Why Are Utilities the Best-Performing Sector YTD?

/in , , /by

Why Are Utilities the Best-Performing Sector YTD?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Are Utilities the Best Performing Sector YTD?
  • Chart: 10-Yr Yields Test 3-Month Highs – A Renewed Headwind for Stocks

U.S. stock futures are extending yesterday’s losses in premarket trade this morning, led lower by small-caps as Treasury yields continue to test multi-month highs amid a higher-for-longer Fed policy outlook.

Economically, the only notable release overnight was Hong Kong’s CPI which picked up modestly in September, rising to 0.1% from 0.0% in August (2.2% y/y), but that is not moving markets today.

There are no notable economic reports today and just one Fed speaker on the calendar: Harker (10:00 a.m. ET).

The light economic calendar will leave trader focus on earnings with: VZ ($1.18), MMM ($1.93), GM ($2.50), GE ($1.13), LMT ($6.47), and FCX ($0.40) all reporting quarterly results before the bell while STX ($1.50) and TXN ($1.36), both of which are tech-proxies, will report after the closing bell.

Beyond earnings, Treasury yields will also be in focus today as the sharp, double-digit rise in the 10-Yr yield presented a significant headwind on broader equity markets yesterday. If yields continue higher, expect stocks to have a hard time stabilizing today.

Join thousands of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

Why Didn’t Stocks Rally More Last Week?

/in , , /by

Why Didn’t Stocks Rally More Last Week?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Didn’t Stocks Rally More Last Week?
  • Weekly Market Preview: Earnings Are the Key This Week
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: The First Major October Datapoint

Futures are slightly lower to start the week despite more Chinese stimulus and better than expected EU inflation data.

The PBOC announced another larger than expected rate cut, continuing to add stimulus to the Chinese economy.

Economically, German PPI declined more than expected (-1.4% vs. (E) -1.2%), increasing ECB rate cut expectations.

Today there is only one notable economic report, Leading Indicators (E: -0.3%) but there are several Fed speakers: Logan (8:55 a.m. ET), Kashkari (1:00 p.m. ET), Schmid (5:05 p.m. ET).  If the data is in-line and the Fed speakers reinforce two remaining rate cuts in 2024, that should support markets (it’s the Goldilocks set up).

Join thousands of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard (October Update)

/in , , /by

Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard (October Update): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard (October Update)

Futures are slightly higher thanks to better-than-expected Chinese economic data and more solid tech earnings.

Chinese Retail Sales and Fixed Asset Investment both beat estimates, boosting investor sentiment towards China.

On earnings, NFLX beat estimates and is the second straight big tech company to post solid results.

Today we have one economic report, Housing Starts (1.400M) and several Fed speakers, including Bostic (9:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. ET), Kashkari (10:00 a.m. ET) and Waller (12:10 p.m. ET).  With recent data stronger than expectations, if today’s Fed officials (including Waller) reinforce their desire for two rate cuts that will be an incremental positive.

Earnings season also continues to roll on and today we get notable reports from AXP (E: $3.27), PG (E: $1.90) and RF (E: $0.53).

Join thousands of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

Where SOX Go, Stocks Go: A Cyclical Canary to Watch in the Market Coal Mine

/in , , /by

Where SOX Go, Stocks Go: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Where SOX Go, Stocks Go: A Cyclical Canary to Watch in the Market Coal Mine

Futures are modestly higher thanks to solid earnings and ahead of important central bank decisions and economic data later today.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) beat earnings and is rallying 8% pre-market and that’s boosting tech and futures.

Today will be a busy day on the economic and earnings front, starting with the ECB rate decision, where the ECB is expected to cut rates 25 bps and signal an openness (but not a guarantee) of another rate cut in December.

Economically, there are several potentially important reports today including, in order of importance, Retail Sales (E: 0.3%), Jobless Claims (E: 260K), Philly Fed (E: 3.0) and Industrial Production (E: -0.1%).  With all of today’s data, Goldilocks readings around expectations are the best case for markets.

Finally, earnings season continues to roll along and NFLX (E: $5.09) after the close is the big report today.

Join thousands of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

Earnings Offer Mixed Economic Signals

/in , , /by

Earnings Offer Mixed Economic Signals: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Earnings Giving a More Mixed Economic View (Although It’s Still Early)
  • Empire State Manufacturing Index Takeaways
  • Insight from Oil’s Early Week Collapse

U.S. futures are steady as yesterday’s pullback is digested while overseas markets were mostly lower overnight after ASML’s downbeat guidance weighed on global tech shares and LVMH earnings rekindled concerns about consumers.

Economically, UK Core CPI favorably fell 0.4% to 3.2% vs. (E) 3.5% in September, bolstering BoE rate cut bets.

Today, there is one second-tiered inflation report to watch: Import & Export Prices (E: -0.3%, -0.4%), but barring a big surprise one way or another it is not likely to move markets.

Additionally, there is a 4-Month Treasury Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET. A strong auction would be received as dovish and help stocks and other risk assets stabilize in the midst of increasingly hawkish Fed policy expectations in recent weeks.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but earnings season continues to pick up with results being released by several big financials: MS ($1.57), CFG ($0.79), SYF ($1.77), DFS ($3.29) and a few more economically-sensitive companies PPG ($2.15), CSX ($0.48).

Join thousands of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

Is China the Next Japan?

/in , , /by

Is China the Next Japan?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is China the Next Japan?

