Market Update
U.S. Trade Deficit Soared In 2022
Brian Turner
07 Feb, 2023
New York City
The U.S. trade deficit widened in December to $67.4 billion from the revised $61 billion in November, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Tuesday.
In December, the goods deficit with China rose to $22.8 billion, the European Union $18.6 billion, Mexico $12.0 billion, Vietnam $8.1 billion, Germany $8.0 billion and Japan $7.2 billion.
For the full-year 2022, the trade deficit widened to record $948.1 billion or 3.7% of current dollar GDP from $845 billion in 2021 or 3.6% of GDP.
The goods trade deficit widened 9.3% to $1,191.8 billion and the services surplus narrowed 0.6% to $243.7 billion.
In 2022, exports of goods rose 17.7% to $2,085.6 billion and imports rose 16.3% to $3,277.3 billion, both driven by crude oil.
Despite the rising tensions between the U.S. and China, trade between the two largest economies continue to flourish.
Most companies are either unwilling to or unable to cut ties with China but other manufacturing centers are emerging in Vietnam, India and Mexico.
The deficit with China expanded 8.3% to $382.9 billion and the shortfall with Mexico, Vietnam and India soared as more American companies look to diversify supply base.
Exports of goods and services increased 17.7% to $3 trillion, while imports advanced 16.3% to $4 trillion.
Investors Overlook Record Trade Deficit and Focus On Chairman Powell Comments
Barry Adams
07 Feb, 2023
New York City
Stocks lacked direction and bounced around as investors digested recent comments from the Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
Chairman Powell acknowledged that inflation has started to cool but the disinflation process is in the early stage.
Market indexes bounced around and fell at one point in negative territory as investors decide the future rate path and the appropriate levels of interest rates.
“The disinflationary process, the process of getting inflation down, has begun and it’s begun in the goods sector, which is about a quarter of our economy," Chairman Powell said in a question and answer session at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
"“But it has a long way to go. These are the very early stages,” Powell added.
Record U.S. International Trade Deficit In 2022
The U.S. trade deficit widened in December to $67.4 billion from the revised $61 billion in November, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Tuesday.
In December, the goods deficit with China rose to $22.8 billion, the European Union $18.6 billion, Mexico $12.0 billion, Vietnam $8.1 billion, Germany $8.0 billion and Japan $7.2 billion.
For the full-year 2022, the trade deficit widened to record $948.1 billion or 3.7% of current dollar GDP from $845 billion in 2021 or 3.6% of GDP.
The goods trade deficit widened 9.3% to $1,191.8 billion and the services surplus narrowed 0.6% to $243.7 billion.
In 2022, exports of goods rose 17.7% to $2,085.6 billion and imports rose 16.3% to $3,277.3 billion, both driven by crude oil.
The deficit with China expanded to $382.9 billion and the shortfall with Canada to $81.6 billion.
U.S. Indexes In Review
The S&P 500 index increased 0.8% to 4,142.11 and the Nasdaq Composite index rose 1.2% to 12,033.13.
Crude oil rose $2.55 to $76.74 a barrel and natural gas increased 6 cents to $2.65 a thermal unit.
The yield on 2-year Treasury notes edged down to 4.45%, 10-year Treasury notes increased to 3.65% and 30-year Treasury bonds traded near 3.69%.
German Industrial production Dropped
Germany's industrial production declined at the fastest pace in nine months in December, the data released from Destatis or Federal Statistics Office showed.
Industrial production fell 3.1% in December on the month, reversing the 0.4% increase in November.
The 5.8% fall in intermediate goods output drove the overall production lower and consumer goods production increased 0.3% but capital goods production was unchanged.
The decline in December was the largest since the 4.2% fall in March.
Volatile European Markets Closed Lower
European markets closed down in choppy trading after energy prices advanced and investors reacted to corporate earnings.
The DAX index decreased 0.6% to 15,320.88, the CAC-40 index declined 4.75 points to 7,132.35 and the FTSE 100 index increased 0.4% to 7,864.71.
The yield on 10-year German Bunds increased to 2.32%, French bonds rose to 2.77%, the UK Gilt to 3.3% and Italian bonds to 4.2%.
The euro traded near $1.075, the British pound inched lower to $1.20 and the Swiss franc fetched 91.97 U.S. cents.
Brent crude oil traded higher $2.83 to $83.84 a barrel and Dutch TTF natural gas spot price dropped 6.5% to Є54.50 per MWh.
Europe Stock Movers
BP Plc increased 3.3% to 494.0 pence after the energy explorer reported bumper profit reflecting higher crude oil, gasoline and natural gas prices.
The energy company said group revenue increased 34.5% to $70.2 billion and net income soared more than four-fold to $11.1 billion from $2.6 billion and diluted EPS rose to $3.50 from 70 cents a year ago.
BP repurchased $3.2 billion of stock in the quarter including $2.5 billion repurchase announced in the previous quarter.
SoftBank's Vision Fund Losses Expanded
SoftBank Group Corp declined 1.1% to ¥6,268.0 and the diversified tech investment company reported a loss of ¥783.4 billion largely on the account of losses in its start up fund.
