NVDA Slide Continued Monday in Rotation

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Markets diverged Monday, even on broadly sideways action.  The SPY opened 0.06% higher, DIA gapped up 0.30%, and QQQ gapped down 0.39%.  From there, SPY and QQQ put in slow selloffs (QQQ faster than SPY) that both hit a crescendo the last 30 minutes of the day and closed on their lows.  For its part, DIA rallied sharply after the open until 11 a.m.  From that point, DIA followed the slow selloff (even slower than SPY) until 1:30 p.m. and then moved sideways the rest of the day.  This action gave us a black-bodied Inverted Hammer that crossed below its T-line (8ema) in the SPY. QQQ printed a large-bodied, black candle with upper wick that also crossed below its T-line.  However, DIA gave us a gap-up, white-bodied candle with an upper wick.  This all happened on slightly less-than-average volume in the QQQ and DIA with SPY having volume that was well-below-average. 

On the day, nine of the 10 sectors were in the green with Energy (+2.42%) way out in front (by 1.1%) leading the other eight green sectors higher.  Meanwhile, Technology (-1.24%) was the worst-performing sector by more than 1.25%.  At the same time, SPY lost 0.34%, DIA gained 0.66%, and QQQ lost 1.30% as money rotated out of the tech names.  VXX fell 0.80% to close at 11.20 and T2122 moved up to the high-end of its mid-range at 69.59. On the bond front, 10-year bond yields fell to 4.23% and Oil (WTI) popped 1.16% to close at $81.67 per barrel.  So, Monday was a rotation day with money fleeing technology (NVDA was down 6.68% on $54 billion in stock traded) and seeking safety in the big oil (XOM +2.97%, CVX +2.60%, and COP +3.44%) and financial names (JPM +1.21%, BRKB +1.06%, BAC +1.34%). It is worth noting that NVDA, which has been the driving engine of the market for months, has been down almost 13% over the last three trading sessions.

There was no major economic news scheduled for Monday.

In terms of Fed speak, Cleveland Fed President Mester (retires next week) said she believe the Fed needs to remain open to selling more of its mortgage-backed securities as part of reducing the Fed Balance Sheet.  However, she said that she doesn’t think this will happen soon.  Mester said, “I don’t think it’s immediate that we should be selling MBS.”  Later, Chicago Fed President Goolsbee told CNBC that while inflation is (slightly) cooling, he is looking for more confirmation before a rate cut.  Goolsbee said he is a closet optimist but that the Fed need to get “a little bit more confidence on the inflation side.”  He said, “If unemployment claims are going up (the unemployment rate is inching up) many of the other measures have cooled down to something like what they were before the pandemic and you start to see weakness on consumer spending.”  If this comes to pass Goolsbee said the Fed will need to start thinking about balancing both sides (inflation and employment) rather than focusing on just inflation. Meanwhile, San Francisco Fed President Daly told an audience that inflation is not the only risk.  She said, “We must continue the work of fully restoring price stability without a painful disruption to the economy.”  She continued, saying the Fed must “exhibit care” …  (while there is still) “more work to do” (on bringing inflation down) … “inflation is not the only risk we face.”

After the close, there were no noteworthy earnings reports.

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In stock news, on Monday, UPS sold its Coyote Logistics unit to RXO for $1.025 billion (UPS bought the company for $1.8 billion in 2015). Later, NVO announced it will spend $4.1 billion to build a new manufacturing plant in NC to boost production of its highly-profitable weight loss drug Wegovy.  At the same time, PARA announced it will raise the price of its streaming services in late summer.  Later, BA announced its troubled Starliner has again delayed its return to earth.  The first manned flight of Starliner is stuck, docked to the International Space Station after having rescheduled its undocking three times now.  (Current plans are for a July 6 attempt to return to earth, which, if hit, would mean the 8-day mission had been forced to last a month.)  After the close, Bloomberg reported that contrary to earlier rumors, AAPL and META are not in talks about forming an AI partnership.

