The US economy has been a topic of concern lately, with the Federal Reserve hinting at a possible mild recession this year. This is due to concerns over the health of regional banks, which could have implications for credit conditions. While the banking crisis of 2008 is not happening now, investors are still cautious. They will be closely watching producer prices and unemployment claims for further clues about the health of the economy.
In the tech industry, Softbank is reportedly planning to sell almost all of its stake in Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant. This move is likely due to the severe downturn in its technology holdings over the past year. Alibaba's shares fell in Asia after the news, as Softbank's stake in Alibaba was previously used to generate cash. This latest move would leave Softbank with a holding in Alibaba of less than 4%.
The US futures market edged higher, with the Dow futures contract up 0.1%. This is in response to the cooling consumer prices, but investors are also cautious about the possibility of a recession later this year. Investors are also waiting for the start of the quarterly earnings season on Friday, with major banks taking the lead. Delta Airlines is scheduled to report its quarterly numbers, and analysts will be listening to what the carrier says about labor and fuel costs and travel demand.
Chinese exports surged unexpectedly last month, snapping five straight months of declines. Chinese officials cited rising demand for electric vehicles as the reason for the surprise jump. However, investors are cautious about the economic slowdown expected in major export markets like the US and the European Union in the second half of the year.
Oil prices traded just below the flatline, with crude futures down by 0.1%. The monthly report from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is due later in the session and is expected to provide more cues on crude demand and supply after the cartel unexpectedly cut production earlier this month. This follows a recent rally in crude prices, which was spurred by hopes that the Federal Reserve is likely to stop hiking interest rates due to cooling US inflation data.
While there are positive signs in some areas of the economy, investors remain cautious due to concerns about a possible recession and the health of the banking industry. The tech industry is also facing challenges, with Softbank planning to sell its stake in Alibaba. As the quarterly earnings season begins, investors will be closely watching for updates on labor costs, fuel costs, and travel demand. The monthly report from OPEC is also expected to provide more cues on crude demand and supply.
