Equity markets ended the week on a down note after a host of earnings reports came in better than expected but left the outlook for the 2nd half in peril. The consensus estimates for 2nd half earnings growth continue to decline and have Q3 on the brink of turning negative. This is on top of a growing certainty that a recession is coming; the only question is when.

The takeaway from last week's economic calendar is that The Index Of Leading Indicators fell to -1.2, nearly double the expectation and an acceleration of recessionary factors. This is the 15th month of negative leading indicators, and the trend is strengthening. This week will bring another read of the PCE price index, and it may not be enough to get the market back into rally mode.