Originally published by AxiTrader
Market Summary (7.45 am Wednesday, July 25)
A day after China announced new stimulus measures to shore up its economy in the face of the looming trade war with the US (and because it already needed it) markets decided it was uber bullish news for Chinese stocks, metals and industrial commodities, mining stocks, and to a lesser extent the Aussie dollar.
The moves in metals and mining stocks, in particular, are eye-watering. In London last night BHP (AX:BHP) rallied 5.73%, Rio (AX:RIO) was 4.75% higher, while Glencore (LON:GLEN), Anglo American (LON:AAL) and Vale (NYSE:VALE) were also sharply higher with gains of 5.61%, 5.63%, and 4.03% respectively.
That positivity, that she’ll be right China’s got this, permeated Asian, European, and to a lesser extent US markets. Indeed having looked biased toward 10,000 just a week ago the China A50 index is back at 12,000 and the Shanghai Composite has had its best 3 day rally in 2 years. European stocks liked the moves with the DAX, CAC, and FTSE MIB all gaining more that 1%. In London, the FTSE 100 was up 0.7%
She’ll be right, nothing to see here.
US markets, already buoyed by Alphabet’s beat and futures move the previous afternoon, have proved more circumspect. Sure every sector on the S&P 500, save for consumer cyclicals, is higher. But the gain of 13 points, 0.48% is light on in terms of the global excitement. The Dow is more excitable with a 0.79% gain, but that’s a product of its construction. The Nasdaq 100 is at 7,406, up 0.47%, after making a new high at 7,475. The Russell 2000 is down 1.1%.
The wash up is that after the rally here of 38 points yesterday saw the ASX ride higher with the Asian move SPI traders have added another 13 points overnight.
To forex then and the Aussie is the clear leader among the majors with a 0.53% gain to 0.7419. In truth that just gets it back to where it was before the previous days drop of half a percent. Today’s CPI result will be important for the Aussie. The kiwi is up 0.22% at 0.6799 while the Canadian dollar lagged a little given oil and the Aussie's move – USD/CAD is down just 0.14% at 1.3151.
Elsewhere the US dollar is mixed. It’s lost a little ground against the yen with USD/JPY at 111.17 as it consolidates Monday’s move and traders bet where there is a little BoJ smoke there’s fire. The Euro is largely unchanged at 1.1686 after weaker flash PMI’s in Europe were offset by a marginal disappointment in the US. And of course the pound continues to take all news about Brexit positively. It’s up 0.35% after Theresa May said she is taking charge of Brexit negotiations. I haven’t verified it yet but Twitter reckons Mrs May also said the Brexit department is going to focus on preparations for Brexit no-deal.
To commodities and copper was up 1.6% in HGc1 terms to $2.78 a pound. Gold is flat around $1224 and oil is higher. The narrative for last nights move being that Chinese stimulus and infrastructure spending will boost oil demand as it has in the past. WTI rose 0.85% to $68.47 while Brent was 0.38% higher at $73.33.
(Bitcoin) has had another stonking rally as the ETF hype feeds more speculation. Or is it speculation about an ETF feeds the hype. Doesn’t matter, same, same. Anyway, BTC/USD is up 6.63% to $8211 – up and through the $8100/50 resistance
US rates are a little higher with the 2-year at 2.64% and the 10 at 2.95%. The curve is at 31 points.
On the day the big event here in Australia for markets is the release of Q2 CPI. The Reuters poll says the market is expecting a 0.5% headline rate which will take the yoy rate to 2.2%. Similar quarterly expectations are held for the weighted median and trimmed mean measures which are expected to print 1.9% yoy. A big number would be a very big number for the Aussie and potentially rates markets. A miss shouldn’t change rates pricing but might undermine the Aussies overnight strength.
NZ trade is also out and tonight we get German Ifo business climate, conditions, and expectations. New home sales in the US may be of interest as well.
Macro Stuff that affects everyone and everything – either today or eventually
International
- I was far too offhand with the Chinese stimulus yesterday. I mentioned it, but I failed to recognise the potential significance of the move for industrial metals and sentiment toward growth in China. My framing was too narrow. I was looking at the “need” for the stimulus because of the Chinese slow down and trade war rather than the “impact” of the stimulus in mitigating both these issues. The result of the stimulus in traders minds is that beaten down prices because of these fears needed to readjust – stocks and commodities in particular. So I failed there, apologies.
- The question now is how far the recalibration goes? My sense is we could see more rallies in stocks as the yuan continues to weaken and provide further stimulus. And copper could recover back toward the $2.90 a pound region. But much has already been priced back in. Or am I making the same mistake again? For more on the stimulus the FT has a good primer here.
- And if you want to understand how President Trump is winning Beijing over and the different understanding of what he is doing between Brussels and Beijing you have to read this story in the FT as well. Seriously, he appears to be getting more resonance in China than in Europe. That’s bad news for Europe long term.
- And speaking of Europe, President Trump taunted Europe on trade again overnight as he readies for his meeting with Jean-Claude Junker on Wednesday his time. Trump said on Twitter, “Countries that have treated us unfairly on trade for years are all coming to Washington to negotiate. This should have taken place many years ago but, as the saying goes, better late than never!” Yeah, but Germany says it will not give in to Trumps threats on trade.
- Trump also tweeted, “Tariffs are the greatest! Either a country which has treated the United States unfairly on Trade negotiates a fair deal, or it gets hit with Tariffs. It’s as simple as that - and everybody’s talking! Remember, we are the “piggy bank” that’s being robbed. All will be Great!” But it seems he’s had to have a rescue package for farmers put together worth $12 billion. She’ll be right.
- Here’s a snap shot of the EU and US flash Markit PMI’s
- And the Independent newspaper in UK is now calling for another referendum
Have a great day's trading.