Friday, January 19, 2024

Stocks Surging into Afternoon on US Economic "Soft-Landing" Hopes, Earnings Outlook Optimism, Technical Buying, Tech/Financial Sector Strength

Broad Equity Market Tone:

  • Advance/Decline Line: Around Even
  • Sector Performance: Most Sectors Gaining
  • Volume: Above Average
  • Market Leading Stocks: Performing In Line
Equity Investor Angst:
  • Volatility(VIX) 13.5 -4.3%
  • DJIA Intraday % Swing .65% -20.6%
  • Bloomberg Global Risk On/Risk Off Index 61.0 +1.9%
  • Euro/Yen Carry Return Index 173.97 +.22%
  • Emerging Markets Currency Volatility(VXY) 7.5 -1.2%
  • CBOE S&P 500 Implied Correlation Index 18.9 -3.5% 
  • ISE Sentiment Index 142.0 +21.0
  • Total Put/Call .94 unch.
  • NYSE Arms .81 -35.7% 
  • NYSE Non-Block Money Flow +$223.7M 
Credit Investor Angst:
  • North American Investment Grade CDS Index 54.88 -1.43%
  • US Energy High-Yield OAS 330.29 -2.1%
  • Bloomberg TRACE # Distressed Bonds Traded 315 -11
  • European Financial Sector CDS Index 69.7 -1.6% 
  • Deutsche Bank Subordinated 5Y Credit Default Swap 206.4 -2.4%
  • Italian/German 10Y Yld Spread 154.0 basis points -4.0 basis points
  • Asia Ex-Japan Investment Grade CDS Index 100.2 -2.0%
  • Emerging Market CDS Index 178.28 -.1%
  • Israel Sovereign CDS 122.8 +2.2%
  • China Corp. High-Yield Bond USD ETF(KHYB) 24.4 unch.
  • 2-Year SOFR Swap Spread -15.75 basis points +1.0 basis point
  • Treasury Repo 3M T-Bill Spread 5.0 basis points unch.
  • 3-Month EUR/USD Cross-Currency Basis Swap -3.75 +.25 basis point
  • MBS  5/10 Treasury Spread 145.0 +1.0 basis point
  • Bloomberg CMBS Investment Grade Bbb Average OAS 944.0 -2.0 basis points
  • Avg. Auto ABS OAS 74.0 unch.
Economic Gauges:
  • Bloomberg Emerging Markets Currency Index 40.98 +.1%
  • 3-Month T-Bill Yield 5.35% unch.
  • China Iron Ore Spot 129.0 USD/Metric Tonne -.7%
  • Dutch TTF Nat Gas(European benchmark) 28.4 euros/megawatt-hour +1.9%
  • Citi US Economic Surprise Index 13.5 +8.6 points
  • Citi Eurozone Economic Surprise Index -12.4 +.8 point
  • Citi Emerging Markets Economic Surprise Index 4.5 -1.9 points
  • S&P 500 Current Quarter EPS Growth Rate YoY(52 of 500 reporting) -2.9% +1.0 percentage point
  • S&P 500 Blended Forward 12 Months Mean EPS Estimate 243.73 +.03:  Growth Rate +10.0% unch., P/E 19.7 +.2
  • S&P 500 Current Year Estimated Profit Margin 11.71% -2.0 basis points
  • NYSE FANG+ Current Quarter EPS Growth Rate YoY(0 of 10 reporting) +0.0% -0.0 percentage points
  • NYSE FANG+ Blended Forward 12 Months Mean EPS Estimate 292.35 +.20: Growth Rate +37.1% +.1 percentage point, P/E 30.1 +.1
  • Bloomberg US Financial Conditions Index .91 +3.0 basis points
  • Bloomberg Euro-Zone Financial Conditions Index .61 -20.0 basis points
  • US Yield Curve -25.5 basis points (2s/10s) -3.5 basis points
  • US Atlanta Fed 4Q GDPNow Forecast +2.39% unch.
  • US Recession Within 6 Months Probability(3M/18M Forward Yld Curve Spread) 64.2% -1.4 percentage points
  • Cleveland Fed Inflation Nowcast Core PCE YoY +3.02% unch.: CPI YoY +2.96% unch.
  • 10-Year TIPS Spread 2.34 -1.0 basis point
  • Highest target rate probability for March 20th FOMC meeting: 52.6%(+8.0 percentage points) chance of 5.25%-5.5%. Highest target rate probability for May 1st meeting: 50.6%(+4.2 percentage points) chance of 5.0%-5.25%.
Overseas Futures:
  • Nikkei 225 Futures: Indicating +303 open in Japan 
  • China A50 Futures: Indicating +11 open in China
  • DAX Futures: Indicating +172 open in Germany
Portfolio:
  • Higher:  On gains in my tech/biotech/consumer discretionary/industrial sector longs
  • Disclosed Trades: None
  • Market Exposure: 100% Net Long

