Unten die - überwiegend positiven - aktuellen US-Zahlen.
Die Wirtschaft wuchs mit 3,5 % stärker als erwartet (3 %), die Arbeitskosten stiegen um 0,8 % (erw. 0,9 bis 1 %), Zahl der Beschäftigten laut ADP leicht um 0,1 % gestiegen.
Die Zahlen sind positiv und könnten die Fed veranlassen, im Begleitstatement einen zins-bullischeren Ton anzuschlagen. Damit wäre die Hoffnung des Aktienmarkts auf Zinssenkungen gänzlich zum Teufel. Setzt sich die Bizarro-Börse fort, die stieg, als die US-Wirtschaft schwächelte (Hoffnung auf Zinssenkung), so könnten die jetzt positiveren Daten auf die Börsen drücken (Angst vor Zinserhöhung).
Ein Abverkauf ist charttechisch eh überfällig (siehe Dick Arms in # 3008).
Obige Daten könnte die Börse auch positiv interpretieren. Im gegenwärtigen Umfeld ist es aber wahrscheinlicher, dass die aufkommende Zinsangst einen willkommenen Vorwand zum ohnehin überfälligen Abverkauf liefert. Dafür spricht auch, dass die US-Futures nach den Zahlen noch immer im Minus notieren.
Veröffentlichung der offiziellen Vorabschätzung zum US-amerikanischen Bruttoinlandsprodukt ("Gross Demestic Product", GDP) für das vierte Quartal 2006
Das US-amerikanische Bruttoinlandsprodukt ist nach erster offizieller Schätzung im vierten Quartal um 3,5 % gestiegen. Gerechnet wurde mit einem Anstieg um 3,0 %. Im Quartal zuvor hatte das Wachstum bei 2,0 % gelegen.
Der Chain Deflator ist gemäß der ersten Schätzung um 1,5 % gestiegen. Erwartet wurden 1,5 bis 1,6 % nach zuvor 1,9 %.
Veröffentlichung der Zahlen zum US-amerikanischen Arbeitskostenindex ("Employment Cost Index") für das vierte Quartal 2006
Der US-amerikanische Arbeitskostenindex ist im 4. Quartal um 0,8 % gestiegen nach zuvor +1,0 %. Gerechnet worden war mit einem Anstieg im Bereich 0,9 bis 1,0 %.
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Veröffentlichung der Zahlen zum US-amerikanischen ADP Arbeitsmarktbericht der Automatic Data Processing Inc. ("ADP National Employment Report") für Januar 2007
Im Januar ist die Zahl der privat Beschäftigten außerhalb der Landwirtschaft in den USA um 152.000 bzw. 0,1 % auf 114,513 Mio. gestiegen. Im Vormonat war die Zahl derer noch um 40.000 zurückgegangen.
Steven Smith
GDP Pretty Good
1/31/2007 8:34 AM EST
Initial estimates for fourth-quarter GDP are for a 3.5% gain. Forecasts had looked for 3.0% growth following the third quarter's 2% increase.
Consumer spending rose 4.4%, in line with estimates.
The employment cost index rose 0.8%, below the 1.0% increase expected.
The chain deflator rose 1.5%, also slightly below the 1.6% forecast.
These numbers seem pretty good: higher growth, inflation in control, consumer still on a spending spree. But the markets seem to be focusing on the higher growth, and stock index futures are still trading lower in pre-market.
GDP Shouldn't Move the Fed Needle
By Rev Shark
Street.com Contributor
1/31/2007 8:48 AM EST
Headline GDP is stronger than expected but most of the inflationary data are slightly below expectations. The market reaction is fairly mild as the numbers aren't really enough to change much.
GDP growth at 3.5% is hot enough to undermine the idea that we have a recession developing while inflation indicators were well contained. That sort of report will help keep the Fed in a wait and see mode. Whether that plays out in their decision later today we shall see.
Rev Shark
Focus on Fed, Data
01/31/2007 8:36 AM
We have a particularly interesting set of events affecting the market today, and the potential for new revelations is quite high. Already this morning a Communist party official in China made negative comments about the Shanghai exchange, which has been one of the hottest in the world.
He stated that only 30% of the companies listed there meet Western criteria for investment and raised concerns about valuation. We are going to be hearing plenty of talk about how Shanghai looks like the Nasdaq from early 2000.
We have a slight negative reaction to that news in the very early going but market players are focusing on the GDP numbers this morning and then the Fed interest rate decision. With both GDP and the FOMC on the same day it is possible we can have conflicting results. Weak GDP would indicate to the market that the Fed can be less hawkish but that data may not even be entering into the decision they make today. So we have to be very careful not to let the GDP mislead us into concluding anything about what the Fed may do.
Be particularly wary of placing big bets in front of the Fed today. You might get it right and hit the jackpot but the odds of a successful, albeit less dramatic, trade increase if you want to play the themes that emerge after the news is out. Many market players are inclined to roll the dice in front of major events, which really can get the adrenalin pumping. But that is just gambling and not carefully reasoned speculation.
The Fed is particularly important today not because it is expected to do anything drastic but because it is going to help set the tone of the trading for a while. Much of the market's rally off the July low was predicated on the belief that we had inflation under control and a soft economic landing was likely, which would allow the Fed to cut rates sooner rather than later. Recent economic data has pretty much wiped out the hope of a quick rate cut but there still seems to be the perception that inflation is not a major issue.
The Fed today is going to give the market a hint about what it is thinking with some very subtle language. In fact, even if it doesn't change a word of their policy statement, that is going to cause a reaction by the market.
The big issue for us to consider is market expectations. Are market players ready if the Fed hints at being more hawkish? Is it possible that it could be less hawkish and if so do we see a huge rally? It certainly seems unlikely that the Fed will back off on its worries about inflation but if it did the reaction would likely be dramatic.
We'll talk more about the possibilities before the decision but for now the most important thing to keep in mind is that chances for a strong move are quite high and we need to be ready if we don't want to be whipsawed.
We have some early weakness as overseas markets were pressured and oil is trading down slightly after a huge move yesterday. 