Friday, September 4, 2026

The Morning Call--Blow out nonfarm payrolls report

 

The Morning Call

 

9/4/26

 

The Market

         

    Technical

 

            Thursday in the charts.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/everything-rips-rate-hike-odds-dip-dovish-waller-dumping-dollar-ahead-payrolls?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTIzODQ5Iiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODQ2NzA2MywiZXhwIjoxNzkxMDU5MDYzLCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.Jb_7sbGqv05DAFINvwf3vdO3sRufgHDiKYFANAab6As

 

            Thursday in the technical stats.

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/momentum

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/market-performance

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/sectors/rankings

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/signals/new-recommendations

 

Friday morning setup. US futures are choppy, trading between unchanged and modestly higher, ahead of today's jobs report which sees a modest increase in August payrolls (but the risk is for another negative print, see our preview here). As of 8:00am ET, S&P futures are flat and Nasdaq futures gain 0.5% as Mag 7 stocks trade mixed premarket, with NVDA (+1.4%) and AMZN (+0.7%) leading and TSLA (-2.1%) lagging. Bond yields are steady as traders wait to see whether Friday’s payrolls report will offer the Fed enough justification to hold off on an interest-rate hike in September. The USD is 20bp higher as the yen drops after yesterday's surge. Commodities are mixed: oil fell, while base metals and Ags are both higher. Overnight, macro headlines were largely muted following yesterday’s bond market rally after Waller’s comments. All eyes are on the 8:30am ET NFP release (see our preview here), but investors are increasingly more focused on next week’s CPI than the payroll number, given Warsh’s assessment of the labor market and Waller’s comments yesterday.

 

    Fundamental

 

       Headlines

 

              The Economy

 

                        US

 

The August services PMI was reported at 56.5 versus estimates of 56.8; the August composite PMI was 56.0, in line.

 

The August ISM services index was 55.4 versus expectations of 54.3.

                          https://bonddad.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-economically-weighted-ism-indexes.html

 

August nonfarm payrolls grew 162,000 versus consensus of 56,000 (in this case, good news is bad news); average hourly earnings were up 0.3%, in line.

                                  https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/labor-shock-us-adds-162k-jobs-august-4-sigma-beat-and-above-highest-forecast

 

                        International

 

July Japanese household spending was up 0.5% versus projections of +0.6%.

 

July German factory orders rose 2.5% versus estimates of +0.3%; the August construction PMI was 48.7 versus 42.0.

 

July EU retail sales fell 0.6% versus predictions of +0.3%; the August construction PMI was 43.0 versus 44.0.

 

The August UK construction PMI was 44.9 versus estimates of 45.5.

 

                        Other

 

                          New home affordability improves.

                          https://politicalcalculations.blogspot.com/2026/09/new-home-affordability-improves-as.html

 

            AI

 

              OpenAI is sinking fast.

              https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2026/09/openai-sam-altman-ipo-lightcap-simo-dresser-voss-oracle-ipo-zitron-paramount.html

 

              Don’t blame Chinese ‘psycops’ for data center angst.

              https://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2026/09/03/dont_blame_chinese_psyops_for_data_center_angst_1204007.html

 

              How AI might impact the labor market and interest rates.

              https://www.carsongroup.com/insights/blog/how-ai-may-impact-the-labor-market-and-interest-rates/

 

     Investing

 

            Should you buy TIPS?

                        https://www.morningstar.com/funds/tips-look-tempting-should-you-buy?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=linkshare&utm_source=link

 

                        Risks fueling dollar selloff.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-03/world-s-unusually-high-dollar-exposure-risks-fueling-selloff?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODQ1NjYwOSwiZXhwIjoxNzg5MDYxNDA5LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUSllFNVhLSzNOWUMwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMzFCNTRDQTI3MTE0NjAxOUQxMURCN0IxRUM4NTE2MyJ9.NiKYYdPOpoHjkml3ci5M-c1BSRqSj9aT4u_ZsvUB1V0

 

 

                        Central banks piled into gold in July.

            https://talkmarkets.com/article/central-banks-piled-in-more-gold-in-july-1788452755

 

                        The gold run isn’t done yet.

            https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/2337f63d-3b5c-403a-9116-ccfbc43a3a87

 

    News (not buy recommendations) on Stocks in Our Portfolios

 

            T. Rowe Price

            https://www.advisorperspectives.com/commentaries/2026/09/03/goldman-victory-t-rowe-price-expand-etf-acquisitions

 

What I am reading today

 

           

 

 

Visit Investing for Survival’s website (http://investingforsurvival.com/home) to learn more about our Investment Strategy, Prices Disciplines and Subscriber Service.

