DATA MANIPULATION UNDER COVER / ETF DIGEST ( A MUST READ )

DATA MANIPULATION UNDER COVER

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August 14, 2012
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Retail Sales data was released Tuesday and on the surface the headline data was a pleasant surprise. Expectations were for a rise of .3% but the number came in at .8%. One very sour note was June data was revised to -.7% from -.5% which was a bummer. But the real story was in a new calculation method by the census bureau (ably assisted by the Bank of Spain…I kid you not) changed their methodology for seasonal adjustments as noted HERE & HERE.



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Without this adjustment the data would have showed a -.9% decline. This follows along with all the adjustments made in the CPI (released tomorrow) since 1980 that made inflation data always look better ultimately and Employment data with birth/death adjustments.


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Other data released today included the PPI (.3% vs .2% expected & prior .1%) and Business Inventories which fell (.1% vs .2% expected & prior .3%)



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In the eurozone German Economic Minister Phillip Roesler stated Greece would not get a third aid package if it did not implement reforms, stating: “We don’t’ want the Greek government to be insolvent but we could deal with the consequences if necessary.”


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While German economic data was weak, it wasn’t as weak as feared Tuesday causing a rally in the DAX. Nevertheless the 17 nation EMU economy overall is moving into recession with -.2% GDP. But expectations are high the ECB and other central banks would be injecting more liquidity and bailouts sending most shares higher. Speaking of central banks, the Bank of Japan released minutes indicating they would be willing to do more QE and the PBOC is now actively in the process of doing reverse repos providing short term lending to banks.


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Earnings saw good results from Home Depot (HD) but more disasters in social media stocks (SOCL) where (ZNGA), (FB) and now (GRPN) have lost nearly $58 billion since their share issuance. This is reminiscent of the dotcom days.


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The dollar (UUP) was flat and gold (GLD) was weaker. Crude oil (USO) recovered from Monday’s late selling given ongoing troubles in Norway, Iran sanctions and Middle East tensions. Commodity markets (DBC) overall were mildly higher with energy but weakness in agricultural markets. Bond markets (IEF) were weaker in advance of another round of auctions Wednesday.



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U.S. stocks drifted about aimlessly and are no doubt waiting for more important data as this week unfolds. Further bulls look for a QE3 outcome from the Jackson Hole rendezvous near the end of the month.



Volume was once again very light and breadth per the WSJ was mildly negative.