Market Commentary: Record highs on trade, vaccine developments

·           The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq hit all-time closing highs on Tuesday, from positive developments in US-China trade and fresh progress in the medical battle against the coronavirus pandemic. The Dow, which has yet to reclaim its February high, ended the session lower.

·           Trade officials in Washington and Beijing reaffirmed their commitment to Phase One of a bilateral trade deal, but goodwill between the countries soured as China called a US spy plane’s flight through a no-fly zone a provocation.

·           The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 60.02 points, or 0.21%, to 28,248.44, the S&P 500 gained 12.34 points, or 0.36%, to 3,443.62 and the Nasdaq Composite 0.76% to 11,466.47.

·           Salesforce soared more than 12% in late trading after it topped second-quarter revenue and profit estimates and raised its annual sales forecast, thanks to strong software demand.

·           But there is a dichotomy between what’s happening in the stock market and the economy, as the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence index plunged to a 6-year low this month, while a report from the Commerce Department showed sales of new homes in July surged to a more than 13½-year high.

·           So, while some US households are able to buy new homes, millions of others are unable to afford life’s necessities and pay the rent, which pours cold water on the idea that the economic recovery is sustainable. At least 28 million people are on unemployment benefits. Economists say unemployment has disproportionately affected low-wage workers, who are typically renters.

·           British drugmaker AstraZeneca has begun trials of its antibody-based drug for the treatment and prevention of Covid-19, the latest development in a global race to combat the pandemic. In Florida, cases continued to moderate, but the situation could be upended if the approaching storm forces evacuations. Translate Bio and Sanofi said their experimental vaccine showed promising results in animal studies.

• Access to over 8890 cross-asset publications and commentary delivering insights from global research and strategy teams.

• Easy-to-use search capabilities, with better and faster text-based searching.

To Subscribe: Click Here | Read Reports Highlights: Click Here 

Market Commentary: Data help US market end week on a high note

·           Wall Street wrapped up a record setting week with solid gains on the back of strong US economic data.

·           The Dow climbed 190.6 points, or 0.7%, to close at 27,930.33. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% to end the day at 3,397.16, another closing record. Apple was the benchmark's biggest gainer, surging 5.2% ahead of its 4-for-1 stock split on Monday. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.4% to 11,311.80, also a record close.

·           Data from IHS Markit showed US manufacturing activity hit its highest level in 19 months in August, while services were at their highest level in 17 months. Meanwhile, existing home sales for July saw a record month-over-month spike of 24.7%. The average selling price for homes also hit an all-time high, jumping to US$304,100.

·           Governments around the world continue to tread a fine line between easing lockdowns to revive growth and controlling any resurgence of virus cases. The pandemic passed two global milestones: 800,000 deaths and 23 million cases. US infections showed signs of stabilisation, but concern is growing in Europe and parts of Asia.

·           More clarity will no doubt be sought via this week’s Jackson Hole Symposium about the Fed’s long-awaited monetary policy framework review. The Fed’s annual Economic Policy Symposium — typically held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming — is set for 27-28 Aug via livestream.

·           Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s takes the virtual stage on Thursday to speak; Investors will be looking for signs that the Fed is exploring additional ways to support the global economy should a stimulus package fail in Congress.

• Access to over 8890 cross-asset publications and commentary delivering insights from global research and strategy teams.

• Easy-to-use search capabilities, with better and faster text-based searching.

To Subscribe: Click Here | Read Reports Highlights: Click Here 

Market Commentary: And they are back, with S&P within inches of record high close

·           A broad rally led by tech-related stocks saw the S&P 500 finish just short of its February record closing high; the index briefly surpassed its record closing level of 3,386.15 from 19 Feb, reaching as high as 3,387.89 during intraday trading.

·           The Nasdaq and Dow also rose sharply. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.0% to 27,976.8, the S&P 500 was up 1.4% to 3,380.4 while Nasdaq Composite rose 2.1%, to 11,012.2.

·           Tesla Inc shares jumped 13.1% after it announced a five-for-one stock split in an attempt to make its shares more accessible to employees and investors.

·           The prospect of declining coronavirus cases at a time when the federal government and central banks are still supporting the economy could have lifted sentiment. Federal Reserve speakers advocated the need to protect a nascent recovery. Dallas head Robert Kaplan called on officials to push harder for adherence to protective behaviours and said extending unemployment benefits is “critical” to growth.

