and supported its trade surplus growing to a record. The extra capacity will be able to produce 250 million tones a year. If some or all mines are approved, it will likely cause selling in coal equities in the short term. However, given most of Australia’s coal is exported to India, and green resources will not be able to power Australia’s grid until 2024 (off peak for retail Australians only), the coal price remains supported over the longer term. A climate advocacy group said the extra coal capacity will add to half of the world’s emissions. The government is reviewing applications with BHP, and Glencore on the list.  Australia’s economic data this week, is unlikely to stop the AUD from sliding, but the AUDGBP is the pair to watch Australia’s economy has remained resilient despite the global growth slowdown; however the Aussie currency has continued to lose out, and be pressured by the resilient dollar strength, with the USD index moving to 20-year highs and rising 5% since the Fed’s hawkish Jackson Hole speech on August 26. Also keep in mind, Australian economic data; Australian retail sales out tomorrow (Wednesday 28 September) and private sector credit (borrowing) out Thursday 29 September, are both expected to fall. Although the AUDUSD faces further pressure over the medium term, the AUDGBP is perhaps a pair to watch, after hitting six-year highs on the back of the UK’s tax cuts announced. What also supports this pair rising is Australia’s surplus continuing to trade at record highs, vs UK’s deficit likely to widen. Given that’s likely for now, the AUDGBP is a worthy pair to watch that could extend its uptrend. China’s central bank imposed a 20% risk reserve requirement on banks’ forward FX sales The PBOC imposed a 20% risk reserve requirement on commercial banks’ foreign exchange forward sales to their clients. The move requires banks to set aside a 20% reserve of any forward sale of foreign currencies to their clients, including importers who seek to hedge their FX exposure. As banks will pass along the now higher funding costs of these FX forward transactions to their clients, it is estimated that it will be about 600 to 700 pips more expensive for banks’ clients to hedge their FX exposures for 12 months.  The PBOC did use the same tool before in 2015 and 2018 and triggered some selling in USDCNY but did not reverse the depreciating trend then.  PBOC’s move on Monday failed to halt the weakening in the onshore and offshore Yuan in the midst of a super-charged strong dollar against major currencies, with USDCNH rising by 0.4% to 7.17. Tesla’s share price performance rivals Apple’s So far this year, out of the five biggest US firms by market value, Tesla has become the new megacap unlikely rival to Apple. Tesla shares are outperforming Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon so far this year, and coming close to Apple’s performance. However, Tesla’s shares are by far the most expensive. For more on what to expect from Tesla ahead, it’s worth reading or watching our update, available here. Apple begins production in India Apple has begun assembling some of its iPhone 14 in India. This may be the start of a manufacturing boom in India, as China transitions to a consumption economy and US-China tensions continue to play out. Meanwhile, India’s push on electronics manufacturing could mean more foreign investments to come, as India seeks to solidify its position in global supply chains in addition to being a large consumption-driven economy. Our India equity theme basket is worth considering as India remains one of the big winners of deglobalization and slowing Chinese economy. Separately, also consider Apple is one of the most traded stocks at Saxo globally this month. We wrote recently on why to expect Apple to perhaps pave out a bullish sales outlook, for more read here.     For a week-ahead look at markets – tune into our Saxo Spotlight. For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.   Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/market-insights-today-trading-and-investing-ideas-to-consider-27-sept-27092022
Rates and Cycles: Central Banks' Strategies in Focus Amid Steepening Impulses

Statement Of Boston Fed Chief|No Move From The Bank Of England (BoE)

Saxo Bank Saxo Bank 27.09.2022 09:37
Summary:  Market sentiment was weak again yesterday, but the price action in the US market managed to avoid a break of key support despite a fresh surge higher in US treasury yields, taking them to new cycle highs. Sentiment has improved slightly overnight as the further USD spike late yesterday eased off the accelerator. The chaotic moves in sterling likewise calmed, despite lack of clarity from the Bank of England on the degree to which an emergency move to shore up the currency is necessary.   What is our trading focus? Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) US equities were under a lot of pressure yesterday as the US 10-year bonds saw big moves pushing the 10-year yield closer towards 4% in moves that smelled of thin liquidity and heightened nervousness. S&P 500 futures did the worst close in terms of level for this drawdown cycle but did not go below the intraday lows hit during the June selloff. This morning the mood among investors is stabilising and S&P 500 futures are rebounding 1.1% trading around the 3,710 level. If the USD Index and US yields come down today we could see the VIX forward curve flip back into contango and help push equity futures higher planting the seeds for a short-term rally. