OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
September E-mini S&Ps (
ESU13 -0.06%) this morning are little changed, down
-0.01%, while European stocks are up +0.40%. Asian stocks closed mostly higher: Japan +0.01%, Hong Kong
-0.17%, China +0.32%, Taiwan unch, Australia +0.64%, Singapore
-0.50%, South Korea +0.45%, India unch. Most global stocks are higher on reduced concern of a U.S. military strike against Syria after President Obama Tuesday night said he will pursue a Russian proposal to have Syria surrender its stockpiles of chemical weapons to international authorities. Commodity prices are mixed. Oct crude oil (
CLV13 -0.09%) is down
-0.07% and Oct gasoline (
RBV13 +0.16%) is up +0.22%. Dec gold (
GCZ13 -0.28%) is down
-0.28% and Dec copper (
HGZ13 +0.46%) is up +0.41%. Agricultural and livestock prices are higher. The dollar index (
DXY00 unch) is unch. EUR/USD (
^EURUSD) is down
-0.09% and USD/JPY (
^USDJPY) is down
-0.09%. The British pound surged to a 7-month high against the dollar after the UK unemployment rate unexpectedly fell. December T-note prices (
ZNZ13 +0.13%) are up +5.5 ticks.
UK Aug jobless claims fell
-32,600, a bigger decline than expectations of
-21,000, while Jun was revised to show a
-36,300 decline, more than the originally reported
-29,200. The Aug claimant count rate unexpectedly fell
-0.1 to 4.2%, better than expectations of unch at 4.3% and the lowest in 4
-1/2 years.
The UK July ILO unemployment rate averaged over 3-months unexpectedly fell
-0.1 to 7.7%, better than expectations of unch at 7.8% and matched a 4-year low.
ECB Governing Council member Coene raised concern that Greece will need additional aid when he said that "It's clear that we haven't reached the end of the Greece problem for the moment, and that additional efforts will have to be made, one time for certain, possibly two times."
Japan Q3 BSI business condition large all industry jumped to 12.0 from 5.9 in Q2, the highest since data began in 2004. The Q3 BSI business condition large manufacturing climbed to 15.2 from 5.0 in Q2, the highest since Q3 2009.
The Japan Aug domestic CGPI rose +0.3% m/m and +2.4% y/y, close to expectations of +0.4% m/m and +2.4% y/y, while July was revised upward to +0.6% m/m and +2.3% y/y from the originally reported +0.5% m/m and +2.2% y/y.
U.S. STOCK PREVIEW
The global stock markets are benefiting as the chances recede for a U.S. military attack on Syria with Congressional opposition combined with the new Russian plan for Syria to give up control of its chemical weapons. The focus is shifting to the continuing resolution that is necessary by Oct 1 as House Republican leaders have a plan for getting a continuing resolution through the House, except that Tea Party members of the House are not happy about the plan. The Treasury today will sell $21 billion in 10-year T-notes as this week's $66 billion coupon package continues. There are no major earnings reports today.
Equity conferences during the remainder of this week include the following: Barclays Global Financial Services Conference on Mon-Wed, Morgan Stanley Healthcare Conference on Mon-Wed, Vertical Research Partners Industrial Conference on Mon-Wed, Clinical Trial Supply USA on Tue-Wed, Rodman & Renshaw Health Care Conference on Tue-Wed, DA Davidson & Co Engineering & Construction Conference on Tue-Wed, Robert W Baird and Co Health Care Conference on Tue-Wed, KeyBanc Capital Markets Basic Materials & Packaging Conference on Tue-Wed, Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference on Tue-Wed, Deutsche Bank Access Technology Conference on Tue-Wed, RBC Capital Markets Global Industrials Conference on Tue-Wed, Stifel Nicolaus & Co Health Care Conference on Tue-Thu, Biofuels International 2013 Conference on Wed, Credit Suisse Asian Technology Conference on Wed, UBS Global Paper & Forest Products Conference on Thu, UBS Best of Americas Conference on Thu-Fri, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Real Estate Conference on Wed-Fri, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Healthcare Conference on Wed-Thu, Goldman Sachs Global Commodities Conference on Wed-Thu, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference on Wed-Thu, Barclays Capital CEO Energy - Power Conference on Wed-Thu, Barclays CEO Energy Power Conference on Wed-Thu, CL King & Associates Inc Best Ideas Conference on Wed-Thu, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Canada Mining Conference on Thu, and Bloomberg Canadian Fixed Income Conference on Thu.
OVERNIGHT U.S. STOCK MOVERS
Morgan Stanley (
MS +2.19%) was upgraded to "Buy" from "Neutral" at UBS.
Procter & Gamble (
PG -0.27%) was downgraded to "Neutral" from "Buy" at SunTrust.
Nokia (
NOK +2.54%) was upgraded to "Buy" from "Neutral" at BofA/Merrill.
Apple (
AAPL -2.28%) was downgraded to "Neutral" from "Buy" at BofA/Merrill and was downgraded to "Neutral" from "Outperform" at Credit Suisse.
Brocade (
BRCD -0.13%) said it will cut 300 jobs, consolidate facilities, and take $30 million-$40 million in charges in Q4.
Raytheon (
RTN +1.37%) was awarded a $136.25 million government contract for MK15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System upgrades and conversions, system overhauls and associated hardware.
Bloomberg reported that Verizon (
VZ +1.22%) plans to sell between $45 billion-$49 billion of debt to finance its acquisition of Vodafone's (
VOD -0.99%) stake in Verizon Wireless.
S&P cuts Argentina's debt rating to CCC+ from B- with a Negative Outlook.
