'Make Or Break': Stock Market Update For The Week Ahead
The Last Week, In A Nutshell
What Happened: Stocks closed the week lower on an escalation of U.S. and China tensions, mixed reactions to earnings results, and delays in stimulus talks.
Remember This: “Congress’ decision on a new wave of support could make or break the next leg of the economic recovery,” said Lindsey Bell, chief investment strategist for Ally Financial Inc's (NYSE: ALLY) Ally Invest.
“With over 16 million people collecting unemployment and businesses unable to open at (or near) capacity, pulling or reducing fiscal support could lead to a deterioration in the economic improvement recently recorded.”
Pictured: Profile chart of the S&P 500 E-mini Futures
Technical: Broad-market equity indices struggled to hold onto recent gains, evidenced by the failed continuation higher.
Recapping last week’s action: On Monday, after a good amount of volatility contraction, the S&P 500 opened inside prior balance and tested lower, before rotating higher, into the gap zone left from the late February sell-off. Pre-open on Tuesday, the market rallied, further discovering prices up into the gap zone. After the U.S. cash open, Tuesday’s activity was reminiscent of rebalancing to recent overextension.
On news that China would react to the closure of its consulate in Houston, Texas, Wednesday’s session saw prices push lower overnight, before turning and balancing out higher, into the close. On more news regarding geopolitics and initial jobless claims turning higher, Thursday’s session experienced a news-driven, emotional liquidation, with the Nasdaq leading lower.
Friday’s session opened near a high-volume area, balancing out and trading responsively, before closing and accepting prices lower.
Looking beyond broad market indices, the innovation-driven, technology-based sectors are showing signs of relative weakness, while other sectors, such as industrials, energy, and financials are finding more support.
Overall, the S&P is in balance. Absent positive news regarding geopolitical tensions, monetary policy, a vaccine, earnings, and stimulus, the market may find itself correcting through time, testing the prior balance area, below $3,180, as more impactful earnings are released.
Scroll to the bottom of this story to view non-profile charts.
Key Events: Earnings; Durable Good Orders; Consumer Confidence; Initial Claims; GDP; Personal Income; Personal Spending; Employment Cost Index; Consumer Sentiment.
Fundamental: Big tech antitrust probe report from Congress expected early fall.
Nasdaq Composite, tech weakness comes alongside a weaker dollar.
Five charts illustrating U.S. economic trends amid the coronavirus pandemic.
General Motors Company (NYSE: GM), Volkswagen AG (OTC: VWAGY), Nissan Motor Co Ltd (OTC: NSANY) charge ahead with electric-vehicle plans.
Consulate closures mark escalation between U.S. and China.
Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) to delay 777X as demand drops for big jets.
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) shares dive on manufacturing retreat.
American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) warns of slow spending recovery.
Inflation-adjusted bonds are currently priced for very low inflation.
Proposal to suspend certain payroll taxes is a high priority.
U.S. home prices, existing home sales rise toward records.
Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) chose Texas for the new Cybertruck factory.
FDA orders unauthorized e-cigarettes removed from the market.
China’s regulators take over insurers, financial institutions to cut risks.
Supplemental unemployment benefits expire alongside new stimulus efforts.
Housing strengthens while mortgage forbearance continues to decline.
Biden may enact higher taxes, climate reform, and increased health care spending.
Earnings beat expectations, but fundamentals remain weak.
Commercial real estate market slips despite Federal Reserve action.
The face value of defaulted non-financial corporate bonds jumped to a record.
American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ: AAL), United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: UAL) to lay off workers.
Dell Technologies Inc’s (NYSE: DELL) VMware spin-off increases uncertainty.
U.S. global investment banks preserved capital strength in Q2 amid credit provisions.
UnitedHealth Group Inc’s (NYSE: UNH) earnings, lower leverage is credit positive.
Sentiment: 26.1% Bullish, 27.1% Neutral, 46.8% Bearish as of 7/22/2020.
Product Analysis
S&P 500 E-mini Futures (ES) | SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY)
Nasdaq-100 E-mini Futures (NQ) | PowerShares QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: QQQ)
Russell 2000 E-mini Futures (RTY) | iShares Russell 2000 Index (NYSE: IWM)
Gold Futures (GC) | SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD)
Crude Oil (CL) | United States Oil Fund LP (NYSE: USO) | Invesco DB Oil Fund (NYSE: DBO) | United States 12 Month Oil Fund (NYSE: USL)
Treasury Bonds (ZB) | iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (NASDAQ: TLT)
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