The Burden Of Proof Lies Squarely With The Bears

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Futures Are Slightly Higher: Sevens Report Quoted in Investing.com

Despite the S&P 500 rally, there are a number of risks emerging – Sevens Report

The burden of proof lies squarely with the bears and so far, the economic data and Fed speak hasn’t done enough to disprove any of those four bullish factors,” wrote the firm.

However, Sevens Research said the reality is there are still a number of risks emerging that need to be watched, and amidst 5k euphoria, they think that needs to be pointed out.

“Yes, data has pointed to a sweet spot for growth, inflation and the Fed. But that won’t last forever and there will be bad news for this market, there always is,” they added.

The firm notes that the risks that have quietly grown in the background during the rally are the chances of rate cut disappointment, the growing list of layoffs, commercial real estate, and valuations.

“Bottom line, it’s important to acknowledge that this rally has been driven by actual good news and bullish expectations being reinforced by actual data. At the same time, the risks that kept investors worried in October (and even throughout 2023) haven’t been vanquished—they simply haven’t shown up, yet,” concluded Sevens.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on February 13th, 2024. 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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The Four Drivers Of This Bull Market

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The Four Drivers Of This Bull Market: Tom Essaye Quoted in SwissInfo.ch

S&P 500 Rally Hits a Wall in Run-Up to CPI Report: Markets Wrap

Last week’s news and data reinforced the four drivers of this bull market: Fed rate cuts by May, solid economic growth, continued disinflation and strong earnings, according to Tom Essaye at the Sevens Report.

“It’s important to acknowledge that this rally has been driven by actual good news and bullish expectations being reinforced by actual data,” Essaye said. “At the same time, the risks that kept investors worried in October (and even throughout 2023) haven’t been vanquished — they simply haven’t shown up yet.”

Also, click here to view the full article published on February 13th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Swissinfoch logo

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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What is the “Short Vol” Trade and How Is It Impacting Markets?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What is the “Short Vol” Trade and How Is It Impacting Markets?
  • An Important Trading Range to Watch
  • EIA Analysis:  A Bearish Report for Oil

Futures are slightly higher despite soft economic data and more earning guidance cuts.

UK monthly GDP declined –0.3% and the UK officially entered recession, although that’s also boosting rate cut expectations.

On earnings, both CSCO and DE cut guidance and both stocks are solidly lower pre-market.

Today is a very busy day of economic data and the data will likely determine if stocks extend yesterday’s rebound or give some of it back.

The key reports are, in order of importance:  Retail Sales (E: -0.1%), Jobless Claims (E: 219k), Philly Fed (E: -9.0), Empire Manufacturing Index (E: -12.5) and Industrial Production (E: 0.2%).  For Empire and Philly Fed, the price indices will be closely watched and if they show further substantial gains, expect that to push yields higher on inflation concerns.

There are also two Fed speakers today,  Waller (1:15 p.m. ET) and Bostic (7:00 p.m. ET), and Waller could move markets as he is part of Fed leadership.

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Was Yesterday the Start of a Pullback?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Was Yesterday’s Hot CPI the Start of a Pullback? (Four Issues to Address)
  • VIX Chart Shows Options Trading Amplified Yesterday’s Selloff
  • CPI Takeaways

Stock futures are rebounding back from yesterday’s steep post-CPI selloff thanks to some “cooler” inflation data in the U.K. overnight and better than expected factory data out of Europe. The 10-Yr yield is stable, just below 4.30%.

Economically, the Q4 Eurozone GDP Flash met estimates at a tepid 0.1% y/y but EU Industrial Production jumped 2.6% vs. (E) -0.3% in December easing some ongoing growth worries.

U.K. PPI also favorably declined across the board which is offsetting the nation’s slightly higher than expected CPI data.

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports but two Fed officials who happen to be scheduled to speak at the open and close: Goolsbee (9:30 a.m. ET), Barr (4:00 p.m. ET).

Goolsbee is notably an FOMC voting member who leans towards the dovish camp and could potentially add support for a relief rally today after yesterday’s sharp decline. VIX futures expiration could also impact money flows in early trade.

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European Shares Edged Up On Better Than Feared Retail Sales

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European Shares Edged Up: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

European Stocks Drift Higher

London’s FTSE 100 gained 0.6%, with the Paris CAC 40 up 0.3%. Frankfurt’s DAX slipped 0.1% into the red, while the pan-European Stoxx 600 rose 0.1%.