In stock legal and governmental news, on Monday the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals threw out a proposed class-action suit against UBER which alleged the company process for terminating low-rated drivers was racially discriminatory.  (Evidence had not been presented showing the company terminated a higher percentage of non-white drivers.  However, without discovery, the plaintiffs argued they could not get such data.)  Later, the CEO Stankey of T, asked that Congress give the FCC power (and a mandate) to require big tech firms like META and GOOGL to pay into a fund to be used to subsidize access to broadband services.  At the same time, family members of BA 737 MAX crash victims asked a US District Judge to appoint a corporate monitor to examine BA safety and corporate compliance procedures.  The request comes after the group had accused BA of reneging on the promises the company gave in 2021 to avoid prosecution related to the two crashes in 2018 and 2019.  Later, PacifiCorp (owned by BRKB) settled with 378 plaintiffs for $150 million related to the 2020 fires caused by the utility’s electric equipment.  This settlement resolves nearly all individual claims, but many corporate and government claims remain unsolved.  The US has also threatened to sue PacifiCorp for failure to pay $356 million in costs and damages for the single “Slater” fire.  (This brings the company’s total settlements to over $1 billion for those fires.)

Overnight, Asian markets were mostly green.  Australia (+1/36%), Japan (+0.95%), and India (+0.78%) led the region higher.  In Europe, stocks are mostly lower at midday.  The CAC (-0.66%), DAX (-0.88%), and FTSE (-0.19%) lead the region lower in early afternoon trade.  Meanwhile, in the US, as of 7:30 a.m., Futures are pointing toward a mixed but positive start to the day.  The DIA implies a -0.12% open, the SPY is implying a +0.17% open, and the QQQ implies a +0.41% open at this hour.  At the same time, 10-year bond yields are down to 4.224% and Oil (WTI) is off 0.65% to $81.10 per barrel in early trading.

The major economic news scheduled for Tuesday is limited to Conference Board Consumer Confidence and API Weekly Crude Oil Stocks.  We also hear from Fed Governor Bowman twice.  The major earnings reports scheduled for before the open include CCL and SNX.  Then after the close, FDX and WOR report. 

In terms of earnings reports later this week, on Wednesday, we hear from GIS, PAYX, UNF, BB, CNXC, FUL, JEF, LEVI, MU, MLKN, and WS.  On Thursday, AYI, MKC, WBA, and NKE report.  Finally, on Friday, there are no earnings reports scheduled.

In miscellaneous news, on Monday Bloomberg reported 2023 saw record contributions to 401(k) accounts again as in 2022.  The average percent of salary deposited into the 4012(k)s stayed the same at 11.7%, but average salaries increased more than had been seen in quite a while.  Elsewhere, the San Jose Mercury News reported Monday that for the first time, utilities (especially electric companies) across CA and broader in the West, enter peak summer wildfire season without insurance.  Similar to the ways that hurricanes have made insurance companies stop serving FL, TX, and other disaster-prone regions, wildfires have caused insurance companies to raise rates to untenable levels or abandon insuring major utilities altogether.  As a result, the utilities are self-insuring this fire season in what amounts to a gamble of tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.  Finally, Reuters reported that the TSA screened an all-time record of 2.99 million passengers Sunday.  This was the highest number of passengers ever screened on a single day.

In late-breaking news, the EU Antitrust Commission charged MSFT with “abusive bundling” of its Office and Teams applications.  (Teams is just a business version of Skype.)  In 2023, MSFT unbundled the two from their subscription “365” service in a bid to head off these charges.  However, the EU called the move “insufficient” due to the already accomplished integration and Office’s massive market share.  Elsewhere, Fed Governor Bowman (a long-time Hawk) told a London audience that she was open to raising rates if inflation does not pull back further.  However, she also hedged her bets by saying, “Should the incoming data indicate that inflation is moving sustainably toward our 2 percent goal, it will eventually become appropriate to gradually lower the federal funds rate…”

