OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
Dec E-mini S&Ps (ESZ17 +0.03%) this morning are little changed, up +0.01%, ahead of speeches later this morning from Fed Governor Powell and Fed Presidents Harker and Williams. The speech from Fed Governor Powell may be given added scrutiny with reports that he is on President Trump’s shortlist of candidates to replace Fed Chair Yellen. European stocks are unchanged as the markets weigh the situation in Spain where the state of Catalonia is trying to secede from Spain and form its own independent republic. Spain’s IBEX Stock Index is up 1.15% and is giving a boost to European stocks after Spanish Economy Minister Guindos said that banks in Catalonia have indicated they are open to moving their headquarters elsewhere if the situation in the state worsens. Guindos also said that Catalonia’s actions are illegal and independence is out of the question and that Spain has nothing to discuss with the secessionists until rule of law is restored. GBP/USD tumbled -0.49% to a 3-week low on reports that UK Prime Minister May could face a leadership rebellion within her own party with up to 30 Tory lawmakers prepared to sign a letter calling for her resignation. Asian stocks settled mixed: Japan +0.01%, Taiwan +0.47%, Australia -0.01%, Singapore +0.78%, India -0.25%. China, Hong Kong and South Korea are all closed for holidays.
The dollar index (DXY00 +0.16%) is up +0.11%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.13%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.22%.
Dec 10-year T-note prices (ZNZ17 +0.06%) are up +2.5 ticks.
UK Sep new car registrations fell -9.3% y/y to 426,170 and year-to-date are down -3.9% to 2,066.411.
The German Sep Markit construction PMI fell -1.5 to 53.4, the slowest pace of expansion in 8-months.
U.S. STOCK PREVIEW
Key U.S. news today includes: (1) Sep Challenger job cuts (Aug +5.1% y/y), (2) weekly initial unemployment claims (expected -7,000 to 265,000, previous +12,000 to 272,000) and continuing claims (expected +16,000 to 1.950 million, previous -45,000 to 1.934 million), (3) Aug trade balance (expected -$42.7 billion, Jul -$43.7 billion), (4) Fed Governor Jerome Powell speaks on Treasury markets and Treasury market practices at an event in New York, (5) San Francisco Fed President John Williams (non-voter) delivers keynote speech at the St. Louis Fed’s Community Banking in the 21st Century Research and Policy Conference, (6) Aug factory orders (expected +1.0%, Jul -3.3% and +0.5% ex transportation), (7) Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker (voter) speaks at the “Investing in America’s Workforce” conference, (8) Kansas City Fed President Esther George (non-voter) speaks at the “Investing in America’s Workforce” conference, (9) USDA weekly Export Sales.
Notable Russell 1000 earnings reports today include: Costco (consensus $2.02), Constellation Brands (2.17), Global Payments (1.10), Yum China Holdings (0.56).
U.S. IPO’s scheduled to price today: Switch (SWCH).
Equity conferences this week: Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce Business Conference on Fri.
OVERNIGHT U.S. STOCK MOVERS
Microsoft (MSFT +0.58%) was upgraded to ‘Buy’ from ‘Hold’ at Canaccord Genuity with a price target of $86.
United Parcel Service (UPS -0.59%) and FedEx (FDX -0.75%) are both down over 2% in pre-market trading after Bloomberg News reported that Amazon.com is currently testing its own delivery service.
