Evening Headlines
Bloomberg:
- Emerging-Market Credit Downgrades Soar to Overtake 2014 Tally. Investors be warned. There have been more credit-rating downgrades in developing nations in the first nine months of this year than in the whole of 2014 and the outlook keeps getting gloomier, according to Standard & Poor’s. An economic slowdown and lower commodity prices are to blame, said Diane Vazza, head of S&P’s Global Fixed Income Research Group, in a report Wednesday. S&P cut the ratings for 88 bonds sold by developing countries and companies in the third quarter, including Brazil, Zambia and Ecuador, while raising the grades for 22 securities. That brings the total number of downgrades to 224 this year, compared with the 206 cuts in 2014. The ratings cuts will continue to overwhelm emerging markets in the coming months. As of Sept. 30, about 28 percent of companies in developing nations have a negative outlook or are on the watch list for potential downgrades, compared with 24 percent in the second quarter, the report showed. S&P is not alone in sounding the alarm. UBS Group AG’s Bhanu Baweja, the strategist who correctly called this year’s rout in developing nations, is also concerned. The one-month long rebound in emerging-market currencies and stocks is poised to reverse, he said.
- Mr. Yen Sees Currency Strengthening as Global Growth Fizzles. The yen will probably appreciate as slowing global economic growth drives investors to seek safe assets, according to Eisuke Sakakibara, who was nicknamed “Mr. Yen” when he served as Japan’s vice minister of finance from 1997 to 1999. "Given the condition of the world economy, the Japanese yen will probably go into the range of 115 and 120" against the dollar, said Sakakibara, who’s a professor at Aoyama Gakuin University. He didn’t provide a time frame. "When the world economy is in bad condition, the yen tends to appreciate -- yen is considered to be a safe currency," he said in a speech in New York. Sakakibara’s prediction for a stronger yen contrasts with bearish median forecasts for 123 per dollar by the end of the year and 125 in the first quarter, according to analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.
- NXP Semiconductors Revenue Trails Estimates on Stagnating Orders. NXP Semiconductors NV reported third-quarter revenue that fell short of analysts’ estimates as customers pulled back on orders in a slowing global economy and higher inventories of unsold chips. Revenue was little changed at $1.52 billion, the Eindhoven, Netherlands-based company said in a statement Thursday. That missed the average analyst estimate of $1.55 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. For the fourth quarter, NXP forecast a decline in sales at a percentage in the “low to upper-teens,” while analysts are predicting an increase. An economic slowdown in China has forced other chip companies to warn of weaker-than-anticipated demand. NXP is seeing the biggest negative impact in chips designed for security and power management, the company said. “Our guidance for the fourth quarter reflects a much more cautious view of near-term sales,” NXP Chief Executive Officer Rick Clemmer said in the statement. “As we entered the third quarter, we noted a weakening of demand as our customers began to communicate concerns with an uncertain economic environment.”
- Won Leads Drop in Asian Currencies on Renewed Fed Liftoff Bets. South Korea’s won led declines in Asia on speculation the Federal Reserve will increase borrowing costs by December. The currency fell the most in more than a month after the Federal Open Market Committee dropped a reference to global risks and referred to its “next meeting” on Dec. 15-16 as it discussed liftoff timing in a statement released Wednesday in Washington, preparing investors for the first interest-rate rise since 2006. Futures contracts show a 46 percent chance the Fed will tighten policy in December compared with 35 percent a day earlier.
- Dollar Near Two-Month High as Fed Calls Market's Bluff on Rates. The dollar remained near a two-month high after the Federal Reserve signaled it may still raise interest rates this year when announcing a decision to hold off at Wednesday’s meeting. The U.S. currency advanced against most major peers since the end of trading Tuesday as the odds of a December Fed move rose toward 50 percent. The Australian dollar was among the worst performers after the price of iron ore, the nation’s chief export, sank below $50 for the first time since July and as traders’ bets indicated they expect the nation’s central bank will lower its benchmark rate next week. The yen gained after a report showed Japan’s industrial production unexpectedly increased. “The Fed language on tightening in December was a stronger indication than we’ve had from them in a long time about going soon,” said Imre Speizer, a senior market strategist at Westpac Banking Corp. in Auckland. “Right now, the U.S. dollar is looking pretty strong.”