With that background, it looks as if markets are indecisive but leaning bullish so far this morning. SPY and QQQ are both retesting their T-line (8ema) from below. Meanwhile, DIA is printing a gap-up, black-bodied candle in the premarket such that it is back below Monday’s close. Just continue to bear in mind that all three major index ETFs are still close to their all-time highs. So, the short-term trend is mixed. At the same time, the mid-term remains bullish in all three major index ETFs and the longer-term market remains very Bullish in trend. In terms of extension, none of those three are extended above their T-line and the T2122 indicator is in the upper-end of its mid-range. Therefore, the market still has room to run in either direction. With regard to those 10 big dog tickers, eight of the 10 are in the green again this morning. Only META (-0.16%) and MSFT (-0.10%) are in the red so far in the early session.

As always, be deliberate and disciplined…but don’t be stubborn. If you have a loss, admit you were wrong and take that loss before it gets out of hand. And when the price does move in your direction, always move your stops in your favor and take a little profit off the table. You have to keep the “Legend of the Man in the Green Bathrobe” in mind. In a winning situation, it is NOT HOUSE MONEY you’re betting, it’s YOUR MONEY! There is no reason to keep raising your bet (risk) size just because you’ve had a win. Finally, remember that trading is not a hobby, it’s a job. The gains are real and so is the risk. So, treat it that way. Do the work and follow the process. Stick to your trading rules, trade with the trend, and take those profits when you have them. Do the work!

See you in the trading room.

Ed

LTA Scanning Software
TC2000 Discount

🎯 Mike Probst: Rick, Got CTL off the scanner today. Already up 30%. Love it.

🎯 Dick Carp: the scanner paid for the year with HES-thank you

🎯 Arnoldo Bolanos: LTA scanner really works $$, thanks Ed.

🎯 Bob S: LTA is incredible…. I use it … would not trade without it

🎯 Malcolm .: Posted in room 2, @Rick… I used the LTA Scanner to go through hundreds of stocks this weekend and picked out three to trade:  PYPL, TGT, and ZS.   Quality patterns and with my trading, up 24%, 7% and 12%…. this program is gold.

🎯 Friday 6/21/19  (10:09 am) Aaron B: Today, my account is at +190% since January. Thanks, RWO HRC Flash Malcolm Thomas Steve Ed Bob S Bob C Mike P and everyone that contributes every day. I love our job.

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Disclosure: We do not act on all trades we mention, and not all mentions acted on the day of the mention. All trades we mention are for your consideration only.

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DISCLAIMER: Investing / Trading involves significant financial risk and is not suitable for everyone. No communication from Hit and Run Candlesticks Inc, its affiliates or representatives is not financial or trading advice. All information provided by Hit and Run Candlesticks Inc, its affiliates and representatives are intended for educational purposes only. You are advised to test any new trading approach before implementing it.  Past performance does not guarantee future results.  Terms of Service

NVDA Selloff

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NVDA Selloff

On Tuesday, stock futures suggested a mixed open, after a sharp NVDA selloff that blead over to other technology stocks.  The result was the most substantial single-day decline of the Nasdaq Composite’s since April. However, shares of Nvidia rebounded, climbing over 3% in overnight price action. This uptick comes on the heels of a previous session where Nvidia’s stock tumbled more than 6%, marking its sharpest drop since April 19, when it plummeted by 10%. The broader semiconductor sector also felt the heat, with companies like Super Micro Computer, Qualcomm, and Broadcom experiencing downward pressure on their stock prices.

European markets faced a downturn on Tuesday, mirroring the negative shift in U.S. market sentiment that marked the beginning of the week. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index, a key benchmark for regional equity performance, was particularly impacted during morning trading hours. The decline was led by the tech and industrial sectors, which saw significant selloffs

In the recent trading session, Japan’s Topix index surged, hitting its highest point in three weeks. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kosdaq, primarily composed of small-cap stocks, rebounded, ending a three-day losing streak. Contrasting these gains, Mainland China’s CSI 300 experienced a decline, dropping by 0.54% to 3,457.90, marking its lowest level in four months. This downturn for the CSI 300 represents its weakest close since February 28. Despite this, the broader Asia-Pacific markets exhibited an upward trend.

