Category: Countries & Regions

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Upside Possibilities Look More Likely Than Downside Risks | Bob Doll

From Bob Doll’s latest weekly update:

Investors remain highly focused on global political issues. Emmanuel Macron’s victory in France has reduced some political risk in Europe, but investors are growing increasingly skeptical about President Trump’s ability to deliver on his pro-growth agenda. The growing scrutiny over White House ties to Russian operatives, escalating risks of global terrorism and rising uncertainty around North Korea are all negatives for investor confidence.

But these negatives have not offset positive global macroeconomic conditions. Global economic growth is hardly robust, but looks better than it has in several years, especially in Europe. Manufacturing activity is improving and global trade appears to be recovering. Corporate profits are also trending higher across most markets and industry sectors. Financials remain a weak spot in many areas of the world, but we expect global bond yields will rise as economic growth solidifies, which should help this sector. Finally, monetary policy remains growth- and equity-friendly. The Fed is in the midst of a rate-hiking campaign, but should continue raising rates slowly and predictably…..

Source: Weekly Investment Commentary from Bob Doll | Nuveen

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S&P 500, Nasdaq, Fedex bull signal

Bellwether transport stock Fedex [FDX] broke resistance at $200, signaling an increase in economic activity.

Fedex

The S&P 500 followed through above 2400, offering an immediate target of 2500. Recovering Twiggs Money Flow signals medium-term buying pressure.

S&P 500

The Nasdaq 100 has gained more than 20% in the last 3 months, since breaking resistance at its Dotcom high of 4800. With Amazon breaking through $1000, I am concerned that tech stocks are over-heating.

Nasdaq 100

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Europe consolidates

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 appears unruffled by Donald Trump’s visit and withdrawal from the Paris Accord, consolidating above support at 3500. Respect is likely and would signal a further advance to the 2015 high at 3800*.

DJ Euro Stoxx 50

* Target calculation: 3650 + ( 3650 – 3500 ) = 3800

An unintended consequence of Trump’s failure to re-affirm NATO’s Article V, may be that European states learn to rely less on an external party and draw closer together to support each other.

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Footsie stalls as Pound weakens

Sterling continues to test primary support at 1.140 Euro. Breach would signal a decline to the 2016 low at 1.100.

GBPEUR

The FTSE 100 advance stalled, signaled by a doji on the weekly chart, with bearish divergence on Twiggs Money Flow indicating medium-term selling pressure. Retracement that respects support at 7400 would re-affirm the target of 7700*.

FTSE 100

* Target: 7400 + ( 7400 – 7100 ) = 7700

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India: Sensex advance

India’s Sensex continues to advance, breaking resistance at 31000. Rising Twiggs Money Flow indicates long-term buying pressure. Target for the advance is 32000* but expect retracement to first test the new support level.

BSE Sensex

* Target: 29000 + ( 29000 – 26000 ) = 32000

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Shanghai retraces

The Shanghai Composite Index retraced to test support at 3100. The decline on Twiggs Money Flow indicates long-term selling pressure. Reversal below 3000 would confirm a primary down-trend.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target medium-term: May 2016 low of 2800

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Australia: ASX rallies

Iron ore is falling.

Iron Ore

And the broader DJ-UBS Commodity Index is testing support at 82. Breach would signal a decline to test the 2015 low at 74.

DJ-UBS Commodity Index

But the Aussie Dollar rallied Friday, the large engulfing candle suggesting another test of resistance at 75 US cents.

AUDUSD

Miners finished strongly, with the ASX 300 Metals & Mining index reflecting short-term buying pressure. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow recovered above zero.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

The ASX 200 is testing resistance at 5800. A 21-day Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero indicates medium-term buying pressure. Breakout above 5800 is likely and would suggest another test of 5950/6000.

ASX 200

Banks also rallied, with the ASX 300 Banks index headed for a test of 8500. Expect strong resistance.

ASX 300 Banks

Perhaps this UBS report had something to do with it.

I believe that the latest rally is a secondary reaction and that the ASX is headed for a down-turn, with miners and banks leading the way. But it’s no use arguing with the (ticker) tape.

A prudent speculator never argues with the tape. Markets are never wrong, opinions often are.

~ Jesse Livermore

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Is the US labor market tightening?

