Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard: Losing Momentum?

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Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard: Losing Momentum? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard: Losing  Momentum?
  • Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index Falls Sharply: Chart

Stock futures ramped higher overnight amid more Chinese stimulus news, mixed economic data, and strong earnings from streaming giant NFLX which is up 10% premarket.

The PBOC cut bank reserve requirements by 0.40% o/n triggering a 3.5%+ rally in the Hang Seng as growth worries eased while PMI data in Europe was mildly disappointing

Looking into today’s session there is one economic release to watch shortly after the open: PMI Composite Flash (Service PMI: 51.2, Manufacturing PMI: 47.2) and markets will be looking for more “Goldilocks” economic trends in the data in order to hold this week’s gains.

There are no Fed speakers today but the Treasury will hold a 5-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move markets, especially if the results are weak and yields move higher as that would become a renewed headwind on growth stocks which have led the latest leg of the rally to all-time highs.

Earnings season continues as well with: T ($0.55), PGR ($2.38), FCX ($0.23), and GD ($3.66) reporting ahead of the bell, while results from TSLA ($0.74), IBM ($3.76), STX (-$0.06), and CSX ($0.44) are due after the close.

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Why Are Chinese Stocks So Weak? (And Is There an Opportunity?)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Are Chinese Stocks So Weak? (And Is There an Opportunity?)
  • Chart: Leading Economic Indicators Remain Deeply Negative

U.S. futures are flat amid mixed trade overseas as European shares pulled back modestly after a weak ECB Lending Survey while Asian shares bounced solidly amid news China is planning a $278B “market rescue package” aimed at stabilizing the nation’s volatile capital market environment.

Looking into today’s session, there is one regional Fed survey release: Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -15). And while the Richmond release is less popular than other regional Fed reports, it will be more closely monitored today after both the Empire and Philly Fed surveys badly disappointed last week.

December M2 Money Supply will also be released at 1:00 p.m. ET which could move markets in early afternoon trade (especially if there is a sharp and unexpected contraction in money supply).

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could offer fresh insight into market expectation for Fed policy outlook. A weak auction sending yields higher, would be a negative catalyst for stocks today.

Finally earnings season is continuing to pick up with: VZ ($1.07), MMM ($2.31), GE ($0.90), PG ($1.70), JNJ ($2.27), and SYF ($0.96) reporting before the open, and NFLX ($2.20) and TXN ($1.46) releasing results after the close.

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Time to Chase This Market?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Time to Chase This Market?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Do Rate Cut Expectations for March Keep Falling? (It Depends on the Data)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Important inflation report on Friday and important growth report on Wednesday.

Futures are modestly higher on momentum from Friday’s record highs, following a mostly quiet weekend of news and despite more economic stress in China.

Chinese markets continued to collapse (Hang Seng, Shanghai and Shenzen all down 2%-3%) after there was no cut to the 1/5 year Prime Loan Rates, despite clear signs of deflation and contracting economic growth.

Today there is one notable economic report,  Leading Indicators (E: -0.3%), but barring a major surprise it shouldn’t move markets.

Instead, focus will shift to earnings as the next two weeks will be the most important ones of this earnings season.  Some important reports today include:  PG ($1.70), JNJ ($2.27), VZ ($1.07), MMM ($2.31), UAL ($1.61), LOGI ($1.13), GE ($0.90).

Bullish

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The Reason Stocks & Bonds Are Declining (You’ve Seen It Before)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Reason Stocks & Bonds Are Declining (You’ve Seen It Before)

Futures are bouncing modestly following solid earnings and positive corporate news overnight.

Earnings overnight were decent as TSMC beat expectations while Bank of American upgraded AAPL.

Economically, however, the Aussie jobs report was soft (- 66k vs. (E) 15k) and that’s increasing global growth worries.

Today focus will stay on economic data as we get two important report, Jobless Claims (E: 206K) and Philly Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -6.7).  The Philly index will be especially watched following the implosion of the Empire Manufacturing survey on Tuesday and if we see a similar number this morning, look for some hard landing concerns to drift higher.

Away from those two reports we also get Housing Starts (1.425 million) and there is one Fed speaker, Bostic (7:30 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. ET), but they are unlikely to move markets.

On earnings, results really ramp up next week but some reports we’re watching today include: TSM ($1.37), PPG ($1.50), JBHT ($1.74).

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Sentiment Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Sentiment Update
  • Empire State Manufacturing Index Falls to Pandemic Lows

U.S. futures are tracking global shares lower as the ECB’s Lagarde became the latest to push back on overly dovish policy expectations. While Chinese economic data showed consumer weakness (but industrial strength) and inflation reaccelerated in Europe. This is adding to the recent trend of less-dovish/more-hawkish money flows.

Toay is lining up to be a busy session as there are a slew of economic reports due this morning. Including: Retail Sales (E: 0.4%), Import & Export Prices (E: -0.6%, -0.6%), Industrial Production (E: -0.1%), and the Housing Market Index (E: 38).

