Market Insights Today: Risk off amid more Fed warnings and escalation in European energy crisis – September 28, 2022

What is happening in markets?

The Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)

The bond sell-off extended, pushing up the 10-year Treasury yield to 3.95%, while the US dollar index extended its run-up hitting a new 20-year high after Fed officials continued to warn of higher rates to come. That pressured stocks lower once more with the S&P500 down 0.2%, marking its 6^th daily drop, with the latest round of selling taking the index to levels not seen since November 2020. The Nasdaq 100 ended about 0.2% higher. The next technical major level of support for the S&P500 is around 3,500. If that level is taken out, there is a probability of perhaps hitting the 3,100 level (which is 15% lower than the current level). In terms of sectors, consumer staples and utilities, were each down about 1.7%, claiming the worst performing spot among the 11 sectors of the S&P 500, while energy outperformed with a 1.2% gain.

Tesla (TSLA:xnas) gained on high volume delivery comment

Tesla shares rose as much as 4.4% before settling 2.5% higher on a report saying that Tesla’s management told its staff in an email that a “very high volume of vehicles to eagerly waiting customers during the final days” of the Q3. 

U.S. treasury curve (TLT:xnas, IEF:xnas, SHY:xnas) steepened with a sell-off in the long end

The U.S. treasury yield curve twisted and steepened on Tuesday as 30-year bond yields surged 9bps higher to a new high at 3.83%, following a dramatic 45bps jump across the pond in the U.K. Gilts. Lack of investor interest in the 5-year auction added to the bearishness of the U.S. bond market sentiment. 10-year yields surged to 3.99% during the day before paring slightly to settle at 3.95%, up by 2bps from Monday. 2-year yields took a pause in their march higher to finish the session bps lower at 4.28%.

Australia’s ASX200 (ASXSP200.1) awaits retail trade data; oil & wheat stocks will be a focus

Australia’s share market is suggested to fall 0.6% on Wednesday (according to the futures), after US stocks lost 0.2%. The extra weight on the index today could come from iron ore stocks after the Iron Ore (SCOA) price pulled back 0.4% overnight to US$96.80, having lost 4% so far this month, which might keep BHP, Fortescue and Rio contained at these levels. A bright spark might be expected in Oil stocks and wheat stocks today after the Oil price jumped off its 9-month low, hitting $78.39, while the wheat price extended its rebound from August, and lifted 1.6% overnight. From an economic perspective, we will be watching Australian retail trade data, with Australia’s sales expected to rise 0.4% in August (according to a Bloomberg survey), compared to July’s hotter growth of 1.3%. Spending has been at a record pace in Australia, with Australian’s clothing buying growing at a record pace in winter. It’s worth watching retail stocks, like Kathmandu-owner, KMD Brands, and JB HiFi for example. If the data is hotter than expected, you could see the AUD rally, in a knee jerk manner, however the AUDUSD remains much pressured. It’s worth watching the AUDGBP though, which is gaining upside.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIU2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg)

Hang Seng Index finished the session on Tuesday little changed following a late afternoon rally, bouncing off its lowest level since 2011. Meituan (03690:xhkg), up by 4%, outperformed other China internet names. The China property services industry gained. Jinke Smart Services (09666:xhkg) jumped 32.6% following a general offer at about a 33% price premium from shareholders holding 53% of the company. Shimao Services (0873:xhkg) surged 8.3%. CIFI Ever Sunshine Services (01995:xhkg) and A-Living (03319:xhkg) rose around 6%.  Macao casino shares continued their charge higher for the second day in a row, rising from 3% to 9% across the board. China Healthcare Services names surges, Hygeia Healthcare (06078:xhkg) surged over 8%.  China catering stocks also rose for the second day, gaining from 3% to 6% among the leading names.  In mainland bourses, CSI300 gained 1.5% with catering, tourism, and Chinese liquor stocks leading the charge higher ahead of the National Day long holiday.  Reuters ran a story saying that China’s security regulators were asking some funds not to sell large amounts of stocks.

USDJPY testing 145, but yen crosses lower

Bank of Japan released the meeting minutes from the July meeting, understandably stale, but continuing to signal that easing intentions remain prevalent. Despite a further run higher in US Treasury yields with the 10-year touching the 4% mark, USDJPY has still remained capped below 145. More importantly, the weakness in the yen has now become more isolated against the USD. The yen is stronger against the EUR, GBP and AUD since the intervention on 22 September.

