Seems we got a continuing base this morning for both stocks and metals as futures see gains in metals while stocks fade a bit --complete opposite of last Friday's trade. Barring more chaos in Europe things may quiet down as our report week (CPI, Home Sales, Durables, etc) are all scheduled for Wed. - Thurs. This morning's news:
- Ukraine nerves send European shares lower European stock markets fell across the board on Monday, concerned by an escalation in tensions between Russia and the West and reports the Ukrainian army was moving on a major rebel stronghold.
- Many Wrong Forecasts Later, Yellen Turns to Stocks - Jon Trugman, NYP
- Fed Considers Paying Banks Not To Lend - Mike Cosgrove, Investor's Business
- Ignore Obama's Call For Economic Patriotism - David Harsanyi, Reason
- What Will Undo The Low Rate Environment? - Morningstar
- Bamboozled Billionaires Norman Rogers The billionaire trio of Henry Paulson, Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer have been bamboozled by global warming profiteers. More
- Exporting Corporate Headquarters and Importing Broken Families July 21, 2014 Not good for the national balance sheet. More
- Gold Extends Drop as U.S. Rates Outlook Counters Ukraine Tension Gold fell for a second day, extending the first weekly loss in seven, as the outlook for higher U.S. borrowing costs offset demand for a haven amid unrest in Ukraine and Gaza. Palladium was near a 13-year high. Bullion for immediate delivery retreated as much as 0.3 percent to $1,307.52 an ounce… Bloomberg
Economic Calendar:
Tuesday:
8:30 am CPI - Consensus +0.3% (+.02 ex food/energy)
9:00 am FHFA Home Price Index
10:00 am Existing Home Sales - Consensus 4.995M
Thursday:
8:30 am Initial Claims
9:45 am PMI - Manufacturing Flash
10:00 am New Home Sales (June) - Consensus +480K
Friday:
8:30 am Durable Goods - Consensus +0.6%
Here’s the associated article:
Fattening Profit Margins Continue To Be The Dominant Driver Of Earnings Growth
Earnings season is under way, and one theme is clear: fat profit margins are driving earnings growth.
“[T]he majority of earnings growth we have observed so far this quarter has been a function of margins, as companies continue to operate with as few expenses as possible,” write analysts at JP Morgan Asset management.
Ever since the financial crisis, sales growth has been weak. However, corporations have been able to deliver robust earnings growth by fattening profit margins. Much of this has been done by laying off workers and squeezing more productivity out of those on the payroll.
“With earnings growth (5.5%) rising at a faster rate than revenue growth (3.0%) in Q2 and in future quarters, companies have continued to discuss cost-cutting initiatives to maintain earnings growth rates and profit margins,” said FactSet’s John Butters on Friday.
But with profit margins near record-highs, many agree that we’re do for at least some pull back.
“Looking forward, however, it is not clear that margins can continue to materially increase, meaning that the baton will need to be passed to revenues in order for earnings to continue pushing higher over the coming quarters,” said JPM.
