Posts

Why Have Markets Become Volatile?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Have Markets Become Volatile?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Are the Three Pillars of the Rally Under Attack?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Key Growth and Jobs Data This Week

Futures are slightly higher following more small stimulus steps from Chinese authorities, as investors look ahead to an important week of economic data.

Chinese authorities reduced the stamp tax on stock investment, providing a small economic tailwind and boost to Chinese stock prices.

Economically, the only notable number was the EU Money Supply (M3) and the number was bad as M3 declined –0.4% vs. (E) 0.6%.

Today there are no notable economic reports so markets will focus on the tech sector to see if it can continue to stabilize after last Thursday’s ugly reversal.

Market Multiple Table Chart (July Update)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table Chart (July Update)
  • Why More Goldilocks Data Sent Stocks Higher Again Tuesday

Futures are little changed ahead of a busy day of earnings and despite more encouraging news on global disinflation.

UK CPI rose less than expected, gaining 0.1% vs. (E) 0.4% m/m and 7.9% vs. (E) 8.2% y/y, providing bullish investors more evidence that inflation is declining globally, although that good news was partially offset by a very slightly higher final look at EU HICP (up 5.5% y/y vs. 5.4%).

Today focus will turn to earnings and the key reports to watch are: TSLA ($ 0.82), NFLX ($2.83) and GS ($3.25), as those results will help set the tone for the start of earnings season (results from companies up to today have been fine, although it’s very, very early).    Other notable earnings include:  ASML ($4.97), USB ($1.13), UAL ($3.99), and IBM ($2.00).

Economically, the only notable number today is Housing Starts (E: 1.48M) but barring a shocking miss, that shouldn’t move the broader markets.

What Pushes Stocks Higher from Here?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Pushes Stocks Higher from Here?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Earnings Take Center Stage
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Growth Data in Focus this Week

Futures are slightly lower following mixed Chinese economic data and a potential further escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war.

Chinese economic data was mixed as GDP and Retail Sales both missed estimates, while Industrial Production beat, and the data will keep markets  wanting more stimulus.

Possibility of further escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war increased after Ukraine claimed responsibility for the destruction of a bridge linking Crimea and Russia.

Today focus will be on the first data point for July, the Empire Manufacturing Index (E: -4.3).  Markets will want to see this number be stronger than expectations and ideally turn positive, furthering the “Golidlocks” market narrative of falling inflation but stable growth.

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, and Ugly

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview – Good, Bad, & Ugly
  • Chart: Is Disinflation Accelerating?

U.S. stock futures are extending this week’s gains ahead of the all-important CPI report this morning following a mostly quiet night of news.

There were no economic reports overnight but the Reserve Bank of New Zealand did notably pause their rate hiking cycle leaving their policy rate unchanged at 5.50% (however this was expected and did not meaningfully move markets).

Looking into today’s session the big catalyst is the CPI report due out before the open. On the headline, CPI is expected to come in at 0.3% m/m and 3.1% y/y while the Core figure is seen rising 0.3% m/m and 5.0% y/y.

From there, focus will turn to Fed speakers with Kashkari speaking shortly after the open (9:45 a.m. ET) and Mester at the close (4:00 p.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and the outcome could shed light on the bond market’s outlook for the economy and Fed policy expectations in the wake of the CPI data release, so there is potential this auction moves markets in the early afternoon.

Explaining Current Market Risks to Clients (And Prospects)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How to Explain Risks in This Market to Clients/Prospects
  • Mannheim Used Vehicle Value Index Takeaways (Chart)

Futures are slightly higher while most international markets rallied overnight thanks to news of more Chinese government support for the property sector and steady EU inflation data.

German CPI met estimates of 0.3% m/m and 6.4% y/y in June, both unchanged from May, while the ZEW Survey was inline with expectations on the headline but Economic Sentiment deteriorated to -14.7 vs. (E) -10.2.

Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index came in at 91.0 vs. (E) 89.8 in June which is helping bolster investor sentiment in the premarket.

