Bill Blain: “This Time It Really Is Different! The Machines Have Taken Over And They Will Never Sell”

Submitted by Bill Blain of Mint Partners

Forget the Known Unknows, its the shocking surprises that are going to get us

“Bubbles don’t grow out of thin air, they have a solid basis in reality. But, reality is distorted by misconception..”

And it’s a bad start to the week as my Bloomberg obliquely gave the finger by refusing to log me on.

Markets don’t care about my travails. They continue on their unstoppable upward trajectory. (Remember that word – trajectory, often parabolic. Look it up.) Lots of folks warning about complacency, but markets pay no heed. They prefer the global unlimited growth vibe..

Now, I know I sound like a broken record with my boring repeated warnings the market has gone overly frothy. I could counter with arguments about low volatility and short-tops painting a weakening technical picture. I could make arguments about how the short-term and long term business cycles all converge on weak indicators – I could even give you a lengthy discussion on how the Kondratieff ultra-long cycle says “run-away!” I could refer to volume of money issues, or QE concerns. I could even point you to some astrological stuff… 

Or I could point out what a worrying place the markets are. After reading through all the news this morning it strikes me we’re in thrall to a host of known unknowns.

If you want to worry, then pick your choice: it’s a delightful smorgasbord of things to go bump from the anniversary of the Hurricane and Crash of 87, the right-wing in Austria, noise about Tax reform in the US, Norte Korea, Kurds vs Iraq/Turkey, Catalunya vs Spain, UK vs Everyone, Trump vs the Universe, and everything in between. (In my own case, tomorrow is exactly a year since the unpleasantness with my primary pump – just doesn’t feel like it’s going to be a lucky week!). 

These things we know, and can predict how toxic they might be. The market is shrugging most of them off.. confident they’ll be resolved in a less bad than the worse-case scenario. Why worry?

However, it’s the unknown unknowns, the shocking surprises, the Black Swans events, that catalyze the tipping point moments.

These moments of doubt create consequences that literally cascade through markets causing dislocation, uncertainty and discombobulation on the Grand Scale. Like the failure of a couple of structured debt product funds in 2007 exposing the fundamental weakness underlying Florida sub-prime lending triggering a shutdown in money markets causing the failure of a UK building society in Newcastle – look where that led! Or the dramatic bankruptcy of Orange County in 1994 and shocked realization treasurer Robert Citron had been dealing way out his depth, triggering a cascade of panic across markets as municipalities and banks tried to work out exposures.

It’s the cascade of unintended consequences that cause moments to spiral into doubt and panics to deepen into crashes – surprise and a desperate scramble to front run the consequences!

At this point, I’ll think I’ll give over the porridge to my colleague Steve Previs, who wrote this morning:

“The equity market has sucked in over $300 billion so far in 2017. And that’s just money that has gone into ETFs and passive index funds.

 

And everything, at the moment, is just great for investors as the market keeps going up. And the more the market goes up, the more confident investors become. Why heck, the market might just keep going up because there is no other place to put your money. Why would anyone want to sell?

 

You see, you probably don’t know this, but this time, it really is different! Forget about human nature. The algos, AI and the machines have taken over. They have been programmed to buy and buy and buy. And they will never sell.

 

So stocks can only go up, never down. This is the new paradigm so you better get used to it and hop on board this runaway express train that’s headed straight for Moneyville!

 

Ahem……if you really believe any of the rubbish above, we suggest you take two aspirins and lie down for a couple of hours. For we firmly believe that the longer the market continues it gravity defying rally, the more severe the eventual downturn will be.”

Steve goes on to predict another no-see-em unknown unknown – the bubble that is “the size and amount of bets against volatility.” He and others reckon the amount of money shorting vol through various approaches and instruments is ultimately going to spell trouble in line with 1987 and subsequent crashes.  

I’m travelling the rest of this week, so if it does go bad, then don’t say I didn’t warn you. If it all blithely continues upwards, keep telling yourself I’m an idiot and don’t worry about what could possibly go wrong next week.

As for the Hurricane bearing down on my favourite part of Ireland, I wish them good luck. Of course the fact this looks the worst storm in 50 years, is the first one-in-200 year storm since 1987, and is the first proper hurricane this side of the Atlantic ever, definitely doesn’t mean anything is changing about the global climate. (It does make me giggle how every global corporate tells its customers about how much they care about the environment, and how their latest must-buy product is polar-bear friendly… why legions of capitalists justify their actions by saying Global Warming is a con-trick… something don’t stack up..)

Have a great week

via http://ift.tt/2ysVNxG Tyler Durden

Theresa May Heads To Brussels For Surprise Brexit Dinner: “We’ve Almost Run Out Of Things To Talk About”

After her disastrous speech at the Conservative party conference, Theresa May is in desperate need of some good news as she puts her reputation on the line by unexpectedly heading to Brussels and personally intervening in the stalled Brexit talks. News of the meeting came as a surprise to some in Westminster, although 10 Downing Street insisted that tonight’s dinner with EU leaders “had been in the diary for weeks.”

Unfortunately for Mrs May, the precedent for Brexit dinners is neither successful nor enjoyable. As the Telegraph reports, last time Mrs May had dinner with EU Commission President, Jean Claude Juncker, in April, Mr Juncker “was reported to have launched a scathing attack on Mrs May…saying that Brexit ‘cannot be a success’.

Maybe he’d had too many cognacs again.

Yesterday, in an effort to tip the odds slightly more in her favour, May phoned the only person that Mr Juncker might take instructions from, Angela Merkel. Downing Street claimed that the phone conversation focused on Iran (right), but acknowledged that they agreed on the importance of “constructive progress” in the Brexit negotiations. According to the FT “Theresa May has personally urged Angela Merkel to end the Brexit stand-off at this week’s EU summit in Brussels after Berlin and Paris led moves to toughen the EU’s negotiating line in the next phase of talks.”

Inexplicably, the Germans and the French were concerned that a draft statement for this week’s summit might raise UK hopes about what could be achieved in December 2017. This is the next time that EU leaders gather to assess whether enough progress has been made on negotiating the monetary settlement to begin talks on the future relationship (transition and trade, etc).

The FT quotes a colleague of Mrs May as saying “We’ve almost run out of things to talk about…it comes down to money.”

There seems little hope for Mrs May if Merkel is backing a tougher negotiating stance and, right from the start, the EU has put money first, everything else second.

The following summary of the key issues in the “divorce bill” comes from today’s Telegraph. It will be calculated based on the following:

  1. The ongoing EU budget. The current EU budgetary period began in 2014 and continues until 2020 – a year after the UK is expected to withdraw. EU negotiators argue that the UK government voted to contribute funding to, for example, long-term infrastructure projects, until 2020. The UK government would rather these funding commitments ended in 2019.
  2. Liabilities for loans. The UK has backed EU development lending to other member states, for example Ireland, Ukraine and Portugal. The EU wants us to make funds available to cover the chance of these loans defaulting. This money would eventually be repaid as each of the loans clears.
  3. Pension promises. The UK would be expected to cover the pension contributions of EU officials employed during its membership period.
  4. Other expenses. For example, two European Union agencies are currently based in the UK. The European Banking Authority and the European Medicines Agency will need to relocate after Brexit.

