Jobs Report Preview (Risks on Both Sides)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (Risks on Both Sides)

Futures are modestly lower on further digestion of the administration’s potential interference in industries.

The administrations’ proclamations on housing and defense company dividends/buybacks are weighing on markets as investors will only welcome so much government interference in business.

Economic data overnight was solid as German Manufacturers’ Orders and EU Unemployment both beat estimates.

Today focus will stay on economic data via Jobless Claims (E: 205K) and given labor market anxiety, the stronger the claims number, the better.  There are two other economic reports today, Q3 Productivity & Costs (E: 3.6%, 0.8%), Consumer Credit (E: $9.7B), but they are unlikely to move markets especially given tomorrow’s jobs report looms just over 24 hours away.

 

Sevens Report Explains Why Markets Shrugged Off Maduro’s Capture

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Oil supply implications, not politics, remain the market’s primary focus.

Why markets appear relatively calm after capture of Venezuelan President Maduro

“The reason the ouster of Maduro is unlikely to impact markets is the same one that explains why the Russia/ Ukraine war hasn’t impacted markets nor the heightened U.S./Iran tensions: Oil supplies,” according to a note from Tom Essaye, founder and president of the Sevens Report Research. “Markets look at geopolitical events solely through the lens of impacts of critical resources,” and mostly oil, he said Monday.

“Unless the event is going to reduce the supply of available oil,” spurring a jump in the price per barrel that risks slowing global growth, “then markets will largely ignore the event,” Essaye said. “In the case of Venezuela, if anything, the events of the weekend could boost oil supplies.”

Also, click here to view the full article published in MarketWatch on January 5th, 2026. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

If you want research that comes with no long term commitment, yet provides independent, value added, plain English analysis of complex macro topics, then begin your Sevens Report subscription today by clicking here.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Join hundreds 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.

What Could Make Markets Decline in 2026? (Three Events)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Could Make Markets Decline in 2026? (Three Events)
  • U.S. Composite PMI Commentary Notes “Cracks in the Economy”

U.S. futures and global markets are lower as traders digest the latest rally to all-time highs, weighing an uptick in geopolitical tensions in Asia against Goldilocks economic data out of the EU overnight.

Economically, the German Unemployment Rate was unchanged at 6.3% in November, as expected, while the Eurozone Core HICP (CPI equivalent) favorably fell to 2.3% vs. (E) 2.4% which has invited a bid into global bond markets.

Looking into today’s session, we will get the first look at important December labor market data in the U.S. via the ADP Employment Report (E: 47K) ahead of the bell and JOLTS (E: 7.65MM) shortly after the open.

Additionally, the ISM Services PMI (E: 52.2) will be an important release to watch after the open, along with Factory Orders data (E: -1.2%) while there is one Fed official scheduled to speak mid-day: Bowman (11:30 a.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 4-Month Treasury Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET that will offer a fresh look at bond traders’ assessment of the morning’s flurry of U.S. economic data and subsequent impact on Fed policy expectations (the stronger the demand the better).

 

Tom Essaye Quoted in Yahoo Finance: “If AI goes south on us, tech will go.”

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Tom Essaye tells Yahoo Finance, “If AI goes south on us, tech will go.”

AI took investors on a date in 2025. In 2026, analysts say it’s time to foot the bill.

“If AI goes south on us, tech will go,” Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report, told Yahoo Finance in an interview.

In a new report, “Taking Stock of the Four Pillars of the Rally Ahead of 2026,” Essaye observed that the initial unified enthusiasm for AI has become “fractured.” The industry is moving into a period where the market is aggressively sorting winners and losers. While memory plays like Micron (MU) have surged over 241% year to date, Essaye argued that former darlings like Oracle (ORCL) have faced more scrutiny as investors demand immediate ROI.

Also, click here to view the full article on Yahoo Finance published on January 5th, 2026. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

If you want research that comes with no long term commitment, yet provides independent, value added, plain English analysis of complex macro topics, then begin your Sevens Report subscription today by clicking here.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Join hundreds 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.

What’s Cheap and What’s Not at the Start of 2026

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What’s Cheap and What’s Not at the Start of 2026
  • ISM Manufacturing PMI Takeaways
  • Chart: Copper Hits Fresh All-Time Highs

Stock futures are slightly lower this morning as the two-day gain to start 2026 is digested ahead of more U.S. economic and the all-important Consumer Electronics Show where NVDA CEO, Jensen Huang will speak at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Economically, the Final Eurozone Composite PMI fell from 52.8 to 51.5 vs. (E) 51.9 in December which mildly dented global soft landing optimism overnight.

