Wednesday, December 16th, 2015View Older Reports
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OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
March E-mini S&Ps (ESH16 +0.38%) are up +0.54% and European stocks are up +0.73% on optimism the U.S. economy is strong enough to handle an expected interest rate increase by the Fed today. The markets are expecting the FOMC to raise the federal funds rate by 25 bp and to reiterate that any subsequent rate hikes will be gradual as long as economic growth remains steady. European stocks found support on strength in manufacturing activity after the Eurozone Dec Markit manufacturing PMI climbed at the fastest pace in over 1-1/2 years. Asian stocks settled higher: Japan +2.61%, Hong Kong +2.01%, China +0.17%, Taiwan +1.38%, Australia +2.42%, Singapore +0.90%, South Korea +1.96%, India +0.69%.
The dollar index (DXY00 +0.02%) is down -0.01%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.08%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.19%.
The German Dec Markit/BME manufacturing PMI rose +0.1 to 53.0, stronger than expectations of -0.1 to 52.8.
The Eurozone Dec Markit manufacturing PMI rose +0.3 to 53.1, stronger than expectations of no change at 52.8 and the fastest pace of expansion in 20 months.
U.S. STOCK PREVIEW
Key U.S. news today includes: (1) weekly MBA mortgage applications (previous +1.2% with purchase sub-index unch and refi sub-index +3.5%), (2) Nov housing starts (expected +6.6% to 1.130 million, Oct -11.0% to 1.060 million), (3) Nov industrial production (expected -0.1% m/m, Oct -0.2%) and Nov manufacturing production (expected unch m/m, Oct +0.4%), and (4) today's end of the 2-day FOMC meeting where the FOMC is expected to raise the funds rate target by +25 bp to 0.25%-0.50% range from 0.00%-0.25%.
There are 4 of the Russell 1000 companies that report earnings today: FedEx (consensus $2.50), Oracle (0.60), Jabil Circuit (0.80), Joy Global ($0.41).
U.S. IPO's scheduled to price today: none.
Equity conferences: European Society for Medical Oncology Asia Congress on Fri.
OVERNIGHT U.S. STOCK MOVERS
Chevron (CVX +3.84%) was raised to 'Buy' from 'Hold' at Argus Research.
Boyd Gaming (BYD +2.32%) was upgraded to 'Buy' from 'Hold' at Deutsche Bank.
Northrop Grumman (NOC +0.41%) was upgraded to 'Overweight' from 'Neutral' at JPMorgan Chase.
Newell Rubermaid (NWL +4.70%) was raised to 'Top Pick' from 'Outperform' at RBC Capital Markets with a 12-month price target of $60.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX +16.41%) fell over 5% in pre-market trading after it lowered guidance on Q4 adjusted EPS to $2.55-$2.65 from a prior forecast of $4.00-$4.20.
General Dynamics (GD -0.83%) was downgraded to 'Neutral' from 'Overweight' at JPMorgan Chase.
ConAgra Foods (CAG +0.81%) was rated a new 'Buy' at Jeffries with a price target of $50 and WhiteWave Foods (WWAV +3.04%) was also rated a new 'Buy' at Jeffries with a price target of $44.
Advanced Auto Parts (AAP +5.80%) rose over 1% in after-hours trading after StreetInsider, citing one unidentified person, reported the company was exploring a possible sale.
Dover (DOV +0.10%) slid over 3% in after-hours trading after the company lowered guidance on 2015 EPS continuing operations to $3.62 from a prior estimate of $3.73-$3.80, below consensus of $3.74.
AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMCX +2.43%) moved up over 1% in after-hours trading after the company named Starwood Hotels & Resorts interim CEO, Adam Aron, as the new CEO of AMC.
Heico (HEI +1.81%) rose over 4% in after-hours trading after it reported Q4 adjusted EPS of 56 cents, higher than consensus of 53 cents.
Ascent Retail Group (ASNA -2.21%) rallied nearly 5% in after-hours trading after the company reported a new $200 million stock buyback program.
Heartland Payment (HPY +2.82%) jumped nearly 12% in after-hours trading after Global Payments GPN said it will acquire the company for about $4.3 billion.
MARKET COMMENTS
Mar E-mini S&Ps (ESH16 +0.38%) this morning are up +11.00 points (+0.54%). Tuesday's closes: S&P 500 +1.06%, Dow Jones +0.90%, Nasdaq +0.59%. The S&P 500 on Tuesday closed higher on the +6.15 point increase in the Dec Empire manufacturing index (stronger than expectations of +3.74 to -7.00) and on strength in energy producing stocks after crude oil rallied.
Mar 10-year T-notes (ZNH16 -0.06%) this morning are down -3 ticks. Tuesday's closes: TYH6 -10.50, FVH6 -6.75. March T-notes on Tuesday fell to a 1-week low and closed lower on the +0.5% y/y increase in U.S. Nov CPI (stronger than expectations of +0.4% y/y) and the rally in stocks, which curbs the safe-haven demand for T-notes.
The dollar index (DXY00 +0.02%) this morning is down -0.014 (-0.01%). EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.0009 (-0.08%). USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.23 (+0.19%). Tuesday's closes: Dollar Index +0.613 (+0.63%), EUR/USD -0.0061 (-0.55%), USD/JPY +0.65 (+0.54%). The dollar index on Tuesday recovered from a 6-week low and closed higher on the jump in U.S. 10-year T-note yield to a 1-week high, which improves the dollar's interest rate differentials, and on the stronger-than-expected U.S. Nov CPI report of +0.5% y/y which bolsters the case for a Fed interest rate increase.
