TradeTheNews.com Weekly
Market Update: Tough Year for Investors Goes Out on a Cheerless Note
Thu, 31 Dec 2015 16:15 PM EST
The week started off on a sour note as Chinese stocks tumbled on Monday after
the latest industrial profits data declined for the sixth straight month. US
data was mostly disappointing as well, with key regional readings in Chicago
and Dallas dropping sharply. The 2-, 5-, and 7-year treasury auctions all
showed poor results and dragged yields higher for the week. Crude oil prices
dripped lower again and continued to exert influence on broader markets. US
stocks alternated red and green in the post-holiday week as the S&P flipped
back and forth from positive to negative on the year. For the week, the DJIA
was down 0.7%, and the Nasdaq and S&P500 each lost 0.8%. For the year, the
DJIA fell 2.2%, the Nasdaq gained 5.7%, and the S&P500 slipped 0.7%, its
first losing year since 2011.
Early in the week, China reported November Industrial Profits at -1.4% y/y, its
sixth straight decline. At the same time Japan announced its first decline in
m/m retail sales in four months and first m/m drop in industrial production in
three months. The poor economic data continued in the US as the Dallas Fed
Manufacturing reading hit its lowest mark in seven months and the Chicago
Purchasing Managers Index tumbled to its lowest in over five years. The Chicago
PMI number was particularly disappointing because it showed big declines new
orders, order backlogs and the employment index. The 42.9 reading for December
was the seventh reading of the Chicago PMI this year that was below 50, indicating
contraction. Weekly initial jobless claims were also disappointing, registering
the highest number since July, though this may be attributable to holiday week
volatility. On a brighter note, the December US Consumer Confidence reading
beat expectations and showed a rise in the perception that job opportunities
are "plentiful."
Interest rate futures fell hard on Tuesday following a very disappointing
5-year treasury auction. The 2-year yield reached its highest level since early
2010 to above 1.10%, the 5-year yield hit its high of the year above 1.79%, and
the 30-year fell 2 points, putting the yield above 3.04%. The 2- and 7-year
auctions that bookended the 5-year sale were also weak, perhaps attributable to
the slow holiday week. Treasuries pared losses on Thursday after the higher
than expected jobless claims. For the year, the 2/10-year yield spread narrowed
to its smallest since 2008 as the treasury curve flattened: the 2-year yield
jumped 38 basis points, while the 10-year yield was up only 8 basis points
during 2015.
With relatively few corporate or macro developments during the week, broader
markets were pushed around again by activity in the energy market. Saudi
Arabia's 2016 budget plan showed that weak oil prices are hurting its fiscal
situation, but despite that the energy ministry affirmed it would hold steady
on its production policy. WTI and Brent crude are now trading in lockstep and
each lost nearly 3% during the week, ending 2015 down by over 30% on top of
last year's steep losses. That kept downward pressure on energy equities
despite some bargain hunters picking through the wreckage. Cold weather finally
swept across most of the US, helping natural gas achieve a sharp rebound this
week, gaining more than 12%.
In the FX market, the dollar strengthened against the euro, emblematic of the
year's move. For the week, EUR/USD peaked at just under 1.10 and ended around
1.086. For 2015, the euro fell 10.3% against the dollar, while the greenback
gained a more modest 0.5% against the yen, though that was the fourth straight
year the USD/JPY has risen.
On the M&A front, Carl Icahn won the bidding war for Pep Boys, cinching a
deal at $18.50/share, valuing the auto service company at about $1 billion.
Bridgestone said it would not go around again with another counteroffer. Media
General shares lifted on Thursday on a report that Nexstar had raised the funds
it needs to pursue a planned takeover offer. Another report said that Liberty
Global and Vodafone may soon resume merger discussions, which could ultimately
lead to a £140 billion deal.
