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Can Earnings Season Calm Investors’ Nerves?
It’s been a tumultuous start to the year in markets and that’s unlikely to change as we enter earnings season. Fears of high inflation and accelerating monetary tightening are driving much of the volatility we’ve seen in financial markets in recent weeks, and it’s unlikely to abate anytime soon as peak inflation is likely still to come located.
The earnings season could help calm nerves in the coming weeks as we are reminded that the economy is still in a strong position despite the challenges it is facing.
But even that comes with a degree of uncertainty as the omicron hit at the end of November will no doubt have had an impact. Of course, as we have seen over the past two years, there are winners when consumers stay at home and restrictions are imposed.
Ultimately, however, central banks remain high on investors’ lists for the time being, offering a selection of meetings, minutes and speakers next week that are sure to garner plenty of attention.
It’s hard to overlook Thursday’s CBRT as one of next week’s highlights. Will the central bank finally step on the brakes after an aggressive easing cycle that has come at a huge cost?
US
The coming week will be busy with economic data and earnings results. Goldman Sachs (GS), Bank of America (BAC) and Morgan Stanley (MS) will close out the big banks’ earnings, while Procter & Gamble (PG) may provide a better view of how much more price hikes consumers might have to expect .
On Tuesday, the Empire Manufacturing Index was expected to show activity cooled off in January. Wednesday is all about housing activity which could point both building permits and housing starts down.
On Thursday, initial jobless claims are expected to fall again, while the business outlook in Philadelphia is expected to improve and existing home sales could show a slight decline.
The Fed is on blackout dates, so things will remain quiet until the January 26th FOMC meeting. With financial markets pricing in a more than 90% chance that the Fed will hike rates in March, government bond yields appear to be range-bound just below the 1.80% mark.
I
As the ECB is among the minority of central banks still singing the temporary hymn sheet, next week’s focus will be on the ECB’s December accounts, comments from policymakers including President Christine Lagarde on Monday and the final inflation numbers for December lie. Inflation is uncomfortably high at 5% and the central bank could soon cave in with the rest if the pressure doesn’t ease soon.
United Kingdom
The UK data dump week, to be released Labor Market, Inflation and Retail Sales. But Wednesday is undoubtedly the standout as Governor Bailey will speak hours after the CPI is released, which could make for some interesting commentary. Three or four rate hikes are expected this year, so the expectations are pretty tight, but as we’ve seen recently, there’s a growing fear that more will be warranted.
Russia
No major data or economic events next week so focus will remain on the various geopolitical risks with Russia at the center. A possible invasion of Ukraine tops the list, with the week of intense talks between the US and Russia appearing to have yielded no breakthrough.
Russia is also inextricably linked to Europe’s energy crisis, which is deepening as more failures in French reactors put further pressure on limited reserves.
South Africa
Next week’s inflation data is expected to show increasing price pressures, with the CPI rising to 5.7%, fueling calls for more rate hikes from the SARB.
Turkey
A rare period of relative stability for the lira that is unlikely to last as the CBRT meets next week. Can the central bank resist the urge to make another cut or are there signs of further heavy losses? A no-cut could provide some support for the lira as it could signal an end to the easing cycle for now.
China
China will release fourth quarter GDP and retail sales on Monday. Markets are set for slower growth, with consensus down 3.5% after a 4.9% gain in the third quarter. This would be the weakest GDP report since Q2 2020.
Retail sales are forecast at 3.8% yoy in December, up from 3.9% previously. The government has enacted a zero Covid strategy restricting travel and eating out. Slow income growth is also hurting consumers and has dampened consumer spending.
China’s real estate sector remains in deep crisis with no signs of improvement on the horizon. Evergrande (OTCPK:EGRNF) and other developers have billions of dollars in debt, and investment growth and household borrowing have slowed. The government has eased restrictions on property financing, but these measures have so far proved ineffective.
China’s home price index is due out on Saturday, which could dampen the opening if the news is particularly bad. However, the previous version showed 3% growth and is widely considered to be low-impact data.
Also on Monday, ahead of the GDP release, the PBOC will decide whether to keep the MLF rate at 2.95%.
India
No major economic data or events next week.
Australia
Australia will release key December employment data next week. Job turnover is expected to slow to 60,000 from 366,100 in November. The unemployment rate is expected to fall from 3.6% to 3.5%.
