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Five Optimistic Market Assumptions for 2024

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Five Optimistic Market Assumptions for 2024: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Weekly Market Preview – Five Market Assumptions to Know As We Start 2024
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet – Jobs Report in Focus

Futures are moderately lower to start 2024 amid concerns about China’s economy and rising geopolitical tensions.

Economically, China’s government-issued PMI fell to 49.0 vs. (E) 49.6 in December while President Xi Jinping made some cautious comments on the state of the economy over the weekend that has poured cold water on Asian markets to start the year.

In Europe, the December PMI rose to 44.4 vs. (E) 44.2 but still points to a factory sector deep in contraction which reiterates very real recession risks in the Eurozone in 2024.

Geopolitical tensions are pushing oil prices higher to start the new year after the U.S. Navy sunk three Iran-backed Houthi vessels in the Red Sea this weekend.

Looking into today’s session, the Final U.S. December Manufacturing PMI (E: 48.2) will be in focus this morning and traders will want to see stability in the data in order for stocks to start the new year with an extension of the 2023 rally.

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Market Assumptions

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Why the Bar for the Fed to Be Hawkish Is High

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Why the Bar for the Fed to Be Hawkish Is High: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Bar for the Fed to Be Hawkish Is High
  • What the CPI Report Means for Markets

Futures are slightly higher despite soft economic data, as markets await the Fed decision later this afternoon.

Economically, data from the UK and the EU was bad and is slightly increasing growth concerns.   UK monthly GDP  and UK & EU Industrial Production all missed estimates.

Chinese growth concerns also rose as China declared industrial development as the #1 economic priority, potentially signaling less economic stimulus in 2024.

Today focus will be on the FOMC decision (2:00 p.m. ET, No change to rates expected) and the keys are the 2024 dot (does it show 50 bps of cuts?) and whether Powell slams the door on the idea of rate cuts (or leaves it slightly open).  In addition to the Fed, we also get another important inflation reading via PPI (E: 0.1% 1.0%). A further decline will be peripherally positive for markets.

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Small Cracks in the Three Pillars of the Rally?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Small Cracks in the Three Pillars of the Rally?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can the Ideas of A Dovish Fed and Economic Soft-Landing Power Stocks to 2023 Highs?
  • Weekly Economic Preview:  Key Inflation and Growth Data This Week

Futures are slightly lower after a mostly quiet weekend as Chinese growth worries offset geo-political positives.

Chinese industrial profit growth slowed to 2.7% in Oct vs. 11.9% in Sept and that data combined with news of a quickly spreading respiratory illness in China is weighing on growth expectations.

Geo-politically, the Israel-Hamas cease fire will likely be extended several days and that’s easing geo-political tensions and oil is falling as a result (down more than 1%).

This week contains several potentially important catalysts on inflation and economic growth, but they come later in the week. So, focus today will be on holiday spending commentary and New Home Sales (E: 721k).  Positive commentary on spending and Goldilocks data would help support stocks.

Three Pillars of the Rally?

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Was the CPI a Bullish Gamechanger?

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Was the CPI a Bullish Gamechanger? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Was the CPI Report a Bullish Gamechanger?
  • CPI Data Analysis and Takeaways

Stock futures are extending the November gains this morning and Treasuries are steady after more cool inflation readings in Europe and stabilizing economic data in China.

Economically, Chinese FAI and Industrial Production figures met estimates while Retail Sales importantly accelerated to 7.6% vs. (E) 7.0% in October up from 5.5% in September.

In Europe, CPI data from the U.K., France, and Italy all met estimates or came in “cooler” than expected. This bolsters the view that global central banks are done with rate hikes, fueling risk-on money flows today.

Today, there are several economic reports to watch early: PPI (E: 0.1% m/m, 2.0% y/y), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -3.0), and Retail Sales (E: -0.3%). The market will be looking for more signs of cooling inflation in the PPI release. And no major surprises either way in the Empire and Retail Sales releases as the market is still vulnerable to data that is “too hot” (risks of more Fed tightening) or “too cold” (risks of a “hard landing”).

There are also two Fed speakers today: Barr (9:30 a.m. ET) and Barkin (3:30 p.m. ET) but neither are expected to move markets.

Was the CPI Report a Bullish Gamechanger?

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CPI Preview: Good, Bad & Ugly

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CPI Preview: Good, Bad & Ugly: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview:  Good, Bad & Ugly
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Market Catalysts This Week Support A Further Rally?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI Tomorrow, Key Growth Data the Rest of the Week

Futures are slightly lower as markets digest two slightly negative events from the weekend and look ahead to a week filled with possible market moving catalysts.

Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit outlook to negative but importantly did not change the rating and as such it’s not significantly impacting markets.

Geo-politically, U.S. forces struck more targets in Syria over the weekend, escalating regional tensons but so far markets are not reacting (oil isn’t rallying off the news).

Looking forward, this is a potentially important week, but it starts slowly as there are no notable economic reports today nor any Fed speakers.

