Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Wednesday Watch

Around X:

  • @Business
  • @ZeroHedge
  • @CNBC  
  • @WallStEngine
Night Trading 
  • Asian equity indices are -2.5% to -.5% on average. 
  • Asia Ex-Japan Investment Grade CDS Index 68.5 +.75 basis point. 
  • China Sovereign CDS 36.25 unch.
  • China Iron Ore Spot 97.0 USD/Metric Tonne +.8%. 
  • Crude Oil 85.70/bbl. +.9% 
  • Gold 4,410.20 USD/t oz. -.23%. 
  • Swiss Franc/Offshore Chinese Renminbi Cross 8.31 -.03%.
  • Bloomberg Emerging Markets Currency Index 34.34 -.03%.
  • Bloomberg Global Risk-On/Risk Off Index 128.1 -1.2%.
  • US 10-Year Yield 4.71% unch.
  • Japan 30-Year Yield 4.14% -2.0 basis points.
  • Volatility Index(VIX) futures 18.3 +.3%.
  • Euro Stoxx 50 futures -.05%. 
  • S&P 500 futures -.02%.
  • NASDAQ 100 futures -.02%.
Morning Preview Links

BOTTOM LINE: Asian indices are lower, weighed down by technology and automaker 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 Rising Global Sovereign Debt Angst, War-Induced Inflation Worries, Sector Rotation, Tech/Alt Energy Sector Weakness

Economic/Market Gauges:

  • North American Investment Grade CDS Index 51.9 +1.1%
  • BofA Private Credit Proxy Index 73.3 +.4% 
  • Bloomberg US Securitized MBS/ABS/CMBS Avg. OAS .29 unch.
  • BofA Global Financial Stress Indicator -.18 +3.0 basis points
  • European Financial Sector CDS Index 54.4 +1.5%
  • Emerging Market CDS Index 140.7 +.9%
  • Israel Sovereign CDS 53.1 -1.6%
  • Bloomberg Global Trade Policy Uncertainty Index .7 +.1
  • US Morning Consult Daily Consume Sentiment Index 90.0 +.5
  • Citi US Economic Surprise Index 15.4 -1.8
  • Citi Eurozone Economic Surprise Index 79.9 +5.4
  • Citi Emerging Markets Economic Surprise Index 25.7 -.9
  • S&P 500 Current Quarter EPS Growth Rate YoY(456 of 500 reporting) +50.2% -.3 percentage point
  • S&P 500 Blended Forward 12 Months Mean EPS Estimate 389.98 +.10:  Growth Rate +32.5% unch., P/E 19. -.1
  • S&P 500 Current Year Estimated Profit Margin 16.26% unch.
  • NYSE FANG+ Current Quarter EPS Growth Rate YoY(8 of 10 reporting) +138.4% unch.
  • NYSE FANG+ Blended Forward 12 Months Mean EPS Estimate 947.83 +.33: Growth Rate +82.8% +.1 percentage point, P/E 19.4 -.3
  • Bloomberg US Financial Conditions Index 1.35 -1.0 basis point
  • US Yield Curve 52.75 basis points (2s/10s) -1.5 basis points
  • Bloomberg Industrial Metal Index 177.1 -1.5%
  • Dutch TTF Nat Gas(European benchmark) 64.2 euros/megawatt-hour +3.9%
  • US Recession Within 6 Months Probability(3M/18M Forward Yld Curve Spread) 14.5% -.2 percentage point
  • US Atlanta Fed GDPNow Q3 Forecast +4.0% -.3 percentage point
  • US 10-Year T-Note Yield 4.71% -2.0 basis points
  • 1-Year TIPS Spread 1.76 +4.0 basis points
  • Highest target rate probability for Oct. 28th FOMC meeting: 51.1% (-.1 percentage point) chance of 3.5%-3.75%. Highest target rate probability for Dec. 9th meeting: 45.0%(-.4 percentage point) chance of 3.75%-4.0%. (current target rate is 3.5-3.75%)
Overseas Futures:
  • Nikkei 225 Futures: Indicating -1,140 open in Japan 
  • China A50 Futures: Indicating -121 open in China
  • KOSPI 200 Futures: Indicating -48 open in South Korea 
  • DAX Futures: Indicating +100 open in Germany
Portfolio:
  • Higher: On gains in my biotech/energy/consumer discretionary sector longs, index hedges and emerging market shorts
  • Disclosed Trades: Added to my (IWM)/(QQQ) hedges and to my emerging market shorts
  • Market Exposure: Moved to 50% net long

