Sevens Report: 10-Year Yield Drop Below 4% Could Break ‘Bad News Is Good’ Trade

Tom Essaye warns a fast move lower would signal economic anxiety, not relief


A sudden move below 4% on 10-year Treasury note yield could kill the ‘bad news is good’ market vibe

Lower yields can be a positive for stocks, foremost by making equities more attractive in comparison. But context matters, and a sudden drop could serve to unnerve investors who have largely continued to view negative economic news as a positive because it reinforces expectations for the Federal Reserve to resume cutting interest rates later this month, said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a note.

“The 4.00% level on the 10-year yield is important and if we move quickly through that level, it will signal more economic anxiety and that will further undercut the ‘bad-is-good’ narrative around weak data and Fed rate cuts (point being, if the 10-year yield falls quickly through 4.00% and heads lower, bad data will be bad for stocks because it’ll signal rising chances of an economic slowdown),” he wrote.

Also, click here to view the full article published in MarketWatch on September 9th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.


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Sevens Report: ‘Bearish Wheels in Motion’ for Oil as Supply Rises, Demand Wanes

Tyler Richey says crude risks a deeper slide with $61.50 key support level


‘Bearish wheels are in motion’ for oil after a three-session climb

Crude oil is on track for its first loss in four sessions as supply builds and demand softens, according to Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research.

“OPEC+ is re-engaging in a fight to reclaim market share from non-member producers, while demand faces pressure from rising stagflation risks,” Richey said. He noted the dynamic is “straight out of the economic 101 textbook” and has set the “bearish wheels in motion” for crude.

On the charts, $61.50 a barrel is the key near-term support for WTI. A break below that could accelerate losses toward the $57–$58 range, Richey warned. October WTI recently traded at $62.49, down 1.9% on Thursday.

Also, click here to view the full article published in MarketWatch on September 11th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.


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September Bitcoin Update and Outlook

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • September Bitcoin Update and Outlook
  • What Yesterday’s CPI Means for Markets

Futures are slightly lower on mixed data and earnings overnight.

ADBE was the latest tech company to post earnings and the results were solid (beat on EPS and revenue and a guidance increase) but concerns about AI sapping demand for software kept gains modest (ADBE is up 3% pre-market).

Economically, data was mixed.  UK Industrial Production badly missed estimates (-1.3% vs. (E) 0.5%) while German CPI and UK Monthly GDP both met expectations.

Today the only notable economic report is University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (E: 58.0) and focus will be on the inflation expectations.  As long as they don’t move sharply higher, it’ll cap a generally positive week for markets on the inflation front (which has been the main reason stocks are higher this week).

 

How ORCL Earnings Explain the Opportunities and Risks in AI

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How ORCL Earnings Explain the Opportunities and Risks in AI

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet night of news as investors digested the better than expected PPI report and looked ahead to today’s all-important CPI.

Economically, the only notable number was Japanese PPI which was better than expected, rising 2.7% y/y vs. (E ) 2.8% y/y.  Japanese stocks rallied 1% in response.

Today brings the highlight of the week, CPI, and expectations are as follows:  0.3% m/m, 2.9% y/y.  A better-than-expected headline will solidify rate cut expectations and push back on stagflation concerns and that should be a solid market positive.  A “hot” number, however, will put three rate cuts before year-end in doubt and almost certainly pressure stocks.

Other events today include an ECB Rate Decision (E: No Changed), Jobless Claims (E: 234K) and some notable earnings reports:  KR ($1.00), ADBE ($4.21), RH ($3.20).

 

Understanding Where the “Bubble” Is in AI

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Understanding Where the “Bubble” Is in AI
  • Weekly Market Preview: Does the Fed Start a New Rate Cutting Cycle?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Fed is Key, but There’s Important Growth Data This Week, Too

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet weekend and despite negative tech news and economic data from China.

China declared that NVDA had broken anti-monopoly news, escalating existing tech tensions between China and the U.S. (although this move isn’t a total surprise).

Economically, Chinese data underwhelmed as Retail Sales rose 3.4% vs. (E) 3.8% while Industrial Production gained 5.2% vs. (E) 5.6%.

Focus today will be on the first economic reading of September, the Empire Manufacturing Index (4.3) and markets will want to see stability to further push back on slowdown concerns.

Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500 Chart

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • MMT Levels S&P 500 Chart – September Update

Futures are solidly higher this morning thanks to strong tech earnings as traders await key U.S. inflation data.

ORCL shares are surging 30%+ in the pre-market as a measure of future revenue jumped $455B or 359% Y/Y in Q2 thanks to new AI-related cloud contracts.

