Ten-Year Yields Under Upward Pressure, But Not Enough For Major Breakout

posted in: Credit, Economy, Technicals | 0

Ten-year Treasury yields rallied last week to right underneath the top end of a three-decade-old channel.  A breakout has to wait for now. The 13-basis-point jump last week was big, and probably took many by surprise.  At one point, yields … Continued

Amidst Subdued Capex Scene, Nasdaq 100 Scores Yet Another High Last Fri

posted in: Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index is doing very well so far this year – up 22.4 percent.  This compares with a rise of 10.3 percent for the Dow Industrials, 10.1 percent for the S&P 500 large cap index, and a … Continued

Having Peaked 10 Q’s Ago, Corporate Profits Inch Up In 2Q17 – ’18 S&P 500 Ests Elevated

posted in: Economy, Equities | 0

U.S. corporate profits adjusted for inventory valuation and capital consumption grew 1.3 percent quarter-over-quarter in 2Q17 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.14 trillion, but growth has been uneven since peaking at $2.23 trillion in 4Q14. Since that peak … Continued

US Dollar Index Under Pressure This Year – Likely Source of Tailwind For U.S. Exports?

posted in: Credit, Currency, Economy, Technicals | 0

U.S. real GDP grew 0.7 percent in 1Q17.  This was the weakest quarter since a negative reading three years ago. The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model forecasts growth snapping back to 4.1 percent in 2Q17. Irrespective of quarterly swings, growth remains … Continued

Amidst Persistent Downward Revision In S&P 500 Op Earnings, 2018 Starts Out At > $147!

The S&P 500 large cap index trades at 21.3 times operating earnings or 17.4 times or 15.5 times.  Take your pick.  The first one uses trailing 12-month earnings, and the latter two forward. In Chart 1, the red bars are … Continued

Corporate Profits Snap 5 Straight Quarters Of Y/Y ↓ – Will Be Difficult To Sustain Momentum

posted in: Economy, Equities | 0

U.S. corporate profits adjusted for inventory and depreciation in 3Q16 grew the most quarter-over-quarter since 2Q14.  They rose 6.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.15 trillion, breaking five consecutive quarters of year-over-year decline (Chart 4).  Profits peaked … Continued

US Dollar Index Right At Resistance – Risk/Reward Favors UUP Shorts

Last Friday, the first print of 3Q16 GDP was published.  Real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 2.9 percent.  Inventory contributed 0.61 percent to this growth, snapping five consecutive quarters of negative contribution. Similarly, exports’ contribution jumped to 1.17 … Continued