There are no additional economic reports today and just one Fed speaker on the calendar: Bullard (9:00 a.m. ET) which will leave investors looking ahead to tomorrow’s critical CPI report.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in MSN on June 30th, 2023

Oil futures climb, with global prices registering the first monthly gain of the year but a 4th straight quarterly decline

Like most assets, right now oil is beholden to the economy, analysts at Sevens Report Research wrote in Friday’s newsletter. Click here to read the full article.

Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Morningstar on June 29th, 2023

Oil futures finish higher, contributing to the month’s gain

Oil stabilized at support near the 2023 lows following Wednesday’s weekly Energy Information Administration report, which showed a “massive draw” in commercial crude-oil stockpiles, said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quote in Barron’s on June 30th, 2023

U.S. Stock Futures Rise Ahead of Key PCE Inflation Data

Futures are moderately higher mostly on momentum and end of quarter/half positioning, as economic data overnight was mixed but not bad enough to interrupt the rally, said Tom Essaye, founder at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Why Economic Data Will Decide if the Rally Continues in 2H ’23

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Economic Data Will Decide if the Rally Continues in 2H ‘23
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Does Economic Data This Week Reinforce “No Landing” Expectations?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Jobs Report Friday, ISM PMIs Monday and Thursday.

Futures are flat to start the second half of 2023 following a quiet weekend of news.

Economic data was mixed overnight as the EU Manufacturing PMI slightly missed estimates (43.4 vs. (E) 43.6) while the UK reading slightly beat expectations (46.5 vs. (E) 46.2), but neither number is moving markets.

Saudi Arabia and Russia made separate announcements about further reducing oil supply in the coming months, although they aren’t causing a material rally.

Today focus will be on the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.2) and at this point, and with yields this high, markets need to see solid data and that means the ISM Manufacturing PMI moving closer towards 50 and beating expectations.

As a reminder, the stock market will close at 1:00 p.m. today ahead of the July 4th holiday.

 

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter Delivered Today

Our Q2 ’23 Quarterly Letter will be released today.

We use our strength (writing about the markets) to help you:

  • Save time (an average of 4-6 hours per quarterly letter)
  • Enjoy the holiday shortened week and know your client quarterly letter is already done, or mostly done!

You can view our Q1 ’23 Quarterly Letter here

To learn more about the product (including price) please click this link.

If you’re interested in subscribing, please email info@sevensreport.com.

Earnings Disappointments Rekindle Economic Worries

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Earnings Disappointments From FDX and WGO Rekindle Economic Worries
  • What the Strong Housing Starts Mean for Markets
  • Bear Flattening Trend in Treasuries Underscores Hawkish Fed Expectations

Stock futures are falling with global markets and yields are rising this morning after more hawkish central bank decisions overnight as focus turns to the BOE.

In Europe, monetary policy decisions were net hawkish as Norway’s central bank raised rates 50 bp vs. (E) 25 bp to 3.75% while the Swiss National Bank met estimates with a 25 bp hike to 1.75%. The rate hikes are pressuring global bond markets (yields higher) and weighing on sentiment, dragging equity markets lower.

Looking into today’s session, early focus will be on the Bank of England as a 25 bp hike to 4.75% in the benchmark policy rate is expected but there is risk of a 50 bp hike to 5.00% which would be another hawkish surprise for markets and likely result in rising yields and more pressure on overbought equity markets.

In the U.S. there are two economic reports to watch: Jobless Claims (E: 261K) and Existing Home Sales (E: 4.250M). A further rise in claims could bring into question whether or not the labor market is suddenly beginning to deteriorate meaningfully while strong housing data would warrant a hawkish reaction after the much better than expected Housing Starts print earlier this week.

From there, focus will turn to the Fed as Chair Powell continues his semi-annual Congressional testimony at 10:00 a.m. ET while Mester will speak around the same time (10:00 a.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 5-Yr TIPS auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could offer insight to inflation expectations and move yields, but most of the market-moving news will likely hit before the lunch hour today.