Saxo Spotlight: What’s on investors and traders’ radars for the week ending Nov 18; US producer prices, retail data, G20 meet, China stimulus, Nvidia

US eco data and news on tap; US producer prices, retail sales and big retail earnings

Investors will be looking for further signs that point to a slowdown in inflationary pressures. In the October CPI release last week, we saw a fall in health insurance costs due to technical factors, which added to the slowing of the service component of core CPI. This is important to the calculation of core PCE, which the Fed watches most closely. As a result, this week investors will pay more attention to the October producer prices index (PPI) numbers on Tuesday, as they try to gauge if the service component of core inflation is slowing. Bloomberg consensus estimates PPI will rise 8.4% Y/Y and +0.3% M/M for core PPI or +7.2% Y/Y. If the numbers are weaker than this, it could provide further support to the equity market rally, as the Fed would garner more catalysts to slow its pace of hikes. Then on Wednesday, retail sales are on watch and are expected to have rebounded, rising 1% in October after stagnating the month earlier. On top of that, a bevy of large retailers, report earnings including Home Depot, Walmart, and Target, which will help investors gauge the health of the world's largest economy. Elsewhere in America, Canada will release inflation and housing starts data.

Look for hints on the Fed’s hiking path in Fed speak this week

Investors will get to gauge what the Fed’s latest thinking is, as we hear from a number of Fed officials this week, who will likely focus on the softer CPI print last week and if it’s changed their assessment of inflation and interest rate rates. Remarks from Fed Governor Christopher Waller will likely be a focus as Waller previously proposed not to pause, until core PCE falls below 3% on a monthly annualized basis. On top of that, speeches will be made from Neel Kashkari and Loretta Mester on Thursday

G-20 meeting brings focus back on geopolitics and markets

G-20 leaders will be meeting Bali, Indonesia this week on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the agenda is likely to be centered around geopolitical tensions and financial market risks. It is interesting to note that China has signaled the easing of its zero covid policy ahead of this event, despite the recent surge in cases. The meeting between Biden and Xi today will be key in the current cold war environment, especially with respect to the US tech controls and the stance on Taiwan. Other key areas of focus will be the Ukraine war, despite Putin’s lack of attendance at the event, as well as the global inflation concerns and what the global tightening wave means for financial markets. Lastly, climate change is likely to remain on the agenda, with progress stalling over the year as the focus shifted to meeting the world’s energy needs.

Japan’s Q3 GDP and October CPI to see the drag from a weaker JPY

Japan reports preliminary Q3 GDP on Tuesday, followed by the October CPI print on Friday. Growth is likely to weaken in the third quarter, with Bloomberg consensus looking at 1.1% QoQ print from 3.5% previously, mainly driven by a drag from net exports due to the surge in import prices. However, some support may be seen from private consumption with labor cash earnings and retail sales having stayed upbeat in the quarter. Meanwhile, business investment also likely improved, as suggested by large manufacturer’s Tankan report for the third quarter. The outlook also remains supported by the series of fiscal measures announced by the government, along with increased tourism. October CPI is likely to surge to fresh highs of 3.7% from 3.0% previously, with the core measure seen at 3.5% from 3.0% in September, but the outlook is likely improving as the Japanese yen recovers.

UK’s medium-term fiscal outlook will be closely watched

The UK updates markets on its fiscal plans in a week of reckoning following the collapse of Liz Truss’s administration. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt on Thursday presents the medium-term outlook accompanied by updated economic forecasts. He’ll try to further restore investor confidence after his predecessor’s announcement of unfunded tax cuts created panic in markets, but spending cuts and tax rises remain on the horizon. While fiscal consolidation is still needed, excessive frontloading will mean more economic pain and backloading could impinge on government credibility. It’s a delicate balance, especially with double-digit inflation and recession concerns also on watch.

China’s October activity data are expected to be weak

October retail sales in China are expected to decelerate to +0.7% Y/Y according to the Bloomberg survey from +2.5% Y/Y in September as the surge in COVID cases and pandemic control restrictions took their toll on consumption. Industrial production is estimated to slow to +5.3% Y/Y in October from +6.3% Y/Y in September, amid Covid-related restrictions, slower auto production, and weak exports.

Nvidia results in focus. Can its outlook and results continue to move its shares off its low?

