US Open – Big tech buzzing once again

Apple and Amazon events driving excitement

US equity markets heading for a negative start on Tuesday, the exception being the tech stocks ahead of a big 48 hours for Apple and Amazon.

Tech looks to have exploded again, with the Nasdaq posting 3% gains on Monday, well ahead of the broader market, with futures this morning almost 1% higher while the Dow and S&P 500 sit in the red. Is this another sign of investors preparing for more restrictions and favouring pandemic-proof tech or just a lot of excitement about a 5G iPhone and two days of discounts? Time will tell.

I can’t imagine there’s too much enthusiasm about stimulus talks on Capitol Hill or J&J pausing trials of its vaccine candidate as one candidate fell ill. We saw this last month with AstraZeneca which quickly restarted trials, except in the US where it remains under regulatory review. Perhaps investors anticipate a similar outcome, although it is curious that they are so relaxed about the situation. A vaccine is critical to the global economy getting back on its feet in a reasonable time.

Earnings season, usually at the forefront of investors minds, only makes an appearance in the final paragraph of this morning’s summary. The final months of this year are jam-packed with major risk events for markets and earnings is just one of these. JP Morgan and Cirigroup will kick things off for the banks today, with earnings season as a whole expected to deliver more than 15% earnings declines and, I imagine, some stark warnings about the couple of quarters ahead.

UK unemployment on the rise as furlough scheme draws to a close

The next couple of quarters is going to be extremely challenging for many countries and the UK can count itself among those with the worst prospects.

The economy has already been hammered by the pandemic, worse than most, and in the coming months we’re going to see just how bad it’s been. Unemployment hit 4.5% in the three months to August and it’s going to get much worse again from October onwards, potentially peaking above 8% early next year.

The latest employment support measures are not going to be enough to stop a surge in unemployment and local furlough schemes, combined with the spike in joblessness, will take its toll on spending. And this is before we consider the prospects of a no-deal Brexit, which is looking unlikely at this point, but still very possible with the same issues unresolved. A critical few months ahead for the UK government.

Economic Calendar

For a look at all of today’s economic events, check out our economic calendar.

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