Have Bond Yields Peaked?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are Stocks Starting to Signal Bond Yields Have Peaked?
  • Growth Is Beginning to Outperform Value; Will It Last?
  • Oil Tumbles Through Technical Trend Support: Chart

Futures are flat while international markets were mixed overnight as investors continue to weigh recession fears against a slightly less hawkish shift in monetary policy expectations.

The 10s-2s yield curve spread notably inverted overnight as the odds of a recession in the quarters ahead continue to rise.

Economically, Eurozone Retail Sales edged up just 0.2% vs. (E) 0.4% in May which was the latest data point to show a slowdown in consumer spending amid high inflation, further compounding worries about global growth.

Looking into today’s session, there is one Fed speaker ahead of the bell (Williams at 9:00 a.m. ET) and the focus will be on economic data with the ISM Services Index (E: 54.8) and JOLTS (E: 11.250M) both due out shortly after the open.

The market will want to see a continued moderation in growth to show the Fed’s policy actions are working to slow demand, but not too weak to suggest we are quickly fading into a recession.

From there, the focus will shift to the release of the June FOMC Meeting Minutes at 2:00 p.m. ET as investors look for new insight into the Fed’s view of the economy and potential clues as to whether we have reached “peak hawkishness” yet, or not. If there is evidence peak hawkishness is behind us, yesterday’s risk-on money flows could continue today.

Are Stocks Pricing in an Economic Contraction?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Bottom Line – Are Stocks Pricing in an Economic Contraction?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet – Is Stagflation Imminent?

Stock futures are trading modestly lower with European markets this morning as recession fears continue to weigh on sentiment.

Economically, global Composite PMI data was better than feared but broader concerns of a slowdown remain.

Today, investor focus will be on economic data early with Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 13.5M) and Factory Orders (E: 0.5%) both due out before the opening bell.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but the Treasury will hold auctions for 3-Month and 6-Month Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET which may move bond markets and ultimately move equities.

A Historical Reason to be Optimistic for the Second Half

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Historical Reason to Be Optimistic for the Second Half

Futures are slightly lower following another high-profile guidance cut and more mixed economic and inflation data.

Micron (MU) materially cut forward guidance, sighting a steep drop in demand at the end of the second quarter and becoming the latest company to warn of deteriorating business conditions.

Economic and inflation data was mixed as EU headline HICP (their CPI) was hotter than expected but Core HICP underwhelmed, while the EU and UK final manufacturing PMIs reflected the slowing growth sweeping the globe.

Today’s focus will be on the ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 55.0) and the key here is moderation – markets need to see a slowing of growth but not a dramatic collapse.  If we see moderation, stocks can rally to start the second half.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on June 29th, 2022

Dow Steadies, NIO Slumps — and What Else Is Happened in the Stock Market Today

Not only did the headline badly miss expectations, falling to a 16-month low, but consumer inflation expectations for the year ahead within the report jumped from an upwardly revised 7.5% to 8.0%, which notably contradicts the…wrote The Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye. Click here to read the full article.

State of Inflation: Hints of a Peak?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • State of Inflation:  Hints of a Peak?

Futures are sharply lower following another profit warning from a national retailer and mixed economic data.

Restoration Hardware (RH) cut guidance just a few weeks after reporting earnings, citing a sudden deterioration in demand and increasing worries about corporate earnings.

Economic data was mixed as the Chinese manufacturing PMI rose back above 50, while German unemployment rose more than expected (5.3% vs. (E) 5.0%.

Today focus will be on the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.4% m/m, 4.8% y/y) and if we get a materially hot number above the 4.8% yoy expectation, we can expect more selling pressure while a drop towards the mid 4% range would be a welcomed surprise (and likely cut the early morning losses).  Today we also get weekly Jobless Claims (E: 226K), although that number shouldn’t move markets.

Why Stocks Dropped Again

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Dropped Again
  • Consumer Confidence Takeaways
  • Gold Update: A Soft Landing Is the Worst-Case Scenario

Stock futures are modestly lower thanks to some hawkish Fed chatter and another hot inflation print in Europe.

Economically, Spanish CPI jumped to 10.2% vs. (E) 9.2% in June, up from 8.5% in May suggesting inflation has not yet peaked, at least in parts of Europe.

Domestically, the Fed’s Mester reiterated that a 75 bp hike is likely in July given elevated consumer inflation expectations.

Today, there is one economic report to watch early: Final Q1 GDP (E: -1.4%) and investors would like to see the headline at least hold unchanged from the previous revision (if not get revised higher) before focus turns to several global central bankers speaking at an ECB Forum including Fed Chair Powell at 9:00 a.m. ET.

If the discussion takes on a more hawkish tone or there is any sign the market is losing confidence in the Fed (which would be evident in the bond markets) then yesterday’s selling pressure could continue.

Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in Market Watch on June 27th, 2022

Oil prices end higher for a second session as better-than-expected U.S. economic data ease demand worries

Economic data last week was pretty dismal and weighed on energy products and commodities broadly, but Monday’s numbers came in better than expected — providing support for oil…said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Technical Update: Potential Bottom Forming?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Technical Update: Still Trending Lower But Potential Prospects of a Bottom Forming
  • Charts: S&P 500 Downside Target Reached, VIX in Compressing Range

Stock futures are modestly higher with global shares amid positive news out of China regarding covid policies.

China announced shortened quarantine times for incoming visitors in the latest move to ease covid-restrictions and potentially move away from their zero-Covid policy stance.

Economically, the German GfK Consumer Climate Index for July was no worse than feared at -27.4 vs. (E) -27.9 which is easing concerns about a swift drop-off in global economic growth.

Today, there are several economic reports to watch for: International Trade in Goods (E: -$102.0B), Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 1.8%), and most importantly Consumer Confidence (E: 101.0). Investors will want to see a continued slowdown in the data, but not to the degree that would raise concerns about a “hard landing.”

Two Fed officials are also scheduled to speak today: Barkin (8:00 a.m. ET) and Daly (12:30 p.m. ET) and there is a 7-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move yields and influence stock trading.

 

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Tom Essaye Quoted in Morningstar on June 23rd 2022

Don’t trust the stock-market bounce until S&P 500 is back above 3,800: analysts

Now, whether the market is poised to fall another 10% from this new resistance level (which would be down towards the 3,400 area) remains to be seen and a squeezy leg higher is still a very good possibility… Tom Essaye said. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Market Watch on June 23rd 2022

Don’t trust the stock-market bounce until S&P 500 is back above 3,800: analysts

Since the beginning of last week, 3,800 has become a new ceiling for the S&P 500 as sellers have repeatedly stepped in and overwhelmed the tentative, weakhanded bids…said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a Thursday note. Click here to read the full article.