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Writer's pictureSimon Charles Hooper

31/03/22 Briefing


The S&P 500 futures trade seven points, or 0.1%, above fair value as the market struggles for direction on this last day of the first quarter. The benchmark index enters the session down 3.4% for the quarter but up 5.2% this month.

Oil prices are on the retreat, hovering just above $100.00 per barrel ($101.37, -6.42, -5.9%), on news that President Biden will announce plans to release one million barrels of oil per day from strategic reserves to help keep gas prices down. The release could last for months.

Lingering growth concerns might also be a contributing factor after China's Manufacturing PMI dipped into contraction territory for the first time since October and reports indicated that Shanghai will enter phase two of its coronavirus lockdown. Equity markets in Asia closed modestly lower on Thursday.

U.S. Treasury yields are trading lower across the curve but more so on the shorter end. The 2-yr yield is down five basis points to 2.28%, and the 10-yr yield is down four basis points to 2.32%. The U.S. Dollar Index is up 0.4% to 98.19.

On the data front, investors will receive Personal Income (Briefing.comconsensus 0.5%) and Personal Spending (Briefing.comconsensus 0.5%) for February, PCE Prices for February (Briefing.comconsensus 0.6%), and weekly Initial Claims (Briefing.comconsensus 200,000) at 8:30 a.m. ET, followed by the Chicago PMI for March (Briefing.comconsensus 56.8) at 9:45 a.m. ET.

In U.S. Corporate news:

  • Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA 47.11, -0.35): -0.7% despite beating top and bottom-line estimates.

  • UiPath (PATH 24.74, -4.30): -14.8% after guiding revenue for fiscal Q1 and FY23 below consensus, overshadowing its better-than-expected fiscal Q4 results.

  • Advanced Micro Devices (AMD 116.76, -2.46): -2.1% after the stock was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays.

Reviewing overnight developments:

  • Equity indices in the Asia-Pacific region ended Thursday on a mostly lower note. Japan's Nikkei: -0.7% Hong Kong's Hang Seng: -0.8% China's Shanghai Composite: -0.4% India's Sensex: -0.2% South Korea's Kospi: +0.4% Australia's ASX All Ordinaries: -0.1%.

    • In economic data:

      • China's March Manufacturing PMI 49.5 (expected 49.9; last 50.2) and March Non-Manufacturing PMI 48.4 (last 51.6)

      • Japan's February Industrial Production 0.1% m/m (expected 0.5%; last -0.8%). February Housing Starts 6.3% yr/yr (expected 1.1%; last 2.1%) and Construction Orders -2.3% yr/yr (last 11.0%)

      • South Korea's February Industrial Production 0.6% m/m (last 0.3%); 6.5% yr/yr (expected 4.5%; last 4.2%). February Retail Sales 0.1% m/m (last -1.9%). April Manufacturing BSI Index 83 (last 91)

      • Australia's February Building Approvals 43.5% m/m (expected 10.0%; last -27.1%) and Private House Approvals 16.5% m/m (last -16.3%)

      • Hong Kong's February Retail Sales -14.6% yr/yr (last 4.1%)


  • In news:

    • Shanghai is reportedly remaining under a coronavirus lockdown.

    • China's Manufacturing PMI dipped into contraction for the first time since October.

    • Japan is reportedly considering a JPY2 trln stimulus package.

    • The Bank of Japan continued its fixed rate buying operations.



  • Major European indices trade in the red. STOXX Europe 600: -0.2% Germany's DAX: -0.4% U.K.'s FTSE 100: -0.4% France's CAC 40: -0.6% Italy's FTSE MIB: -0.2% Spain's IBEX 35: -0.4%.

