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Updated Market Outlook

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Updated Market Outlook – Markets Price in “Economic Nirvana”
  • Based on Valuations, Cyclical Sectors Poised to Outperform
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Will the Flash PMIs Support Soft-Landing Optimism?

Futures are lower to start the holiday-shortened trading week today with Asian markets underperforming as the latest Chinese stimulus efforts were seen as underwhelming while inflation trends in Europe remain favorable.

The PBOC lowered both the 1-Yr and 5-Yr prime loan rates by 10 bp overnight to 3.55% and 4.2%, respectively, but the cuts disappointed versus hopeful investor expectations given weak economic data lately, and markets traded with a risk-off tone in the wake of the announcements.

In Europe, German PPI fell to 1.0% vs. (E) 1.8% in May offering the latest evidence that the global disinflation trends remain intact.

Looking into today’s session, there is just one economic report to watch: Housing Starts (E: 1.40M) which shouldn’t move markets, and only one Fed speaker: Williams (11:45 a.m. ET).

With stocks overextended by multiple measures right now, there will likely be some degree of digestion of the latest leg higher in equity markets now that the June Fed decision and Friday’s massive options expiration are behind us. With that in mind, focus will begin to shift to Powell’s semi-annual Monetary Policy Report to Congress which begins tomorrow as investors look for further insight to the Fed’s future policy plans.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on June 5th, 2023

Global Stocks Drift Higher Amid PMI Data

“Economically, global service PMIs were mixed as the euro zone service PMI missed expectations, while the U.K. and Chinese service PMIs were in-line,” noted Tom Essaye, the founder of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on May 31st, 2023

Stocks Open Lower as Traders Fret About China Manufacturing, Debt Bill

“Republican Representatives have said this morning that they have the votes to pass it. If that comes to fruition, that should remove a headwind from risk assets and open the door to a continued move higher in equity markets,” writes Tom Essaye, the founder of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Why Home Depot Earnings Point to a Soft Landing

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Home Depot Earnings Point to a Soft Landing
  • Retail Sales Data Takeaways
  • Debt Ceiling Barometer: 1-Month T-Bill Yield Steadies

Stock futures are rebounding modestly from yesterday’s declines this morning as traders await more clarity on the debt ceiling negotiations (1-Month yield is down 2 bp to 5.56%) and digest in-line European inflation data.

Economically, Eurozone HICP (their CPI equivalent) met estimates at 7.0% y/y with the Narrow Core reading falling 0.1% to 5.6%, also as expected but still well above target.

There is just one economic report this morning: Housing Starts & Permits (E: 1.405M, 1.430M) and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak.

Retailer earnings continue this morning with TGT ($1.74) reporting ahead of the bell and investors will be looking for more signs of “soft landing” spending trends as we saw with HD yesterday.

As far as other potential catalysts go, there is a 20-Yr. Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET today and any big move in yields could impact stocks (too weak would indicate inflation worries, too strong would underscore growing debt ceiling fears).

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on May 9th, 2023

U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Investors Look Ahead to Inflation Data

With increasing focus on the debt ceiling, investors will be keenly focused on today’s meeting between President Biden and Congressional leadership as hopes for a delay to September are building and any disappointment of those hopes could result in volatility across asset classes, said Tom Essaye, the founder of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on May 8th, 2023

Stocks Are Holding Steady Ahead of Busy Week

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet weekend of news as markets look ahead to Wednesday’s CPI, wrote Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye. Click here to read the full article.

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Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on April 25th, 2023

Stocks Plunge as UPS, First Republic Earnings Shake Investors

The lower than expected deposit levels rekindled worries about the health of the banking system and financials are dragging the broader market lower this morning, writes Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Interviewed on BNN Bloomberg on April 25th, 2023

These earnings aren’t enough to push markets materially higher: Sevens Report Research’s president

Tom Essaye, president of Sevens Report Research, joins BNN Bloomberg to run through his take on prominent companies reporting earnings this week. Click here to watch the full interview.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on April 21st, 2023

Stocks Gain on Signs of Economic Distress

“Since April 3, we’ve seen the yield on the 1-month Treasury bill fall from 4.7% to 3.9%, as investors have shunned near-term Treasury bills that might get caught up in the debt ceiling fight. Conversely, the 3-month Treasury bill yield has risen from 4.9% to 5.2% since April 3, as investors have sold that debt as it will be subject to potential increased volatility as the debt ceiling fight comes to a head,” Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report, wrote Friday. Click here to read the full article.

 

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on April 19th, 2023

The Dow Slips as Earnings Ramp Up

“If earnings news is not encouraging today, and yields continue to move higher over the course of the session, the selling pressure on equities is likely to continue and liable to accelerate,” wrote Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report. Click here to read the full article.