Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – July 19, 2022

Note: The Saxo Market Daily Podcast will return on Monday July 25

What is our trading focus?

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

US equity futures trade slightly higher after slumping on Monday, reversing an earlier rally fueled by solid reports from Goldman Sachs and Bank of America. Prices turned sharply lower towards the end of the session on a report that Apple, just like Alphabet last week, will slow hiring and spending on growth next year to prepare for a potential economic downturn. Despite beating earnings and revenue estimates IBM moved on to drop by more than 4% in after-hour trading. Ahead of today’s US housing starts and permits reports for June, a monthly homebuilder sentiment index plunged to the lowest level since the start of the pandemic. Key corporate earnings today include Johnson & Johnson, Netflix and Lockheed Martin

EURUSD upside remains capped

The EURUSD turned back lower after finding resistance at €1.0205, the 38.2% retracement of the recent slump from €1.0615. This week is key for euro with three key catalysts. EU gas supplies remain under threat with Gazprom declaring force majeure on flows to a number of European buyers. This will further boost inflation in the coming months and drag on growth. Meanwhile, the ECB remains stuck between a hard and a rock place as a 25bps rate hike which the consensus expects this week will be too little too late. Eurozone June CPI is due today and a new fresh high will likely be printed at 8.6% y/y from 8.1% y/y previously. Moreover, now Italy's political uncertainty is also adding to the mix of headwinds for the EUR.

USDJPY remains rangebound ahead of the BOJ

The yen is seen in range amid caution over monetary policy meeting in Japan this week, but also as the USD has softened and recession concerns eased. USDJPY bounced off 138 level overnight but traded below 138.50 in Asia. While the Bank of Japan will likely maintain its stimulus at this week’s meeting, the BoJ's Outlook Report will garner greater attention as it is expected to show a downgrade in its growth forecast for FY2022 and an increase in its inflation forecast.

Crude oil (OILUKSEP22 & OILUSAUG22)

What is going on?

EU gas supply uncertainty lingers

Russia's Gazprom has told customers in Europe it cannot guarantee gas supplies because of 'extraordinary' circumstances. The letter from the Russian state gas monopoly said it was retroactively declaring ‘force majeure’ on supplies dating from June 14. The news comes as NordStream 1, the key pipeline delivering Russian gas to Germany and beyond, is undergoing annual maintenance meant to conclude on Thursday, and reports suggest that supplies are unlikely to be restored. Force majeure is standard in business contracts and spells out extreme circumstances that excuse a party from their legal obligations. Meanwhile, demand is picking up as EU faces a heatwave.

China’s real estate support measures continue

Chinese authorities have announced more measures to support the ailing property sector after reports suggested that homebuyers were boycotting mortgage payments. Authorities are providing emergency funding for uncompleted residential construction projects, or even "buy" the projects to make sure completion will be faster. In addition, past due mortgage payments for uncompleted projects could avoid paying interest penalties for a period of time (to be decided by banks and local governments). This is aimed to calm down mortgage borrowers.

Mixed company news and dimmer earnings season results

Goldman Sachs (GS) reported better than expected revenue, but it is the third major bank giving tepid signals ahead with the GS CFO saying the bank will slow hiring. Unlike JPMorgan, GS is not planning to pause buybacks. But it may bring in job cuts, like Wall Fargo and JPMorgan have laid off some home-lending workers. Apple (AAPL) added to concerns the Fed’s tightening will land the US in a recession with the company looking to limit spending and job growth at some divisions. This cautionary stance mimics Amazon, Alphabet and Microsoft, which are all reducing spending. Sor far this earnings season 40 of the S&P500 companies shared Q2 results/ guidance levels. Average earnings growth is negative, (-15%), while most companies are guiding for a slowdown in revenue and higher costs.

RBA says inflation is here for longer

The RBA made it clear it will make more hikes in the coming months, while making larger hikes and potentially hikes between meetings. The Australian economy has strong momentum; with record high retail sales and record low unemployment. However, the RBA now conceded it will need to play catch up. It sees inflation getting worser in the near term, before peaking later in 2022. Strong local demand and a tight labour market are also contributing upward pressure on prices, while Floods in Australia will also add to inflation persisting for a longer period of time according to the RBA. Governor Low previously warned the benchmark rate may go to 2.5%, but today, interest rate futures pricing implies the cash rate will be 3.2% at the end of the year. This raises the concern the economy may well slip into a recession. The AUDUSD responded to the minutes by jumping above 0.68 but with US rate hikes to accelerate as well and the continued pressure on commodity prices, the upside potential in our view remains limited.

What are we watching next?

US housing starts due today

While the Fed is in a blackout period ahead of the July 26-27 FOMC meeting, the consensus has settled for another 75bps hike to 2.5% and that will probably give room to the Fed to keep its future options open. But the doors for a 100bps rate hike are still not completely shut. US housing starts are due today and will be key as Fed's Waller mentioned it as a factor when considering whether tightening needs to be accelerated to 100bps. Also, the Atlanta Fed GDPNow estimate is -1.5%, and this will also get a final update today before the GDP data is released next week.

The Italian Prime minister Mario Draghi will tell lawmakers Wednesday if he’ll resign

We see at least five possible scenarios about what could happen next: 
1) Draghi remains in office with the same majority. But it seems unlikely as it would imply a massive turnaround of Giuseppe Conte’s Five-Star Movement – the largest political party within the coalition;
2) Draghi is successful in setting up a new government with a different majority. But it is a tricky task since there is no real alternative to the Five-Star Movement;
3) Draghi requests irrevocable resignations without asking a Parliament vote. This is unlikely at that stage;
4) Under pressure from the Italian president Sergio Mattarella and several political parties (such as Matteo Renzi’s Italia Viva), Draghi agrees to limp on for a little while longer in order to avoid a political crisis. He leads a technocratic government until the 2023 general elections. This could be a consensual approach among Italy’s political class and certainly the best scenario for the eurozone;
5) Draghi fails to form a new government or refuses to lead a transitional and temporary government until the next elections. The snap election takes place within 70 days (likely in September). A center-right tie-up led by Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy would win if its members stick together. This would be very bad news for the eurozone at the worst time ever.
Snap elections are far from certain in our view. What history teaches us is that each time we try to predict the outcome of an Italian government crisis, we get it wrong. What is certain is that Draghi’s national unity project has collapsed, however.

China holdings of U.S. debt fall below $1 trillion for the first time since 2010
Europe suffers from deadly heat wave as wildfires displace thousands of people
Russian Gas Supply Halt Risks 1.5% Cut to EU’s GDP in Worst Case Scenario

Earnings Watch

This coming week we will see results from a very diverse group of companies.  A preview of Q2 earnings releases can be read on the trading platform or here.

• Tuesday: Johnson & Johnson, Netflix and Lockheed Martin
• Wednesday: Tesla and United Airlines
• Thursday: AT&T, Union Pacific and Travelers
• Friday: American Express and Verizon

Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT)

0900 – EC June CPI
1230 – US June Housing Starts and Permits
2030 – API's Weekly Report on US Oil and Fuel Inventories