Chicago PMI

Earlier today we noted that while the headline Services ISM number came slightly better than expected, if still damn ugly, it is the Employment index which stuck out, coming at an almost 2 year low and which, as the chart below demonstrates has an uncanny correlation with the NFP number. In fact, based on the two series' 5 Year rolling correlation of 0.89, the September NFP is expected to print at just about ~0, unless the establishment survey has somehow joined the Chicago PMI in decoupling from the rest of the US economy. But that's only half of it. As BNY's Nicholas Colas reminds us, a far more important and fundamental driver is the trend in monthly tax receipt withholdings, which actually indicate not correlation (which never implies causation), but true causation: i.e., if less tax withheld, then less people employed - simple. To wit: "If employment is improving on a monthly basis, it should show up the Treasury data pretty quickly. New hires – and existing employees, for that matter – usually receive their compensation in the form of a paycheck. The monies withheld for items like Federal and state taxes as well as Social Security go directly to Treasury from a payroll processing company or employer. There are always adjustments to be made as you analyze the data, of course, as withholding tables are a favorite political tool to juice the economy when things are slow." Unfortunately, the data is far from pretty, and in this case causation does imply correlation.

Just like Friday's Chicago PMI, the Manufacturing ISM has now completely decoupled from not only the developing world, but from the rest of America, as somehow US manufacturing in September came in better than expected, printing at 51.6, on expectations of a modest decline from 50.6 in August to 50.5. Commentary from the ISM's Bradley Holcomb: "The PMI registered 51.6 percent, an increase of 1 percentage point from August, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 26th consecutive month, at a slightly higher rate. The Production Index registered 51.2 percent, indicating a return to growth after contracting in August for the first time since May of 2009. The New Orders Index remained unchanged from August at 49.6 percent, indicating contraction for the third consecutive month. The Backlog of Orders Index decreased 4.5 percentage points to 41.5 percent, contracting for the fourth consecutive month and reaching its lowest level since April 2009, when it registered 40.5 percent. Comments from respondents generally reflect concern over the sluggish economy, political and policy uncertainty in Washington, and forecasts of ongoing high unemployment that will continue to put pressure on demand for manufactured products." And reading within the index, the data was not all good, with the all important New Orders unchanged, while an increase in Price Paid showed a modest increase in inflation, and hence deterioration in margins. Compounding the picture, Backlog of orders slumped, while Customer inventories increased. Altogether a non-impressive number, although at least it did not post the first contraction in 26 months, as Goldman had expected.

Your one stop, comprehensive summary of the past week's key positive and negative events.

Economic activity decoupling is no longer a phenomenon between the developed and developing world. It is between the Chicago region and everywhere else. And because the Chicago PMI is supposed to be representative of the Manufacturing ISM, the market just loves (or rather loved, considering the 10 minute leak of the data) that the PMI soared from 56.5 to 60.4 on expectations of a decline to 55.0. The internals were all hot, hot, hot as follows: "Business Activity: "EMPLOYMENT expanded to highest level in 4 months; NEW ORDERS erased net declines accumulated since April; ORDER BACKLOGS remained in contraction at a 23-month low; SUPPLIER DELIVERIES approached neutral; while the buying policy was as follows: PRODUCTION MATERIEL moved to an 10-month high; CAPITAL EQUIPMENT lead times ended a 4-month uptrend." Yet as usual the amusing part, which is straight from the respondents was the following: "We are seeing unannounced and incredible inflation on one product, multiple parts, that we are purchasing out of Europe. At 400% increase we thought surely must have been a mistake. This is not related to $ exchange since we pay in Euros already. Supplier says they cannot absorb costs anymore." And that's why Houston, we have a problem.

