US markets are climbing this morning as earnings season gets underway led by a 0.6% gain for NASDAQ futures. Dow futures, European indices including the DAX, CAC, and FTSE, and commodities like Crude Oil and Copper are all quiet this morning. In currency action, Bitcoin is down 2.4%, while Gold is up 0.2%.
Economic data out of China was mixed as Q2 GDP (5.2% vs Street 5.1%) and industrial production (6.8% vs Street 5.6%) beat expectations but retail sales (4.8% vs Street 5.6%) and fixed asset investment (2.8% vs Street 3.7%) disappointed.
US consumer prices (2.7% as expected vs previous 2.4%) and Canadian consumer prices (1.9% as expected vs previous 1.7%) both showed inflation pressures starting to build slightly. The Empire State Manufacturing Index (+5 vs Street -9) came in stronger than expected.
The first round of earnings reports from US financials has come in well above expectations with JPMorgan Chase ($5.24 vs Street $4.48, down 1.0% premarket), Wells Fargo ($1.60 vs Street $1.41, down 3.0% premarket), Blackrock ($12.05 vs Street $10.78 down 2.5% premarket), and Bank of NY Mellon* ($1.93 vs Street $1.75) all handily beating the Street, confirming a robust economy and positive environment for business. Premarket trading, however, suggests some profit-taking against the news. Tomorrow brings results from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Johnson & Johnson.
*Shares of Bank of NY Mellon are held in portfolios managed by SIA Wealth Management.