Major averages rose on higher volume. China reported unexpectedly strong economic data with July exports jumping 5.1% on a year-ago basis vs. 3% expected, imports rocketing 10.9%, more than 5 times estimates, and China’s industrial production grew at the fastest pace since February, rising 9.7% from a year earlier. The strong gain for July compared to a 8.9% rise in June, and exceeded forecasts for a 9% gain.
Despite concerns that China’s economy still faces serious challenges, this is a dramatic change from the past two years when economic growth in China has been slowing. Indeed, China has been in a bear market since 2009. Given that the US is still the world's leading economic power, US major markets have outperformed, while China's bear market has not dragged down the rest of the world. Of course, this could change in the coming years should China take the lead economically. In the meantime, markets of the debtor nations including US, UK, and Europe show the most resilience, with the US in the clear lead as it remains the tallest standing midget. As well, their ability to print money continues to fuel their markets higher. The US has the Federal Reserve, the UK the Bank of England, and Europe the European Central Bank.
Should creditor nations like China and India recover, this would certainly help the debtor nations recover as well. And since economies are fairly well connected, a recovering economy in one major country helps economies in other countries. Recently over in Europe, Germany which is Europe's tallest standing midget recently reported stronger-than-expected June industrial output and factory orders, and the United Kingdom reported the strongest July for retail sales since 2006.
So all this money printing by debtor nations may continue to buy time as China and India and other creditor nations recover, thus spur economic growth worldwide. While many predict the transfer of economic power from the US to China then India in the coming years, this transfer of power could be slow and gradual, much as it was for the UK who, after suffering economically for a prolonged period, went from the world's leading power to taking a back seat to countries such as the US and Japan in the 20th century.
Stratasys (SSYS) had a pocket pivot after a strong earnings report yesterday. Stocks in this group tend to be quite volatile so position size with care. SSYS gapped up on its prior earnings report then traded sideways. Another stock in the group, Three-D Systems (DDD), had what was considered a weak earnings report recently and sold off. It is currently trying to recover and reset within its base. Exone Company (XONE) is still in its basing pattern and may need to correct a slight wedging formation before it can go higher. Earnings come out next week.
Groupon (GRPN) gapped up on a strong earnings report yesterday but closed near its intraday lows. Anemic sales and erratic earnings make this a higher risk trade thus we do not consider this one actionable.