The Vision Fund segment reported a loss of ¥660 billion or about $5 billion after the fund marked down its investment in Didi Global and Grab Holdings and ByteDance.
For the first nine-months in the fiscal year 2022, the loss expanded to 5 trillion yen from 441 billion yen in the previous year's period.
Real Wages In Japan Edged Up
Benchmark indexes in Tokyo closed unchanged and the yen rebounded from the recent lows.
Japan's real wages edged up 0.1% in December from a year ago, rising for the first time in nine months since March, a report released on Tuesday by the labor ministry showed.
The Nikkei 225 index declined 8.18 points to 27,685.47 and the yen strengthened 1.5% to 130.73 against the U.S. dollar.
China Reopening Enthusiasm Lifted Indexes
Chinese stocks rebounded on the hopes that the reopening of the economy and social mobility will accelerate the increase in business activities.
The Shanghai Composite index increased 0.3% to 3,248.09 and the Hang Seng index advanced 0.4% to 21,298.70.
Stocks in Mumbai closed down driven by losses in metals stocks after Tata Steel reported a surprise loss in the December quarter.
Losses In Metals Stocks In India Drove Indexes Lower
The Sensex index declined 0.4% or 220.86 points to 60,286.04 and the Nifty index eased 0.24% or 43.10 points to 17,721.50.
The rupee edged lower to 82.86 against the U.S. dollar.
Adani Ports increased 1.9% after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly profit.
Consolidated profit fell 16% in the December quarter.
Tata Steel said revenue in the December quarter declined about 5% to ₹57,354 crore or $6 billion and swung to a net loss of ₹2,502 crore or $320 million from a profit of ₹9,598 crore or $1.2 billion.
Movers: Activision Blizzard, BP, Chegg, Cummins, Hertz. Pinterest, Royal Caribbean
Scott Peters
07 Feb, 2023
New York City
Activision Blizzard increased 4.3% to $74.75 after the computer game maker reported better-than-expected earnings.
Activision Blizzard said revenue in the fourth quarter increased 7% to $2.3 billion but net income plunged 29% to $403 million and diluted EPS fell to 51 cents from 72 cents a year ago.
For the quarter, Activision Blizzard’s net bookings jumped 43% to $3.57 billion from $2.49 billion and In-game net bookings rose $1.82 billion from $1.24 billion a year ago.
BP Plc increased 5.7% to $36.81 after the energy explorer reported bumper profit reflecting higher crude oil, gasoline and natural gas prices.
BP Plc said group revenue increased 34.5% to $70.2 billion and net income soared more than four-fold to $11.1 billion from $2.6 billion and diluted EPS rose to $3.50 from 70 cents a year ago.
BP repurchased $3.2 billion of stock in the quarter including $2.5 billion repurchase announced in the previous quarter.
Chegg Inc dropped 20% to $16.70 after the online student support service provider forecasted weak subscriber growth.
Chegg said the fourth quarter revenue declined 1% to $205.2 million and net income dropped to $1.9 million from $24.3 million and diluted EPS fell to 1 cent from 15 cents a year ago.
Chegg said services subscribers increased 5% to 8.2 million in the full-year 2022.
Cummins Inc decreased 1.1% to $248.20 after the industrial company reported a decline in net income in its latest quarter.
Cummins said revenue in the fourth quarter rose 35% to $7.8 billion and net income increased 6% to $631 million and diluted EPS increased to $4.43 from $2.73 a year ago.
For the full-year 2022, revenue increased 17% to $28 billion and net income rose to $2.15 billion from $2.13 billion and diluted earnings per share rose to $15.12 from $14.61 a year ago.
For the full-year 2023, Cummins estimated revenue to increase between 12% and 17% and operating earnings to increase between 14.5% and 15.2%
Hertz Global increased 7.5% to $19.07 after the rental car service provider swung to profit following a rebound in travel.
Hertz said sales in the fourth quarter rose 4% to $2 billion and swung to a net income of $116 million from a loss of $710 million and diluted loss per share was 1 cent compared to $1.52 a year ago.
Average rentable vehicles increased 3% to 465,943 and vehicle utilization increased to 79% from 78% a year ago.
Excluding litigation settlements of $168 million in the quarter, direct operating expense per transaction day was $33, down $2 from the third quarter 2022, reflecting improved operating leverage.
Pinterest Inc declined 6.2% to $26.12 after the social media platform operator reported a sharp decline in earnings.
Pinterest said revenue in the fourth quarter increased 4% to $877 million and net income dropped 90% to $17 million from $174.7 million and diluted EPS fell to 3 cents from 25 cents a year ago.
Pinterest also announced that its board of directors has authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $500 million of its Class A common stock over the next 12 months.
Royal Caribbean soared 9.2% to $75.46 after the cruise operator reported an upbeat outlook.
Royal Caribbean said revenue in the fourth quarter rose 160% to $2.6 billion and net loss shrank to $500 million from $1.4 billion and diluted loss per share fell to $1.96 from $5.33 a year ago.
The company said bookings are approaching previous record highs and at higher prices.
In the fourth quarter, RCL said load factors were in line with guidance at 95%, with Caribbean sailings reaching 100%, and holiday sailings close to 110%.