Bear Radar

Style Underperformer:

  • Small-Cap Growth -.2%
Sector Underperformers:
  • 1) Alt Energy -2.9% 2) Healthcare Providers -.7% 3) Airlines -.4%
Stocks Falling on Unusual Volume: 
  • RCUS, PLL, GCT, COUR, CELH and IRBT
Stocks With Unusual Put Option Activity:
  • 1) INVZ 2) FAST 3) DFS 4) IRBT 5) STLA
Stocks With Most Negative News Mentions:
  • 1) IRBT 2) ASTS 3) GDHG 4) CMBM 5) ESPR
Charts:

Bull Radar

Style Outperformer:

  • Large-Cap Growth +.7%
Sector Outperformers:
  • 1) Disk Drives +5.0% 2) Computer Hardware +3.8% 3) Defense +2.8%
Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume:
  • EWTX, SMCI, TCN, MGNX, SILK, W, ALLY, MRUS, DELL, CLS, FVRR, EDR, TRV, CGEM, VKTX, PYPL, ARM, PTVE, TNK, KMPR, CRDO, QCOM, AMD, TXN, PSTG, PLAB, VRT, AVGO, AMAT and CDNS
Stocks With Unusual Call Option Activity:
  • 1) GFI 2) FAST 3) IRBT 4) EW 5) SMCI
Stocks With Most Positive News Mentions:
  • 1) SMCI 2) MESA 3) SAVE 4) EWTX 5) RVYL

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

Earnings of Note 
Company/Estimate 

Before the Open:
  • (BOH)/1.00
After the Close: 
  • (AGYS)/.26
  • (BRO)/.53
  • (UAL)/1.70
  • (ZION)/.88
Economic Releases

10:00 am EST

  • The Leading Index for Dec. is estimated to fall -.3% versus a -.5% decline in Nov.

Upcoming Splits 

  • None of note
Other Potential Market Movers
  • The TD Cowen Mining Conference, Jefferies Consumer Summit and the (SMCI) annual meeting could also impact global trading on Monday.
US Equity Market Hours
  • 9:30 am - 4:00 pm EST

Morning Market Internals

NYSE Composite Index:

  • Volume Running +16.4% Above 100-Day Average 
  • Nasdaq/NYSE Volume Ratio 9.0 -2.2
  • 3 Sectors Declining, 8 Sectors Rising
  • 41.3% of Issues Advancing, 56.1% Declining 
  • TRIN/Arms .87 -31.0% 
  • Non-Block Money Flow +$143.2M
  • 72 New 52-Week Highs, 33 New Lows
  • 58.0%(+.2%) of Issues Above 200-day Moving Average
  • Average 14-Day RSI 51.0 +5.0
Other:
  • Bloomberg Global Risk-On/Risk-Off Index 60.7 +1.6%
  • Bloomberg Cyclicals/Defensives Pair Index 137.0 +.15%
  • Russell 1000: Growth/Value 19,023.7 +.35%
  • CNN Fear & Greed Index 71.0 (Greed) +8.0
  • 1-Day Vix 9.8 -17.6%
  • Vix 13.7 -3.1%
  • Total Put/Call .90 -4.3%

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Friday Watch

Evening Headlines

Bloomberg:

Zero Hedge:

Wall Street Journal:

 MarketWatch.com:
TheGatewayPundit.com:

The Epoch Times:

X:
OpenVAERS:
SKirsch.com:
Night Trading 
  • Asian equity indices are +.25% to +1.25% on average.
  • Asia Ex-Japan Investment Grade CDS Index 101.25 -2.5 basis points.
  • China Sovereign CDS 66.0 -3.25 basis points.
  • China Iron Ore Spot 128.10 USD/Metric Tonne -1.04%.
  • Bloomberg Emerging Markets Currency Index 40.92 -.02%.
  • Bloomberg Global Risk-On/Risk Off Index 61.5 +2.9%.
  • Volatility Index(VIX) futures 14.97 -.22%.
  • Euro Stoxx 50 futures +.38%.
  • S&P 500 futures +.04%.
  • NASDAQ 100 futures +.24%.  
Morning Preview Links

BOTTOM LINE: Asian indices are modestly higher, boosted by technology and consumer 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 day.