Crude oil (CLU2 & LCOV2) recovers, European natural gas (surges

Crude oil shifted focus back on supply worries with curbs in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico ahead of Hurricane Ian and with reports that Russia is pushing for the OPEC+ alliance to cut production. The group of oil producing nations is due to meet early next month to discuss its production plans. They already announced a cut to output for October by 100kb/d and have warned of further reductions amid falling prices. There has been reports that Russia is pushing for a cut to output of at least 1mb/d. Meanwhile, a pause in USD rally also helped to put a floor to the declines in commodity prices. WTI futures rose but still remained below $80/barrel while Brent futures were above $86.

European Dutch TTF natural gas futures (TTFMQ2)

European natural gas rallied as risks to further supply disruptions rattled an already fragile market. Dutch front month futures jumped more than 22% with reports of supply leaks in Nordstream followed by Gazprom issuing sanction warnings for Ukraine’s Naftogaz (read below).

 

What to consider?

BOE Chief Economist Pill also pushed back on inter-meeting rate hike

Huw Pill said the UK’s government’s fiscal announcement and the market reaction that followed it requires a significant monetary policy response, but the best time to assess and react to their impact is at the institution’s next meeting in November. He acknowledged the challenge to the bank’s inflation goal arising from the loose fiscal policy, while also saying that the bank’s program of government bond sales should go ahead as planned next week if the market repricing stays orderly, as has been the case in recent days. However, worth noting that BOE’s November 3 meeting is still before the medium-term fiscal strategy is announced, and if that contains significant spending cuts, the budget may prove contractionary, especially given the rise in yields.

Nordstream leaks highlight geopolitical fragility

Danish and Swedish authorities have attributed the major gas leaks on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines to large explosions, coming amid claims it was sabotage. With the pipelines not being used currently, there is likely to be minimal impact but it still signals an escalation of geopolitical tensions. In addition, Gazprom warned there’s a risk Moscow will sanction Ukraine’s Naftogaz, which would prevent it from being able to pay transit fees, and therefore put at risk whatever little gas is still flowing to Europe via Ukraine.

Fed officials continue with a united hawkish voice

While inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates remain a key theme in all Fed commentary these days, there is also another common theme emerging. All three officials on the wires yesterday – Kashkari, Bullard and Evans – suggested that the US may avoid a recession. Kashkari (2023 voter), in an interview with WSJ, said he’s unsure if the policy is tight enough suggesting more rate hikes will be needed to bring down inflation. Bullard (2022 voter) said the US has a serious inflation problem and the credibility of the inflation targeting regime is at risk. Evans (non-voter) is optimistic the terminal rate the Fed has set out (4.6% median in Dot Plot) will be restrictive enough.

US consumer confidence beats expectations

US consumer confidence for September rose to 108.0, above the expected 104.5 and the prior, revised higher, 103.6. The Present Situation and Expectations indices both rose to 149.6 (prev. 145.3) and 80.3 (prev. 75.8), respectively. Lower pump prices and a tight labor market possibly aided a rebound in sentiment, but high inflation and interest rates will continue to constrain consumer spending in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, 1yr consumer inflation expectations declined to 6.8% (prev. 7.0%), but still remaining significantly higher than the Fed’s 2% goal. Meanwhile, durable goods order fell 0.2% in August, still coming in better than expected while new home sales rose to the strong pace of sales since March to 685k in August, above the expected 500K and prior, revised higher, 532k.

The World Bank downgraded its growth forecasts for China while upgrading the growth of Vietnam

The World Bank published its latest economic forecasts on Tuesday, cutting the 2022 growth rate of China to 2.8% from its previous forecast of 5%, and the 2023 growth rate to 4.5% from 4.8%.  On the other hand, the supra-national bank raised Vietnam’s growth rate in 2022 to 7.2% from the 5.3% forecast released in April. It also raised the 2022 growth forecasts for the Philippines to 6.5% from 5.7% and Malaysia to 6.4% from 5.5%. Excluding China, the East Asia, Pacific region is forecasted to grow 5.3% in 2022 and 6.0% in 2023, which are higher than the growth rates expected in China.

China’s industrial profits declined 9.5% Y/Y in August

In the first eight months of 2022, China’s industrial profits contracted 2.1% Y/Y. For the month of August, industrial profits declined 9.5% Y/Y, a slower contraction than July’s -14.5% Y/Y. The National Bureau of Statistics noted that the slower pace of year-over-year contraction in August was helped by stronger auto, electrical equipment, electricity generation, and consumer product industries.

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