Monday, 3 October 2022

Stocks, What’s Next? Will OPEC Cut?

 Baltic Dry Index. 1760 +03   Brent Crude 87.29

Spot Gold 1663         US 2 Year Yield 4.22 +0.06

Coronavirus Cases 02/04/20 World 1,000,000

Deaths 53,100

Coronavirus Cases 03/10/22 World 623,474,912

Deaths 6,550,694

“Under the gold standard, a free banking system stands as the protector of an economy's stability and balanced growth... The abandonment of the gold standard made it possible for the welfare statists to use the banking system as a means to an unlimited expansion of credit... In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation”

Alan Greenspan

The big questions of this week are will the global stock casinos stabilise this week, or will the last quarters bear market decline start to accelerate in October?

The other big question of the week is will OPEC cut production to firm up the price of Crude oil and if so, by how much.

A lesser question for the week, how much can the dollar keep strengthening before the fragile global economy as we knew it prior to the covid pandemic breaks?

 

European stocks set to slump at the open, following gloomy sentiment in Asia-Pacific

UPDATED MON, OCT 3 2022 12:36 AM EDT

European stocks are heading for a lower open on Monday as markets enter the last quarter of the year.

The U.K.’s FTSE index is expected to open 73 points lower at 6,825, Germany’s DAX 202 points lower at 11,897, France’s CAC 40 down 94 points at 5,663 and Italy’s FTSE MIB 292 points lower at 20,182, according to data from IG.

The lower open expected in Europe this morning comes after a gloomy trading session in Asia-Pacific markets, with sharp moves in the price of oil. Brent crude futures and West Texas Intermediate futures jumped after reports that OPEC+ is considering an oil output cut of more than a million barrels per day, citing sources.

Such a move would be the biggest taken by the organization to address weakness in global demand.

ANZ sees significant chance of an OPEC+ cut as large as 1 million barrels per day

Ahead of an OPEC+ meeting on Oct. 5, ANZ sees a “significant chance of a cut” as large as 1 million barrels per day, analysts at the firm said in a note.

That move is likely to be made “to counteract the excessive bearishness in the market.”

The note added that any production cuts below 500,000 barrels per day, however, would be “shrugged off by the market.”

European stocks, markets, earnings, data and news (cnbc.com)

 

Asia-Pacific markets mixed, Hang Seng index at lowest levels in 11 years; oil rises

UPDATED MON, OCT 3 2022 12:32 AM EDT

Shares in the Asia-Pacific mostly fell on Monday as markets enter the last quarter of the year.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was 1.19% down, reaching the lowest levels since October 2011, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 gave up early gains to fall 0.12%.

The Nikkei 225 in Japan fell more than 1% in early trade, but recovered slightly and was last up 0.5%, while the Topix index was 0.1% higher. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.8%.

Brent crude futures and West Texas Intermediate futures jumped on reports of a possible OPEC+ supply cut.

Later in the week, Australia’s central bank will announce its interest rate decision, while several countries in Asia will report inflation data.

China markets are closed for the Golden Week holiday, and South Korea’s market is also closed.

Asia-Pacific markets mostly fall; oil pops on possible OPEC+ supply cut (cnbc.com)

 

Stock futures mixed after Dow, S&P 500 cap worst month since March 2020

UPDATED MON, OCT 3 2022 12:29 AM EDT

Stock futures were mixed on Monday morning after Wall Street wrapped up another negative quarter and both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average finished their worst month since March 2020.

Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.52% while futures tied to the S&P 500 lost 0.14%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.07% or 21 points.

Friday capped off a negative month and quarter for all the major averages, with the Dow falling 500.10 points, or 1.71%, to close below 29,000 for the first time since November 2020.

For the quarter, the Dow fell 6.66% to notch a three-quarter losing streak for the first time since the third quarter of 2015. Both the S&P and Nasdaq Composite fell 5.28% and 4.11%, respectively, to finish their third consecutive negative quarter for the first time since 2009.

The Dow shed 8.8% in September, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite lost 9.3% and 10.5%, respectively. All the major averages also recorded their sixth negative week in seven.

Heading into the new quarter, all S&P 500 sectors sit at least 10% off their 52-week highs. Nine sectors finished the quarter in negative territory. Consumer discretionary was the best performer, gaining more than 4.1%.

In the fourth quarter, elevated inflation and a Federal Reserve intent on bringing surging prices to a halt regardless of what it means for the economy will likely continue to weigh on markets, said Truist’s Keith Lerner. Oversold conditions, however, also make the market vulnerable to a sharp short-term bounce on good news, he added.

