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The Fed Pivot Has Already Occurred

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The Fed Pivot Has Already Occurred: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch

Here’s when falling bond yields might become a problem for stock-market bulls in 2024

Heading into 2024, the path of least resistance for Treasurys is for higher prices and lower yields (prices and yields move opposite each other), “although the decline in yields won’t be the boost for stocks in 2024 as it was in 2023, because if it keeps going and we see the 10-year yield break through support at 3.75% and keep dropping towards 3.00%, investors will interpret that as an economic warning sign now that the Fed pivot has already occurred,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a Friday note.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on December 29th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

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Treasury Yields To Continue To Drive Short-Term Trading

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Treasury Yields To Continue To Drive Short-Term Trading: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Stocks Extend Rally After Best Week of the Year

“Today there are no notable economic reports and just one Fed speaker, [Lisa] Cook (11:00 a.m. ET), so look for Treasury yields to continue to drive short-term trading,” writes Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye.

The 10-year Treasury yield ticked higher on Monday but was still at 4.614%. The 10-year yield was trading around 5% in October, which weighed on rate-sensitive stocks.

“If the 10-year yield continues to decline then the S&P 500 can extend last week’s rally.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on November 6th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

It’ll be Very Hard for This Market to Rally

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.

We Get a Lot of Important Reports Later This Week

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A Lot of Important Reports: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Stocks Fall as 10-Year Yields Touches 5%

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye writes that the economic calendar is quiet on Monday, so yields will continue to be in focus. He thinks the higher yields go, the lower stocks will fall.

“Today, any progress on electing a Speaker of the House will be welcomed by the markets and likely push yields lower,” Essaye writes. “On the earnings front, we get a lot of important reports later this week.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on October 23rd, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

It’ll be Very Hard for This Market to Rally

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.

The 10-Year Yield Sits at 5.00%

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The 10-Year Yield Sits at 5.00%: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

10-Year Treasury Yield Hovers Around Milestone 5% Level, Adding Pressure to Stocks

“The 10-year yield sits at 5.00% as of this writing. And the higher it goes today, the lower stocks will likely fall,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research. “Today, any progress on electing a Speaker of the House will be welcomed by the markets and likely push yields lower.”

The recent, dramatic march higher in yields has added significant headwinds for stocks. Because higher returns on risk-free government debt tend to dampen demand for riskier bets, such as equities.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on October 23rd, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

The 10-Year Yield

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.

Another Reason Treasury Yields Are Rising

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Another Reason Treasury Yields Are Rising

Futures are modestly lower on more negative real estate news from China while Japanese inflation was hotter than expected.

Chinese real estate firm Evergrande filed for bankruptcy overnight, increasing concerns about the Chinese property market specifically and economy more broadly.

Economically, Japanese CPI was in-line (up 3.3% y/y) but services inflation rose to 2%, a 30 year high, and that’s increasing expectations the BOJ may get more hawkish (and that would put more upward pressure on global bond yields, which would increase the headwind on stocks).

Today there are no notable economic reports nor any Fed speakers so focus will remain on Treasury yields, and the market needs stability in yields for stocks to bounce back.  A sudden drop in yields on growth concerns (which is what we’re seeing this morning) or a sharp rally in yields (on inflation concerns) will only further pressure stocks, so the sooner yields can “calm down” and trade little changed, the better for stocks.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on August 15th, 2023

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Stocks Could Be Sandbagged by Rising Treasury Yields

“That’s why rising Treasury yields are a problem for stocks, because investors will rotate out of riskier equities and into less-risky bonds because the additional return in stocks isn’t worth the volatility,” argues Essaye, who believes that while the current environment makes the historical 4% risk premium unlikely, a “fair” number for 2023 is “definitely higher than 1%!”

Click here to read the full article.

How Far Could This Relief Rally Run?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Technical Support for a Near Term Bottom and How Far This Relief Rally Could Run
  • Chart: 10-Yr Note Futures Test Trend Resistance
  • Housing Market Update

Stock futures are trading lower this morning as soft tech earnings are overshadowing a continued bounce in bonds.

MSFT and GOOGL both fell roughly 6% overnight after delivering disappointing quarterly results yesterday afternoon which is dragging the broader tech sector lower in premarket trading.

Today, there are two economic reports to watch in the morning: International Trade in Goods (E: -$87.8B) and New Home Sales (E: 585K), while there is a 5-Yr Treasury Note auction in the early afternoon (1:00 p.m. ET).

