Sarah Sands

Russia’s manufacturing activity in January According to Markit Economics, Russia’s manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) improved marginally between December 2017 and January 2018, to 52.1 from 52.0. The January figure met the market estimate of 52.0 and was the strongest reading since July 2017. Factors affecting Russia’s manufacturing PMI in January were as follows: production volume and output […]

According to a report provided by the Office for National Statistics, on a monthly basis, the United Kingdom’s inflation index showed no improvement in June compared to May.

The iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG), which tracks the performance of the German economy, fell 5.2% in June.

According to a report provided by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research, the German Ifo Business Climate Index has weakened marginally so far in July compared to June.

The Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) and the iShares Europe ETF (IEV) rose 2.8% and 3%, respectively, in the month through July 24.

Core inflation stood at 0.9% in June compared to 1.1% in May.

In this series, we’ll examine the Eurozone’s economic condition and its accompanying indexes.

Billionaire investor and the co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management Howard Marks shared his views on Bitcoin at the Delivering Alpha Conference on July 23.

In the previous part of this series, we discussed Howard Marks’ latest views on FANG stocks and saw that he is concerned about high-growth technology stocks and the risk to the equity market (SPY).

Howard Marks said at the 2018 Delivering Alpha Conference on July 23 that the Fed’s hawkish stance is the single biggest risk for the equity market (SPY).

Billionaire investor and co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management Howard Marks shared his latest views on FANG stocks, ETFs, and Bitcoin.

Former top advisor to President Trump Steve Bannon shared his views on the US (QQQ)–China (FXI) trade war at the 2018 Delivering Alpha Conference on July 23.

Billionaire investor and CEO of Third Point, Dan Loeb, also discussed his fresh position in PayPal (PYPL) in the second quarter of 2018.

The broader market S&P 500 Index (SPY) rose 7.7% in the first half of 2017 and 1.6% in the first half of 2018.

If major Eurozone economic indicators improve in the coming months, we could expect those economies to regain some strength.

According to Markit Economics, Indonesia’s (IDX) manufacturing activity fell to a five-month low in June.

The final China Markit Services PMI improved significantly in June. It was 53.9 in June compared to 52.9 in May.

The China Manufacturing PMI for June showed an improvement in manufacturing activity.

The final Brazil Services PMI was again in the contraction zone in June after showing some contraction in May.

The final Markit Brazil Manufacturing PMI entered the contraction zone in June. It was 49.8 in June compared to 50.7 in May.

The Russia Services PMI has been weakening gradually since April. It was 52.3 in June compared to 54.1 in May.

The final Russia Manufacturing PMI has again entered into the contraction zone in June after showing a huge contraction in May.

Improving domestic and international demand are helping Mexico’s manufacturing industry.

David Rubenstein said at the Delivering Alpha Conference that the US economy (SPY) is doing well under the Trump administration.

David Rubenstein, the co-founder and co-executive chair of the Carlyle Group, said at the Delivering Alpha Conference that further interest rate hikes likely won’t damage the US economy.

Mednax and Envision Healthcare’s (EVHC) stock price fell 1.45% and 1.72%, respectively, on Wednesday, July 18.

According to the data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US Consumer Price Index, or the inflation index, witnessed weaker improvement in June compared to May.

In this series, we’ll analyze the performance of inflation in the United States as well as US retail sales for June.

According to a report by Markit Economics, the final Spain Services PMI showed a weaker improvement in June than in May.

Previously, we discussed Morgan Stanley’s (MS) optimistic views on major defensive sectors.

Morgan Stanley (MS) doesn’t expect activity in the US economy (QQQ) or others to rise further as we are in the late cycle of the bull market.

The final Eurozone manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) has been falling gradually since December 2017.

According to a report by Markit Economics, Germany’s final manufacturing PMI has been weakening gradually since December 2017.

Citigroup has an optimistic view on US equities and upgraded its rating on US equities to overweight from neutral.

Citigroup believes the global equity market has the potential to climb another 9% in the next 12 months.

According to the ADP report, the private sector had softer improvement in June than in May and didn’t meet the market expectation.

In June, 213,000 US non-farm jobs were added compared to 244,000 in May. It beat the market expectation of 195,000 jobs.

Year-to-date through July 5, Facebook has risen 11.7% and NVIDIA has risen 24.7%

The S&P 500 Index (SPY) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) fell 0.5% and 0.54%, respectively, on July 3 as trade tensions escalated.

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV), which tracks the performance of the US health care sector, rose 0.95% in the first half of 2018.

The S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ Composite Index managed to provide positive returns in the first half of 2018 despite uncertainty in the global trade environment.

The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the volatility of the S&P 500 Index, rose sharply in the first half of 2018.

After providing strong returns in May 2018, the major US indexes witnessed some nervousness in June.

Famous economist David Rosenberg said in an interview with CNBC on June 26 that rising trade tension could affect US businesses (SPY).

In the previous part of this series, we discussed the trade war tension between the US and China and how it has been intensifying.

Let’s take a look at the major developed market economic indicators investors should keep an eye on next week.

According to a report provided by the Office for National Statistics, the United Kingdom’s inflation index remained unchanged in May compared to April.

US President Donald Trump’s announcement about the imposition of a 20% import tariff on all European cars increased uncertainty about US–Europe trade relations.

After significant trade war tensions between the United States (SPY) and China (FXI)(YINN) in recent months, investors’ focus has now shifted toward the US–EU trade relationship.