“I think we could be set up for some type of reprieve but the underlying trend at this point is still a downward trend and choppy waters to continue,” Lerner said.

On the economic front, Markit PMI and ISM manufacturing data are slated for release on Monday along with construction spending.

Stock futures mixed after Dow, S&P 500 cap worst month since March 2020 (cnbc.com)

Investors hope to turn a page on a brutal September with the calendar turning to October. Looking to next week's highlights, there is a full roster of Federal Reserve Bank speakers, although the general expectation is that the central bankers will reiterate the goal to not pull back prematurely on restrictive monetary policy and higher interest rates. Meanwhile, the economic calendar is headlined by the September jobs report at the end of the week. For stock pickers, the flurry of investor events include presentations by Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBGI), Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN), Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK), Hasbro (NASDAQ:HAS) and Box (NYSE:BOX). Also watch for news from Google (GOOGL) with a Pixel hardware event on the calendar.

Seeking Alpha Market News | Seeking Alpha

 

Asia's factory activity weakens on global slowdown, cost pressures

TOKYO, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Asia's factory output mostly weakened in September as slowing demand in China and advanced economies added to the pain from persistent cost pressures, surveys showed on Monday, clouding the region's economic recovery prospects.

Manufacturing activity shrank in Taiwan and Malaysia, and grew at a slower pace in September compared with August in Japan and Vietnam, as rising raw material costs and the darkening global outlook weighed on corporate sentiment.

The surveys came after China's factory and services activity data on Friday pointed to further cooling in the world's second-largest economy as strict COVID lockdowns disrupted production and dampened sales. read more

"We're seeing economic conditions deteriorate in China, the United States and Europe. That's definitely weighing on Asian manufacturing activity," said Toru Nishihama, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute in Tokyo.

"While supply disruptions may have run its course, Asia is now suffering from slumping global demand."

The au Jibun Bank Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) slumped to 50.8 in September from 51.5 in the prior month, marking the weakest growth rate since January last year.

New orders shrank at the fastest rate in two years, while output posted its sharpest decline in a year due to weakening demand from China and other trading partners, Japan's PMI survey showed. read more

More

Asia's factory activity weakens on global slowdown, cost pressures | Reuters

 

Global Inflation/Stagflation/Recession Watch.

Given our Magic Money Tree central banksters and our spendthrift politicians,  inflation now needs an entire section of its own.

'Everything from beer to bacon': Cost of groceries could go up by £1.7bn as carbon dioxide price surges

3 October 2022

The price of groceries could surge by £1.7bn due to the cost of carbon dioxide rising by as much as 3000%, new analysis has shown.

The UK's food and drink sector could end up footing the mammoth extra bill for liquid CO2 if gas prices remain high, according to research by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU).

The gas is used in a raft of sectors but particularly in food and drink, including in the slaughter of pigs and chickens, to add fizz to beer and soft drinks, and in packaging foods safely.

Rampant inflation amid the cost of living crisis has caused production of carbon dioxide to be disrupted, leaving industries reliant on the gas impacted by heavy ramifications.

Commercial energy prices across the country have also rocketed over the past year, with the war in Ukraine pushing up costs.

The price of a tonne of liquid CO2 is up to 3000% higher than it was a year ago, currently as much as £3000 per tonne, compared to just £100 per tonne one year ago, the ECIU said.

As a result, production at a key ammonia site, where CO2 is created as a by-product, was temporarily halted in August.

More

'Everything from beer to bacon': Cost of groceries could go up by £1.7bn as carbon dioxide price surges (msn.com)

Column: Global contagion risks should put G7 on standby

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept 29 (Reuters) - Two G7 countries' financial market conditions have deteriorated so much that their central banks have been forced to intervene to stop the rot, stabilize prices, and restore order.

While the Bank of Japan's first yen-buying intervention in 24 years and the Bank of England's remarkable bond-buying foray seem separate and uniquely domestic issues, they are linked by a common thread that poses growing risks to global financial stability.

The Fed's relentless interest rate-raising campaign, and resulting worldwide surge in the dollar, is tightening global financial conditions at an alarming pace.

The degree to which this is behind the Japanese yen and UK gilt market turmoil, specifically, is open to question, but it helped expose their fragility.

It is undeniably the biggest single driver of the intense selling and volatility sweeping world markets, and shows little sign of dissipating.

Many feel this should put global financial leaders on the highest contagion alert. Which market might succumb next to evaporating liquidity, forced selling, and gapping prices? Is the mighty U.S. Treasury market immune?

"All markets, even the deepest and most liquid, can be challenged by a loss of confidence in a world in which securities holdings are so widely dispersed," said Willem Buiter, a former BoE rate-setter.