Economic Calendar

Earnings Calendar

Notable reports for Tuesday before the bell include SNX.  After the bell include FDX, PRGS, & WOR.

News & Technicals’

The European Commission, serving as the executive arm of the EU, has issued a preliminary statement indicating that Microsoft may have violated EU antitrust regulations. The concern arises from Microsoft’s practice of integrating its communication and collaboration tool, Teams, with its widely used business productivity suites, Office 365 and Microsoft 365. This integration is seen as potentially restricting competition by not providing consumers with a choice to opt out of Teams when purchasing the software packages. The investigation, which began in July 2023 following a complaint by Slack Technologies, suggests that Microsoft’s bundling of Teams might have unfairly given it a “distribution advantage” over other similar applications. Although Microsoft has begun offering some software bundles without Teams, the European Commission believes these measures are insufficient to fully restore competitive conditions. Microsoft has expressed its willingness to work with the Commission to address these concerns and find solutions that satisfy the regulatory body’s requirements for fair competition.

Airbus, the European aerospace corporation, experienced a notable 9% drop in its share price on Tuesday following an announcement that it would be revising its financial targets downward for the year 2024. The company has adjusted its expectations to forecast lower earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and a reduction in the number of commercial aircraft deliveries. Initially, Airbus had set a target of delivering around 800 aircraft; however, this number has now been scaled back to approximately 770. The revision of these targets is attributed to persistent supply chain challenges and unforeseen expenses in the space systems division, which have imposed additional costs amounting to roughly 900 million euros. These issues have compelled Airbus to delay its timeline for increasing the production of its A320 aircraft, further impacting its operational and financial projections for the year. The company’s half-year results, which are keenly anticipated, will be disclosed on July 30, providing further insights into the impact of these adjustments.

According to a recent report by Reuters, the Biden administration is investigating three Chinese telecommunications giants—China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom. The probe is centered on concerns that these state-backed firms could potentially exploit their cloud and internet operations within the United States to allow Beijing access to sensitive American data. The Commerce Department is spearheading the investigation, which has involved subpoenas and risk-based analyses of China Mobile and China Telecom. Despite the companies’ limited presence in the U.S., primarily in cloud services and routing wholesale internet traffic, there is a fear that they could still access Americans’ data. This is significant because telecom regulators have previously barred these firms from providing telephone and retail internet services in the country.

The tech sector is hoping to rebound today after the sharp NVDA selloff worried tech investors spreading the selling other stocks in the sector.  With the GDP and Core PCE on the horizon keep an eye on the Consumer Confidence number which could provide some price volatility.   

Trade Wisely,

Doug

EU Finds Against AAPL, Market Flat to Start

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On Friday, SPY was the only gapper, while QQQ and DIA opened little changed.  SPY gapped down 0.46% (likely mostly due to the SPX dividend), while both DIA and QQQ opened just 0.07% lower. From there, all three major index ETFs meandered sideways for the rest of the day with QQQ showing more volatility (wave height) than the two large-cap ETFs.  This action gave us indecisive, Doji or Spinning Top-like candles in all three.  SPY retested (and passed the test) its T-line (8ema).  The other two remained above their own T-lines.  All three major index ETFs printed less-than-average volume.  On the week, DIA printed a Bullish Engulfing candle that crossed back above its T-line while SPY and QQQ printed high-wick, white-bodied candles at all-time weekly high closes.