Today’s session has been a quiet one so far as markets digest yesterdays German EFSF vote and trading has seen light volumes heading into the month and quarter end. Weakening in the Euro currency was observed after higher than expected Eurozone CPI, which led to market participants further questioning whether the ECB will now be cutting interest rates in their monthly Governing Council meeting next week. As European bank fragility has remained in focus in recent times, news came from the EU Commission that they have temporarily approved state aid worth EUR 4.75bln to recapitalize three Spanish savings banks, although little reaction was seen in the markets. The largest moves have been seen in crude futures today with WTI and Brent trade down around USD 1, extending their quarter losses which remain on track for their biggest drop in 15 months. We’ve also seen the German upper house now approve EFSF expansion, and are awaiting final approval from Austria at today, although no time has been given. Looking ahead to the US cash open, focus will be on the US Chicago PMI data which is expected to show a slightly lower than previous reading at 55.0, plus the final University of Michigan Confidence number 10 minutes later. Hope will be that these readings add to yesterday’s indication of some recovery in the US economy.

In the upcoming week, debate and speculation about any “grand” Eurozone plan will certainly dominate FX markets and risk sentiment. Goldman is cautious. On one hand, it continues to believe that USD downside pressures remain the dominating medium trend in FX, and hence the current rise in risk premia creates attractive opportunities to position for renewed US weakness. On the other, it still sees plenty of Eurozone headline risk. For example, the tug-of-war over the next Greek tranche will likely continue for at least another 10 days. And important parliamentary votes are still outstanding in a number of EMU nations, in particular those with unclear majorities to implement the enhanced EFSF.

That the August Chicago PMI dropped to 56.6, down from 58.8 in Julye, and the lowest since November 2009 is irrelevant. What is relevant is that this number beat expectations of 53.3, so the ripfest is on: after all, stocks move higher on worse than expected data, which should they not surge on a consensus beat. Remember: the QE3/career risk rally is on. Nothing else matters. Among the index components, Prices paid dropped from 71.7 to 68.6, Production declined from 64.3 to 57.8, same for New Orders, Backlogs, and Inventtories. The two components that did go up were Supplied Deliveries from 55.9 to 60.5 and Employment, up from 51.5 to 52.1. And now everyone looks to tomorrow's ISM, for which the PMI is traditionally a good proxy, with hope that the number will print above 50 despite every single regional Fed indicating a mid-40's print.

• Canada GDP prints at -0.4% on expectations of 0.0%, first contraction since Q2, 2009
• Italy Living on Borrowed Time (WSJ)
• Choice for EU: Bail Out Greece or Bail Your Banks (WSJ)
• Economy Deeply Divides Fed (Fed Mouthpiece)
• SEC Lawyer Blew Whistle Before (WSJ)
• Noda promises action on surging yen (FT) ... again... always
• White House could unveil mortgage plan next week (Reuters)
• Greek Bailout Talks Face Hurdles (WSJ)
• Panama Canal upgrade sparks US ports battle (FT)
• Japan Finds Radiation Spread Over a Wide Area (WSJ)

• A German government spokesman said that the German cabinet has approved framework for a draft law on expanding the Eurozone rescue mechanism
• A French government spokeswoman said that France wants full application of a Eurozone agreement on Greece and no bilateral deals
• A German government draft mentioned that the EFSF will be allowed to recapitalise banks but only via national governments, which negated an earlier press report suggesting that the fund can lend to banks directly
• According to an Italian government source, the government is set to drop pension changes from its austerity package
• Strength was observed in CHF across the board as no comments emerged on curbing the currency's strength following the Swiss government's regular meeting

ADP, ISM-leading Chicago PMI, and factory orders. Very little risk of headline risk out of Europe which is doing all it can to preserve the last days of its vacation, confirmed even more by Italy slowly unwinding all components of its austerity plan.

