January 25, 2015
The European Central Bank (ECB) unleased a bigger than expected Quantitative Easing Program this past week. The move was intended to push investors into riskier assets and to lower the value of the euro, which traded at its lowest level against the Dollar in nearly 12 years. This action sent global equities grinding higher during the Holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) finished the week up 1.6% and the Blue Chip-heavy Dow Jones Industrial Average’s ($DJI) rose a modest 0.9% due to losses in IBM and Oil stocks. The tech-heavy Nasdaq (NDX) led the major indices up 2.7% and the small caps (RUT, IWM) rose 1%. For 2015, the Nasdaq is the only index in the black.
With the trend higher in equities, Option volatility dumped significantly last week. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) started the week above the psychological $20 level but fell 20% to finish at $16.66. The action by the ECB is seen by many as a way to keep riskier assets such as stocks in favor. The ‘Fear Gauge’ has shown strength so far this year and we don’t believe it will fall too much further heading into the Greek election today and earnings season in the U.S.
Treasury yields remained weak despite the action by the ECB and a flight to stocks. The ‘Risk-on’ trade was strong but demand for Bonds remained healthy. The 10-year yield is still low at 1.81%. Oil (/CL) prices fell more last week as they were off by an additional 7%. Crude fell sharply after Iraqi crude production surged to a record and the International Monetary Fund lowered its global growth outlook. On Friday, oil fell to the lowest in almost six years on belief that the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia will not result in any change in strategy for the world's largest crude exporter and production levels will not be cut.
The highlight this week will be the Fed's FOMC announcement on Wednesday. The Fed will focus on both the labor market and inflation. Recent Fed comments have suggested no rate increase until after the March meeting but traders will be watching to see if there is a change in that stance. Friday, we get a first look at fourth quarter Gross Domestic Product and to what extent slowing in global growth might be impacting the U.S. Updates on the wavering housing and manufacturing sectors also are due. Along with the economic data, earnings will be in focus, led by Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Facebook (FB), Amazon (AMZN) and Google (GOOG, GOOGL).
Major Earnings for the Upcoming Week:
Monday:
A.M. – DHI, NSC, RCL, STX
P.M. – MSFT, RMBS, TXN, ZION
Tuesday:
A.M. – AAL, BMY, CAT, COH, FCX, GLW, MMM, PFE, PG, UTX
P.M.– AAPL, AMGN, EA, JNPR, SYK, T, VMW, X, YHOO
Wednesday:
A.M. – BA, EAT, EMC, GD, HES, IP, PX, STJ, TXT
P.M. – AMP, CRUS, FB, GGP, JEC, LVS, QCOM, TER, VRTX
Thursday:
A.M. – ABT, BAX, CELG, CL, COP, DOW, F, HOG, JBLU, NOK, OXY, POT, RTN, SHW, TWC, VLO, WHR
P.M. – AMZN, BRCM, DECK, GOOG/GOOGL, MTW, V, WYNN
Friday:
A.M. –ABBV, BZH, CVX, LLY, MA, MAT, MO, TSN, WY, XRX
Economic Releases (1/26 – 1/30):
Monday:
8:45 am CT – PMI Services - Flash
9:30 am CT – Dallas Fed Mfg. Survey
Tuesday:
FOMC Meeting Begins
7:30 am CT – Durable Goods Orders
8:00 am CT– S&P Case-Shiller HPI
9:00 am CT – New Home Sales
9:00 am CT – Consumer Confidence
9:00 am CT – Richmond Fed Mfg. Index
12:00 pm CT – 2-year Note Auction Results
Wednesday:
6:00 am CT – MBA Purchase Applications
9:30 am CT – Oil Inventories
12:00 pm CT – 5-year Note Auction Results
1:00 pm CT – FOMC Meeting Announcement
Thursday:
7:30 am CT – Weekly Jobless Claims
9:00 am CT – Pending Home Sales Index
9:30 am CT – Natural gas Inventories
12:00 pm CT – 7-year Note Auction Results
Friday:
7:30 am CT – GDP
7:30 am CT – Employment Cost Index
8:45 am CT – Chicago PMI
9:00 am CT – Consumer Sentiment |