Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Wednesday Watch

Around X:

  • @Business  
  • @ZeroHedge
  • @CNBC
  • @TheTranscript 
  • Toll Brothers CEO: "We are pleased with our first quarter results, as we met or exceeded guidance across nearly all metrics."
Night Trading 
  • Asian equity indices are -1.25% to -.25% on average. 
  • Asia Ex-Japan Investment Grade CDS Index 76.5 +1.5 basis points. 
  • China Sovereign CDS 43.0 +.5 basis point.
  • China Iron Ore Spot 107.25 USD/Metric Tonne -.5%. 
  • Crude Oil 107.80/bbl. -.8% 
  • Gold 4481.3 USD/t oz. -.7%. 
  • Swiss Franc/Offshore Chinese Renminbi Cross 8.63 -.16%.
  • Bloomberg Emerging Markets Currency Index 35.25 -.01%.
  • Bloomberg Global Risk-On/Risk Off Index 124.5 -.2%.
  • US 10-Year Yield 4.67% unch.
  • Japan 30-Year Yield 4.12% -4.0 basis points. 
  • Volatility Index(VIX) futures 20.5 +.4%.
  • Euro Stoxx 50 futures -.51%. 
  • S&P 500 futures +.04%.
  • NASDAQ 100 futures +.18%.
Morning Preview Links

BOTTOM LINE: Asian indices are modestly lower, weighed down by technology and Metals & Mining 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.

Stocks Lower into Final Hour on Mideast War Resumption Fears, Rising Fed Rate-Hike Odds, Higher Long-Term Rates, Alt Energy/Metals & Mining Sector Weakness

Economic/Market Gauges:

  • North American Investment Grade CDS Index 54.4 +1.2%
  • BofA Private Credit Proxy Index 71.7 -.2% 
  • Bloomberg US Securitized MBS/ABS/CMBS Avg. OAS .29 unch.
  • BofA Global Financial Stress Indicator -.10 +1.0 basis point
  • European Financial Sector CDS Index 61.0 +1.2%
  • Emerging Market CDS Index 162.5 +1.3%
  • Israel Sovereign CDS 63.0 -2.1% 
  • Bloomberg Global Trade Policy Uncertainty Index .7 unch.
  • US Morning Consult Daily Consume Sentiment Index 89.4 +3.4
  • Citi US Economic Surprise Index 45.3 +.2
  • Citi Eurozone Economic Surprise Index -52.2 unch.
  • Citi Emerging Markets Economic Surprise Index 32.1 +.5
  • S&P 500 Current Quarter EPS Growth Rate YoY(455 of 500 reporting) +24.9% -.2 percentage point
  • S&P 500 Blended Forward 12 Months Mean EPS Estimate 355.64 +.35:  Growth Rate +28.3% +.1 percentage point, P/E 20.7 -.1
  • S&P 500 Current Year Estimated Profit Margin 15.38% unch.
  • NYSE FANG+ Current Quarter EPS Growth Rate YoY(8 of 10 reporting) +62.1% unch.
  • NYSE FANG+ Blended Forward 12 Months Mean EPS Estimate 865.81 +2.83: Growth Rate +118.7% +.7 percentage point, P/E 19.6 -.2 
  • Bloomberg US Financial Conditions Index .98 unch.
  • US Yield Curve 54.75 basis points (2s/10s) +1.25 basis points
  • Bloomberg Industrial Metal Index 181.8 -.4%
  • Dutch TTF Nat Gas(European benchmark) 52.0 euros/megawatt-hour +3.6%
  • US Recession Within 6 Months Probability(3M/18M Forward Yld Curve Spread) 12.0% -.9 percentage point
  • US Atlanta Fed GDPNow Q2 Forecast +4.0% unch.
  • US 10-Year T-Note Yield 4.66% +8.0 basis points
  • 1-Year TIPS Spread 3.07 -5.0 basis points
  • Highest target rate probability for July 29th FOMC meeting: 84.0% (-9.0 percentage points) chance of 3.5%-3.75%. Highest target rate probability for Sept. 16th meeting: 67.2%(-10.5 percentage points) chance of 3.5%-3.75%. (current target rate is 3.5-3.75%)
Overseas Futures:
  • Nikkei 225 Futures: Indicating +245 open in Japan 
  • China A50 Futures: Indicating -149 open in China
  • DAX Futures: Indicating -3 open in Germany
Portfolio:
  • Slightly Higher: On gains in my energy/biotech sector longs, index hedges and emerging market shorts
  • Disclosed Trades: Covered some of my (IWM)/(QQQ) hedges, then added them back
  • Market Exposure: 50% Net Long

Bear Radar

Style Underperformer:

