Monday, September 22, 2025

Stocks Rising into Final Hour on AI-Induced Profit-Margin Expansion Optimism, Technical Buying, Short-Covering, Tech/Road & Rail Sector Strength

Economic Gauges:
  • Bloomberg Emerging Markets Currency Index 36.5 +.08%
  • US 10-Year T-Note Yield 4.14% +2.0 basis points
  • 3-Month T-Bill Yield 3.94% -3.0 basis points
  • China Iron Ore Spot 106.4 USD/Metric Tonne -.3%
  • Dutch TTF Nat Gas(European benchmark) 31.84 euros/megawatt-hour -1.4%
  • Citi US Economic Surprise Index 10.2 -3.4 points
  • Citi Eurozone Economic Surprise Index 24.0 +.3 point
  • Citi Emerging Markets Economic Surprise Index 5.4 -1.3 points
  • S&P 500 Current Quarter EPS Growth Rate YoY(7 of 500 reporting) -.8% unch.
  • S&P 500 Blended Forward 12 Months Mean EPS Estimate 293.28 +.25:  Growth Rate +12.0% +.1 percentage point, P/E 22.8 +.1
  • S&P 500 Current Year Estimated Profit Margin 13.49% +1.0 basis point
  • NYSE FANG+ Current Quarter EPS Growth Rate YoY(0 of 10 reporting) n/a
  • NYSE FANG+ Blended Forward 12 Months Mean EPS Estimate 488.96 +1.82: Growth Rate +19.6% +.3 percentage point, P/E 33.6 +.1
  • Bloomberg US Financial Conditions Index .78 +3.0 basis points
  • Bloomberg Euro-Zone Financial Conditions Index 1.54 +3.0 basis points
  • Bloomberg Global Trade Policy Uncertainty Index 3.0 unch.
  • US Yield Curve 53.75 basis points (2s/10s) -1.5 basis points
  • US Atlanta Fed GDPNow Q2 Forecast +3.3% unch.
  • US Recession Within 6 Months Probability(3M/18M Forward Yld Curve Spread) 36.2% -.2 percentage point
  • Cleveland Fed Inflation Nowcast Core PCE YoY +2.99% unch.: CPI YoY +3.0% unch.
  • 1-Year TIPS Spread 2.66 -3.0 basis points
  • 10-Year TIPS Spread 2.37 -2.0 basis points
  • Highest target rate probability for Dec. 10th FOMC meeting: 73.4% (-5.2 percentage points) chance of 3.5%-3.75%. Highest target rate probability for Jan. 28th meeting: 51.8%(+.3 percentage point) chance of 3.5%-3.75%. (current target rate is 4.0-4.25%)
Overseas Futures:
  • Nikkei 225 Futures: Indicating +100 open in Japan 
  • China A50 Futures: Indicating +25 open in China
  • DAX Futures: Indicating +210 open in Germany
Portfolio:
  • Higher: On gains in my utility/tech/industrial sector longs
  • Disclosed Trades: None
  • Market Exposure: 100% Net Long

Bear Radar

Style Underperformer:

  • Mid-Cap Value -.1%
Sector Underperformers:
  • 1) Regional Banks -1.4% 2) Homebuilding -1.4% 3) Shipping -1.2%
Stocks Falling on Unusual Volume: 
  • HRTG, TIC, AS, TOST, FUTU, Z, KVUE, TIGR, BMNR and QUBT
Stocks With Unusual Put Option Activity:
  • 1) MBX 2) SEI 3) RR 4) CZR 5) QUBT
Stocks With Most Negative News Mentions:
  • 1) QUBT 2) KVUE 3) COIN 4) ADP 5) MTCH
Sector ETFs With Most Negative Money Flow:
  • 1) XLK 2) XLC 3) XLF 4) IYW 5) XAR

Bull Radar

Style Outperformer:

