Why the Supreme Court Tariff Decision Might Not Be a Bullish Catalyst

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Supreme Court Tariff Decision Might Not Be a Bullish Catalyst

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news amidst fading hopes for an end to the shutdown this week.

Commentary overnight implied the shutdown will not end this week, furthering the economic impact.

Economically, German Industrial Production and EU Retail Sales both modestly missed estimates.

Today we do get one notable employment report, Challenger Job Cuts (Prior: 55k) and the lower that number, the better as it would imply a more stable labor market.

Turning to the Fed, there are numerous speakers today, the most important of which are Waller (3:30 p.m. ET) and Williams (11:00 a.m. ET).  If they are supportive of a December rate cut, that should help stocks as they are part of Fed leadership (and Waller is in the running to be the next Fed Chair).  Other Fed speakers include: Barr (11:00 a.m. ET) , Hammack (12:00 p.m. ET), Paulson (4:30 p.m. ET) and Musalem (5:30 p.m. ET).

 

Why Stocks Dropped Yesterday

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Dropped Yesterday

Futures are weaker this morning but off session lows as investors digest underwhelming earnings from AI-sensitive SMCI and AMD ahead of key economic data today.

Economically, the Eurozone’s Final Composite PMI firmed to 52.5 vs. (E) 52.2 in October from 51.2 in September which is helping to ease concerns about a global economic slowdown.

Today, focus will be on economic data early with the ADP Employment Report (E: 28K), Flash Composite PMI (E: 54.8), and ISM Services PMI (E: 51.0) all due to be released by 10:00 a.m. ET.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 4-Week Treasury Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET that could shed light on investor expectations for a December rate cut.

Earnings season continues as well today with notable companies reporting including: NVO ($0.77), MCD ($3.35), HUM ($2.91), HOOD ($0.51), APP ($2.37), IONQ ($-0.44), and QCOM ($2.33).

 

New Sevens Report Special Report Coming Next Wednesday: How Bad Is the U.S. Debt Situation?

We’re continuing our Sevens Report Special Report series, and in the latest release, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at one of the most important, and popular, topics among investors: The U.S. debt situation.

We’ve all heard the warnings: The U.S. debt situation is unsustainable and a long-term threat to the markets and the economy. Well, your clients and prospects have heard these warnings too, so we wanted to produce an in-depth special report that takes an independent, fact-based look at the U.S. debt situation.

In this Sevens Report Special Report we: 1) Take a comprehensive look at the U.S. $37.4 trillion debt burden, 2) Explore historical comparisons to rising and declining empires, 3) Examine the implications of the looming $9.2 trillion “maturity wall” and 4) Evaluate threats to dollar dominance.

Like previous Sevens Report Special Reports, this report will both be branded as Sevens Report Research and as a “white labeled” version, allowing you to brand this robust and in-depth report as your own using your firm’s logo and other marketing materials. Both versions are included with a purchase.

Bottom line, the U.S. debt situation will be a major long-term influence on markets and investor portfolios, and the level of interest in U.S. debt, especially among more sophisticated investors, is high.

This special report can not only help explain the situation and put it in proper context, but also differentiate you from the competition by showing you’re focused on both the near-term and long-term risks to clients’ wealth. Please email info@sevensreport.com to learn more or to pre-order this special report.

 

Putting the Tech Sector Dominance in Real Numbers

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Putting the Tech Sector Dominance in Real Numbers
  • ISM Manufacturing PMI Takeaways

Markets are risk-off this morning with stock futures down ~1% while bonds are bid thanks to the combination of cautious comments from banking executives at a global conference overnight and disappointing PLTR earnings (shares down 7%+ in premarket trade).

Looking into today’s session there are a handful of economic releases to watch today including: International Trade in Goods (E: $-64.1B), Factory Orders (E: 0.2%), and JOLTS (E: 7.3 million) assuming none are delayed due to the government shutdown.

There is one Fed speaker on the calendar as well as Bowman began speaking at 6:35 a.m. ET at the Santander International Banking Conference in Spain.

Finally, we will get earnings and guidance figures from more important multi-national companies today, including UBER ($0.67), SPOT ($1.87), AMD ($0.97), SMCI ($0.19), AXON ($0.07), AMGN ($5.00), and PFE ($0.66), and based on the risk-off money flows related to the soft PLTR release that is weighing on equities today, investors will want to see better numbers, especially out of tech-focused firms.

 

Updated Market Outlook (Post Earnings, Trade Truce and Fed Decision)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Updated Market Outlook (Post Earnings, Trade Truce and Fed Decision)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will the Shutdown End This Week? (If Not, Possible Market Headwind)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  ISM PMIs and ADP Are Important This Week

Futures are solidly higher mostly on momentum following a generally quiet weekend of news.

There was no disruptive news over the weekend so investors focused on the results of last week:  1) Continued AI Enthusiasm, 2) Trade truce and 3) Fed rate cut/end of QT.

Economically, EU and UK manufacturing PMIs met expectations (50 and 49.7 respectively).

Today we do get some potentially important economic data via the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 49.4) and markets will want to see stability (so not falling too far from 50).  On the Fed front, there are two speakers today, Daly (12:00 p.m. ET) and Cook (2:00 p.m. ET) and the more dovish their commentary, the better for markets (given recent uncertainty around a December rate cut).

Finally, on the earnings front, ON ($0.59), PLTR ($0.12) and two moderately important AI linked tech companies, so markets will want to see solid results from both.

 

Five Concerning Market Breadth Developments

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Five Concerning Market Breadth Developments

Futures are modestly higher thanks to better than expected tech earnings.