- Most Asian Stocks Rise as Fed Points to Rate Increase This Year. Most Asian stocks rose, with the benchmark gauge resuming its October rally, after the Federal Reserve signaled it’s prepared to raise interest rates as soon as December. More than two shares climbed for each that retreated on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index, which gained less than 0.1 percent to 135.33 as of 9:04 a.m. in Tokyo.
- Iron Ore May Struggle to Push Back Above $50 as China Stumbles. Iron ore ’s tumble back below $50 a metric ton may last for some time as the twin factors that put it there, rising low-cost production from the majors and signs of faltering demand in China, will probably persist. “We do think the price will stay below $50,” Caroline Bain, senior commodities economist at Capital Economics Ltd. in London, said by e-mail. “The combination of the ongoing ramp up in supply from Australia and Brazil and the downturn in China’s steel demand will weigh on prices.”
- Baoshan Swings to Net Loss as China's Steel Demand Evaporates. Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., China’s second largest mill by output, swung to a net loss in the third quarter and warned that its full-year profit could be wiped out, amid an unprecedented glut of steel in the world’s largest producer. In the three months to September, Baosteel saw a net loss of 920.5 million yuan ($145 million), from a profit of 1.86 billion yuan a year ago, according to a statement late Wednesday. Sales slumped 10 percent to 41.5 billion yuan and the Shanghai-based company said its full-year net profit could fall by between 50 and 100 percent. In 2014, it made 5.79 billion yuan, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
- Fed Pivots Toward December Rate Rise Amid Moderate U.S. Growth. Federal Reserve officials pivoted toward a December interest-rate increase, betting that further job gains will lead to higher inflation over time and allow them to close an unprecedented era of near-zero borrowing costs. The Federal Open Market Committee dropped a reference to global risks and referred to its “next meeting” on Dec. 15-16 as it discussed liftoff timing in a statement released Wednesday in Washington, preparing investors for the first rate rise since 2006. “The case for a December liftoff continues to build,” said Ward McCarthy, chief financial economist at Jefferies LLC in New York. “Even with the weaker data of late, it is hard to make the case that the economy is still in an emergency” that requires rates near zero.
- FDA Shows Up, a Man Runs, and Questions Emerge on China's Drugs. When FDA inspectors showed up at a Chinese company that supplies key ingredients to two of the U.S.’s biggest drug companies, a curious thing happened. After lunch, they walked into a quality control lab on the second floor, where they saw a worker pull what looked like a memory stick from a computer and put it in the pocket of his lab coat. The inspectors asked to see what he’d taken. And then the man turned and ran.
- Ackman’s Pershing Square Holdings Loses 15.9% on Valeant(VRX). Pershing Square Holdings, the publicly traded security of Bill Ackman’s activist hedge fund, extended losses over the past week amid attacks on Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., bringing its decline this year to 15.9 percent. The latest returns, reported weekly, are as of Oct. 27. The year-to-date decline as of Oct. 20 was 11.2 percent, according to Pershing Square Holdings’ website.
Wall Street Journal:
- Fed Keeps December Rate Hike in Play by Jon Hilsenrath. Officials remove explicit mention of concern at overseas tumult, delivering warning to markets. Federal Reserve officials explicitly said they might raise short-term interest rates in December, pushing back against investors who have bet that the central bank wouldn’t move this year.
- Pfizer(PFE), Allergan(AGN) Considering Combining. A deal for Allergan would be the biggest announced takeover in an already busy year. Drug makers Pfizer Inc. and Allergan PLC are considering combining, in what would be a blockbuster merger capping off a torrid stretch for health care and other takeovers.
