Market Insights, September 2022

Monthly Market Roundup | U.S. Equities

Big Movers in September 2022

37%

Biogen (BIIB): The biotechnology company’s Lecanemab drug met its primary endpoint against Alzheimer’s disease. The antibody treatment improved cognitive abilities and reduced plaque in the brain, according to a phase 3 trial.

19%

Regeneron (REGN): The biotechnology company released positive data for its eye drug Eylea, drawing upgrades from firms including Morgan Stanley and Jefferies.

13%

Twitter (TWTR): The social-media company gained on hopes of a legal settlement with Elon Musk.

30%

FedEx (FDX): The delivery company preannounced weak quarterly results and withdrew full-year guidance as volumes slowed and inflation squeezed profits.

 

26%

Adobe (ADBE): The software maker plunged after buying web-design company Figma for $20 billion. Some analysts considered the price too high after a contraction in technology-sector valuations.

28%

VF (VFC): The apparel company lowered fiscal-year guidance after cutting prices to clear unsold inventories. Management cited a “softer consumer environment and inflationary pressures.”

Key Economic Events Last Month

downHot Inflation Crushes StocksThe Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.1% in August from July. It was 0.2 percent point higher than expected. Core inflation was twice the forecast amount, triggering more worries about interest-rate hikes. (13/9)
downHousing at a crossroads?NAHB’s homebuilder sentiment index fell more than expected to an eight-year low of 46. Almost one-quarter of builders lowered prices to counter higher mortgage rates. The index has dropped every month this year. (19/9)
downFed Hikes Rates, Gives Hawkish GuidanceThe Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 basis points, as expected. However, guidance for upcoming meetings was more hawkish than anticipated. Policymakers also gave consistently hawkish guidance throughout the month. (21/9)
upConsumers Optimistic as Prices EaseConsumer confidence rose more than expected to a seven-month high thanks to plentiful jobs and lower petrol prices. Americans expressed a desire to buy cars and appliances but are less interested in purchasing homes. (27/9)

Key Futures Contracts

Product NameCurrent MonthExpirationNext Month1-Mon%
S&P 500 E-Mini (@ES)ESZ22(Sep) 16 Dec 22ESH23(Jan) -9.4%
*S&P 500 E-Mini Micro (@MES)MESZ22 (Dec) 16 Dec 22MESH23 (Jan) -9.4%
Nasdaq-100 E-Mini (@NQ)NQZ22 (Dec) 16 Dec 22NQH23 (Jan) -10.7%
*Nasdaq-100 E-Mini Micro (@MNQ)MNQZ22 (Dec) 16 Dec 22MNQH23 (Jan) -10.7%
Dow Jones E-Mini (@YM)YMZ22 (Dec) 16 Dec 22YMH23 (Jan) -8.9%
*Dow Jones E-Mini Micro (@MYM)MYMZ22 (Dec) 16 Dec 22MYMH23 (Jan) -8.9%

* Micro contracts are one-tenth the size of standard e-minis.

Events to Watch This Month

DateEventWhat to watch
Fri, 7-OctEmployment Report for August Will the strong labor market cool, potentially giving the Fed reason to slow rate hikes?
Wed, 12-OctFed minutes Minutes from the last central bank meeting may be watched for signals on monetary policy.
Wed, 12-OctInflation reports for September Producer prices are due 12 October, followed by consumer prices on 13 October.
Fri, 14-OctEarnings reports begin Earnings season begins as major banks like JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup report.
Tue, 25-OctBig tech earnings Major technology stocks like Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon.com (AMZN) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) are projected to announce results.

Sector Watch

  • Health Care3%
  • Financials8%
  • Consumer Discretionary8%
  • Consumer Staples9%
  • S&P 5009%
  • Materials10%
  • Energy11%
  • Industrials11%
  • Utilities11%
  • Communications12%
  • Technology12%
  • Real Estate12%
  • Health Care stocks fell the least as investors favored their safe-haven status. Biotechs were strong.

  • Real estate stocks fell the most as higher interest rates reduced the appeal of income investments.

  • Technology stocks fell again as economic concerns hurt semiconductors and higher interest rates weighed on software makers.

  • Communications stocks fell amid selling in telecom and media companies.

Noteworthy Calls & Predictions

06-September

Investment portfolios using the common blend of 60% stocks and 40% bonds are having their worst year since 1936, according to B of A. The strategy, intended to limit volatility, fell 19.4% through the end of August as interest-rate hikes weighed on both asset classes.

Stocks & Bonds

06-September

Stocks will continue to decline through December because of the Fed’s hawkish policy, Morgan Stanley Chief Investment Officer Michael Wilson said. He expects the S&P 500 to bottom between 3,000 and 3,400 this year.

Stocks

12-September

Only 9% of respondents in a Deutsche Bank survey believe the market has bottomed. Most investors expect new lows in 2023.

Stocks

14-September

Deflation risks are rising, according to three prominent business leaders cited on CNBC. Tesla CEO Elon Musk noted falling commodity prices while DoubleLine Capital CEO Jeffery Gundlach said bonds were more attractive. Cathie Wood of Ark Invest said technological innovations will lower prices.

Inflation

26-September

The Federal Reserve should apologize to the U.S. for “such poor monetary policy … over the last few years,” according to Wharton Business School Professor Jeremy Siegel. He said rates stayed low too long in 2021 and now rapid hikes are risking a recession.

Federal Reserve



Disclosure

Monthly Market Roundup brings you ideas about potential trading opportunities, key economic events and education that is designed to help you become a better self-directed investor. No offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities, securities derivatives or futures products of any kind, or any type of trading or investment advice, recommendation or strategy, is made, given or in any manner endorsed by any TradeStation affiliate. Past performance, whether actual or indicated by historical tests of strategies, is no guarantee of future performance or success. Investments and trading involve risks, including possible loss of principal. You should, therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for your financial condition.

The material is provided by TradeStation International Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA (554431) in the UK and acting as an introducing broker to affiliated and non-affiliated brokers such as TradeStation Securities, Inc., and Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Ltd. The firm does not provide investment advice or trading recommendations.