Beyond today, though, in addition to the economic catalysts this week, risk of another U.S. government shutdown is rising as there needs to be a short-term spending deal by Friday to avoid a shutdown.  So, any progress on that front today will help markets, while any negative headlines will likely provide a small headwind.

CPI Preview:  Good, Bad & Ugly

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Key Levels to Watch on Fed Day (Technical Tear-Sheet)

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Key Levels to Watch on Fed Day: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Key Levels to Watch on Fed Day (Printable/Shareable Tear-Sheet)
  • Economic Data Takeaways – Employment Cost Index, Eurozone CPI, Case-Shiller HPI

Futures are slightly lower as traders digest more weak economic data overseas ahead of today’s Fed decision.

Economically, Manufacturing PMIs in China and the U.K. both disappointed. Both came in under the 50 threshold indicating contraction in the sector in both countries. This is weighing modestly on stocks this morning ahead of the Fed.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on economic data early. The October ADP Employment Report (E: 150K), JOLTS (E: 9.375 million), and ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 49.0) are all due to be released this morning.

From there, attention will turn to the Fed with the FOMC Meeting Announcement at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by Fed Chair Powell’s press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET. Investors are hoping for a dovish message from the Fed, and if they deliver, a continued relief rally is likely this afternoon.

Lastly, outside of the policy decision and economic data, there are some notable earnings releases today. With: CVS ($2.13) and W ($2.98) releasing results before the open, and PYPL ($1.23), QCOM ($1.80), ABNB ($2.08), MET ($1.99) and AIG ($1.55) reporting after the close.

Key Levels to Watch on Fed Day

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Market Multiple Levels Chart (October Edition)

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Market Multiple Levels Chart (October Edition): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Levels Chart (October Edition)

Futures are modestly lower following mixed economic data and as the Israel and Hamas war appeared set to escalate.

Economically, E.U. Industrial Production beat while Chinese CPI was flat y/y, increasing deflation concerns.

Israel warned more than one million residents to evacuate southern Gaza in the next 24 hours as it readies for a potential invasion and oil is rallying 3% as a result.

Earnings season starts today and there are several large banks that are reporting results.  In addition to the earnings, markets will want to hear positive commentary on consumer spending on the earnings calls.  Important reports today include:  JPM ($3.89), UNH ($ 6.33), BLK ($8.52), C ($1.26), WFC ($1.25).

Economically, the only notable report today is Consumer Sentiment (E: 67.5) and it would take a spike in inflation expectations for that to move markets.

Market Multiple Table - October Edition

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Is There an Opportunity in Defensive Sectors?

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Is There an Opportunity in Defensive Sectors? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Have Defensive Sectors Traded So Poorly and Is There an Opportunity There?
  • Chart: 10-Yr Treasury Note Futures Imply Potential Reversal Lower in Benchmark Yields

U.S. stock futures are tracking global equity markets higher this morning. As investors welcome a sizeable drop in bond yields and new stimulus plans by China.

Bloomberg reported overnight that China may issue 1T yuan in debt to be used for infrastructure projects in order to help the economy meet the government’s annual growth targets. The news is alleviating some lingering concerns about the health of the world’s second-largest economy.

There are no economic reports today which will leave the market focused on more Fed speakers: Bostic, Waller, Kashkari, and Daly, and the subsequent reaction from bond markets.

Additionally, the Treasury will hold auctions for 3 and 6-month Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET and 3-Yr Notes at 1:00 p.m. ET that could impact yields.

Bottom line, the rise in Treasury futures (implying lower yields) yesterday when bond markets were closed for Columbus Day was a major factor supporting the rally in stocks, and how yields move today as fixed income markets open for the week will likely dictate the price action in stocks.

Is There an Opportunity in Defensive Sectors?

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Stock Futures Are Bouncing

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Improvement in Chinese Economic Data: Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Barron’s

Stock Futures Rebound After Selloff

“Stock futures are bouncing back modestly and bonds are stable this morning amid improvement in Chinese economic data,” said Tom Essaye, the founder of Sevens Report Research.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article on stock futures are bouncing published on September 27th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Stock Futures Are Bouncing

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Why This Market Is Still All About the Data

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Why This Market Is Still All About the Data: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why This Market Is Still All About the Data
  • EIA and Oil Market Analysis (How Far Can the Rally Go?)

Futures are slightly higher as encouraging inflation data from Europe was partially offset by ongoing government shutdown and labor strike worries.

Spanish Core CPI rose 5.8% vs. (E) 6.1% and importantly reminded markets that disinflation was still occurring.

Politically, a government shutdown looks increasingly likely while the UAW again threatened to expand the strike.

Today will be a busy day as there are important economic reports and notable Fed speak to watch.  Economically, the key report is Jobless Claims (E: 211K) and markets need this number to move higher to ease tight labor market concerns.  We also get the final look at Q2 GDP (E: 2.3%) but that shouldn’t move markets.

On the Fed, Powell speaks at 4:00 p.m. ET and while he’s not expected to address policy, there will be Q&A.  Other speakers today include Goolsbee (9:00 a.m. ET), Cook (1:00 p.m.), and Barkin (7:00 p.m.).

Why This Market Is Still All About the Data

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