- ‘Something Deeply Disturbing Is Happening All Across America’. A chill wind has changed police behavior, and now violent crime is rising. Its victims are almost entirely young black men.
Barron's:
Fox News:
Fox News:
- GOP candidates tangle over tax plans at 3rd debate. The Republican presidential candidates sparred sharply over their tax plans at the opening of the third primary debate Wednesday night. Ohio Gov. John Kasich leveled the most pointed criticism, after Ben Carson defended his plan for a 10 percent flat tax. Kasich called it “fantasy.” “These plans would put us trillions and trillions of dollars in debt,” Kasich said. “Why don’t we just give a chicken in every pot.”
Twitchy:
CNBC:
CNBC:
- Cruz: This is why the American people don't trust the media. (video) A question on the debt ceiling heated up on stage at Wednesday's Republican debate, when Sen. Ted Cruz said questions on the issue "illustrate why the American people don't trust the media." "This is not a cage match," Cruz said. "The questions that are being asked shouldn't be getting people to tear into each other. It should be, 'What are your substantive solutions?'"
Business Insider:
Evening Recommendations
- None of note
Night Trading
- Asian equity indices are -1.0% to -.25% on average.
- Asia Ex-Japan Investment Grade CDS Index 129.75 -1.25 basis points.
- Asia Pacific Sovereign CDS Index 72.5 -1.25 basis points.
- Bloomberg Emerging Markets Currency Index 71.68 -.13%.
- S&P 500 futures -.26%.
- NASDAQ 100 futures -.35%.
Earnings of Note
Company/Estimate
- (AET)/1.75
- (APD)/1.80
- (ALXN)/1.04
- (MO)/.75
- (AMT)/1.16
- (ABC)/1.18
- (BWA)/.70
- (BC)/.74
- (BG)/1.57
- (CLF)/-.22
- (CME)/.99
- (COP)/-.36
- (DBD)/.41
- (GCI)/.37
- (GG)/.04
- (GT)/.97
- (JCI)/1.00
- (LLL)/1.82
- (MA)/.87
- (MCK)/3.01
- (MGM)/.03
- (MWW)/.10
- (OSK)/.78
- (PBI)/.44
- (POT)/.37
- (SHW)/3.87
- (ZBH)/1.56
- (BIDU)/1.29
- (BGG)/-.35
- (CENX)/-.27
- (DECK)/1.07
- (EA)/.44
- (FSLR)/1.62
- (FLR)/1.12
- (LSCC)/-.18
- (LNKD)/.45
- (PSMT)/.75
- (SCTY)/-1.94
- (SBUX)/.43
- (TSRO)/-1.45
- (YRCW)/.56
Economic Releases
8:30 am EST
- Initial Jobless Claims are estimated to rise to 265K versus 259K the prior week.
- Continuing Claims are estimated to fall to 2160K versus 2170K prior.
- Advance 3Q GDP is estimated to rise +1.6% versus a +3.9% gain in 2Q.
- Advance 3Q Personal Consumption is estimated to rise +3.3% versus a +3.6% gain in 2Q.
- Advance 3Q GDP Price Index is estimated to rise +1.4% versus a +2.1% gain in 2Q
- Advance 3Q Core PCE is estimated to rise +1.4% versus a +1.9% gain in 2Q.
- Pending Home Sales for September are estimated to rise +1.0% versus a -1.4% decline in August.
Upcoming Splits
- None of note
Other Potential Market Movers
- The Fed's Lockhart speaking, Eurozone Consumer Confidence report, $29B 7Y T-Note auction, weekly Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index, weekly EIA natural gas inventory report and the (ORCL) financial analyst meeting could also impact trading today.
BOTTOM LINE: Asian indices are mostly lower, weighed down by commodity and technology
shares in the region. I expect US stocks to open mixed and to
weaken into the afternoon, finishing modestly lower. The Portfolio is
50% net long heading into the day.
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