Week to Feb 15th

Possible China tariff extension, Second shutdown averted, Big miss on US Retail Sales

Mon Feb 11

The threat of another government shutdown and President Trump confirming no meeting with his counterpart in China before the Mar 1 tariff deadline led to caution in the US equity market today, with SPX and NDX closing flat, although non-US markets were comfortably up, after last week’s Thursday/Friday pullback, following a bid in China markets as they reopened. DXY—which likes trade war tension—added 0.45% and broke 97 to make a new 2019 high. All currencies, Gold, Oil and 10-year bond price (inverse to yields) were down in line.

Tuesday February 12

A possible deal to avert the shutdown (despite Trump being “unhappy”) was enough to rally markets today with SPX up 1.3%. NDX and DJIA did even better. The story was the same in Europe and Asia, with NKY sharply up at the open after Monday’s holiday in Japan. FTSE could only break even on a stronger GBP. The dollar had a ‘Turnaround Tuesday’ and lost ground against all currencies. Gold and Oil were up in line, but bond yields carried on rising, up 2bp today, the same as yesterday. Fed Chair Powell’s speech had little effect.

Wednesday February 13

Global stocks continued upwards, as President Trump hinted at an extension (to the Mar 1st China tariff hike from 10% to 25%) if a “real deal” was close, although the gain (SPX up 0.3%) was muted after Senator Rubio tweeted that buybacks should be taxed. Buybacks are of course a major reason for market strength.

USD was strong overall after the CPI beat at 1330, with DXY up 0.53%. However (only) NZD bucked the trend, adding 1% after RBNZ said there would be no rate cuts for two years. GBP had a brief 70 pip spike on chatter about an Article 50 (Brexit) extension but this soon faded, and all currencies except NZD, and Gold were down. Oil was up again after comments from the Saudi energy minister, and evidence that cuts were being adhered to.

Thursday February 14

A miss on the final German Q4 GDP QoQ and working day adjusted figures at 0700 (although YoY beat, oddly), followed by a severe miss on the shutdown-delayed December US Retail Sales print (Core -1.85% vs +0.10% est) at 1330 (coupled with a Jobless Claims miss), was enough to send SPX sharply down over 20 handles at the US open, and to finish down 0.3% on the day. Global indices went the same way.  The Retail Sales miss also cause an instant spike down in yields and DXY. The basket finished 0.19% down. AUD joined EUR and JPY in appreciating, but GBP was weak all day, after the UK 10-year bond auction only fetched 1.16% (prev 1.27%). CAD was unusual. The relatively unimportant Manufacturing Shipments (MoM, Dec) print missed badly (-1.3% vs 0.2%), but this was enough to soften it by 0.5% (and 0.9% against JPY). Gold was up in line with the weaker dollar, but although Oil continued upwards. DJIA component KO matches EPS estimates, but reduced forward guidance by 1%, shares dropped 7.5% on the news.

Friday February 15

After falling in the European futures pre-market, DJIA soared on Friday, up 1.74% on trade war hopes, as President Xi said the two sides would meet again next week in Washington. The effect was more muted in NDX which is not as trade war sensitive, but global markets rose on the news, with DAX up nearly 2%. The effect was also helped by the Michigan Consumer Sentiment beat at 1500 (95.5 vs 93). After a brief spike up on the Michigan release, DXY ended slightly down as EUR and JPY were for once flat, but less components GBP and CAD rose. AUD was also sharply up on the trade news, helped by an $8 rise in Gold, and oil continued upwards. Yields were up on stock-bond rotation. At the end of the day President Trump decided he would use emergency powers to get his wall money. Markets were not affected.

WEEKLY PRICE MOVEMENT

After being the weakest last week, DAX was the strongest index this week. DXY was only slightly up, with Brexit-troubled GBP the weakest currency. The reversal also applies in currencies, with last week’s loser NZD being the strongest, therefore shorting GBPNZD would have been the best trade. Another quiet week for cryptos and FANGs as the January volatility fades.

Note we use Google Finance data for daily movements, listing UUP as a proxy for DXY. All references to ‘the dollar’ are based on UUP. The equity and index prices are now based on the cash close each day.

NEXT WEEK (all times are GMT)

(Calendar High volatility items are in bold)

• Four day week in US markets
• FOMC minutes hawkish risk
• Wal-Mart completes Dow earnings
• Knife-edge German PMIs

Monday February 18

US Markets are closed for President’s Day (George Washington’s birthday). Asia and Europe are of course open, but as always with US market holidays, a quiet day is expected. There is no significant news.

23:50 JPY Japan Machinery Orders

Tuesday February 19

China Trade talks resume and traders will be looking for soundbites. The earnings season is pretty much over now, but we have the final DJIA component (2.62% weight) China-sensitive WMT reporting before the bell (after last week’s fall in Retail Sales, WMT is the biggest bricks-and-mortar retailer in the world). Fed Mester (hawk, 2019 voter) speaks at 1350.

00:30 AUD RBA Meeting's Minutes

09:30 GBP UK AHE/UnEmp/Claimant Count Change (UnEmp e 3.9% p 4.0%)

10:00 EUR Germany ZEW Sentiment Surveys

14:00 NZD NZ GDT Milk Index

21:30 WTI API Stock

21:45 NZD NZ PPI

23:50 JPY Japan Imports/Exports/Trade Balance

Wednesday February 20

The most important day of the week, when we read the Fed minutes from their January meeting, where they calmed the market. The risks are to a less dovish internal discussion, which could be bearish for equities, ie neutral could be seen as hawkish. Fed Bullard (dove, 2019 voter) speaks in New York today, as does Kaplan (dovish, non-voter) at 1810. Again there is no EIA Oil stock print this week.

00:30 AUD Aus Wage Price Index (QoQ)

07:00 EUR Germany PPI

19:00 USD FOMC Minutes

23:50 JPY Foreign investment in Japan stocks

Thursday February 21 

The German and Eurozone Markit PMIs are more important than usual because the German estimate of 49.9 is just on the wrong side of contraction/expansion, a move back over 50 would be bullish for DAX. Chinese ‘BAT’ company BIDU reports after the bell. Fed Bostic (dovish, non-voter) speaks today at 1250.

00:30 AUD Aus NFP/UnEmp (NFP e 15k p 21.6k)

04:30 JPY Japan All Industry Activity Index

07:00 EUR Germany CPI (e 1.7% p 1.7%)

08:30 EUR Germany Markit PMIs

09:00 EUR Eurozone Markit PMIs

09:30 GBP UK PSBR

13:30 USD Jobless Claims

13:30 USD Philly Fed Manufacturing Survey

13:30 USD Durable Goods

14:45 USD US Markit PMIs

15:00 USD Existing Home Sales (MoM)

23:30 JPY Japan National CPI

Friday February 22

A Fitch credit rating for Italy is expected today, and the risk is to the downside (which may already be priced, you may remember when S&P didn’t change their outlook a few months ago, the MIB soared). Fed Bullard speaks again at 1830, as do Harker (dove, non-voter) and Quarles (hawkish, voter) at the same time. There are rate decisions on COP and LKR.

07:00 EUR Germany GDP

09:00 EUR Germany IFO Sentiment Surveys

10:00 EUR Eurozone CPI

13:30 CAD Retail Sales

18:00 WTI Baker Hughes Rig Count

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