S&P/Case-Shiller US HPI YOY% for 1Q is estimated to rise +3.2% versus a -2.5% decline in 4Q.
10:00 am EST
Consumer Confidence for May is estimated to rise to 58.5 versus a reading of 57.9 in April.
The House Price Index for March is estimated unch. versus a -.2% decline in February.
Upcoming Splits
(EW) 2-for-1
Other Potential Market Movers
The Fed's Bernanke speaking, Fed's Plosser speaking, Fed's Bullard speaking, Treasury Secretary Geithner speaking, 2-Year Treasury Note Auction, Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index, weekly retail sales reports, ABC Consumer Confidence reading, (NICE) analyst day, (FLEX) analyst day, (MFE) analyst meeting, Stephens Spring Investment Conference, BofA Merrill Services Conference, UBS Global Oil & Gas Conference and the UBS Electronic Payments Summit could also impact trading today.
BOTTOM LINE: Asian indices are sharply lower, weighed down by financial and technology shares in the region. I expect US stocks to open lower and to maintain losses into the afternoon. The Portfolio is 50% net long heading into the day.
North American Investment Grade CDS Index 120.68 bps +3.41%
European Financial Sector CDS Index 159.96 bps +7.51%
Western Europe Sovereign Debt CDS Index 132.50 bps +.38%
Emerging Market CDS Index 279.92 bps +.76%
2-Year Swap Spread 45.0 -1 bp
TED Spread 39.0 unch.
Economic Gauges:
3-Month T-Bill Yield .15% unch.
Yield Curve 249.0 -2 bps
China Import Iron Ore Spot $144.0/Metric Tonne -.83%
Citi US Economic Surprise Index +18.10 -3.6 points
10-Year TIPS Spread 2.0% -3 bps
Overseas Futures:
Nikkei Futures: Indicating -26 open in Japan
DAX Futures: Indicating -30 open in Germany
Portfolio:
Slightly Higher: On gains in my Medical, Technology and Retail long positions
Disclosed Trades: None
Market Exposure: 75% Net Long
BOTTOM LINE: Today's overall market action is bearish as the S&P 500 trades near session lows despite some more positive economic data and a bounce in the euro. On the positive side, Gold, Software, Telecom, Drug, Retail, Food and Tobacco stocks are slightly higher on the day. Oil continues to trade very poorly, despite a significant escalation in Middle-East tensions, a bounce in the euro, the recent plunge in oil spec longs and today's positive economic reports. Several key stocks, such as (AAPL), are trading very well today. On the negative side, Gaming, Homebuilding, Construction, Networking, Disk Drive, Paper, Steel, Oil Service, Energy and Coal shares are under significant pressure, falling 2.0%+. Cyclicals and Small-Caps are underperforming. The Spain sovereign cds is jumping +10.3% to 235.95 bps, the Portugal sovereign cds is surging +11.3% to 340.30, the UK sovereign cds is rising +5.1% to 84.4 bps and the Russian sovereign cds is gaining +6.5% to 183.42 bps. Underneath the surface, the market's action is more bearish than the major averages indicate. Energy-related stocks are crashing in many cases and breadth is very poor. A test of recent market lows is looking increasingly more likely. I expect US stocks to trade mixed-to-lower into the close from current levels on rising sovereign debt angst, technical selling, rising energy sector pessimism, tax hike worries and regulatory fears.