Overnight Developments

• European stocks are lower with the European DJ Stoxx 50 down -0.03% and Dec S&Ps down -2.60 points. The euro retreated from a 1-week high against the dollar and Treasuries strengthened after German investor confidence tumbled. The Sep German ZEW economic sentiment survey fell for the fifth consecutive month and by a larger-than-expected -18.3 to a 19-month low of -4.3 as budget cuts across the Euro-Zone and slowing global growth clouded the outlook for Europe’s largest economy. Declines in utility stocks also pressured stock prices with E.ON sliding 3.0% after Germany’s biggest utility was downgraded to "hold" from "buy" at UniCredit SpA, which cited uncertainty on nuclear power plant extensions. Aug UK consumer prices unexpectedly rose +3.1% y/y, the same pace as July, and the sixth straight month prices have exceeded the government’s 3.0% limit as higher costs from airfare to food stoked price pressures.
• The Asian markets today closed mixed with Japan down -0.24%, Hong Kong +0.17%, China +0.09%, Taiwan +0.51%, Australia +0.25%, Singapore -0.59%, South Korea -0.15%, India +0.72%. Japanese stocks fell as the yen climbed to a fresh 15-year high against the dollar after Japanese Prime Minister Kan beat his rival Ozawa in a party vote today, reducing the likelihood the government will intervene in the foreign-exchange markets to weaken the yen. China’s yuan gained after the PBOC fixed the reference rate at 6.7378 per dollar, the highest since a peg against the dollar was scrapped in July 2005, on speculation the Chinese government will allow faster appreciation of the yuan to head off US trade sanctions. The action by the European Commission to raise its Euro-Zone GDP estimate yesterday for this year to 1.7% from 0.9% gave support to Asian equity markets on optimism that demand for Asian exports will remain strong. Asian bank stocks rallied for a second day after regulato rs agreed to give banks as long as 8 years to comply with new capital requirements and after Zhu Min, former deputy governor of the PBOC and current vice president of Bank of China Ltd. said that banks in Asia have high capital ratios and will be able to avoid the degree of fundraising needed elsewhere to meet the new international standards.

Overnight U.S. Stock News

• Dec S&Ps this morning are down -2.60 points. The stock market yesterday gapped higher and traded in positive territory the entire day and finished moderately higher (Dow +0.78%, S&P 500 +1.11%, Nasdaq Composite +1.93%). The Nasdaq rose to a 2-1/2 month high and the S&P 500 and the Dow both rallied to 1-month highs. Bullish factors included (1) carry-over support from stronger-than-expected Chinese economic data and comments from China’s Premier Wen Jiabao who said that China’s economy is in "good shape," which eases concern that the global economy will lapse back into recession, (2) a rally in bank stocks after the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision reached a compromise that doubles capital requirements for banks while giving them until 2019 to meet the buffer requirements to withstand future crisis, (3) carry-over strength from a rally in European equity markets after the European Commission raised its economic growth forecast for the Eur o-Zone this year to 1.7% instead of a previously projected 0.9%, (4) gains in raw-materials and energy producers as the slumping dollar pushed most commodities higher, with crude oil climbing to a 1-month high, (5) strength in chipmakers after research firm Gartner Inc. predicted that semiconductor equipment spending will double in 2010, (6) the smaller-than-expected US budget deficit in Aug as the economic recovery generated more tax revenue for the Treasury (-$90.5 billion versus expectations of -$100.0 billion), and (7) the prediction from CLSA Ltd. that US stock prices are "screamingly cheap" and will rally at least 30% in the next 12 months as the cheapest valuations in decades lure investors.
• Bearish factors included (1) the statement from IMF Managing Director Strauss-Kahn that the global economy may not generate much employment growth in coming years, and (2) the prediction from well-known bank analyst Richard Bove that legislators who don’t understand the banking industry and a sense of "mass hysteria" led to the passage of financial-reform law that will hurt US consumers.
• Campbell Soup (CPB) fell 2.3% in European trading after Goldman Sachs cut the stock to "sell" from "neutral" as they downgraded the packaged foods industry to "cautious" from "neutral," citing a mixed outlook for US sales, margin risks and valuations.

