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Is China the Next Japan?

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Is China the Next Japan?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is China the Next Japan?

Futures and EU shares are lower as cautious retailer earnings guidance and heavy trade in China overnight are offsetting easing geopolitical tensions following reports that Israel would not strike Iranian oil/energy infrastructure (oil futures are down nearly 5%).

Economically, EU Industrial Production met expectations overnight while a German Economic Sentiment gauge topped estimates, but neither report is materially moving markets this morning.

Today, there is one important economic report to watch: The Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: 0.0), and two Fed officials are scheduled to speak: Daly late morning (11:30 a.m. ET) and Kugler in the early afternoon (1:05 p.m. ET).

Additionally, there are two typically lesser-followed Treasury auctions for 3-Month and 6-Month T-Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET that could shed fresh light on market expectations for Fed policy rates between now and Q2’25 which have swung sharply hawkish over the last two weeks. Strong auction would have dovish implications for the market and be well received by equity investors today.

Finally, earnings season is getting into full swing with several more big banks reporting quarterly results today: BAC ($0.78), C ($1.34), and GS ($6.85) while two members of the Dow Jones Transportation Average: UAL ($3.10) and JBHT ($1.43) are also due to report today.

Bottom line, equity markets have rallied solidly over the last week amid a combination of earnings optimism and soft-landing hopes. If any of the economic data, Fed chatter, or earnings results damage either of those narratives, expect some mild profit taking in equities today, otherwise the path of least resistance is still higher for stocks right now.

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Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye also sees technical indicators flashing red

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Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye also sees technical indicators flashing red: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

The Stock Market Is Rising, but So Are the Risks. What to Do Now.

Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye also sees technical indicators flashing red. The Relative Strength Index, or RSI, a momentum indicator used to identify overbought or oversold conditions, has been diverging from the S&P 500 for about six months, turning lower even as the index keeps pushing higher.

“That is a concern because it is a bearish divergence that we have repeatedly seen when lasting market tops are being established, including the early 2022 highs,” Essaye writes. “This same divergence occurred before the market peaks in 2000, 2007, and even the short-lived bear market of 2020. Bottom line, the divergence between the outright price action of the S&P 500 (hitting higher highs) and its weekly RSI indicator (establishing lower highs) is a concerning technical dynamic that warrants attention as it suggests the risks of a more pronounced pullback in the stock market is statistically elevated right now.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on October 9th, 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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Are Emerging Markets Finally A Buy?

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Are Emerging Markets Finally A Buy?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are Emerging Markets Finally A Buy?
  • FOMC Minutes:  Did They Reinforce Rate Cut Expectations?

Futures are slightly lower mostly on digestion of Wednesday’s rally and as markets look ahead to today’s important economic data (CPI and claims).

Economically, Germany updated the last several retail sales reports and the net change was slightly better than expected, although that’s not moving markets.

Today focus will be on economic data as we get two potentially market moving reports:  CPI (E: 0.1% m/m, 2.3% y/y) / Core CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.2% y/y) and Jobless Claims (E: 226K).  Goldilocks data, meaning an in-line CPI/Core CPI report and stable jobless claims, will keep soft landing hopes strong and likely boost stocks later today.

We also have several Fed speakers today including Cook (9:15 a.m. ET), Barkin (10:30 a.m. ET) and Williams (11:00 a.m. ET) but none of them should move markets.

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October MMT Update: Positive News (But Priced In)

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How to Cut Through the Market Noise: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • October Market Multiple Table – Positive News But Priced In

U.S. futures are higher on dovish-leaning comments by the Fed’s Kugler overnight while global shares declined broadly in sympathy with a near-10% drop in Chinese shares after the latest government stimulus efforts disappointed.

Economically, German Industrial Production rose 2.9% vs. (E) 0.8% in August, helping easing EU growth worries while the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 91.5 but narrowly missed estimates of 91.7.

There are no notable economic reports today, however several Fed officials are scheduled to speak: Bostic (12:45 p.m. ET), Collins (4:00 p.m. ET), and Jefferson (7:30 p.m.). Based on the market’s positive reaction to Kugler’s comments in the pre-market, more dovish commentary has the potential to fuel a further relief rally today while a hawkish tone would likely weigh on stocks.

Finally, there is a 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and given the hawkish money flows in the wake of last week’s ISM data and September jobs report, weak demand at the auction could send yields to new highs and further pressure equity markets.

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How to Cut Through the Market Noise

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How to Cut Through the Market Noise: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How to Cut Through the Market Noise
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Inflation and Earnings
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI on Thursday is the Key Report

Futures are moderately lower following underwhelming economic data and as investors continue to wait for the Israeli response to Iran.

Economically, German Manufacturers’ Orders and Euro Zone retail sales both missed estimates.

Geopolitically, investors are still awaiting the Israeli response strike to Iran and that lingering uncertainty is further boosting oil and weighing on futures.

