Investors are rightly focused on inflation, where this week finally brought the good news of slower-than-expected price rises, and an excessively large jump in stock and bond prices as a result. The trouble is that even as markets delight in the prospect of smaller rate increases from the Federal Reserve, earnings are becoming more of a threat.
Wall Street analysts have been slashing profit forecasts at a pace rarely seen outside recessions-and still seem optimistic. While recession is increasingly the consensus among economists, risky assets such as shares aren't yet pricing in significant risk to earnings.
Mortgage Rates Need Another Push to Keep Plunging
The pressure is finally coming off mortgage rates.
Amid the market's huge reaction last week to the better-than-feared inflation print, and what it could signal about the direction of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, a widely tracked daily measure of the national 30-year fixed mortgage rate plunged. Bankrate.com's overnight average decreased by 0.33 percentage point from Wednesday to Thursday, falling back under 7% to 6.91%.
China's Global Port Investments Give Rise to Security Worries
Security concerns related to Chinese investments in overseas ports are mounting as the country's firms acquire more stakes at shipping hubs around the world and geopolitical tensions rise.
Chinese companies have expanded investments at foreign ports in recent years and now run major container terminals in locations including Belgium, Israel, Spain, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. All told, Chinese and Hong Kong-based firms hold stakes in terminal leases or concessions at 95 foreign ports, according to research by Isaac B. Kardon of the U.S. Naval War College and Wendy Leutert of Indiana University.
Voters Approve Tens of Billions of Dollars in Muni Projects
U.S. voters said yes to tens of billions of dollars for road-paving, school-building and other local projects last Tuesday, promising a new wave of bonds for eager investors.
The voters approved $57 billion out of the $63 billion in ballot measures for which results are available, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. If that 90% approval rate holds steady, the total amount of new municipal debt authorized Tuesday will come to about $90 billion, the most from any election day in the data, which goes back to 2012.
U.S. Official Says China Is Uncomfortable With Russia's Rhetoric, Activity in Ukraine
NUSA DUA, Indonesia-A senior U.S. official said China is uncomfortable with Russia's rhetoric and invasion of Ukraine, as President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping prepared for a meeting aimed at dialing down tensions between Washington and Beijing.
"I think there is undeniably a discomfort in Beijing about what we've seen in terms of reckless rhetoric and activity on the part of Russia," the U.S. official said in a briefing with reporters on Monday. "I think it is also undeniable that China is probably both surprised and a little bit embarrassed by the conduct of Russian military operations."
President Biden, Xi Jinping to Spell Out Priorities During Bali Meeting
NUSA DUA, Indonesia-When President Biden meets Chinese President Xi Jinping for highly anticipated talks Monday, the two sides will seek to dial down tensions that have run high for months and establish a better understanding of each other's priorities over the coming years, U.S. and Chinese officials said.
Both sides said the meeting is unlikely to yield major policy breakthroughs. But Mr. Biden's advisers said they hope it will help improve communication and set expectations on significant issues between the two powers, including their differences over Taiwan, China's relations with Russia and recent missile tests by North Korea.
Candidates Who Questioned 2020 Election Shut Out in Key Secretary-of-State Races
Candidates who stated without evidence that the 2020 presidential election was rigged have lost secretary-of-state elections in four key battleground states.
Voters in Nevada, Arizona, Michigan and Minnesota rejected Republican candidates who said the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump and were also backed by Mr. Trump.
Nancy Pelosi Mum on Future Plans After Democrats' Strong Midterm Performance
House Democrats are in limbo over who will lead them next year following midterm elections in which they did better than expected but still appear likely to lose control of the chamber by a narrow margin.
As Ukraine Retakes Kherson, U.S. Looks to Diplomacy Before Winter Slows Momentum
Senior U.S. officials have begun nudging Kyiv to start thinking about peace talks in the event winter stalls its momentum, following Ukraine's recapture of Kherson in one of its most stunning triumphs of the war.
The imminent onset of winter-coupled with fears of inflation spurred by mounting energy and food prices, the billions of dollars of weaponry already pumped into Ukraine, and the tens of thousands of casualties on both sides-has prompted talk in Washington of a potential inflection point in the war, now in its ninth month.
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Earnings:
(3Q unless stated otherwise)
Auxly Cannabis
Charlotte's Web
Dialogue Health Tech
Enthusiast Gaming
Ivanhoe Mines
K92 Mining
MAG Silver
NanoXplore 1Q
Orezone Gold
Reunion Neuroscience 2Q
Shawcor
Skeena Resources
Sylogist 4Q
Economic Indicators:
None scheduled
Expected Major Events for Monday
00:01/UK: Oct UK Regional PMI
00:01/UK: Nov Rightmove Monthly House Price Index
23:50/JPN: 3Q 1st Preliminary Quarterly GDP Estimates
All times in GMT. Powered by Onclusive and Dow Jones.