  • Small-Cap Growth -.4%
Sector Underperformers:
  • 1) Gold & Silver -2.9% 2) Alt Energy -2.2% 3) Airlines -1.9%
Stocks Falling on Unusual Volume: 
  • STRL, ENPH, STRO, ENPH, DASH, STRO, XP, POET, PKX, ORLA, SSTK, MWH, SVM, FUTU, ELE, OKLO, RBLX, IDR, PPTA, INOD, INFQ, FLNC, VPG, AMRC, NNE, OBE, CGEM, CHWY, AYA, SHAZ, HSAI, VELO, DXYZ, UEC and BLBD
Stocks With Unusual Put Option Activity:
  • 1) SWKS 2) KVYO 3) CARR 4) NXE 5) GFS
Stocks With Most Negative News Mentions:
  • 1) LUXE 2) NUAI 3) PINS 4) CHWY 5) XP
Sector ETFs With Most Negative Money Flow:
  • 1) ARKK 2) XLF 3) XLY 4) SILJ 5) IYW

Bull Radar

Style Outperformer:

  • Large-Cap Value +.1%
Sector Outperformers:
  • 1) Semis +1.6% 2) Pharma +1.4% 3) Shipping +1.1%
Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume:
  • BKKT, ALAB, AGYS, CMBT, RVI, RXO, REPX, CRDO, MXL, WYFI, HIMX, ACMR, DRTS, SIMO, CLSK, RLAY, MU, AZTA, XPEL, HTLD, BEKE, LPTH, SHAK, OPCH, BLSH, UMC, FIVN, PENG, AS, AVTX, KRUS, ARM, WHR, DLO, SFM, RGEN, BKSY, TECH, SNOW, TSEM, KEP, AIP, BAP, CRTO, AMT, KR and BRC
Stocks With Unusual Call Option Activity:
  • 1) BKKT 2) AMPG 3) CC 4) ATI 5) SMMT 
Stocks With Most Positive News Mentions:
  • 1) NXXT 2) AGYS 3) AMST 4) RXO 5) WAY
Sector ETFs With Most Positive Money Flow:
  • 1) IGV 2) XLI 3) KRE 4) SOXX 5) IBB
Charts:

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

Earnings of Note 
Company/Estimate 

Before the Open:
  • (ADI)/2.89
  • (HAS)/1.20
  • (LOW)/2.97
  • (ROIV)/-.29
  • (TGT)/1.47
  • (TJX)/1.02
  • (VFC)/-.01 
After the Close: 
  • (ELF)/.29
  • (ENS)/2.99
  • (INTU)/12.57
  • (NVDA)/1.75
  • (URBN)/1.14 
Economic Releases 

10:30 am EST

  • Bloomberg consensus estimates call for a weekly crude oil inventory decline of -2,815,330 barrels versus a -4,306,000 barrel decline the prior week. Gasoline supplies are estimated to fall by -2,656,750 barrels versus a -4,084,000 barrel decline the prior week. Distillate inventories are estimated to fall by -1,307,700 barrels versus a +190,000 barrel gain the prior week. Finally, Refinery Utilization is estimated to rise by +.95% versus a +1.6% gain prior. 

2:00 pm EST

  • The April 29th FOMC Meeting Minutes

Upcoming Splits

  • None of note
Other Potential Market Movers
  • The Fed's Barr speaking, 20Y T-Bond auction, weekly MBA Mortgage Applications report, JPMorgan TMT Conference, RBC Healthcare Conference, Wolfe Transport/Industrials Conference, (BLK) annual meeting, (FE) annual meeting, (ZTS) annual meeting, (GEV) annual meeting, (CLH) annual meeting, (ODFL) annual meeting, (H) annual meeting, (MCD) annual meeting, (CAR) annual meeting, (SFM) annual meeting, (BG) annual meeting, (AAP) annual meeting, (MXL) annual meeting, (MSTR) investor meeting, (RS) annual meeting, (AMZN) annual meeting, (ALGN) annual meeting, (RKLB) annual meeting, (C) annual meeting, (KSS) annual meeting and the Jefferies Automotive Aftermarket Conference 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 15.5 +.6 
  • 5 Sectors Rising, 6 Sectors Declining
  • 31.0% of Issues Advancing, 66.6% Declining 
  • TRIN/Arms .59 -7.8%
  • Non-Block Money Flow -$129.1M
  • 45 New 52-Week Highs, 100 New Lows
  • 49.9% (-2.9%) of Issues Above 200-day Moving Average
  • Average 14-Day RSI 47.5 -1.1
Polymarket: 
  • Will China invade Taiwan by end of 2026? 7.0% unch.
  • Trump announces US blockade of Hormuz lifted by June 30th 48.0% +3.0 percentage points
  • US x Iran permanent peace deal by June 30th 34.0% +9.0 percentage points 
  • US Invades Iran before 2027 28.0% -4.0 percentage points
Other:
  • Bloomberg Global Risk-On/Risk-Off Index 124.6 +1.2%
  • Global Monitor Iran Instability Index 86.0 -4.0
  • Strait of Hormuz Oil Tanker Traffic Curtailed Estimate 98.0% unch.
  • US High-Yield Tech Sector OAS Index 458. -.5 basis point
  • Bloomberg Cyclicals/Defensives Index 251.8 -1.9%
  • Morgan Stanley Growth vs Value Index 150.4 -1.6%
  • CNN Fear & Greed Index 61.0 (GREED) -1.0
  • 1-Day Vix 11.7 -10.5%
  • Vix 17.9 +.6%
  • Total Put/Call .76 -3.8%