Daily Morning Report

Thursday, June 13–Jim Wyckoff’s Morning Markets Report

European and Asian stock indexes were mostly firmer overnight. The U.S. stock indexes are also pointed toward modestly higher openings when the New York day session begins. Notions of more accommodative monetary policies from the world’s major central banks, amid generally very low inflationary pressures globally, are supporting world stock markets recently.

The marketplace is a bit uneasy Thursday after reports more ships in the Persian Gulf area (this time in the Gulf of Oman) being attacked by smaller gunboats. U.S. Navy ships are reportedly now protecting some oil tankers in the region. Oil prices are solidly higher today on the news, while gold prices are also getting a modest safe-haven bid. Right now tensions in markets are not real high, but this situation could deteriorate quickly if Iran and the U.S. have a direct military confrontation.

The key “outside markets” today see Nymex crude oil prices solidly higher and trading around $52.50 a barrel, on the Oman Gulf news. Still, worldwide supply and demand fundamentals for crude oil favor the bears. Meantime, the U.S. dollar index is near steady in early U.S. trading.

In other overnight news, Switzerland’s central bank held its monetary policy steady, but did signal rate cuts are possible at future central bank monetary policy meetings.

U.S. economic data due for release Thursday is light and includes the weekly jobless claims report, and import and export prices.

–Jim

Continue Reading

Wednesday, June 12–Jim Wyckoff’s Morning Markets Report

European and Asian stock indexes were mostly lower overnight. The U.S. stock indexes are also pointed toward weaker openings when the New York day session begins. The U.S. indexes at mid-week have ended an impressive rally streak that lifted prices well up from the early-June three-month lows.

Gold prices are posting good gains today amid the keener risk aversion in the marketplace, as evidenced by the weaker global equity markets.

In overnight news, China’s May consumer price index hit a 15-month high, at up 2.7%, year-on-year. The CPI was up 2.5% in April. Food prices led the rise in CPI, with pork prices up 18%.

The U.S. economic data point of the day is the consumer price index report for May, which is expected to come in at up 0.1% from April and rising 0.3% last month. Very low worldwide inflation levels in major economies is giving central bankers more leeway to ease their monetary policies.

The key “outside markets” today see Nymex crude oil prices solidly lower and trading just below $52.00 a barrel, on world economic growth worries. The U.S. dollar index is near steady, but is in a near-term price downtrend and there are chart clues the USDX has put in a near-term top.

U.S. economic data due for release Wednesday includes the weekly MBA mortgage applications survey, the consumer price index, real earnings, the weekly DOE liquid energy stocks report and the monthly Treasury budget statement.

–Jim

Continue Reading

The U.S. dollar index is a basket of six major world currencies stacked up against the greenback. See on the daily bar chart for the September USDX futures that prices have backed well down from the recent contract high, including negating a price uptrend in the process, to suggest that a near-term market top is in place. A weaker dollar on the world foreign exchange market is a bullish element for raw commodities prices in U.S. dollars on the world markets. Reason: Such makes then cheaper to purchase in non-U.S. currency. Stay tuned!–Jim

Tuesday, June 11–Jim Wyckoff’s Morning Markets Report

European and Asian stock indexes were mostly higher again overnight, led by solid gains in China shares. The Chinese government moved to further stimulate its economy by announcing major infrastructure projects. The move by China’s government is an effort to offset the negative economic effects of the ongoing trade war with the U.S. The U.S. stock indexes are also pointed toward firmer openings when the New York day session begins. The U.S. indexes have posted strong gains the past week and have bullish technical momentum on their side to suggest a test of the contract/record highs, or above.

The U.S. economic data point of the day is the producer price index report for May, which is expected to come in at up 0.1% from April. Very low inflation levels not only in the U.S. but most of the world are an element that could allow the Federal Reserve to lower U.S. interest rates as soon as this summer.

The key “outside markets” today see Nymex crude oil prices higher and trading just below $54.00 a barrel. The U.S. dollar index is near steady today, but is in a near-term price downtrend and there are chart clues the USDX has put in a near-term top.

U.S. economic data due for release Tuesday includes the NFIB small business index, the Goldman Sachs and Johnson Redbook retail sales reports, the producer price index, the IDB/TIPP economic optimism index, and the USDA monthly supply and demand report for grains.

–Jim

Continue Reading

Monday, June 10–Jim Wyckoff’s Morning Markets Report

European and Asian stock indexes were mostly higher overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward firmer openings when the New York day session begins. The U.S. indexes have posted strong gains the past week and have bullish technical momentum on their side, to now suggest a test of the contract/record highs.

Trader and investor attitudes are more upbeat to start the trading week after the U.S. and Mexico late Friday reached a deal on immigration that avoided the U.S. slapping trade tariffs on its southern neighbor. However, progress on the U.S.-China trade war front remains elusive amid no signs the world’s two largest economies are coming closer to any agreement on trade matters. Discussions are ongoing, however.

In overnight news, China’s import and export data for May was downbeat. China’s imports in May were down 8.5%, year-on-year, after being up 4.0% in April. The China-U.S. trade war is mostly to blame for slowing imports. China’s exports were up 1.1% in May, year-on-year, after being down 2.7% in April.

The key “outside markets” today see Nymex crude oil prices firmer and trading just above $54.00 a barrel. The U.S. dollar index is solidly higher today on a corrective rebound from last week’s downside pressure.

U.S. economic data due for release Monday is light and includes the employment trends index.

–Jim

Continue Reading

The grain markets have seen choppier price action this week. U.S. Corn Belt weather patterns have turned drier for the next few days, which will allow farmers to really pick up the pace of planting corn and soybeans, before some more wet weather for the region returns by later next week. Even as the weather turns drier, the record or near-record slow planting pace for U.S. corn and soybeans is likely to reduce production totals this fall. And traders do not want to go home too exposed on the short side of the grain markets on Friday because summertime weather forecasts can and do change quickly. It’s very unlikely the weather market in the grain futures has already played out. Stay tuned!–Jim