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg) Hang Seng Index fell another 1% to its lowest level since 2011, led by the charge lower of the tech sector. Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH.I) dropped 1.7% and leading China Internet names fell over 2%. HSBC (00005:xhkg) failed to rally despite the Pound Sterling having stabilized. Ahead of quarter-end and the National Day golden week holiday, the PBoC for two consecutive days in a row this week via open market operations. The year-on-year decline in China’s industrial profits slowed in August. CSI 300 gained 0.5%, led by wind power, solar power, semiconductor, and infrastructure stocks. Sterling (GBPUSD, EURGBP) reversed Monday’s flash crash, but risks seen ahead Sterling reversed from the flash crash seen in the Asian session on Monday, and thin liquidity conditions may have been a reason for the sharp drop. The new all-time low was set at 1.0350 but GBPUSD recovered later to trade closer to 1.0800-levels even as BOE’s lack of action (read below) continued to weigh on sterling. BOE’s Chief Economist Pill is scheduled to make a statement on Tuesday, and lack of real action may mean further downside in sterling. EURGBP traded between 0.8900 and 0.9000 after the wild spike to 0.9200+ on Monday, with the highest weekly close during the 2016-2020 “Brexit limbo” years just above 0.9300. Some USD pairs seeing wild moves on further spike in US yields The US dollar strength spiked higher yesterday, with the extension higher particularly aggressive against some of the G10 weaklings of late like NZD and NOK (USDNOK only has one weekly close above the current level near 10.75 in its history, posted during the pandemic outbreak in early 2020). The move was supported by a further rise in long US treasury yields yesterday, as the 10-year benchmark rose sharply again. Today’s September US Consumer Confidence reading and 5-year treasury auction (more below under US Treasuries) are in focus for next steps for the USD and US yields. Gold (XAUUSD) Gold dropped further on Monday as the relentless dollar and US yields surge left it with nowhere to go but down. It has since bounced back a bit after almost reaching $1618, the 50% retracement of the 2018 to 2020 rally. The short-term direction will be dictated by the dollar and the duration of the current bond market rout which has seen an almost one percent jump in US ten-year real yields this month. With the recent decline in breakeven yields, as investors buy into the Fed’s ability to bring down inflation, real yields have risen strongly thereby challenging gold and other investment metals. Crude oil (CLX2 & LCOX2) Crude oil traded higher in Asia following another day of selling led by a continued rally in the dollar and US Treasury yields driving concerns about tighter monetary policy leading to weaker demand for crude oil and fuel products. Brent and WTI both reached their lowest levels since January after several Federal Reserve policy makers signaled that further rate rises were in store to tame inflation regardless of the economic impact of such actions. The question now is at what levels OPEC+ will step in to pare supplies and stem what increasingly has become a rout, not only in crude oil but across markets. Also focus on hurricane Ian which is gaining power as it nears Cuba on a path toward the eastern part of the Gulf and Florida, leading to a surge in demand for diesel. While it is expected to miss most of the energy infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico some offshort production has been shut down with employees being evacuated. US treasuries (TLT, IEF) US treasury yields rose sharply once again yesterday, particularly at the longer end of the curve, where the US 10-year treasury yield came within eight basis points of the 4% handle. For perspective, that benchmark has not closed above 4% on a weekly close since 2008. A 2-year US Treasury auction saw surprisingly tepid demand, given the very high yield on offer well north of 4%. Today sees the auction of 5-year treasuries and tomorrow a 7-year auction. What is going on? Bank of England’s lack of action Sterling slid to record lows of 1.0350 on Monday on the fallout from the announcement of new tax cuts late last week, prompting calls for an immediate action from the Bank of England to stem the slide in the currency or stabilize inflation expectations. However, the BOE response was rather lacking, only bringing a few words rather than action, and bringing doubt on whether the BoE would hike rates between now and the next regularly scheduled meeting on November 3. The risk of rate hikes being ineffective to restore sterling credibility may be seen, but BOE’s currency reserves are also rather limited and can only cover about two months of imports. This suggests sterling can remain prone to more wild swings.  The BOE’s Chief Economist Huw Pill will speak today.  