Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – October 19, 2022 Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – October 19, 2022 Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – October 19, 2022

Financial Markets Today: Quick Take – October 19, 2022

Macro 6 minutes to read
Saxo Strategy Team

Summary:  A choppy session for equities yesterday as an intraday rally to new local highs was erased and before futures shot higher in late trading yesterday on surprisingly positive results from Netflix, helping to keep the sharp rally off the recent bear market lows alive for now. Meanwhile, bond yields remain pinned near cycle highs, keeping the pressure on the struggling Japanese yen, while the Chinese renminbi threatens new lows versus a mixed US dollar.


What is our trading focus?

Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I)

Volatility remains high in the US and equities continued higher yesterday with S&P 500 futures closing at the 3,732 level and pushing higher this morning trading around the 3,747 level. Our view is that the move in US bond yields will dictate direction and with the US 10-year yield pushing higher trading around the 4.05% level this morning we could see a reversal in the equity market. Better than feared results from Netflix also boosted the technology and media segments of the US equity market.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSIV2) and China’s CSI300 (03188:xhkg)

Hang Seng Index fell more than 1% by mid-day, as China Internet stocks reversing the bounce in the past two days, falling from 2% to 4%, and local property developer names paring early gains as the relief for extra stamp duties for non-resident home buyers in the maiden Policy Address of the Hong Kong Chief Executive is less extensive than expected. Sun Hung Kai Properties (00016:xhkg) dropped 1.5% and New World Development (00017:xhkg) plunged 4%. Hong Kong Stock Exchange (00388:xhkg), falling 0.6%, reported a 30% Y/Y decline in EPS in Q3, slightly better-than-feared. Shipping stocks gained, with tanker and dry bulk operator COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation (01138:xhkg) soaring more than 11% and leading the charge higher. In mainland bourses, the CSI300 fell 0.9% while shipping names and educational service providers outperformed.

Risk sentiment keeps USD under pressure, but bigger focus on struggling JPY, CNH

The US dollar bobbed around in correlation with risk sentiment and is still supported at the margin by US treasury yields remaining near the highs for the cycle, with the 10-year treasury benchmark above 4.00% this morning. The most interesting development is that, despite the somewhat mixed to lower US dollar relative to its recent top, the Japanese yen remains near the lows for the cycle on the ongoing rise in global yields, with USDJPY just shy of the 150.00 level that some believe could bring an official intervention. Likewise, USDCNH saw its highest daily close yesterday just above 7.22 and is looking higher still above 7.2400 this morning, with broad CNH weakness intensifying. Is China looking to take its currency significantly lower?

Crude oil (CLX2 & LCOZ2)

Crude oil prices traded heavily yesterday as US president Biden said that it would release 15 million more barrels from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and could possibly release further barrels this winter. Petrol prices are clearly a concern, and the administration is in an all-out effort to suppress prices ahead of the mid-term election early next month, although releases from reserves will do little to relieve the pinch in especially diesel supplies, where inventories are at record lows on shipments of diesel to the even tighter European markets. At some point, the SPR cannot be credibly tapped for further supplies – as the administration has tapped nearly 200 million barrels from reserves this year already, about a third of the total in storage.

US treasuries (TLT, IEF)

US treasury yields remain near the highs, with the 10-year treasury benchmark still above 4.00% this morning, with little incoming data of sufficient importance to prompt volatility until the week after next, which will bring both the next key jobs report as well as the next FOMC meeting. An auction of 20-year T-notes is up later today.

What is going on?

ASML beats Q3 estimates on revenue and gross margin

The world’s largest semiconductor equipment maker posts Q3 revenue of €5.8bn vs est. €5.3bn and gross margin of 51.8% vs est. 49.5%. While gross margin beats in Q3 the company’s forecast for Q4 of 49% misses estimates of 50.3% and ASML expects to delay revenue of €2.2bn into 2023. Q4 revenue forecast is €6.1-6.6bn vs est. €6.1bn as the CEO says demand remains strong. The company says that US export rules on semiconductors to have minimal impact on shipments in 2023, but at the same time the company says that it expects to revisit 2025 scenarios and growth opportunities. China is around 15% of sales for ASML.

Netflix proves sceptics wrong on strong subscriber figures

Netflix surprised investors last night by defying the pessimists that had projected dire subscriber figure, but Netflix reported net change of 2.4mn vs est. 1mn despite price hikes suggesting demand remains strong. The company forecasts Q4 net change in subscribers of 4.5mn vs est. 3.9mn but will not provide future forecasts on paid subscribers after Q4. The company sees worse than expected revenue and EPS figures in Q4 compared to estimates. Netflix also said that it is seeing strong demand for its advertising capacity which is good news for shareholders as advertising is the next big revenue leg for Netflix. Shares were up 14% in extended trading.

Johnson & Johnson sees FX headwinds

Q3 revenue and EPS in line with estimates suggesting low revenue growth of just 2% y/y and the company says it expects FX headwinds on EPS of 6-7% next year and that modest layoffs are likely.

Lockheed Martin expects flat sales in 2023

Q3 revenue at $16.6bn was in line with estimates while EPS of $6.87 beat estimates. Backlog increased 4% y/y to $139.7bn but expects a flat revenue growth in 2023 and lower margins indicating that Lockheed Martin is not expecting to benefit significantly from the war in Ukraine. It should be said that the CEO said demand is strong for its Javelin missile system that is being used in Ukraine. Despite muted growth expectations the company’s decision to expand its buybacks lifted shares considerably in yesterday’s session.