  • Large-Cap Growth +.9%
Sector Outperformers:
  • 1) Alt Energy +2.6% 2) Education +2.6% 3) Computer Services +2.0%
Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume:
  • MBX, MTSR, KOD, HOUS, BKKT, PRO, ODP, DGNX, APLD, GGAL, BMA, TSSI, FLNC, AG, TER, SKYT, YPF, VOYG, ASPI, SRRK, UMAC, PAM, TGS, PATH, PINC, CSIQ, RCAT, SGHC, SMLR, UEC, VIST, FWRD, NUS, SA, PACS, IRS, NBIS, GRAL, CLW, TGTX, ONTO, B, NTLA, BLZE, CCOI, CHYM, FORM, SCHL, WAB, IREN, BULL, ORKA, ADPT, RIVN, SEI, SHOO, IAG, BTDR, DUOL, CRUS, SYM, LEU, AMAT, AMKR, GDOT, SWKS, ARCT, SOUN, EOSE, UUUU. ARCT, LTBR, ORCL, WDC, RKLB, GPCR, RMBS, ASTS, TSM, WYFI, VKTX, TTD, HUT, STX, ATEX, VKTX, COCO, WYFI, GCT, AAPL, QURE, BBWI, QURE, GME, NVCR, NVDA, REYN, JBL, CVI, SMCI, PPTA, MUX, CMCL, ACIW, KGC, NI and BVN
Stocks With Unusual Call Option Activity:
  • 1) ADBE 2) UROY 3) HOUS 4) NOK 5) SMLR
Stocks With Most Positive News Mentions:
  • 1) MTSR 2) TER 3) PLUG 4) NBIS 5) BETR
Sector ETFs With Most Positive Money Flow:
  • 1) BAI 2) MAGS 3) ARKK 4) XLP 5) VGT
Charts:

Tomorrow's Earnings/Economic Releases of Note; Market Movers

Earnings of Note 
Company/Estimate 

Before the Open:
  • (AZO)/50.76
  • (APOG)/.84 
After the Close: 
  • (AIR)/.98
  • (MU)/2.82
  • (MLKN)/.34
  • (WOR)/.70 
Economic Releases 

8:30 am EST

  • The Philly Fed Non-Manufacturing Activity Index for Sept.
  • The Current Account Deficit for 2Q is estimated at -$256.3B versus -$450.2B in 1Q.  

9:45 am EST

  • The S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI for Sept. is estimated to fall to 52.2 versus 53.0 in Aug.
  • The S&P Global US Services PMI for Sept. is estimated to fall to 54.0 versus 54.5 in Aug. 
  • The S&P Global US Composite PMI for Sept. is estimated to fall to 54.0 versus 54.6 om Aug. 

Upcoming Splits

  • None of note
Other Potential Market Movers
  • The Fed's Powell speaking, Fed's Bowman speaking, Fed's Bostic speaking, M2 Money Supply MoM for Aug., weekly API crude oil stock report, 3Y T-Note auction, weekly US retail sales reports, BofA Healthcare Conference, (MCK) investor day, (AFRM) investor meeting, (WOR) annual meeting and the Bernstein Healthcare Forum could also impact global trading tomorrow.
US Equity Market Hours
  • 9:30 am - 4:00 pm EST

Mid-Day Market Internals

NYSE Composite Index:

  • Volume Running +12.5% Above 100-Day Average 
  • Nasdaq/NYSE Volume Ratio 14.1 -2.8
  • 5 Sectors Declining, 6 Sectors Rising
  • 40.4% of Issues Advancing, 57.5% Declining 
  • TRIN/Arms .85 -30.0% 
  • Non-Block Money Flow -$122.6M
  • 95 New 52-Week Highs, 39 New Lows
  • 60.6% (-.2%) of Issues Above 200-day Moving Average
  • Average 14-Day RSI 67.5 -.9
Other:
  • Bloomberg Global Risk-On/Risk-Off Index 84.1 -1.4%
  • Bloomberg Cyclicals/Defensives Index 260.9 +.01%
  • Morgan Stanley Growth vs Value Index 170.0 +.7%
  • CNN Fear & Greed Index 63.0 (GREED) unch.
  • 1-Day Vix 7.7 -27.4%
  • Vix 15.8 +2.3%
  • Total Put/Call .77 +4.0%

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Monday Watch

Around X:

