Thursday, December 1, 2022

The Morning Call--Powell continues the 'fine tuning' bulls**t

 

The Morning Call

 

12/1/22

 

The Market

         

    Technical

 

            Wednesday in the charts.

            https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/powell-saves-stocks-bonds-today-dollar-crashes-worst-month-13-years

 

Note: the S&P finished above its 200 DMA; if it remains there through the close next Monday, it will revert from resistance to support.

 

            The VIX isn’t following suit.

            https://www.zerohedge.com/the-market-ear/c4pxedzike

 

            Chasing stocks is a late trade.

            https://www.zerohedge.com/the-market-ear/ckjriogzbw

 

            Treasury yields are suggesting the labor market is breaking.

            https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/fear-gauge-suggests-us-labor-market-may-break-soon

 

    Fundamental

 

       Headlines

 

              The Economy

 

                        US

 

Weekly initial jobless claims totaled 225,000 versus projections of 235,000.

 

                          October pending home sales fell 4.5% versus estimates of -5.0%.

 

October personal spending rose 0.8%, in line; personal income was up 0.7% versus +0.3%; the PCE price index was up 0.3%, in line; the core PCE price index was up 0.2% versus +0.3%.

 

                        International

 

                          October German retail sales fell 2.8% versus predictions of -0.6%.

 

                          The October EU unemployment rate was 6.5% versus consensus of 6.6%.

 

The November Japanese manufacturing PMI was 49 versus expectations of 48; the November Chinese Caixin manufacturing PMI was 49.4 versus 48.9; the November German manufacturing PMI was 46.2 versus 46.7; the November EU manufacturing PMI was 47.1 versus 47.3; the November UK manufacturing PMI was 46.5 versus 46.2.

 

November Japanese consumer confidence was 28.6 versus forecasts of 29.1.

 

                        Other

 

            The Fed

 

As you know, Powell delivered his latest thoughts on monetary policy yesterday. 

There were two main points that came out of his comments:

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/wall-street-reacts-powells-dovish-speech-markets-explode-higher

 

(1)   he suggested that the magnitude of interest rate hikes is likely to slow [but also reiterated that rates will stay higher for longer and the warned of the risk of easing too early].  At best this dovish tilt seemed to walk back the recent hawkish rhetoric of most of the other FOMC members regarding the upcoming rate decision.  But why is it a plus that rates are going to say higher for longer? At worst, it simply shows that neither he nor the rest of the FOMC have a clue what to do [which they repeatedly demonstrate that they don’t]. Nevertheless, investors chose to interpret his remarks dovishly [bullishly].  Perhaps this was the spark that will ignite a Santa Claus rally [which many have been waiting for].  Color me skeptical.

 

(2) he offered the ‘possibility’ of a ‘soft landing’.  Yeh, right.  Dream on.  I have   a bridge in New York for sale.  Clearly, it is ‘possible’; but what is the probability and how much money does one bet on that outcome?  My answer is slim to none to both questions.  You are free to disagree.

 

              IMF chief says Fed must ‘stay the course’.

              https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/imf-chief-says-us-must-keep-raising-interest-rates-because-they-owe-it-world

 

The Fed also released its latest Beige Book yesterday---which played second fiddle to Powell.  Here is a summary.

              https://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2022/11/feds-beige-book-apartment-leasing.html

 

              The Fed, through its hubris, has caused a lot of pain.  There is likely more to come.

              https://www.ft.com/content/c93f3660-821f-458b-ae0f-23ac05b8f03f?shareType=nongift

 

            Fiscal Policy

 

              An unprecedented spending spree.

              https://reason.com/2022/11/29/bidens-spending-spree-is-unprecedented/

 

              Global debt costs are soaring.

              https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-30/debt-rising-interest-rates-put-consumers-and-businesses-at-risk?srnd=premium&sref=loFkkPMQ

 

            The coronavirus

 

              Let the investigations begin.

              https://brownstone.org/articles/let-the-real-investigations-begin/

 

     Bottom line

 

            Junk bonds are rallying on possibility of lower rates.

            https://www.wsj.com/articles/junk-bonds-rally-as-investors-speculate-inflation-has-peaked-11669782119?mod=hp_lead_pos4

 

    News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

 

Kroger press release (NYSE:KR): Q3 Non-GAAP EPS of $0.88 beats by $0.06.

Revenue of $34.2B (+7.2% Y/Y) beats by $280M.

 

What I am reading today

 

           

                        Thursday morning humor.

            https://variety.com/2022/awards/news/adam-sandler-gotham-awards-acceptance-speech-hustle-1235443853/

 

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

 

 

 

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