"Collective action is needed rather than individual action. This is a global issue now, requiring a collective response."

Buiter reckons a joint G7 and China statement outlining their commitment to global financial stability, and a course of potential coordinated actions across all key markets if needed, would be ideal.

It may prove politically difficult, however, to get the United States or G7 to sign off on anything with China. Next best would be a stand alone G7 statement or communique as a shot across world market bows.

China's central bank has asked major state-owned banks to be prepared to sell dollars overseas to stem the yuan's descent. Could that involve selling U.S. Treasuries? If so, some kind of coordinated action later would seem likely.

More

Column: Global contagion risks should put G7 on standby | Reuters

Below, why a “green energy” economy may not be possible, and if it is, it won’t be quick and it will be very inflationary, setting off a new long-term commodity Supercycle. Probably the largest seen so far.

The “New Energy Economy”: An Exercise in Magical Thinking

https://media4.manhattan-institute.org/sites/default/files/R-0319-MM.pdf

Mines, Minerals, and "Green" Energy: A Reality Check

https://www.manhattan-institute.org/mines-minerals-and-green-energy-reality-check

"An Environmental Disaster": An EV Battery Metals Crunch Is On The Horizon As The Industry Races To Recycle

by Tyler Durden Monday, Aug 02, 2021 - 08:40 PM

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/environmental-disaster-ev-battery-metals-crunch-horizon-industry-races-recycle

Covid-19 Corner

This section will continue until it becomes unneeded.

With Covid-19 starting to become only endemic, this section is close to coming to its end. 

Covid-19: How to prepare for a possible winter wave

2 October 2022

Covid infection rates have fallen considerably since the summer but experts are warning of a potential wave as winter approaches.

 

A vaccination booster campaign is under way for vulnerable groups.

 

The latest Department of Health statistics for Northern Ireland show one person in 80 is infected.

 

During the most recent week for which figures are available, 14-20 September, it is estimated that 23,100 people had Covid-19.

 

This equates to 1.26% of the population.

 

Positive tests have decreased

Modelling suggests the percentage of people testing positive in Northern Ireland decreased in the two weeks up to 20 September 2002

 

As the chart below shows, there has been a marked decline in the number of people in NI hospitals with Covid.


Despite the current low figures, Dr Joanne McClean from the Public Health Agency told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster: "We expect to have a further wave of Covid this winter."

 

Last week saw the first rise in Covid infections in England and Wales since July.

NHS director for vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said: "This winter could be the first time we see the effects of the so-called twin-demic with both Covid and flu in full circulation.

 

"It is vital that those most susceptible to serious illness from these viruses come forward for vaccines in order to protect themselves and those around them."

More

Covid-19: How to prepare for a possible winter wave - BBC News

Next, some vaccine links kindly sent along from a LIR reader in Canada.

NY Times Coronavirus Vaccine Trackerhttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/science/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker.html

Regulatory Focus COVID-19 vaccine trackerhttps://www.raps.org/news-and-articles/news-articles/2020/3/covid-19-vaccine-tracker

Some other useful Covid links.

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus resource centre

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Centers for Disease Control Coronavirus

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

The Spectator Covid-19 data tracker (UK)

https://data.spectator.co.uk/city/national

Technology Update.

With events happening fast in the development of solar power and graphene, among other things, I’ve added this section. Updates as they get reported.

TAGENERGY’S BATTERY STORAGE FACILITY COMES ONLINE

 30 Sep 2022

TagEnergy's first UK battery storage facility has commenced operations following completion of construction at the 20MW/40MWh Hawkers Hill Energy Park near Shaftesbury in Dorset.

The milestone makes Hawkers Hill the first TagEnergy renewable energy project to go online from among its growing portfolio of more than 3GW in five countries - the UK, Spain, Portugal, France and Australia.

The new-build project has just been exported to the grid, a year after TagEnergy and project partner Tesla commenced construction of the £16m facility in September 2021.

The project's development was supported by a £6.4m funding package from Santander UK.

Franck Woitiez, chief executive of TagEnergy, said: "Hawkers Hill Energy Park was the first investment we announced when we entered the UK market in 2021. Its completion is a key milestone in the advancement of our strategy to accelerate the energy transition in the UK renewables market.

"We are proud to be delivering clean power to support the national grid at this critical time and will continue to leverage our battery storage expertise and flexible supply to optimise the market, help stabilise the grid and increase renewables' share of it."

TagEnergy’s battery storage facility comes online | South West Business News | Insider Media

“The problem with fiat money is that it rewards the minority that can handle money, but fools the generation that has worked and saved money.”

“Adam Smith” aka George Goodman.

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