Tuesday, October 02, 2018

Wednesday Watch

Evening Headlines
Bloomberg:               
  • Asian Stocks Kick Off Mixed; Dollar Holds Gains. Asian stocks began the day mixed Wednesday following a volatile U.S. session as investors weighed continuing concerns in Indonesia and Italy and strength in commodity prices. The dollar and Treasuries held on to modest gains. Japanese shares edged lower, while equities in Australia ticked higher. Shares in Hong Kong are seen recovering from the biggest one-day slide in a month, with the local dollar trading at the weak end of its band with the greenback. Indonesian assets remain in focus as rising oil prices add to souring sentiment that’s driven the rupiah down past 15,000 per dollar for the first time in 20 years. Crude oil futures steadied in New York around the highest level in almost four years. Japan’s Topix index slipped 0.2 percent as of 9:02 a.m. in Tokyo. Futures on Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.4 percent. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index added 0.1 percent. The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1 percent. Futures were flat.
Wall St. Journal:
Telegraph:      
Night Trading 
  • Asian equity indices are -.25% to +.25% on average.
  • Asia Ex-Japan Investment Grade CDS Index 80.75 +1.25 basis points. 
  • Asia Pacific Sovereign CDS Index 9.0 +.25 basis point.
  • Bloomberg Emerging Markets Currency Index 66.75 -.02%.
  • FTSE 100 futures -.01%.
  • S&P 500 futures -.07%.
  • NASDAQ 100 futures -.10%.
Morning Preview Links

Earnings of Note
Company/Estimate

Before the Open:
  • (AYI)/2.62
  • (LEN)/1.37
After the Close:
  • (PIR)/-.63
  • (RECN)/.13
Economic Releases
8:15 am EST
  • The ADP Employment Change for September is estimated to rise to 184K versus 163K in August.
10:00 am EST
  • The ISM Non-Manufacturing Index for September is estimated to fall to 58.0 versus 58.5 in August.
10:30 am EST
  • Bloomberg consensus estimates call for a weekly crude oil inventory gain of +810,890 barrels versus a +1,852,000 barrel gain the prior week. Gasoline supplies are estimated to rise by +786,560 barrels versus a +1,530,000 barrel gain the prior week. Distillate inventories are estimated to fall by -1,499,220 barrels versus a -2,241,000 barrel decline the prior week. Finally, Refinery Utilization is estimated to fall by -.48% versus a -5.0% decline prior.
Upcoming Splits
  • (CASH) 3-for-1
Other Potential Market Movers
  • The Fed's Evans speaking, Fed's Mester speaking, Fed's Harker speaking, Fed's Barkin speaking, Eurozone Services PMI report, Eurozone Retail Sales report, weekly MBA Mortgage Applications report, (WDAY) analyst day and the (HPQ) analyst meeting could also impact trading today.
BOTTOM LINE:  Asian indices are mostly lower, weighed down by technology and consumer shares in the region. I expect US stocks to open modestly lower and to rally into the afternoon, finishing mixed.  The Portfolio is 75% net long heading into the day.

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