Posts

How to Explain Inflation Base Effects to Clients and Prospects

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How to Explain Inflation to Clients and Prospects
  • JOLTS Return to Pre-Covid Trend Path, But Is That Enough for the Fed?
  • ISM Manufacturing Index Takeaways – Another “Goldilocks” Report
  • The Yield Curve Will Return to Zero, How It Gets There is What Matters Most (Chart)

Stock futures are trading lower with global risk assets after a U.S. credit downgrade late yesterday.

Fitch Ratings downgraded the U.S. from its top rating AAA to AA+ yesterday, citing the massive fiscal deficit, but the downgrade should not result in any forced selling of Treasuries and therefore should have a limited near-term impact on yields and markets more broadly.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on the U.S. credit downgrade as investors digest the potential implications on fixed income markets and re-assess valuations of risk assets, but we also get the first look at July jobs data in the form of the ADP Employment Report (E: 185K) ahead of the bell. If the data comes in “too hot” or “too cold” market volatility may pick up this morning. Motor Vehicle Sales will also be released (E: 15.6 million) but that data should not move markets.

There are no Fed speakers or notable Treasury auctions today, so beyond the early jobs data investors will continue to focus on Q2 earnings season with CVS ($2.12), KHC ($0.74), and PSX ($3.54) releasing results before the open while PYPL ($1.16), QCOM ($1.63) and MET ($1.85) will report after the close.

 

Sevens Report Technicals – Five Recessionary Bear Market Signals to Watch

The biggest risk to equity markets right now is a hard economic landing developing in H2’23 or sometime in 2024. Using modern market history as a guide, stock market rallies following yield curve inversions are typically reversed entirely during subsequent recessions (so all of the 2023 gains are at risk, and then some).

So, in this week’s edition of Sevens Report Technicals we included a list of Five Recessionary Bear Market Signals to Watch, which includes specific levels to monitor in various asset classes that will help us realize the onset of a looming recession in real time.

The feedback on Sevens Report Technicals has been overwhelmingly positive since its launch in May. One subscriber recently wrote in: “Having been in the business for 36 years and retired for 16, I truly believe this is the best report I have ever seen. The way you organize it and the info I glean from it helps my trading. I really look forward to each Monday’s report.”

To access this week’s edition of Sevens Report Technicals, please send an email to info@sevensreport.com to start a risk-free subscription. We offer a 30-day money back guarantee, so you risk nothing to see for yourself how Sevens Report Technicals can help you and your business.

Current Market Glossary (For Clients & Prospects)

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Current Market Glossary (For Clients & Prospects)

Futures are slightly lower following a night of disappointing tech earnings.

NFLX, TSLA and TSM all posted disappointing earnings results (stocks down 3% – 6% pre-market) and that’s weighing on Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures.

There was no notable economic data overnight.

Today will be another busy day of data and earnings results.  On the economic front, the two key reports are Weekly Jobless Claims (E: 250k) and Philly Fed (E: -10.0), and as you can guess (and especially at these stretched valuations) markets will want to see more Goldilocks data (so stable claims and Philly and falling prices).  We also get Existing Home Sales (E: 4.23M) but, barring a big miss, that shouldn’t move markets.

Turning to earnings, focus today is on industrials and consumer/healthcare names, and some important results to watch include:  AAL ($1.58), TSM ($1.07), JNJ ($2.61), PM ($1.48), COF ($3.31), CSX ($0.49), and PPG ($2.14).

PPI and Jobless Claims Strengthen the “Goldilocks” Narrative

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • PPI and Jobless Claims Strengthen the “Goldilocks” Narrative

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news as markets digest the Wed/Thurs rally and focus turns to the start of the Q2 earnings season.

Economically, there was more evidence of global disinflation (or deflation) as German Wholesale Prices (think their PPI) declined –2.9% y/y vs. (-1.2%) y/y.

Today focus will be on earnings, as we get several major bank earnings results:  JPM ($5.92), C ($1.31), WFC ($1.15), and BLK ($8.47) as well as UNH ($5.92).  These large cap companies usually don’t provide too many surprises in their earnings reports, but markets will want to hear positive commentary on the overall environment to further support this latest rally in stocks.

