‼️ For the first time ever
There are now more ETFs in the United States than total number of stocks, data compiled by Morningstar shows - Bloomberg. ~4,300 - Total number of ETFs. ~4,200 - Total number of stocks. Source: Bloomberg, ETF Tracker
🔥 Trade between the U.S. and China has collapsed to its lowest point in nearly 20 years.
👉 Imports from China just hit a 19-year low, and U.S. exports to China are sliding too. Tariffs, decoupling, and weaker demand are crushing the flow of goods. 👉 On paper, China’s GDP is still growing. But when your biggest trading partner is importing less than in 2006, that growth looks hollow. ➡️ It thus seems that China’s stock rally isn’t built on trade or fundamentals but rather being propped up by liquidity and policy support. Source: StockMarket.News @_Investinq
US tariff revenue is skyrocketing
Annualized tariff revenues have hit a record $335 billion. This is more than triple the average seen in previous years. So far in August, collected customs and duties have reached $22.5 billion. Source: Global Markets Investor @GlobalMktObserv
⚠️ US slaps India with 50% tariffs
➡️ FT: "The US has slapped punitive tariffs on India over its purchases of discounted Russian oil, dealing a blow to the world’s fastest growing large economy and deepening a rift between Washington and New Delhi. The 25 per cent levy — which came on top of a 25 per cent “reciprocal” tariff — took effect at 12.01am US eastern time on Wednesday and raised rates on India to among the highest rates in the world. President Donald Trump’s announcement this month that the US would double its tariff rate on India marked a sudden escalation of tensions, following the sides' failure to reach a breakthrough in trade talks. Negotiators had initially targeted the first stage of a trade deal by early summer". Source chart: Bloomberg
In case you missed it...
Prices paid component in Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index spiked in August... highest since February 2023. Source: Kevin Gordon @KevRGordon
➡️ Trump administration military leaders are “thinking about” whether the U.S. should acquire equity stakes in top defense contractors, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said.
➡️ Lockheed Martin, which makes most of its revenue from federal contracts, is “basically an arm of the U.S. government,” he said. ➡️ Lutnick’s remarks on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” came days after the U.S. government acquired 10% of Intel stock in a roughly $9 billion deal. Source: CNBC
So Lisa Cook is fighting Trump by using his own rules
1) Attack; 2) Deny: 3) Never Show Defeat Will it work?
Has the dollar bottomed?
An interesting regularity is emerging for the Dollar. Payrolls revisions (Aug 1), CPI (Aug 12) and Powell's Jackson Hole speech drag the Dollar down, but each low after one of these hits is higher than the one before and the Dollar then resumes its rise. Source: Robin Brooks