Today the calendar is quiet as there is just one economic report, Consumer Credit (E: $13.5B) and two Fed speakers, Bowman (1:00 p.m. ET) and Kaskari (1:50 p.m. ET) but none of that should move markets.  Instead, focus will be on geo-politics as investors anxiously await the Israeli response strikes on Iran and whether they hit key infrastructure (nuclear sites, energy sites) or not will determine the impact on markets.

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The port strike could disrupt the data

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The port strike could disrupt the data: Tom Essaye Quoted in Forbes

Could Dock Worker Strike Spike Inflation? Experts Are Split.

Sevens Report analyst Tom Essaye wrote Tuesday to clients any strike-related inflation uptick is ultimately just a “temporary disruption” and shouldn’t impact the view of the broader inflation picture.

“The port strike could disrupt the data, essentially creating a smoke screen for the Fed when trying to stick the soft landing,” wrote Essaye.

Also, click here to view the full Forbes article published on October 1st, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Lastly, 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.

Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard (Updated)

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Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard (Updated): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard (Updated)
  • Post Fed Technical Takeaways

Futures are modestly lower on disappointing earnings results and as markets digest Thursday’s big rally.

Fed Ex (FDX) missed earnings, cut guidance and voiced concern about economic growth and that negative print is contributing to the decline in futures.

The Bank of Japan kept rates unchanged (as expected) and didn’t provide a hawkish surprise, although the BOJ is expected to hike rates again between now and year-end.

Today there are no notable economic reports and just one Fed speaker (Harker (2:00 p.m. ET)) and given that lack of catalysts we’d expect some continued digestion of Thursday’s big rally.

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Fed-Day Technical Tear Sheet (Negative Divergence from Fundamentals)

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Fed-Day Technical Tear Sheet (Negative Divergence from Fundamentals): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Fed-Day Technical Tear-Sheet: Market Technicals Are Diverging Negatively from Still Optimistic Fundamentals
  • Economic Takeaways: Retail Sales and Industrial Production Top Estimates

Stock futures are trading tentatively higher as investors digest mostly as-expected inflation data out of Europe overnight and look ahead to today’s Fed decision.

Economically, Eurozone CPI met estimates at 2.2% y/y in August while the Core figure was also as-expected at an unchanged 2.8% y/y last month.

Today, focus will be on the one notable economic data point due to be released: Housing Starts (1.300M) but it is unlikely to materially move markets with the Fed decision looming this afternoon.

The FOMC Announcement will hit the wires at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by Fed Chair Powell’s Press Conference at 2:30 p.m. ET. The consensus expectation is a 25 bp rate cut will be delivered but market-based policy rate expectations are pricing in a 65% chance of a 50 bp rate cut as of this morning.

Bottom line, whether the Fed delivers a 25 bp or 50 bp rate cut today is less important than the guidance provided on future cuts as the market wants to see the framework laid out for a fairly aggressive rate cutting path in the months ahead to shore up soft-landing hopes. So projections and Powell’s speech will be critical for the market reaction late in the session.

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How to Explain This Market To Clients (September Update)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How to Explain This Market To Clients (September Update)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Two Key Central Bank Decisions (Fed on Wednesday, BOJ on Thursday)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Important Growth Updates This Week

Futures are little changed despite more negative Chinese economic data as investors look ahead to the Fed decision on Wednesday.

August Chinese economic data disappointed as Industrial Production (4.5% vs. (E) 4.7% and Retail Sales (2.1% vs. (E) 2.7%) both missed estimates, raising more concerns about Chinese growth (and global growth more broadly).

Politically, there was another assassination attempt on Trump, although the event shouldn’t alter the current race.

This week will be both busy and important for this rally, but it starts slowly as the only notable number today is the September Empire Manufacturing Index (-4.1).  An in-line to slightly better than expected number would be the best-case scenario for markets today.

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What CPI Means for Markets (Fed Further Behind Curve?)

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What CPI Means for Markets (Fed Further Behind Curve?): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What CPI Means for Markets (Fed Further Behind Curve?)

Futures are modestly higher mostly on momentum from Wednesday’s impressive reversal and following encouraging Japanese inflation data.

Economically, the only notable number overnight was Japanese PPI and it rose 2.5% vs. (E) 2.8%. That may take some pressure off the BOJ to hike rates and also weigh on the yen and the Nikkei rose 3% in response.

Today the focus will remain on economic data and rate cuts via the ECB Rate Decision first (E: 25 bps cut) and later Jobless Claims (E: 230K) and PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 1.8% y/y).  If data can meet expectations and the ECB cuts rates and signals more cuts coming, yesterday’s rally can (and likely will) continue.

There are also two notable earnings reports today via Kroger (KR $0.91) and Adobe (ADBE $4.53).  KR will give us insight into consumer spending (especially on essentials) while ADBE will be the latest tech company to post results (and the stronger the guidance, the better for the broader tech sector).

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