Economically, Chinese CPI fell -0.4% vs. (E) -0.2% which is helping ease worries about a global resurgence in price pressures due to the trade war.

Today, trader focus will be on inflation data early with the August PPI report due out ahead of the bell (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.3% y/y).

After the open, the Treasury will hold a 4-Month Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 10-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and investors will want to see ongoing signs of strong demand for Treasuries to shore up increasingly dovish Fed expectations.

Finally, earnings season continues to wind down but there is one notable company reporting quarterly results today: CHWY ($0.14).

 

Sevens Report: U.S. Labor Market Stable, But Cracks Emerging

Thresholds in claims and unemployment could trigger sharp equity declines


What does a soft jobs market mean for markets?

Sevens Report said U.S. labor conditions remain broadly stable despite recent weak data, citing jobless claims below 250,000, continued positive payrolls, and JOLTS near 7 million.

The firm warned, however, that momentum is fading: hiring is slowing even as layoffs remain limited. Key thresholds include jobless claims above 260,000, a four-week average above 300,000, unemployment over 4.5%, and JOLTS falling under 6.5 million. Each would signal real deterioration.

On market impact, Sevens cautioned that a sharp labor downturn could drive a 15%–30% equity drop, with the S&P 500 potentially sliding 500–700 points initially. Defensive sectors such as staples, utilities, and healthcare would likely outperform, alongside lower-volatility ETFs and mega-cap tech if the AI trade holds.

“Bottom line, the labor market is not bad; however, it is losing momentum and this is something we need to watch carefully,” the report said.

Also, click here to view the full article published in Investing.com on September 8th, 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.

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September Market Multiple Table Update

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table Update – What’s Changed Since August?

Futures are slightly higher while overseas equity markets were mixed overnight amid quiet newswires as the global bond rally stalls and investor focus turns to inflation data due later in the week.

Economically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 100.8 vs. (E) 100.5 in August.

There are no additional economic reports in the U.S. today, and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak.

The Treasury will hold a 6-Week Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 3-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, and both have the potential to impact fixed income markets which could reverberate through equity markets (the stronger the demand, the better).

Finally some late season earnings to watch include: SAIL ($0.04), ORCL ($1.15), GME ($0.19), SNPS ($2.76), AVAV ($0.34), however, with the PPI and CPI reports due out tomorrow and Thursday, respectively, markets will more than likely remain quiet today.

 

What Does A Bad Labor Market Look Like and What Does It Mean for Markets?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Does A Bad Labor Market Look Like and What Does It Mean for Markets?
  • Weekly Market Preview: Do Stagflation Fears Rise Further?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: CPI on Wednesday the Key Report This Week

Futures are slightly higher as markets bounce from Friday’s post-jobs report declines, as investors look ahead to key inflation data this week.

Economically, data was mixed as Chinese and German exports (4.4% vs. (E) 5.5% and –0.6% vs. (E) 0.1% respectively) missed estimates, but German Industrial Production beat expectations (1.3% vs. (E ) 1.0%).

Geopolitically, Japanese stocks rallied hard (more than 1%) as PM Ishiba resigned (although it wasn’t a surprise).

This will be another important week because the PPI and CPI reports (Tuesday and Wednesday respectively) will either increase stagflation concerns (negative for stocks/bonds) or further pushback on them (positive for stocks and bonds). But, today should be mostly quiet as there are no notable economic reports nor any Fed speakers.

Tom Essaye: Jobs Report Needs Stronger Beat to Derail Fed Rate-Cut Hopes

Different payroll scenarios could spark sharp swings in stocks and yields


It will take a doozy of a jobs report to derail investor expectations for a September rate cut

Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, said it would take a much stronger payrolls beat to derail rate-cut expectations and pressure equities.

He outlined several scenarios:

  • Best case: Payrolls rise around 150,000 with steady unemployment and tame wage growth. This would ease growth worries while keeping a September cut in play.

  • Hot surprise: Payrolls of 250,000+ and unemployment at 4% or below could spark a 1%+ S&P 500 drop and a sharp rise in 10-year Treasury yields.

  • Weak reading: Payrolls below 25,000 with unemployment at 4.4% could trigger a short-term rally on “bad-is-good” rate-cut optimism, but Essaye warned it would ultimately weigh on stocks as growth fears mount.

“A bounce in the S&P 500 initially shouldn’t be a total surprise, but beyond the short term this outcome would not be positive,” Essaye wrote.

Also, click here to view the full Market Watch article published in Morningstar on September 4th, 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.