US small business metrics remain weak

The Daily Shot: 02-Dec-20
The United States
Canada
The United Kingdom
The Eurozone
Europe
Asia – Pacific
China
Emerging Markets
Cryptocurrency
Commodities
Energy
Equities
Credit
Rates
Global Developments
Food for Thought



 

The United States

1. Growth in the nation’s factory activity eased a bit in November.
 

 
Here is the breakdown.
 
Source: Mizuho Securities USA  
 
The ISM new orders index remains near multi-year highs.
 

 
And export orders accelerated.
 

 
One area of concern is a pullback in hiring. The employment PMI index has moved below 50 (contraction).
 

 
Source: Reuters   Read full article  
 
Going forward, factory activity is expected to strengthen further.
 
Orders vs. production:
 
Source: Piper Sandler   
 
US ISM vs. China’s manufacturing PMI:
 

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2. Survey data, such as the ISM index above, point to improvements in business investment.
 
Source: @ISABELNET_SA, @BofAML  
 
3. US automobile sales lost some momentum in November.
 

 
Source: CNA   Read full article  

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4. Online sales have been robust.
 
Source: @technology   Read full article  
 
5. The divergence between residential and nonresidential construction spending continues to widen. It’s partially a reflection of the pandemic shift to a “home office” (2nd chart).
 

 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
Here is the divergence in dollar terms.
 
Source: Mizuho Securities USA  

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6. As discussed previously, many small businesses are struggling.
 
The Homebase index of businesses open and employees working:
 
Source: Homebase  
 
Business closures in November:
 
Source: Homebase  
 
 The Paychex/IHS Markit Small Business Employment Index:
 
Source:  Paychex/IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch  
 
Risks of closing for good:
 
Source: Alignable  

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7. Here are a couple of updates on inflation.
 
US goods vs. services CPI:
 
Source: Piper Sandler   
 
Long-term market-based inflation expectations (now above 2%):
 

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8. Finally, we have the evolution of the Fed/Treasury emergency programs that Mnuchin is terminating (see story).
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  


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Canada

1. The Q3 GDP rebound was a bit below estimates (chart shows annualized quarterly GDP changes).
 

 
Here are the contributions.
 
Source: Scotiabank Economics  

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2. The Markit PMI report showed stable manufacturing growth last month.
 

 
We should see a sharp rebound in industrial production.
 
Source: IHS Markit  


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The United Kingdom

1. Home price gains have been accelerating, with the latest report exceeding forecasts.
 

 
But soft consumer confidence could pressure the housing market.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  

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2. Below is Goldman’s forecast for the UK CPI.
 
Source: Goldman Sachs  
 
3. Here is how the pandemic changed the sectoral financial positions (see overview).
 
Source: TS Lombard  


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The Eurozone

1. There was no uptick in the November CPI, as some had expected.
 

 
The “underlying” inflation has also been soft.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
But Danske Bank expects euro area inflation to pick up next year.
 
Source: Danske Bank  

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2. Here are some of the manufacturing indices that weren’t in the flash PMI report.
 
Spain (treading water):
 
Source: IHS Markit  
 
Italy (slower growth):
 
Source: IHS Markit  
 
The Netherlands (accelerating growth):
 
Source: IHS Markit  
 
Greece (back in contraction):
 
Source: IHS Markit  

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3. Next, we have some updates on Germany.
 
The October retail sales report surprised to the upside.
 

 
The labor market continues to strengthen.
 

 
Job vacancies are turning higher.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  
 
Projected government debt and interest expenses:
 
Source: @heimbergecon  
 
The latest political polls:
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
Germany’s concentrated innovation process:
 
Source: Danske Bank  

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4. French consumer spending in services is under pressure.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  
 
5. It’s a “W-shaped” economic cycle.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
6. Eurozone bond yields remain near record lows.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
7. The euro broke above 1.20.
 


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Europe

Let’s begin with Switzerland.
 
The GDP rebound was firmer than expected.
 

 
Manufacturing activity is picking up momentum.
 

 
Swiss equities have been underperforming. A growing focus on cyclicals could look past the SMI’s safe-haven status.
 
Source: @timcraighead  
 
Here is a long-term chart showing SMI overbought relative to the Euro Stoxx 50 Index.
 
Source: @dsassower, @DantesOutlook  
 
EUR/CHF is at resistance.
 

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2. Below are some manufacturing PMI trends.
 
Sweden (very strong):
 

 
Poland (treading water):
 
Source: IHS Markit  
 
The Czech Republic (gaining momentum):
 
Source: IHS Markit  

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3. Here is a look at the RRF grants (Next Generation EU stimulus package).
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  


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Asia – Pacific

1. South Korea’s CPI bounced from the lows as the impact of the government’s mobile phone bill subsidies wanes.
 

 
2. Australia’s GDP bounced more than expected last quarter as the nation pulls out of its first recession in decades.
 


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China

1. Increased defaults will lead to tighter liquidity for non-bank financial institutions, according to TS Lombard.
 
Source: TS Lombard  
 
For now, Beijing has stabilized the situation, with spreads no longer climbing.
 
Source: Gavekal   

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2. China’s coal prices spiked as the dispute with Australia dampens imports.
 