News from last night out of China, coupled with early morning news from Europe confirmed what many speculated: namely that global manufacturing is now in a toxic spiral and absent another stimulus kick from various monetary and fiscal authorities there is no catalyst on the horizon to put the global economy into second gear. As Reuters observes, factories in Asia and Europe all but stagnated in July, according to business surveys that showed the weakest rates of growth since major industrial powers were struggling through the 2009 recession. While stock markets rose on signs of a last minute solution that would avoid a U.S. debt default, manufacturing purchasing managers indexes (PMIs) provided the latest evidence of a slowing global economy. The euro zone manufacturing PMI, which gauges the activities of thousands of businesses, fell to 50.4 in July from 52.0 in June -- its worst showing since September 2009 and barely above the 50 mark dividing growth and contraction. Perhaps more worryingly, China's official government PMI dropped to 50.7 from 50.9 in June, its weakest in more than two years, while the HSBC PMI fell below the 50 mark for the first time in a year -- to 49.3 in July from 51.6. Following Friday's horrendous GDP and Chicago PMI readings these are hardly a surprise. Needless to say, the reverse decoupling thesis will be tested once again today after the July ISM is released with consensus looking for a 54.9 print, and Zero Hedge looking for number just a tad above 50. But none of this matters. As Bloomberg's James Halloway points out, "Markets are for now shrugging off Friday’s poor U.S. GDP report, softening PMI prints in China and Germany, contractionary PMI readings for Ireland, Spain, U.K." One couldn't have put the idiocy of the market any better. Oh, and did we mention there is actually still no deal on the debt ceiling. It is merely priced in. As was Tarp 1 before the vote, leading to the biggest then historical collapse in the Dow once the market realized it had gotten ahead of itself. Deja vu coming up?

Goldman's Themistoklis Fiotakis summarizes the main events in the upcoming week, which will likely see a very short term bout of buying frenzy on the debt ceiling deal, following by the realization that America can kiss fiscal stimulus goodbye and that real GDP is set to contract over the next quarter to a negative print as the last benefits from QE2 vanish and are replaced by nothing. Also, with the upcoming weekly earning focusing on financial companies as announced yesterday, there will be little help from the only bright spot in the so-called economy, especially with the flashing red sign of the July Nonfarm Payroll Print (consensus +95K, Goldman +50K, even LaSagna +50K) due on Friday. The half life of Europe's second bailout was under 5 days. We give America about the same.

The adverse data onslaught continues with both the Chicago PMI and the UMichigan Consumer Confidence numbers coming in weaker than expected. Chicago printed at 58.8 on expectations of 60.0, down from 61.1, while consumer confidence was quantified with laser-like precision by UMichigan at 63.7, below expectations of 64.0, and the lowest since March 2009. The data behind the headlines was even uglier, as the Employment index in the PMI printed far lower, from 58.7 to 51.5, even as priced paid increased (yes, inflation) from 70.5 to 71.7, while new orders declined from 61.2 to 59.4. At the same time long-term inflation expectations are getting anchored ever higher, as the 5 year inflation rose from 2.8% to 2.9%, while the condition index plunged to 75.8, the lowest since November 2009. At least people's outlook on the future was unchanged at 56.0. Then again, all economic data is now irrelevant as everyone is preparing to listen to the republicans, the teleprompter and the democrats in that order imminently.

Several important releases today, including the advance report for Q2 GDP, which consensus sees at 1.8% and Goldman is materially lower at 1.5%. A QE Lite POMO closes at 11:00 am. Chicago PMI and UMich consumer confidence round out the data, which will again be vastly inferior in market movery to headlines out of Europe and the US.

Goldman performs the now traditional compilation of key global events and catalysts in the week ahead although there is really just one day that everyone is focusing on: Thursday: "House takes up Senate package, and potentially alters it. Under its rules, the House normally requires a bill to be publicly available for three days before voting on it, but might be able to bend the rules given the deadline. If support is lacking for the McConnell-Reid plan, as appears possible, the House may vote on an alternative package that pairs $300-$500bn in spending cuts with a debt limit increase of the same size. If it becomes clear during the Senate debate early next week that the Senate approach will not gain adequate Republican support in the House, House Republican leaders might move preemptively to pass a shorter extension rather than waiting to receive the Senate bill." Today the market did not crash, which foiled Obama's shock and awe plans (thank you Bernanke Put). However, if there is nothing by Thursday, then even the meanreversionbots will be powerless to just sit back and observe the massive carnage.