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Jobs Report Preview: Why A Goldilocks Report Matters For This Market

Jobs Report Preview: Why A Goldilocks Report Matters For This Market: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview:  Why A Goldilocks Report Matters For This Market

Futures are little changed as markets await the next round of news on tariffs while economic data was mixed.

Economically, Euro Zone Retail Sales missed estimates (-0.2% vs. (E) 0.0%) underscoring still tepid EU growth.

On trade, a call between Trump and Xi still hasn’t happened but most expect tariffs to be reduced when it does.

Today will be a busy day in the markets, starting with a major central bank decision as the Bank of England is expected to cut rates 25 bps.

Economically, there are two notable reports today including Jobless Claims (E: 215K) and Unit Labor Costs (E: 3.3%) and as we’ve seen the last two days, slight misses vs. expectations will be positives for stocks and bonds.  On the Fed front, there are two speakers today but they won’t move markets as they both speak after the close (Logan at 5:10 p.m. ET and Waller at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Finally, on earnings, the key report today is AMZN ($1.52) after the bell.


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Are Tariffs a Negotiating Tool or Real Risk?

Are Tariffs a Negotiating Tool or Real Risk?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are Tariffs a Negotiating Tool or Real Risk?
  • Why Are Tariffs Positive for the Dollar?
  • ISM Manufacturing Index Takeaways
  • Chart – A Volatility Warning From the VIX Futures Market

Futures are modestly lower as optimism surrounding strong earnings from data software company, PLTR (+20% pre-market), is being offset by simmering trade war fears.

After the close yesterday, news broke that U.S. tariffs on Canada would be paused like those on Mexico (for one month) which was well received by markets.

However, China retaliated against the U.S. with 10% tariffs overnight and opened an antitrust investigation into GOOGL, rekindling trade war fears which is weighing on global investor sentiment in early trade.

Looking into today’s session, there are two potentially market moving economic reports: Factory Orders (E: -0.6%) and JOLTS (E: 8.0 MM). Investors will be looking for more “Goldilocks” data that supports the case for a soft landing.

There are also, two Fed officials scheduled to speak today: Bostic (11:00 a.m. ET) and Daly (2:00 p.m. ET), and several big name earnings releases due out, including PYPL ($1.13), PEP ($1.95), PFE ($0.48), AMD ($1.09), GOOGL ($2.12), CMG ($0.24).


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Expect increased noise and volatility surrounding the incoming administration’s new policies

Expect increased noise and volatility surrounding the incoming administration’s new policies: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s


Trump Will Take the Stock Market on a Bumpy, if Prosperous, Ride. What to Do Now.

The stock market, then, is left not to climb the proverbial wall of worry but to navigate a swamp of uncertainty. How Trump decides to attack taxestariffs, the national debt, and immigration will result in wilder gyrations than we’ve been used to during the past couple of years. “Expect increased noise and volatility surrounding the incoming administration’s new policies, but these are the four main areas whereby those policies could impact the markets and the economy,” writes Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on January 24th, 2025. 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 RallyIf 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.


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Four Key Areas of Policy and Politics That Matter Most

Four Key Areas of Policy and Politics That Matter Most: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Four Key Areas of Policy and Politics That Matter Most to Markets
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Composite PMIs and Jobless Claims in Focus

Futures are higher in volatile trade as investors weigh Trump’s fresh tariff threats against pro-growth policy plans.

Economically, the German ZEW Survey was mixed while the U.K. Unemployment Rate ticked up to 4.4% from 4.3%.

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak, however, there are Treasury auctions for 3-Month and 6-Month Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET and 52-Week Bills at 1:00 p.m. ET. Rising yields in reaction to the auction results could lead to more market volatility and pressure stocks while strong demand (lower yields) would be welcomed by investors.

Additionally, earnings season continues today with quarterly reports from SCHW ($0.90), MMM ($1.66), DHI ($2.41), NFLX ($4.19), UAL ($3.01), and COF ($2.66), and investors will want to see evidence of continued earnings growth to support the case for a further stock market rally in 2025.


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Sevens Report Research founder Tom Essaye Interviewed on Yahoo Finance

Tom Essaye Interviewed On Yahoo Finance


Trump’s economic policy impact, US dollar: Asking for a Trend

“Sevens Report Research founder Tom Essaye outlines what investors need to know to separate the headlines that matter to the market from the noise.