Looking into the U.S. session, the Final U.S. Composite PMI (E: 53.0) and data on Domestic Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 15.7 million) are due to be released today while there is one Fed official speaking ahead of the bell: Barkin (8:00 a.m. ET).

Additionally, there is a 6-Week Treasury Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET that could shed light on near-term Fed policy expectations, however it will be most important to see a Goldilocks PMI print ahead of the most widely anticipated event of the day, the Consumer Electronics Show, where NVDA’s CEO is the keynote speaker scheduled to deliver remarks just as markets close (but futures will continue to trade as he speaks).

 

Sevens Report Puts S&P 500’s Powerful 3-Year Run in Perspective

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Recent gains rank among the strongest three-year returns in market history.

Putting the S&P 500’s strong 3-year return in context

On Wednesday, the S&P 500 wrapped up a three-year stretch that saw it gain about 84%, according to Sevens Report Research.

That places it among the index’s strongest three-year returns in the history of the U.S. stock market, said Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research. To be more precise, this return ranks in the 94th percentile of three-year returns over the past 100 years.

The best three-year return for the S&P 500 during that time occurred from 1995 to 1997 — +125.6% — the second-best occurred between 1933 and 1935 — +124.1% — and the third-best occurred from 1926 to 1928 — +120.4%. In each case, the index was lower five years later.

Also, click here to view the full article published in MarketWatch on January 2nd, 2026. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

If you want research that comes with no long term commitment, yet provides independent, value added, plain English analysis of complex macro topics, then begin your Sevens Report subscription today by clicking here.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Join hundreds 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.

How Venezuela Could Impact Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Venezuela Could Impact Markets
  • Weekly Market Preview: Does Economic Data Start 2026 Goldilocks?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: The Big-Three Monthly Economic Reports This Week

Futures are modestly higher despite more geopolitical volatility as the U.S. shocked the world and infiltrated Venezuela and arrested President Maduro.

Market reaction to Maduro’s arrest has been generally muted, however, including in the oil markets where oil is only slightly higher, as political change in Venezuela likely will mean more oil production, not less.

There were no notable economic reports overnight.

Today focus will be on geo-politics (any continued fallout from the Maduro arrest) and economic data, as we get our first important economic report of 2026, the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 48.4).  Stability remains the key for economic data as we start the new year, so an in-line or slightly better number will be welcomed by markets.

 

Tom Essaye: The AI Trade Could Become More Fractured

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Tom Essaye tells Yahoo Finance the AI trade could become more fractured.

AI trade will fracture into winners & losers: Top stock picks

Artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to be a key pillar of market gains in 2026, Sevens Report research founder Tom Essaye tells Market Domination host Josh Lipton.

Essaye says the AI trade could become more fractured, highlighting which AI stocks he expects to be winners and losers.

Also, click here to view the full interview on Yahoo Finance published on January 1st, 2026. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

If you want research that comes with no long term commitment, yet provides independent, value added, plain English analysis of complex macro topics, then begin your Sevens Report subscription today by clicking here.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Join hundreds 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.

Putting the S&P 500’s Strong Three-Year Run in Context

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Putting the S&P 500’s Strong Three-Year Run in Context
  • The Q4 2025 Sevens Report Quarterly Letter Will Be Delivered Today to Subscribers

Futures are starting the new year with moderate gains following more tariff reductions.

The Trump administration reduced tariffs on several import categories including pasta and furniture as the aggregate tariff burden on the economy declined further.

Economically, EU and UK Flash manufacturing PMIs both missed expectations, falling to 48.8 vs. (E) 49.2 in the EU and 50.6 vs. (E) 51.2 in the UK.

Today focus will be on economic data via the Flash Manufacturing PMI (E: 51.8) and markets will want to see a Goldilocks reading near expectations to start off the new year.  A very weak reading (close to 50) or a very strong number (above 53) would either 1) Slightly increase slowdown worries or 2) Reduce rate cut expectations, both negatives for the markets.

 

Tom Essaye Interview On Yahoo Finance To Discuss His 2026 AI Playbook

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Yahoo Finance Interview

2026 AI playbook, Intel stock up 80% in 2025

Market Domination anchor Josh Lipton breaks down the latest market moves for December 29, 2025. Artificial intelligence will continue to be a key pillar of market gains in 2026. Sevens Report research founder Tom Essaye discusses four pillars currently holding up the AI trade and why it could change in 2026. Essaye says the AI trade could become more fractured, highlighting which AI stocks he expects to be winners and losers.

Also, click here to view the full video preview published on YouTube.com on December 29th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

If you want research that comes with no long term commitment, yet provides independent, value added, plain English analysis of complex macro topics, then begin your Sevens Report subscription today by clicking here.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Join hundreds 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.