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New ETFs for Your Watchlist

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • New ETFs for Your Watchlist
  • JOLTS Data Takeaways – A Rise in Job Openings Signals Resilient Labor Market

Stock futures have reversed from overnight losses to trade with moderate gains in the pre-market largely thanks to upbeat composite PMI data in Europe.

Economically, the Eurozone’s Final Composite PMI came in at 50.2 vs. (E) 49.5 mostly due to a better than expected Services Index component which firmed to 49.7 vs. the Flash print of 48.9.

Today, there are two more noteworthy domestic economic releases due to be released; the May ADP Employment Report (E: 110K) ahead of the open, and the ISM Services PMI (E: 52.0) shortly after the bell. Investors will be looking for more evidence of labor market resilience in the ADP release and evidence of strong consumer spending and preferably cooling inflation pressures in the ISM data.

There are two more Fed officials speaking today: Bostic & Cook (8:30 a.m. ET) but the narrative has not materially changed since the May Fed meeting and isn’t expected to as the Fed is set to remain data-dependent for the foreseeable future.

Finally, there are a few more noteworthy earnings releases today that could impact markets including DLTR ($1.19), FIVE ($0.83), and PVH ($2.23). As retail and consumer focused brands, any mention of weakness in consumer spending trends could pour cold water on the early June rally.

Sentiment Update: The Bulls Have Returned (Somewhat)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Sentiment Update – The Bulls Have Returned (At Least Somewhat)
  • Chart: Sector Positioning Remains Cautious Despite Broad Market Rebound

Futures are lower as the rapid Q2 relief rally continues to be digested amid an ongoing sense of market uncertainty.

Economically, U.K. CPI spiked from 2.6% in March to 3.5% in April, topping estimates of 3.3% (y/y) which is putting upward pressure on bond yields as inflation concerns return.

There are no noteworthy economic releases to watch today but two Fed officials are scheduled to speak mid-day: Barkin & Bowman (12:15 p.m. ET), and there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Strong demand for the T-Bonds and a more dovish tone out of the Fed speakers would be well received and likely to help stabilize equity markets today while weak demand metrics in the auction and/or hawkish Fed speak could further pressure stocks.

Earnings season continues to wind down, however there are some noteworthy companies reporting Q1 results today including: TGT ($1.65), TJX ($0.90), BIDU ($1.96), LOW ($2.88), SNOW (-$0.59). Investors will particularly like to see strength in the consumer names reporting today to quell worries of a slowdown in consumer spending in early 2025.

Alleviate consumer-demand concerns and recession worries

Alleviate consumer-demand concerns and recession worries: Tyler Richey, editor of Sevens Report Technicals Quoted in MarketWatch


U.S. oil prices settle at highest in 3 weeks as trade-war optimism eases consumer-demand concerns

U.S. benchmark oil prices settled Tuesday at their highest in three weeks, as trade-war optimism helped “alleviate consumer-demand concerns and recession worries,” said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research.

A multiyear low in annualized U.S. headline inflation was also a “welcomed surprise that effectively poured gasoline on an already raging risk-on fire across financial markets since the better-than-anticipated outcome of the U.S.-China trade negotiations over the weekend,” he told MarketWatch.

A continued relief rally seems to be likely in the weeks ahead, with the $70- to $72-a-barrel range the “first logical upside price target for WTI,” said Richey.

Also, click here to view the full article featured on MarketWatch published on May 14th, 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.

Understanding the New Bullish Argument

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Understanding the New Bullish Argument

Futures are moderately weaker on digestion of the recent rally following a mostly quiet night of news.

There were no notable trade headlines overnight but President Trump did say they were “close” to a nuclear deal with Iran and that is pressuring oil (down 3%). Today there is a lot of potentially important economic data including, in order of importance:   Retail Sales (E: 0.1%), Jobless Claims (E: 229K), PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.4% y/y), Philly Fed (E: -10.0) and Empire Manufacturing (-7.5).  Put simply, the stronger the growth data the better for stocks (pushes back against recession fears) and the lower the PPI reading, the better for stocks (pushes back against inflation fears).

There are two Fed speakers today including Powell (8:40 a.m. ET) and Barr (2:05 p.m. ET) but they commentary is expected to focus on regulation so it shouldn’t move markets.

Finally, there are some notable retail earnings to watch today: WMT ($0.57), BABA ($1.48), DE ($5.68).

The reality of the trade war won’t be as bad as feared back in early April

The reality of the trade war won’t be as bad as feared back in early April: Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Investing.com


Where is the ’Trump Put’ now? Analyst weighs in

According to Sevens Report analysts, that rebound is largely thanks to easing fears around trade war escalation and renewed optimism from the Trump administration.

“The reality of the trade war won’t be as bad as feared back in early April,” Sevens wrote, citing a larger-than-expected U.S.-China tariff reduction and “lots of Trump ‘happy talk’ on trade” involving potential deals with the U.K., South Korea, Japan, and India.

But Sevens cautioned investors not to mistake this relief rally for a sustainable bull run. “While I’m enjoying this morning’s rally I remain skeptical this news can push the S&P 500 sustainably towards (or above) 6,000,” the note said.