Earnings will remain in focus today with BA (-$0.01), BMY ($1.83), HLT ($1.25), KHC ($0.55), and HOG ($1.45) reporting before the bell, and META ($1.88), F ($0.31), and CP ($0.77) releasing results after the close.

Bottom line, soft earnings out of mega-cap tech are weighing on the market this morning however stable bond markets are limiting losses. If we see Treasuries roll over today and yields begin to climb again, expect pressure on equities to pick up as both earnings expectations and multiple compression will weigh on stocks broadly.

Is Credit Suisse Going the Way of Lehman?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is Credit Suisse Going the Way of Lehman?
  • Chart: 10-Yr Yield Breaks Critical Uptrend
  • ISM Manufacturing Takeaways

U.S. stock futures and European equities are solidly higher this morning while bond yields continue to pull back with the dollar amid renewed hopes of a “less-hawkish pivot” by global central banks.

The RBA was seen as dovish overnight, raising their policy rate by 25 basis points vs. (E) 50 bp which is helping pressure global bond yields and support continued risk-on money flows this morning.

Economically, EU PPI rose to 5.0% vs. (E) 4.9% in August but the fact that the print was not a “hotter” surprise is also adding a tailwind to global equities this morning.

Today, there are two economic reports to watch: Factory Orders (E: 0.2%) and JOLTS (11.150M) and multiple Fed officials speaking: Williams (9:00 a.m. ET), Logan (9:00 a.m. ET), Mester (9:15 a.m. ET), Jefferson (11:45 a.m. ET), and Daly (1:00 p.m. ET).

As long as the pullback in bond yields and the dollar continue over the course of the day, stocks should be able to extend yesterday’s gains however the pace of the early quarter rebound has approached an unsustainable level and at some point, we will need to see some consolidation across asset classes.

A History of Fed Warnings

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A History of Fed Warnings
  • Chart: 10-Year Yield in a ”Broadening Triangle” Pattern

Stock futures are enjoying a solid oversold bounce this morning with both Treasury yields and the dollar index pulling back from their recent highs as Powell’s hawkish comments from Jackson Hole continue to be digested.

Eurozone Economic Sentiment dipped to 97.6 vs. (E) 97.7 this month, a 1.5 year low, but the soft survey data is seeing investors dial back some recent hawkish money flows.

Looking into today’s session, it will be a busy morning with two housing market data points due out before the bell: Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 1.1%) and FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.9%) before focus will shift to Consumer Confidence (E: 97.4) and JOLTS (10.4M) data at the top of the 10 a.m. hour ET.

Additionally, there are two Fed speakers to watch: Barkin (8:00 a.m. ET) and Williams (11:00 a.m. ET).

Bottom line, stocks became near-term oversold between Friday and yesterday and as long as the dollar and yields remain steady today, and economic data and Fed chatter doesn’t shift policy expectations any more hawkish than they have already repriced, stocks should be able to enjoy a bounce as traders begin to position into the end of the month.

On the charts, the 4,020 area will be a critical support level to watch in the S&P 500 today as a material break below would open the door to a swift drop into the low-to-mid 3,900s.

Bad Things Happen Fast (Part II)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Bad Things Happen Fast, Part II
  • Composite PMI Flash Data Takeaways
  • New Home Sales Plunge – Chart
  • 10-Year Yield Breaking a 15 Year Downtrend – Chart

Stock futures are little changed this morning, well off the overnight highs after a mostly quiet night of news as investors look ahead to the release of the latest Fed meeting minutes.

Economically, the German GfK Consumer Climate Index met expectations of -26.0 while German GDP came in at 3.8% vs. (E) 3.7% but today’s data is not materially impacting markets.

Looking into today’s session, there is one economic report to watch early: Durable Goods Orders (E: 0.5%) and the Treasury will hold an auction for 5-Year Notes at 1:00 p.m. ET. Markets will want to see data that shows healthy demand and steady trade in fixed income markets if stocks are to stabilize further.

As far as the Fed goes, Vice-Chair Brainard is scheduled to speak at 12:15 p.m. ET before the day’s main event, the release of the FOMC Meeting Minutes will hit at 2:00 p.m. ET. If Brainard and the minutes are less hawkish that could support a continuation of the latest attempt at a relief rally. At the same time, any more-hawkish leaning rhetoric or verbiage could lead to a resurgence in volatility as news flow has been decidedly negative over the last week.