Tom Essaye: Fading AI Enthusiasm Could Threaten Market Rally Despite Strong Economy

/in , /by

Sevens Report warns that slowing momentum in AI stocks may weigh on equities even if growth remains resilient

10 AI Stocks Making Headlines This Week

Sevens Report founder Tom Essaye cautioned that a cooling wave of enthusiasm for AI stocks could spell trouble for the broader market. The note highlighted steep drops in C3.ai and CoreWeave following soft guidance and disappointing results.

“Those moves put a question in my head… What happens to this market if AI loses momentum?” Essaye wrote. While investors remain focused on tariffs, economic data, and Fed policy, the report warned that equities could falter even in a stable macro environment if AI names fail to deliver.

Five stocks — Nvidia, Microsoft, Meta, Broadcom, and Palantir — have powered 56% of the S&P 500’s 10.8% year-to-date gain, according to Sevens. Essaye stressed that execution will be critical as the AI trade matures. “If AI enthusiasm begins to fade, this market will face a headwind regardless of whether the economy is stable,” the report said.

Also, click here to view the full article on Insidermonkey.com published on August 16th, 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.

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.

Bitcoin Slides After Inflation Data; Essaye Sees Long-Term Bullish Shift

/in , /by

Sevens Report founder notes policy support and strategic reserve chatter

Bitcoin sinks following hotter-than-expected inflation print, Bessent comments on strategic reserve

Bitcoin dropped following hotter-than-expected inflation, with strategists highlighting both macro headwinds and the Trump administration’s pro-crypto stance. “The administration is pushing crypto. They are pushing Bitcoin. Bitcoin is the lead dog in the crypto market,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a Yahoo Finance interview.

While Essaye acknowledged near-term froth, he stressed that structural changes—such as policy support and discussions of a strategic reserve—could underpin longer-term strength in the asset class.

Also, click here to view the full article on Yahoo Finance published on August 15th, 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.

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.

Two Events That Could Actually Cause a Pullback

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Two Events That Could Actually Cause A Pullback
  • Weekly Market Preview:  All About the Fed (Does Powell Signal A September Cut on Friday?)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Important Growth Updates This Week (Do They Push Back on Stagflation Worries?)

Futures are slightly lower as the Trump/Putin summit produced no substantial changes in the war amidst an otherwise quiet weekend (market focus is on Powell’s speech Friday and whether he hints at a Sept rate cut, or not)

The Trump/Putin summit resulted in neither a ceasefire nor the threat of oil sanctions and as such, the market is largely ignoring the event.

There were no notable economic reports overnight.

Focus today will be on geo-politics with President Trump meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky and European leaders at the White House to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine.  From a market standpoint, its focus remains on oil prices.  If the cease fire efforts fail and Trump again threatens oil sanctions on China and other countries buying Russian crude, that will push oil prices higher and put a headwind on stocks.

Outside of geopolitics, there is one economic report today, NAHB Housing Market Index (E: 34) and an important earnings report after the close (Palo Alto Networks, PANW ($0.50).  Given last week’s underwhelming tech reports, markets will want to see a solid result.

 

Tom Essaye: Inflation-Driven Bitcoin Drop Doesn’t Derail Long-Term Bullish Outlook

/in , /by

Sevens Report founder says institutional adoption and regulation support crypto’s future despite near-term volatility

Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Falls 7% as U.S. Inflation Hikes Pressure Rate Cut Prospects

Bitcoin slid 7% on Friday as hotter U.S. inflation data weighed on rate-cut expectations, sparking a broad risk-off move in markets. Despite the pullback, the cryptocurrency remains up roughly 25% year-to-date and has rallied nearly 57% from April’s lows.

Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, said the short-term volatility reflects Bitcoin’s heightened sensitivity to macroeconomic shifts. “Inflation pressures are clearly a headwind in the near term, but the longer-term outlook hasn’t changed,” Essaye noted. He pointed to institutional adoption and regulatory clarity as key drivers supporting Bitcoin’s structural bullish case.

“Volatility will always be part of crypto, but the foundation is getting stronger,” Essaye said, stressing that macro shocks don’t erase the sector’s long-term growth potential.

Also, click here to view the full article on Ainvest.com published on August 16th, 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.

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.

Tom Essaye Warns AI-Fueled S&P 500 Rally Risks Dot-Com Style Downside

/in , /by

Sevens Report’s Essaye flags downside risks tied to semiconductors

Bank of America Warns S&P 500 Tops Dot-Com Bubble on AI Stock Surge

Bank of America strategists warn that the S&P 500 has surpassed dot-com era valuations, fueled by an AI-driven surge in tech leaders. Industry analysts echo similar concerns, including Tom Essaye of Sevens Report Research, who points to semiconductor indices as a key risk factor.

Essaye cautioned in remarks cited by Business Insider that if economic resilience falters, the sector could drag the broader market lower. His outlook: “considerable downside” in coming quarters, especially if inflation reaccelerates or geopolitical tensions disrupt supply chains.

