US underlying economic growth has stalled

The Daily Shot: 28-Oct-22
The United States
Canada
The United Kingdom
The Eurozone
Europe
Japan
Asia – Pacific
China
Emerging Markets
Energy
Equities
Credit
Global Developments
Food for Thought



 

The United States

1. The third-quarter GDP growth was a bit better than expected, …
 

 
… with net exports driving a significant portion of the increase. Imports declined last quarter for the first time since Q2 of 2020, boosting net exports.
 

 
Here is the GDP level.
 

 
However, final sales to private domestic purchasers (the “core” GDP) shows that the underlying economic growth has stalled.
 

 
Consumer spending growth is slowing.
 

 
Housing investment has been crashing.
 

 
Business investment has been growing, but that could change going forward.
 

 
Inventories were once again a drag on growth.
 

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2. Durable goods orders unexpectedly declined last month.
 

 
Here are the nominal and the real capital goods orders indices.
 

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3. The Kansas City Fed’s manufacturing index showed deterioration in factory activity in the region this month.
 

 
By the way, here is the Kansas City Fed’s district.
 

 
Demand is crashing, with expectations for new orders near the GFC lows.
 

 
Here is the backlog of orders index.
 

 
Price pressures are moderating.
 

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4. Soft-data (survey-based) economic surprises are turning lower, which will be showing up in hard-data surprises in the months ahead.
 
Source: Morgan Stanley Research  
 
5. Jobless claims remain below pre-COVID levels, pointing to persistent strength in the labor market.
 

 

 
But leading indicators point to labor market weakness ahead.
 
Source: Capital Economics  

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6. Next, we have some updates on the housing market.
 
Mortgage rates are above 7%, …
 

 
… in part due to wide spreads on mortgage-backed securities (MBS).
 
Source: Morgan Stanley Research  
 
The Fed and commercial banks are no longer buyers of MBS, contributing to wider spreads.
 
The Fed:
 
Source: @AndreasSteno  
 
Commercial banks:
 

 
Pending home sales are crashing (2 charts), …
 
Source: Redfin  
 
Source: Redfin  
 
… as housing demand deteriorates.
 
Source: Redfin  
 
The supply has been moving higher.
 
Source: Redfin  
 
Land prices have declined in recent months.
 
Source: @RickPalaciosJr  

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7. Households’ drawdown of excess savings is expected to slow next year.
 
Source: Oxford Economics  


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Canada

1. The CFIB small business indicator declined further this month.
 

 
Service sectors are reporting slower activity (2 charts).
 

 

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2. Nonfarm payrolls fell in August.
 


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The United Kingdom

1. The CBI retail sales index bounced in October.
 

 
But retailers’ outlook has been weakening.
 

 
Source: Reuters   Read full article  

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2. Inactivity due to long-term illness is surging.
 
Source: Morgan Stanley Research  
 
3. Self-employment has stabilized after a massive COVID-driven decline.
 
Source: Longview Economics  
 
4. The “Truss premium” on mortgage rates remains elevated.
 
Source: Reuters   Read full article  


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The Eurozone

1. The ECB hiked rates by 75 bps and scaled back support for the banking system.
 

 
Source: Reuters   Read full article  
 
Source: ECB   Read full article  
 
Despite the jumbo hike, the market saw the announcement as a bit dovish.
 
Source: FXS   Read full article  
 
Expectations for the overnight rate in one year declined sharply.
 

 
EUR/USD dipped back below parity.
 

 
50 basis points in December?
 
Source: Danske Bank  

——————–

 
2. Germany’s consumer confidence ticked up this month (from record lows).
 

 
But Italian consumer confidence continues to deteriorate.
 

 
Here is Italy’s manufacturing confidence.
 

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3. Have Bund yields finally peaked?
 
Source: BCA Research  


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Europe

1. Let’s begin with some updates on Sweden.
 
Manufacturing confidence:
 

 
Consumer confidence (new low):
 

 
Nordea’s GDP model:
 
Source: @MikaelSarwe  
 
Housing transactions and home prices:
 
Source: Nordea Markets  

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2. Denmark’s consumer confidence has collapsed.
 

 
3. Here is Czech Republic’s business and consumer confidence.
 

 

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4. The Swiss central bank continues to tighten liquidity.
 

 
5. Credit Suisse shares dropped 18% – back near the lows.
 

 
6. The gap between European credit spreads and equity implied volatility remains unusually wide.
 
Source: @themarketear  


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Japan

1. The Tokyo core CPI climbed above 2% this month, topping expectations.
 

 
Here are the goods and services CPI indices.
 
Source: Capital Economics  

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2. The jobs-to-applicants ratio keeps climbing.
 