US NAHB Housing Market Index plunged further in October

… pointing to a rapidly weaking US housing market. The index peaked in late 2020 at a record 90 level and began this year at 83 before the impact of rapidly rising interest rates drove a steep decline in activity. The October level was 38, below expectations of 43 and the September reading of 46. Only two readings since 2012 have come in below the current level, both of which were posted in the panic months during the Covid pandemic outbreak in early 2020. This index has proven a strong leading indicator with a very long and variable lag in past economic cycles, but pointing to headwinds to develop for employment and the broader economy at some point next year.

Bank of Japan’s Kuroda keeps foot on the easing pedal

The Bank of Japan governor said that a stable weak JPY is a net positive for Japan and merely spoke against the negative effects of "excessive” moves. Another BoJ member Adachi spoke in favour of the current policy of negative rates and yield-curve-control, saying that “sticky inflation” would be needed for a shift in policy. USDJPY traded to a new cycle- and 32-year high above 149.30 in early European hours.

UK Sep. CPI out this morning slightly above expectations

… with the headline at +0.5% MoM and +10.1% YoY (matching the cycle high) vs. 0.4%/10.0% expected, and the core YoY at 6.5% vs. 6.4% expected. The latter was the highest for the cycle and highest since 1992.

What are we watching next?

Australian earnings season commodity production amid weather and labour issues

Mostly weaker than expected quarterly production and outlooks were released today from BHP, Whitehaven Coal, Beach Energy and St Barbara with these commodity giants in coal, oil and gold being hit by poor weather, flooding and labour shortage issues. Whitehaven (WHC) announced production fell 37% last quarter amid poor weather and labour shortages. The Whitehaven Coal CEO says it sees demand for high quality coal continuing to outstrip global supply. That said, the Newcastle Coal price is 3% this month and about 15% lower than its all-time high.

Earnings to watch

Today’s earnings focus is ASML (see our earnings review above) and Atlas Copco in Europe, and Tesla and P&G in the US. We wrote a preview on Tesla Q3 earnings in yesterday’s equity note but the main focus is the supply situation on lithium and to what extent demand is impacted from higher electricity prices.

  • Today: ASML, Elevance Health, Tesla, IBM, Lam Research, P&G, Abbott Laboratories, Atlas Copco
  • Thursday: China Mobile, China Telecom, ABB, Danaher, Investor, Philip Morris, Union Pacific, CSX, AT&T, Blackstone, Marsh & McLennan, Yara International, Nordea, Volvo, Ericsson, Freeport-McMoRan, Dow, Snap
  • Friday: CATL, American Express, Schlumberger, Verizon Communications, HCA Healthcare, Sika

Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT)

  • 1230 – US Sep. Housing Starts & Building Permits
  • 1230 – Canada Sep. CPI
  • 1300 – UK Bank of England’s Cunliffe to testify
  • 1430 – US Weekly DoE Crude Oil and Product Inventories
  • 1700 – US Fed’s Kashkari (Voter 2023) to speak
  • 1700 – US Treasury auctions 20-year T-notes
  • 1800 – US Fed Beige Book
  • 2230 – US Fed’s Evans (Voter 2023) to speak
  • 2230 – US Fed’s Bullard (Voter) to speak
  • 2350 – Japan Sep. Trade Balance
  • 0030 – Australia Q3 NAB Business Confidence
  • 0030 – Australia Sep. Employment Change/ Unemployment Rate

Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app:

Apple Sportify Soundcloud Stitcher

Quarterly Outlook 2024 Q3

Sandcastle economics

01 / 05

  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Invest wisely in Q3 2024: Discover SaxoStrats' insights on navigating a stable yet fragile global economy.

    Read article
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain inflation and evolving monetary policies.

    Read article
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynamics echo 2021's rally.

    Read article
  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperform in Q3 2024.

    Read article
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities in Q3 2024.

    Read article

Disclaimer

The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/legal/saxoselect-disclaimer/disclaimer)

Saxo Bank (Schweiz) AG
The Circle 38
CH-8058
Zürich-Flughafen
Switzerland

Contact Saxo

Select region

Switzerland
Switzerland

All trading carries risk. Losses can exceed deposits on margin products. You should consider whether you understand how our products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a general Risk Warning series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. The KIDs can be accessed within the trading platform. Please note that the full prospectus can be obtained free of charge from Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. or the issuer.

This website can be accessed worldwide however the information on the website is related to Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. All clients will directly engage with Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. and all client agreements will be entered into with Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. and thus governed by Swiss Law. 

The content of this website represents marketing material and has not been notified or submitted to any supervisory authority.

If you contact Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. or visit this website, you acknowledge and agree that any data that you transmit to Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd., either through this website, by telephone or by any other means of communication (e.g. e-mail), may be collected or recorded and transferred to other Saxo Bank Group companies or third parties in Switzerland or abroad and may be stored or otherwise processed by them or Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. You release Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. from its obligations under Swiss banking and securities dealer secrecies and, to the extent permitted by law, data protection laws as well as other laws and obligations to protect privacy. Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. has implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect data from unauthorized processing and disclosure and applies appropriate safeguards to guarantee adequate protection of such data.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.