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FOMC Preview

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • Positive COVID News?

Futures are modestly lower again for the same reasons as Monday:  Global equity pressure following another sharp decline in Chinese shares (Hang Seng was down 4% again).

There was no new regulatory news from China overnight but fears remain and sellers remained aggressive.

There were no notable economic reports overnight.

Today there are three notable economic reports, Durable Goods (E: 2.1%), Cash-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 1.5%) and U.S. Consumer Confidence (E: 124.9) but unless there’s a major surprise from one or more, I don’t expect them to move markets and with the Fed looming tomorrow and key earnings after the close, today shouldn’t be too volatile.

On the earnings front, today is probably the biggest single day of earnings of the season, and key reports (mostly after the close) include:  AAPL ($1.00), AMD ($0.54), MSFT ($1.90), GOOGL ($19.89), UPS ($ 2.75), and MMM ($2.25).

All About Demand

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • All About Demand
  • Weekly Market Preview:  The Fed and Inflation
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Fed Meeting, Core PCE Price Index and GDP.

Futures are marginally lower as increased concerns about regulation in China caused a sharp drop in Chinese shares, and that’s weighing on global equities.

The Hang Seng dropped more than 4% on Monday on fears of increased regulation from the Chinese government, following reports China was going to make the education business sector “not for profit.”

COVID headlines remained generally unchanged over the weekend as cases continued to rise in the U.S, although governments continue to resist restrictions and lockdowns.

Today there’s only one notable economic report, New Home Sales (E: 800k), and that shouldn’t move markets.  On the earnings front, the key report today comes after the close (TSLA $0.96), so focus will be on COVID headlines and if there are any reports of increased restrictions or lockdowns here in the U.S., that will hit stocks.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on July 21, 2021

Stocks Close Up. Investors Focus on Earnings and Covid.

Companies like Chipotle and United Airlines said the increase in COVID cases was not…writes Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

 

Tom Essaye Interviewed by BNN Bloomberg on July 22, 2021

I’d buy COVID dips in this market: Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye

Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research, joins BNN Bloomberg with his market outlook. He says he’d buy… Click here to watch the full interview.

ECB Preview (Dovish Surprise?)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • ECB Preview (Dovish Surprise?)
  • Did Small Caps Just Bottom?

Futures are marginally higher following another night of generally solid earnings and ahead of the ECB decision.

Delta variant fears continued to recede as governments appear to be focusing on re-masking as a policy response, not economic restrictions.

Today focus will be on the ECB Rate Decision & Press Conference (7:45 & 8:30 a.m. ET) and economic data via Jobless Claims (E: 350k) and Existing Home Sales (E: 5.90M).  Markets will want to see a dovish ECB and continued improvement in claims to reinforce that the global recovery is on going, and that central banks will remove accommodation very, very slowly.

On the earnings front, there are several more notable reports today:  T ($0.78), AAL (-$1.70), FCX ($0.73), TWTR ($0.07), INTC ($1.06).

Why Did Stocks Rally?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Stocks Rally?

Futures are modestly higher thanks to continued momentum from Tuesday’s rebound combined with solid earnings reports.

Earnings overnight were good and importantly companies like CMG and UAL said the increase in COVID cases was not hurting business, which helped reassure markets that the Delta variant isn’t changing consumer’s behavior.

There were no economic reports overnight and there are no economic reports later today, so focus will remain on earnings and COVID trends.  If earnings are solid and commentary remains upbeat, and we don’t get any negative COVID headlines, then the rebound can continue today.

Some earnings we’ll be watching today include (in order of importance):  TXN ($1.82), JNJ ($2.28), KO ($0.57), VZ ($1.29), STX ($2.87), LVS (-$0.19), CSX ($0.37), DFS ($3.58).

Why Economic Data is Stronger Than it Appears

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Economic Data Is Stronger Than It Appears

Futures are drifting slightly higher following a mostly quiet night of news.

COVID headlines were mixed as Los Angeles reimposed an indoor mask mandate (negative) while President Biden said the U.S. could ease travel restrictions from Europe soon (positive).  Bottom line, concerns about the Delta variant are a market influence (mild headwind) but at this point, it’s not enough to cause a material pullback.

Economic data was minimal as EU HICP met expectations (0.3% m/m and 1.9% y/y).

Today, focus will be on economic data, specifically Retail Sales (E: -0.4%) and the inflation expectations component in Consumer Sentiment (E: 87.0).  As has been the case, markets will want “Goldilocks” results for both retail sales and inflation expectations (so strong, but not too strong).  There is also one Fed speaker, Williams (9:00 a.m. ET), but he shouldn’t move markets.

Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500 Chart

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500 Chart
  • May JOLTS Report Takeaways

Stock futures are sharply lower along with most international equity markets this morning while bond yields are extending recent declines amid new COVID-19 concerns.

Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, issued a state of emergency for Tokyo overnight and the latest reports suggest spectators will be banned from the summer Olympics which is weighing heavily on investor sentiment today.

10-Year yields are down another 7 basis points in early trade while travel and leisure shares are leading markets lower in the pre-market, underscoring concerns about the state of the economic recovery and emerging concerns surrounding the Delta variant of COVID-19.

Today, there is just one economic report: Jobless Claims (E: 353K) and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak.

Investors will be looking for a continued drop in the weekly jobless claims data but focus will likely be on COVID-19 trends and the latest lockdown developments as the health of the economic recovery is reassessed.

Two Major Market Risks

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Could Go (Really) Wrong? Two Candidates
  • Consumer Confidence Takeaways

U.S. equity futures are trading lower with most international markets while bond yields are falling amid growing concerns about the Delta variant of COVID-19.

The Stoxx 600 Travel and Leisure sector is down more than 5% WTD, underscoring market fears of new lockdowns or travel restrictions in Europe due to the Delta variant outbreak.

There was a slew of economic data from China to Europe released overnight however all of it largely met estimates and therefore is not materially moving markets this morning.

Today, focus will be on any new developments regarding the latest uptick in COVID-19 cases, fueled by the Delta variant, as well as the first look at the June jobs data via the ADP Employment Report (E: 533K) due out ahead of the bell.

There is also a report on Pending Home Sales (E: -1.0%) and two Fed speakers: Bostic (8:00 a.m. ET) and Barkin (1:00 p.m. ET), but unless there are any major surprises none of those should materially move markets.

Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in Market Watch on June 28, 2021

Oil prices end at a more than a 1-week low on demand concerns, OPEC+ output uncertainty

There’s a resurgence in COVID-19 fears as case counts are rising sharply in parts of Asia, while the ‘Delta variant’ of the virus is…said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.