    • In economic data:

      • Eurozone's February Unemployment Rate 6.8% (expected 6.7%; last 6.9%)

      • Germany's February Retail Sales 0.3% m/m (expected 0.5%; last 2.0%); 7.0% yr/yr (expected 6.1%; last 10.4%). March Unemployment Change -18,000 (expected -20,000; last -33,000) and Mach Unemployment Rate 5.0%, as expected (last 5.0%)

      • U.K.'s Q4 GDP 1.3% qtr/qtr (expected 1.0%; last 0.9%); 6.6% yr/yr (expected 6.5%; last 6.9%). March Nationwide HPI 1.1% m/m (expected 0.8%; last 1.7%); 14.3% yr/yr (expected 13.5%; last 12.6%)

      • France's March CPI 1.4% m/m (expected 1.3%; last 0.8%); 4.5% yr/yr (expected 4.3%; last 3.6%). February PPI 1.1% m/m (last 4.7%) and February Consumer Spending 0.8% m/m (expected 1.2%; last -2.0%)

      • Italy's March CPI 1.2% m/m (expected 0.9%; last 0.9%); 6.7% yr/yr (expected 6.4%; last 5.7%). February Unemployment Rate 8.5% (expected 8.7%; last 8.6%)

      • Swiss February Retail Sales 12.8% yr/yr (last 5.7%)


  • In news:

    • Russia is reportedly set to implement a law requiring that payments for gas be made in rubles, starting tomorrow.

    • Bank of Italy Governor Visco said that rate hikes will not take place before the end of the ECB's quantitative easing program.

    • France and Italy reported hotter than expected flash inflation readings for March.




U.S. equity futures:

  • S&P 500 Futures: UNCH @ 4,602

  • DJIA Futures: -20 @ 35,209

  • Nasdaq 100 Futures: +32 @ 15,104

Overseas:

  • Europe: DAX -0.4%, FTSE -0.4%, CAC -0.6%

  • Asia: Nikkei -0.7%, Hang Seng -0.8%, Shanghai Composite -0.4%

Commodities:

  • Crude Oil -5.75 @ 102.09

  • Nat Gas -0.100 @ 5.505

  • Gold -3.40 @ 1930.10

  • Silver -0.073 @ 25.040

  • Copper -0.0013 @ 4.7492

U.S. Summary:

  • Earnings/Guidance (Full Earnings Calendar):

    • Braze (BRZE) beats by $0.01, beats on revs; guides AprQ EPS above consensus, revs above consensus; guides FY23 EPS above consensus, revs above consensus

    • Expensify (EXFY) reports Q4 net loss per share of $(0.82) vs. breakeven year ago; revenue increased 56% yr/yr to $40.4 mln

    • Flex (FLEX) reaffirms MarQ revenue and earnings guidance during today's virtual investor day

    • Flotek Industries (FTK) misses bottom line single estimate; beats on revs

    • Masimo (MASI) issues product revenue guidance for Q1, reaffirms FY22 revenue guidance

    • Phreesia (PHR) beats by $0.13, beats on revs; guides FY23 revs above consensus

    • Sharecare (SHCR) beats by $0.08, misses on revs; guides Q1 revs below consensus; guides FY22 revs below consensus

    • Tempur Sealy Int'l (TPX) sees Q1 revs below consensus

    • UiPath (PATH) beats by $0.02, beats on revs; guides Q1 revs below consensus; guides FY23 revs below consensus

    • Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) beats by $0.19, beats on revs


  • General News:

    • White House mulling plan to release 1 million barrels a day from strategic oil reserves, according to Bloomberg

    • Ukraine Parliament believes peace talks are "not real" and Russia is just using the talks as a "smokescreen" to reorganize forces. Russia is not moving forces out of Kyiv, according to CNN

    • Shanghai will begin phase two of coronavirus lockdown, according to Bloomberg

    • House Rules Committee advances bill to legalize marijuana, but it is currently not on the list for bills to be voted on in House today

    • CDC confirms it removed COVID-19 risk advisory for cruise ships

    • EU Commission confirms unannounced inspections in the natural gas sector in Germany

    • SEC proposes rules to enhance disclosure and investor protection relating to special purpose acquisition companies, shell companies, and projections

