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Week in Review: 24-28 October 2022

Summary:

This week the UK gained (another!) new prime minister (let's see how that goes), and Twitter (the bird) has been freed! In China, Xi has renewed his mandate, with key elements of the CCP on his side.

Despite some of the bad news during this earnings season (META and Amazon, for example), the markets rallied a bit. The energy sector is booming, but tech and consumer discretionary are conservative regarding the next quarters.

The next days will probably be of indecision, ahead of the FOMC meeting and the election in the US. If you are feeling lucky, go ahead, make your bets and enter the market; but otherwise wait for confirmation. Either a end-of-year rally or another slump are ahead. Don't forget we are in a bear market, the economy is slowing and monetary conditions have been tightening during the year.

 

 

The Stock Market Rallies, But...What About the Economy?

Video: We’re Entering Worst Economic Time in World History; Fed Is Paving Path of Destruction: Hugh Hendry

Channel: Stansberry Research


Video: Are the Fed's policies tipping the country toward a recession?

Channel: Fox Business



Is the Short-Term Rally Over? 

Who Knows!

Video: Who Will Blink First? The Fed, The Bond Market, Or The Bears? | Lance Roberts & Adam Taggart

Channel: Wealthion



Diesel Shortages Coming???

Video: Potential Black Swan The Media Is Purposely Ignoring

Channel: Rebel Capitalist



Bitcoin vs Gold

Video: Bitcoin Price Headed For $25K but More Pain to Come, Gold Remains Top Asset Pick Says Gareth Soloway

Channel: Stansberry Research



 
OIL
 
 
WTI crude futures were trading around $88 per barrel on Friday as fears of a global recession and weak oil demand, especially in China, continued to hang over the market. Persistent coronavirus-induced restrictions in top crude importer China have suppressed oil consumption. At the same time, the poor performance of the nation's real estate sector and weak retail and customs data exacerbated the ongoing growth challenges there. Still, the US benchmark rallied more than 3% this week, putting it on track for a second consecutive weekly gain amid tight global supplies. OPEC and its allies, including Russia, agreed to cut production by 2 million barrels per day in November, the most significant curb since the start of the pandemic, while speculation grows that the oil cartel will further intervene in markets to shore up prices. A looming European Union ban on Russian crude also exacerbated concerns about inadequate supplies.
 





Natural Gas
 

US natural gas futures dropped below $5.7/MMBtu in the fourth week of October, as near-record output levels outweighed rising demand. The end of maintenance outages in plants including Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Cove Point LNG and Freeport LNG is set to increase LNG exports. Still, average gas output in the US Lower 48 states was at 99.5 bcfd so far in October, the same as the September record. Average US gas demand, including exports, is expected to rise to 96.6 bcfd next week, from 94.8 bcfd this week, according to Refinitiv's outlook. The latest EIA report showed US utilities added 52 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas to storage last week, below market expectations of a 59 bcf build. It compares with an increase of 88 in the same week last year and a five-year (2017-2021) average increase of 66 bcf.
 
 

 
US Stock Markets
 

The Dow advanced more than 800 points on Friday, and the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq added over 2.5% each as investors digested a slew of economic data and earnings reports while reassessing their expectations for more rate increases from the Federal Reserve. The Fed's favorite inflation rate, the PCE price index, showed that annual core inflation came slightly weaker than expected but still pointed to increasing inflationary pressures. Meanwhile, a Commerce Department report showed that consumer spending rose above expectations in September. On the corporate side, Apple jumped over 8% after the iPhone maker topped analysts' estimates for revenue and profit. Conversely, Amazon.com shares tumbled almost 10% after forecasting holiday-quarter sales below Wall Street expectations. The Dow and S&P finished the week higher by roughly 5.6% and 4.0%, respectively, while the Nasdaq lagged, finishing only 2.0% higher.




 
Bitcoin
 

Bitcoin US Dollar traded at 20804 this Sunday October 30th, increasing 170 or 0.83 percent since the previous trading session. Looking back, over the last four weeks, Bitcoin gained 8.08 percent. Over the last 12 months, its price fell by 66.11 percent. Looking ahead, we forecast Bitcoin US Dollar to be priced at 17402 by the end of this quarter and at 12985 in one year, according to Trading Economics global macro models projections and analysts expectations.



 
Gold
 

Gold dropped below the $1,650 an ounce mark on Friday and is on track to end the week lower by 1% as an uptick in Treasury yields combined with a somewhat firmer dollar spooked investors away from the non-yielding metal. The market movement came as investors reassessed the outlook for monetary policy after a slew of economic data this week. The Fed's favorite inflation rate, the PCE price index, showed that annual core inflation came slightly weaker than expected but still pointed to increasing inflationary pressures. Meanwhile, a Commerce Department report showed that consumer spending rose above expectations in September. The former readings came on the heels of a mixed US GDP report showing a rebound in economic activity in the third quarter but a sharp decrease in consumer and business spending. Focus now turns to the Federal Reserve, which is expected to deliver another 75 bps rate hike next week.



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