FOMC Preview (All About the Projections)

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FOMC Preview (All About the Projections): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview – All About the Projections
  • NVDA Chart – Three Negative Technical Developments
  • Economic Data Takeaways – Empire Survey and PMIs “Goldilocks Enough”

Futures are moderately lower as mostly strong international economic data overnight is putting upward pressure on global bond yields as focus turns to this week’s central bank decisions, including the Fed tomorrow.

Economically, Germany’s December Ifo Survey was mixed with Current Conditions edging up to 85.1 vs. (E) 83.8 but Business Expectations declined to 84.4 vs. (E) 87.0 while UK wage growth jumped 5.2% y/y vs. (E) 4.6% which sent Gilt yields higher.

Today, trader focus will be on economic data early with Retail Sales (E: 0.5%), Industrial Production (E: 0.3%) and the Housing Market Index (E: 47) all due to be released.

However, with the FOMC meeting getting underway in Washington, market moves are likely to be limited (barring any material surprises) as a familiar sense of “Fed-Paralysis” is likely to begin gripping the market with tomorrow’s FOMC decision looming.

Finally, there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that has the potential to move yields and impact equity market trading but odds of that happening ahead of the Fed announcement tomorrow are relatively low.

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What to Expect from Markets in 2025

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What to Expect from Markets in 2025
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Does the Fed Keep Cutting and Does Data Stay Goldilocks?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  All Eyes on the Fed Dots

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet weekend of news and despite mixed global economic data.

Chinese Retail Sales (3.0% vs. (E) 4.6%) and Fixed Asset Investment (3.3% vs. (E) 3.5%) both missed estimates, reminding investors that despite promises for more stimulus, Chinese growth remains lackluster.

In Europe, data was better as the flash Composite PMIs for the EU (49.5 vs. (E) 48.0) and the UK (50.5 vs. (E) 50.0) both beat estimates.

Today focus will be on the Empire Manufacturing Survey (6.4) as that’s the first data point for December and investors will want to see in an-line to slightly soft reading to reinforce the Goldilocks narrative.

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Why Has Tech Been So Strong? (Again)

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Why Has Tech Been So Strong? (Again): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Has Tech Been So Strong? (Again)

Futures are modestly higher following better than expected tech earnings overnight.

Broadcom (AVGO) earnings were mixed but management commentary was bullish and the stock is rallying 15% pre-market and that’s helping to boost tech stocks and broader market futures.

Economically, the notable data was from the UK and it was soft.  Monthly GDP (-0.1% vs. (E) 0.2%) and Industrial Production (-0.6% vs. (E) 0.3%) both missed estimates.

Today there are no notable economic reports nor any Fed speakers, so markets will likely follow the tech sector.  If the AVGO led tech rally this morning can hold, it should pull other indices and sectors higher with it.

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What the CPI Report Means for Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the CPI Report Means for Markets

Futures are modestly lower on a surprise central bank rate hike and after ADBE posted disappointing guidance.

Brazil’s Central Bank hiked rates 100 bps (more than expected) and promised more rate hikes in the future, reflecting some mild fraying of the global rate cut cycle.

ADBE guidance missed investor expectations and it’s the second underwhelming tech report this week (after ORCL).

Today focus will be on rate cuts and economic data.  First, we get the ECB Rate Decision and markets expect a 25 bps cut (if there’s no cut, that’d be a surprise negative).  Economically, the key report today is Jobless Claims (E: 220K) and markets will want to see another Goldilocks reading (so around the 220k level).  We also get the latest PPI report (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.6% y/y) but barring a big jump, it shouldn’t move markets.

Finally, on the earnings front, the key report today is AVGO ($1.39) and markets will want to see a solid tech report to stop this mini-trend of underwhelming guidance (from ORCL and ADBE this week).

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Market Multiple Table: December Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table: A New Influence That Could Increase Volatility in 2025
  • Unbranded, Shareable MMT PDF Upon Request

Stock futures are stabilizing after Monday’s modest pullback as trader focus shifts ahead to tomorrow’s CPI report. Small caps are leading in pre-market trade thanks to a surprisingly solid NFIB report released earlier this morning.

Economically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index surged 8 points to 101.7 in November, handily topping estimates of 94.5 to hit the highest level since June 2021. Overseas, German CPI met estimates at 2.2% y/y, another Goldilocks inflation report.

Today, there is one economic report to watch: Productivity & Costs (E: 2.2%, 1.9%). The data has an inflation component (specifically the “Costs” part) that could move yields today and influence stocks (higher yields will weigh on equities).

Additionally, there is a 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and a few late-season earnings reports due out including AZO ($4.30), ASO ($1.25), and GME ($0.00).

The Treasury auction is another catalyst that could move yields and impact equities, but tomorrow’s CPI report is becoming the primary focus on the market as we progress through the week so market moves should be limited by trader positioning today.