Expected Earnings for Monday
908 Devices Inc (MASS) is expected to report for 3Q.
Advent Technologies Holdings Inc (ADN) is expected to report for 3Q.
Aecom Technology Corp (DE) (ACM) is expected to report $0.78 for 4Q.
Air Industries Group (AIRI) is expected to report for 3Q.
Akerna Corp (KERN) is expected to report for 3Q.
Akoustis Technologies Inc (AKTS) is expected to report $-0.27 for 1Q.
Alaunos Therapeutics Inc (TCRT) is expected to report $-0.05 for 3Q.
Alimera Sciences Inc (ALIM) is expected to report for 3Q.
Black Diamond Therapeutics Inc (BDTX) is expected to report for 3Q.
Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc (BCLI) is expected to report $-0.18 for 3Q.
CIRCOR International Inc (CIR) is expected to report $0.11 for 3Q.
Charles Schwab (SCHW) is expected to report.
Clear Secure Inc (YOU) is expected to report for 3Q.
Dentsply Sirona Inc (XRAY) is expected to report $0.36 for 3Q.
Drive Shack Inc (DS) is expected to report $-0.13 for 3Q.
Dundee Corp (DC.A.T,DDEJF) is expected to report for 3Q.
Forte Biosciences Inc (FBRX) is expected to report for 3Q.
HOOKIPA Pharma Inc (HOOK) is expected to report for 3Q.
Helius Medical Technologies Inc (HSDT,HSM-T) is expected to report for 3Q.
Imunon Inc (IMNN) is expected to report for 3Q.
Infinity Pharmaceuticals (INFI) is expected to report $-0.09 for 3Q.
Ivanhoe Mines (IVN.T) is expected to report $0.08 for 3Q.
Nuvo Pharmaceuticals Inc (NRIFF) is expected to report for 3Q.
Oatly Group AB - ADR (OTLY) is expected to report for 3Q.
Orbital Infrastructure Group Inc (OIG) is expected to report for 3Q.
PDS Biotechnology Corp (PDSB) is expected to report $-0.28 for 3Q.
Palatin Technologies Inc (PTN) is expected to report for 1Q.
ReShape Lifesciences Inc (RSLS) is expected to report for 3Q.
S&W Seed (SANW) is expected to report $-0.12 for 1Q.
Shawcor (SAWLF,SCL.B-T,SCL.T) is expected to report $0.01 for 3Q.
Sonida Senior Living Corp (SNDA) is expected to report for 3Q.
SouthGobi Resources Ltd (1878.HK,SGQ.T,SGQRF) is expected to report for 3Q.
Stoke Therapeutics Inc (STOK) is expected to report for 3Q.
Stratus Properties (STRS) is expected to report for 3Q.
Syros Pharmaceuticals Inc (SYRS) is expected to report for 3Q.
Thoughtworks Holding Inc (TWKS) is expected to report for 3Q.
Turquoise Hill Resources (TRQ,TRQ.T) is expected to report for 3Q.
Tyson Foods (TSN) is expected to report $1.73 for 4Q.
Viridian Therapeutics Inc (VRDN) is expected to report for 3Q.
Whitehorse Finance Inc (WHF) is expected to report $0.36 for 3Q.
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ANALYST RATINGS ACTIONS
Applovin Cut to Neutral From Buy by B of A Securities
BioCardia Cut to Neutral From Buy by Dawson James
Blackstone Sec Lending Fd Raised to Buy From Neutral by Janney Montgomery Scott
Clever Leaves Holdings Cut to Hold From Buy by Canaccord Genuity
Coherent Raised to Buy From Neutral by B of A Securities
DCP Midstream Cut to Equal-Weight From Overweight by Wells Fargo
EQRx Cut to Hold From Buy by Jefferies
EQRx Cut to Neutral From Buy by Goldman Sachs
Expensify Cut to Neutral From Overweight by Piper Sandler
FIGS Cut to Outperform From Strong Buy by Raymond James
Finance of America Cut to Outperform From Strong Buy by Raymond James
First Advantage Cut to Equal-Weight From Overweight by Barclays
Freeport-McMoRan Cut to Sector Perform From Sector Outperform by Scotiabank
HireRight Cut to Equal-Weight From Overweight by Barclays
Home Point Capital Raised to Outperform From Neutral by Wedbush
Huntington Ingalls Cut to Underperform From Neutral by B of A Securities
IN8bio Cut to Neutral From Buy by B. Riley Securities
Jounce Therapeutics Cut to Outperform From Strong Buy by Raymond James
Lumentum Holdings Cut to Neutral From Buy by B of A Securities
Lyell Immunopharma Cut to Neutral From Buy by Goldman Sachs
Occidental Petroleum Cut to Neutral From Overweight by Piper Sandler
Outbrain Cut to Hold From Buy by Jefferies
Sallie Mae Cut to Neutral From Buy by Compass Point
Schneider National Raised to Buy From Neutral by UBS
SciPlay Raised to Buy From Hold by Craig-Hallum
(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires
11-14-22 0530ET