  • @Business 
  • @Zerohedge  
  • @GatewayPundit
  • @FoxNews  
  • @MarioNawful
  • EXCLUSIVE | PBD: CHARLIE KIRK LIKELY TURNED DOWN NETANYAHU. While he's not convinced anyone should point fingers at Israel, @patrickbetdavid believes you may as well flip a coin on the question of whether Netanyahu offered Turning Point $150 million to make Charlie Kirk an ambassador of Israeli interests. When was the offer allegedly made? just a month before he was assassinated. "Charlie didn't want to go back to Israel. Israel invited him. He said no to it. Eventually, Bibi even offered $150 million to maybe have Charlie give more pro-Israel messages around the world." (video)
  • VIETNAM SHUTS DOWN MILLIONS OF BANK ACCOUNTS OVER BIOMETRIC ID RULES. Vietnam just closed more than 86 million bank accounts because owners didn’t sign up for new biometric ID rules that require face scans to use banking services. The government says it’s all about fighting fraud and money laundering, after police caught a gang using fake scans to move $39 million. Now anyone making transfers over $379 has to pass a face scan, and bigger transactions always need biometric checks. Foreigners living in Vietnam are also caught up, with some having to fly back just to keep their accounts alive. Some people warn this isn’t just about security but could be the start of intense financial surveillance. Is Vietnam being used as a testing ground for what many are now calling the New Banking Order?
  • @Breaking911
  • @WallStreetApes
  • @newstart_2024 
  • @Resist_CBDC
  • @MDBreathe
  • @MarinaMedvin
  • @Nicksortor
  • @VigilantFox
  • @HealthRanger
  • @wideawake_media
  • @Rothbard1776
  • Call me “insane” if you want to, but the explanation for the lack of an exit wound in the assassination of Charlie Kirk with a high-powered 30-06 rifle is extremely hard to believe. According to one of the surgeons:
  • @C_3C_3
  • @MichelleMaxwell
  • Breaking news out of Virginia, and it’s the kind of news that should make every Republican’s heart race with pride! The numbers are in, and they are stunning: conservative, Republican-leaning counties are shattering expectations in early voting, leaving Democrat strongholds in the dust. In Dinwiddie County, turnout is soaring to a jaw-dropping 82%. Goochland is not far behind at 72%. Hanover—rock solid conservative territory—is holding strong at 62%. These aren’t just numbers on a page. They are proof of a movement, proof of energy, and proof that the Republican grassroots is more alive and determined than ever. Now let’s look at the other side.
  • @dom_lucre
  • BREAKING: Governor Gavin Newsome announced through his press office that he is suspending Kid Rock from being able to perform in Golden State California despite Liberals claiming that Disney removing Jimmy Kimmel is unfair. This is an active politician banning the rights of an American citizen. Liberals cry victim as they strike you. Newsom “BECAUSE OF HIS HORRIFIC MUSIC, CALIFORNIA WILL INDEFINITELY SUSPEND KID ROCK FROM PERFORMING IN THE GOLDEN STATE. YOU’RE WELCOME! — GCN”.
  • @Catturd2
  • @Villgecrazylady
  • @BasedMikeLee 
  • @EssexPR
  • @ssongpinganq
  • @Liz_Churchill10
  • @toobaffled
Night Trading
  • Asian indices are -.25% to +.75% on average.
  • Asia Ex-Japan Investment Grade CDS Index 63.5 +3.75 basis points(new series).
  • China Sovereign CDS 35.75 +2.0 basis points.
  • China Iron Ore Spot 107.0 USD/Metric Tonne +.3%.
  • Swiss Franc/Offshore Chinese Renminbi Cross 8.94 -.24% 
  • Bloomberg Emerging Markets Currency Index 36.5 -.04%.
  • Bloomberg Global Risk-On/Risk Off Index 85.0 -.2%.
  • US 10-Year Yield 4.14% +1.0 basis point.
  • Volatility Index(VIX) futures 17.8 +.2%. 
  • Euro Stoxx 50 futures unch.
  • S&P 500 futures -.16%.
  • NASDAQ 100 futures -.14%.

BOTTOM LINE: Asian indices are mostly higher, boosted by industrial and technology shares in the region. I expect US stocks to open mixed and to rally into the afternoon, finishing modestly higher. The Portfolio is 100% net long heading into the week.