U.S. Futures & World Markets
Oil is higher, interest rates are higher, and stocks are set to open lower. That's the entire story in a nutshell. Trump rejected Iran's ceasefire proposal, though talks are continuing. 10-year yields sit at their highest since 2007.
Bullish case: persistent labor shortages, massive AI capex, and profitable mega-cap tech are supporting the economy. Bearish case: higher deficits and the huge borrowing needs of hyperscalers. Either way, the Fed isn't making the mistake of waiting too long. Higher oil + higher rates = a tougher road for stocks. Let's see if the bulls can keep shrugging it off.
CORE Headlines
- US and China detailed a plan to cut tariffs on ~$60B of goods including Chinese toys and American coal.
- Trump still "looking very seriously" at implementing a ban on US diesel exports.
- Middle East crude exports on track for 12.8M bpd in September — highest since the war began. — Reuters
- AI hyperscalers' borrowing binge reshaping global debt markets — Meta set to tap the European bond market for the first time. — FT
- Royal Caribbean (RCL) upgraded to Buy at Deutsche Bank, target $330.
Charts & Data
When the S&P is up between 10-20% YTD heading into Q4, Q4 has been higher 18 of 21 times with above-average returns. @ryandetrick via Daily Chartbook.
Classic stealth correction: equal-weighted S&P down just over 5% from the August 13 peak while the headline index has barely moved. Breadth dropped from the high-70s% to just below 50% on the 200-DMA measure. Callum Thomas via Daily Chartbook.
Investors have been raising cash at a similar pace to prior major corrections — potentially a healthy reset ahead of a Q4 rally. @MacroCharts via @RyanDetrick via Daily Chartbook.
Nobody hiding in Staples or Utilities. Consumer Staples and Utilities not attracting defensive flows — a sign the market isn't actually pricing a recession. JC Parets, TrendLabs via Daily Chartbook.
Hyperscaler valuations have de-rated to the lowest level in 10 years. Goldman via Daily Chartbook.
Hormuz oil flow at ~13.5 MMbpd — by far the biggest rise coming from Saudi Arabia's new Gulf loadings blitz. @rory_johnston via Daily Chartbook.
Over the past 30 years, the S&P 500 has averaged a trailing 4-quarter EPS growth rate of 7%. The current rate is 26%. Ben Snider, Goldman via Daily Chartbook.
Interesting Reads
- Best pizza in the world, ranked — Condé Nast Traveler
- 11 medical myths we keep believing — Dictionary Scoop
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