The ISM employment index signals healthy job gains last month

The Daily Shot: 06-Mar-23
The United States
Canada
The United Kingdom
The Eurozone
Europe
Asia – Pacific
China
Emerging Markets
Commodities
Energy
Equities
Credit
Global Developments
Food for Thought



 

The United States

1. The ISM Services PMI report points to robust service sector activity in February.
 

 
New orders grew at the fastest pace since 2021.
 

 
Supplier delivery times continued to shorten.
 

 
Companies sharply boosted hiring in February, indicating strength in the labor market.
 

 
The ISM services employment index signals healthy job gains last month.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  
 
Price pressures are easing, …
 

 
… which points to lower inflation ahead.
 
Source: Oxford Economics  
 
Here are the contributions to the ISM Services PMI index.
 
Source: @TheTerminal, Bloomberg Finance L.P.  

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2. The inverted yield curve has been hinting at a recession for some time now.
 
Source: Oxford Economics  
 
Variant Perception’s model signals a sharp downturn.
 
Source: Variant Perception  
 
Fiscal tightening is expected to be a drag on growth this year.
 
Source: @MichaelKantro, @DonFSchneider  
 
But Morgan Stanley sees only one down quarter in 2023.
 
Source: Morgan Stanley Research  

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3. Will US manufacturing capital-to-labor ratio gains accelerate amid strong wage growth?
 
Source: Wells Fargo Securities  
 
4. The implied terminal rate is holding just below 5.5%.
 


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Canada

1. Building permits have been trending lower.
 

 
2. Job postings on Indeed are rolling over.
 
Source: Capital Economics  
 
3. Labor productivity is now below the pre-COVID trend.
 

 
4. Speculative accounts are boosting their bets against the loonie.
 


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The United Kingdom

1. As we saw earlier, service-sector activity picked up momentum last month.
 
Source: S&P Global PMI  
 
The PMI prices index points to slowing inflation ahead.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  

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2. Job postings are mostly below last year’s levels but still strong.
 
Source: @ONS, @adzuna   Read full article  
 
Companies are having a tough time recruiting.
 
Source: ING  

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3. This chart shows households’ real cash deposits.
 
Source: Capital Economics  


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The Eurozone

1. The updated services PMI indicators were a bit softer than the flash report.
 
Germany:
 
Source: S&P Global PMI  
 
France:
 
Source: S&P Global PMI  
 
Spain and Italy show expanding business activity.
 
Source: S&P Global PMI  
 
Span’s growth is particularly strong.
 
Source: S&P Global PMI  
 
At the Eurozone level, business expansion is inconsistent with crashing real money supply.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  

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2. The January euro-area PPI surprised to the downside.
 

 
3. Germany’s trade surplus surged in January as exports strengthened, while energy costs eased.
 

 
4. Speculative accounts have been boosting their bets on the euro.
 


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Europe

1. Let’s begin with Sweden.
 
Service-sector PMI looks recessionary.
 

 
A significant rise in Swedish debt service payments is underway.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
EUR/SEK is testing long-term resistance. Despite rising debt service, Sweden’s Riksbank is raising rates to shore up Krona and lower inflation.
 

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2. This chart shows the year-to-date change in regional equity fund allocations.
 
Source: EPFR  
 
3. Here are the latest polls on the European Parliament vote.
 
Source: @EuropeElects   Read full article  
 
4. Finally, we have last week’s performance of European currencies against the euro.
 


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Asia – Pacific

1. The Nikkei 225 index returned above its 40-week moving average.
 

 
The Invesco Japanese Yen ETF (FXY) declined from long-term resistance, although upside momentum is improving.
 

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2. The Aussie dollar is at support.
 
h/t Simon White, Bloomberg Markets Live Blog  
 
3. Speculative accounts are boosting their bets on the Kiwi dollar.
 


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China

1. The budget will be largely unchanged in 2023, according to Gavekal Research.
 
Source: Gavekal Research  
 
2. Investors expect 5-6% growth this year.
 
Source: Goldman Sachs  
 
3. China faces tight labor markets.
 
Source: @hancocktom, @business   Read full article  
 
4. Here is Macrobond’s reopening index.
 
Source: Chart and data provided by Macrobond  


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Emerging Markets

1. Mexico’s unemployment rate hit a multi-year low in January.
 

 
2. Colombia’s core inflation continues to surge.
 

 
3. Brazil’s service sector growth has stalled.
 
Source: S&P Global PMI  
 
4. Saudi business activity is expanding at the fastest pace since 2015.
 
Source: S&P Global PMI  
 
5. Next, we have some updates on Russia.
 
Manufacturing growth has been strengthening. However, a source told us that large companies were “asked” to “put their best foot forward” on the PMI surveys.
 