Nvidia (NVDA) is set to release third-quarter earnings on Wednesday, November 16 with analysts expecting revenue of $5.84bn down 18% y/y and EBITDA of $2.1bn down from $3.2bn a year ago and EPS of $0.71 down 30% from a year ago. Nvidia shares appear to be gaining traction of late, so its results will be watched closely, especially its outlook. If they are better than expected, you could see sentiment remain supported and it shares could continue to rebound. NVDA shares have risen about 40% in four weeks, but its shares are still down 52% from its high. Nvidia has been suffering amid restricted chip sales to China and declining PC demand. Pay close attention to if its results meet or exceed expectations, its outlook and what it sees as the potential full effects on the US/China chip restrictions. For detailed analyst, refer to Saxo’s Head of Equity Strategy, Peter Garnry’s note.

AUDUSD is now up 9% from its low, gaining extra legs on China’ property rescue package 

The Aussie dollar is gaining on the back of China's property sector rescue package. China introduced 16 property measures to address the developer liquidity crisis; from blanket debt extensions, to loosening down-payment requirements for homebuyers. On top of that that, China’s eased covid restrictions; shortening to five-day quarantines, which is aimed at reducing the economic impact of Covid Zero, rather than relaxing restrictions. While the market still awaits further easing developments, the market is buoyed on forward looking hopes that the AUD will continue to be bid on commodity demand picking up. As commodity hope-demand picks up, so have respective commodity prices; the iron ore (SCOA) price is back above US$90 after rising 6% last week, the copper price lifted about 5% last week, and the lithium price is also higher, with carbonate prices up 118% year-to-date. The next key event to watch for the Aussie dollar is the RBA meeting minutes; released Tuesday November 15, which should give more clues on the course of the central bank’s hikes after it made a lower-than-expected 25bps rate hike this months.

Major China Internet companies are scheduled to report this week

Meituan (03690:xhkg) kicks off the busy earnings calendar of  China Internet companies on Monday, followed by Tencent (00700:xhkg) on Wednesday, Alibaba (09988:xhkg) on Thursday, and JD.COM (09618:xhkg) on Friday. Analysts estimates for top line growth in Q3 are subdue on weak consumption recovery and macro environment. Slow gross merchandize value (GMV) growth during the Singles’ Day festival may point to sluggish Q4 outlook. Alibaba's GMV growth during the Singles' Day festival was flat. JD.COM has not yet announced its numbers except saying GMV had positive growth Y/Y during the period (from Oct 31 evening to Nov 11 end of day). According to estimates, eCommerce platform GMV grew about 14% Y/Y but the large traditional eCommerce platforms were estimated to see GMV growth at just around 3% Y/Y.

Key company earnings releases

• Monday: Meituan, Sonova, Tyson Foods, Nu Holdings, Trip.com, DiDi Global
• Tuesday: Infineon Technologies, Vodafone, Alcon, Walmart, Home Depot, Sea Ltd, Commonwealth Bank
• Wednesday: Siemens Energy, Tencent, Experian, SSE, Nibe Industrier, Nvidia, Cisco, Lowe’s, TJX, Target
• Thursday: Siemens, Alibaba, Applied Materials, Palo Alto Networks, NetEase
• Friday: JD.com

Key economic releases & central bank meetings this week

Monday, Nov 14

• US:  New York Fed Survey of Consumer Expectations (Oct)
• Eurozone: Industrial Production (Oct)
  
  

Tuesday, Nov 15

• US: PPI (Oct)
• US: Empire State Manufacturing Survey (Nov)
• Eurozone: GDP (Q3)
• Germany: ZEW survey (Nov)
• UK: Employment (Oct)
• Japan: GDP (Q3)
• China: Retail Sales (Oct)
• China: Industrial Production (Oct)

Wednesday, Nov 16

• US: Retail Sales (Oct)
• US: Industrial Production (Oct)
• UK: CPI, RPI & PPI (Oct)

Thursday, Nov 17

• US: Jobless claims (weekly)
• US: Housing Starts (Oct)
• Eurozone: HICP (Oct, final)

Friday, Nov 18

• US: Existing Home Sales (Oct)
• UK: Retail Sales (Oct)
• Japan: CPI (Oct)