Mastercard SpendingPulse measures in-store | 07 January 2022

#SP500:

U.S. equity funds received robust inflows for a second week in the seven days to Dec. 31 as investors welcomed signs that the Omicron coronavirus variant won't bring a big setback to the economy. U.S. equity funds lured net purchases of $19.43 billion, compared with their average weekly inflow of $2.3 billion, received last year. U.S. growth and value funds both posted a second straight week of inflows with net purchases of $7.69 billion and $2.36 billion respectively. Among sector funds, financials and real estate funds drew inflows of $1.2 billion and $785 million respectively, although tech and consumer staples funds witnessed outflows of $592 million and $413 million respectively.

Trading recommendation: Buy 4751 and take profit 4802

#Exxon:

U.S. energy firms added oil and natural gas rigs for a record 17 months in a row as higher prices lured some drillers back to the well-paid after last year's coronavirus-driven decline in demand. That puts the total rig count up 235 rigs, or 67%, over this time last year. U.S. oil production is expected to slide from 11.3 million barrels per day in 2020 to 11.2 million bpd in 2021 before rising to 11.9 million bpd in 2022, according to government projections. That compares with the all-time annual high of 12.3 million bpd in 2019. US oil reserves are at a seven-year low, which is favorable for the rise in oil prices.

Trading recommendation: Buy 59.85 and take profit 61.10

#MasterCard:

According to Mastercard SpendingPulseTM, holiday retail sales excluding automotive increased 8.5% year-over-year this holiday season, running from November 1 through December 24. Notably, online sales grew 11.0% compared to the same period last year, the preliminary insights show. Mastercard SpendingPulse measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment. Consumers shopped early: Continuing a key trend from 2020, U.S. consumers shopped earlier than in years past, as retailers offered special promotions early and then again later in the season as shoppers raced to secure “guaranteed by Christmas” shipping offers. Looking at Mastercard’s expanded holiday season, total retail sales were up +8.6%* YOY for the 75 days between October 11 and December 24.

Trading recommendation: buy 359.09 and take profit 364.65.