·           Data showed US consumer prices increased more-than-expected in July, but high unemployment is likely to keep inflation under control, allowing the Federal Reserve to continue pumping money into the economy.

·           Sentiment may have lifted too after President Donald Trump said the US government will purchase 100 million doses of Moderna’s experimental coronavirus vaccine, which is currently in late-stage human trials.

·           The UK economy officially entered a recession, after gross domestic product dropped 20.4% in the second quarter of 2020, compared to the previous three months.

• Access to over 8890 cross-asset publications and commentary delivering insights from global research and strategy teams.

• Easy-to-use search capabilities, with better and faster text-based searching.

To Subscribe: Click Here | Read Reports Highlights: Click Here 

Market Commentary: Winning streak snaps

·           The S&P 500 and the Dow snapped a seven-day streak of gains and fell on growing uncertainty about a stalemate in Washington over a fiscal stimulus pact.

·           US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said that White House negotiators had not spoken on Tuesday with Democratic leaders in the US Congress on coronavirus aid legislation after talks broke down last week.

·           Investors have been hoping Republicans and Democrats will resolve their differences and agree on another relief programme to support about 30 million unemployed Americans, as the battle with the virus outbreak was far from over, with US cases surpassing 5 million last week.

·           The Nasdaq fell more than 1%, extending recent losses and registering its biggest daily percentage decline since 23 July, with investors continuing to shed technology-related market heavyweights in favour of value names.

·           The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 104.53 points or 0.38% to 27,686.91, the S&P 500 lost 26.78 points, or 0.80% to 3,333.69 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.69% to 10,782.82.

·           A meeting between top US and Chinese trade officials on Saturday to review the first six months of the Phase 1 trade deal is still on the cards. On the virus front, California reported a sharp jump in cases. New Zealand’s main stock gauge lost more than 2% after evidence of new coronavirus cases in the country forced fresh restrictions.

• Access to over 8890 cross-asset publications and commentary delivering insights from global research and strategy teams.

• Easy-to-use search capabilities, with better and faster text-based searching.

To Subscribe: Click Here | Read Reports Highlights: Click Here 

Market Commentary: US negotiations over stimulus continue amid diplomatic tensions

·           Investors are assessing simmering tensions between the US and China, as well as progress in talks between Democrats and Republicans on negotiating a broader additional virus relief package. Value stocks, which tend to outperform growth coming out of a recession, have seen a lift in recent days.

·           The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.3% to 27,791.44. The S&P 500 gained 0.27% to 3,360.47 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.39%, to 10,968.36.

·           As energy and industrial sectors led gains, chipmakers led declines amid renewed tensions with China. Tech has been one of the few resilient sectors and analysts believe a pullback is not unusual. Oil gained the most in almost three weeks after Saudi Aramco said demand will continue to improve.

·           The S&P 500 is within earshot of an all-time high. Whether it breaks through that psychologically important barrier depends on how the market is able to take looming trade tensions and Washington’s antics in stride.

·           US President Donald Trump had signed executive orders on Saturday that partly restored enhanced unemployment benefits after talks between the White House and top Democrats in Congress about fresh stimulus broke down last week but it remains to be seen if his actions have any benefits. Steven Mnuchin said that Democrats' insistence on almost US$1 trillion for aid to state and local governments is "absurd," but maintained a deal is still possible.

·           Investors are also assessing simmering tensions between the US and China, as China said it will sanction 11 Americans in retaliation for similar measures imposed by the US on Friday, but the list doesn’t include any members of the Trump administration.

·           China’s industrial activity picked up in July, boosting hopes for an economic recovery and driving early gains in European stocks. In Europe, stocks advanced led by financial companies.

• Access to over 8714 cross-asset publications and commentary delivering insights from global research and strategy teams.

• Easy-to-use search capabilities, with better and faster text-based searching.

To Subscribe: Click Here | Read Reports Highlights: Click Here 

Market Commentary: Stimulus hopes keeps markets buoyant

·           Markets have been incredibly resilient; there is a big fear of missing out and it is the old stalwarts, the technology leaders that keep driving markets higher. The Nasdaq ended the session above 11,000 for the first time

·           Economic data released on Thursday painted a mixed picture as US Labour Department numbers showed a first fall in jobless claims in three weeks, although a separate report showed a 54% surge in job cuts announced by employers in July. The data comes ahead of the government payrolls report today.

·           With last month's surge in infections, Friday's jobs report will probably show a slowdown in the recovery — or worse. Non-farm payrolls are forecast to show a 1.5 million increase in July, less than a third of June's 4.8 million, with the jobless rate ticking down to 10.5% from 11.1%.

