Morning Note...

Abbreviated this morning, apologies… Futures are +30bps higher this morning – but are off the highs of the session - as a series of better-than-expected earnings from AAPL, TXN, BSX, UNH, COH, CAT, PFE, KO, and DD are lifting equity markets.  In fact, earnings on the aggregate have been not just better-than-expected, they have been “blow out numbers” more often than not, as companies continue to hit the ball out of the park.  However, 8:30am real estate data as tempered this morning’s strength as both housing starts and building permits were fewer than expected.  Month-over-month Producer prices were lower than expected at -0.6% vs 0.0%/e.  Year-over-year, PPI is -4.8% vs -4.3%/e.  Bank of Canada leaves rates unchanged.  Brazil last night ruled to impose a 2% tax on all foreign investment in an effort to stem the appreciation of its currency.  Fed governor’s Yellen and Prosser speak today, and Goldman Sachs is out with an emphatic report saying it is way too early to begin tightening US monetary policy.  Across the pond, France’s Sarkozy talked up a strong dollar. 

Not much general news, as earnings continue to dominate the tape.  And with every release, we’ll get a better gauge of whether “sell the news” or “buy the dips” will prevail.  For the moment, the bulls are certainly ahead.  Good summary from BTIG’s Mike O’Rourke last night:

Since the start of September, the S&P 500 has rallied approximately 10%.  During that same time, the Continuous Commodity Index, which is an equal rated commodity basket, has rallied 13%.  After an impressive run off the lows early in the year, commodities spent most of the summer consolidating as the fundamentals remained shaky.  Even today, there were reports out that the amount of oil found in 2009 will be larger than that consumed for the first time since 1988.  Our lack of enthusiasm for commodities since mid-year has been no secret, but we have punted on the timing of when our concerns will play out.  Now, as the economic data has picked up, commodities have resumed their rally.  The  bottom line is that the group is in a virtuous cycle where both bulls and bears have found middle ground.  Economy bulls are naturally expecting an uptick in commodity demand as the recovery takes hold.  Economy bears have found assets they can sleep with at night, while protecting themselves from inflation and the weak dollar. 

BAC upped at RBCM.  BCAP ups F, SEE.  BCAP cuts PTV.  CITI initiates JBLU, LUV with Buy. PCS, LEAP cut at GSCO.  CRL upped at GSCO.  MF positive at JPHQ.  JPHQ cuts OSG.  MSCO ups CVC.  MSCO cuts BA, DTE.  AMZN rated OP at OPCO.  BSX cut at WELA.  AAPL tgt raised at UBSS.  TJX raised guidance.  WFT cut at GSCO. 

Asia higher overnight.  Europe slightly lower.  USD flat.  Oil +16bps and broke the $80/barrel mark this morning.  Gold +70bps.  Bonds bid higher, yields are thus lower.

Brightpoint News:  WEN cut at UBSS, WEN initiated Neutral at BofA/MLCO, Ad agencies are pressing the DoJ to approve MSFT/YHOO deal to provide competition to GOOG, LMT reports $2.11/sh vs $1.83/sh expected & raises guidance, CVS trades ex-div, ACM wins $80M contract extension from US Army, T initiated Hold at Collins Stewart,

Brightpoint PreMarket (yest close/premkt/% change/volume):

T          26.00    26.30    10037598          +1.15%

C          4.54      4.59      7717132            +1.1 %

LMT      76.99    72.63    89083   -5.66%

WEN    4.61      4.51      24970   -2.17%

TSU      28.86    28.86    8203     --

KGC     23.32    23.31    4855     -.04%

ANF      37.58    37.67    700       +.24%

MO       18.35    18.42    400       +.38%

CVS     37.96    37.77    200       -.3 %

ITUB     21.59    20.72    378527  -4.03%

S&P 500 PreMarket (last/% change prior close/volume): 

MARSHALL &ILSLEY    7.1800             6.42      -10.58%            157904

LEXMARK INTL-A          22.5700             24.74    +9.61% 57190

BOSTON SCIENTIFC     10.1600             9.30      -8.46%  3901696

CATERPILLAR INC        57.8500             61.57    +6.43% 2033576

APPLE                         189.860             201.99  +6.39% 1267430

LOCKHEED MARTIN     76.9900             72.69    -5.59%  88961

BANK NY MELLON       27.2300             28.70    +5.4 %  364438

PARKER HANNIFIN       55.2600             58.00    +4.96% 49867

PRECISION CASTPT     104.7200           99.91    -4.59%  1042

INVESCO LTD               23.1200             24.10    +4.24% 169324

M&T BANK CORP         66.2700             68.80    +3.82% 8101

GAMESTOP CORP-A    28.1600             27.15    -3.59%  10860

PEABODY ENERGY     43.3700             44.91    +3.55% 37158

REGIONS FINANCIA      5.7000              5.50      -3.51%  1804096

CUMMINS INC               50.5500             52.30    +3.46% 3093

STATE ST CORP           52.2500             50.50    -3.35%  34331

SOUTHWEST AIR         9.1900              9.48      +3.16% 3000

ZIONS BANCORP          18.3300             17.76    -3.11%  11625

DEERE & CO                46.0400             47.40    +2.95% 48054

QUEST DIAGNOSTIC     56.7100             58.38    +2.94% 400

BOEING CO                  53.4500             51.95    -2.81%  50722

COGNIZANT TECH-A     40.3900             41.50    +2.75% 5450

TERADYNE INC            9.8800              10.15    +2.73% 10800

UNITEDHEALTH GRP    24.9200             25.55    +2.53% 1020601

TEXAS INSTRUMENT    23.5200             24.10    +2.47% 346295

DR HORTON INC           12.2500             12.55    +2.45% 2000

BOSTON PROPERTIE   63.8900             62.36    -2.39%  100

PFIZER INC                   17.9800             18.40    +2.34% 2627403

INTL PAPER CO            24.6800             24.11    -2.31%  2800

TENET HEALTHCARE   6.1600              6.30      +2.27% 3460

SUPERVALU INC          16.9300             16.55    -2.24%  7950

BIOGEN IDEC INC         49.3900             48.30    -2.21%  62476

SEALED AIR CORP       20.5500             21.00    +2.19% 2000

Today’s Trivia:  The name of the smallest citrus fruit comes to us from the Chinese language.  What is it?

Yesterday's Answer:  Rowing and swimming the backstroke are two sporting events in which the participants face backwards, although the high jump should probably be considered as well…

Best Quotes:  “Good Morning - "An apple a day will keep the bears away", you know that little chestnut.  They blow it out.  Anyone who owns Apple products should know that once they have you it is like crack cocaine.   I just spent 15 bucks to download Anvil, The Story of Anvil for my road trip.  It took about 4 minutes.  It's not all about Apple though.  PFE a good number.  It’s had a good run, but we expect it to continue to go.  Seen generalist pile in, and in this tape they pile on.  WU better.  5 regional banks reported this morning.  No one is getting crushed, although ZON looks dicey.  There is a bunch of Economic data today.   Probably what is holding us from already trading above 1100 in the futures.   Get in there and buy, it's not to late.”  --MLCO trader

“Macro:  S&P 500 futures up another 33 bps after AAPL crushed expectations.  We pointed out in a Bloomberg last night that technicals have caused us to get off our bullish retail call from last month.  It wouldn't surprised me to get a 5% sell-off in the next week or two.”  --BCAP trader