 

 

 

Thursday, September 3, 2026

The Morning Call---If we are in a tech bubble, it is more measured than the dot.com bust

 

The Morning Call

 

9/3/26

 

The Market

         

    Technical

 

            Wednesday in the charts.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/oil-stocks-bonds-gold-amid-strait-strikes-cybersick-soggy-jobs?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTIzNzE5Iiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODM4MDg5MiwiZXhwIjoxNzkwOTcyODkyLCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.Q8CJvOHztW4pA_kIfUlP0-LpF2beeLaVDMCFY9Wb3Jo

 

            Wednesday in the technical stats.

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/momentum

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/market-performance

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/sectors/rankings

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/signals/new-recommendations

 

            Rising correlations, bad breadth.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/musical-chairs-rising-correlations-and-bad-breadth-why-btig-sees-stocks-retesting-recent?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTIzNzE2Iiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODM3NzU3MiwiZXhwIjoxNzkwOTY5NTcyLCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.NsbRgWF6G8SGXgWZNuPNgyboeAljA7p9UolVLM19_HE

 

            Hedge when you can, not when you have to.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/hedge-when-you-can-not-when-you-have-goldman-vol-traders-lay-out-5-trades-extremely-busy?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTIzNzExIiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODM3Nzk2NiwiZXhwIjoxNzkwOTY5OTY2LCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.U_aFzgkzxRfTbRLeC9pK2WOzV6ywg3RkH1dgg5LJxDw

                       

            Sell, sell or sell.

https://www.zerohedge.com/the-market-ear/sell-sell-or-sell-0?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTIzNjM2Iiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODM1NTMyNSwiZXhwIjoxNzkwOTQ3MzI1LCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.Q_pdl3gvMrfD-Lcf8Pelr-AI5h0e9MeQn-rpcMx9iI4

 

            Charts for the beach.

            https://www.advisorperspectives.com/commentaries/2026/09/02/charts-beach

 

            Gold, now what?

https://www.zerohedge.com/the-market-ear/everyone-piled-gold-then-it-cracked-now-what?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTIzNjQxIiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODM3ODIwNiwiZXhwIjoxNzkwOTcwMjA2LCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.32jgH5z2QjRaAumKSiteHTsaWAk7hBQZD2Ch8jFPpCw

 

 

            Th dollar cycle is pointing down.

            https://mrzepczynski.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-dollar-cycle-is-heading-down.html

 

Thursday morning setup: Futures are flats with Tech in line and small caps lagging even as bond yields dip 1bp across the curve, ignoring the continued rise in oil. In a quiet session ahead of tomorrow's jobs report, Japan remains the standout, with the yen strengthening on more hawkish BOJ repricing and intervention speculation, pressuring exporters.  Risk is modestly bid after yesterday’s reprieve in energy and rates (although Korean memory has faded again and only buybacks prop up the Korean market with retail now puking daily). As of 8:00am ET, S&P futures are unchanged, while Nasdaq futures down 0.1% with memory lagging with both Mag7 and Software (SNOW surging) higher. Cyclicals are higher led by Indus / Materials but there are also bids to HC / Staples. The Dollar is weaker, too, giving a sense of the return to the Debasement trade as US stocks lag EU and DM bonds are outperforming US. Crude prices are up but fuel prices are lower. Metals are bid led by Iron and Precious as Ags are under pressure. Today's US economic data calendar includes July trade balance, 2Q final productivity and unit labor costs and weekly jobless claims (8:30am), August final S&P Global US services PMI (9:45am) and August ISM services (10am), Fed speaker slate includes Waller (8:30am), Hammack (3pm) and Goolsbee (3:55pm). The risk comes from inflation (Prices Paid index) as investors consider a Fed rate hike with market-implied odds of a hike ~64%.

 

    Fundamental

 

       Headlines

 

              The Economy

 

                        US

 

                          Weekly initial jobless claims totaled 206,000 versus forecasts of 205,000.

 

Q2 nonfarm productivity was up 1.4%, in line; until labor costs were up 1.2% versus +1.3%.

           

                          July factory orders rose 0.9% versus consensus of +0.6%.

 

The July trade balance was -$88.1 billion versus expectations of -$90.0 billion.

 

                        International

 

                          The July EU PPI came in at +1.6% versus estimates of +1.2%.

 

The August Japanese services PMI was 52.5 versus projections of 52.3;     the August composite PMI was 53.5 versus 52.0; the August Chinese services PMI was 51.4 versus 50.6; the August composite PMI was 52.1 versus 51.0; the August German services PMI was 49.7 versus 48.5; the August composite PMI was 51.8 versus 51.0; the August EU services PMI was 51.6 versus 51.7; the August composite PMI was 52.0 versus 52.1; the August UK services PMI was 52.5 versus 52.8; the August composite PMI was 52.5, in line.

 

                        Other

 

                          Core manufacturing capital goods continues positive.