·           The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 185.46 points or 0.68%, to 27,386.98, the S&P 500 gained 21.39 points or 0.64%, to 3,349.16 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 1%, to 11,108.07.

·           Results earnings season is in its final stretch, and with better-than-feared second-quarter earnings, investors are looking to the next fiscal aid package to further cope with fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Republicans and Democrats remained far apart over what to include in another wave of relief.

·           Donald Trump has vowed to take unilateral action if the White House and Democrats are unable to reach a stimulus deal by Friday. The president said he would issue executive orders either today or Saturday on extending unemployment benefits and imposing a payroll tax holiday.

·           China's July trade numbers may paint a mixed picture of the world's economic rebound. Consensus is for exports to drop 0.7% on year — compared with a 0.5% gain in June — and for imports to advance 2.5%, with an assist from higher commodity prices. The surplus may narrow to $42.55 billion.

• Access to over 8714 cross-asset publications and commentary delivering insights from global research and strategy teams.

• Easy-to-use search capabilities, with better and faster text-based searching.

To Subscribe: Click Here | Read Reports Highlights: Click Here 

Market Commentary: Markets remain robust despite grim jobs data

·           Investors have been pushing stocks higher in recent days as pressure grows on Republicans and Democrats to resolve differences over a new US virus relief package, especially with jobs data painting a grim picture. Gains in precious metals suggest investors are nervous about the outlook for the global economy and seeking a hedge.

·           US economic data was mixed, with payroll gains slowing sharply in July, suggesting the pickup in coronavirus cases is putting the brakes on the job market. Meanwhile, service industries grew in July at the fastest pace since February 2019.

·           Many economists expect last week’s expiration of US$600 in enhanced weekly unemployment benefits to lead to a sharp drop-off in household spending and a setback for the US economy’s near-term recovery, even if the lapse turns out to be temporary.

·           Cyclical sectors including industrials, materials and financials contributed the most to the market’s gains and allowed the Dow industrials (up 1.39%) and S&P 500 (up 0.64%) to outpace the Nasdaq Composite (up 0.52%).

·           Still, the Nasdaq did manage to clinch yet another record close for the year and at one point traded above 11,000 for the first time. The major market indices are having a robust week, up 2.9%, 1.7% and 2.3%, respectively, since Friday’s close.

·           Geopolitics remain in play, as Mike Pompeo signalled the American campaign against China's tech firms would escalate beyond TikTok as he promoted a "clean network" initiative. The secretary of state said the US wants to see untrusted Chinese apps removed from app stores, called for companies to limit their apps from phones made by Huawei and for ending the use of Chinese cloud providers.

• Access to over 8714 cross-asset publications and commentary delivering insights from global research and strategy teams.

• Easy-to-use search capabilities, with better and faster text-based searching.

To Subscribe: Click Here | Read Reports Highlights: Click Here 

Market Commentary: US markets higher on stimulus hopes

·           Investors are closely monitoring news for a new virus relief package, as negotiators seek to shrink the gap that remains between Republicans and Democrats. A rally in tech-related stocks and trillions of dollars in monetary and fiscal stimulus have lifted the S&P 500 to within about 3% of February’s record high.

·           The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.62% to end at 26,828.47 points, while the S&P 500 gained 0.36% to 3,306.51. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.35% to 10,941.17. Oil dipped after climbing to its highest in nearly two weeks as an explosion in Beirut stoked fears over instability in the region.

·           Senior US and Chinese officials are planning to assess the nations’ trade agreement around the middle of the month against a backdrop of rising tensions between the countries.

·           On the virus front, California reported the fewest new coronavirus cases since June, while Florida and Arizona also saw their infections slow, signalling an easing in some of the US states hardest-hit by the pandemic in recent weeks. In Europe, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands recorded increases in new cases.

·           A slew of economic news out of the US could move stocks. Private payrolls data from ADP will be watched if companies continued to bring back workers from their pandemic furlough in July. Economists polled by Dow Jones are expecting 1 million private workers were added in July, down from the 2.369 million added in June.

·           The final read on July Services PMI and the ISM nonmanufacturing survey is also anticipated.

• Access to over 8714 cross-asset publications and commentary delivering insights from global research and strategy teams.

• Easy-to-use search capabilities, with better and faster text-based searching.

To Subscribe: Click Here | Read Reports Highlights: Click Here