Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on June 23rd, 2023

S&P 500 Opens Lower, Heads for First Losing Week in More Than a Month

If the data meaningfully disappoints, especially in the service sector, expect more risk off money flows amid growing recession worries today, wrote Tom Essaye, president of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Why the Fed Wants Higher Rates

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Would the Fed Keep Hiking Rates if Inflation Is Coming Down?
  • Jobless Claims Chart – Critical to See Further Move Higher

Equity futures are modestly higher this morning as traders weigh renewed optimism about Chinese growth against more hawkish policy speak from multiple ECB officials, including President Lagarde, reiterating the need for a “higher for longer” policy rate path.

Premier Li of China confirmed the government is committed to achieving their 5% GDP target overnight which helped Asian markets outperform and fueled modest risk-on money flows around the globe.

Today’s list of economic data releases is a long one with Durable Goods Orders (E: -1.0%), Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.5%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.4%), Consumer Confidence (E: 103.7), and New Home Sales (E: 663K).

Beyond those economic reports, there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 5-Yr Treasury Note Auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move yields and influence equity market trading.

Bottom line, in order for markets to stabilize here and stocks to resume their 2023 rally, we will need to see signs of slowing, but not collapsing growth in today’s economic data and no surprises in the Treasury auction. Looking ahead, trading may slow down some today as investors position into tomorrow’s Central Bank Forum hosted by the ECB in which Fed Chair Powell will participate.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in MarketWatch on June 23rd, 2023

Oil prices see weekly fall as central banks stoke recession worries

This heavy price action with repetitive tests of the same support and continuously weaker recoveries suggests the oil market is approaching a tipping point; poised to either break down to new 2023 lows or finally move beyond the $72-$73 area, triggering a squeeze as sentiment and positioning in the energy markets is very bearish, noted analysts at Sevens Report Research, in a Friday note. Click here to read the full article.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Seeking Alpha on June 23rd, 2023

Recession fears, central bank rate hikes sent crude oil reeling this week

WTI futures have dropped below $70/bbl four times this year with increasing frequency, but each time technical support has held at $67-$69, Sevens Report Research said, also noting each subsequent price bounce has run out of steam at a lower price point. Click here to read the full article.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in MarketWatch on June 23rd, 2023

‘Heavy’ price action signals crude-oil futures near ‘tipping point’: analysts

This heavy price action with repetitive tests of the same support and continuously weaker recoveries suggests the oil market is approaching a tipping point; poised to either break down to new 2023 lows or finally move beyond the $72-$73 area, triggering a squeeze as sentiment and positioning in the energy markets is very bearish, noted analysts at Sevens Report Research, in a Friday note. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on June 22nd, 2023

Weekly Jobless Claims Flat at 264,000

A further rise in claims could bring into question whether or not the labor market is suddenly beginning to deteriorate meaningfully, wrote Tom Essaye, president of Sevens Report Research, prior to the economic data release. Click here to read the full article.

What Russian Political Turmoil Means for Markets

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Russian Political Turmoil Means for Markets
  • More Signs the Market is Starting to Believe the Fed
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Core PCE Price Index and Jobless Claims are the Key Reports this Week
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Hard Landing Fears Keep Rising?

Futures are slightly lower as markets digest the political volatility in Russia and underwhelming economic data.

A short-lived rebellion by the Wagner private army against the Russian government dominated headlines this weekend, but from a market standpoint this only matters via its impact on oil prices, and they are little changed.

Economically, German IFO Business Expectations fell to 83.6 vs. (E) 88.0, which is the second weak German economic number in the past two trading days.

Today focus will remain on the Russian political situation, so watch oil to cut through the headline noise.  If oil rises sharply, the situation is deteriorating and that would weigh on markets.

Hawkish Central Bank Surprises Bolster Recession Fears

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hawkish Central Bank Surprises Bolster Recession Fears
  • Jobless Claims Remain Elevated – Indicate Deteriorating Labor Market
  • EIA Data Takeaways – Consumer Demand Remains Healthy But Recession Fears Grip Futures Market

Stock futures are tracking global equity markets lower this morning while longer duration bonds are rallying after soft PMI data in Europe bolstered recession fears overnight.

Economically, the Eurozone Composite PMI Flash fell to 50.3 vs. (E) 52.5 indicating the EU economy is on the brink contracting.

The Manufacturing PMI was better than feared but the Services PMI dropped to 52.4 vs. (E) 54.7 pointing to a sudden slowdown in the service sector which accounts for the bulk of developed economic growth around the globe.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on the U.S. PMI Flash data due out shortly after the bell with the Manufacturing PMI Flash expected to come in at 48.5 while the Services PMI Flash is expected at 53.5. If the data meaningfully disappoints, especially in the service sector, expect more risk off money flows amid growing recession worries today.

Finally, there are two Fed officials speaking today: Bostic (7:30 a.m. ET) and Mester (1:40 p.m. ET) but it is unlikely that either materially deviates from the Fed’s narrative from the last week which is continued commitment to reigning in inflation with further policy tightening in H2’23.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Forbes on June 20th, 2023

Dow Tanks 250 Points—And Some Experts Warn More Pain May Be On Deck

At that price, the S&P is aggressively pricing in a lot of good things occurring and virtually zero negative surprises, Sevens Report analyst Tom Essaye wrote Tuesday. Click here to read the full article.

Earnings Disappointments Rekindle Economic Worries

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Earnings Disappointments From FDX and WGO Rekindle Economic Worries
  • What the Strong Housing Starts Mean for Markets
  • Bear Flattening Trend in Treasuries Underscores Hawkish Fed Expectations

Stock futures are falling with global markets and yields are rising this morning after more hawkish central bank decisions overnight as focus turns to the BOE.

In Europe, monetary policy decisions were net hawkish as Norway’s central bank raised rates 50 bp vs. (E) 25 bp to 3.75% while the Swiss National Bank met estimates with a 25 bp hike to 1.75%. The rate hikes are pressuring global bond markets (yields higher) and weighing on sentiment, dragging equity markets lower.

Looking into today’s session, early focus will be on the Bank of England as a 25 bp hike to 4.75% in the benchmark policy rate is expected but there is risk of a 50 bp hike to 5.00% which would be another hawkish surprise for markets and likely result in rising yields and more pressure on overbought equity markets.

In the U.S. there are two economic reports to watch: Jobless Claims (E: 261K) and Existing Home Sales (E: 4.250M). A further rise in claims could bring into question whether or not the labor market is suddenly beginning to deteriorate meaningfully while strong housing data would warrant a hawkish reaction after the much better than expected Housing Starts print earlier this week.

From there, focus will turn to the Fed as Chair Powell continues his semi-annual Congressional testimony at 10:00 a.m. ET while Mester will speak around the same time (10:00 a.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 5-Yr TIPS auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could offer insight to inflation expectations and move yields, but most of the market-moving news will likely hit before the lunch hour today.