Fed speakers maintain hawkish rhetoric Cleveland Fed President Mester (voter this year) was on the wires in the late US hours, reaffirming that further rate hikes will be needed and as the Fed is set to maintain a restrictive stance for some time, while she added it can be better to act more aggressively in an uncertain environment and that pre-emptive action can prevent the worst-case outcome. Boston Fed chief and FOMC voter Collins also spoke about getting inflation under control even if that means deteriorating labour markets, while Logan (2023 voter) also stressed the 2% inflation goal. Fed’s 2023 rate cuts bets are easing since the hawkish FOMC last week, More Fed speakers are lined up for Tuesday, including Powell, Bullard, Evans and Kashkari. German Ifo survey slips to new lows Germany’s Ifo business-climate index fell to 84.3 points in September from a revised figure of 88.6 points in August, data from the Ifo Institute showed Monday. This is its lowest value since May 2020 and below expectations of 87.1. The Ifo president said that the German economy is slipping into a recession, as business confidence worsened due to the escalating energy crisis.  China’s industrial profits declined 9.5% Y/Y in August but slower sequentially In the first eight months of 2022, China’s industrial profits contracted 2.1% y/y. For the month of August, industrial profits declined 9.5% y/y, a slower contraction that July’s -14.5% y/y. The National Bureau Statistics noted that the slower pace of contraction was helped by stronger auto, electrical equipment, electricity generation, and consumer product industries. No Russian oil price cap for the moment Yesterday, the EU countries announced they will delay the introduction of an oil price cap on Russian imports. At least two countries, Cyprus and Hungary (the Hungarian government is one of the most vocal European governments criticizing the sanctions against Russia) have expressed opposition to the oil cap proposal. Expect intense negotiations ahead to reach a compromise. For this matter, the EU requires unanimity among member countries. Each country has an effective veto. What are we watching next? Traders are expecting further tightening from central banks The money markets expect that the European Central Bank (ECB) will go for another 75 basis point interest rate hike in October. Given the plunge of the sterling pound, traders expect that the Bank of England (BoE) could go in with a 100 basis points emergency rate hike before the scheduled November meeting. Hopefully, this will work. If it fails, the Bank would be in a complicated situation and the sterling pound would certainly further weaken. This is one of at least four options the Bank must use to stop the currency slide. The three others are: 1) say and do nothing until the calm comes back in the forex market; 2) say something but do nothing (with might not be the best option so far); and 3) do something small (50 basis point interest hike for instance) but the market might then test the Bank. There is no easy answer, as you can see. Apple begins production in India Apple has begun assembling some of its iPhone 14 in India. This may be the start of a manufacturing boom in India, as China transitions to a consumption economy and US-China tensions continue to play out. Meanwhile, India’s push on electronics manufacturing could mean more foreign investments to come, as India seeks to solidify its position in global supply chains in addition to being a large consumption-driven economy. Our India equity theme basket is worth considering as India remains one of the big winners of deglobalization and slowing Chinese economy. US September Consumer Confidence up later today Confidence according to this survey rebounded in August to 103.20 versus the local low of 95.30 in July, likely as the labor market remains strong and gasoline prices had fallen sharply from the record levels back in June. Today’s number is expected at 104.5, but it is worth noting that while the overall survey has remained well within the range since 2015, the ratio of the very high Present Situation versus very low Expectations was the widest (-81.4) recorded in July since a brief episode in early 2001. Earnings calendar this week The action this week will be on Thursday with earnings from H&M, Nike, and Micron Technology, with earnings from Micron being the most interesting to watch as we already know H&M and Nike are seeing weak demand. Micron has exposure to the consumer electronics industry and manufactures memory chips in Asia which means that the company sits in at the intersection of many interesting trends. Today: Ferguson Wednesday: Paychex, Cintas Thursday: Polestar Automotive, H&M, Nike, Micron Technology, CarMax Friday: Carnival (postponed from last week), Nitori Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT) 0730 – US Fed’s Evans (voter in 2023) to speak on CNBC 1000 – Sweden Riksbank's Ingves to speak 1015 – US Fed’s Evans to speak 1100 – UK Bank of England Chief Economist Pill to speak 1100 – ECB's Villeroy to speak 1130 – Fed Chair Powell to speak on digital currencies 1230 – US Aug. Preliminary Durable Goods Orders 1300 – US Jul. S&P CoreLogic Home Prices 1315 – ECB's Guindos to speak 1355 – US Fed’s Bullard (voter 2022) to speak 1400 – US Sep. Consumer Confidence 1400 – US Aug. New Home Sales 1700 – US 5-year Treasury Auction 1700 – US Fed’s Kashkari (voter 2023) to speak 2030 – API's Weekly Crude and Fuel Stock Report 2350 – Japan Bank of Japan meeting minutes 0130 – Australia Aug. Retail Sales   Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app: Apple  Spotify PodBean Sticher Source: https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/macro/market-quick-take-sep-27-2022-27092022
The Japanese Yen Retreats as USD/JPY Gains Momentum

Tech Stocks: What Can We Expect From (AMZN) Amazon Stock Price?