    • ABB Ltd (ABB) authorizes new share buyback program of up to $3 bln

    • Accuray (ARAY) reports 10-Year Data Shows Accuray CyberKnife System Provides Long-Lasting Relief of the Excruciating Pain Caused by Trigeminal Neuralgia

    • Amazon (AMZN): Labor officials will count union votes at Amazon NYC & Alabama warehouses today, according to Reuters

    • Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp. (AP) subsidiary received a $9.6 million order for a custom air handling unit project for a major healthcare provider located in the southeastern United States

    • Amylyx Pharmaceuticals (AMLX): FDA Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee votes 6 "no," 4 "yes" on question of effectiveness of AMX0035 for the treatment of ALS

    • Apple (AAPL) aiming to add memory and chip suppliers, according to Bloomberg

    • Autolus Therapeutics (AUTL): EMA has granted obe-cel, Autolus' leading CAR T clinical candidate, Orphan Medical Product Designation for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    • Baidu (BIDU) Provides update on status under Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act

    • BioNTech (BNTX) announces $1.5 bln ADS repurchase program

    • Boeing (BA) receives up to 20 Additional 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters from ASL

    • Buenaventura SA (BVN) receives approval of all required permits, enabling Buenaventura to immediately commence mining project construction

    • Canada Goose (GOOS) announced the appointment of Carrie Baker to President, Canada Goose, effectively immediately

    • Chevron (CVX): US might lower limits on Chevron Venezuela contracts, according to Bloomberg

    • Clovis Oncology (CLVS) Rubraca significantly improves progression-free survival in first-line maintenance treatment in women with ovarian cancer regardless of their biomarker status in phase 3 athena-mono trial

    • Copart (CPRT) promotes Jeff Liaw to Co-CEO

    • Corcept Therapeutics (CORT) presents results from Phase 2 study of relacorilant plus nab-paclitaxel in patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

    • Crinetics Pharmaceuticals (CRNX) Reports Positive Top-Line Results from CRN04777 Phase 1 Study Multiple-Ascending Dose Cohorts

    • Cryoport (CYRX) announces New Prague facility's return to full production

    • Datadog (DDOG) partners with Microsoft (MSFT) to add its monitoring and security capabilities within the Azure Cloud Adoption Framework

    • Faraday Future Intelligent Electric (FFIE) provides update on status of filings and investigation

    • GlaxoSmithKline (GSK): majority-owned ViiV Healthcare says FDA has approved NDA for a dispersible tablet formulation for pediatric patients with HIV-1

    • Howard Hughes (HHC) sells equity interest in 55-story office tower in Chicago for $210 mln

    • Huntington Ingalls (HII): REMUS 300 selected as US Navy's next generation small UUV program of record

    • InflaRx (IFRX) announces encouraging phase iii topline results from panamo trial of Vilobelimab in severe COVID-19 patients

    • Kingsoft Cloud (KC) announces $100 million share repurchase program plan

    • Mainz Biomed B.V. (MYNZ) completes successful pre-submission process with the FDA for ColoAlert's Pivotal Clinical Trial

    • Marathon Digital (MARA) appoints Hugh Gallagher as CFO, effective March 31

    • Novavax (NVAX) announced submission of its request to expand the conditional marketing authorization of Nuvaxovid COVID-19 Vaccine (recombinant, adjuvanted) in the European Union to adolescents aged 12 through 17 years

    • Nuvalent (NUVL) announced the appointment of Anna Protopapas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mersana Therapeutics, as Chair of its Board of Directors

    • OneWater Marine's (ONEW) Board approves $50 mln share repurchase program

    • Organon (OGN) and Dar Bioscience (DARE) have entered into an agreement whereby Organon will license global rights to XACIATO

    • Prudential Plc (PUK) confirms Mike Wells will retire as Group CEO

    • PTC Therapeutics (PTCT) announces initiation of Phase 2 PIVOT-HD trial

    • Sandy Spring Banc (SASR) announces $50 mln share repurchase program

    • Sempra Energy (SRE) and and TotalEnergies (TTE) expand north american strategic alliance for LNG and renewable development projects

