Financial News for the Week of December 1, 2017

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

The prospect of corporate tax cuts led both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 to record highs this week, with financial stocks outperforming substantially.
Economic data was supportive, with third quarter real GDP being revised up to 3.3% annualized, as business investment came in stronger than initially thought.
Incoming Fed Chairman Jerome Powell stated that “conditions are supportive” of a December rate hike, and we expect the Fed to proceed with one, followed by two more in 2018.

Tax Cuts Just Around The Corner

The prospect of corporate tax cuts made for another strong week in equity markets. Investors flocked to financial shares, leading both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 to record highs. Financials have posted stellar earnings growth this year and are among the corporations that stand to benefit the most from the proposed tax cuts. Consumer discretionary stocks were also in high demand, following record-breaking estimates of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Treasuries, on the other hand, sold off this week, sending the benchmark ten-year yield above 2.4% on Thursday, the highest level in over a month. These positive developments led the greenback higher initially, but the gains were pared by the end of the week.

Economic data released this week also supported investor sentiment, with third quarter real GDP revised up to an impressive 3.3% as business investment accelerated (even more than previously estimated), with firms ramping up expenditures on equipment notably (Chart 1). This marks the strongest two consecutive quarters of growth for the American economy in three years. Momentum in business investment is expected to continue, with shale oil production likely to be a key contributor. Producers have ramped up activity this year in response to a rising price of WTI crude oil. OPEC’s commitment to extend supply cuts through 2018, announced this week, should maintain this momentum. As a result, the upside for the price of crude oil will be limited; we expect the price of WTI crude to sit in the US$50-55 range as the market balances out.

Consumers are also likely to maintain their pivotal role in the economic expansion alongside businesses. Consumer spending slowed in October, after a bump in the prior month as a result of hurricane-damaged vehicle replacement. With continued job growth and accelerating wages, consumer spending should bounce back in the months ahead. On the inflation front, core PCE price growth held steady at 1.4% (year-on-year) in October, with an uptick in the following month looking increasingly likely as industry contacts reported strengthening price pressures in November’s Beige Book (Chart 2). Producers across a range of industries including manufacturing and transportation reported passing on increases in input costs to selling prices, ensuring that inflation will turn higher in the near future. Several FOMC voting members also expressed their agreement with this view in speeches this week.

Incoming Fed Chairman Jerome Powell stated that “conditions are supportive” of a December rate hike at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Mirroring this view were Yellen and Kaplan in their speeches this week, in contrast to Kashkari who would like to see firmer evidence of inflationary pressures building before proceeding with a hike. At this point, markets are fully pricing in a December hike and we expect the Fed to proceed with one, followed by two more in 2018. Making this scenario increasingly likely is progress on the tax reform front which will require faster monetary policy normalization in order to temper the potential inflationary pressures

Katherine Judge, Economist

This report is provided by TD Economics. It is for informational and educational purposes only as of the date of writing, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The views and opinions expressed may change at any time based on market or other conditions and may not come to pass. This material is not intended to be relied upon as investment advice or recommendations, does not constitute a solicitation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered specific legal, investment or tax advice. The report does not provide material information about the business and affairs of TD Bank Group and the members of TD Economics are not spokespersons for TD Bank Group with respect to its business and affairs. The information contained in this report has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. This report contains economic analysis and views, including about future economic and financial markets performance. These are based on certain assumptions and other factors, and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. The actual outcome may be materially different. The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its affiliates and related entities that comprise the TD Bank Group are not liable for any errors or omissions in the information, analysis or views contained in this report, or for any loss or damage suffered.

by Connor Hare

Financial News for the Week of November 10, 2017

FINANCIAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

With little to digest on the data front, attention was devoted to political developments this week. Stock markets remained upbeat through Wednesday, given optimistic expectations on tax reform, supportive earnings reports and gains among energy stocks.
However, market sentiment turned down thereafter, as developments on tax reform failed to meet expectations, given key differences between the House bill and the newly-released Senate bill.
While tax reform will remain top of mind in the days ahead, a number of important data releases next week will help tilt the narrative back toward economic fundamentals, with emphasis placed on the upcoming CPI report.

Tax Bills: When Two Is Not Better Than One

This week was exceptionally quiet in terms of economic data. There were no primary reports released and second-tiers did little to spur market action. On that front, JOLTS job openings and weekly jobless claims saw little change, while consumer sentiment (U. of Michigan) pulled back in early November but remained upbeat at 97.8 – a level marking the second-highest reading this year. With little else to digest on the data front, attention was devoted to political developments.

Markets remained upbeat through midweek, given optimistic expectations on tax reform, supportive earnings reports and gains among energy stocks. The latter were buoyed by a surge in crude oil prices, with rising geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, being the main catalyst behind the move (Chart 1). Global demand has been strong and OPEC discipline is expected to continue, but the risks for oil prices are skewed to the downside as non-OPEC production is on the rise, particularly U.S. shale. The EIA reported that U.S. production reached 9.62 million (B/D) last week, which is at the top range of historical highs.

Market sentiment followed a more downbeat tone later in the week, as developments on tax reform, which appeared to overshadow headlines from the President’s Asia trip, failed to meet expectations. While the Ways and Means Committee advanced the House bill on Thursday, preparing for a vote by the full House next week, the Senate released its own version of the bill, with preliminary reporting pointing to some key differences among the plans. For instance, the Senate bill retains the current seven-bracket income tax structure with a new top rate of 38.5% as opposed to the reduced four-bracket structure in the House bill, it doubles the estate tax exemption but does not eliminate it after 2024, and it eliminates state and local tax deductions (SALT) without keeping a 10k deduction on property tax. Moreover, the Senate bill would delay corporate tax cuts to 2019 as opposed to implementing them in 2018, and takes a different approach on pass-through taxation, creating a new 17.4% deduction, as opposed to lowering the rate to 25% as in the House bill.

In short, there are enough differences between the two bills to make immediate passage less likely. Much rides on tax reform, with expectations for major change being one of the main supporting factors behind the impressive post-election gains in stock markets (Chart 2). As such, the delay is likely to weigh on near-term sentiment, with prospects for a later introduction of corporate tax cuts of particular concern to investors.

Tax reform is likely to remain top of mind in the days ahead, but a number of important data releases next week will help tilt the narrative back toward economic fundamentals. Hurricane-related volatility should begin to taper off in upcoming reports, supporting the Fed’s decision-making process. With the economy still on a solid course and the labor market tightening further, we remain of the view that the Fed will hike rates once more by year’s end. But, this will require some cooperation from inflation metrics, with the emphasis placed on next week’s CPI report.

Admir Kolaj, Economist

Financial News- November 10th, 2017

by Connor Hare

Connor Hare

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