Considerations reducing this amount will be:

  1. The UK’s standard rebate from all EU contributions.
  2. A discount of whatever future EU spending had been allocated to the UK
  3. A share of assets, such as capital from the European Central Bank or the value of European Union buildings built during our membership

If May cannot make progress and the chances of a “no-deal” Brexit rise, her position will be further undermined as MPs from her own party hold talks with the opposition Labour Party for a parliamentary veto of a no-deal Brexit.

The dinner will start at 18:30 local Brussels time and only last about 90 minutes… which is barely time for Juncker and Barnier to get on to the second bottle.

via http://ift.tt/2yrwfkg Tyler Durden

Frontrunning: October 16

  • Iraq forces seize Kirkuk outskirts in advance on Kurdish-held territory (Reuters)
  • Iraq-Kurd Fighting Threatens to Undo Anti-ISIS Coalition (WSJ)
  • Oil rises as fighting escalates in Iraq’s oil-rich Kirkuk (Reuters)
  • Madrid moves towards direct rule over Catalonia (Reuters)
  • Spain Signals It Will Suspend Catalan Self-Rule This Week (BBG)
  • Central Bankers Cling to Stimulus Amid Weak Inflation (WSJ)
  • White House pitches corporate tax cut as win for workers (Reuters)
  • White House Says Corporate Tax Cut Would Boost Wages $4,000 (BBG)
  • GOP Tax Plan Would Make Mortgage Break Irrelevant (WSJ)
  • Congress to Tackle Health Care Again (WSJ)
  • Death toll from Somalia bomb attacks tops 300 (Reuters)
  • Yellen Calls Inflation the ‘Biggest Surprise’ in the Economy (BBG)
  • Wildfire Victims Had Only Seconds to Make Fateful Choices (WSJ)
  • Merkel: Strong result for Austria’s FPO ‘big challenge’ for other parties (Reuters)
  • Nafta Talks Left Reeling After Aggressive U.S. Proposals Land  (BBG)
  • The Crash of ’87, From the Wall Street Players Who Lived It (BBG)
  • Kobe Steel Scam Hits Planes, Trains, Automobiles (BBG)
  • A ‘Crazy’ Stock Market Is Punishing Sellers (BBG)
  • Corruption case against U.S. Senator Menendez may fall apart (Reuters)
  • Irish Brace as ‘Life-Threatening’ Ophelia Set to Slam Coast (BBG)
  • Pope implicitly criticizes U.S. for leaving Paris climate accord (Reuters)
  • May Heads to Brussels to Break Brexit Deadlock (BBG)
  • Trump hostility set to deepen Iran power struggles (Reuters)
  • Kushner Plan for Fifth Avenue Tower Is Being Blocked by Partner (BBG)
  • Old Wall Street Is Losing the Battle Beneath the Surface of ETFs (BBG)
  • Croatian police detain six former executives at Agrokor (Reuters)

 

Overnight Media Digest

WSJ

– The U.S. Senate this week will grapple with President Trump’s decision to stop making subsidy payments to health insurers, with lawmakers seeking a deal that would keep the money flowing while Republicans try to fold in conservative-oriented priorities. on.wsj.com/2gdbLBN

– Iraqi forces clashed with fighters from the Kurdish semi-autonomous region in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk early Monday, Iraqi and Kurdish officials said, in a standoff over Kurdish independence that threatens to unravel a multinational coalition battling Islamic State. on.wsj.com/2gdqfS7

– The death toll from twin bombings in capital Mogadishu climbed above 200 over the weekend, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the country. on.wsj.com/2gclb0d

– U.S. officials defended President Donald Trump’s refusal to certify the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, saying the country threatens global stability even while technically complying with the accord itself. on.wsj.com/2gdC5vG

– Blackstone Group is pushing aggressively into products for retail investors, betting it can raise as much from them over the long term as it does from the institutions that form the main source of its $371 billion of assets. on.wsj.com/2gcC2jA

– Food-service giant Aramark Corp plans to acquire two closely held companies for a total of $2.35 billion, in its largest deals since going public nearly four years ago. on.wsj.com/2gc5vdo

– Harvey Weinstein saw fallout from sexual assault allegations increase over the weekend, including fresh investigations in London, as the producer was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. on.wsj.com/2gb95EO

 

FT

British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to Angela Merkel on Sunday urging the German Chancellor to bring to an end the stand-off over Brexit during this week’s European Union summit.

Young conservative star Sebastian Kurz is on track to become Austria’s next leader after an election on Sunday, but his party is far short of a majority and likely to seek a coalition with the resurgent far right.

National Economic Council director Gary Cohn said on Sunday he sees a “major risk” evolving in clearing houses. Looking at future financial risks, “this is where we should spend some time,” Cohn said

Uber Technologies Inc’s food delivery service UberEATS accounted for about 10 percent of the ride-services company’s global gross bookings in the second quarter, which implies a gross turnover of $700 million to $870 million, according to sources.

 

NYT

– Germany’s largest opposition party, The Social Democrats appeared likely to retain power in an important state election on Sunday that could sway the balance of power in Berlin and stymie efforts to strengthen oversight at Volkswagen , which dominates the region’s economy. nyti.ms/2gco2Gr

– Amazon Inc is sweeping the nation’s capitol, Washington D.C. with a branding campaign of jobs creation and support for small businesses, promoting the upsides of its major expansion in media, groceries and transportation. nyti.ms/2gekzY0

– “Happy Death Day”, the latest microbudget movie from Blumhouse Productions, the Universal Pictures-affiliated studio behind runaway original hits such as “Split” and “Get Out”, arrived to a strong $26.5 million in ticket sales in North America. nyti.ms/2geht6z

 

Britain

The Times

– Russia is funding Taliban military operations against NATO in Afghanistan through a covert programme of laundered fuel sales, the Times has learnt from members of the militant group and Afghan officials. bit.ly/2xHw6p7

– British Prime Minister Theresa May will fly to Brussels on Monday for emergency talks with European leaders to break the impasse on Brexit. bit.ly/2glxZFt

The Guardian

– Hillary Clinton embarked on a speaking tour of Britain with a message that the Brexit referendum was won on the basis of a big lie and warning that Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has been conducting a “cyber cold war” against the west. bit.ly/2hIqF3n

– A powerful cross-party group of members of parliament is drawing up plans that would make it impossible for Prime Minister Theresa May to allow Britain to crash out of the European Union without a deal in 2019. bit.ly/2kQl1kz

The Telegraph

– A report backed by the National Health Service Confederation suggests that tens of thousands of British pensioners living in Europe could be forced to return home if the government is unable to strike a deal with the European Union to continue existing healthcare arrangements. bit.ly/2xHcdmV

Sky News

– Ireland and large parts of UK are on alert as the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia brings gusts of up to 80 miles per hour from the Atlantic. bit.ly/2yqgevi

– UKIP’s new leader Henry Bolton has called for Britain to aim for zero net migration to stop the country being “swamped”. bit.ly/2ykgJr1

via http://ift.tt/2zduo03 Tyler Durden

Snowflakes on the Right: Conservative Hecklers Shut Down Speakers at Whittier College

Whittier CollegeLast week, at Whitter College in California, guest speakers were heckled by angry members of the audience, forcing organizers to end the event early.