    • SoftBank (SFTBY) aiming to slow investments, according to Financial Times

    • Taseko Mines (TGB) reports a 40% increase in Gibraltar proven and probable reserves

    • Tesla (TSLA) extends Shanghai production suspension for at least another day, according to Bloomberg

    • Triumph Group (TGI) announces streamlined organizational structure

    • Twitter (TWTR): Tweet Deck might soon become a paid service, according to Verge

    • Vipshop (VIPS) authorizes $1 bln share repurchase program over the next 24-month period

    • Weibo's (WB) Board approves share repurchase of up to $500 mln ADS


  • M&A:

    • Artemis Strategic Investment Corp. (ARTE) enters into combination agreement with game-tech operator Novibet

    • Dun & Bradstreet (DNB) divests assets of business-to-consumer marketing solutions business in Germany; transaction not expected to have material impact on 2022 adjusted EBITDA

    • IDEX Corp (IEX) enters into agreement to acquire KZ CO; terms of deal not disclosed

    • Royal Bank of Canada (RY) to acquire Brewin Dolphin

    • Yandex N.V (YNDX): Its Yango Deli is exploring strategic shifts for its businesses in the UK and France, according to Bloomberg


  • Syndicate:

    • Bolt Biotherapeutics (BOLT) files for $250 mln mixed securities shelf offering

    • Hess Midstream Partners (HESM) prices secondary offering of 8.9 mln shares of Class A stock at $29.50 per share

    • Modiv (MDV) files for $200 mln mixed securities shelf offering


  • IPOs:

    • Expected to Price:

      • No IPOs expected to price.



Gapping Up/Down

  • Gapping up:

    • CLVS +33.9%, MYNZ +10.2%, VIPS +8.3%, PRG+6.2%, AMLX +5%, OEC +4.9%, CGC +4%, CORT+3.4%, ACB +3.4%, FLEX +2.9%, HII +2.7%, FFIE+2.3%, NVAX +2.1%, NIO +1.8%, DDOG +1.6%, MARA+1.5%, XPEV +1.4%, HUYA +1.4%, CYRX +1.2%, TLRY+1.1%


  • Gapping down:

    • YNDX -21.3%, EXFY -14.4%, PATH -14.3%, MASI-9.9%, FRGI -7.3%, IQ -7.1%, PHR -6.1%, HCM -5%, MDV -4%, FTK -3.8%, JD -2.7%, HESM -2.6%, BIDU-2.1%, MJ -2%, BABA -1.6%


Analyst Research (see Upgrades/Downgradescalendarfor full list):

  • Upgrades

    • APA Corp. (APA) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Mizuho; tgt $56

    • Baker Hughes (BKR) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Wells Fargo; tgt raised to $43

    • Cameco (CCJ) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at BMO Capital Markets

    • CDW (CDW) upgraded to Overweight from Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley; tgt raised to $214

    • Core & Main (CNM) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays; tgt raised to $34

    • Five Below (FIVE) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup; tgt raised to $205

    • Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan

    • Vector Grp (VGR) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays; tgt raised to $16


  • Downgrades:

    • Advanced Micro (AMD) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays; tgt lowered to $115

    • Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Mizuho; tgt lowered to $2

    • Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Piper Sandler; tgt lowered to $2

    • BNY Mellon (BK) downgraded to Peer Perform from Outperform at Wolfe Research; tgt $55

    • Dell (DELL) downgraded to Equal-Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley; tgt lowered to $60

    • HP (HPQ) downgraded to Underweight from Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley; tgt lowered to $31

    • Hub Group (HUBG) downgraded to Equal-Weight from Overweight at Stephens; tgt lowered to $93

    • Liberty Oilfield Services (LBRT) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Wells Fargo; tgt raised to $15

    • Navient (NAVI) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Compass Point; tgt $18

    • PulteGroup (PHM) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays; tgt lowered to $49