Adding to the vulnerability, passive investing trends may be amplifying bubbles. With index funds funneling capital into overvalued leaders, market corrections could be sharper when momentum unwinds.

Also, click here to view the full article on Webpronews.com published on August 15th, 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.

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.

AI Market Rally Shows Cracks as Semiconductors Lag S&P 500 – Tom Essaye

/in , /by

Sevens Report founder warns of late-cycle risks amid slowing economic data

BofA Warns of Dotcom Bubble Vibes in S&P 500 Valuations

Bank of America analysts compared today’s valuations to the late-1990s dotcom bubble, and Sevens Report Research founder Tom Essaye echoed those concerns. He noted that the AI-driven rally may be masking underlying risks, particularly in semiconductors.

“The SOX index isn’t keeping pace with the S&P 500, and that’s a red flag,” Essaye said, pointing out that chip stocks are the backbone of AI innovation. “If semis can’t lead, then it calls into question the sustainability of this rally.”

Essaye also flagged weakening economic indicators, including soft job gains and rising jobless claims, as evidence that the U.S. may be entering a late-cycle phase. Together, those factors increase the risk that today’s market exuberance could mirror past bubbles.

Also, click here to view the full article on Ainvest.com published on August 15th, 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.

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.

Why the Hot PPI Threatens Multiple Pillars of the Rally

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Hot PPI Threatens Multiple Pillars of the Rally

Futures are little changed despite soft Chinese economic data and disappointing earnings.

Economically, Chinese data was soft as Fixed Asset Investment, Industrial Production and Retail Sales all missed expectations.

On earnings, Applied Materials (AMAT) gave weak guidance and is down –15% pre-market, weighing on tech.

Today focus will be on economic data and for stocks to rally into the end of the week, we need to see solid reports (and avoid any weak reports that further stagflation anxiety).  The key report today is Retail Sales (E: 0.5%), although Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: 0.5), Industrial Production (E: 0.0%) and Consumer Sentiment (E: 62.1) are all notable as well.  Bottom line, solid growth data and tame inflation expectations in Consumer Sentiment would help stocks finish the week strong.

 

Semiconductors Signal AI Bubble Risks, Essaye Warns

/in , /by

Sevens Report highlights divergence between SOX and S&P 500

What happens to the stock market when the AI bubble bursts?

A lack of ROI and diminishing returns in artificial intelligence make its bubble a question of when, not if, according to Sevens Report Research founder Tom Essaye. He pointed to semiconductor stocks as the “canary in the coal mine” for the AI trade.

In a recent client note, Essaye highlighted that the PHLX Semiconductor Index (SOX) remains below its July 2024 highs, even as the S&P 500 gained more than 10% in the same stretch.

“The takeaway here is that if AI remains the primary source of bullish optimism for a continued rally in the broader stock market in the months and quarters ahead, this market is in trouble and at risk of rolling over sooner than later as the SOX should still be leading the market higher like it was in 2024, not lagging considerably over the last 12 months,” he wrote.

Essaye cautioned that if the SOX begins to materially sell off, the S&P 500 will likely follow.

Also, click here to view the full article on Livewiremarkets.com published on August 13th, 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.

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.

What Happens If AI Loses Momentum?

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Happens if AI Loses Momentum?
  • Oil Update and Weekly EIA Takeaways

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news and as CSCO earnings largely met expectations.

Economically, data was mixed in Europe as UK GDP (0.4% vs. (E) 0.2%) and Industrial Production (0.7% vs. (E) 0.5%) beat estimates while EU GDP met estimates (0.1%) but Industrial Production missed (badly) (-1.3% vs. (E) -0.5%).

Today focus will turn back to economic data and there are two notable reports today: Jobless Claims (E: 230K) and PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.6% y/y).  Of the two, PPI is more important and if it confirms the mostly tame CPI reading from Tuesday, it will further solidify rate cut expectations and support stocks.  There is also one Fed speaker today, Barkin (2:00 p.m. ET), and given recent conflicting commentary from voting members on the FOMC, the tone of each speaker will become more important.

Finally, mid-season earnings continue and some notable reports today include: JD ($0.44), AMAT ($2.34), NTES ($1.85), DE ($4.62), AAP ($0.59), NU ($0.13).

 

What About the Yield Curve?

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What About the Yield Curve (Recession Signal “On Hold”)
  • What CPI Means for Markets

Futures are trading at record highs, tracking global shares higher as traders cheer the latest evidence of benign inflation pressures despite the global trade war.

Economically, German CPI was unchanged at 2.0% in July, meeting consensus analyst estimates.

There are no noteworthy economic reports today however there is a 4-Month Treasury Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET that could shed light on investor expectations of Fed policy rates between now and year-end which could move markets.

Additionally, there are multiple Fed speakers including Barkin (8:00 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (1:00 p.m. ET), and Bostic (1:30 p.m. ET).

Finally, there are some late season earnings releases to watch: EAT ($2.43), CSCO ($0.80), EQX ($0.02) but none are likely to materially move markets today.