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Why There’s A Clear Path for the Santa Rally

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why There’s A Clear Path for the Santa Rally
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Do inflation metrics make a December rate cut guaranteed?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI on Wednesday is the key report

Futures are slightly lower as geo-political unrest is slightly outweighing more stimulus promises from China.

Geopolitically, rebels overthrew the Assad regime in Syria over the weekend.  While this is a major geo-political event, the impact on markets is likely small given Syria isn’t a major oil exporter.

China’s officials promised an easier monetary policy bias and more fiscal stimulus over the weekend, boosting Chinese shares.

Today there are no notable economic reports nor any Fed speakers so focus will on be geo-politics and oil prices.  As long as the turmoil in Syria doesn’t push oil prices higher, it shouldn’t impact stocks.

 

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Jobs Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day
  • Updated VIX Analysis

Futures are slightly lower following a mostly quiet night of news and ahead of today’s jobs report.

Economically, German Industrial Production missed expectations (-1.0% vs. (E) 1.5%) and became the latest underwhelming EU economic report.

Today focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows:  200K Job-Adds, 4.2% Unemployment Rate, 3.9% y/y Wage Growth.  A “Goldilocks” job adds number is something around the 200k expectation or lower, as long as it’s not close to zero.  Anything in that range (with mostly in-line unemployment and wages) should “green light” a Fed rate cut in December and help fuel a Santa Rally.

Speaking of the Fed, there are numerous speakers today including Bowman (9:15 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (10:30 a.m. ET), Hammack (12:00 p.m. ET) and Daly (1:00 p.m. ET).  However, most of them have spoken recently and their message has been consistent:  A December rate cut is possible but not guaranteed and rates will come down over time.  As long as that’s the message from them today, they shouldn’t impact markets.

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Jobs Report Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview

Futures are little changed following a mostly quiet night of news and mixed economic data.

European economic data continued to point to lack-luster growth.  German Manufacturers’ Orders (-1.5% vs. (E) -2.0%) and UK Construction PMI (55.2 vs. (E) 54.3) beat while Eurozone Retail Sales (-0.5% vs. (E) 0.0%) missed expectations.

Bitcoin rose above $100k for the first time in overnight trading, hitting a new milestone.

Today the focus will shift to employment ahead of tomorrow’s jobs report as we get Challenger Job Cuts (E: 55k) and Jobless Claims (E: 215K).  The key for both metrics remains Goldilocks readings (generally meeting expectations but not too weak or too strong).  Additionally, there is one Fed speaker today, Barkin (12:15 p.m. ET).

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A Unique ETF Focused on Managing Tax Liabilities

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Unique ETF Focused on Managing Tax Liabilities
  • JOLTS Data Takeaways – Another Goldilocks Report

Futures are higher with tech shares leading thanks to solid earnings reports after the close yesterday as investors look past political turmoil overseas.

Politically, lawmakers in South Korea moved to impeach President Yoon for implementing martial law yesterday while the French government faces a no-confidence vote today. Neither situation is a material negative for markets but both are weighing on sentiment.

In corporate news, CRM and OKTA (a newer cloud software focused company) both posted solid earnings after the close yesterday which is bolstering the broader tech sector in premarket trade today.

Today, we will get two more important economic reports: The ADP Report (E: 165K) and the ISM Services PMI (E: 55.5). Factory Orders (E: 0.4%) will also be released but is less likely to move markets than the first two data points.

The Fed’s Musalem is scheduled to speak at 8:45 a.m. ET, however the market’s main focus today will be Powell’s commentary (1:45 p.m. ET) as he could shed light on December rate cut plans or the policy rate path in 2025. Any hawkish surprise from the Fed Chair could spur volatility today.

Finally there is one notable earning release today from discount retailer DLTR ($1.07) that could offer insight into consumer spending habits.

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Sentiment Divergence Between Advisors and Investors

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Sentiment: Divergence Appearing Between Investors and Advisors
  • ISM Manufacturing PMI Takeaways

Futures are little changed amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions and ongoing political turmoil in Europe.

Overnight, China announced an export ban of specific rare minerals with military applications to the U.S. in the latest escalation of trade tensions between the two countries.

EU shares edged higher ahead of the French government’s “vote of no confidence” (tomorrow) linked to ongoing budget turmoil.

Looking into today’s session, there are two economic reports to watch: JOLTS (E: 7.49 million) and Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 16.0 million). Investors will want to see more “Goldilocks” data to support post-election growth optimism.

Additionally, there are two Fed speakers to watch: Kugler (12:35 p.m. ET) and Goolsbee (1:30 p.m. ET and 3:45 p.m. ET), and as long as they do not offer any hawkish surprises, stocks should be able to extend gains to new record highs today.

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