This time, the hecklers were neither liberal nor students. They were conservative activists, and adults (in age, if not temperament).

The speakers were California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Assembly Leader Ian Calderon. They had pledged to answer questions from the general public, but several irate MAGA hat-wearing audience members were intent on hijacking the event from the get-go. Arthur Schaper, a pro-Trump activist, interrupted the speakers constantly with cries of “respect our president!” and “build the wall!” and also accusations like “corruption!” and “pothead!” At one point he told the woman seated in front of him—who wanted to actually hear Calderon and Becerra—that she was a lying twat.

The whole thing was captured on video. The video footage was taken by the hecklers. They were evidently proud of their actions.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education’s Adam Steinbaugh first brought this incident to my attention. According to Steinbaugh:

The First Amendment specifically protects the right to demand a redress of grievances, and government should not have the power to punish any and every instance of incivility or protest — including during meetings and discussions on a college campus. But the right to criticize and protest public officials does not encompass a right to intentionally prevent a speaker from addressing an audience in a closed space.

This is exactly what the protesters were doing: because Becerra is a critic of Trump and a part of the lawsuit against DACA, he deserved to be shouted down, in their view.

This shameful act of censorship is a good reminder that even though angry far-left students are at fault in the majority of recent college free speech debacles, they are by no means the only or paramount threat to the First Amendment—on campus or anywhere else. Such a distinction belongs first and foremost to President Trump, whose repeated calls for muzzling of the press and abridgments of the speech rights of people he dislikes are, in the opinion of The Atlantic’s eminently reasonable civil libertarian Conor Friedersdorf, grounds for impeachment. Trump’s censorious supporters in California seem cut from the same cloth.

Indeed, recent events are proving that the current censorious impulse on the left is widely shared by the administrative right, even on campus. Take Drexel University Professor George Ciccariello-Maher, a far-left activist who routinely uses his Twitter platform to castigate free speech as a tool of oppression. Recently, Drexel placed Ciccariello-Maher on administrative leave after the professor blamed the Las Vegas shooting on “the white supremacist patriarchy, stupid.” Life comes at you fast, particularly if you are a critic of extending free speech rights to offensive speakers who nevertheless needs these protections to defend your own deeply offensive views.

Drexel weakly asserted that it was looking out for Ciccariello-Maher’s personal safety—conservatives were none too happy with his tweets—demonstrating once again how dangerous it is to prioritize nebulous safety concerns over free expression. The professor absolutely deserves to make controversial statements on Twitter, even though he himself would not agree if the shoe was on the other foot. Beware campus leftists who want to end the discussion before it begins, and beware conservatives—and their friend in the White House—who would censor their foes with the exact same enthusiasm.

from Hit & Run http://ift.tt/2yrokTL
via IFTTT

NBC’s Al Michaels Apologizes After Comparing NY Giants To Harvey Weinstein

Longtime NBC sports broadcaster Al Michaels outraged feminists and SJWs across America last night when he joked that the New York Giants were “coming off a worse week than Harvey Weinstein” during the Giants-Broncos game last night.

“Let’s face it the Giants are coming off a worse week than Harvey Weinstein and they’re up 14 points.” The comment was a reference to the fact that the Giants lost a handful of players last week to suspensions and injuries.

Michaels’ co-announcer, Chris Collinsworth, responded nervously, saying “only my L.A. guy comes up with that one,” said Collinsworth, to which Michaels responded: "All you have to do is read the papers — any paper.”

Four Giants’ starting receivers got injured last week during a game with the Chargers, including season-ending injuries. Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall and Dwayne Harris all are reportedly out for the whole season, according to Yahoo Sports.

The New York team also suspended indefinitely Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for “violation of team rules” following a meeting with the coach over an incident where he walked out of team’s facility during a meeting.

People were quick to criticize Michaels for his “lapse in judgment.”

Michaels apologized later in the game.

The Giants ended up defeating the Broncos 23-10.

via http://ift.tt/2ylRkgI Tyler Durden

‘Egypt’s Jon Stewart’ in Exile

Bassem YoussefBassem Youssef, known as the Jon Stewart of Egypt, hosted the most popular television show in the history of the Arab world. A heart surgeon by training, he was inspired by the Daily Showfrontman to start a weekly YouTube series in 2011, just as the Arab Spring was getting underway. He taped it from his laundry room.

Called Al-Bernameg, which means The Show, its audience grew to 30 million per episode. The “value of satire,” Youssef says, “is that it humanizes people in power”—those “considered holy.”

Youssef’s downfall began with a viral segment mocking President Mohamed Morsi’s hat in 2013. In March, a warrant was issued for his arrest for insulting the president and Islam. So Youssef offered to turn himself in—wearing his Morsi hat. Though he was released on bail, it was the beginning of the end. Three months later, the military deposed and jailed Morsi, dissolved the constitution, and silenced the critical press. General Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi became the new ruler of Egypt, and his regime didn’t take kindly to mockery.

What followed is the subject of Youssef’s new memoir, Revolution for Dummies (HarperCollins), and the documentary Tickling Giants by Daily Show Senior Producer Sara Taksler, which is available online.

The Show lasted just one episode after Sisi became president. Youssef was slapped with the largest fine in the history of Egyptian media. Sensing that he might soon be arrested and prevented from leaving the country, he threw a few personal belongings into a suitcase and rushed to the airport.

This summer, Youssef sat down with Reason‘s Justin Monticello in Los Angeles, where they discussed political correctness, comedy on college campuses, Donald Trump, the limits of satire, and more.

View this article.

from Hit & Run http://ift.tt/2kWnpX5
via IFTTT

“My House Shook”: Oil Rig Explosion Near New Orleans Leaves 7 Injured, 1 Missing

An oil rig in Lake Pontchartrain, La. exploded Sunday night, leaving seven people injured – five of them critically – with one person still missing, NBC News reported.

