US trade deficit with Mexico hits an all-time high

The Daily Shot: 07-Oct-20
The United States
Canada
The United Kingdom
The Eurozone
Australia
China
Emerging Markets
Commodities
Equities
Credit
Rates
Global Developments
Food for Thought



 

The United States

1. The negotiations to implement another stimulus package appear to be over for now.
 
Source: Twitter  
 
The stock market did not react well to the news.
 
Source: @TheStalwart   Read full article  
 
Economists are concerned about the looming “income cliff” as the LWSPA program expires.
 
Source: Oxford Economics  
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
To be sure, more stimulus is coming in the next few months. In the meantime, however, the loss of income will be a drag on growth.

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2. Next, we have some updates on the labor market.
 
The rebound in job openings paused in August.
 

 
Not all sectors registered declines. Here is manufacturing, for example.
 

 
Permanent unemployment is rising faster than in previous recessions.
 
Source: Oxford Economics  
 
Here is the employment recovery by educational attainment …
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
… and by wage category.
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  

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3. The nation’s trade gap, excluding petroleum, hit a new high (second chart).
 

 
The trade deficit with Mexico is the largest on record amid increased US demand for automobiles.
 

 
By the way, Mexico has now undercut China for low-cost manufacturing.
 
Source: @adam_tooze, @KathrinHille   Read full article  

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4. The consensus for the Q3 GDP rebound is 25% (annualized). Nonetheless, the nation’s economic output will remain below the pre-crisis trend, according to JP Morgan.
 
Source: @ISABELNET_SA, @JPMorganAM  
 
5. While vehicle miles have seen a V-shaped recovery thus far, rail and air passenger miles have barely registered an uptick.
 
Source: St. Louis Fed  
 
6. Will political uncertainty put further downward pressure on the US dollar?
 
Source: BCA Research  
 
7. Here is the evolution of mortgage delinquencies compared to regional post-hurricane trends.
 
Source: Black Knight  
 
Below is the current status of COVID-19 related mortgage forbearances.
 
Source: Black Knight  


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Canada

1. Value stocks continue to underperform growth. But this could change if the Canadian 10-year yield starts to rise.
 
Source: Hugo Ste-Marie, Portfolio & Quantitative Strategy Global Equity Research, Scotia Capital  
 
Currently, the 10-year yield is holding support. Will it break above the 200-day moving average?
 
Source: Dantes Outlook   Read full article  

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2. Canada-focused ETF short sellers continued to cover their positions through the September selloff.
 
Source: Hugo Ste-Marie, Portfolio & Quantitative Strategy Global Equity Research, Scotia Capital  
 
3. The rebound in trade has stalled.
 
Source: Scotiabank Economics  
 
4. This chart shows the recovery in home prices compared to previous downturns.
 
Source: Desjardins  


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The United Kingdom

1. Construction activity expanded rapidly last month.
 

 
Demand for build-to-rent homes has accelerated.
 
Source: @business   Read full article  

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2. EV sales are up sharply.
 
Source: Statista  


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The Eurozone

1. Let’s begin with Germany.
 
Factory orders were quite strong in August.
 

 
But the rebound in industrial production appears to be losing momentum.
 

 
Manufacturing sentiment suggests that there are further improvements ahead.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  
 
Will we see a sharp increase in equipment investment?
 
Source: @OliverRakau  
 
Construction activity slowed last month.
 

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2. Spanish banks are most exposed to Turkey.
 
Source: TS Lombard  
 
3. Euro-area disposable income is set to decline.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
4. Here is the Eurozone’s share of the global GDP.
 
Source: ECB   Read full article  


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Australia

1. Service sector activity deteriorated at a faster pace last month.
 

 
2. Australia is facing a fiscal cliff.
 
Source: UBS, @Scutty  
 
3. Here is the 3-year government bond yield (record low).
 


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China

1. Many China-focused funds are domiciled in Luxembourg.
 
Source: @financialtimes   Read full article  
 
2. China continues to expand its influence through international organizations.
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
3. Hong Kong’s business activity is yet to stabilize.
 


