Seven Ifs Updated

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Seven “Ifs” That Will Move This Market Updated (Not Much Progress)
  • Weekly Market Preview (All About China)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet (Important Numbers This Week, Starting Today)

Futures are slightly higher following a generally busy weekend of economic, geo-political and Fed related news.

Economic data was mixed as CN New Yuan Loans slightly missed estimates (885 bln vs. (E) 950bln), as did German IP (-0.8% vs. (E) 0.5%) while German exports beat estimates.

On trade, the Trump/Xi summit appears to have been delayed till April, although a trade deal is still expected so this delay isn’t a negative for markets, yet.

Fed Chair Powell was on 60 Minutes Sunday night but didn’t say anything new so it’s having no impact on markets.

Today markets will be focused on the Retail Sales (E: 0.0%) report, in part because Powell specifically cited it as something he’d be watching in the 60 Minutes interview.  The key to this number, as always, is the “Control” group which is retail sales less gas, autos and building materials, and the market estimate is 0.7%.  A beat of that estimate will provide a boost of confidence for the economy, while a miss will exacerbate fears of a potential slowdown.

Why The Dovish ECB Isn’t Good For Stocks

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why The Dovish ECB Decision Isn’t Good for Stocks

Futures are modestly lower following more disappointing economic data.

Chinese exports badly missed expectations at –20.7% vs. (E) -6.5%, although that number was likely skewed by the Lunar New Year, so it’s not as bad as it looks.  German Manufacturers’ Orders also missed (-2.6% vs. (E) 0.5%).  So, the data overnight is just adding to the growth worries that came from the ECB projections yesterday and that’s why stocks are down again.

Today the key will be the Employment Situation Report.  Estimates are:  Jobs: 178K, UE: 3.9%, Wages: 3.4% yoy), and thankfully the range for a “Just Right” number is wide, as we said in our Jobs Report Preview.  But, given the recent soft global economic data, while the range for a “Just Right” number is wide, the penalty for a number being “Too Cold” and causing growth concerns or “Too Hot” and resulting in a hawkish Fed will be extreme, and if either one of those outcomes occur, it’ll likely be a painful day in stocks.

Outside of the jobs report we also get Housing Starts (E: 1.17M) and two Fed Speakers:  Daly (10:00 a.m. ET) and Powell (10:00 p.m. ET).

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on March 6, 2019

Chinese authorities have aggressively flooded the economy with cash since the start of the year. At this week’s National People’s Congress, the government also announced tax…Click here to to read the entire article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Bloomberg on March 6, 2019

“The outlook for China has been steadily improving for the past two months, and this MSCI announcement is another tailwind. Clearly this isn’t a risk-free trade and a lot can still…”

Click here to read the article.

Tyler Richey of Sevens Report was Quoted in The Wall Street Journal on March 3, 2019

Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., said President Trump’s Twitter post last week saying oil prices were “getting too high,” and telling OPEC not to reduce production too much, will continue to work as a bearish counterweight to OPEC. “Trump’s tweet targeting OPEC+ policies from last week is still simmering…” Click here to read the full article.

 

 

 

ECB Preview (Why It’s Important For U.S. Stocks)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • ECB Preview (This is more important to U.S. stocks than it seems)
  • Jobs Report Preview

Futures are drifting slightly lower following a quiet night as markets await the ECB decision later this morning.

Economic data generally met expectations overnight as Euro Zone Q4 GDP was 1.1% vs. (E) 1.2% while Chinese FX reserves were in line at $3.09T.

Today the key event will be the ECB Decision at 7:45 a.m. ET and then the ECB Press Conference at 8:30 a.m. ET.  For this to meet dovish expectations (and not be a disappointment for stocks) we’ll need to see 1) An extension of the promise not to raise rates until 2020 and 2) A strong hint more TLTROs are coming.  This decision will have direct impacts on Treasuries and stocks (more inside the report).

Away from the ECB we also get Jobless Claims (E: 223K) and Q4 Productivity and Costs (E: 1.6%, 1.8%) plus there’s one Fed speaker:  Brainard (12:15 p.m. ET).

Tom Essaye Quoted in CNBC on March 5, 2019

“On a valuation basis this market has risen to reflect a macro environment that is materially more positive than the one we currently have, and as a fundamentals-driven analyst, that makes me nervous over…” says Tom Essaye. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in ETF Trends on March 5, 2019

“On a valuation basis this market has risen to reflect a macro environment that is materially more positive than the one we currently have, and as a fundamentals-driven analyst, that makes me nervous over…” says Tom Essaye. Click here to read the article.

Another Reason to Buy China

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A New Positive for Chinese Stocks
  • A Theory on the Copper Rally

Stock futures are modestly lower this morning after another mostly quiet night of news as investors look ahead to the remaining catalysts this week including US jobs data.

The only economic report overnight was Australian GDP which missed expectations (0.2% vs. E: 0.3%) and hit the Aussie dollar (-0.76%).

Oil prices are down over 1% this morning after the API reported a weekly build of +7.3M bbls late yesterday vs. (E) +1.6M bbls. A build of this size would largely offset last week’s bullish draw and could pressure the energy space (and drag risk assets lower too) if confirmed by this morning’s EIA report (10:30 a.m. ET).

Today, we get our first look at February jobs data with the ADP Employment Report (E: 180K) due out ahead of the bell. Then, International Trade figures will be released shortly thereafter (E: -$57.6B). Either release could move markets as growth concerns and the trade war remain two of the biggest influences on stocks right now.

Other than the weekly EIA report mid-morning, there are two Fed officials scheduled to speak over the lunch hour: Mester (12:00 p.m. ET) and Williams (E: 12:10 p.m. ET).

Market Multiples Explained

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiples Explained
  • Real Interest Rates and Gold

Futures are up modestly while international markets were mixed in quiet trade overnight as investors eyed the benign start of China’s NPC where 2019 forecasts largely met expectations while economic data was mixed.

China’s General Services PMI fell from 53.6 to 51.1 in February while Composite PMI data in Europe was better than expected which is helping EU shares outperform this morning.

Today, there are two Fed officials speaking early: Rosengren (7:30 a.m. ET) and Kashkari (9:30 a.m. ET), before a few notable economic reports are due to be released shortly after the bell: New Home Sales (E: 590K) and ISM Non-Manufacturing Index (E: 57.2). Beyond those potential catalysts, focus will remain on U.S. – China trade.