    • PVH (PVH) downgraded to Equal-Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley; tgt lowered to $89

    • Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM) downgraded to Underweight from Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley; tgt raised to $70

    • State Street (STT) downgraded to Peer Perform from Outperform at Wolfe Research; tgt $101

    • Taylor Morrison Home (TMHC) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays; tgt lowered to $33

    • Trean Insurance Group (TIG) downgraded to In-line from Outperform at Evercore ISI; tgt lowered to $5.50


  • Others:

    • Adicet Bio (ACET) initiated with an Outperform at SMBC Nikko; tgt $28

    • Affimed Therapeutics (AFMD) initiated with an Overweight at Piper Sandler; tgt $7

    • BRC Inc. (BRCC) initiated with a Hold at Deutsche Bank; tgt $19

    • Codexis (CDXS) assumed with an Overweight at Piper Sandler; tgt $35

    • Coinbase Global (COIN) initiated with a Sell at US Tiger; tgt $135

    • Dassault Systemes (DASTY) initiated with an Underperform at Credit Suisse

    • ESS Inc. (GWH) initiated with a Hold at Deutsche Bank; tgt $7

    • Euronet (EEFT) initiated with a Buy at UBS; tgt $163

    • Huntsman (HUN) resumed with a Buy at BofA Securities; tgt $46

    • Ionis Pharma (IONS) assumed with an Overweight at Piper Sandler; tgt $54

    • Morphic (MORF) initiated with a Buy at Canaccord Genuity; tgt $68

    • NeoGames (NGMS) initiated with a Buy at Jefferies; tgt $20

    • Pearson Plc (PSO) resumed with a Neutral at BofA Securities

    • Qualtrics (XM) resumed with a Buy at BofA Securities; tgt $40

    • SAP SE (SAP) initiated with an Outperform at Credit Suisse

    • Snowflake (SNOW) initiated with a Neutral at Atlantic Equities; tgt $240

    • Travere Therapeutics (TVTX) initiated with an Overweight at Piper Sandler; tgt $42

    • Ventyx Biosciences (VTYX) initiated with a Buy at Canaccord Genuity; tgt $30

    • Warby Parker (WRBY) initiated with a Hold at Stifel; tgt $36

    • Western Union (WU) initiated with a Neutral at UBS; tgt $19


Upcoming Events:

  • Econ Data:

    • 08:30 ET: Personal Income for Feb (Briefing.comConsensus 0.5%; Prior 0.0%)

    • 08:30 ET: Personal Spending for Feb (Briefing.comConsensus 0.5%; Prior 2.1%)

    • 08:30 ET: PCE Prices for Feb (Briefing.comConsensus 0.6%; Prior 0.6%)

    • 08:30 ET: PCE Prices - Core for Feb (Briefing.comConsensus 0.4%; Prior 0.5%)

    • 08:30 ET: Initial Claims for Mar. 26 (Briefing.comConsensus 200K; Prior 187K)

    • 08:30 ET: Continuing Claims for Mar. 19 (Briefing.comConsensus NA; Prior 1350K)

    • 09:45 ET: Chicago PMI for Mar (Briefing.comConsensus 56.8; Prior 56.3)

    • 10:30 ET: EIA Natural Gas Inventories for Mar. 26 (Briefing.comConsensus NA; Prior -51 bcf)


  • Earnings:

    • Monday (Mar 28)

      • Morning: SAIC

      • Afternoon: PLAY


  • Tuesday (Mar 29)

    • Morning: ASO CONN LOVE MKC DTC

    • Afternoon: CALM CHWY LULU MU MLKN PRGS PVH RH SPWH VRNT


  • Wednesday (Mar 30)

    • Morning: AER BNTX CNM FIVE MSM PAYX

    • Afternoon: PHR PATH


  • Thursday (Mar 31)

    • Morning: SHCR WBA

    • Afternoon: BB BLND DCT NCNO



Asia & Europe detail:

Asia: Nikkei -0.7%, Hang Seng -0.8%, Shanghai Composite -0.4%

Equity indices in the Asia-Pacific region ended Thursday on a mostly lower note. Shanghai is reportedly remaining under a coronavirus lockdown. China's Manufacturing PMI dipped into contraction for the first time since October. Japan is reportedly considering a JPY2 trln stimulus package. The Bank of Japan continued its fixed rate buying operations.

