Overnight Markets And News

Dec E-mini S&Ps (ESZ18 -0.83%) this morning are down -0.74% and European stocks are down -0.70% at a 3-week low as technology stocks sell-off. Apple is down more than 1% in pre-market trading after the South China Morning Post reported Apple has reduced orders for components from two Chinese suppliers by about 30% after its new iPhone XR model failed to achieve expected sales. Retail stocks are also moving lower, led by a 11% plunge in Target in pre-market trading, after it reported weaker-than-expected Q3 comparable store sales. The weakness in stocks has boosted safe-haven demand for government debt as the 10-year German bund yield fell to a 3-week low of 0.347%, and the 10-year T-note yield dropped to a 1-1/2 month low of 3.037%. Asian stocks settled lower: Japan -1.09%, Hong Kong -2.02%, China -2.13%, Taiwan -0.86%, Australia -0.38%, Singapore -1.24%, South Korea -1.00%, India -0.84%. Monday's slump in technology stocks in the U.S. carried over into Asian markets as most Asian bourses closed lower. Losses in Japan's Nikkei Stock Index accelerated after USD/JPY slid to a 3-week low, as the stronger yen also undercut Japanese exporters.

The dollar index (DXY00 +0.13%) is up +0.11%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD -0.18%) is down -0.19%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY -0.11%) is down -0.12%.

Dec 10-year T-note prices (ZNZ18 +0-010) are up +1.5 ticks at a 2-1/4 month high.

UK Nov CBI trends total orders rose +16 to a 4-month high of 10, stronger than expectations of +1 to -5.

German Oct PPI rose +0.3% m/m and +3.3% y/y, right on expectations with the +3.3% y/y gain the largest year-on-year increase in 1-1/2 years.

U.S. Stock Preview

Key U.S. news today includes: (1) Oct housing starts (expected +1.6% to 1.225 million, Sep -5.3% to 1.201 million).

Notable Russell 1000 earnings reports today include: Target (consensus $1.12), Medtronic (1.15), Best Buy (0.85), Kohl's (0.96), Ross Stores (0.90), TJX (0.62), Foot Locker (0.92), Lowe's (0.98), Jacbons Engineering (1.24), Hormel Foods (0.49).

U.S. IPO's scheduled to price today: none.

Equity conferences during the remainder of this week: 121 Mining Investment Conference on Tue.

Market Comments

Dec S&P 500 E-minis (ESZ18 -0.83%) this morning are down -20.00 points (-0.74%). Monday's closes: S&P 500 -1.66%, Dow Jones -1.56%, Nasdaq 100 -3.26%. The S&P 500 on Monday closed lower on concern that U.S.-China trade tensions will persist after U.S. Vice President Pence said the U.S. wasn't in a rush to end the trade war and would "not change course until China changes its ways." There was also severe weakness in technology stocks that put pressure on the overall market after Facebook slumped more than 5% to a 1-3/4 year low and Apple fell nearly 4%. In addition, housing stocks dropped after the U.S. Nov NAHB housing market index dropped by -8 to a 2-1/4 year low of 60, weaker than expectations of -1 to 67.

Dec 10-year T-notes (ZNZ18 +0-010) this morning are up +1.5 ticks at a 2-1/4 month high. Monday's closes: TYZ8 +4.50, FVZ8 +4.00. Dec 10-year T-notes on Monday rallied to a fresh 2-month high and settled higher. T-notes were boosted by the weaker-than-expected U.S. Nov NANB housing market index that fell to a 2-1/4 year low and by safe-haven demand with the sharp sell-off in stocks.

The dollar index (DXY00 +0.13%) this morning is up +0.104 (+0.11%), EUR/USD (^EURUSD -0.18%) is down -0.0022 (-0.19%), and USD/JPY (^USDJPY -0.11%) is down -0.13 (-0.12%) at a 3-week low. Monday's closes: Dollar Index -0.272 (-0.28%), EUR/USD +0.0037 (+0.32%), USD/JPY -0.28 (-0.25%). The dollar index on Monday fell to a 1-week low and closed lower on strength in EUR/USD which rose to a 1-week high after the Bundesbank predicted "fairly strong growth" for the German economy in Q4, which is hawkish for ECB policy. The sharp sell-off in stocks increased safe-haven demand for the yen and pushed USD/JY down to a 2-week low.