Futures and EU shares are lower as cautious retailer earnings guidance and heavy trade in China overnight are offsetting easing geopolitical tensions following reports that Israel would not strike Iranian oil/energy infrastructure (oil futures are down nearly 5%).

Economically, EU Industrial Production met expectations overnight while a German Economic Sentiment gauge topped estimates, but neither report is materially moving markets this morning.

Today, there is one important economic report to watch: The Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: 0.0), and two Fed officials are scheduled to speak: Daly late morning (11:30 a.m. ET) and Kugler in the early afternoon (1:05 p.m. ET).

Additionally, there are two typically lesser-followed Treasury auctions for 3-Month and 6-Month T-Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET that could shed fresh light on market expectations for Fed policy rates between now and Q2’25 which have swung sharply hawkish over the last two weeks. Strong auction would have dovish implications for the market and be well received by equity investors today.

Finally, earnings season is getting into full swing with several more big banks reporting quarterly results today: BAC ($0.78), C ($1.34), and GS ($6.85) while two members of the Dow Jones Transportation Average: UAL ($3.10) and JBHT ($1.43) are also due to report today.

Bottom line, equity markets have rallied solidly over the last week amid a combination of earnings optimism and soft-landing hopes. If any of the economic data, Fed chatter, or earnings results damage either of those narratives, expect some mild profit taking in equities today, otherwise the path of least resistance is still higher for stocks right now.

Join thousands of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

Why Don’t Stocks Drop On Bad News?

/in , , /by

Why Don’t Stocks Drop On Bad News?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Don’t Stocks Drop On Bad News
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Earnings Are the Key This Week
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Important Growth Data on Thursday

Futures are slightly higher following a quiet weekend of news as investors look ahead to the first busy week of Q3 earnings and more important economic data.

Economically, Chinese exports missed expectations and the latest stimulus announcement underwhelmed, but none of it was bad enough to reverse any more of the recent rally.

This week is full of potentially market moving events from earnings and economic data but they all come later in the week and today should be mostly quiet given it’s the Columbus Day holiday (banks and bond markets closed) and there are no notable economic reports.  We do get a few Fed speakers, however (Kashkari (9:00 a.m. ET & 5:00 p.m. ET), Waller (3:00 p.m. ET)), but they shouldn’t move markets.

Join thousands of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

Why Yesterday’s Economic Data Wasn’t That Bad

/in , , /by

Why Yesterday’s Economic Data Wasn’t That Bad: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Yesterday’s Economic Data Wasn’t That Bad

Futures are slightly weaker this morning as Tesla’s “Cyber Cab” event underwhelmed while investors look ahead to the start of earnings season.

Economically, German CPI and UK monthly GDP both met estimates and didn’t provide any negative surprises.

Today investors will be focused on more inflation data via PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 1.6% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.7% y/y) while there are also several Fed speakers including Goolsbee (9:45 a.m. ET), Logan (10:45 a.m. ET) and Bowman (1:10 p.m. ET).  But, barring any major surprises from PPI or those Fed officials, they shouldn’t move markets.

Additionally, focus will now turn towards earnings and that will be one of the dominant forces on markets for the next three weeks.  Key reports today include: JPM ($4.02), BLK ($10.42), WFC ($1.27), FAST ($0.52).

Join thousands of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

Are Emerging Markets Finally A Buy?

/in , , /by

Are Emerging Markets Finally A Buy?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are Emerging Markets Finally A Buy?
  • FOMC Minutes:  Did They Reinforce Rate Cut Expectations?

Futures are slightly lower mostly on digestion of Wednesday’s rally and as markets look ahead to today’s important economic data (CPI and claims).

Economically, Germany updated the last several retail sales reports and the net change was slightly better than expected, although that’s not moving markets.

Today focus will be on economic data as we get two potentially market moving reports:  CPI (E: 0.1% m/m, 2.3% y/y) / Core CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.2% y/y) and Jobless Claims (E: 226K).  Goldilocks data, meaning an in-line CPI/Core CPI report and stable jobless claims, will keep soft landing hopes strong and likely boost stocks later today.

We also have several Fed speakers today including Cook (9:15 a.m. ET), Barkin (10:30 a.m. ET) and Williams (11:00 a.m. ET) but none of them should move markets.

Join thousands of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

October MMT Chart: Record Targets Amid a Cautious Divergence

/in , , /by

October MMT Chart: Record Targets Amid a Cautious Divergence: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • October MMT Update – Scenario Targets Hit Fresh Records
  • A Concerning Technical Divergence Has Emerged on the Weekly S&P 500 Chart

Futures are mildly lower as the DOJ said it was considering a breakup of GOOGL following a monopoly ruling which dragged down tech stocks overnight while international news was mixed.

Chinese equities retreated 7% on the session amid ongoing stimulus uncertainty, prompting the government to announce a press event for Saturday to address fiscal policy.

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports to watch, leaving focus on the September FOMC meeting minutes which are due to be released at 2:00 p.m. ET.

There are a slew of Fed speakers today including: Bostic (8:00 a.m. ET), Logan (9:15 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (10:30 a.m. ET), Barkin (12:15 p.m. ET), Jefferson (12:30 p.m. ET), Collins (5:00 p.m. ET), and Daly (6:00 p.m. ET).

A less-dovish tone from Fed speakers over the course of the last week contributed to the uptick in broad market volatility, so more of the same could pressure markets again today while any hint of another 50 bp rate cut in November could spark a dovish wave of risk-on money flows (unlikely, however, after Friday’s jobs report).

Join thousands of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.