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Emerging Markets

1. Let’s begin with Mexico.
 
Consumer confidence:
 

 
Vehicle production:
 

 
CapEx (through July):
 

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2. Brazil’s economic uncertainty is moderating.
 
Source: Goldman Sachs  
 
The nation’s service sector has stabilized.
 
Source: IHS Markit   Read full article  

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3. Next, we have some updates on Russia.
 
Consumer confidence:
 

 
Inflation:
 

 
The ruble (USD/RUB is testing resistance at 80):
 
Source: @TheTerminal, Bloomberg Finance L.P.  

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4. EM currencies continue to lag.
 
Source: @AndreasSteno  
 
5. Short interest in one of the largest local-currency bond ETFs (EMLC) has been climbing.
 
h/t @SriniSivabalan  
 
6. Outflows from EM accelerated during the final weeks of September.
 
Source: IIF  


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Commodities

1. Despite the stalled rally, ETF holdings of gold continue to climb.
 
h/t @krystalchia  
 
2. This chart shows the ratio of Goldman’s broad commodities index to the Dow.
 
Source: Die Incrementum AG  
 
3. US wheat prices are higher due to drought conditions and strong international demand.
 

 
Here is Bloomberg’s grains index.
 

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4. Sugar futures continue to rally.
 

 
But supply is expected to increase substantially next year.
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  


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Equities

1. Shares of smaller companies have been outperforming in recent days.
 
The S&P 500 equal-weight index:
 

 
Small caps:
 

 
By the way, the Russell 2000 index held resistance at the upper Bollinger band.
 
Source: barchart.com  

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2. This market recovery has been “unloved.”
 
Source: Market Ethos, Richardson GMP  
 
3. Will we see a recovery in fund flows after the elections?
 
Source: @ISABELNET_SA, @GoldmanSachs  
 
4. Analysts expect a sharp rebound in earnings in Q3.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
But year-over-year earnings growth, excluding loan loss provisions and energy, remains depressed.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  

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5. Next, we have some sector performance updates.
 
Banks:
 

 
Utilities:
 

 
REITs:
 

 
Consumer Staples:
 

 
Semiconductors:
 

 
Tech and Communication Services:
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  


 
Biotech:
 

 
US healthcare sector ETF flows have been trending lower.
 
Source: MarketDesk Research  


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Credit

1. Most of the US high-yield issuance last quarter was to refinance existing debt.
 
Source: @lcdnews, @JakemaLewis  
 
2. Here is the quarterly loan issuance by region.
 
Source: @LPCLoans, @refinitiv  
 
3. This chart shows liquidations vs. reorganizations by firm size.
 
Source: Brookings Economic Studies  


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Rates

1. Treasury implied volatility rose sharply on Tuesday.
 

 
2. Swaption skew shows a bias toward higher yields.
 
Source: Arbor Research & Trading  
 
3. The longer end of the yield curve has been steepening (perhaps driven by inflation concerns).
 
Source: @lisaabramowicz1  
 
4. According to Arbor Data Science, FOMC members have been in agreement lately.
 
Source: Arbor Research & Trading  


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Global Developments

1. Here is Goldman’s estimate of the lockdowns’ impact on the GDP.
 
Source: Goldman Sachs  
 
2. How long will it take these economies to fully recover?
 
Source: Barclays Research  
 
3. The US, Japan, and China are the biggest sources of GDP-weighted private debt.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  


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Food for Thought

1. Restaurant reservations by state:
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
2. Holiday shopping online vs. in person:
 
Source: @business   Read full article  
 
3. US household and family size over time:
 
Source: Yardeni Research  
 
4. Global educational attainment forecasts:
 
Source: OECD   Read full article  
 
5. Vaccine status:
 
Source: @business   Read full article  
 
6. Employment among US women by marital status (impacted by school closures?):
 
Source: @mikemadowitz  
 
7. How much does the 2020 US presidential election matter?
 
Source: Desjardins  
 
8. Enslaved Africans (1514-1866):
 
Source: Statista  
 
9. What happens in an internet minute?
 
Source: Visual Capitalist   Read full article  

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