Also, click here to view the full interview with Yahoo Finance published on January 8th, 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.


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Year-end positioning and lackluster trading volumes

Year-end positioning and lackluster trading volumes: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s


Trump Is Already Rattling the Stock Market. Buckle Up.

Sevens Report President Tom Essaye believes year-end positioning and lackluster trading volumes—issues that will ease after New Year’s—are the real culprits behind the declines. 

“None of these events are big enough to derail this market, but they are a near-constant reminder of the drama Trump can manufacture (either directly or indirectly) on seemingly mundane functions of the government,” Essaye wrote.

“Altering or reducing the H-1B visa program reflects a further isolationism that investors fear would hurt the U.S. tech industry in the long run,” Essaye wrote. “And while that fear is a bit of a stretch, amidst large tech outperformance and thin volumes into year-end, it’s creating another reason to book profits.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on December 31st, 2024. 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 RallyIf 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.


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This Is The Type Of Political Chaos Markets Fear

This Is The Type Of Political Chaos Markets Fear: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s


Magnificent 7 Stocks Are Rising to End a Rough Week

Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report, wrote on Friday that stocks weren’t down “because of the shutdown itself, but instead because this is the type of political chaos markets fear in a second Trump term.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on December 20th, 2024. 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 RallyIf 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.


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The Fed Provided A Legitimate Surprise

The Fed Provided A Legitimate Surprise: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s


The Stock Market Needed a Washout. What Sentiment Says About What Comes Next.

The Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye notes that two things in particular caught investors offside. First, the shift to fewer rate cuts in 2025 means that the Fed will be less of a force for good in the market than it was heading into the meeting. The language of the statement also changed in a way that suggested rate cuts could be off the table completely next year. “Bottom line, the Fed provided a legitimate surprise,” he writes.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on December 20th, 2024. 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 RallyIf 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.


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What Does Wall Street Expect for 2025? (SPX Forecasts)

What Does Wall Street Expect for 2025? (SPX Forecasts): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Does Wall Street Expect for 2025? (SPX Forecasts)
  • S&P Services PMI Takeaways – Slightly Hawkish

Futures are little changed this morning as global investors digest the solid rebound in stocks over the last two sessions amid largely as-expected economic data overnight.

Economically, Eurozone CPI met estimates with a 0.2% rise to 2.4% Y/Y in December while the EU Unemployment Rate held steady at 6.3%, also inline with expectations.

Today, market focus will be on economic data early with International Trade in Goods (E: $-77.6B), ISM Services PMI (E: 53.2), and JOLTS (E: 7.65 million) all due to be released this morning. The ISM report will be critical as a “hot” print is a risk to the early 2025 rally as it will support the case for a Fed “pause” in their rate cutting cycle and put upward pressure on yields.

There is also one Fed speaker who could shed light on FOMC policy plans (although that is not very likely): Barkin (8:00 a.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and the results will be important to watch as yesterday’s weak 3-Yr Note auction contributed to the afternoon rise in yields that weighed on stocks. So, the best-case scenario outcome for stocks is a solid auction that turns yields lower, ideally with the 10-Yr yield falling back below 4.60%.


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Are Credit Spreads Confirming Stock Market Weakness?

Are Credit Spreads Confirming Stock Market Weakness?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are Credit Spreads Confirming Stock Market Weakness?

Futures are slightly higher and are seeing a modest bounce following a generally quiet night of news.

Economically, the only notable number overnight was German Unemployment, which met expectations at 6.1%.

Politically, the House of Representatives will vote on a Speaker today and if Speaker Johnson fails to quickly win that election, it’ll be a market negative as it will raise doubts Republicans can actually pass tax cuts later in 2025.

Today is an important day for markets from a political perspective, it’s also important from an economic standpoint as we get the first of the “Big Three” monthly economic reports via the December ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 48.5).  Markets will want to see that number in-line to slightly lower, as a much better than expected number will likely see a repeat of yesterday, as the dollar and yields should rise and this early rally in stocks should fade as investors reduce expectations for future rate cuts.  Goldilocks data is needed for this stock market dip to end.

Speaking of the Fed, we get our first two speakers of 2025 in Barkin (11:00 a.m. ET), and Daly (5:30 p.m. ET) although they shouldn’t move markets.


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