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

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?

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?

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

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)

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.

Why Have Stocks Dropped?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Have Stocks Dropped?
  • A Story From the Past to Explain My Caution on the Future Economy
  • Chart: 10-Year Yield Approaches Key Downtrend Line

Futures declined overnight as the 10-year topped 2.80% with a focus on today’s CPI report but yields have since pulled back and futures are trading effectively unchanged.

Economically, the Japanese PPI was hot (9.5% vs. E: 9.3%) and the U.S. NFIB Small Business Optimism Index missed estimates (93.2 vs. E: 95.0), neither of which are helping trader sentiment today.

Geopolitically, Russia was accused of using chemical weapons in Ukraine, which would be a significant escalation if true, but that information has not been substantiated yet.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on economic data early with CPI (E: 1.1%) due out ahead of the bell. If the core number comes in below estimates, that could offer the market some relief and spark a reversal higher.

Then attention will turn to the Fed as Brainard speaks over the lunch hour (12:10 p.m. ET) and Barkin is scheduled to speak after the close (5:30 p.m. ET). Brainard’s comments will be closely watched as her hawkishness last week caused rates to surge higher and stocks to selloff.

Finally, there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET which will offer some fresh insight to demand for Treasuries amid the latest surge in yields. And if the auction is solid, that could also help yields pullback and stocks rebound.

Takeaways from Proctor and Gamble Earnings

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Best Broad Natural Resource ETF: GNR vs. GUNR
  • Takeaways from Proctor & Gamble Earnings
  • Charts: Copper Breakout and 10-Yr. Yield Into Resistance

Stock futures are little changed this morning as investors digest recent gains and await more important earnings results.

On the inflation front, German PPI ran hot (2.3% vs. E: 1.0%), but EU HICP (their CPI) met estimates of 0.5% which is helping ease some price related concerns this morning (yields are off the overnight highs).

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports but multiple Fed speakers including: Bostic (12:00 p.m. ET), Kashkari (12:00 p.m. ET), Evans (12:00 p.m. ET), Quarles (1:00 p.m. ET), Bullard (1:45 p.m. ET), and Daly (8:35 p.m. ET).

Looking to earnings, focus will be on: VZ ($1.36), WGO ($1.98), and ABT ($0.92) reporting pre-market and then TSLA ($1.49), IBM ($2.49), PPG ($1.56), and DFS ($3.38) releasing results after the close.

Earnings in Focus

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Bottom Line – Earnings in Focus
  • Charts: 10-Year Yield Meets Resistance, Global Inflation on the Rise

U.S. stock futures are pointing to a higher open today as bond markets remain largely steady and investors continue to focus on the solid start to Q3 earnings season.

There were no notable economic reports or market-moving headlines overnight.

Looking into today’s session, there is one economic report to watch: Housing Starts (E: 1.621M) and several Fed officials are scheduled to speak: Daly (8:00 a.m. ET), Harker (8:50 a.m. ET), and Bostic (1:00 p.m. & 2:50 p.m. ET). But as long as there are no major, hawkish shifts in tone by the Fed speakers, the market impact should be limited with the focus increasingly on earnings.

On the earnings front, we will get results from JNJ ($2.37), PG ($1.59), BK ($1.02), TRV ($2.04), SYF ($1.43) ahead of the bell, and then NFLX ($2.56), and UAL (-$1.65) after the close. The important thing investors will be looking for is any new insight on the impact of inflation and margin compression on earnings and importantly forward guidance.

Tom Essaye Quoted in ETF Trends on September 28, 2021

Treasury Bond ETFs Slide as Traders Anticipate Tighter Monetary Policy

If economic and inflation data is solid this week, and the 10-year yield can breakthrough the mid-1.50% range…Tom Essaye of the Sevens Report said in a note. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in CNBC on August 30, 2021

Treasury yields fall slightly as investors await key jobs report

The 10-year yield continues to build upside momentum, and Powell’s dovish tone on Friday won’t…Tom Essaye of the Sevens Report said in a note on Monday. Click here to read the full article.