Jan crude oil (CLF16 -0.67%) this morning is down -24 cents (-0.64%) and Jan gasoline (RBF16 +0.38%) is up +0.0033 (+0.27%). Tuesday's closes: CLF6 +0.43 (+1.18%), RBF6 -0.0112 (-0.89%). Jan crude oil and gasoline on Tuesday settled mixed. Crude oil prices were boosted by expectations that Wednesday's weekly EIA crude inventories will fall -1.5 million bbl and optimism that Congress may lift the 40-year old U.S. crude export ban, thus increasing demand for U.S. oil. Crude oil prices were undercut by a stronger dollar and expectations for Wednesday's weekly EIA gasoline inventories to climb by +1.0 million bbl.
GLOBAL EVENT CALENDAR12/16/2015
| US | 0700 ET | Weekly MBA mortgage applications, previous +1.2% with purchase sub-index unch and refi sub-index +3.5%. |
| 0830 ET | Nov housing starts expected +6.6% to 1.130 million, Oct -11.0% to 1.060 million. Nov building permits expected -0.7% to 1.153 million, Oct +5.1% to 1.161 million. | |
| 0915 ET | Nov industrial production expected -0.1% m/m, Oct -0.2%. Nov capacity utilization expected -0.1 to 74.4%, Oct 77.5%. Nov manufacturing production expected unch m/m, Oct +0.4%. | |
| 1030 ET | EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report. | |
| 1400 ET | FOMC announces interest rate decision expected +25 bp rate hike to 0.25%-0.50% range from 0.00%-0.25%. | |
| JPN | 0100 ET | Revised Japan Nov machine tool orders, preliminary -17.9% y/y. |
| 1850 ET | Japan Nov trade balance expected -449.7 billion yen, Oct +108.3 billion yen. Nov exports expected -1.6% y/y, Oct -2.2% y/y. Nov imports expected -7.3% y/y, Oct -13.4% y/y. | |
| GER | 0330 ET | German Dec Markit/BME manufacturing PMI expected -0.1 to 52.8, Nov 52.9. Dec Markit services PMI expected -0.1 to 55.5, Nov 55.6. |
| EUR | 0400 ET | Eurozone Dec Markit manufacturing PMI expected unch at 52.8. Dec composite PMI expected unch at 54.2. |
| 0500 ET | Revised Eurozone Nov CPI, previous +0.1% y/y. Revised Nov core CPI, previous +0.9% y/y. | |
| UK | 0430 ET | UK Nov jobless claims change expected +800, Oct +3,300. Nov claimant count rate expected unch at 2.3%. |
| 0430 ET | UK Oct avg weekly earnings expected +2.5% 3-mon avg y/y, Sep +3.0% 3-mon avg y/y. Oct weekly earnings ex-bonus expected +2.3% 3-mon avg y/y, Sep +3.0% 3-mon avg y/y. | |
| 0430 ET | UK Oct ILO unemployment rate expected +5.3% 3-months through Oct, previous +5.3% 3-months through Sep. |
U.S. STOCK CALENDAR12/16/2015
| Company | Ticker | Time | Event Description | Period | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joy Global Inc | JOY US | Bef-mkt | Q4 2015 Earnings Release | Q4 2015 | 0.41 |
| Progressive Corp/The | PGR US | Bef-mkt | November 2015 Sales and Revenue Release | 2015 | |
| Arthur J Gallagher & Co | AJG US | 8:00 | Investor Meeting | Y 2015 | |
| CVS Health Corp | CVS US | 8:00 | Analyst Day | Y 2015 | |
| Honeywell International Inc | HON US | 9:00 | Q4 2016 Guidance Call | Q4 2016 | |
| AutoZone Inc | AZO US | 9:00 | Annual General Meeting | Y 2015 | |
| Lennox International Inc | LII US | 9:00 | Investment Community Meeting | Y 2015 | |
| Danaher Corp | DHR US | 11:00 | Investor and Analyst Meeting | Y 2015 | |
| Joy Global Inc | JOY US | 11:00 | Q4 2015 Earnings Call | Q4 2015 | |
| General Electric Co | GE US | 15:30 | Investor Meeting | Y 2015 | |
| FedEx Corp | FDX US | 16:15 | Q2 2016 Earnings Release | Q2 2016 | 2.5 |
| Jabil Circuit Inc | JBL US | 16:30 | Q1 2016 Earnings Call | Q1 2016 | |
| Pandora Media Inc | P US | 16:30 | Business Update Call | ||
| FedEx Corp | FDX US | 17:00 | Q2 2016 Earnings Call | Q2 2016 | |
| Oracle Corp | ORCL US | 17:00 | Q2 2016 Earnings Call | Q2 2016 | |
| Oracle Corp | ORCL US | Aft-mkt | Q2 2016 Earnings Release | Q2 2016 | 0.6 |
| Jabil Circuit Inc | JBL US | Aft-mkt | Q1 2016 Earnings Release | Q1 2016 | 0.8 |
| Equifax Inc | EFX US | Investor Meeting - Boston | Y 2015 | ||
| Pepco Holdings Inc | POM US | Annual General Meeting | |||
| Tesla Motors Inc | TSLA US | Elon Musk's SpaceX Testing of Engines of Falcon 9 Rocket |