Reports of fire and smoke being seen from Lake Pontchartrain first came in around 8:20 ET Sunday night, according to Jefferson Parish spokesman Antwan Harris. The explosion took place about a mile-and-a-half from the shore of the lake, which is located north of New Orleans. Flames could be seen from the area and the air smelled of burning rubber. The cause of the explosion remained unknown early Monday, and authorities said it was too soon to tell whether any oil had spilled. Ben Zahn, the mayor of nearby Kenner, said no homes were threatened.

First responders from St. Charles Parish, Jefferson Parish, Kenner, the US Coast Guard, East Jefferson General Hospital EMS and Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries responded to the explosion. "Several people have been rescued from the active fire on the rig," Harris said.

"Authorities on the scene report that cleaning chemicals ignited on the surface of the oil rig platform," the City of Kenner Government posted on its Facebook page Sunday evening.

Five of the injured were taken to University Medical Center with "blast type injuries and burns" and are in critical condition. The other two are in stable condition at East Jefferson General Hospital. Search and rescue efforts were continuing as of Monday morning, ABC reported.

The Coast Guard said it was coordinating search efforts for a missing man. Meanwhile, authorities asked that residents avoid the area as much as possible as the Coast Guard said it had no further details.

Authorities said workers at the rig were cleaning a chemical on the platform when the explosion occurred.

A Facebook post from the City of Kenner Government noted that the fire ignited because of "cleaning chemicals … on the surface of the oil rig platform," but Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto would not confirm that was the catalyst. Authorities will perform an investigation when the fire is out, he said.  Flames could be seen on the lake Sunday night from the area around the Kenner boat launch, and the air smelled like burning rubber, the New Orleans Times Picayune reported.

Several nearby residents told the Times-Picayune that their houses shook from the explosion.

Andrew Love, 32, said he was inside his house about 10 blocks away when he heard the explosion. "My house actually shook," he said. "At first I thought it was a sonic boom or something, I had no idea what was happening." Stacy Oddo, was in her home near East Jefferson Hospital on Sunday evening when she said she hear the explosion. "It was a loud "boom." I thought it was a car accident or something."

The oil platform, which is located in unincorporated Jefferson Parish, is in production and owned by Clovelly Oil Co. East Bank Consolidated Fire Department Chief David Tibbets said Sunday that the platform is used for the transfer of oil, and the department's goal currently is to stop the oil flow and, if needed, let it burn off safely.

via http://ift.tt/2kU36te Tyler Durden

Israeli Fighter Jets Launch Air Strike On Syrian Air Defense Battery Near Damascus

After years of undermining the regime of Syrian leader Bashar al Assad, an effort that has seen Israel countenance ISIS training camps near its borders and launch recurring missile strikes on Syrian territory and its army bases while threatening to bomb Assad's palace, the simmering conflict between the two nations broke out into the open once again overnight.

The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that Israeli Air Force fighters conducted a missile strike against a Syrian base after a missile was fired at Israeli jets on a routine aerial reconnaissance mission in Lebanese airspace, Russia's news agency Sputnik reports. No people were in injured, and the Israeli jets returned safely, but not before attacking an anti-aircraft battery east of the Syrian capital of Damascus. As usual, The IDF blamed the Syrian government for the incident, however, presenting no proof to support the claim. Damascus has yet to comment on the situation.

"The IDF maintains its ability to thwart hostilities against Israeli civilians," the Israeli Defense Forces stated. According to one of the heads of the Israeli military’s press service, Israel notified Russia of the airstrike as it was being carried out. Ironically, the Israeli military said that it "has no intention to destabilize the situation."

Following several incidents earlier in the year, a de-escalation zone had been created covering territories near the Syria-Israel border in the south of the country. The agreement was reached following the first talks between Putin and US President Donald Trump at G-20 summit.

Today's incident is the latest in a series of similar provocations that have been taking place between the two countries. Israel has claimed to have been repeatedly shelled from the Syrian territory bordering the country and retaliated for the attacks it blames on Damascus, despite the fact that terrorist groups have been controlling parts of bordering territories throughout Syria with some suggesting that Israel cultivates said terrorist organizations. A de-escalation zone had been created on territories near the Syrian border with Israel in the south of the country. The agreement was reached following the first talks between Putin and US President Donald Trump at G20 summit.

Most of the incidents took place in the Golan Heights, internationally recognized as Syrian territory that was seized by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967 with the peace treaty never signed. In 1981, the Israeli parliament voted to annex two-thirds of the Golan Heights. The United Nations has stated on several occasions that Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights is illegal, calling for it to be returned to Syria.

via http://ift.tt/2yoBXS1 Tyler Durden

Global Stocks Rise Oblivious Of Growing Geopol Risks; Oil, Commodities Jump On Kurdish Clashes

World stocks and commodities rose on Monday, boosted by upbeat Chinese data, while U.S. oil futures jumped to a near six-month high as escalating tensions between the Iraqi government and Kurdish forces threatened supply.  Global markets digested the large amount of weekend newsflow, and clearly liked what they saw as S&P futures were modestly in red while both European and Asian stocks are higher.

The USD is marginally stronger after Yellen’s comments suggest the Fed may look through weak inflation. Still, for those who missed this weekend financial elite extravaganza, Yellen stated that new normal will be lower interest rates than seen historically and that inflation has been largest surprise for the US economy this year. Yellen added that gradual hikes in fed funds rate are likely to be appropriate during next few years and that she will be paying attention to inflation data in the upcoming months, although she guesses that the soft reading will not persist. Meanwhile, Fed’s non-voting soft-hawk Rosengren said 3 to 4 rate hikes next year will probably be appropriate and that the Fed may need to overshoot on rates if unemployment is below 4% while inflation reaches target.

Looking at the big macro picture, via Bloomberg:

  • The dollar advanced against its major G10 peers and Treasury yields rose after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on Sunday her “best guess” is consumer prices will soon accelerate after a period of surprising softness, a forecast echoed by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney.
  • The Mexican peso hit a fresh five-month low as NAFTA talks revealed aggressive U.S. proposals;
  • Oil climbed as Iraqi troops moved to take over control of Kurdish fields.
  • The euro trades under pressure via crosses, EUR/JPY accelerates after breaking lower through 132.00,
  • JPY one-week calls also bid as they now capture domestic election date of Oct. 22;
  • EUR/GBP lower as GBP is supported by hawkish comments by Carney on Friday and on news U.K. PM making surprise visit to Brussels today for talks.
  • Gilts underperform from the open, gilt/bund spread wider by 3bps, short sterling strip bear steepens.
  • Bunds steadily grind higher; latest ECB sources report saying some ECB members see $3t QE is within market tapering expectations;
  • Little reaction seen in Spanish bonos to latest Catalonia rhetoric. However, Spanish IBEX underperforms other European equity markets as domestic banks sell off. Eurostoxx and Dax trade flat, miners rally strongly as copper forwards run upside stops through $7000/MT, new YTD high.
  • Crude futures higher after Iraq forces push into Kirkuk region.