Iron ore prices rose to a three-month high as heavy rains battered Brazil’s mining region, raising supply concerns.
New Zealand
Next week is a quiet economic calendar. On Thursday New Zealand will publish the BusinessNZ Manufacturing PMI for December. The PMI stagnated in November at a value of 50.6 points.
Japan
Inflationary pressures in Japan are much lower than in the UK or US, but inflation is still picking up after years of deflation. The Bank of Japan is expected to maintain ultra-loose policy at Tuesday’s meeting, but is likely to revise its inflation risk assessment for the first time since 2014.
Inflation remains well below the bank’s 2% target, but the BoJ could look to hike rates before it reaches it.
Economic calendar
Saturday January 15th
Economic Data/Events
New home prices in China
Sunday January 16th
The US National Retail Federation opens its annual Retail’s Big Show Expo at the Javits Center, New York
Monday January 17th
Economic Data/Events
US stock and bond markets are closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
China GDP, retail sales, industrial production, surveyed unemployment, real estate investment, medium-term lending
Handelsblatt Energy Summit with Federal Minister of Economics Habeck
Eurozone finance ministers meet in Brussels
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida addresses Parliament
Selling Existing Homes in Canada
Poland CPI
Japanese industrial production, core machinery orders, tertiary industry index
Electronic exports from Singapore
Russia trade
Norway trade
International money transfers from the Philippines
UK Rightmove house prices
Demand deposits Switzerland, Bloomberg economic survey January
Budget balance of the Turkish central government
Tuesday 18 January
Economic Data/Events
US Cross Border Investing, Empire Manufacturing, NAHB Housing Market Index
BOJ interest rate decision: no change in monetary policy, could adjust its assessment of inflation risks
Japan industrial production, capacity utilization
EU finance ministers meet in Brussels for a policy debate on global minimum taxation for multinationals.
Consumer Confidence in Australia
Canada housing begins
New passenger car registrations in the euro zone
Germany Expectations of the ZEW survey
House sale in New Zealand
Russia trade
Mexico International Reserves
UK Unemployment Claims, Unemployment
Poland CPI
Switzerland producer and import prices
Mining, gold and platinum production in South Africa
House Price Index Turkey
Sweden’s Riksbank Gov Ingves speaking on a panel discussion at a blockchain and stablecoin conference
Wednesday January 19th
Economic Data/Events
US housing begins
UK CPI, house price index
French President Macron addresses the European Parliament
BOE Gov Bailey speaks to UK Parliament’s Finance Committee
CPI Canada
Consumer Price Index Germany
CPI South Africa
construction output in the eurozone
Australia Westpac Consumer Confidence
Editions of New Zealand Maps
Retail Sales in South Africa
Current account Russia
Bank earnings from BoA and Morgan Stanley
Thursday January 20th
Economic Data/Events
Selling existing homes in the US, initial jobless claims
ECB minutes of the monetary policy meeting in December
BOJ December Meeting Minutes
UK RICS house prices
Norway Rate Decision: Rates are expected to remain stable
Turkey Rate Decision: Rates are expected to remain stable
Hungary Rate Decision: Expect rates to remain stable
Eurozone CPI
Hong Kong consumer price index
CPI Russia
Japan trade
Prime China Loan Rates, Fast Global Payments
Australia Unemployment, Consumer Inflation Expectations, RBA FX Transactions
New Zealand food prices, ANZ Truckometer heavy traffic
Germany PPI
Export orders from Taiwan
Mexico unemployment
Spain home business, trade
France’s business and manufacturing confidence
Netherlands unemployment, consumer spending
Consumer confidence in Poland
EIA Crude Oil Inventory Report
Netflix (NFLX) reports earnings after the bell
Friday January 21st
Economic Data/Events
US conf. Board Leading Index
Japan CPI
Retail sales in the UK
BOE Mann speaks at the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum
Canada Retail
Consumer Confidence in the Eurozone
The Bank of Italy publishes the Quarterly Economic Bulletin
Consumer Confidence in Turkey
New Zealand Manufacturing Index Performance, Net Migration
Property prices in Singapore
Switzerland money supply
Russia money supply
Thailand trade, futures contracts, foreign exchange reserves
China FX net settlement
Poland sold industrial production, construction production, employment, PPI
Country rating updates
EFSF (DBRS)
ESM (DBRS)
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Publisher’s Note: The summary points for this article were selected by Seeking Alpha editors.
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