The more important takeaway, according to the firm, is that the so-called “Trump Put” — the idea that Trump will pivot policy to support markets if stocks fall far enough — appears to have moved higher.

“Markets freaked out in early April because, in part, investors feared the Trump Put wouldn’t occur until the S&P 500 was well in the 4,000s,” Sevens explained. “But the past few weeks implied the Trump Put kicks in somewhere in the mid-to-low 5,000s.”

Also, click here to view the full article featured on Investing.com published on May 12th, 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.

Their comments shouldn’t move markets

Their comments shouldn’t move markets: Tom Essaye, editor of the Sevens Report Quoted in MarketWatch


It’s a busy day for Fedspeak — but there’s one official worth listening to

“However, unless Williams is hawkish, their comments shouldn’t move markets,” said Tom Essaye of The Sevens Report.

Also, click here to view the full article featured on MarketWatch published on May 6th, 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.

Monthly Bitcoin & Crypto Update

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Monthly Bitcoin & Crypto Update

Futures are higher on news the U.S. and China will hold preliminary trade talks in Switzerland Saturday which offset soft tech earnings from SMCI as focus turns to the Fed.

Economically, German Manufacturing Orders jumped 3.6% vs. (E) 1.0% while EU Retail Sales fell -0.1% vs. (E) 0.0%.

Looking ahead to the U.S. session, there is one economic report this afternoon: Consumer Credit (E: $10.0B), but the data is unlikely to move markets given the afternoon Fed decision.

Trader focus will be on any trade headlines this morning before attention turns to the Fed with the FOMC Announcement (2:00 p.m. ET), and Fed Chair Press Conference (2:30 p.m. ET) mid-afternoon.

There are some more late season earnings releases to watch that could move markets in pre-market/after-hours trade including: UBER ($0.51), DIS ($1.18), GOLD ($0.29), CVNA ($0.75), OXY ($0.73), and CLF ($-0.78).

Bottom line, focus is on the Fed today and while no change in the policy rate is expected, traders will be scrutinizing the meeting statement for any changes regarding economic uncertainty or hints on when the FOMC may lower rates next during Powell’s press conference. The more dovish the language and commentary, the better for equities today.

FOMC Preview

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • ISM Services PMI Takeaways – Resilience Points to Soft Landing

Stock futures are lower thanks to a combination of weak earnings news and disappointing economic data overnight.

On the earnings front, PLTR missed estimates (shares down -8% in premarket trading) while F pulled 2025 guidance noting a tariff impact estimated to be -$2.5B on this year’s earnings.

Economically, China’s Service PMI fell to 50.7 vs. (E) 51.8 in April which dragged the Composite PMI down from 51.8 to 51.1, highlighting the negative impact the global trade war is having on the Chinese economy.

Looking into today’s session, there is one economic report to watch: International Trade Balance (E: -$136.3B). Typically, trade data is now widely followed, however given the trade war, a deeper than anticipated deficit could bolster recession angst.

Moving to the afternoon, the Treasury will hold a 6-Week Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 10-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. The outcome of the former could shed light on near-term rate-cut odds while the latter auction could offer insight into growth and inflation expectations.

Finally, some late season earnings are due out today including: MAR ($2.27), CEG ($2.14), AMD ($0.75), SMCI ($0.21), and ET ($0.33).

Bottom line, good economic news and dovish money flows in Treasury auctions could help stabilize markets as the Fed meeting gets underway in Washington which will likely result in a growing sense of “Fed paralysis” as the session progresses today.

The scales are tipped in favor of the ‘May-Sellers’

The scales are tipped in favor of the May-Sellers: Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in Bloomberg


Old Wisdom of ‘Sell in May’ Back in Focus as Stock Market Churns

“The scales are tipped in favor of the ‘May-Sellers’ this year,” said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, adding that the risks are skewed toward the S&P 500 suffering another big decline next month.

Also, click here to view the full article featured on Bloomberg published on April 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

Sentiment Update (A Shocking Discovery)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Sentiment Update (A Somewhat Shocking Discovery)
  • Empire State Manufacturing Survey Takeaways

U.S. stock futures are in the red this morning with tech leading to the downside after the U.S. announced new export restrictions on AI chip exports to China.

Economically, Chinese GDP missed (1.2% vs. E: 1.5% q/q) but Retail Sales beat (5.9% vs. E: 4.2%) while EU HICP (CPI equivalent) was inline with estimates at 2.2% y/y.

Looking ahead to today’s session, there are several important economic reports due to be released in the U.S. including: Retail Sales (E: 1.4%), Industrial Production (E: -0.2%), and the Housing Market Index (E: 38).

Additionally, there are two Fed officials scheduled to speak: Hammack (12:00 p.m. ET) and Schmid (7:00 p.m. ET) and the Treasury will hold a 20-Yr Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Finally, earnings season continues with quarterly results due from ASML ($6.12), USB ($0.99), PGR ($4.72), CFG ($0.75), AA ($1.73), and CSX ($0.37) today.