On the day, five of the 10 sectors were in the green with Healthcare (+0.67%) out in front leading the way higher.  Meanwhile, Basic Materials (-0.49%), Utilities (-0.48%), and Energy (-0.47%) paced the losses.  At the same time, SPY lost 0.46% (again, mostly on the SPX dividend), DIA lost 0.19%, and QQQ lost 0.46%.  VXX fell 2.25% to close at 11.29 and T2122 moved back into the lower-end of its mid-range at 29.10. On the bond front, 10-year bond yields rose to 4.257% and Oil (WTI) fell 0.82% to close at $80.63 per barrel.  So, on Friday we saw nothing day with Triple Witching passing on low volume and volatility.

The major economic news scheduled for Friday included Preliminary June S&P Global Mfg. PMI, which came in above expectations at 51.7 (compared to a forecast of 51.0 and the May 51.3 value).  At the same time, the Preliminary June S&P Global Services PMI was even more above what was anticipated at 55.1 (versus a 53.4 forecast and May’s 54.8 reading).  This gave us a stronger than predicted Preliminary June S&P Global Composite PMI that was at 54.6 (compared to the 53.5 forecast and May’s 54.5 reading).  Later, May Existing Home Sales were also strong at 4.11 million (versus the 4.08 million forecasted but down from April’s 4.14 million number).  This was a decline of 0.7%.  Meanwhile, the May US Leading Economic Indicator Index was lower than was forecast at -0.5% (compared to a -0.4% forecast but better than April’s -0.6% reading).

Click for video

In stock legal and governmental news, on Friday the FDIC and Fed gave failing grades to four of the eight largest US banks in relation to their plans to unwind derivatives trades in the event of a market shock. C, JPM, GS, and BAC were ordered to improve their bankruptcy plans after being chided for their deficiencies.  Later, APPL was forced to announce that it will not roll out its AI products (vainly labeled “Apple Intelligence”) in the EU in 2024 due to anti-trust concerns and fear of violating the EU’s DMA law.

Overnight, Asian markets were mixed but leaned to the red side.  Taiwan (-1.89%), Shenzhen (-1.55%), and Shanghai (-1.17%) paced the losses, leading the region lower.  In Europe, with the sole exception of Finland (-0.31%) we see green across the board at midday.  The CAC (+0.84%), DAX (+0.63%), and FTSE (+-0.50%) lead the region higher in early afternoon trade.  In the US, as of 7:30 am, Futures are pointing toward a mixed, flat start to the day.  The DIA implies a +0.23% open, the SPY is implying a +0.07% open, and the QQQ implies a -0.09% open at this hour.  At the same time, 10-Year bond yields are up to 4.267% and Oil (WTI) is up three-tenths of a percent to $80.97 per barrel in early trading.

The major economic news scheduled for Monday all we have is two Fed speakers.  Fed Governor Waller spoke at 3 a.m. and Sn Francisco Fed President Daly speaks at 2 p.m.  There are also no major earnings reports scheduled for either before the open or after the close Monday.

In economic news later this week, on Tuesday, we get Conference Board Consumer Confidence and API Weekly Crude Oil Stocks.  We also hear from Fed Governor Bowman twice.  Then on Wednesday Building Permits, May New Home Sales, EIA Crude Oil Inventories, and the Fed Bank Stress Test Results are reported.  Thursday, we get Weekly Initial Jobless Claims, Weekly Continuing Jobless Claims, May Core Durable Goods, May Durable Goods, Q1 Core PCE Prices, Q1 GDP, Q! GDP Price Index, May Goods Trade Balance, May Retail Inventories, and May Pending Home Sales.  Finally, on Friday, May Core PCE Price Index, May PCE Price Index, May Personal Spending, Jun Chicago PMI, Michigan Consumer Sentiment, Michigan Consumer Expectations, Michigan 1-Year Inflation Expectations, and Michigan 5-Year Inflation Expectations are reported.  We also hear from Fed Governor Bowman.

In terms of earnings reports later this week, on Tuesday, CCL, SNX, FDX and WOR report.  Then Wednesday, we hear from GIS, PAYX, UNF, BB, CNXC, FUL, JEF, LEVI, MU, MLKN, and WS.  On Thursday, AYI, MKC, WBA, and NKE report.  Finally, on Friday, there are no earnings reports scheduled.

