Stocks Backtrack Despite Strong Retail Sales

US trading is subdued this morning with index futures trading down 0.3%-0.5%. Even red-hot Broadcom, which soared another 11% yesterday, appears to be slowing down, dipping 0.5% in premarket trading. Over in Europe, the Dax is down 0.2%. The FTSE is down 0.8% on signs of stagflation as employment growth slowed and wage inflation accelerated. […]

Bitcoin Hits a New High as Traders Digest Economic News

Bitcoin spiked up to a new all-time high overnight above $106,000 on the news that Bitcoin holder MicroStrategy is going to be added to the NASDAQ 100 Index. This means that equity capital flowing into NASDAQ-tracking funds may now circle into Bitcoin as well, potentially accelerating mainstream adoption. NASDAQ futures are up 0.5% on this […]

Earnings Beats Boost US Stocks

Bouncing back from US index declines of 0.5% to 0.7% yesterday, US index futures are up 0.1% to 0.9% this morning. European markets are quiet with the Dax, CAC and FTSE all holding steady. Asia Pacific markets fell to end the week with the Hang Seng dropping 2.1% and the Nikkei sliding 1.0%. The US […]

Bitcoin Breaches $100,000

Markets, being dominated by humans can get drawn psychologically to large numbers. This year we have seen the S&P 500 blast through 5,000 and 6,000, the Dow Industrials rally through 40,000 and 45,000, the Nasdaq clear 20,000 and keep on going and Gold use $2,500 as a launch pad. Today the focus is on cryptocurrencies […]

December Starts with the US Dollar in Rally Mode

Last week’s positive finish for US markets has carried through the weekend. Asia Pacific markets posted gains of 0.6% to 1.2% with Shanghai leading the way. In Europe this morning the Dax is up 1.1% while the FTSE is up 0.3%. US index futures are flat. The US Dollar is strong to start the week […]

Mind The Gap as Retailing Moves Into the Spotlight

Retailer Gap looks to be heading for a big day with a gain of 19.4% premarket adding to yesterday’s 6.9% advance. Earnings per share crushed expectations ($0.72 vs street $0.58). Management indicated the holiday quarter is off to a strong start and raised guidance. On the other hand, Intuit is down 2.8% premarket despite an […]

Stocks Climb, Metals Retreat Into the Weekend

It has been a constructive morning so far for North American stocks. US index futures are up 0.2% to 0.4%, while TSX futures are up marginally. The US 10-year treasury note yield has stabilized near 4.20%. Trading is quiet in Europe this morning, the FTSE is flat while the Dax is up 0.1%. Nothing notable […]

Mixed Markets Stagger Toward the US Long Weekend

Yesterday’s US market selloff which came despite a post earnings rally in Nvidia* carried through world markets overnight and into this morning. Following on from yesterday’s drops of 0.4% to 1.6% for major US indices on Thursday, the Hang Seng fell 1.4%, the Nikkei fell 1.2%, the Dax dropped 0.5% while the FTSE has fallen […]

S&P Flirts With 5000 Amid Earnings and Economic News

US equities continue their rebound this morning. US index futures are up 0.1%-0.2%, with S&P futures back up above 5000, building on yesterday’s 0.4%-1.3% rebounds. In Europe today, the Dax is up 0.7% and the FTSE is up 0.1%. The Nikkei rallied 1.2% overnight and traded above 38,000 for the first time in over 30 […]