Technical Market Update

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Technical Market Update
  • Why are Small Caps Outperforming?
  • How Bad Was Economic Data Yesterday? (Answer:  Bad)

Futures are extending Wednesday’s losses following more disappointing earnings and as worries about the economy grow.

Alcoa (AA), Allstate (ALL), and Discovery Financial (DFS) posted soft earnings or negative guidance overnight.

Today we get several important economic reports including, in order of importance: Philly Fed (E: -10.3), Jobless Claims (E: 215K), and Housing Starts (E: 1.362M).

There are also several Fed speakers and the most important one is Brainard (1:15 p.m. ET) and if she’s slightly dovish, that will help markets stabilize.  Collins (9:00 a.m. ET) and Williams (6:35 p.m. ET) also speak today.

Finally on the earnings front, we get more important results today and the market needs some good news.  Reports we’re watching include:  PG ($1.58), FAST ($0.42), NFLX ($0.45), and PPG ($1.15).

Has the Outlook for China Finally Turned Positive?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Has the Outlook for China Finally Turned Positive?
  • Chart – FXI (China) vs. S&P 500 Divergence
  • Empire State Manufacturing Survey Takeaways

Stock futures were volatile o/n as the BOJ doubled down on their bond-buying program, sending the yen lower by nearly 3% but markets have stabilized as focus turns to a busy morning of economic data and more earnings in the U.S.

Economically, Eurozone HICP met estimates at 9.2% y/y and the Narrow Core also met estimates at 5.2% y/y.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on earnings in the pre-market with SCHW ($1.10) and PNC ($3.95) due to release earnings ahead of the bell while DFS ($3.58) will report after the close.

There is also a slew of economic data due out this morning including: Retail Sales (E: -0.8%), PPI (E: -0.1%, 6.8%), Industrial Production (E: -0.1%), and the Housing Market Index (E: 31). The market wants to see data continue to point to slowing, but not collapsing growth (as we saw with the Empire report yesterday) and a continued deceleration in inflation metrics to maintain bets for a soft landing.

As far as other catalysts go, there are two Fed speakers to watch this morning: Bostic (9:00 a.m. ET) and Bullard (9:30 a.m. ET) and then a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Bottom line, much of the recent rally has been based on hopes for a soft landing and less hawkish pivot by the Fed and anything that contradicts those two possibilities would likely trigger a wave of volatility today.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Blockworks on January 12th, 2023

Crypto Miners Log Double-digit Stock Price Gains After CPI Report

Tom Essaye, the founder of Sevens Report Research, said Wednesday before the CPI print that inflation metrics would need to continue falling quickly if the market hopes to sustain a broader rally. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Blockworks on January 12th, 2023

‘They’re Definitely Still Hiking’: Inflation Cooling May Not Deter Fed

A drop in gasoline prices was the largest contributor to the core inflation dip, something that Tom Essaye, president of Sevens Report Research, told Blockworks is “a little bit more disappointing than the headline would imply.” Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Interviewed on BNN Bloomberg on January 3rd, 2023

Gold is the top metal pick for kicking off 2023: Tom Essaye

Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss his market take for the new year. Essaye says that nothing fundamentally changed in the markets, despite it being a new year, and discusses his advocacy for defensive sectors amid Q1 volatility and lower returns. He says that gold is looking particularly attractive when compared to its commodity peers. Click here to watch the full interview.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Yahoo via Bloomberg on December 29th, 2022

Stocks Post Month’s Best Day as Rate Surge Fades: Markets Wrap

“Markets enter 2023 at important transition points. One path is paved with continued disinflation, resilient earnings, moderating growth, a balanced labor market, and higher stock and bond prices. The other path is paved with sticky inflation, slowing growth, a continued tight labor market and lower stock and bond prices. Data points at the start of the year will offer important clues as to which path the markets are taking.” Said Tom Essaye, a former Merrill Lynch trader who founded The Sevens Report newsletter. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Blockworks on December 9th, 2022

Volatility Index Paints a Gloomy Picture for Bitcoin, Equities

“We remain in a liquidation phase of the market cycle during which more sophisticated, institutional investors are selling their long-term equity holdings,” Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research said. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in CNBC on December 7th, 2022

Bond yields fall as Wall Street worries about higher Fed rates

“Bottom line, the economic outlook is turning for the worse (outside of the labor market) and if that continues, it will support the long end of the curve,” wrote Tom Essaye of the Sevens Report. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Forbes on November 28th, 2022

Credit Suisse Tumbles: Stock Hits New Record Low After Banking Giant Warns Of ‘Substantial’ Losses

“In short, Credit Suisse is starting to act like a bank that’s about to go under,” analyst Tom Essaye of the Sevens Report said in a recent note. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Forbes on November 17th, 2022

Major Retailers Are Bracing For A Disappointing Holiday Season Due To Inflation

“There’s frankly little doubt that consumers are already 1) Reining in spending and 2) Becoming more value conscious,” Sevens Report analyst Tom Essaye wrote in a Thursday note. Click here to read the full article.