                              https://bonddad.blogspot.com/2026/09/july-manufacturing-core-capital-goods.html

 

            Tariffs

 

              The multifaceted stupidity of Trump’s trade war with Canada.

              https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/08/31/trump-canadian-trade-war-art-stupid-deal/

 

            AI

 

The economics/accounting of the AI off balance sheet financing arrangements.

              https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2026/09/ai-off-balance-sheet-obligations-hit-a-subprime-like-reset-wall-in-2027-and-2028.html

 

                           And that’s not all.

              https://wolfstreet.com/2026/09/01/ai-data-center-investment-mania-goes-exponential-as-money-gets-thrown-at-hurdles-shortages/

 

                          If we are in a tech bubble, it is more measured than the dot.com bust.

  https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/if-were-tech-bubble-its-more-measured-dotcom-bust-now?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTIzNzI3Iiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODQ0MDU1MSwiZXhwIjoxNzkxMDMyNTUxLCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.93BNSU16TBKOUDbb3AEWBMiGa2WxwuWY0ANvGC6Mjow

 

 

     Investing

 

            The retirement security challenge that Americans get wrong.

https://www.marketwatch.com/picks/over-60-of-americans-get-this-fact-about-their-life-wrong-and-it-could-create-a-critical-retirement-security-challenge-8fbf2493?st=v65yQX

 

            Yields set to rise.

            https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-02/apollo-s-slok-says-us-yields-set-to-rise-on-iran-war-tariffs?srnd=homepage-americas&sref=loFkkPMQ

 

Summary: US yields are likely to head higher driven by the Iran war and tariffs, according to Apollo Global Management Chief Economist Torsten Slok. Government borrowing costs have been surging around the world as investors demand more compensation to entice them to hold longer-maturity debt. The economic pressures are seeping through to the housing market as well as the auto sector, both highly sensitive to increased yields.

                       

            Bulls are dancing near the fire.

            https://talkmarkets.com/article/the-bulls-are-dancing-near-the-fire-1788367900

 

            The dichotomy in valuation measures.

            https://talkmarkets.com/article/market-valuation-expensive-cape-or-cheap-peg-1788346804

 

            Luxury overdue for contrarian bounce.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/luxury-overdue-contrarian-bounce-amid-dismal-confidence?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTIzNjc0Iiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODQ0MDMxMSwiZXhwIjoxNzkxMDMyMzExLCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.KE68SomyhG6G313Hz5VWqsaX--c-QZuNcJd120sgs50

 

 

    News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

 

 

 

What I am reading today

 

            The generals are worried.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/08/pete-hegseth-generals-worried-reserves-military.html?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=traffic&utm_source=article&utm_content=copy_link

 

           

 

Visit Investing for Survival’s website (http://investingforsurvival.com/home) to learn more about our Investment Strategy, Prices Disciplines and Subscriber Service.

 

 

 

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

The Morning Call---Liquidity is shrinking

 

The Morning Call

 

9/2/26

 

The Market

         

    Technical

 

            Tuesday in the charts.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/rate-spike-hedgers-go-bonkers-iran-attacks-spike-oil-stocks-gold-crypto-all-tank?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTIzNTk1Iiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODI5Mzk2MSwiZXhwIjoxNzkwODg1OTYxLCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.sZarB-I4AkPsKCRLtRKWAdrPA8us6Vz9hWlXBLj44V0

 

            Tuesday in the technical stats.

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/momentum

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/market-performance

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/sectors/rankings

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/signals/new-recommendations

 

            The case for why this September could be different.

            https://www.carsongroup.com/insights/blog/why-the-worst-month-of-the-year-likely-wont-bring-rain/

 

            Increasing Market dispersion.

            https://www.acadian-asset.com/investment-insights/owenomics/crazy-days-in-the-stock-market

 

Wednesday morning setup: US equity futures are lower with Tech underperforming as oil prices / bond yields move higher (although off session highs), both in response to an acceleration in "kinetic hostilities" in the Middle East. As of 8:00am ET, S&P futures are down 0.1%, off session lows, while Nasdaq futures rise 0.4% after Dell shares jumped after the company boosted its annual sales forecast by $25 billion. In premarket trading, Semis / Memory are weaker and AVGO is -53bp with earnings after the Close today. Mag7 are mostly lower as are Software names with Hardware buoyed by earnings. Defensives and Energy gain while Cyclicals drop. According to JPM's Market Intel team, which on Monday turned Neutral on stocks (from Bullish), equities will continue to struggle until crude / rates stabilize. Europe’s Stoxx 600 retreated 0.7%, while Asian stocks fell the most in two weeks. WTI trades around $90/bbl as the yield curve steepens, having erased gains from Bessent’s "Treasury Twist". The Dollar is also higher as the Debasement trade continues to struggle. Commodities are mostly lower with Energy the lone bright spot and Ags underperforming Metals; keep an eye on gold to see if $4,300 acts as support. Today’s macro data focus is on the August ADP employment change (8:15am) and July factory orders (10am). Fed calendar is blank apart from Beige Book release at 2pm

 

    Fundamental

 

       Headlines

 

              The Economy

 

                        US

 

Weekly mortgage applications rose 0.8% while purchase applications were up 2.2%.

