Daily Market Analysis - WEDNESDAY JULY 12, 2023

Greetings, traders! Welcome back to our daily Market Analysis. Today, we have gathered the top news and interesting fundamental analysis for your consideration. Let's dive in and stay informed!

Key events:

New Zealand - RBNZ Interest Rate Decision
USA - Core CPI (MoM) (Jun)
USA - CPI (YoY) (Jun)
USA - CPI (MoM) (Jun)
Canada - BoC Interest Rate Decision
USA - Crude Oil Inventories


The energy and large technology sectors were the primary contributors to Tuesday's gains in the stock market, while investors awaited the forthcoming inflation reports with bated breath. The rise in value of the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 317 points, or 0.9%, while the rise in value of the S&P 500 was 0.7% and the rise in value of the Nasdaq was 0.6%.

DJI indice daily chart

SPX500 indice daily chart

As a result of an improved demand outlook, oil prices skyrocketed, which provided a boost to the energy sector. There is a growing expectation that the oil market will tighten in the second half of this year. This expectation is supported by falling crude production as well as Saudi Arabia's commitment to cutting output by one million barrels per day beginning in July. The sentiment surrounding energy stocks was further buoyed by reports of potential stimulus measures in China, which is the largest importer of energy in the world.

The stock of 3M Company (NYSE: MMM), which was upgraded by Bank of America to Neutral from Underperform, increased by almost 5% as a result of the upgrade. It is anticipated that the manufacturer of industrial and consumer products will benefit from the conclusion of legal issues, which is anticipated to enhance the performance of the company. A settlement agreement was reached between 3M and the government last month to resolve allegations that the company contaminated public water systems with PFAS, which are also known as forever chemicals.

MMM stock daily chart

After receiving an upgrade from Hold to Buy from Jefferies, JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM) led the banking sector higher just as earnings season was about to begin on Friday. As justifications for the upgrade, Jefferies pointed to the robustness of JPMorgan's balance sheet as well as the company's potential for earnings. Gains were also seen by regional banks, which have come under increased scrutiny ever since the banking crisis that began earlier this year. After Bank of America reaffirmed its recommendation to buy the company's stock, US Bancorp (NYSE: USB) saw its share price rise by more than 3.5%. US Bancorp is well-prepared to handle sector headwinds, according to Bank of America, and is expected to achieve superior earnings growth and stock performance, according to the statement.

JPM stock daily chart

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), which benefited from its two-day prime day sales event, stood out as one of the few stocks in the technology sector that was trading in the positive territory. During this time, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) struggled to make gains, despite the growing optimism surrounding the impending acquisition of Activision by Microsoft for $69 billion. Activision is the company that makes the Call of Duty video game. The attempt by US regulators to temporarily block the deal due to antitrust concerns was rejected by a federal judge in a ruling earlier today.

The forthcoming publication of US CPI (Consumer Price Index) data has become the sole focal point of attention for stock futures trading in both the United States and Europe. The majority of speculators are expected to be surprised by the US inflation data, which analysts strongly anticipate will exceed their expectations.

AMAZON stock daily chart

The change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the United States is expected to be 0.3% month-over-month (m/m), while the change in the CPI year-over-year (y/y), which is the most significant change, is expected to be 3.1%, compared to the previous reading of 4.0%.

If the actual number comes close to or matches the forecasted 3.1%, it will be seen as positive news for the market because the inflation target set by the Federal Reserve is 2%. On the other hand, market participants are likely to rejoice if the reading falls below 3.1% because this indicates a significant shift in the trend of inflation. Nevertheless, it is essential to pay close attention to the trajectory that the reading of inflation will take in the future. Although the data that are released today will show a significant drop, which will be driven by tighter monetary policy, an economic slowdown, and lower oil prices, these factors will have less of an influence on the inflation number going forward. As a consequence of this, the gap between the Fed's target and the actual reading might not expand by an additional factor of two from its previous magnitude.

GOLD daily chart

It is anticipated that the price of gold will be volatile throughout the course of the day. Even though the support level at $1,900 is strong, it may be put to a significant test if the inflation data continues to show no signs of easing. Gold prices would be supported by a sizeable decline in the reading of inflation, which could potentially lead to an attempt to test the $1,950 level. On the other hand, if the reading indicates that inflationary pressures will continue for some time, the price of gold may go up even further. As a result, there is a greater chance that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates, potentially on more than one occasion.