Metals prices this morning are mixed with Dec gold (GCZ18 +0.11%) -0.1 (-0.01%), Dec silver (SIZ18 +0.29%) +0.002 (+0.01%), and Dec copper (HGZ18 -0.02%) -0.001 (-0.02%). Dec gold on Monday closed up +$2.30 an ounce (+0.19%), Dec silver closed up +0.021 (+0.15%), and Dec copper closed up +0.005 (+0.02%). A slide in the dollar index on Monday to a new 1-week low pushed metals prices higher as Dec gold and Dec silver climbed to 1-week highs. Also, a slump in stock prices on Monday boosted the safe-haven demand for precious metals. Fund buying of silver is a supportive factor for silver prices as long silver positions in ETFs rose to 531.506 million troy ounces last Friday, just below last Tuesday's 3-week high of 531.549 million tory ounces. Finally, weaker-than-expected U.S. economic data may delay additional Fed interest rate hikes after the Nov NAHB housing market index dropped by -8 points to a 2-1/4 year low of 60, weaker than expectations of -1 to 67, and an indication of a sharp drop in U.S. homebuilder confidence.

Jan WTI crude oil prices (CLF19 -0.12%) this morning are down -7 cents (-0.12%) and Jan gasoline (RBF19 -1.00%) is -1.43 (-0.91%). Jan WTI crude oil on Monday closed up +$0.52 per barrel (+0.92%) and Jan RBOB gasoline closed up +0.35 cents a gallon (+0.22%). A sell-off in the dollar index to a 1-week ow Monday boosted crude prices as did concern about global crude output. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol warned OPEC and its allies against the impact of resuming supply cuts when he said, "markets are now very well supplied but we should not forget that spare capacity in Saudi Arabia is very thin, therefore cutting the production significantly today by key oil producers may have some negative implications for the markets and further tightening the markets." Gains in crude were limited, however, after Russian Energy Minister Novak said oil producers need to "better understand both the current conditions and the winter outlook" before agreeing to a supply cut. OPEC oil ministers are scheduled to meet in Vienna on Dec 6, with non-OPEC producers scheduled to join them the following day. Monday's comments by Mr. Novak dampened the chances that OPEC+ will agree to a major production cut for 2019.

Overnight U.S. Stock Movers

Target (TGT -2.37%) slumped 11% in pre-market trading after it reported Q3 comparable store sales rose +5.1%, weaker than consensus of +5.2%.

Apple (AAPL -3.96%) is down more than 1% in pre-market trading after multiple suppliers indicated its cutting parts orders for the latest iPhones.

Lowe's (LOW -2.04%) is expected to open at least 4% lower this morning after it reported Q3 comparable store sales rose +1.5%, below consensus of +2.9%.

Best Buy (BBY -6.37%) may open higher this morning after it reported Q3 enterprise comparable store sales rose +4.3%, stronger than consensus of +3.6%

Intuit (INTU -5.77%) rallied 6% in after-hours trading after it reported Q1 adjusted EPS of 29 cents, well above consensus of 11 cents, and then forecast Q2 adjusted EPS of 85 cents to 88 cents, higher than consensus of 79 cents.

Cintas (CTAS -1.98%) was rated a new 'Outperform' at RBC Capital Markets with a price target of $215.

Agilent Technologies (A -3.66%) rose 4% in after-hours trading after it reported Q4 net revenue of $1.29 billion, higher than consensus of $1.26 billion, and then forecast Q1 revenue of $1.27 billion to $1.28 billion, the midpoint above consensus of $1.27 billion.

Beacon Roofing (BECN +0.54%) may open lower initially this morning after it reported Q4 net sales of $1.94 billion, weaker than consensus of $2.01 billion.

Aramark (ARMK -2.87%) was rated a new 'Outperform' at RBC Capital Markets with a price target of $47.

Urban Outfitters (URBN -3.86%) climbed more than 3% in after-hours trading after it reported Q3 EPS of 70 cents, higher than consensus of 62 cents.

L Brands (LB -2.07%) gained 1% in after-hours trading after it reported Q3 adjusted EPS of 16 cents, better than consensus of 15 cents, and then forecast Q4 EPS of $1.90 to $2.00, the midpoint above consensus of $1.99.

Brooks Automation (BRKS -5.45%) dropped more than 7% in after-hours trading after it reported Q4 revenue of $159.6 million, weaker than consensus of $205.6 million.

Pure Storage (PSTG -8.32%) jumped 7% in after-hours trading after it reported Q3 revenue of $372.8 million, better than consensus of $367.4 million.

ADT Inc (ADT -4.71%) was rated a new 'Outperform' at RBC Capital Markets with a price target of $12.