A ceasefire to the Russia-Ukraine war could be bearish for oil

A ceasefire to the Russia-Ukraine war could be bearish for oil: Tyler Richey, Sevens Report Co-Editor, Quoted in OilPrice.com


Trump Talks To End Ukraine War Involve Power Plants

A ceasefire to the Russia-Ukraine war could be bearish for oil prices if Trump pushes for the removal of sanctions on the Russian energy industry, Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch. Geopolitical stability may also “largely extinguish the still simmering ‘fear bid’ in the oil market.” Sanctions by the Biden administration roughly tripled the number of directly sanctioned Russian crude oil tankers, enough to affect around 900,000 barrels per day (bpd)

Also, click here to view the full article published by OilPrice.com on March 17th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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What Makes It Better/What Makes It Worse?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Makes It Better/What Makes It Worse?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Is the Fed Put in Play?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Important Updates on Growth (The Stronger the Data, the Better)

Futures are modestly lower mostly on digestion of Friday’s big rally and following a relatively quiet weekend of news.

On trade, there were no new tariff headlines, threats or social media postings over the weekend and if that lasts it would be a near-term positive for markets.

Economically, the only notable number was the Italian HICP (their CPI) which met expectations, rising 1.7% y/y.

Focus will remain on trade headlines but outside of the tariff drama this is an important week of economic data.  Today focus will be on two reports, Retail Sales (E: 0.7%) and Empire Manufacturing Index (-1.9).  If both numbers are better than expected they will push back on the idea policy chaos is slowing the actual economy (and help stocks).  However, if they’re weaker then expected, look for economic anxiety to grow (and stocks to drop).

The Numbers Inside This Pullback

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Numbers Inside This Pullback
  • Monthly Bitcoin & Crypto Update

Futures are enjoying a moderate bounce on positive trade headlines and decreased shutdown risks.

On trade, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said a meeting with Commerce Secretray Lutnick was “positive” and “productive,” creating some tentative trade optimism.

Elsewhere politically, Democrat minority leader Schumer signaled he’d support funding the government, reducing shutdown chances.

Today focus will stay on trade headlines (of course) while the key economic report today is the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (E: 63.1).  Stability in that report will be encouraging for investors.  Markets will also be focused on the One-Year Inflation Expectations, which spiked to 4.3% on tariff fears.  Any decline in that number back towards 3.0% (where it was before tariffs) will be a positive.

Separating Short and Long-Term Market Views

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Separating Short and Long-Term Market Views

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news as investors look ahead to trade meetings and data.

Economically, the only notable report was Euro Zone Industrial Production and it slightly missed expectations (0.8% vs. (E) 1.0%).

Politically, focus will be on two events today, the USMCA renegotiation talks between U.S. and Canadian officials and progress on avoiding a government shutdown on Friday.

Outside of trade and politics, today there are two important economic reports:  Jobless Claims (E: 230K) and PPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.4% y/y).  Because of rising stagflation worries, investors will want to see better than expected numbers from both reports, while a jump in jobless claims would increase growth concerns and hotter than expected PPI would raise fears tariffs are boosting inflation (tariff price pressures will show up in PPI before CPI).

MMT Chart: S&P Targets Lowered Amid Ominous Technical Divergence

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • March MMT Chart Update: Fundamental Price Targets Lowered
  • An Increasingly Ominous Technical Divergence Has Emerged in the S&P 500

Futures are trading with tentative gains and bonds are little changed after another mostly quiet night of macroeconomic news as investors look ahead to today’s CPI report.

Economically, Japanese PPI fell from 4.2% to 4.0% y/y in February, slightly above the consensus estimate of 3.9% but the release did not meaningfully move markets ahead of today’s U.S. CPI report.

This morning, traders will be keenly focused on inflation data with CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.9% y/y) and Core CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.2% y/y) data due to be released ahead of the bell. A “cool” print is the best case scenario for stocks to mount a relief rally after recent losses.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today, however there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, and investors will be watching demand metrics to gauge bond traders reaction to the CPI data in afternoon trade (a healthy, but not too-strong auction outcome would be favorable for stocks).