APPL and AMZN both beat estimates and the stocks are rallying 2% and 12% respectively pre-market and pushing futures higher.

Economically, Chinese PMIs were mixed as the manufacturing PMI slightly missed estimates (49 vs. (E) 49.6).

There are no economic reports today but there are two Fed speakers, Logan (9:30 a.m. ET) and Bostic (12:00 p.m. ET) and given Powell’s hawkish surprise earlier in the week, markets will want to hear a dovish tone from both.

On earnings, the heart of the season is now over but there are still some notable reports today including: XOM ($1.78), CVX ($1.66) and ABBV ($1.77).

Finally, with President Trump back in the U.S., focus will shift to the government shutdown and any chatter about a resolution will be a mild market positive.

 

Bullish Argument

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Did the Fed Just Weaken the Bullish Argument?

Futures are slightly lower following a busy night of news, as major tech earnings were mixed while the Trump/Xi summit met widely held expectations.

On earnings, META, MSFT and GOOGL posted mixed results.  GOOGL beat earnings and the stock is up 8% pre-market while META and MSFT slightly underwhelmed.

Geopolitically, the Trump/Xi summit resulted in expected tariff reduction, soybean purchases and rare earth exports but didn’t contain any surprisingly positive breakthroughs.

Today focus will be on earnings with the last of the major tech firms reporting, including AAPL ($1.73), AMZN ($1.58) and, on the consumer spending front, MA ($4.31).

 

Fed Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Abbreviated FOMC Preview
  • Housing Data Takeaways

Futures are trading at all-time highs ahead of the Fed decision and multiple Mag-7 earnings releases due out after the close as President Trump made optimistic remarks about his three-hour meeting with President Xi tomorrow.

Economically, Australian CPI jumped to 3.2% vs. (E) 3.0%, up 1.1% from Q2’s reading of 2.1%.

Today, there are a few “second-tiered” economic reports due to be released including International Trade in Goods (E: $-90.0B), Wholesale inventories (E: -0.2%), and Pending Home Sales (E: 1.0%) but their market impact should be limited given the looming Fed decision.

It’s Fed Day with the FOMC Meeting Announcement due to hit the wires at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by Fed Chair Powell’s Press Conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Aside from the Fed decision, which could have a material impact on markets today despite the looming Trump-Xi meeting tomorrow, we are getting into peak earnings season with quarterly results due from major U.S. companies including VZ ($1.19), BA (-$2.46), CVS ($1.36), CAT ($4.52), META ($6.61), MSFT ($3.65), GOOGL ($2.26), and CMG ($0.28).

 

FOMC Preview: Is a Dovish Surprise Looming?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview – Is a Dovish Surprise Looming?
  • Chart: An End to QT Means More Liquidity, More Stimulus

Futures are flat while most international markets are modestly lower as traders digest the sizeable two-day rally in stocks ahead of the October Fed meeting decision and several Mag-7 earnings releases.

Today, there are a handful of private-sector economic releases to watch including the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 1.9%), the FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.1%), the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -14), and Consumer Confidence (E: 93.4).

With the October FOMC meeting getting underway, expect a growing sense of Fed paralysis in equity markets to begin to take hold, however there is a 7-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move yields and shake up stocks on an intraday basis.

Earnings season continues to peak this week with notable reports today including SOFI ($0.09), UNH ($2.80), PYPL ($1.19), UPS ($1.31), V ($2.97), BKNG ($96.10), and RCL ($5.67).

Bottom line, positive earnings and upbeat economic data would offer equity market tailwinds today with a Fed rate cut all but a certainty tomorrow, however, the trade war situation remains a “wildcard” risk that could spark risk-off money flows into tomorrows FOMC decision.

 

Why the Crypto ETF Floodgates May Open Soon

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Crypto ETF Floodgates May Open Soon
  • Weekly Market Preview: Fed Decision and the Most Important Week of Earnings
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Does Data Stay Goldilocks?

Futures are moderately higher on trade optimism following positive comments on U.S./China trade negotiations.

Treasury Secretary Bessent said U.S./China trade talks went “very well” this weekend, reducing fears of additional tariffs and raising hopes for tariff relief.

Economically, German IFO Businesses Expectations were better than estimates (91.6 vs. (E) 89.4).

Today we do get two economic reports, Durable Goods (E: 0.01%) and New Home Sales (E: 710k) and markets will want to see in-line numbers to keep the Goldilocks data trend in place.

Beyond today, this is a potentially important week that contains a Fed decision (possibility of a dovish surprise) but, more importantly, key Tech/AI earnings and markets need to see a dovish Fed and strong AI earnings to keep the rally going.

Some earnings we’re watching today include: KDP ($0.54), CAR ($8.11), and WHR ($1.41).

An Interesting Chart to Show Clients

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • An Interesting Chart to Show Clients

Futures are little changed despite an underwhelming night of earnings and higher oil prices.

Earning overnight were disappointing, as TSLA, IBM and SAP all missed earnings or cut guidance.

Geo-politically, the U.S. sanctioned Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft, causing a 5% spike in oil prices.

Today we do get some economic data via the Chicago Fed (E: -0.12) and Existing Home Sales (E: 4.06 million).  Neither report is normally a market mover, but given the lack of other data, the reports have the potential to move markets.  Solid readings (so in line with expectations) that show stable growth will be the best case for stocks.

Earnings season continues and after a very strong start last week, results this week have been much more mixed.  Reports we’re watching today include:  INTC ($-0.12), AAL ($-0.27), FCX ($0.41), HON ($2.56),  NEM ($1.29), F ($0.38),and  TMUS ($2.42).