“European shares edged up on better than feared Retail Sales and a very strong German Manufacturing Orders Report,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on February 6th, 2023. 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 Rally

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The Oil Market Has Seemed Skeptical

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The Oil Market Has Seemed Skeptical: Tyler Richey Quoted in Morningstar

Oil prices finish higher as traders weighs risks tied to U.S. airstrikes

The oil market has “seemed skeptical of the potentially positive demand implications of the recent string of strong economic data,” though prices did move up in the wake of the better-than-expected ISM report, Tyler Richey, co-editor of Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch.

As far as what to watch for this week, Richey said a rise in consumer demand for refined products metrics in the weekly Energy Information Administration report due out Wednesday would be a bullish development, while a return to record U.S. oil output would be “negative for prices in the near term.”

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on February 5th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

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.

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.

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, and Ugly

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CPI Preview: Good, Bad, and Ugly: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview – Good, Bad, and Ugly
  • Middle East Update: Understanding the Situation with Rafah

U.S. equity futures are lower with European shares as investors await today’s critical inflation data ahead of the bell while most Asian markets are closed for holidays.

Economically, the German ZEW Survey was mixed as Current Conditions deteriorated to -81.7 vs. (E) -79.0 but Economic Sentiment Improved to +19.9 vs. (E) +18.0. The headline miss is one more of several recent data points that suggests the German economy is slowing more rapidly than most anticipated.

Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index was disappointing as it fell to 89.9 vs. (E) 92.4 underscoring a downbeat and cautious mood among small business owners despite economic data otherwise pointing to continued resilience in the U.S. economy.

Today, focus will be almost exclusively on the CPI report (8:30 a.m. ET) with the headline expected to come in at 0.2% m/m and 3.0% y/y while the Core CPI figure is expected to come in at 0.3% m/m and 3.7% y/y (full scenario analysis in today’s report).

There are no Fed speakers on the calendar or Treasury auction scheduled for today which will leave the session likely dominated by how the market digests the latest inflation data. Market-based Fed policy rate expectations are currently pricing in a 16% chance of a March rate cut and a 56% chance of a May cut. If those two figures decline materially, especially the latter one, expect an extension of yesterday’s intraday pullback.

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What Could Interrupt This Rally?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Could Interrupt This Rally?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Inflation and Growth Data Push Stocks Even Higher?
  • Weekly Economic Preview:  CPI Tomorrow, Key Growth Readings Thursday.

Futures are little changed following a mostly quiet weekend of news, although geo-political risks continued to creep higher over the weekend.

Israel is reportedly planning a ground offensive into the southern Palestinian province of Rafah and that’s met with pushback from numerous nations in the region and risks to further reduce any chances for a cease fire.

Today trading should be mostly quiet as the majority of Asian markets are closed for a holiday, but focus will be on the NY Fed Consumer Inflation Expectations (E: 3.00%) and any number below expectations will support Fed rate cut expectations (and support stocks).  We also have three Fed speakers today, Bowman (9:20 a.m. ET), Barkin (12:00 p.m. ET) and Kashkari (1:00 p.m. ET) but they shouldn’t move markets.

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Commercial Real Estate Primer Part Two: Risks, Opportunities & Indicators to Watch

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Commercial Real Estate Primer Part Two:  Risks, Opportunities & Indicators to Watch

Futures are slightly higher following better than expected Chinese economic data and in-line inflation readings from Europe.

China’s new yuan loans were stronger than expected (4.92B yuan vs. (E ) 4.5B yuan) providing some anecdotal evidence that stimulus is starting to work.

On inflation, German CPI met expectations at German CPI met expectations, rising 2.9% y/y.

Today the key event is the annual revisions to the CPI data, which hits at 8:30 a.m. ET.  Usually this is a relative non-event, but last year there were substantial upward revisions that resulted in more rate hikes.  Point being, this can change the inflation outlook (positively or negatively) and it has the potential to move markets.  Any downward revision to the 2023 CPI data should be positive for markets (yields lower/stocks higher) while any upward revisions should be negative (yields higher/stocks lower).

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Is NYCB the Canary in the Commercial Real Estate Coal Mine?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is NYCB the Canary in the Commercial Real Estate Coal Mine?
  • EIA Update and Oil Market Analysis

Futures are slightly lower following more disappointing Chinese economic data and on dimming hopes for an Israel/Hamas ceasefire.

Chinese CPI fell more than expected (-0.8% vs. (E –0.5%) and increased deflation concerns for that economy.

Geopolitically, Secretary of State Blinken returned from the Mid-East without a Israel/Hamas cease fire deal and oil is rallying as a result.

Today focus will be on Jobless Claims (E: 222K), which rose to a one-month high last week and if claims move closer towards 250k, it will get people’s attention as a hint the labor market is starting to soften (something that’s not priced into stocks).  We also have one Fed speaker, Barkin (8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. ET), but he shouldn’t move markets.

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