Finally, earnings season continues with ADBE ($4.97) and AEO ($0.50) reporting after the close.

March Market Multiple Table Update

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table (March Update)
  • NY Fed Consumer Inflation Expectations Takeaways

Futures are trading with tentative gains as markets attempt to stabilize from the S&P 500’s ~6% early-March pullback after a mostly quiet night of macroeconomic and geopolitical news.

Economic data was mostly disappointing overnight as Japanese Household Spending fell -4.5% vs. (E) -1.5% m/m in January while the February NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell from 102.8 to 100.7 vs. (E) of 101.0, but neither data point is materially moving markets.

Today, we will get one economic report on the labor market: JOLTS (E: 7.5 million), but it is a lagging data point and therefor will only move markets if there is a meaningful deviation from expectations.

Moving into the afternoon, there is a 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, and if demand is weak (yields move higher) then stocks could come for sale amid hawkish money flows.

Finally, there are a few noteworthy retailer earnings releases due out today that could shed light on consumer spending trends, including: KSS ($0.72), DKS ( $3.49). The better the corporate commentary, the better the prospects of a relief rally taking shape.

We can hope for is a churn sideways

We can hope for is a churn sideways: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s


Trump Wants an Economic ‘Detox.’ What It Means for Stocks.

According to Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye, “until there’s some movement towards stable policy, the best we can hope for is a churn sideways between around 5,700 and 6,000 in the S&P 500.” The index broke below 5650 in morning trading Monday.

Sevens Reports’ Essaye notes that concern about tariffs so far has been worse than their effects. While it makes sense to brace for volatility, “that negative scenario is not a foregone conclusion and actual facts on the economy and earnings [are] hanging on.” he says.

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

It’ll be Very Hard for This Market to RallyIf 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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What’s Really Pressuring Stocks

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What’s Really Pressuring Stocks
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Does Policy Chaos Continue?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Focus on Inflation This Week (CPI Wednesday is the Key Report)

Futures are sharply lower following a quiet weekend of actual news, although political commentary did nothing to ease investor concerns about ongoing policy chaos.

President Trump, in a Fox News interview, doubled down on the current policy path and acknowledged the chance of a slowdown and that’s weighing on sentiment.

Economically, German Industrial Production slightly beat estimates but isn’t moving markets (2.0 y/y vs. (E) 1.6%).

Today focus will remain on political headlines but there is one notable economic report, New York Fed 1-Year Consumer Inflation Expectations (E: 3.0%), and if they are much higher than expected that will fuel stagflation concerns (and weigh on stocks and possibly bonds).

Trump’s comments are weighing on sentiment

Friday’s nonfarm payrolls is the “first big report of the year”: Tom Essaye Quoted in Forbes


Stock Market Comeback Erased: S&P 500 Sinks To 6-Month Low As Trump Says Don’t ‘Watch The Stock Market’

Trump’s comments are “weighing on sentiment” and “did nothing to ease investor concerns about ongoing policy chaos,” Sevens Report founder Tom Essaye wrote in a Monday note to clients.

Also, click here to view the full Forbes article published on March 10th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Lastly, 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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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.

The spike in uncertainty and fear that uncertainty will lead to a whole host of negatives

The spike in uncertainty and fear: Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Investing.com


Trump tariffs denting U.S. economy not a “foregone conclusion” – Sevens Report

Fears that uncertainty around President Donald Trump’s tariff policies could lead to a series of negative consequences for the broader economy are worth considering but not a “foregone conclusion,” according to analysts at Sevens Report.

“The reason stocks are dropping is the spike in uncertainty and fear that uncertainty will lead to a whole host of negatives,” the Sevens Report analysts wrote in a note to clients on Monday.

The near-constant stream of “scary” trade-related headlines has also fueled “louder and more frequent” predictions for “continued declines in stocks,” the analysts added.

However, “it’s fear driving this market,” not actual bad economic data or dire company results, they said.

“It’s right to be more cautious on this market and brace for continued volatility,” they added. “But that negative scenario is not a forgone conclusion …”

Also, click here to view the full article featured on Investing.com published on March 10th, 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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