Equity markets reversed Monday's decline and moved up to set a new multi-week high on Tuesday despite a round of lackluster earnings reports. While the bulk of S&P 500 companies that have reported are beating their estimates the margin of outperformance is the lowest it's been since well before the pandemic began and the guidance is weak. Names like Johnson & Johnson with heavy exposure to international markets are reporting dollar-related headwinds on top of ongoing supply-chain and inflationary issues. The takeaway is the outlook for earnings in Q3 and Q4 is in decline and will most likely bring the market down with it.

On the economic front, the Housing Starts and Permits data was mixed and points to a slowdown in activity. While the starts figure was better than expected Housing Starts declined from the previous month and permits were weak suggesting the impact of rising rates is already being felt.