According to a report by Markit Economics, Indonesia’s (IDX) (ASEA) manufacturing activity improved at a solid rate in May as compared to the previous month.

China’s manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) report for May signaled a solid rise in the manufacturing activity during the month.

According to a report by Markit Economics, the final Brazil services PMI (purchasing managers’ index) dropped in May as compared to April.

According to a report by Markit Economics, Russia’s service PMI weakened in May as compared to April.

According to a report by Markit Economics, the final Russia Manufacturing PMI was in the contraction zone in May.

The Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK), which tracks the performance of the technology sector, has risen 11.5% on a year-to-date basis as of June 22.

Netflix and Facebook have very little exposure to China.

Despite the rising trade war concerns, Facebook (FB), Amazon (AMZN), Netflix (NFLX), and Alphabet (GOOGL) are hitting record highs.

China is a major consumer and exporter of commodities. Thus, the imposition of import tariffs on Chinese goods is likely to affect the metal sector.

In this series, we’ll analyze US, German, UK, French, Japanese, Eurozone, and Spanish service activity in May, as well as the Eurozone Sentix investor confidence index.

Tiger Management’s top five picks in the first quarter of 2018 were Adobe Systems (ADBE), Blackstone Group (BX), Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL), Microsoft (MSFT), and JPMorgan Chase (JPM).

Hedge fund manager Julian Robertson has an optimistic view on the Trump administration.

On June 14, Julian Robertson shared his view on market movement, the Trump administration, and FANG stock valuation in an interview with CNBC.

The May non-farm payroll report and the ADP employment report indicated a huge improvement in the US labor market.

The overall Eurozone economy showed some nervousness in May.

At Berkshire’s 2018 annual shareholder meeting in May, Buffett told investors that Bitcoin is “probably rat poison squared,” and advised investors against cryptocurrencies.

The Business Roundtable’s Economic Outlook Index fell from 118.6 in Q1 2018 to 111.1 in Q2 2018, its first fall during Trump’s presidency.

The Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) rose 3% in May.

The technology sector performed strongly in May, helping the S&P 500.

Investors should assess whether the financial sector could recover in June after its poor May performance.

The financial sector could benefit the most from the Fed’s gradual rate hike process.

The S&P 500 reached an all-time high of 2,872.87 on January 26.

Despite the recent data breach issue, Facebook’s stock price recovered its losses and is currently trading at $187.67.

Amazon’s (AMZN) stock price has jumped 494.0% in the past five years.

The Germany ZEW Economic Sentiment Index has remained flat so far in May 2018.

The German Ifo Business Climate Index remained unchanged in May 2018.

According to a report from the European Commission, the Eurozone Consumer Confidence Index stood at 0.2 so far in May as compared to 0.4 in April 2018.

Dalio advised investors last August to invest in gold as tensions between the United States and North Korea were rising.

Prominent investment firm Goldman Sachs (GS) also said that the rising rates could change the valuation of the equity market (SPY) (QQQ) (DIA).

Indonesia’s manufacturing activity improved more in April than in March. It was 51.6 in April and 50.7 in March.

China’s final Markit services PMI rose significantly in April. It was 52.9 in April compared to 52.3 in March.

The final Brazil services PMI weakened sequentially in April. It was 50 in April compared to 50.4 in March.

The final Markit Brazil manufacturing PMI fell sequentially in April. It was 52.3 in April compared to 53.4 in March.

Russia’s services PMI rose sequentially in April. It was 55.5 in April compared to 53.5 in March.

The final Russia manufacturing PMI has been improving since February. It was 51.3 in April compared to 50.6 in March.

Mexico’s manufacturing PMI was 51.6 in April compared to 52.4 in March.

David Tepper’s Appaloosa Management’s top buys in the first quarter were Micron Technology (MU), Lam Research (LRCX), Wells Fargo (WFC), UBS (UBS), and Allergan (AGN).

Appaloosa’s top five holdings in the first quarter were Micron Technology (MU), Facebook (FB), Alibaba (BABA), Allergan (AGN), and Altaba (AABA).

According to the data provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US Consumer Price Index, or the inflation index, rose 0.2% in April.

Legendary billionaire investor George Soros made some changes in his firm, Soros Fund Management LLC’s, portfolio in the first quarter.

George Soros’s Soros Fund Management bought $35 million worth of Tesla (TSLA) convertible bonds in the first quarter, according to a recent 13F filing report.

Rising inflation, higher backlog orders since 2004, and rising transportation costs are signaling that the US economy is overheating.

Goldman Sachs (GS) said that falling unemployment and the rising budget deficit could drive the Fed’s faster interest rate hike process.

The Eurozone Sentix Investor Confidence Index is 19.2 in May compared to 19.6 in April, missing the market estimate of 21.2.

The Japan Services PMI rose significantly in April compared to March. It was 52.5 in April and 50.9 in March.

The final UK Services PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) improved in April. It was 52.8 in April and 51.7 in March.

The final Spain Services PMI showed a weaker rise in April than in March. It was 55.6 in April compared to 56.2 in March.

The final Markit France Services PMI improved marginally in April to 57.4 compared to 56.9 in March.

The Markit Germany Services PMI showed a softer rise in April. It was 53 in April compared to 53.9 in March.

In this series, we’ll analyze how the services activities of major developed nations were trending in April.

Japan’s manufacturing PMI stood at 53.8 in April compared to 53.1 in March.