Meanwhile, tension over North Korea continues to simmer. The U.S. and South Korean navies began a joint drill involving around 40 warships, amid signs North Korea is preparing for another provocation such as a missile launch. North Korea’s state-run media agency KCNA on Saturday criticized the exercise, calling it a “reckless act of war maniacs.”

Stocks in Europe nudged higher after their longest weekly rally since 2015, led by miners, as gains in oil and copper drove Bloomberg’s gauge of commodity prices to a six-month high.

The Spanish IBEX index lags against its counterparts, down -0.7%  on Catalan fears with Spanish banks leading the losses. As reported previously, the Catalan Leader suspended independence mandate to pursue dialogue with PM Rajoy, however the letter sent by Puigdemont failed to clarify whether he has declared independence or not, prompting the head of the People’s Party in Catalonia Xavier Garcia Albiol says Puigdemont’s answer shows he is irresponsible. CaixaBank falls 2.4%, BBVA down 1.4%, Bankia down 1.5%; the IBEX is down 2% since independence vote on Oct. 1, vs 1% gain for Stoxx 600 over same period. Elsewhere, Convatec shares fall some 14% after announcing a profit warning, while strength in material names are helping European bourses make slight gains this morning.

The MSIC Asia index was higher by 0.6%, its highest level since November 2007, led by Australia’s ASX 200 (+0.3%) underpinned by strength in commodity related stocks after crude approached $52/bbl and iron ore gained over 4%, while Nikkei 225 (+0.5%) extended on its best levels in over 2 decades. Elsewhere, Hang Seng (+0.8%) outperformed and posted its highest close since December 2007 following stronger than expected Chinese Aggregate Financing, New Yuan Loans and PPI data, although the Shanghai Composite (-0.4%) lagged after the PBoC kept its liquidity operations at a minimal. Meanwhile, China’s ChiNext Index of small-cap shares drops as much as 2.3%, the biggest intraday loss since July 17, amid expectations that liquidity could tighten and as investors turn more cautious ahead of the Communist Party congress this week. “Zhou Xiaochuan’s comments signal that China will move further to rein in financial leverage and is unlikely to maintain an easy liquidity environment,” says Shen Zhengyang, Shanghai-based analyst with Northeast Securities Co.

Overnight, as reported previously, China CPI printed at 1.6% Y/Y, in line with expectations, and down from, 1.8% in August largely due to high year-over-year base effects, but it was PPI to come in smoking hot, jumping from 6.3% last month to 6.9% Y/Y, slamming expectations of a 6.4% print and just shy of the highest forecast, driven by the recent surge in commodity costs and strong PMI surveys.

 

The stronger than expected PPI has pushed China’s 10Y yield to the highest in 30 months, or since April of 2015.

 

Japan’s torried rally continued as technology firms and banks bolstered the Japanese stock market, sending the Topix index to its sixth day of gains, up 0.6%, and its longest winning streak for this year. All but four industry groups in the Topix advanced, while the Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose for the 10th day, the longest stretch since June 2015. Technology shares mirrored gains in U.S. peers as chipmakers and internet giants bolstered the S&P 500 Index at the end of last week. Automakers underperformed after the yen strengthened against the dollar for a second day on Friday as data showed the core U.S. consumer price index rose 0.1 percent in September from a month earlier, below the estimate of 0.2 percent. “Risks of not buying into Japanese equities are rising,” said Masahiko Sato, an analyst at Nomura Holdings Inc. in Tokyo. “In the midst of a global economic expansion, local corporate earnings are improving and equities are looking cheap. Foreign investors are buying into this.”

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.1 percent as the euro weakened and Spanish shares fell after Spain’s government gave Catalonia a new deadline to back down from its independence claim. The pound extended gains as British Prime Minister Theresa May headed for Brussels to intervene in deadlocked exit negotiations. The Japanese yen increased less than 0.05 percent to 111.81 per dollar.

The Bloomberg Commodity Index gained 0.4% to the highest in six months. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 1.3% to $52.12 a barrel, the highest in two weeks, due to the conflict in Kurdish Iraq. Gold increased 0.1 percent to $1,304.53 an ounce.  Copper climbed 2.3 percent to $3.21 a pound, hitting the highest in more than three years. Palladium traded above $1,000 an ounce for the first time since 2001.

Economic data include Empire Manufacturing Survey. Netflix, Schwab and CSX are among companies reporting earnings

Bulletin Headline Summary from RanSquawk

  • Catalonian uncertainty continues to shadow over markets
  • EUR marginally underperforms, as CAD benefits from bullish oil markets
  • Looking ahead, investors will await US NY Fed Manufacturing data

Top Overnight News

  • Kirkuk: Iraqi forces moved to take over oil fields from Kurdish forces
  • Fed’s Yellen: ongoing economic strength to warrant gradual rate hikes as soft inflation readings will not persist
  • ECB’s Draghi: no convincing signs of underlying inflation; would expect higher wage growth at this stage; sees V-shaped path of inflation due to oil prices
  • ECB QE: GC sees a limit of just over EU2.5t for the QE program based on current rules; enough bonds available to cut monthly purchases to EU30b in Jan. lasting until Sept, according to people familiar
  • Brexit: U.K. PM making surprise visit to Brussels today to meet EU’s Barnier and Juncker for talks; U.K. MPs holding cross-party talks in a bid to stop “No Deal” style Brexit
  • Catalonia: regional president does not give yes/no answer to Spanish govt. on independence declaration; defends claim to independence, asks for negotiations; Spanish Deputy PM says Thursday deadline is now activated
  • Italy: elections could be held March 4 after passage of 2018 budget law: Corriere
  • China Sept. CPI 1.6% vs 1.6% est; PPT 6.9% vs 6.4% est; M2 Money Supply: 9.2% vs 8.9% est; new Yuan Loans 1.27t vs 1.20t est; agg. Financing 1.82t vs 1.57t est.

Market Snapshot

  • S&P 500 futures little changed at 2,553.50
  • STOXX Europe 600 up 0.2% to 392.30
  • MSCI Asia up 0.6% to 167.66
  • MSCI Asia ex Japan up 0.5% to 552.89
  • Nikkei up 0.5% to 21,255.56
  • Topix up 0.6% to 1,719.18
  • Hang Seng Index up 0.8% to 28,692.80
  • Shanghai Composite down 0.4% to 3,378.47
  • Sensex up 0.5% to 32,603.26
  • Australia S&P/ASX 200 up 0.6% to 5,846.76
  • Kospi up 0.3% to 2,480.05
  • German 10Y yield unchanged at 0.403%
  • Euro down 0.3% to $1.18
  • Italian 10Y yield fell 3.3 bps to 1.815%
  • Spanish 10Y yield fell 1.1 bps to 1.6%
  • Brent futures up 1.4% to $57.98/bbl
  • Gold spot up 0.04% to $1,304.39
  • U.S. Dollar Index up 0.1% to 93.22

Asia equity markets began the week on the front-foot again after another record setting session last Friday on Wall Street, where softer than expected US CPI figures caused some to rethink the Fed’s hiking trajectory, while the region also digested encouraging Chinese lending and inflation data. ASX 200 (+0.3%) was underpinned by strength in commodity related stocks after crude approached USD 52/bbl and iron ore gained over 4%, while Nikkei 225 (+0.5%) extended on its best levels in over 2 decades. Elsewhere, Hang Seng (+0.8%) outperformed and posted its highest since December 2007 following stronger than expected Chinese Aggregate Financing, New Yuan Loans and PPI data, although the Shanghai Comp. (-0.4%) lagged after the PBoC kept its liquidity operations at a minimal. Finally, 10yr JGBs were initially mildly higher to track recent upside in T-notes and amid the BoJ’s presence in the market for an amount just shy of JPY 1tln in JGBs ranging from 1yr-10yr maturities, but then failed to sustain gains amid the positive risk tone.

