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Fed Caution, AI Bubble Warnings, and Trade Tensions Shape Market Mood

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Tom Essaye warns of rising correction risks as the Fed tempers rate-cut expectations.

Navigating the Aftermath: Market Outlook Post-Declines Amidst Trade Truce and Rate Uncertainty

September 2025 marked the start of the Federal Reserve’s rate-cutting cycle with a 25-basis-point reduction, but optimism quickly faded. In early October, warnings of a potential “AI bubble” intensified, with Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye cautioning that a burst could drag the S&P 500 down 10%–20%. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon also warned of a possible sharp correction.

By October 29, the Fed cut rates again to a 3.75–4.00% range, but Chair Jerome Powell’s statement that a December cut was “not a foregone conclusion” cooled expectations. The cautious tone, combined with ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions and Trump’s tariff threats, weighed on sentiment.

Tech giants like Nvidia, AMD, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet remain at the center of investor focus as their valuations drive market direction. Meanwhile, analysts and policymakers alike are watching whether Fed policy, AI enthusiasm, and trade diplomacy can keep markets stable through year-end.

Also, click here to view the full article on WRAL.com published on October 30th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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.

Signs of an AI bubble and an increasingly stressed consumers could dampen enthusiasm for stocks, says Tom Essaye.

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Signs of an AI bubble and an increasingly stressed lower-income consumer could dampen investors’ enthusiasm for stocks, says Tom Essaye

Three scenarios that could spook stocks in October, according to a Wall Street veteran

Signs of an AI bubble and an increasingly stressed lower-income consumer could dampen investors’ enthusiasm for stocks, says Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report.

There are a few things that could spook investors in October, or the coming months.

As Halloween decorations start to appear in storefronts and on front porches across the U.S., one Wall Street veteran has decided to take a closer look at three scenarios that could spook markets as the fourth quarter gets underway.

“Over the weekend, my family and I decorated our house and yard for Halloween. While doing so, it dawned on me that much of the financial media and analyst community isn’t accurately portraying this market reality: The outlook for stocks and risk assets remains positive, but if things start to turn bad, the situation becomes downright scary from a return standpoint,” said Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research, in commentary shared with MarketWatch.

Also, click here to view the full article featured on Barron’s published on October 3rd, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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.

Tom Essaye Warns of “Horror-Movie” Market Scenario if AI Bubble and Consumer Stress Collide

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Essaye cautions that a deflating AI bubble, weakening consumers, and a softening labor market could trigger a 30% S&P 500 drop.

Three scenarios that could spook stocks in October, according to a Wall Street veteran

Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, warns that the stock market could face a “horror-movie scenario” if three key risks hit at once — an AI bubble burst, worsening consumer strain, and a weakening labor market. He points to OpenAI’s $500 billion valuation and stretched tech prices as signs of speculative excess. Meanwhile, rising delinquencies at companies like CarMax show lower-income consumers are increasingly pressured.

Essaye cautions that while the economy still looks stable on the surface, markets are ignoring the potential for rising unemployment and slowing growth. If AI optimism fades and consumer spending weakens, the S&P 500 could fall 20–30%, mirroring the drawn-out collapse of the early 2000s tech bubble.

Also, click here to view the full article published in MarketWatch on October 7th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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.

Sevens Report: OpenAI’s $500B Valuation Rekindles AI Bubble Debate

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Employee confidence strong, but lofty revenue multiples raise caution

Is OpenAI’s stock sale the latest evidence we’re in an AI bubble?

The Sevens Report said Friday that OpenAI’s latest secondary stock sale, which valued the company at around $500 billion, has reignited debate over whether surging enthusiasm for artificial intelligence reflects confidence or a brewing bubble.

The sale allowed employees to offload up to $10 billion in equity, though only $6.6 billion was ultimately offered — a sign that insiders remain confident in OpenAI’s growth trajectory. Sevens noted that the transaction was a liquidity event, not new fundraising, underscoring strong investor appetite after OpenAI’s first-half 2025 revenue already surpassed full-year 2024 totals.

Still, the valuation implies 25 times expected 2025 revenue of $20 billion, which the firm said demands rapid monetization to justify. “Leadership will have to prove the ability to translate growth into profitability sooner rather than later,” analysts cautioned.

Sevens also warned that fading intraday strength in AI-linked names like Nvidia shows rising risk that the AI narrative could be challenged, potentially triggering profit-taking across tech and the broader equity market.

Also, click here to view the full investing.com article featured on Yahoo Finance published on October 3rd, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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.

Acknowledging the Negative Outcome

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Acknowledging the Negative Outcome
  • Weekly Market Preview: Does Fed Commentary Back-up Rate Cut Expectations?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Fed speak the key with no government data this week.

Futures are solidly higher thanks to strength in Japanese stocks following a surprise election outcome and despite no progress on resolving the U.S. government shutdown.

The Nikkei surged more than 4% after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected Sanae Takaichi to be the new Prime Minister, a mildly surprising outcome that’s seen as positive for more economic stimulus from the BOJ.