Source: S&P Global PMI  
 
The ruble has been trending lower.
 
Source: @financialtimes   Read full article  
 
Here are some additional indicators (all are from the Russian government).
 
The unemployment rate:
 

 
Wages index:
 

 
Retail sales index:
 

 
Cargo shipments:
 

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6. Finally, we have last week’s performance data.
 
Currencies:
 

 
Bond yields:
 

 
Equity ETFs:
 


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Commodities

1. US wheat futures remain under pressure.
 

 
2. Here is last week’s performance across key commodity markets.
 


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Energy

1. The US rig count declined again last week.
 

 
2. US natural gas held resistance at the 50-day moving average.
 
Source: barchart.com  
 
3. European natural gas storage hit a record high for this time of the year.
 
Source: @JKempEnergy  
 
And prices have been reflecting this trend.
 

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4. This chart shows the share of world oil production by country.
 
Source: @claradfmarques, @davidfickling, @opinion   Read full article  


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Equities

1. The S&P 500 held support at the 200-day moving average.
 

 
The Nasdaq 100 index is holding support at its 50-month moving average. The index is the most oversold since the financial crisis, but long-term momentum remains negative.
 
Source: @CiovaccoCapital  

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2. Persistently low risk premium poses a downside risk for stocks.
 
Source: Capital Economics  
 

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3. The ISM Manufacturing PMI is signaling much lower margins ahead.
 
Source: Chart and data provided by Macrobond  
 
4. How much have the 2023 earnings projections changed year-to-date?
 
Source: @FactSet   Read full article  
 
5. Deutsche Bank’s mid-cycle index has been outperforming.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
6. Transport stocks have outperformed year-to-date.
 

 
Shipping companies have been particularly strong.
 
h/t Walter  

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7. Next, we have some trends in market volatility.
 
S&P 500 realized volatility hit the lowest level in over a year.
 

 
Short-term options volume remains elevated.
 
Source: Goldman Sachs; @luwangnyc, @markets   Read full article  
 
Total options volume has been moving lower.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
Equity implied vol (VIX) has diverged form rates vol (MOVE).
 
Source: @TheTerminal, Bloomberg Finance L.P., h/t Deutsche Bank Research  

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8. Finally, we have some performance data from last week.
 
Sectors:
 

 
Equity factors:
 

 
Momentum and low-vol funds continue to see outflows.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
Macro-trend basket pairs:
 

 
Long-duration stocks outperformed last week.
 

 
Thematic ETFs:
 

 
Largest US tech firms:
 


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Credit

1. US HY funds continue to see outflows.
 
Source: EPFR  
 
IG fund inflows remain resilient despite the selloff.
 
Source: BofA Global Research  

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2. US life insurance holdings have a high allocation to corporate bonds.
 
Source: Morgan Stanley Research  
 
3. Finally, we have last week’s performance by asset class.
 


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Global Developments

1. Hedge funds have been boosting their bets against the US dollar.
 

 
2. The reduction in G4 central bank balance sheets could be a persistent headwind for global stocks.
 
Source: JP Morgan Research  
 
The aggregate G5 central bank balance sheet vs. nominal GDP growth is set to contract by another 14% this year.
 
Source: JP Morgan Research  

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3. Investors are concerned about the impact of the US-China tensions on global GDP.
 
Source: Goldman Sachs  
 
4. Secondhand luxury watch prices continue to fall.
 
Source: WatchEnthusiasts  
 
5. Finally, we have some performance data from last week.
 
Currency indices:
 

 
Bond yields:
 

 
Large-cap equity indices:
 


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Food for Thought

1. 2022 employment changes in select states:
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
2. Workers needed to generate $1 million at S&P 500 companies:
 
Source: @semafor   Read full article  
 
3. Streaming gaming platforms:
 
Source: @chartrdaily  
 
4. Peak temperatures in 2022 vs. 1985:
 
Source: @Datawrapper  
 
5. Investment in energy transition:
 
Source: WEF   Read full article  
 
6. Share of the population that would like to leave their country:
 
Source: Gallup   Read full article  
 
7. Population projections with and without immigration:
 
Source: @portereduardo, @opinion   Read full article  
 
8. Best-selling artists of all time:
 
Source: @genuine_impact  
 

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