For those who missed the main Chinese economic data over the weekend, here are the highlights:

  • China Sept fiscal revenues CNY 2.27tln +9.2% y/y, spending at CNY 2.02tln, +1.7% y/y.
  • Chinese New Yuan Loans (CNY)(Sep) 1270.0B vs. Exp. 1100.0B (Prev. 1090.0B).
  • Chinese Aggregate Financing (CNY)(Sep) 1820.0B vs. Exp. 1572.7B (Prev. 1480.0B)
  • Chinese Money Supply M2 (Sep) Y/Y 9.2% vs. Exp. 8.9% (Prev. 8.9%)
  • Chinese CPI YY (Sep) 1.6% vs. Exp. 1.6% (Prev. 1.8%).
  • Chinese PPI YY (Sep) 6.9% vs. Exp. 6.4% (Prev. 6.3%)
  • PBoC injected CNY 20bln via 7-day reverse repos; PBoC set CNY mid-point at 6.5839 (Prev. 6.5866)

PBoC Governor Zhou stated that total debt leverage in China is too high and that there is no clear fiscal discipline to restrict local governments; Zhou also stated that China’s economic growth is to hit 7% in H2.

Top Asian News

  • Japan Shares Rise, Topix Marks Longest Winning Streak This Year
  • Bad-Loan Recast Failures Portend More Pain for India Lenders
  • More Factories Go Dark as China’s Expansion Hangs in the Balance
  • Bitauto Car-Financing Arm Is Said to File for $800 Million IPO
  • H&M Supplier Crystal Sets Price Range for $574 Million IPO
  • Li’s H.K. Tower Sells for Record $5.15 Billion, Report Says
  • Wanda Golf Courses in Chinese Resort Shut Down by Authorities

In Europe, the IBEX lags against its counterparts on Catalan fears with Spanish banks leading the losses. As reported previously, the Catalan Leader suspended independence mandate to pursue dialogue with PM Rajoy, however the letter sent by Puigdemont failed to clarify whether he has declared independence or not. Convatec shares fall some 14% after announcing a profit warning, while strength in material names are helping European bourses make slight gains this morning. UK debt appears to have weathered an early storm, but like Short Sterling remains on the relative backfoot on near term BoE tightening prospects. This follows more policy guidance from Governor Carney at the World Bank/IMF, and precedes Tuesday’s potentially policy-defining inflation report. Consensus is for headline CPI to climb to 3% y/y, but the bias suggests an above forecast print that would see the mandate breached and by inference strengthen the MPC’s resolve to act sooner rather than later (ie in November). Bunds are steady in comparison, and rangebound amidst contrasting drivers (ECB underscoring tapering intentions, but ongoing Spanish/Catalan uncertainty underpinning the EZ safe-haven). Perhaps surprisingly, Bonos not too adversely affected by the latest regional-national Government impasse, and RAGBs also holding in despite an unexpectedly strong showing by the far right in the weekend Austrian election. US Treasuries have eased off Friday’s post-CPI highs, with Fed chair Yellen still predicting higher inflation ahead and repeating that the wage components in the latest jobs data are encouraging – inference that this is more important than the negative (and obviously hurricane distorted) headline payrolls number.

Top European News

  • Catalan Leader Defends Claim to Independence, Defying Spain
  • Spain’s OHL Studies Sale of Concessions Unit, EL Mundo Reports
  • Cyprus Rogue Borrowers Pose Threat to Sustained Growth
  • EDP Falls in Lisbon Following Regulator’s Proposal on Tariffs
  • European Miners Rise to 4-Yr High; Citi Still Bullish on Sector
  • U.K.’s Johnson Urges ‘Some Serious Negotiations’ in Brexit Talks
  • Serbia May Present Kosovo ‘Proposal’ in March, President Says

In currencies, morning reports from the Spanish/Catalonian saga, stating that Catalan leader, Puigdemont has suspended the independence mandate to pursue dialogue with PM Rajoy, led to no reprieve in the EUR, which saw a slow, downward grind through the Asian session, as EUR/USD came back to break through Friday’s pre-US inflation data levels. EUR/GBP has come back to trade in the 0.8900 – 0.8750 range, alongside EUR/USD breaking firmly down through 1.18, with participants showing little optimism towards positive Spanish developments. Focus now slowly moves toward the end of October, as EUR/USD volatility sellers suggest more rangebound trade as we approach the ECB meeting. Options continue to play a part in FX markets as the large expiries theme remains, with hedges evident – EUR/USD sees 2.5bln between 1.1760 and 1.1910, and EUR/GBP has 1.7bln rolling off between 0.8885 and 0.8900. The probability of a Fed move in December has declined (as low as 73.2%, according to some measures) , following Friday’s tame inflation report. Some concerns over the US economy continued over the weekend, with comments from Fed Chair Yellen, stating that the new normal will be lower interest rates, further saying that inflation has been the largest surprise for the US economy this year, yet did add that gradual hikes in the Fed Funds rate are likely to be appropriate during the next few years and will pay close attention to inflation in the coming months. DXY remains rangebound, struggling to break into the range seen prior to Friday’s Inflation report. A marginal inflow into the JPY has been seen in early European trade, however, USD/JPY continues to struggle to trade below 111.70, with rangebound price action clear. The day sees no standout economic data on the docket, with trade potentially likely to remain subdued, as investors focus on global concerns given that various geopolitical and political uncertainties remain.

In commodities, oil prices notably firmer with WTI and Brent making a breach above USD 52 and USD 58 respectively, largely as a result of the conflict between Iraqi and Iraqi-Kurdish forces, whereby Iraqi forces have moved into Kirkuk, consequently raising concerns over exports (Kirkuk exports account for roughly 600k). OPEC Secretary General Barkindo stated that OPEC and shale companies share responsibility to rebalance market, while there were also comments from Kuwait that producers need another month before deciding on deal extension and decision may be made in November. Iraqi forces capture Kirkuk’s K1 airbase from Kurdish forces, according to a military statement. Kurdish leaders have agreed to avoid fighting in Kirkuk’s Oil and Gas facilities, according to the Iraqi oil ministry.

