Record November ends with profit-taking, soft US data - MarketPulse

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US stocks are lower on the last trading day of the month as hedge funds lock in profits for a record November.  Risk appetite is not getting help from renewed coronavirus restriction concerns, lack of stimulus urgency from lawmakers, softening US data, and as the Trump administration adds more firms to the list of companies blocked from American investment due to military ties.  Merger Monday provided a limited boost after S&P Global Inc. announced the acquisition of IHS Markit in an all-share deal worth USD39 billion.  The financial world is seeing two of the largest data providers combine in what is the second-biggest deal of the year.

Today’s weakness will likely be a pause in the COVID-19 vaccine-led global equities record rally.  Wall Street will remain fixated on this week’s labor figures which could be the tipping point to make Congress deliver much-needed relief as many unemployment benefits and loan moratoriums expire at year-end.  Around 12-million Americans could lose unemployment benefits next month if the CARES Act is not extended.

Central banks will also keep stock markets pumped up as investors are seemingly convinced the ECB will boost the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Program by at least 500 billion euros and that the Fed will tweak their bond-buying program and buy longer duration bonds.

US data disappoints

The MNI Chicago report confirmed weakness is making its way through the Midwest.  The headline reading of 58.2 was much lower than the prior month of 61.1 and the consensus estimate of 59.0.  Business barometer, employment, and new orders all climbed at a slower pace, indicating the current expansion is losing momentum.  One data point won’t force Congress to act, but a slowdown around the holidays is likely what is needed to get the stimulus relief bill pushed through.

US pending home sales for October posted a rare miss for the housing sector.  October pending sales declined 1.1%, a second consecutive decline. However, this was more likely a sign that inventories are the primary issue and not demand.  Contract signings to buy previously owned homes were anticipated to slow down in the winter and especially as vaccine progress could see some homebuyers focus on getting back to the big cities.

The Dallas Fed Manufacturing index also came in below expectations with significant declines in production, capacity utilization, and new orders.  The recovery is at stall speed and mounting COVID restrictive measures will raise expectations for softer prints over the next couple of months.

This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.

Ed Moya

Senior Market Analyst - The Americas at OANDA

With more than 20 years’ trading experience, Ed Moya is a market analyst with OANDA, producing up-to-the-minute fundamental analysis of geopolitical events and monetary policies around the world. Over the course of his career, he has worked with some of the world’s leading forex brokerages and research departments including Global Forex Trading, FX Solutions and Trading Advantage. Most recently he worked with TradeTheNews.com, where he provided market analysis on economic data and corporate news. Based in New York, Ed is a regular guest on several major financial television networks including BNN, CNBC and Bloomberg, and is often quoted in leading publications including the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. He holds a BA in Economics from Rutgers University.

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Record November ends with profit-taking, soft US data - MarketPulse
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