  • In economic data:

    • China's March Manufacturing PMI 49.5 (expected 49.9; last 50.2) and March Non-Manufacturing PMI 48.4 (last 51.6)

    • Japan's February Industrial Production 0.1% m/m (expected 0.5%; last -0.8%). February Housing Starts 6.3% yr/yr (expected 1.1%; last 2.1%) and Construction Orders -2.3% yr/yr (last 11.0%)

    • South Korea's February Industrial Production 0.6% m/m (last 0.3%); 6.5% yr/yr (expected 4.5%; last 4.2%). February Retail Sales 0.1% m/m (last -1.9%). April Manufacturing BSI Index 83 (last 91)

    • Australia's February Building Approvals 43.5% m/m (expected 10.0%; last -27.1%) and Private House Approvals 16.5% m/m (last -16.3%)

    • Hong Kong's February Retail Sales -14.6% yr/yr (last 4.1%)


---Equity Markets---

  • Japan's Nikkei: -0.7%

  • Hong Kong's Hang Seng: -0.8%

  • China's Shanghai Composite: -0.4%

  • India's Sensex: -0.2%

  • South Korea's Kospi: +0.4%

  • Australia's ASX All Ordinaries: -0.1%

---FX---

  • USD/JPY: -0.1% to 121.76

  • USD/CNH: -0.2% to 6.3477

  • USD/INR: -0.2% to 75.69

Europe: DAX -0.4%, FTSE -0.4%, CAC -0.6%

Major European indices trade in the red. Russia is reportedly set to implement a law requiring that payments for gas be made in rubles, starting tomorrow. Bank of Italy Governor Visco said that rate hikes will not take place before the end of the ECB's quantitative easing program. France and Italy reported hotter than expected flash inflation readings for March.

  • In economic data:

    • Eurozone's February Unemployment Rate 6.8% (expected 6.7%; last 6.9%)

    • Germany's February Retail Sales 0.3% m/m (expected 0.5%; last 2.0%); 7.0% yr/yr (expected 6.1%; last 10.4%). March Unemployment Change -18,000 (expected -20,000; last -33,000) and Mach Unemployment Rate 5.0%, as expected (last 5.0%)

    • U.K.'s Q4 GDP 1.3% qtr/qtr (expected 1.0%; last 0.9%); 6.6% yr/yr (expected 6.5%; last 6.9%). March Nationwide HPI 1.1% m/m (expected 0.8%; last 1.7%); 14.3% yr/yr (expected 13.5%; last 12.6%)

    • France's March CPI 1.4% m/m (expected 1.3%; last 0.8%); 4.5% yr/yr (expected 4.3%; last 3.6%). February PPI 1.1% m/m (last 4.7%) and February Consumer Spending 0.8% m/m (expected 1.2%; last -2.0%)

    • Italy's March CPI 1.2% m/m (expected 0.9%; last 0.9%); 6.7% yr/yr (expected 6.4%; last 5.7%). February Unemployment Rate 8.5% (expected 8.7%; last 8.6%)

    • Swiss February Retail Sales 12.8% yr/yr (last 5.7%)


---Equity Markets---

  • STOXX Europe 600: -0.2%

  • Germany's DAX: -0.4%

  • U.K.'s FTSE 100: -0.4%

  • France's CAC 40: -0.6%

  • Italy's FTSE MIB: -0.2%

  • Spain's IBEX 35: -0.4%

---FX---

  • EUR/USD: -0.5% to 1.1105

  • GBP/USD: UNCH at 1.3137

  • USD/CHF: +0.3% to 0.9249

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