Southeastern Asset reported a 11.9% passive stake in News Corp (
NWSA +1.41%) .
International Paper (
IP +0.24%) announced a $1.5 billion share repurchase plan and raised its quarterly dividend to 35 cents from 30 cents.
Waddell & Reed reported a 10.1% passive stake in Harman (
HAR +0.98%) .
Cohen & Steers reported a 10.47% passive stake in Healthcare Trust (
HTA -0.09%) .
Restoration Hardware (
RH -0.96%) reported Q2 adjusted EPS of 49 cents, stronger than consensus of 43 cents, and raised guidance on fiscal 2013 EPS view to $1.65-$1.70, better than consensus of $1.48.
Select Equity Group reported a 11.7% passive stake in PBF Energy (
PBF +0.09%) .
Oxford Industries (
OXM +1.35%) reported Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.01, better than consensus of 98 cents, but then lowered guidance on fiscal 2013 EPS view to $2.90-$3.05 from $3.00-$3.15, lower than consensus of $3.12.
MARKET COMMENTS
Sep E-mini S&Ps (
ESU13 -0.06%) this morning are down
-0.25 of a point (
-0.01%). The S&P 500 index on Tuesday rose to a 3
-1/2 week high and closed higher. Bullish factors included (1) strong Chinese economic data that boosted global economic prospects after China Aug industrial production climbed +10.4% y/y, the most in 17 months, and after China Aug retail sales rose +13.4% y/y, the fastest pace in 8 months, and (2) hopes that a U.S. attack on Syria will be averted with Russia’s proposal for Syria to relinquish control of its chemical weapons and with no assurance of Congressional approval of a U.S. attack in any case. Closes: S&P 500 +0.73%, Dow Jones +0.85%, Nasdaq 100 +0.48%.
Dec 10-year T-notes (
ZNZ13 +0.13%) this morning are up +5.5 ticks. Dec 10-year T-note prices on Tuesday closed lower on reduced safe-haven demand as the S&P 500 rallied to a 3
-1/2 week high on strong Chinese economic data and speculation that a Russian proposal for Syria to put its chemical weapons under international control will avert a U.S. military strike. Closes: TYZ3
-13.50, FVZ3
-9.25.
The dollar index (
DXY00 unch) this morning is unch. EUR/USD (
^EURUSD) is down
-0.0012 (
-0.09%) and USD/JPY (
^USDJPY) is down
-0.09 (
-0.09%). The dollar index on Tuesday closed slightly higher. The dollar rose on expectations that the Fed will taper QE3 at next week’s FOMC meeting along with weakness in the yen after USD/JPY climbed to a 1
-1/2 month high after the minutes of the BOJ’s Aug 7
-8 policy meeting showed policy board members said BOJ bond purchases were putting downward pressure on yields and that consumer-price expectations had turned positive. Closes: Dollar index +0.016 (+0.02%), EUR/USD +0.00127 (+0.10%), USD/JPY +0.801 (+0.80%).
Oct WTI crude oil (
CLV13 -0.09%) this morning is down
-8 cents (
-0.07%) and Oct gasoline (
RBV13 +0.16%) is up +0.0059 (+0.22%). Oct crude oil and gasoline prices on Tuesday closed lower with Oct gasoline at a 1-month low. The main bearish factor for crude prices was the report that Syria will agree to a Russian proposal that Syria puts its chemical weapons stockpiles under international control, which reduces concern of a U.S. military strike on Syria that could cause wider conflict in the Middle East and possibly disrupt oil shipments. Closes: CLV3
-2.13 (
-1.94%), RBV3
-0.0655 (
-2.34%).
GLOBAL EVENT CALENDAR09/11/2013
| US | 0700 ET | Weekly MBA mortgage applications, previous +1.3% with purchase sub-index -0.4% and refi sub-index +2.4%. |
| 1000 ET | July wholesale inventories expected +0.3%, Jun -0.2%. July wholesales trade sales expected +0.5%, Jun +0.4%. |
| 1030 ET | EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report. |
| 1300 ET | Treasury auctions $21 billion 10-year T-notes. |
| GER | 0200 ET | Revised German Aug CPI (EU harmonized), previous unch m/m and +1.6% y/y. |
| UK | 0430 ET | UK Aug jobless claims change expected -21,000, July -29,200. Aug claimant count rate expected unch at 4.3%, July 4.3%. |
| 0430 ET | UK July avg weekly earnings expected +1.3% 3-mo/year-over-year, Jun +2.1% 3-mo/year-over-year. July weekly earnings ex-bonus expected +1.0% 3-mo/year-over-year, Jun +1.1% 3-mo/year-over-year. |
| 0430 ET | UK July ILO unemployment rate expected 7.8% 3-mo, June 7.8% 3-mo. |
| JPN | 1950 ET | Japan July machine orders expected +2.4% m/m and +7.7% y/y, Jun -2.7% m/m and +4.9% y/y. |
U.S. STOCK CALENDAR09/11/2013
| Company Name | Ticker | Time | Event Description | Period | Estimate |
|---|
| SAIC Inc | SAI US | 8:30 | Investor Day | Y 2013 | |
| Apple Inc | AAPL US | 10:00 | US Court of Appeals Hears Arguments on Apple vs Motorola Mobility | | |
| Google Inc | GOOG US | 10:00 | US Court of Appeals Hears Arguments on Apple vs Motorola Mobility | | |
| Mastercard Inc | MA US | 10:00 | Investment Community Meeting | Y 2013 | |
| Legg Mason Inc | LM US | 12:30 | Investors and Analysts Meeting | Y 2013 | |
| United Parcel Service Inc | UPS US | | Roadshow - Baltimore | Y 2013 | |
