The Daily Shot: 12-Oct-23
• The United Kingdom
• The Eurozone
• Japan
• Asia-Pacific
• China
• Emerging Markets
• Cryptocurrency
• Commodities
• Energy
• Equities
• Credit
• Food for Thought
1. The FOMC minutes showed the Fed’s ongoing concerns about upside risks to inflation, …
These risks included the imbalance of aggregate demand and supply persisting longer than expected, as well as risks emanating from global oil markets, the potential for upside shocks to food prices, the effects of a strong housing market on shelter inflation, and the potential for more limited declines in goods prices.
… amid robust economic growth.
Some participants remarked that an upside risk to their projections for economic activity was that the unexpected resilience that the economy had demonstrated so far could persist.
The focus has shifted from the level of the terminal rate to “higher for longer” …
All participants agreed that policy should remain restrictive for some time until the Committee is confident that inflation is moving down sustainably toward its objective.
… to reduce the risk of “reacceleration.”
Source: TS Lombard
• But with Treasury yields surging since the FOMC meeting and financial conditions tightening sharply (chart below), the minutes represent stale information.
Source: Deutsche Bank Research
At this point, the market does not expect a rate hike in November.
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2. Gains in producer prices last month topped expectations.
Source: CNBC Read full article
• PPI components (month over month):
Source: @TheTerminal, Bloomberg Finance L.P.
• Core PPI:
• Core PPI excluding trade services (business markups):
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3. Lower used vehicle prices and a deceleration in rent inflation drove a modest reduction in core CPI gains last month, according to Nomura.
Source: Nomura Securities
• However, the supercore CPI rate is expected to be higher.
Source: Nomura Securities
• What about October?
Nomura: … we see upside risks to October core CPI inflation as a widely anticipated drop in new vehicle supply due to the ongoing UAW strikes might push up vehicle prices further. In addition, … CPI’s health insurance prices will likely start increasing 1.2-1.4% m-o-m in October due to the BLS annual sample updates and methodological changes for that component …
Source: Nomura Securities
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4. Mortgage applications remain depressed (2 charts).
Here is the rate lock count.
Source: AEI Housing Center
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5. Business applications are running well above pre-COVID levels.
6. Visits to major retail chains remain well below last year’s levels.
Source: Placer.ai
The United Kingdom
1. The housing market slump hasn’t been this severe since the financial crisis.
Source: @financialtimes Read full article
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2. Here is a look at the latest voting intention polls.
Source: The Economist Read full article
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The Eurozone
1. According to Goldman’s indicator, euro-area financial conditions haven’t been this tight since the GFC.
2. Consumer inflation expectations climbed in August.
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Japan
1. The PPI report surprised to the downside, showing a rapid deceleration in upstream inflation.
2. August machinery orders disappointed.
Source: Reuters Read full article
But machine tool orders showed an improvement last month.
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Asia-Pacific
1. Taiwan’s trade surplus surged to a record high, …
… as exports unexpectedly climbed above last year’s level.
Source: @markets Read full article
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2. Australian inflation expectations are back above the pre-COVID peak.
3. New Zealand’s house sales are holding above 2022 levels.
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China
1. Stocks jumped this week, …
… as Beijing attempts to prop up the market.
Source: @markets Read full article
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2. State-owned enterprises dominate China’s bond market.
Source: China Pathfinder Read full article
3. Japanification?
Source: Goldman Sachs
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Emerging Markets
EM currencies bounced this week, with the MSCI currency index reaching its 50-day moving average.
• The Mexican peso rebounded, with USD/MXN testing support at the 200-day moving average.
Source: barchart.com
• Here is USD/COP (the Colombian peso).
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Cryptocurrency
1. ETH/USD is stuck below its 40-week moving average, although technicals suggest the pair is oversold.
2. ETH saw a spike in long liquidations since breaking below $1,730 (near its 40-week moving average).
Source: Coinglass
3. Tight monetary policy remains a headwind for cryptocurrencies.
Source: Deutsche Digital Assets
4. Crypto sentiment is slightly bearish.
Source: Deutsche Digital Assets
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Commodities
1. Soybean futures slumped in recent weeks on improving supply outlook in the US and Brazil.
Here is soybean oil.
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2. Exchange-traded weather derivatives are becoming more popular.
Source: Reuters Read full article
3. This chart shows Goldman’s forecast for rare earths production.
Source: Goldman Sachs
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Energy
1. Crude oil prices are retreating from earlier gains that were spurred by the surge in Middle East violence.
• According to the US Department of Energy, US crude oil production hit a record high in Q3 (13.13 million barrels per day).
Source: @EIAgov Read full article
Source: Bloomberg Law Read full article
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2. US oil and gas exploration spending growth rebounded last year off a low base, which could point to higher offshore utilization.
Source: The Crude Chronicles
3. Here is a look at top shale producers after the Exxon-Pioneer deal.
Source: @markets Read full article
4. MLPs (pipeline companies) have been rebounding (on a total return basis) but are lagging the overall energy sector.
• MLP funds continue to see outflows.
Source: EPFR
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Equities
1. Deutsche Bank sees the S&P 500 earnings per share hitting a record high in Q3, …
Source: Deutsche Bank Research
… after robust economic growth last quarter.
Source: Deutsche Bank Research
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2. The earnings recession appears to be over (2 charts).
Source: @markets Read full article
Source: Deutsche Bank Research
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3. The market continues to see a rebound in margins.
Source: BofA Global Research
4. Have systematic strategies/investors oversold during the market pullback?
Source: Goldman Sachs; @dailychartbook
5. How do different sectors perform after the Fed’s final hike?
Source: JP Morgan Research; @dailychartbook
6. Forget all the macro indicators. It’s about the McRib availability …
Source: USA Today Read full article
Source: @dollarsanddata Read full article
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Credit
1. Bank charge-offs are expected to hit the highest level since 2020.
Source: @business Read full article
2. The debt maturity walls for the S&P 500 and the Russell 2000 look very different.
Source: BofA Global Research
3. Investment-grade ETFs registered substantial outflows last month.
Source: @financialtimes Read full article
4. Convertible debt issuance increased this year.
Source: Goldman Sachs
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Food for Thought
1. Components of COVID-era household wealth gains in the US:
Source: ING
2. Shoe brand preferences:
Source: @CivicScience Read full article
3. A rebound in IT spending expectations:
Source: Morgan Stanley Research
4. Views on Israel and independent Palestine coexisting peacefully:
Source: Pew Research Center Read full article
5. Getting the new COVID vaccine:
Source: @axios Read full article
• Total COVID vaccines administered in select countries:
Source: Our World in Data
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6. US Hispanic population:
Source: Pew Research Center Read full article
7. Longest serving members of Congress:
Source: @genuine_impact
8. Reasons for tattoos:
Source: Pew Research Center Read full article
• Regrets:
Source: Pew Research Center Read full article
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