Stocks

• Performance: SP-500 @ 4274.04 (-0.72%); Nasdaq-100 @ 13470.86 (-1.21%); Russell-2000 @ 1937.31 (-1.64%); DJ-30 @ 33980.33 (-0.50%); DJ-Transports @ 14915.49 (-1.94%); DJ-Utilities @ 1053.87 (0.00%); VIX @ 19.90 (+1.07%)
• Leading Sectors: Energy (XLE); Consumer Staples (XLP); Utilities (XLU)
• Lagging Sectors: Communications (XLC); Consumer Discretionary (XLY); Materials (XLB)

Bonds

• Performance: 10-Yr Treasury rates @ 2.89 (+2.48%); 10-Yr T-Note @ 118’24’5 (-0.52%)
• Comments: n/a

Currencies

• Performance: USD @ 106.64 (+0.15%); EURUSD @ 1.01777 (+0.07%); JPYUSD @ 0.74010 (-0.62%)
• Comments: n/a

Cryptocurrencies

• Performance: Bitcoin @ 23404.00 (-2.39%); Ethereum @ 1850.29 (-1.78%); Binance @ 309.699 (-2.52%); Cardano @ 0.541759 (-4.28%); Ripple @ 0.381873 (+1.86%)
• Comments: n/a

Commodities

• Metals: Gold @ 1762.10 (-0.75%); Silver @ 19.7967 (-1.70%); Copper @ 3.5980 (-1.06%)
• Energy: WTI Crude Oil @ 88.11 (+1.83%); NatGas @ 9.244 (-0.091%); RB Gasoline @ 2.9345 (+1.17%)
• Grains: Wheat @ 784-2 (-0.73%); Corn @ 697-4 (+0.58%); Soybeans @ 1512-0 (+0.73%)

Real Estate

• Performance: DJ Real Estate Index @ 396.62 (-0.46%); DJ Home Construction @ 1259.11 (-1.94%)
• Comments: Weekly MBA Mortgage Applications- Composite Index @ -2.3% vs prior week @ +0.2%; Purchase Index @ -1.4% vs prior @ -0.8%; and Refinance Index @ 3.5% vs prior week @ -5.4%.

Strengths (happening now)

Weaknesses (happening now)

• Energy Production Capacity Growing: Decline in WTI Crude Oil rapidly accelerating and the mantra that higher prices correct higher prices is being realized. Even more significant is the contraction in RBOB Gasoline futures, which ultimately translates into relief at the gas pumps for American consumers. 
• Strong Employment Situation: The July-2022 employment report indicated a 528k increase of new jobs vs June-2022’s already robust gain of 398k. The unemployment rate is ticked lower to 3.5% vs prior @ 3.6%. It’s a tight labor market and therefore wage inflation should be expected. However, if the Fed is able to reign in high fuel and food prices by raising rates, then this creates a situation for a strong recovery in consumer activity.
• Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin and Ethereum are proxies of investor sentiment toward risk and appear to have found support and are initiating new uptrends. If so, this could have bullish implications for equity markets.

• Untamed Inflation: Consumer prices (CPI data), which are closely monitored by the Fed, have been trending above 8%+ with the potential for double-digit inflation. The June-2022 report to be released in July 2022 could trigger more aggressive rate hikes.
• Geopolitical Risk in Greater China: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has clearly upset China and emboldened it to step up its military exercises and threaten invasion of the island. The risk of confrontation with the U.S. must be balanced and taken into consideration.
• Continued Disruptions in China Supply Chain: Covid infection rates in are increasing and prompting Chinese officials to once again shut down its economy, thus exacerbating supply chain bottlenecks.

Opportunities (could happen)

Threats (could happen)

• Lower Energy Prices: The Federal Reserve’s resolve to combat inflation with aggressive rate hikes will have the collateral effect of creating a stronger dollar and, if a soft landing is achieved, a mild recession will contribute to demand destruction for energy and lower prices for consumers. A decline in energy prices could reignite consumer demand and confidence, especially if the labor market remains stable.
• Cutting a deal with Iran: The U.S. and Iran are currently negotiating to end sanctions and bring Iranian oil back online if certain parameters for nuclear testing and development can be accomplished. If so, this would immediately alleviate any supply imbalance in the energy markets as Iran has the capability to restart production almost immediately. A successful outcome for these negotiations could happen instantaneously and presents a legitimate risk for anyone committed to long exposure to crude oil futures or the actual product itself.
• EU negotiations with Iran: More than 15 months have been invested between the U.S. and Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. It is reported that EU officials have submitted a final text for Tehran to sign. In the event this actually happens, it would have the same aforementioned bearish implications for Oil prices.

• EU Winter Energy Supply: Russia could weaponize its energy supplies to EU countries for the upcoming winter in response to sanctions imposed against it as well as the military and financial aid it is providing Ukraine to thwart its invasion. If so, energy prices could explode higher.
• Analysts’ Downgrades and Revisions: As the Fed continues to tighten, another wave of negative earnings revisions would require recalibration of equity market valuations.
• Global Food Inflation and Famine: Russia vs Ukraine conflict has the potential to destabilize food supplies and create a domino effect of food inflation and famine in LDCs as well as more developed countries.
• Mid-term elections: The outcome of the upcoming election in November is uncertain and given the divided state of the US, it could bring about more uncertainty and exacerbate the gridlock for which Washington DC is notorious.