 
3. Hong Kong’s retail sales are rebounding.
 

 
4. Hong Kong tech stocks have lagged banking stocks over the past few months.
 
Source: @DantesOutlook  


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Emerging Markets

1. Let’s start with the November manufacturing PMI rundown.
 
Russia (worsening contraction):
 
Source: IHS Markit  
 
India (very strong):
 
Source: IHS Markit  
 
Brazil (rapid expansion):
 
Source: IHS Markit  
 
South Africa (loss of momentum):
 

 
Turkey (stalling):
 
Source: IHS Markit  
 
Mexico (extreme weakness):
 
Source: IHS Markit  

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2. Mexico’s private credit continues to worsen.
 
Source: Goldman Sachs  
 
Separately, remittances remain robust.
 

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3. Chile’s economic activity rebounded slower than expected in October.
 

 
4. Colombia’s unemployment rate is moderating (but is still massive).
 

 
5. South Africa’s car sales are rebounding.
 

 
6. November was a good month for FX carry trades.
 
h/t @liviayap11  
 
7. Portfolio inflows hit a multi-year high.
 
Source: IIF  
 
8. The population in EM countries is receptive to a COVID vaccine.
 
Source: TS Lombard  


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Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin held resistance at $20k.
 


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Commodities

1. Miners are adding new projects as iron ore prices rise.
 
Source: Longview Economics  
 

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2. Agricultural companies are increasingly mentioning sustainability in earnings transcripts.
 
Source: Fitch Solutions Macro Research  
 
3. Rhodium price gains have been impressive.
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  


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Energy

1. Brent crude dipped below $47/bbl on OPEC+ uncertainty.
 

 
2. Here are some of the largest oil company writedowns.
 
Source: @business   Read full article  
 
3. CapEx will remain soft.
 
Source: @davidfickling, @bopinion   Read full article  
 
4. The US energy sector’s default risk is much higher than in the UK and EU.
 
Source:  Credit Benchmark   Read full article  
 
5. The UAE has over-complied with OPEC quotas since September.
 
Source: Longview Economics  
 
Will the UAE leave OPEC?
 
Source: Arab News  

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6. Traditional energy stocks have massively underperformed clean energy stocks over the past two years.
 
Source: Alpine Macro  
 
7. Demand for hydrogen has picked up.
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
8. Peak oil?
 
Source: @bbgvisualdata   Read full article  


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Equities

1. Almost 93% of S&P 500 members are above their 200-day moving average.
 

 
2. Short sellers have been punished. Here is Goldman’s index of the most heavily shorted stocks.
 
Source: @LizAnnSonders, @GoldmanSachs, @Bloomberg  
 
3. The value vs. growth trajectory has been quite different from what we saw in 2008.
 
Source: @ISABELNET_SA, @GoldmanSachs  
 
4. VIX remains elevated vs. the equivalent measure in the Treasury market (MOVE).
 
Source: Gavekal   
 
5. The largest companies have the best returns on capital.
 
Source: BCA Research  
 
6. Wealthier investors get the best risk-adjusted returns.
 
Source: IMF  
 
7. Will marijuana stocks follow the rally in bitcoin?
 
Source: Alpine Macro  
 
8. Here are some sector performance updates (last five business days).
 
Housing:
 

 
Consumer Discretionary:
 

 
Industrials:
 

 
Transportation:
 

 
Energy:
 

 
Metals & Mining (see the commodities section):
 

 
Tech:
 

 
Communication Services:
 

 
Semiconductors:
 

 
US mortgage REITs are gradually recovering from March lows. The sector benefits from a steeper yield curve, according to BCA Research.
 
Source: BCA Research  


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Credit

1. Bankruptcy filings slowed again.
 
Source: @markets   Read full article  
 
2. Record global supply of credit has meaningfully expanded the global fixed income market this year.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
3. Volatility remains elevated in investment-grade credit.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
4. Muni bond sales have been robust.
 
Source: @markets   Read full article  
 
Below are some forecasts for next year.
 
Source: @markets   Read full article  


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Rates

1. Here is the attribution of Treasury yield changes last month.
 

 
2. The 10yr Treasury yield continues to grind higher.
 

 
And PMI indicators suggest that the trend should continue.
 
Source: Nordea Markets  

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3. TIPS are outperforming regular Treasuries again.
 
Source: @business   Read full article  


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Global Developments

1. The US dollar decline has accelerated, …
 

 
… as the greenback broke its long-term uptrend.
 
Source: BCA Research  

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2. Here is a look at the manufacturing PMI report, which bodes well for global industrial production.
 
Source: IHS Markit  
 
Source: IHS Markit  


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Food for Thought

1. Global GDP rankings (projection):
 
Source: @bw   Read full article  
 
2. US car loan originations by age:
 
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York  
 
3. US minimum wage map:
 
Source: Economic Policy Institute, h/t Hightower Las Vegas, RCG Economics  
 
4. Upward mobility by country:
 
Source: @adam_tooze, @OECDeconomy, @PIIE   Read full article  
 
5. More TV time:
 
Source: Morning Consult   Read full article  
 
6. The US fertility rate:
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
7. US education CPI:
 
Source: Moody’s Analytics  
 
8. Butter vs. margarine:
 
Source: @bopinion   Read full article  
 
9. Largest music festivals:
 
Source: Statista  

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