US Event Calendar

  • Oct. 16-Oct. 20: Monthly Budget Statement, est. $6.0b, prior $33.4b
  • 8:30am: Empire Manufacturing, est. 20.5, prior 24.4

DB’s Jim Reid concludes the overnight wrap

There were few inflationary gusts on Friday after the much anticipated US CPI report. After nudging against 2.40% last Friday after a strong US average hourly earnings number, 7 days later the miss on CPI saw 10yr USTs close the week at 2.274% having traded just below 2.33% most of the session before hand. September core inflation rose only 0.13% mom (vs. 0.2% expected) and 1.7% yoy (vs. 1.8% expected). In the details, core services inflation was inline, but the main miss was on the core goods side, which fell 0.2% mom (-1% over past 12 months – the lowest reading since August 2004). Our US team believes some of this weakness should prove transitory (eg: medical care commodities), but there were also more broad based signs of weakness. The team still expects core CPI inflation to remain near recent levels in yoy terms through 2017, albeit with risks that it now rounds down to 1.6%.

This now makes it 6 out of 7 months of misses relative to expectations but a) remember that we’ve previously shown US inflation tends to lag growth by around 18 months and growth was weak at the end of ‘15/ early 16, b) that many at the Fed have recently suggested a bias to look through the ‘temporary’ weakness, and c) the Fed have also made it clear they’re looking more and more at (the very loose) financial conditions in their rate discussions.

So overall, Friday’s number should reduce the risk of a December Fed hike but not perhaps by much. Bloomberg’s calculator has it at 73.3% now, down 3.4ppt versus Thursday’s close. If the usual lag between growth and CPI holds, we still may have weak YoY CPI into Q1 but just as the market gives up on inflation ever rising again, we may get some higher than expected shocks as we move into Q2 2018. Staying with inflation, China’s September CPI was in line at 1.6% yoy, but lower than the prior month, driven by lower food prices. Elsewhere, PPI was notably higher than consensus at 6.9% yoy (vs. 6.4% expected).

Over the weekend, the main movers and shakers of global central banks spoke on inflation, tapering and risks at the annual IMF meeting. Firstly, Mrs Yellen said “my best guess is that these soft readings (inflation) will not persist” and that “with the ongoing strengthening of labour markets, I expect inflation to move higher next year”. On rates, she noted “we expect the neutral level of the federal fund rates to rise somewhat over time” and that “additional gradual rate hikes are likely to be appropriate over the next few years to sustain the economic expansion”. On fiscal policy changes, she said “it’s a source of uncertainty”, we have taken “a kind of wait and see attitude”.

ECB’s Draghi also reiterated that he is “confident” inflation will “gradually converge in a self-sustained manner”, but we should be patient, because “it’s going to take time”. On tapering, ECB’s Praet had noted the idea of a bigger reduction in monthly bond buying in exchange for longer duration of the program earlier. When asked by reporters, Draghi said that Praet “had said it very well”. Back on Friday, Bloomberg reported that ECB policy makers are considering reducing the pace of bond buying to €30bn/mth (from €60bn/mth), but for nine more months to September 2018. Elsewhere, Bundesbank President Weidmann noted he does not see the need to further expand monetary stimulus, while the ECB’s Italian governor Visco noted he would prefer not to have specific dates on the unwinding of QE as ECB needs “the flexibility that is in the program”. Given the difference in opinions, we shall find out more at the next ECB meeting next week on 26 October.

Elsewhere, BOE’s Carney reiterated he may need to raise rates in the “coming months” as the UK’s economy is running out of spare capacity. Japan’s BOJ Kuroda noted “achieving the 2% target is still a long way off and the BOJ  will persistently [maintain] aggressive monetary easing” and he does not “see risks mounting in the financial markets in the US, Europe and Japan”. This was also backed up by Draghi who saw little signs that “stocks and bonds are having valuations that are stretched when compared to historical averages”.

Finally, China’s PBC Governor Zhou noted that “6.9% economic growth may continue in the second half”. He also said “the main problem (in China) is that the corporate debt is too high” and that while debt servicing costs remain low, “we need to pay further efforts to deleveraging and strengthen the policy for financial stability”. Zhou flagged that some of China’s corporate debt includes borrowing from financing vehicles owned by the local  governments, so if redefined, corporate debt / GDP is closer to c125% than the official figure of 160%, while government debt would be 70% of GDP (vs. 36%). Elsewhere, he said the asset management business is “a relatively chaotic situation”, partly due to three different regulators with different sets of rules. For those who have missed it, our note “The next financial crisis” takes a closer look at this and other developing risks.

Overnight, South Korean military officials warned North Korea may be preparing for another round of missile launches, while US and SK navies have begun a joint drill involving 40 warships. Elsewhere, US Secretary of State  Tillerson said he will continue with diplomacy measures with NK “until the first bomb drops”. This morning in Asia, markets havefollowed the positive lead from the US and are trading higher. The Kospi (+0.12%), Nikkei (+0.68%), ASX 200 (+0.63%) and Hang Seng (+0.81%) are slightly higher as we type.

In Austria, the centre-right People’s Party (OVP) leader Sebastian Kurz is expected to become the world’s youngest government leader (aged 31). Of the votes counted (c85%), the Interior Minister Sobotka said the OVP received 31.4% (vs. c33% in late polls per The Independent), while the Social Democrats party has 26.7% (vs. 24.4%) and the Freedom Party (FPO) has 27.4% (vs. c26%). A renewed coalition between OVP and SPO is seen as less likely, which makes the far right, anti-immigrant and euro-sceptic FPO party in a strong bargaining position when forming the next coalition government. This would mark the FPO’s first return to government since 2005. So it will be interesting to see what a potential OVP & FPO tie up would mean for Europe on issues such as immigration and deeper EU integration.

Over in Germany, Merkel’s CDU party has likely suffered the worst election result since 1959 in the northern state of Lower Saxony (home state of Volkswagen with 7.8m people). The Social Democrats Party (SPD) was the big winner, with official preliminary results putting the SPD as winning 36.9% (+4.1ppt from 2013) of the votes, while Merkel’s party came second, wining 33.6% (-2.6ppt). The loss is unlikely to shift the power mix at the state level as the Social democrats and the Green already govern the state, but the softer  sentiment for her party could have follow on implications ahead of Merkel’s talks with potential coalition partners (likely the Greens & FDP) this week, in order to form the next federal government.