Jing Ren Jing Ren 27.09.2022 10:09
AMZN suggests the development of a zigzag, which consists of sub-waves a-b-c of the cycle degree. Perhaps the market has completed the formation of the first major wave a, it is a bullish 5-wave impulse In the last section of the chart, we see a decrease in the price, which may indicate the beginning of a bearish correction b. It may take the form of a zigzag â’¶-â’·-â’¸. Most likely, in the near future we will see a continuation of the depreciation of stocks in the final intermediate wave (5), which may end the primary impulse wave near 93.41. At that level, wave (5) will be at 76.4% of previous impulse (3). After the end of the impulse wave â’¶, the stock is expected to rise in the primary correction â’·. However, it is possible that the market has completed the formation of the primary wave â’¶. According to this markup, the wave â’¶ has the form of a leading diagonal (1)-(2)-(3)-(4)-(5). In this case, in the last section of the chart, we see the price increase in a bullish correction â’·. It is assumed that the correction wave â’· will take the form of an intermediate double zigzag (W)-(X)-(Y), where the actionary wave (W) is also a double zigzag W-X-Y of a lesser degree. It is possible that the correction â’· will be at 61.8% of wave â’¶. Thus, its completion is expected to reach the level of 155.06. An approximate scheme of possible future movement is shown on the chart.
Assessing China's Economic Challenges: A Closer Look Beyond the Japanification Hypothesis"

On the New York Stock Exchange, The Number Of Securities That Fell In Price Was Bigger Than This Positive One

InstaForex Analysis InstaForex Analysis 28.09.2022 08:25
At the close of the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones fell 0.43% to hit a 52-week low, the S&P 500 index fell 0.21%, and the NASDAQ Composite index rose 0.25%. The leading performer among the Dow Jones index components today was Salesforce Inc, which gained 2.57 points or 1.76% to close at 148.89. Quotes Dow Inc rose by 0.40 points (0.92%), ending trading at 43.79. Home Depot Inc rose 0.79% or 2.11 points to close at 268.69. The losers were shares of McDonald's Corporation, which lost 7.06 points or 2.90% to end the session at 236.70. Procter & Gamble Company was up 2.75% or 3.73 points to close at 131.98 while Coca-Cola Co was down 2.57% or 1.49 points to close at mark 56.38. Leading gainers among the S&P 500 index components in today's trading were CF Industries Holdings Inc, which rose 6.10% to hit 95.87, Mosaic Company, which gained 4.15% to close at 48.44, and also shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, which rose 3.88% to end the session at 45.75. The biggest losers were Digital Realty Trust Inc, which shed 3.98% to close at 97.73. Shares of Organon & Co shed 3.54% to end the session at 24.26. Quotes of Global Payments Inc decreased in price by 3.39% to 108.02. Leading gainers among the components of the NASDAQ Composite in today's trading were Avenue Therapeutics Inc, which rose 106.25% to hit 7.26, Scienjoy Holding Corp, which gained 47.90% to close at 2.47, and also shares of X4 Pharmaceuticals Inc, which rose 40.18% to close the session at 1.25. The drop leaders were NLS Pharmaceutics AG, which shed 25.07% to close at 0.72. Shares of Midatech Pharma PLC ADR lost 20.77% and ended the session at 2.06. Quotes of Fednat Holding Co decreased in price by 18.22% to 0.18. On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that fell in price (1634) exceeded the number of those that closed in positive territory (1527), while quotes of 136 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 2048 companies rose in price, 1751 fell, and 295 remained at the level of the previous close. The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, rose 1.05% to 32.60, hitting a new 3-month high. Gold Futures for December delivery added 0.18%, or 2.95, to $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI crude for November delivery rose 2.29%, or 1.76, to $78.47 a barrel. Futures for Brent crude for December delivery rose 2.35%, or 1.95, to $84.81 a barrel. Meanwhile, in the Forex market, the EUR/USD pair remained unchanged 0.14% to 0.96, while USD/JPY rose 0.06% to hit 144.84. Futures on the USD index rose by 0.09% to 114.12.   Relevance up to 06:00 2022-09-29 UTC+2 Company does not offer investment advice and the analysis performed does not guarantee results. Read more: https://www.instaforex.eu/forex_analysis/294518
Oanda Podcast: US Jobs Report, SVB Financial Fallout And More