I wouldn’t read too much into weaker US job gains of 138 thousand for May 2017. Job gains seem to be tapering in 2017, with February highest at 232 thousand, but this could also be a sign of tightening labor conditions.

Monthly Nonfarm Payroll: Job Gains

Comments from respondents in yesterday’s ISM report showed hints of a tightening labor market:

  • “Business conditions are steady, and with competition increasing, it’s making negotiations even more intense to reduce costs.” (Machinery)
  • “Business is booming, and getting direct employees is increasingly difficult.” (Fabricated Metal Products)
  • “Difficult to find qualified labor for factory positions.” (Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)

Unemployment continues to fall, reaching 4.3% for May 2017. The dip below the natural rate of unemployment also warns of tighter labor market conditions.

Unemployment and the Natural Rate

But there are no real signs of a tight labor market in hourly wages. In fact, hourly wage rate growth in the manufacturing sector is slowing.

Hourly Wage Rate Growth and Core CPI

Employee compensation as a percentage of value added (Q1 2017) is starting to rise and the percentage of profits (after tax) is declining. The lines tend to invert, with employee compensation peaking and profits dipping ahead of a recession. This still seems 12 months away.

Profits and Employee Compensation as % of Value Added

In summary, declining unemployment and rising employee compensation as a percentage of value added both indicate a tight labor market. But soft wage rate growth and falling core CPI suggest the Fed will be in no haste to apply the brakes. At least for the next three quarters.

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UBS: Buy miners | Macrobusiness

By
Re-published with kind permission from Macrobusiness.

If you want to know why RIO is higher today than when iron ore was at $92 then check this out from UBS:

Hitting the Wall or Just a Wobble?

Australian equities performed poorly in May (falling 3%) despite global markets posting solid gains (rising 2%). The market weakness in May was overwhelmingly driven by the heavyweight banks sector. On balance we believe “hard landing” fears are overdone though we concede that the consumer outlook is lacklustre.

Staying Overweight Resources and Neutral Banks

We continue to overweight the resource sector on the basis of relative valuation, and benign (iron ore) to moderately constructive commodity expectations (copper, oil, mineral sands). With the bank sector off 10% (total return), we think the sector is once again looking “fair” in an absolute sense (12.8x and 5.9% yield) and notionally cheap in a relative sense. A constrained growth outlook and near-term capital uncertainty keep us neutral.

Other Favoured Themes

From a thematic standpoint two of our key themes remain 1) public infrastructure exposure (we continue to hold Boral and Lend Lease Group) and 2) domestic energy suppliers continue to be well supported by investors (we continue to hold AGL Energy, Origin Energy). We continue to overweight US$/US economy plays.

 

What can I say? That’s some crazy shit.

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ISM May 2017 Report

After a setback in April, activity in the manufacturing sector is again expanding:

MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE
May 2017
Index Series
Index
May		 Series
Index
Apr		 Percentage
Point
Change		 Direction Rate
of
Change		 Trend*
(Months)
PMI® 54.9 54.8 +0.1 Growing Faster 9
New Orders 59.5 57.5 +2.0 Growing Faster 9
Production 57.1 58.6 -1.5 Growing Slower 9
Employment 53.5 52.0 +1.5 Growing Faster 8
Supplier Deliveries 53.1 55.1 -2.0 Slowing Slower 13
Inventories 51.5 51.0 +0.5 Growing Faster 2
Customers’ Inventories 49.5 45.5 +4.0 Too Low Slower 8
Prices 60.5 68.5 -8.0 Increasing Slower 15
Backlog of Orders 55.0 57.0 -2.0 Growing Slower 4
New Export Orders 57.5 59.5 -2.0 Growing Slower 15
Imports 53.5 55.5 -2.0 Growing Slower 4
OVERALL ECONOMY Growing Faster 96
Manufacturing Sector Growing Faster 9

Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® data is seasonally adjusted for the New Orders, Production, Employment and Supplier Deliveries Indexes.

*Number of months moving in current direction.

Notable comments from respondents:

  • “Business conditions are steady, and with competition increasing, it’s making negotiations even more intense to reduce costs.” (Machinery)
  • “Business is booming, and getting direct employees is increasingly difficult.” (Fabricated Metal Products)
  • “Difficult to find qualified labor for factory positions.” (Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)

Read the full report at ISM May Report

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