by Calculated Risk on 7/06/2015 10:04:00 AM

The June ISM Non-manufacturing index was at 56.0%, up from 55.7% in May. The employment index decreased in June to 52.7%, down from 55.3% in May. Note: Above 50 indicates expansion, below 50 contraction.

From the Institute for Supply Management: June 2015 Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in June for the 65th consecutive month, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves, CPSM, C.P.M., CFPM, chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Non-Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. "The NMI® registered 56 percent in June, 0.3 percentage point higher than the May reading of 55.7 percent. This represents continued growth in the non-manufacturing sector at a slightly faster rate. The Non-Manufacturing Business Activity Index increased to 61.5 percent, which is 2 percentage points higher than the May reading of 59.5 percent, reflecting growth for the 71st consecutive month at a faster rate. The New Orders Index registered 58.3 percent, 0.4 percentage point higher than the reading of 57.9 percent registered in May. The Employment Index decreased 2.6 percentage points to 52.7 percent from the May reading of 55.3 percent and indicates growth for the 16th consecutive month. The Prices Index decreased 2.9 percentage points from the May reading of 55.9 percent to 53 percent, indicating prices increased in June for the fourth consecutive month. According to the NMI®, 15 non-manufacturing industries reported growth in June. The majority of respondents’ comments are positive about business conditions and the economy."
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

Update: Graph corrected.

This graph shows the ISM non-manufacturing index (started in January 2008) and the ISM non-manufacturing employment diffusion index.

This was at the consensus forecast of 56.0% and suggests slightly faster expansion in June than in May.

by Calculated Risk on 7/05/2015 07:58:00 PM

From Bloomberg: Tsipras Triumphs as Greece Votes Against Austerity

Sixty-one percent of voters backed Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s rejection of further spending cuts and tax increases in an unprecedented referendum that’s also taken the country to the brink of financial collapse.

Years ago we discussed how endless austerity and depression would eventually be rejected in a democracy. No one knows what will happen next. The best policy would be to ease up on austerity - let Greece start growing again - and write down some of the debt. Unfortunately the best policy seems unlikely since many of the creditors will not admit their policies have failed.

If the creditors want more austerity, they should make some guarantees. If Greece does X, Y and Z, then the creditors will guarantee the debt-to-GDP ratio will decline to some number in 3 years.  If the economy grows, great. If not the creditors would take a large write-down.

Monday:
• At 10:00 AM ET, the Fed will release the monthly Labor Market Conditions Index (LMCI).

• Also at 10:00 AM, the ISM non-Manufacturing Index for June. The consensus is for index to increase to 56.0 from 55.7 in May.

Weekend:
• Schedule for Week of July 5, 2015

From CNBC: Pre-Market Data and Bloomberg futures: currently S&P futures are down 26 and DOW futures are down 206 (fair value).

Oil prices were down over the last week with WTI futures at $54.81 per barrel and Brent at $59.70 per barrel.  A year ago, WTI was at $106, and Brent was at $111 - so prices are down almost 50% year-over-year.

Here is a graph from Gasbuddy.com for nationwide gasoline prices. Nationally prices are at $2.76 per gallon (down about $0.90 per gallon from a year ago).

by Calculated Risk on 7/05/2015 02:38:00 PM

The Financial Times reports: Early results suggest Greece heads for No With about a third of the vote counted, "No" had 61% of the vote and was leading in every region of Greece.

And from the WSJ: First Official Projection Says at Least 61% of Greeks Voted ‘No’ in Referendum

A first official projection of Greece’s referendum outcome, based on early counting, said that at least 61% of Greeks voted “no” to creditors’ demands on Sunday ... 

by Calculated Risk on 7/05/2015 11:45:00 AM

Note: The polls in Greece close at noon ET, and early results might be available around 2:30 PM ET.

The WSJ has a running discussion: Greek Referendum — Live

Paul Krugman wrote this morning: Meanwhile In China

I am, of course, anxiously awaiting the results of Greferendum, although the next few days in Greece will be terrible whoever wins. But we shouldn’t lose sight of other risks facing the world. ... in the past month, mainly in the past few days, the Shanghai stock index has fallen almost 30 percent.

This graph shows the Shanghai SSE Composite Index and the S&P 500 (in blue).

Click on graph for larger image.

The SSE Composite index is at 3,686.92, down almost 6% on Friday, and down close to 30% from the recent peak.

by Calculated Risk on 7/04/2015 07:09:00 PM

δίλημμα: Dilemma. There is no good choice on Sunday.

Poor fiscal policies led to the need for a bailout. And the poorly designed bailout program has crushed the Greek economy. Now the creditors want more of the same, expecting a different result;  so voting "Yes" seems like the definition of insanity. But a "No" vote will mean complete chaos.

From the WSJ: On Bailout Referendum’s Eve, Greeks Are Deeply Divided on Which Course to Take

Polls have the two sides evenly balanced. There are no public data that break down the demographics and the inclinations of “yes” and “no,” but conversations around this city depict a populace that is split in two: Haves and have-nots, young and old, those bitten by austerity and those less exposed, those with money in the closed banks and those without.

From Reuters: Greece's 'yes' voters eye razor thin margin ahead of crucial referendum

The opinion poll by the respected ALCO institute, published in the Ethnos newspaper on Friday, put the "Yes" camp on 44.8 percent against 43.4 percent for the No" vote. But the lead was within the pollster's 3.1 percentage point margin of error, with 11.8 percent saying they are still undecided.

From Bloomberg: D-Day for Greek Banks Looms Following Austerity Referendum

Without a fresh injection from the European Central Bank -- or a reduced ceiling on withdrawals -- ATMs will start running dry within hours of the vote, according to Louka Katseli, chairwoman of the National Bank of Greece.

“Liquidity is adequate through the end of the bank holiday” that’s due to end Monday night, Katseli told reporters Friday as she left meetings at the Finance Ministry. Asked whether developments depend on the ECB, Katseli said “yes.”

Grim.