In miscellaneous news, on Friday, Bloomberg reported that China is pushing V and MA to lower their bank card transaction fees inside China.  If that were to happen, it seems likely pressures from the EU (and much less likely the US) would follow quickly.  At the same time, Fed data released Friday shows that the US job market has largely come back to normal.  The data indicates that immigrants have helped a lot, filling lower-end jobs that American’s don’t want.  The study looked at the ratio of JOLTS (job openings) to unemployed persons. That ratio is down from a historical high of over 2-to-1 after the pandemic to a current 1.25 level.  This puts us back in line with pre-pandemic historical lows.  (If you prefer to look at the inverse, there are 0.7 unemployed persons per job opening in the US.)

In late-breaking news, TGT made a move to increase its online third-party sales.  TGT announced Monday that any company working with e-commerce firm SHOP can apply to join the TGT third-party marketplace.  Elsewhere, EU regulators announced that AAPL is in breach of the European Digital Markets Act for failing to make changes to its app store (allowing third-party apps to steer customers to alternative marketplaces or their own websites).  AAPL could face fines up to 10% of the company’s total annual turnover (about $400 billion).

With that background, it looks as if markets are indecisive so far this morning. None of the three major index ETFs show much change and all remains modestly above their T-line (8ema). Remember that SPY and QQQ are about 1% from their all-time high and DIA is less than 2% from that mark. So, the short-term trend is bullish. At the same time, the mid-term remains bullish in all three major index ETFs and the longer-term market remains very Bullish in trend. In terms of extension, none of those three are extended above their T-line and the T2122 indicator is in the lower-end of its mid-range. Therefore, the market has room to run in either direction. With regard to those 10 big dog tickers, eight of the 10 are in the green this morning. However, it is that biggest dog, NVDA (-1.97%), that is in the red and holding the others in check.

As always, be deliberate and disciplined…but don’t be stubborn. If you have a loss, admit you were wrong and take that loss before it gets out of hand. And when the price does move in your direction, always move your stops in your favor and take a little profit off the table. You have to keep the “Legend of the Man in the Green Bathrobe” in mind. In a winning situation, it is NOT HOUSE MONEY you’re betting, it’s YOUR MONEY! There is no reason to keep raising your bet (risk) size just because you’ve had a win. Finally, remember that trading is not a hobby, it’s a job. The gains are real and so is the risk. So, treat it that way. Do the work and follow the process. Stick to your trading rules, trade with the trend, and take those profits when you have them. Do the work!

See you in the trading room.

Ed

LTA Scanning Software
TC2000 Discount

🎯 Mike Probst: Rick, Got CTL off the scanner today. Already up 30%. Love it.

🎯 Dick Carp: the scanner paid for the year with HES-thank you

🎯 Arnoldo Bolanos: LTA scanner really works $$, thanks Ed.

🎯 Bob S: LTA is incredible…. I use it … would not trade without it

🎯 Malcolm .: Posted in room 2, @Rick… I used the LTA Scanner to go through hundreds of stocks this weekend and picked out three to trade:  PYPL, TGT, and ZS.   Quality patterns and with my trading, up 24%, 7% and 12%…. this program is gold.

🎯 Friday 6/21/19  (10:09 am) Aaron B: Today, my account is at +190% since January. Thanks, RWO HRC Flash Malcolm Thomas Steve Ed Bob S Bob C Mike P and everyone that contributes every day. I love our job.

Hit and Run Candlesticks / Road To Wealth Youtube videos

Disclosure: We do not act on all trades we mention, and not all mentions acted on the day of the mention. All trades we mention are for your consideration only.