US Stocks: S&P 500 Decreased By 0.21%, Nasdaq Gained 0.25%

ING Economics ING Economics 28.09.2022 11:00
Volatile markets tee-up targets for today's trading Source: shutterstock Macro outlook Global Markets: In line with yesterday’s signal from equity futures, US stocks opened up yesterday, but rapidly gave up much of their early gains. A slew of hawkish Fed comments wouldn’t have helped, but this is also becoming part of the wallpaper now. The S&P finished down 0.21%, though the NASDAQ clung onto more of its earlier gains and ended up by 0.25%. Equity futures are again signalling a modest gain at today’s open. The mixed equity backdrop did not provide much solace for the EUR, however, which slid further against the USD to 0.9585, maybe hurt by the apparent sabotage of gas pipelines from Russia. Cable is hovering just above 1.07 now, though failed to hold levels above 1.08 yesterday. The AUD is also down, dropping to 0.6425, while the JPY has crept a little higher and is now 144.82 – only just below the bank of Japan and Ministry of Finance’s 145 red-line. That line could be targeted today. In the Asian FX space, the CNY had another soft day yesterday and is up to 7.1761 now. We are probably due a much stronger-than-expected fix any time now to try to slow its depreciation ahead of the 7.20 level. The PHP also took a beating, gapping higher, weakening further and sitting just under 59 currently. Next stop 60? The KRW bucked the weakening trend, making small gains as speculation over Bank of Korea intervention gained ground. 2Y US Treasury yields actually pared their recent increases yesterday, falling 5.2bp to 4.283%, though there were more yield increases in the 10Y bond which rose 2.1bp to 3.945%, putting 4% within reach. On the whole, though, today looks like it is shaping up to be “rangey”, rather than directional, though there are clearly a few nearby targets that markets may take aim at. G-7 Macro: Yesterday’s data flow contained a few surprises. US new home sales for August were much stronger than expected, rising at a 685,000 annual pace, though the July house price index showed a month-on-month decline of -0.44% (S&P Case Shiller figures the FHFA house price index also fell by 0.6%MoM). Durable goods orders came in soft, much as expected, though the Conference Board consumer confidence survey unexpectedly rose, which is odd given the rising rates backdrop. Today, we get more housing data from the US in the form of pending home sales and mortgage applications. European consumer confidence figures from Germany and France complete the G-7 data picture for the day. China: The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) will increase the reserve ratio from 0% to 20% from today when banks sell USD forwards to their customers. History tells us that this is not an effective tool to stop yuan depreciation. On 6 August 2018, after the same policy was implemented, the yuan continued to depreciate, from around 7.0 to close to 7.2. But we can still refer to the policies for 2018-2019 for today’s reference. The sale of USD by State Owned Enterprises in the offshore market in 2018/2019 is one of the operations that could be replicated later on if the yuan continues to weaken. Australia: August retail sales are forecast to rise 0.4% after the outsize 1.3% MoM gain in July. The data is released at 0930 SGT/HKT. Anything short of an outright decline suggests that the Australian economy is still running strongly, which may provide the Reserve Bank of Australia with more of a headache as it attempts to squeeze inflation out of the economy. Recent conjecture of a slowdown in the pace of RBA tightening may come under some pressure. India: The 2Q22 current account deficit, which is due for release at some point over the rest of this week should show a substantial widening from the -$13.4bn reading for 1Q22, thanks mainly to higher imported energy prices, though also not helped by weakening external demand for India’s exports. The INR, which is already looking very weak, could slide further on the news. What to look out for: China PMI Australia retail sales (28 September) Japan leading index (28 September) Bank of Thailand meeting (28 September) US mortgage applications and wholesale inventories (28 September)       South Korea business survey manufacturing (29 September) US initial jobless claims, 2Q GDP and core PCE (29 September) South Korea industrial production (30 September) Japan labour market data (30 September) China offici