Stocks Surging into Final Hour on US Economic "Soft-Landing" Hopes, Earnings Outlook Optimism, Technical Buying, Consumer Discretionary/Tech Sector Strength

Broad Equity Market Tone:

  • Advance/Decline Line: Modestly Lower
  • Sector Performance: Most Sectors Gaining
  • Volume: Above Average
  • Market Leading Stocks: Performing In Line
Equity Investor Angst:
  • Volatility(VIX) 14.4 -2.8%
  • DJIA Intraday % Swing .82% +68.4%
  • Bloomberg Global Risk On/Risk Off Index 59.6 +1.7%
  • Euro/Yen Carry Return Index 173.5 -.13%
  • Emerging Markets Currency Volatility(VXY) 7.5 -1.2%
  • CBOE S&P 500 Implied Correlation Index 20.0 -4.1% 
  • ISE Sentiment Index 137.0 +26.0
  • Total Put/Call .94 -6.0%
  • NYSE Arms 1.54 -.7% 
  • NYSE Non-Block Money Flow +$56.5M 
Credit Investor Angst:
  • North American Investment Grade CDS Index 56.0 -.97%
  • US Energy High-Yield OAS 337.60 +.14%
  • Bloomberg TRACE # Distressed Bonds Traded 326 +13
  • European Financial Sector CDS Index 70.83 -2.9% 
  • Deutsche Bank Subordinated 5Y Credit Default Swap 211.79 -3.4%
  • Italian/German 10Y Yld Spread 158.0 basis points -2.0 basis points
  • Asia Ex-Japan Investment Grade CDS Index 102.5 -1.0%
  • Emerging Market CDS Index 179.18 -1.1%
  • Israel Sovereign CDS 120.14 +.02%
  • China Corp. High-Yield Bond USD ETF(KHYB) 24.4 unch.
  • 2-Year SOFR Swap Spread -16.75 basis points -.75 basis point
  • Treasury Repo 3M T-Bill Spread 5.0 basis points -2.0 basis points
  • 3-Month EUR/USD Cross-Currency Basis Swap -4.0 +1.0 basis point
  • MBS  5/10 Treasury Spread 144.0 -3.0 basis points
  • Bloomberg CMBS Investment Grade Bbb Average OAS 946.0 -4.0 basis points
  • Avg. Auto ABS OAS 74.0 -2.0 basis points
Economic Gauges:
  • Bloomberg Emerging Markets Currency Index 40.9 +.02%
  • 3-Month T-Bill Yield 5.35% -2.0 basis points
  • China Iron Ore Spot 127.8 USD/Metric Tonne -1.3%
  • Dutch TTF Nat Gas(European benchmark) 27.9 euros/megawatt-hour +.7%
  • Citi US Economic Surprise Index 4.9 +3.5 points
  • Citi Eurozone Economic Surprise Index -13.2 +.7 point
  • Citi Emerging Markets Economic Surprise Index 6.4 unch.
  • S&P 500 Current Quarter EPS Growth Rate YoY(36 of 500 reporting) -3.9% -2.8 percentage points
  • S&P 500 Blended Forward 12 Months Mean EPS Estimate 243.70 -.14:  Growth Rate +10.0% -1.9 percentage points, P/E 19.5 +.1
  • S&P 500 Current Year Estimated Profit Margin 11.73% -3.0 basis points
  • NYSE FANG+ Current Quarter EPS Growth Rate YoY(0 of 10 reporting) +0.0% -0.0 percentage points
  • NYSE FANG+ Blended Forward 12 Months Mean EPS Estimate 292.15 +.12: Growth Rate +37.0% +.1 percentage point, P/E 30.0 +.4
  • Bloomberg US Financial Conditions Index .88 -3.0 basis points
  • Bloomberg Euro-Zone Financial Conditions Index .81 +1.0 basis point
  • US Yield Curve -21.75 basis points (2s/10s) +3.25 basis points
  • US Atlanta Fed 4Q GDPNow Forecast +2.39% +18.0 basis points
  • US Recession Within 6 Months Probability(3M/18M Forward Yld Curve Spread) 65.6% -1.5 percentage points
  • Cleveland Fed Inflation Nowcast Core PCE YoY +3.02% unch.: CPI YoY +2.96% unch.
  • 10-Year TIPS Spread 2.35 +5.0 basis points
  • Highest target rate probability for March 20th FOMC meeting: 55.7%(+1.9 percentage points) chance of 5.0%-5.25%. Highest target rate probability for May 1st meeting: 45.4%(-1.5 percentage points) chance of 5.0%-5.25%.
Overseas Futures:
  • Nikkei 225 Futures: Indicating +594 open in Japan 
  • China A50 Futures: Indicating -80 open in China
  • DAX Futures: Indicating +141 open in Germany
Portfolio:
  • Higher:  On gains in my tech/biotech/consumer discretionary/industrial sector longs
  • Disclosed Trades: Covered some of my (IWM)/(QQQ) hedges and some of my emerging market shorts
  • Market Exposure: Moved to 100% Net Long