Free YouTube Education  •  Subscription Plans • Private 2-Hour Coaching

DISCLAIMER: Investing / Trading involves significant financial risk and is not suitable for everyone. No communication from Hit and Run Candlesticks Inc, its affiliates or representatives is not financial or trading advice. All information provided by Hit and Run Candlesticks Inc, its affiliates and representatives are intended for educational purposes only. You are advised to test any new trading approach before implementing it.  Past performance does not guarantee future results.  Terms of Service

One Stock That Rules Them All

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One Stock That Rules Them All

S&P 500 futures point upwards on Thursday morning as the bulls look to extend the one stock that rules them all, NVDA. In addition to monitoring the stock market’s movements, investors are gearing up to dissect a slew of new economic data slated for release in the latter half of the week. Key among these are the initial jobless claims figures and housing starts data, both due this morning.

European stock markets opened on an optimistic note on Thursday morning, buoyed by a series of key monetary policy announcements. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) contributed to the positive sentiment by reducing its policy rate by 0.25 percentage points to 1.25%, marking a cautious yet significant move in its monetary stance. Meanwhile, Norway’s central bank has opted for stability, maintaining its policy interest rate at 4.5%. All eyes in the United Kingdom are now turned towards the Bank of England’s rate decision, which is due later today.

In a day marked by a general downturn in the Asia-Pacific markets, China stood out by maintaining stability in its monetary policy, holding its one- and five-year loan prime rates steady at 3.45% and 3.95%, respectively. On a brighter note, New Zealand’s economy showed signs of resilience, emerging from a technical recession with a 0.2% growth quarter-on-quarter in the initial three months of the year.

Economic Calendar

Earnings Calendar

Notable reports for Thursday before the bell include ACN, CMC, DRI, GMS, JBL, KR, & WGO. After the bell include SWBI.

News & Technicals’

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Hezbollah has issued a stark warning, indicating a stance of no restraint or “no red lines” should a comprehensive conflict break out between Lebanon and Israel. The militant group’s Secretary General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, has publicly claimed that Hezbollah possesses intelligence suggesting Israel is actively engaging in military exercises within Cyprus as a precursor to war with Lebanon. In response to these allegations, Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides has firmly denied any involvement in such hostilities. On Wednesday, he emphasized Cyprus’ neutral position, asserting that the nation is not a participant in the conflict but rather a contributor to the peace process. This statement from the Cypriot leader seeks to clarify the island nation’s role and dispel any misconceptions about its stance amidst the growing regional unrest.

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has reduced its key interest rate by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 1.25%. This marks the institution’s second rate cut within the year, aligning with the predictions of two-thirds of the economists surveyed by Reuters. The consensus had been leaning towards this exact quarter-percentage-point reduction. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s inflation rate has stabilized at 1.4% in May, following a transient increase the previous month. The SNB forecasts that this inflation rate will maintain a steady average throughout the entirety of 2024. This proactive approach by the SNB reflects its commitment to balancing economic growth with price stability, amidst a landscape of fluctuating global financial conditions.

The mortgage landscape has seen a slight easing this week, as the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances (up to $766,550) experienced a dip to 6.94% from the previous 7.02%. This marginal decrease comes amidst a broader context where mortgage applications for home purchases have shown a modest uptick of 2% over the week. However, this figure still trails by 12% compared to the same period last year, underscoring a year-over-year slowdown in the housing market. Initially, mortgage rates inched higher at the start of the week, but the trend reversed following Tuesday’s announcement of weaker-than-anticipated retail sales data, which prompted a pullback in rates. This fluctuation reflects the ongoing responsiveness of mortgage rates to economic indicators and market dynamics.

Despite its already extended condition NVDA looks to gap higher as the once stock that rules them all becoming the most valuable company in the world last Tuesday.  Leadership in the market is however extremely thin so watch these tech titans careful as a turn lower could a trigger a painful pullback for those chasing in a fear of missing out.

Trade Wisely,

Doug

Retail Sales Data

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Retail Sales Data

S&P 500 futures remained relatively unchanged on Tuesday morning, with investors bracing for the release of May’s retail sales data. Consensus suggests a modest increase of 0.2% from April anticipated by economists surveyed by Dow Jones. The day is also set to bring a suite of economic reports, shedding light on industrial production and business inventories. Adding to the uncertainty is, several Federal Reserve officials, including Boston Fed President Susan Collins and Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin, are slated to deliver speeches at various events nationwide.