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Overnight Developments

• European stocks are higher with the European Stoxx 50 up 0.55% after hitting a 3-month high. Sep S&Ps are up 5.70 points (+0.52%). European stocks received support from positive earnings reports from AstraZeneca and Volkswagen and from positive confidence and employment reports. The European Commission’s business and consumer confidence index rose to a 2-1/3 year high of 101.3 from 99 in June. Meanwhile, Germany unemployment fell by 20,000 to 3.21 million, which was the lowest level in 1-1/2 years and was the 13th consecutive monthly decline. The Germany unemployment rate fell to 7.6% from 7.7%. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde today said she expects a "serious pickup" in global growth in 2011, "if only because global trade has significantly improved." UBS upgraded European stocks to "neutral" from "underweight," cut U.S. stocks to "neutral," and cut Japanese stocks to "underweight."
• The Asian markets today closed mixed: Japan -0.59%, Hong Kong +0.01%, China +0.50%, Taiwan +0.18%, Australia -0.13%, Singapore +0.41%, South Korea -0.17%, Bombay +0.19%. Asian stocks were undercut by Wednesday’s U.S. Beige Book report, which suggested lackluster U.S. demand for Asian exports. Panasonic fell 7.7% today after news that the company would offer stock to help it purchase full control of its Sanyo Electric and Panasonic Electric Works units.

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S&P 500 Pivots

On Thursday the US equity indexes continued it’s May sell off philosophy. All the major indexes were down for the day amplified by the European debt crisis, the oil-spill in the Gulf, and the recent 1000 point crash in the Dow Industrials. After a three day sell off there could be a possible rally due to options expirations tomorrow as well as traders and investors getting out of their short positions prior to the weekend.

The S&P 500 index on the 5 minute chart fell for the third straight session trading below the 144 and 200 day moving averages. The 200 day moving average converge with Wednesday’s previous low at 1101 so expect resistance between 1100 and 1101 going into Friday’s trading day. Commodities are weaker due to the events listed above as well as a possible slowdown in China will drain global growth. Today jobless claims were released and a jump from 25k to 471k didn’t encourage the US equity markets.

Currently the index is below the 200 day moving average on the daily chart. We have told our readers before the S&P 500 is currently undergoing a correction. On the daily chart of the index is currently trading below the January 2010 resistance level of 1121. The first resistance level is 1100 and 1101. Expect the S&P 500 to find resistance breaking the second resistance level between 1117 and 1120 area as it is below the January 2010 pivot level of 1121. We had a three day sell off in equities as we approach Friday’s trading day. Tomorrow expect a mini rally due to options expiration.

The market volatility index (VIX) measures option activity within the market and is widely used tracking the S&P 500. Increasing volatility implies pessimism within the market and stocks sell off as traders and investors are seeking protection for their assets instead of risks.

A common trading strategy for traders and investors includes a VIX level of 30 or above means an immediate switch from equities to cash. Traders and investors are retreating from the markets and finding safety and protection within the dollar. Currently the VIX is above the 144 and 200 day moving averages on the daily chart. As long as we stay above this level expect pessimism as we approach the slow summer months.

Summary of Pivot and Technical Levels:

1219: S&P 500 52 Week High

1101: 200 day Fibonacci moving average on 5 minute chart

1100: Natural Resistance Level

1096: 144 day Fibonacci moving average on 5 minute chart

1127 – 1141: Major resistance level for the S&P for January 2010

1117: 144 day Fibonacci moving average on daily chart

1085: 200 day Fibonacci moving average on daily chart

Friday Economic Calendar:

No Economic Numbers Scheduled

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