There are also two notable inflation linked economic reports today, Import & Export Prices (E: -0.2%, -0.4%), Consumer Sentiment (E: 65.0), but barring any major surprises they shouldn’t move markets.

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

/in , /by

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.

CPI Preview (Good, Bad & Ugly)

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview (Good, Bad & Ugly)

Futures are little changed despite solid tech earnings and more Chinese stimulus, as markets await the CPI report at 8:30 a.m. ET.

ORCL posted solid earnings and rallied 5% overnight and that’s adding to overall tech and market momentum.

Chinese authorities cut the reverse repo rate to 1.9% from 2.0%, and that move increased market expectations for future additional stimulus.

Today focus will be on the CPI report and expectations are as follows: 0.2% m/m, 4.1% y/y, Core CPI (E: 0.4% m/m, 5.3% y/y).  Additionally, “Super Core” CPI (which is core CPI less housing) will also be in focus and markets will want to see a drop to (or ideally below) 5.2% y/y.

Bottom line, markets need CPI to confirm accelerating disinflation to continue to rally, while a sticky inflation number will result in real market disappointment (although the looming FOMC decision should keep any market moves more muted than they otherwise would have been).

A “Make or Break” Week for the Rally

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A “Make or Break” Week for the Rally
  • Where the Opportunity is in Stocks Right Now
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Data Confirm “Goldilocks” Optimism?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI Tuesday, Fed Wednesday, Key Growth Data Thursday

Futures are slightly higher on momentum from last week’s rally, as it was a very quiet weekend of actual news and investors are looking ahead to multiple important market catalysts this week.

Economically, the only notable number was Japanese PPI which rose 5.1% y/y vs. (E) 5.7% y/y in what is the latest sign of global disinflation.

Oil declined more than 2% overnight on over supply concerns as Russia is largely ignoring its production quota.

Today there are no notable economic reports nor any Fed speakers, so barring any major surprises markets should be relatively calm ahead of tomorrow’s CPI report, Wednesday’s FOMC decision and Thursday’s important economic data.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on May 31st, 2023

/in , /by

Stocks Open Lower as Traders Fret About China Manufacturing, Debt Bill

“Republican Representatives have said this morning that they have the votes to pass it. If that comes to fruition, that should remove a headwind from risk assets and open the door to a continued move higher in equity markets,” writes Tom Essaye, the founder of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in MarketWatch on March 20th, 2023

/in , /by

Oil futures shake off early declines to finish higher

U.S. oil prices had broken down out of the 2023 trading range to reach multi-year lows last week, with contagion fears stemming from the first bank failures since the Great Financial Crisis triggered massive volatility and significant risk-off money flows early last week, said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Fed Wildcard to Watch

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Dynamics Between Stocks, Bonds, and the Economy Have Changed Since Covid
  • Fed Wildcard to Watch Today
  • KBE Chart – Visualizing the Recent Carnage
  • Existing Home Sales Rebound Amid a Pullback in Mortgage Rates: Chart

Stock futures briefly spiked lower overnight in the wake of a hot CPI print in the U.K. but bond markets are steady and futures have largely stabilized as focus turns to the Fed.

Economically, U.K. CPI jumped from 10.1% in January to 10.4% in February, well ahead of estimates of 9.9%, however, both input and output PPI readings unexpectedly declined, easing some of the inflation worries this morning.

There are no notable economic reports today which will leave markets focused on the price action in the banking sector in the morning (meaningful weakness could drag the broader market lower) before attention shifts to the FOMC Meeting Announcement (2:00 p.m. ET) and Fed Chair Press Conference (2:30 p.m. ET) this afternoon.

A 25 basis point hike and no change to the dot plot is the consensus expectation but there are a lot of moving pieces to today’s meeting so watching the reaction from the Treasury market this afternoon will be critical in interpreting what today’s decision means for markets.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in MarketWatch on January 11th, 2023

/in , /by

Oil ends higher even as the EIA reports one of its biggest weekly crude supply increases on record

Trader conviction “is low given renewed hopes for a soft landing and optimism about China reopening (bullish) being weighed against economic uncertainties and growing concerns about the Department of Energy’s commitment to buy oil at $70/barrel due to funding and liquidity issues (bearish),” wrote analysts at Sevens Report Research in a Wednesday note. Click here to read the full article.