European stock markets experienced an uptick in Tuesday’s trading session, shaking off the uncertainty that began the week. Investors’ attention is now focused on the upcoming policy rate decision from the Bank of England, scheduled for Thursday. The consensus among economists suggests that the Bank will maintain the current interest rate at 5.25%. This expectation is bolstered by a Reuters poll, where a majority of economists predict that the Bank of England might opt for a rate cut in August.

Asia-Pacific stock markets experienced a significant rebound on Tuesday, buoyed by a positive overnight performance on Wall Street. The upswing came as investors digested the latest interest rate decision from the Reserve Bank of Australia. In response to the central bank’s move, the Australian S&P/ASX 200 index saw a notable increase of 1.01%. Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index recovered from Monday’s nearly 2% drop, rising by 1%. The broader Topix index also enjoyed gains, albeit more modest, finishing 0.58% higher. In South Korea, the Kospi index ascended by 0.72%.

Economic Calendar

Earnings Calendar

Notable reports for Tuesday before the bell include CRMT, CGNT, & PDCO.  After the bell include KBH.

News & Technicals’

Apple is currently under significant scrutiny by the European Union due to several “very serious” concerns related to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), as stated by the EU’s competition chief, Margrethe Vestager, in a CNBC interview on Tuesday. The DMA represents a comprehensive legislative effort to curb the influence of major technology companies. In March, the European Commission, which is the executive branch of the EU, initiated an investigation into Apple’s practices under this new regulation. This probe is part of a broader initiative to ensure that tech giants operate within a framework that promotes fair competition. Vestager has indicated that the findings of this investigation are expected to be disclosed “hopefully soon,” which could have significant implications for Apple’s operations within the European market.

Fisker, the American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has sought bankruptcy protection, a move announced late Monday. The company has been grappling with a swift depletion of funds, primarily due to the costs associated with rolling out its “Ocean” SUVs in both the United States and Europe. In a strategic pivot aimed at addressing its financial woes, Fisker is now looking to sell its assets and restructure its debt under Chapter 11. The decision comes after a thorough review of potential avenues for the business, with the company stating, “After evaluating all options for our business, we determined that proceeding with a sale of our assets under Chapter 11 is the most viable path forward for the company.” This development marks a significant turn for Fisker, as it seeks to navigate through its current challenges and find a sustainable path forward in the competitive EV market.

The Kremlin has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin is set to embark on a ‘friendly state visit’ to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), accepting an invitation from North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un. This announcement, made on Monday, has sparked considerable attention on social media platform X, where videos and images depict the streets of Pyongyang adorned with Russian flags and portraits of Putin, signaling preparations for his anticipated arrival. The visit is drawing scrutiny from geopolitical analysts, with one commenting that the burgeoning relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang represents “a threat like no other” to Western interests. This visit underscores the deepening ties between the two nations and could have far-reaching implications for international relations and security dynamics.

Boeing’s CEO, Dave Calhoun, is set to confront a Senate panel amid escalating concerns over safety and quality control issues plaguing the aircraft manufacturer. The hearing, convened by the Senate Homeland Security Committee’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, is scheduled to commence at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday. This comes in the wake of a recent incident where a door plug was ejected from a Boeing 737 Max plane mid-flight, an event that has intensified scrutiny on the company. The nearly new aircraft’s mishap in January has put Boeing squarely in the hot seat, as it grapples with the fallout and faces tough questions from lawmakers about its commitment to safety standards.

After Monday’s surge higher it’s likely the retail sales data will determine if the bulls can follow though for another winning day.  Expect price volatility Fed members pontificate interest rates with speaking engagements around the county today.  Remember the market is closed on Wednesday so plan your trading risk accordingly.

Trade Wisely,

Doug