Bear Radar

Style Underperformer:

  • Small-Cap Growth +.1%
Sector Underperformers:
  • 1) Healthcare Providers -1.7% 2) Alt Energy -1.6% 3) Utilities -1.4%
Stocks Falling on Unusual Volume: 
  • ABVX, KVYO, KEY, CNMD, BIRK, IRBT, HUM, DFS and VRDN
Stocks With Unusual Put Option Activity:
  • 1) PTEN 2) BVN 3) BALL 4) BMBL 5) DFS
Stocks With Most Negative News Mentions:
  • 1) SAVE 2) PLUG 3) DFS 4) CHPT 5) BIRK
Charts:

Bull Radar

Style Outperformer:

  • Large-Cap Growth +.6%
Sector Outperformers:
  • 1) Gambling +2.8% 2) Semis +2.5% 3) Road & Rail +1.4%
Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume:
  • NVCR, MDC, RAMP, BTU, TSM, DWAC, FAST, VECO, DKNG, SNV, CAMT, UCTT, FHN, PI, IGMS, HCC, CZR, ARM, COHR, BA, ISRG, ASML and LRCX
Stocks With Unusual Call Option Activity:
  • 1) PCG 2) GT 3) TSM 4) MCHI 5) MRVL
Stocks With Most Positive News Mentions:
  • 1) MRAI 2) RAMP 3) FAST 4) MRVL 5) MDC

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

Earnings of Note 
Company/Estimate 

Before the Open:
  • (ALLY)/.44
  • (CMA)/.90
  • (FITB)/.77
  • (HBAN)/.12
  • (RF)/.46
  • (SLB)/.84
  • (STT)/1.83
  • (TRV)/5.08
After the Close: 
  • None of note
Economic Releases

8:30 am EST 

  • Univ. of Mich. Consumer Sentiment for Jan. is estimated to rise to 70.1 versus 69.7 in Dec.
  • Univ. of Mich. 1Y Inflation Expectations Index for Jan. is estimated at +3.1% versus a +3.1% gain in Dec.
  • Existing Home Sales for Dec. is estimated to rise to 3.83M versus 3.82M in Nov.

4:00 pm EST

  • Net Long-Term TIC Flows for Nov.

Upcoming Splits 

  • None of note
Other Potential Market Movers
  • The Fed's Barr speaking, Fed's Daly speaking, Atlanta Fed GDPNow Q4 Update, US Government funding deadline, CFTC speculative net positioning reports and the US Baker Hughes Rig Count 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 +9.3% Above 100-Day Average 
  • Nasdaq/NYSE Volume Ratio 11.2 +1.1
  • 8 Sectors Declining, 3 Sectors Rising
  • 36.4% of Issues Advancing, 60.9% Declining 
  • TRIN/Arms 1.64 +5.8% 
  • Non-Block Money Flow -$47.1M
  • 48 New 52-Week Highs, 40 New Lows
  • 57.1%(-.3%) of Issues Above 200-day Moving Average
  • Average 14-Day RSI 46.0 -2.0
Other:
  • Bloomberg Global Risk-On/Risk-Off Index 59.3 +1.2%
  • Bloomberg Cyclicals/Defensives Pair Index 136.6 +.4%
  • Russell 1000: Growth/Value 18,987.3 +1.2%
  • CNN Fear & Greed Index 63.0 (Greed) +2.0
  • 1-Day Vix 10.4 -8.5%
  • Vix 14.7 -.7%
  • Total Put/Call .97 -3.0%