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

Earnings of Note 
Company/Estimate 

Before the Open:
  • (ADI)/3.34
  • (EL)/.32
  • (LOW)/4.22
  • (TGT)/2.35
  • (TJX)/1.19
  • (VIK)/1.26 
  • (WOLF)/-2.45 
After the Close: 
  • (BILL)/.71
  • (NDSN)/3.09
  • (BULL)/.05
  • (COTY)/-.01 
Economic Releases 

10:30 am EST

  • Bloomberg consensus estimates call for a weekly crude oil inventory decline of -74,000 barrels versus a +1,742,300 barrel gain the prior week. Gasoline supplies are estimated to fall by -826,750 barrels versus a -968,000 barrel decline the prior week. Distillate inventories are estimated to fall by -418,250 barrels versus a -10,000 barrel decline the prior week. Finally, Refinery Utilization is estimated to fall -.48% versus a -.3% decline prior. 

2:00 pm EST

  • July 29th FOMC Meeting Minutes. 

Upcoming Splits

  • None of note
Other Potential Market Movers
  • The 20Y T-Bond auction, weekly MBA Mortgage Applications report and the Needham Semi/SemiCap 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 -12.7% Below 100-Day Average 
  • Nasdaq/NYSE Volume Ratio 12.6 -2.1
  • 7 Sectors Rising, 4 Sectors Declining
  • 40.1% of Issues Advancing, 57.9% Declining 
  • TRIN/Arms .77 -40.3%
  • Non-Block Money Flow +$40.7M
  • 46 New 52-Week Highs, 144 New Lows
  • 60.2% (-.4%) of Issues Above 200-day Moving Average
  • Average 14-Day RSI 64.3 -7.5
Polymarket: 
  • Will China invade Taiwan by June 30th 2027? 9.0% unch.
  • Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to normal by September 30th 8.0% -4.0 percentage points
  • Iran agrees to end enrichment of uranium by Sept. 30th 3.0% unch.
  • Israel withdraws from Lebanon by September 30th 2.0% unch.
  • US Invades Iran before 2027 18.0% +1.0 percentage point
  • US announces end of Iranian blockade by September 30th 32.0% -7.0 percentage points
Other
  • Bloomberg Global Risk-On/Risk-Off Index 129.6 -.1%
  • Global Monitor Iran Instability Index 54.0 unch.
  • Strait of Hormuz Oil Tanker Traffic Curtailed Estimate 92.0% unch.
  • US High-Yield Tech Sector OAS Index 475.5 +11.0 basis points
  • Bloomberg Cyclicals/Defensives Index 267.8 -.9%
  • Morgan Stanley Growth vs Value Index 149.1 -2.3%
  • CNN Fear & Greed Index 55.0 (Moved to NEUTRAL from GREED) -7.0
  • 1-Day Vix 8.1 -2.2%
  • Vix 15.9% +4.9%
  • Total Put/Call 1.03 +13.2%

Monday, August 17, 2026

Tuesday Watch

Around X:

  • @Business
  • @ZeroHedge
  • @CNBC  
  • @WallStEngine
  • FABRINET $FN Q4’26 EARNINGS HIGHLIGHTS. Revenue: $1.32B (Est. $1.27B) ; +45% YoY. Adj. EPS: $4.10 (Est. $3.82) ; +55% YoY. Oper Income: $134.25M (Est. $137M). Net Income: $139.3M (Est. $139M). Q1 Guide: Revenue: $1.38B-$1.43B (Est. $1.32B). Adj. EPS: $4.10-$4.25 (Est. $3.96). GAAP EPS: $3.39-$3.54.  
Night Trading 
  • Asian equity indices are -.75% to +.25% on average. 
  • Asia Ex-Japan Investment Grade CDS Index 67.75 +.5 basis point. 
  • China Sovereign CDS 36.25 -.25 basis point.
  • China Iron Ore Spot 95.50 USD/Metric Tonne +.2%. 
  • Crude Oil 84.93/bbl. +.5% 
  • Gold 4,460.30 USD/t oz. -.3%. 
  • Swiss Franc/Offshore Chinese Renminbi Cross 8.32 unch.
  • Bloomberg Emerging Markets Currency Index 34.38 -.02%.
  • Bloomberg Global Risk-On/Risk Off Index 130.3 +.4%.
  • US 10-Year Yield 4.73% unch.
  • Japan 30-Year Yield 4.14% +6.0 basis points.
  • Volatility Index(VIX) futures 18.1 +.3%.
  • Euro Stoxx 50 futures -.27%. 
  • S&P 500 futures -.23%.
  • NASDAQ 100 futures -.50%.
Morning Preview Links

BOTTOM LINE: Asian indices are mostly lower, weighed down by consumer discretionary and food shares in the region. I expect US stocks to open modestly lower and to rally into the afternoon, finishing mixed.  The Portfolio is 75% net long heading into the day.