 

Month to date retail chain store sales grew 9.6% versus 9.1% in the prior week.

 

July job openings (JOLTS) totaled 7.27 million versus estimates of 7.3 million.

https://talkmarkets.com/article/us-job-openings-rise-modestly-in-july-but-employers-pull-back-on-hiring-1788280541

 

July construction spending fell 0.5% versus predictions of 0.0%.

 

The August manufacturing PMI came in at 53.9 versus consensus of 53.2.

 

The August ISM manufacturing index was 54.6 versus expectations of 55.2.

https://bonddad.blogspot.com/2026/09/august-manufacturing-less-good-july.html

 

The August ADP private payrolls report showed an increase in jobs of 38,000 versus forecasts of 47,000.

https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/adp-reports-august-saw-weakest-job-growth-january-wage-growth-dips

 

The September small business optimism index was 45.6 versus projections of 46.2.

 

                        International

 

                        Other

 

                          July median household income.

                          https://politicalcalculations.blogspot.com/2026/09/median-household-income-in-july-2026.html

 

                          Seven graphs on the financial system.

                          https://econbrowser.com/archives/2026/08/seven-graphs-for-the-financial-system

 

                          China declines to sign G20 joint communique.

                          https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/bessent-blame-china-derailing-g20-joint-communique

 

            Iran

 

              Overnight news.

              https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/projectiles-hit-two-supertankers-exiting-hormuz-brent-tops-92-diesel-crack-breaches-100

 

            Fiscal Policy

 

              If congress reforms social security, it will simply spend the savings elsewhere.

              https://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2026/09/01/no_social_security_is_not_the_cause_of_the_national_debt_1202988.html

 

            AI

 

              Ten predictions on the future of AI.

              https://www.honest-broker.com/p/10-brutally-honest-predictions-on

 

            The Financial System

 

The Financial Stability Board warns of multiple threats to the global financial system.

https://wolfstreet.com/2026/08/31/ai-leverage-out-the-wazoo-sky-high-asset-prices-private-credit-government-debt-pose-risks-to-global-financial-system/

 

Trillion dollar dislocation hiding in the credit markets.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-01/trillion-dollar-dislocation-hides-in-calm-credit-markets?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODI4MDUxNiwiZXhwIjoxNzg4ODg1MzE2LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUS0Q4V0FLR0NURk0wMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMzFCNTRDQTI3MTE0NjAxOUQxMURCN0IxRUM4NTE2MyJ9.4UvdStrF6hgFtSAPlssFs35QqnnU6wdOZ_jlJDZNNrg

 

              The risk of financial repression is rising.

              https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/edbe13cb-7e44-45ed-9ddb-8b0057a03506

 

            Tariffs

 

              Trump’s trade war with Canada is stupid.

              https://reason.com/2026/08/31/trumps-trade-war-with-canada-is-costly-absurd-and-unfunny/

 

     Investing

 

            Liquidity is shrinking.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/its-squeezed-liquidity-thats-holding-stocks-back?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTIzNTkyIiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODI5Mjg1MiwiZXhwIjoxNzkwODg0ODUyLCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.c49Y6Jx-dK9WAFD-h4FxdShKquFStMHEP7M7E6MluWc

 

            Why crashes, timing and valuations matter.

            https://www.advisorperspectives.com/commentaries/2026/09/01/crashes-timing-valuations-matter

 

            Bonds aren’t doing their job.

            https://trendlabs.com/bonds-arent-doing-their-job/

 

            In six months, rates will be lower.

            https://www.apollo.com/wealth/insights-news/insights/daily-spark/think-six-months-ahead

 

            Counterpoint.

            https://talkmarkets.com/article/global-bond-market-rout-continues-feds-barr-ponders-decisive-action-1788275421

 

            Why bond yields continue to rise.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/conflict-crowding-out-global-bond-yields-soar-2008-highs?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTIzNTUyIiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4ODI5MjI0MywiZXhwIjoxNzkwODg0MjQzLCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.BxSkeMWLXOMHTiFyRAjOQ4Dn1Pf5PPnAeckefAGY5Kk

 

            Consumer stocks cracking.

                        https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/worse-under-hood-goldman-warns-consumer-stocks-cracking-hedge-fund-exposure-tanks

 

    News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

 

 

 

What I am reading today

 

           

 

 

Visit Investing for Survival’s website (http://investingforsurvival.com/home) to learn more about our Investment Strategy, Prices Disciplines and Subscriber Service.