Daily Morning Report

Thursday, April 30–Jim Wyckoff’s Morning Markets Report

Global stock markets were mostly firmer in overnight trading, while the U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward modestly higher openings when the New York day session begins. Some upbeat news Wednesday on a drug trial that lessens the effects of Covid-19 and a big rebound in crude oil prices are prompting better trader and investor risk appetite as April winds down today. Many U.S. states are now partially reopening their businesses.

In overnight news, the Euro zone economy contracted by 3.8% in the first quarter from the fourth quarter of 2019, and was down 14.4%, year-on-year. Those numbers are a record for the 14-nation bloc. The year-on-year decline in Euro zone GDP was much greater than the 4.8% drop in U.S. GDP in the same period, and reported on Wednesday.

A Reuters (Refinitiv) survey just released shows global jewelry fabrication volumes, which typically account for around 55% of total physical demand for gold, fell 40% in the first quarter, year-on-year. Investment demand was mixed, with retail investment, which consists of bars and coins, posting an 11% year-on-year drop. Physical gold demand fell to 753 metric tons in the first quarter, the lowest levels since 2009 as higher gold prices led to a drop in consumption. The biggest declines were recorded in Asia at down over 43% year-on-year. Chinese demand recorded a 62% decline in jewelry fabrication in the period.

The important outside markets see Nymex crude oil again sharply higher and trading around $17.50 a barrel. The U.S. dollar index is slightly weaker again today. The greenback bulls are fading this week, partly on notions other major countries’ economies are coming back to life faster than that of the U.S. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield is trading around 0.6% this morning.

U.S. economic reports due for release Thursday include the weekly jobless claims report, which has become the focal point of the marketplace in recent weeks. This week’s jobless number is forecast to be 3.5 million in new claims. Other reports out today include personal income and outlays, the employment cost index, and the ISM Chicago business survey.

–Jim
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The U.S. dollar index is a basket of six major world currencies weighted against the greenback. See on the daily bar chart for the USDX futures that a price uptrend has rolled over into sideways and choppy trading. The bulls still have the overall near-term technical advantage. The direction in which prices push above or below the resistance or support line seen on the chart will likely be the next trending move for the USDX.–Stay tuned! Jim

Wednesday, April 29–Jim Wyckoff’s Morning Markets Report

Global stock markets were mixed in overnight trading, while the U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward higher openings when the New York day session begins. It’s a big day for U.S. economic data Wednesday, as the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) concludes its two-day meeting in the afternoon with a statement on U.S. monetary policy. No changes are expected but traders will parse the statement as well as Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s virtual press conference. Powell is expected to say the Fed “will do what it takes” to get the U.S. economy back on track. Also, the advance estimate for first-quarter U.S. gross domestic product is out and is expected to show economic growth of around -4.0%. That’s a bad number but most agree the figure for the second quarter will be much worse.

In overnight news, a Hong Kong economic official said that city-state’s economy will contract between 4-7% in 2020. Reports said mainland China will hold its annual people’s conference later in May, as a show of how that country is emerging quickly from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. That major conference was postponed earlier this year.

The important outside markets see Nymex crude oil sharply higher and trading around $14.25 a barrel. There is talk Nymex crude prices will again fall into negative territory when the June contract nears expiration in late May. The U.S. dollar index is weaker again today. The greenback bulls are fading this week, partly on notions other major countries’ economies are coming back to life faster than that of the U.S. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield is trading around 0.59% this morning—down from levels seen earlier this week.

Other U.S. economic reports due for release Wednesday include the weekly MBA mortgage applications survey, the consumer price index, pending home sales, and the weekly DOE liquid energy stocks report.

–Jim
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Tuesday, April 28–Jim Wyckoff’s Morning Markets Report

Global stock markets were mixed in overnight trading, while the U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward higher openings and at or near seven-week highs when the New York day session begins. Some regions in some countries, including the U.S., are reopening at least some businesses that have been shuttered from the Covid-19-induced lockdown. People around the globe are starting to suffer from what is being called “quarantine fatigue,” which means many are starting to ignore social-distancing guidelines and are eager to see economies reopen—while government leaders debate the timing of reopening commerce. Reports say U.S. automakers plan on restarting their plants on May 18.

A feature in the marketplace early this week is another big drop in crude oil prices, with Nymex crude presently trading around $11.85 a barrel. There is growing talk that Nymex crude prices will again fall into negative territory when the June contract nears expiration in late May. There is no place to store oil amid a glutted world market that has seen a historic demand shock. OPEC will begin its previously announced oil-production cuts later this week but that has had no positive impact on oil prices.

Key central bank meetings occur this week, including those of the Federal Reserve (FOMC) and the European Central Bank. The FOMC meeting begins today and ends Wednesday afternoon with a statement. The Fed over the past few weeks has aggressively flooded the U.S. financial system with liquidity. Market watchers will be keen to see what the FOMC statement says, including any new monetary policy moves. Key U.S. corporate earnings reports are also due out this week.

The other important outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index solidly lower. The greenback bulls are fading this week, partly on notions other major countries’ economies are coming back to life faster than that of the U.S. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield is trading around 0.65% this morning.

U.S. economic reports due for release Tuesday includes the weekly Goldman Sachs and Johnson Redbook retail sales reports, advance economic indicators, the S&P/Case-Shiller home price report, the Richmond Fed business survey, and the consumer confidence index.

–Jim
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The safe-haven gold market remains in a choppy price uptrend and not far below the 7.5-year high scored a couple weeks ago. The bulls remain very strong, technically, to suggest more sideways-to-higher price action in the near term, including a challenge of the April high, or above.–Stay tuned! Jim

Monday, April 27–Jim Wyckoff’s Morning Markets Report

Global stock markets were mostly firmer in overnight trading. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward higher openings when the New York day session begins. Highlighted to start the trading week is a big drop in crude oil prices, with Nymex crude trading down nearly $3.00 a barrel at $14.15. There is growing talk that Nymex crude prices will again fall into negative territory when the June contract nears expiration in late May. There is no place to store oil amid a glutted world market that has seen such a demand shock. Another U.S. oil producer, Diamond Offshore, filed for bankruptcy over the weekend.

Some regions in some countries, including the U.S., are starting to reopen from the Covid-19-induced lockdown. However, leading U.S. health officials over the weekend said social-distancing restrictions will likely remain in effect all summer.

Key central bank meetings occur this week, including those of the Federal Reserve (FOMC) and the European Central Bank. The Bank of Japan further eased its monetary policy on Monday. More key U.S. corporate earnings reports are due out this week.

The other important outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index solidly lower. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield is trading around 0.625% this morning.

U.S. economic reports due for release Monday include the Texas manufacturing outlook survey.

–Jim
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