Morning Report: Manufacturing disappoints 10/17/16

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Brent Nyitray

Vital Statistics:

Last Change
S&P Futures 2126.5 -0.5
Eurostoxx Index 338.0 -2.0
Oil (WTI) 40.4 0.0
US dollar index 88.3 -0.2
10 Year Govt Bond Yield 1.78%
Current Coupon Fannie Mae TBA 103.3
Current Coupon Ginnie Mae TBA 104.2
30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage 3.58

Stocks are lower this morning on overseas weakness. Bonds and MBS are down.

Manufacturing in the US rose slightly in September, but came in lower than expected. August’s numbers were revised downward. Industrial Production rose 0.1%, while manufacturing production rose 0.2%. Capacity Utilization rose to 75.4%. The strength in the dollar is probably driving the weakness.

Manufacturing dropped in New York last month, according to the Empire State Manufacturing Index. The index fell for the third month in a row.

The black swan event for the financial markets? A democratic party sweep in November. If so, buy infrastructure stocks, sell pharma and financials.

Meanwhile, turnout is looking to be low this year as voters dislike both candidates and are tuning out all the rhetoric.

Elizabeth Warren fired a shot across the bow of the SS Hillary, directing her to demote SEC Chair Mary Jo White. Her sin? Not going along with the left who wants more disclosure of political activities and donations for corporations. Of course this has absolutely nothing to do with investor protection: it is more about using the regulatory power of the SEC to silence opinions that she doesn’t approve of (mainly businesses that donate to the Chamber of Commerce or other groups that argue for lighter regulation or lower taxes).

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