There are also several Fed officials scheduled to speak over the course of the session: Barr, Bowman, and Williams.

Earnings will also continue to come in today with several more notable financial companies reporting: SCHW ($0.65), CFG ($0.60), and DFS ($2.50).

Bottom line, trading has taken a more cautious tone this week with heavier price action in stocks. In order for that to ease and risk appetites return to the market today, we will need to see data that is consistent with a still healthy and resilient consumer but not to the point where the Fed would be inclined to delay rate cuts or cut less in 2024. Investors will look for less-hawkish Fed commentary and stable earnings as well. If those developments do not occur the risk of an acceleration lower in stocks this week will rise meaningfully.

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Does March vs. May Really Matter?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Does March vs. May Really Matter?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet – Retail Sales Data in Focus

U.S. futures are tracking European shares lower this morning. This is amid rising bond yields and a stronger dollar following some hawkish central banker commentary this weekend.

Economically, the German ZEW’s Economic Sentiment rose to 15.2 vs. (E) 11.7 in January. Both eased recession concerns but also weighed on the prospects for imminent Fed and ECB rate cuts in the coming months.

This weekend, several ECB officials pushed back on expectations for rate cuts in H1’24. This is resulting in more of the late 2023 dovish money flows being unwound.

Looking into today’s session, there is one economic report to watch: Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -4.0) and one Fed official scheduled to speak: Waller (11:00 a.m. ET).

Earnings season also continues to pick up with several big banks due to report today: GS ($3.47), MS ($1.07), PNC ($2.99), IBKR ($1.54).

Bottom line, investors will be looking for more Goldilocks economic data in the NY Fed release and a less-hawkish tone from Waller and no bad news out of the banks reporting earnings today in order to stabilize. Otherwise the premarket weakness is likely to continue into the primary session this morning.

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Bitcoin ETF Primer (For Discussions With Clients)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Bitcoin ETF Primer (For Discussions With Clients)
  • Why the Hot CPI Report Didn’t Cause  A Larger Pullback

Futures are modestly lower following an increase in geopolitical tensions and subsequent 4% rally in oil.

The U.S. launched multiple missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the recent attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and that’s increasing concerns about a broader conflict in the region.

Today focus will stay on inflation via PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 1.3% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.0% y/y) and if we see hotter than expected numbers, look for some additional pressure on stocks.  We also have one Fed speaker today, Kashkari at 10:00 a.m. ET, although he shouldn’t move markets.

Additionally, today marks the start of earnings season and we get reports from major banks and a healthcare company today.  Reports we’re watching today include:  JPM ($3.73), BAC ($0.69), UNH ($5.98), BLK ($8.84), WFC ($1.16), C ($0.73), BK ($1.12).

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Market Multiple Table Chart

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table Chart
  • EIA and Oil Market Analysis

Futures are slightly higher ahead of this morning’s CPI report after another dovish pivot by a global central bank and despite an potential uptick in geo-political tensions.

South Korea’s central bank made a dovish pivot and added to the idea global central banks are turning dovish.

Geopolitically, expectations are rising for a joint U.S./U.K strike on Houthi’s attacking ships in the Red Sea.

Today focus will be on CPI and expectations are as follows: Headline CPI (0.2% m/m, 3.2% y/y) and Core CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.8% y/y).  The key here is that we see continued declines in at least one of the two metrics as that will likely be enough to keep investors believing in disinflation and March rate cuts.  If both metrics rise from last month, looking for an increase in volatility.

The other notable events today include Jobless Claims (E: 209K) and one Fed speaker, Barkin (12:40 p.m. ET) although they shouldn’t move markets barring a major surprise.

multiple

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What Is The VIX Suggesting?

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What Is The VIX Suggesting?: Tom Essaye Quoted in Morningstar

What this key stock-market gauge is telling investors amid a rough start to 2024

Meanwhile, a break above the December high for the VIX “would suggest more volatility looming ahead. Conversely, a reversal back towards the current 2024 low of 13.10 would suggest volatility is easing and stocks would be in an improving position to stabilize in the weeks ahead and potentially resume the late-2023 rally,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a Friday note.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on January 6th, 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.

Gasoline And Distillate Fuel Supplied Fell Off A Cliff

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Gasoline And Distillate Fuel Supplied Fell Off A Cliff: Tyler Richey Quoted in Morningstar

Oil futures settle lower after ‘massive’ weekly rise in U.S. oil-product inventories

Gasoline and distillate fuel supplied, which is typically viewed as an implied measure of consumer demand, “fell off a cliff.”Tyler Richey, Sevens Report Research

The roughly 20 million-barrel surge in refined product stockpiles was “largely the function of the massive drop off in deliveries around Christmas and New Year’s, which is notably typical in late December and early January,” he said.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on January 4th, 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.