Stock indexes remain near new record highs as earnings for most companies continue topping estimates.
At the same time, many businesses continue to announce plans for further price increases, with most facing higher cost pressures. It will be interesting to see how or when the U.S. consumer starts to pull back.
Upcoming price increases
It will take more than one month of slightly better data for investors to believe the worst of the supply chain mess is behind us, though.
Data to watch today
Economic data today includes advanced reads on Retail and Wholesale Inventories for October. Bulls are hoping inventories have managed to climb from depressed levels brought on by supply chain challenges, especially as we head into the holiday shopping season. Remember, if companies don't have the products to sell it will be tough to meet earnings and growth forecasts.
Durable Goods Orders for September is also due today. Oil traders today are anxious to see the Energy Information Administration's weekly oil inventory report after both Brent and WTI oil futures yesterday closed at their highest levels since 2014 when oil was trading close to $100 a barrel.
Such a move could increase fears that other global central banks, including the U.S. Fed, will feel pressured to act more aggressively to combat inflation. Meaning analysts could begin moving up timelines for when the Fed might end asset purchases and begin rate hikes, something that could weigh on bullish outlooks.
Earnings
Big Tech Pushing S&P 500... But How Does it End? Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Tesla now make up 24% of the S&P 500. It seems like how they go so goes the overall stock market. Keep in mind, "Big Tech" now makes up about 40% of the entire S&P 500. If the trade finds Big Tech to be overvalued or in some type of bubble the market could take a sizable hit as it deflates.
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