Week In Review: How Trump's Policies Moved Stocks- Oct. 7

We catch up on the top industries and stocks that were impacted, or were predicted to be impacted, by the comments, actions and policies of President Donald Trump and his administration with this weekly recap compiled by The Fly.

USMCA 

On Monday, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland announced in a joint statement that Canada and the United States reached an agreement, alongside Mexico, on "a new, modernized trade agreement for the 21st Century," which is being called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. President Trump and his Mexican and Canadian counterparts are expected to sign the deal by the end of November. It will then be up to Congress to approve the deal, which is likely to come up for a vote next year and should take effect around January 1, 2020.

According to CNN, USCMA will open up some of Canada's dairy market to U.S. farmers and in return, the U.S. will allow more Canadian dairy, peanuts and peanut products, and a limited amount of sugar to cross the border. Regarding car manufacturing, the deal will require that more of a vehicle's parts be made in North America in order for the car to be free from tariffs, the publication said, adding that the provision will help keep the production of car parts in the U.S. and bring back some production that moved abroad.

AUTO MAKERS

Commenting on the new USMCA, Ford (F) said it "is very encouraged by [Monday's] announcement, and we applaud all three governments for working together to achieve free and fair trade in a strong regional agreement. We stand ready to be a collaborative partner to ensure this agreement is ratified in all three markets because it will support an integrated, globally competitive automotive business in North America. The benefits of scale and global reach will help to drive volume and support manufacturing jobs." Other automakers include General Motors (GM), Fiat Chrysler (FCAU), Toyota (TM), Honda (HMC) and Volkswagen (VLKAY).

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES

In a research note following the USMCA announcement, BWS Financial analyst Vahid Khorsand told investors that the agreement puts into place several rules that benefit Superior Industries (SUP) and may open up new opportunities for the company and push average revenue per unit higher. The company's North American business is focused on wheels larger than 17 inches and wheels with complex finishes, and these mostly come standard on light trucks and SUVs, which are built in Mexico and the U.S., the analyst pointed out. Superior Industries has always been under the threat of Asian wheel manufacturers providing a lower priced competing product, he contended. Other auto parts manufacturers include American Axle (AXL), Lear (LEA), Magna International (MGA), BorgWarner (BWA) and Visteon (VC).

STEEL, ALUMINUM TARIFFS

Trump's new continental trade pact does not deal with the administration's tariffs on foreign metal, according to the Wall Street Journal. The revised pact between the U.S., Canada and Mexico "will leave in place Trump administration tariffs on imported steel and aluminum," added the Journal. Stocks in the steel and aluminum group include U.S. Steel (X), AK Steel (AKS), Nucor (NUE), Steel Dynamics (STLD), Alcoa (AA), Arconic (ARNC) and Century Aluminum (CENX).  

SALE OF E15 

Commenting on indications that President Trump will ask the EPA next week to grant a waiver for the year-round sale of E15, Craig-Hallum analyst Eric Stine said he believes the chances are high that this will happen given the importance of the farm vote to midterm elections and Trump's re-election prospects. The analyst argued that this would be a strong positive for the industry and would positively impact industry demand in 2019. Stine reiterated a Buy rating on Pacific Ethanol (PEIX) and Green Plains (GPRE) shares. 
 

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