Politically, there was no progress on resolving the U.S. government shutdown over the weekend, although markets are continuing to ignore the shutdown (and likely will for another two weeks or so, should it last that long).

Today there are no economic reports so focus will remain on any progress on resolving the shutdown.  There is also one Fed speaker today, Schmidt at 5:00 P.M. ET, but his comments come after the close and shouldn’t move markets.

Takeaways from OpenAI’s Secondary Offering (More Evidence of An AI Bubble?)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Takeaways from OpenAI’s Secondary Offering (More Evidence of An AI Bubble?)

Futures are slightly higher following another quiet night of news, as there was no notable progress on resolving the government shutdown overnight.

Economic data from Europe was mixed as the EU Services PMI as essentially in-line (51.3 vs. (E) 51.4) and rose since August, while the UK reading was weak, falling to 50.8 vs. (E) 51.9, a solid drop from the 54.2 August level.  That will add to anxiety about the UK economy.

Today there is no jobs report because of the slowdown so all the focus will be on the ISM Services PMI (E: 51.6) and the key for this number is to stay above 50.  If it drops below 50, that will add to slowdown concerns (although don’t be shocked by another “bad is good” rally in the short term).

There are also two Fed speakers today, Logan (1:30 p.m. E.T) and Jefferson (1:40 p.m. ET) but they shouldn’t move markets.

 

New ETFs to Watch and AI-Bubble Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • More Bubble Signs? OpenAI and NVDA Partnership
  • New ETFs for Your Watchlist

Futures are little changed as traders digest mixed EU Flash PMI data and await fresh comments from Fed Chair Powell today.

Economically, the EU Composite PMI Flash rose to 51.2 vs. (E) 50.9 with the Services Index notably rising to 51.4 vs. (E) 50.5 however the Manufacturing index disappointed.

Today, there are two economic reports to watch in the U.S., both of which will print shortly after the open: PMI Composite Flash (E: 53.0) and the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -10).

The Fed’s speaker circuit will remain fairly busy today with Bowman (9:00 a.m. ET) and Bostic (10:00 a.m. ET) speaking this morning before focus will turn to commentary from Powell (12:35 p.m. ET) mid-day.

Additionally, there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move bond yields and ultimately impact equities if there are any surprises regarding demand metrics (the stronger the demand the better for stocks).

Finally, some late season earnings reports continue to trickle in with notables reporting today including AZO ($50.52) and MU ($2.69).

 

Semiconductors Signal AI Bubble Risks, Essaye Warns

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Sevens Report highlights divergence between SOX and S&P 500

What happens to the stock market when the AI bubble bursts?

A lack of ROI and diminishing returns in artificial intelligence make its bubble a question of when, not if, according to Sevens Report Research founder Tom Essaye. He pointed to semiconductor stocks as the “canary in the coal mine” for the AI trade.

In a recent client note, Essaye highlighted that the PHLX Semiconductor Index (SOX) remains below its July 2024 highs, even as the S&P 500 gained more than 10% in the same stretch.

“The takeaway here is that if AI remains the primary source of bullish optimism for a continued rally in the broader stock market in the months and quarters ahead, this market is in trouble and at risk of rolling over sooner than later as the SOX should still be leading the market higher like it was in 2024, not lagging considerably over the last 12 months,” he wrote.

Essaye cautioned that if the SOX begins to materially sell off, the S&P 500 will likely follow.

Also, click here to view the full article on Livewiremarkets.com published on August 13th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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.

Tom Essaye Warns AI-Driven Stock Surge Shows Classic Bubble Traits

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Sevens Report founder sees parallels with past late-cycle manias

US Stocks Drop as Investors Wait on CPI Data to Set Fed’s Path

The current equity rally may be entering bubble territory, according to Sevens Report founder Tom Essaye, who advises some of Wall Street’s largest firms. Essaye points to weakening U.S. economic conditions alongside stretched valuations, with the S&P 500 up 28% since April and 57% since ChatGPT’s debut in November 2022.

In an August 1 client note, Essaye compared today’s AI-fueled rally to past bubbles, such as the internet and real estate booms, where a single narrative drove expectations of “unlimited earnings growth” across sectors. He warns that the AI theme now plays that role, creating risks for advisors managing long-term portfolios.

Also, click here to view the full article featured on The Wealth Advisor published on August 10th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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

AI Bubble Watch: Part 2

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • AI Bubble Watch: Part 2

Futures are slightly higher following more mixed trade news.

Japanese stocks rallied after an announcement that the U.S. would “fix” an issue of tariff stacking that would result in some tariff reduction.

On gold, the U.S. may apply tariffs to Swiss gold imports, possibly disrupting to global physical gold trade.

Economically, there were no notable reports overnight.

There are no notable economic reports today but there are two Fed speakers, Musalem (10:20 a.m. ET) and Bowman, and if they join the growing “dovish” camp and hint at a September rate cut, that should help support markets.