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Daily State of the Markets |
In speaking with those negatively inclined toward stock prices these days, it is safe to say that the bears really thought they had something going last week. All the talk of disappointing economic data led the glass-is-half-empty crowd to and truly believe that the recovery might be delayed or, worse yet, that the expansion phase could be even more dismal than has been projected. And with a couple moving averages as well as a widely followed support zone having been snapped, well, our furry friends were probably feeling really good about themselves.
However, after the action from this week in general and yesterday in particular, it is becoming obvious that the bears are going to have to find a really good reason to knock the bulls off their track these days. Because without that really good reason, it appears the bulls are able to pick up where they left off after each and every scary down day or two.
After two days of strong buying it would have been completely normal to see the bears emerge from their dens and for the bulls to take a day off. One might have expected to see a downside test of a moving average or two, or maybe even a scary pullback that might force our heroes in horns to question their conviction. After all, some stats from the likes of Peter Eliades suggested that the odds of a quick downside move over the next few days were something on the order of four to one. And then there was some talk of stocks being overvalued as well as some discussion about the quality of the upcoming earnings season.
But instead of a nasty case of too-far-too-fast, the bulls were able to relocate their mojo, which in this case meant that the dip buyers continued to do their thing. Instead of stocks pulling back in front of the retailers’ same store sales comparisons, both the S&P and the NASDAQ finished with green screens. Instead of some trepidation in front of the start of earnings season, the banking index blasted higher by more than 1.1%. And instead of a test of support, the bulls came away with more advancing issues than declining issues. All on what by all rights should have been a down day.
So, although we run the risk working in the Department of Redundancy Department this morning, we will suggest that unless the bears can find a really good reason to convince traders and investors alike that owning stocks is about to become a very scary endeavor, then the bulls just might continue on their merry way to new-highs-land.
Turning to this morning, Alcoa (AA) got the earnings season started off on the right foot for a change as the serial disappointer came in with an earnings “beat” to the tune of $0.04 vs. -$0.09.
On the economic front, weekly jobless claims came in at 521K, which was a bit better than the consensus for 540K. Continuing Claims were reported at 6.04M versus 6.1M.
We’re also getting the monthly same-store sales comparison numbers this morning. So far, it looks like the results are running a bit ahead of expectations with Abercrombie (ANF), Aeropostale (ARO), Costco (COST), Dillard’s (DDS), Macys (M), Kohl’s (KSS), and Walgreens (WAG) all beating the estimates for sales.
Running through the rest of the pre-game indicators, the foreign markets are higher across the board. Crude futures are moving up again with the latest quote showing oil trading higher by $0.73 to $70.30. On the interest rate front, we’ve got the yield on the 10-yr trading at 3.20%, while the yield on the 3-month T-Bill is currently at 0.05%. And finally, with about 45 minutes before the bell, stock futures in the U.S. are pointing to a higher open. The Dow futures are currently ahead by about 78 points; the S&P’s are up about 10 points, while the NASDAQ looks to be about 15 points above fair value at the moment.
Yesterday’s Earnings After the Bell:
Alcoa (AA) – Reported $0.04 vs. -$0.09
Today’s Earnings Before the Bell:
Marriott (MAR) – Reported $0.15 vs. $0.13 PepsiCo (PEP) – Reported $1.08 vs. $1.03
Upgrades/Downgrades/Brokerage Research:
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya (BBV) – Upgraded at Citi Comerica (CMA) – Downgraded at Credit Suisse Clorox (CLX) – Upgraded at Deutsche Bank Northrop Grumman (NOC) – Removed from Conviction Sell list at Goldman L-3 Communications (LLL) – Downgraded at Goldman Rackspace (RAX) – Upgraded at Goldman Monster Worldwide (MWW) – Upgraded at JP Morgan NCR Corp (NCR) – Downgraded at KeyBanc California Pizza Kitchen (CPKI) – Upgraded at KeyBanc Associated Bancorp (ASBC) – Upgraded at Morgan Stanley TCF Financial (TCB) – Upgraded at Morgan Stanley Adobe Systems (ADBE) – Upgraded at RW Baird Broadcom (BRCM) – Downgraded at RW Baird GameStop (GME) – Upgraded at Wedbush Morgan McKesson (MCK) – Estimates and target increased at Barclays
Long positions in stocks mentioned: GS
Best of luck today and until next time, “may the bulls be with you!”
David D. Moenning
Founder TopStockPortfolios.com
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