Indeed UK PM May is expected to travel to Brussels and meet with EC Commission President Junker and Chief Brexit negotiator Barnier for Brexit talks today. According to her office, the trip has been in her diary for some time, but has only now been publicly announced. We wait and see whether her efforts will improve the chance of some resolution ahead of the EU Summit meeting later this week. Elsewhere tomorrow’s Euro and UK CPI will be a focal point as will the 57 S&P 500 companies reporting. Today, Spain and Catalonia will be back in the spotlight with Catalan President Puigdemont due to face a deadline to clarify to the Spanish Government Catalonia’s position on independence. For the full week ahead we’ve copied the text from “Next week, this week” at the end.

On the US fiscal front, optimism and pricing of a deal has again faded but the next key step is the adoption of a budget by the Senate (expected to be later this month), which should be followed by a House-Senate conference to agree on a common FY18 budget. As DB’s fixed income weekly explains, the base case is that the House will converge towards a plan consistent with the Senate’s USD1.5 trillion deficit target (relative to the CBO baseline) and assuage deficit hawks with the prospects of higher growth reducing the deficit relative to this target. The final tax reform is more likely to amount to a more modest tax cut with a relatively limited impact on GDP. However, the increase in deficits will still be relevant to bond markets from a flow perspective.

Quickly recapping the markets performance on Friday. Equities (S&P +0.09%, Stoxx 600 +0.29%) edged higher back towards their record highs. Within the S&P, HP rose 6.42% post results, while bank results were mixed with WFC down 2.75% following an unexpected $1bn legacy legal charge and softer revenue trends, while BofA gained 1.49%, partly due to improved cost discipline.

Bond markets were broadly firmer following the US CPI miss and stronger than expected retail sales. Core bond yields fell 4-5bp at the 10y part of the curve (UST: -4.5bp; Bunds -4.1bp; OATs -4.6bp), but Gilts underperformed (-1bp). The US dollar index was broadly flat (+0.04%) while Sterling gained 0.17% but the Euro dipped 0.08% versus the Greenback. In commodities, WTI oil rose 1.68% following reports of lower US crude stockpiles, and continues to edge higher this morning as fighting broke out between Iraqi and Kurdish forces near Kirkuk. Iron Ore rallied 4.06% to $62.53/ton following China trade figures that showed a three year high for monthly ore imports.

Before we take a look at today’s calendar, we wrap up with other data releases from Friday. Excluding the CPI miss, other US macro data were broadly stronger than expected. The September retail sales (ex-auto & gas) beat expectations at 0.5% mom (vs. 0.4% expected), while the University of Michigan’s October consumer confidence also beat at 101.1 (vs. 95 expected). Elsewhere, the August business inventories print was in line at 0.7% mom. In  Europe, the final readings of September CPI for Germany and Italy was unrevised, at 1.8% yoy (flat mom) and 1.3% yoy respectively.

Looking at the day ahead, in Europe the August trade balance reading for the Euro area is the sole release due while in the US the October empire manufacturing print is due. Away from the data Spain and Catalonia will be back in the spotlight with Catalan President Puigdemont due to face a deadline to clarify to the Spanish Government Catalonia’s position on independence. Earnings wise, Netflix results are likely to be the most significant.

via http://ift.tt/2yliGnd Tyler Durden

Catalan Leader Defies Spain, Sends Evasive Reply To Rajoy Activating Second Ultimatum Deadline

The Catalan stand-off has been extended until Thursday as both sides hold their ground.

After days of expectation and talks with his separatist allies, Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont stood by his decision to keep his region’s declaration of independence from Spain “in suspension” despite a demand for clarity from Spain prime minister Rajoy, effectively challenging the central government to follow through on promises to forcibly take control of the region by sending an evasive reply to the central government’s Article 155 notification, which on Wednesday began the process of suspending home rule in the region.

The Spanish Prime Minister’s office was seeking a simple “yes” or “no” reply by 10 a.m. on Monday on the question of whether Mr. Puigdemont had or had not declared independence last Tuesday. Anything other than “no”, the First Minister was warned, would lead to the activation of the so-called faced the use of Article 155 of the Spanish constitution. This article is the so-called “nuclear option” which allows Madrid to dissolve the regional government and call fresh regional elections. The central government can also take over the local police force and television channels.

Eventually, Puigdemont chose more obfuscation and defiance: his four-page reply, obtained by Catalan radio stations Catalunya Radio and RAC1 and released by The Spain Report, neither confirmed nor denied he had proclaimed a new Catalan republic last week, but said the declaration remained “in suspension” and proposed two months of dialogue arguing that the Spanish people and Europe will only understand “dialogue, negotiation and agreement.” He did not say what he would do if talks did not take place by the middle of December.

“The situation we are living through”, the letter begins: “is of such transcendence that it demands political solutions and replies that are up to the job”. Both “the majority of society” and Europe would only understand a solution based on “dialogue, negotiation and agreement”.

Puigdemont says he was “surprised” by the central government’s decision to begin the process of suspending home rule, and that his proposal of dialogue was “sincere” and “honest”, not “a demonstration of weakness”. He also argued that despite “violent police action”, “more than two million Catalans” entrusted the regional parliament with a “democratic mandate to declare independence”.

Most “no” voters stayed at home on October 1 and opposition parties refused to take part in an illegal referendum campaign. 90% of those who voted chose “yes”. “The priority of my government is to seek the path of dialogue with all intensity… The suspension of the political mandate that came out of the ballot boxes on October 1 demonstrates our firm will to seek a solution and not confrontation.”

Furthermore, in addition to again not replying clearly to the Article 155 notification, and demanding dialogue with the central government, Puigdemont made two specific requests of Madrid.

  • First, he asked the Spanish government to lift “the repression of the people and government of Catalonia”. That means he would like sedition charges against the chairmen of Omnium Cultural, Jordi Cuixart, and the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), Jordi Sánchez, and Catalan Police chief Josep Lluis Trapero, dropped. He also says fundamental rights in the region have been violated, the Internet and media outlets “censored” and public accounts frozen. He makes a second mention of the “brutal police violence against a peaceful civilian population” on October 1.
  • The second thing Mr. Puigdemont wants is a meeting with Mariano Rajoy, “that allows us to explore the first agreements” pleading to “let us not allow the situation to deteriorate further.”

* * *

In response to Puigdemont’s non-confirmation, and non-denial, Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy said that Puigdemont’s response was a step toward Article 155, while Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said the Catalan government now has until its second deadlin, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, to disown its claims to a mandate for independence, and that Catalonia can still avert next steps by Spain.

She explained that Article 155 is not to suspend regional govt, and aims to ensure regional self-govt is excercised according to law. She also said that Spain regrets that Puigdemont didn’t reply to PM Rajoy’s demand and that the second deadline of Spain’s demand is now activated.

She concluded that dialogue can only take place within the law, in parliament, and that Puigdemont cannot keep population in uncertainty.

And so, today’s Catalan showdown has been pushed back by another three days as neither side appears ready or willing to back down.

via http://ift.tt/2wYaHZf Tyler Durden