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Asia – Pacific

1. Taiwan’s leading indicator has been falling quickly.
 

 
2. Australian PPI hit a multi-decade high.
 

 
Separately, here is an updated budget forecast from Fitch Ratings.
 
Source: Fitch Ratings  


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China

1. The equity market rout resumed today.
 
The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (mainland stocks):
 
Source: @TheTerminal, Bloomberg Finance L.P.  
 
Stocks in Hong Kong (3 charts):
 

 

 

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2. China’s steel prices keep falling, putting pressure on iron ore.
 

 

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3. Official measures of property prices peaked around mid-2021.
 
Source: Gavekal Research  
 
4. Beijing’s focus has been shifting in recent decades.
 
Source: Societe Generale Cross Asset Research; @WallStJesus  


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Emerging Markets

1. Egypt devalued its currency again, …
 

 
… and hiked rates, …
 

 
… as it secured a loan from the IMF.
 
Source: Bloomberg   Read full article  

——————–

 
2. Russia’s FX reserves continue to decline.
 

 
Russia’s trade has been robust despite the sanctions.
 
Imports:
 
Source: IIF  
 
Exports:
 
Source: IIF  

——————–

 
3. Turkey’s economic confidence improved this month.
 

 
4. Brazil’s unemployment rate continues to move lower.
 

 
5. EM equities are seeing inflows.
 
Source: BofA Global Research  


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Energy

1. US diesel prices are surging …
 

 
… boosting backwardation (an indication of tight supplies).
 

——————–

 
2. Analysts have massively downgraded their projections for Russia’s natural gas exports.
 
Source: @AndreasSteno  
 
3. It’s going to be tricky for Russia to secure the oil tankers it needs to evade the G7 oil price cap.
 
Source: S&P Global Commodity Insights  
 
4. China is buying Russian oil which has been rebranded as Malaysian.
 
Source: @JavierBlas, @opinion  
 
5. The EU’s natural gas inventories continue to climb.
 
Source: BCA Research  
 
6. West Texas natural gas prices dipped below zero amid pipeline constraints.
 
Source: @TheTerminal, Bloomberg Finance L.P.  
 
7. The US supply response to higher oil prices has been limited in this cycle.
 
Source: BofA Global Research  


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Equities

1. Tech mega-caps remain under pressure as results disappoint.
 
Meta:
 

 
Amazon after the close:
 

 
Source: CNBC   Read full article  
 
Large tech firms have become a significant drag on the market. Index futures have diverged massively as a result.
 

——————–

 
2. Small caps have been outperforming large-cap growth equities (2 charts).
 

 
Source: @allstarcharts  

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3. Tech mega-caps’ valuations are converging with key indices (2 charts).
 

 

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4. Trailing earnings and forward estimates for tech have flatlined.
 
Source: PGM Global  
 
5. Nearly half of all tech stocks have fallen more than 30% this year.
 
Source: PGM Global  
 
6. Next year’s earnings expectation for consumer discretionary is too high.
 
Source: MRB Partners  
 
7. Here is the number of days without reaching the prior high. It may take a while.
 
Source: @LizAnnSonders  
 
8. The S&P 500 put/call premium ratio is elevated.
 
Source: SentimenTrader; @GameofTrades_  
 
9. The equity market options skew is near pre-COVID lows.
 

 
10. The stock/bond price ratio is on the verge of breaking out.
 
Source: Aazan Habib, Paradigm Capital  
 
11. The US equity market risk premium is too low.
 
Source: BCA Research  


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Credit

Taxable bond funds saw $36 billion in outflows in September, driven by a lower appetite for risk among US investors.
 
Source: Morningstar Direct  
 
Money has rushed out of most bond categories, but long-term government bond funds have stayed in high demand.
 
Source: Morningstar Direct  
 
Muni bond funds continue to see outflows.
 
Source: Morningstar Direct  
 
But BofA’s clients have been moving into bonds.
 
Source: BofA Global Research  


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Global Developments

1. Here is a look at housing market valuations in advanced economies.
 
Source: BCA Research  
 
2. The number of rate hikes around the world has been unprecedented.
 
Source: BofA Global Research  


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Food for Thought

1. Shipments of manufactured homes:
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
2. US holiday sales by category:
 
Source: Wells Fargo Securities  
 
3. Amazon Prime Days sales growth:
 
Source: Earnest Research  
 
4. VR-AR users:
 
Source: Statista  
 
5. Various news media consumers with at least a bachelor’s degree:
 
Source: Morning Consult   Read full article  
 
6. Ukrainians’ confidence in their military:
 
Source: Gallup  
 
7. Life expectancy changes since 2019:
 
Source: Nature   Read full article  
 
8. Halloween spending:
 
Source: @CivicScience   Read full article  

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Have a great weekend!


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