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Two Questions to Start 2022

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Two Key Questions To Start 2022
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Omicron, Build Back Better Progress?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  A Busy Start to the Year (Highlighted by the Jobs Report Friday)

Futures are starting the new year with moderate gains driven mostly by momentum/start of year positioning, following a quiet weekend of news.  Many major markets today (London, Japan, Australia, U.S. Bonds) are closed.

Tesla (TSLA) reported better than expected deliveries for the fourth quarter and the stock is up 7% pre-market, and that’s helping markets rally.

There was no new news on Omicron over the weekend as cases skyrocket but hospitalizations remain relatively low.

With so many major markets closed, today will be a mostly quiet day, and barring any surprises tomorrow will be the first “real” trading day of the year.  We do get one notable economic report today, the Markit December Manufacturing PMI (E: 57.8), and markets will want to see a “Goldilocks” number that shows Omicron isn’t a major economic headwind, but at the same time the data isn’t so strong it makes the Fed more aggressive.

 

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter Delivered Today

Our Q4 ’21 Quarterly Letter will be released today.

We use our strength (writing about the markets) to help you:

  • Save time (an average of 4-6 hours per quarterly letter)
  • Show you’re on top of markets with impressive, compelling market analysis

You can view our Q3 ’21 Quarterly Letter here

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If you’re interested in subscribing, please email info@sevensreport.com.

What Could Go Wrong in 2022

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Could Go Wrong in 2022
  • Chart: Rate Hike Prospects Weigh on Nasdaq

Futures are modestly higher despite negative COVID headlines and a mixed outlook for China’s economy.

New COVID cases topped 1 million and set a record for a second day Tuesday as the highly contagious, but less severe Omicron variant continues to rip through hot spots around the globe. But for now, few nations have implemented new lockdowns allowing investors to look past the latest surge in cases.

According to Bloomberg Economics, China’s economy grew this month but property sector risks remain a key concern and that weighed on Asian shares overnight.

Today, there are two economic reports due out: International Trade in Goods (E: -$86.0B), and Pending Home Sales (E: 0.6%) but once again, neither should move markets as they should not shift the outlook for monetary policy.

There are no Fed speakers today but there is a 7-Year Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. If the auction is weak and yields rise materially, that could add pressure to higher valuation sectors of the market like tech/Nasdaq and drag the broader equity markets lower in thin holiday trading today. Otherwise, the Santa Claus rally remains in effect and the path of least resistance does still remain higher given the recent records in the S&P 500.

 

Sevens Report Q4 ’21 Quarterly Letter Coming January 3rd

The Q4 2021 Quarterly Letter will be delivered to advisor subscribers on Monday, January 3rd.

With several key macro issues coming to a head in the next few weeks, we believe the first quarter could be the most volatile of 2022.

We deliver the letter on the first business day of the new quarter because we want you to be able to send your quarterly letter before your competition (and with little to no work from you).

You can view our Q3’21 Quarterly Letter here.

To learn more about the product (including price) please click this link, and if you’re interested in subscribing please email info@sevensreport.com.

What Could Go Right in 2022

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Could Go Right in 2022

S&P 500 futures are trading at a fresh record high as investors shrug off rising COVID cases while global markets rallied following fresh monetary stimulus from China.

The PBOC injected 200B yuan to help meet end-of-year demand for cash, the largest injection since October which is easing liquidity and adding to risk-on money flows.

Japanese Industrial Production surged 7.2% vs. (E) 1.8% in November, bolstering hopes that the economic recovery is regaining momentum.

This morning, there are two reports on the housing market due to be released: Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 1.0%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.7%) but neither should move markets.

There are no Fed speakers today but there is a 5-Year Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could impact that bond markets and potentially equities but with the calendar otherwise pretty clear, a continued “Santa Claus rally” appears to be the path of least resistance for equities this week.