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The market is very sensitive to soft labor market data

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The market is very sensitive to soft labor market data: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch

Revisions to U.S. jobs data due Wednesday have the potential to weigh on the stock market

The 12-month average for job additions over the revision period was 241,000 — a “very strong” figure that implies a solid labor market, noted Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research. A downward revision of 600,000 would drop the average payrolls gain to 191,000, while a downward revision of 1 million would make what’s been strong jobs data “more middling,” he wrote.

“This matters because the market is very sensitive to soft labor market data and we know that from the recent pop in jobless claims and July jobs report. So, while investors are ok ignoring most disappointing data, they aren’t ignoring soft labor market data and if these revisions are worse than expected, look for it to weigh on stocks today,” Essaye said.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on August 21st, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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Watch the BLS Revisions Today

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Watch the BLS Revisions Today: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Something to Watch Today: BLS Revisions
  • How a Fed Mistake Would Impact Commodities
  • VIX Expiration Poses Threat to Short-Volatility Trade – Chart

Futures are slightly higher as traders await job growth revisions from the BLS after a mostly quiet night of news.

Economically, Japanese trade data revealed a deeper than anticipated deficit in July but amid solid import/export growth numbers which importantly helped pause a rally in the yen and reduced pressure on risk assets overnight.

Looking into today’s session, there are no typical economic reports on the calendar, however, the BLS Revisions to Net Payroll Growth for the trailing 12-months through March 2024 will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET and a significant downward revision could rekindle the recession fears initially sparked by the July jobs report which would result in broad market volatility.

In the afternoon, there is a 20-Yr Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET which could move yields and influence equity markets before investor focus will turn to the release of the July FOMC Meeting Minutes at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Finally, earnings season continues to wind down but a few notable companies reporting today include: TGT ($2.17), TJX $0.92), ZM ($1.21).

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Updated Market Outlook

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Updated Market Outlook: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Updated Market Outlook
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Powell Confirm A September Rate Cut?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  The First Big Number of August (and It Needs to be Goldilocks)

Futures are little changed following a very quiet weekend of news as investors look ahead to more growth data this week and Powell’s speech on Friday.

There was no notable economic data over the weekend or overnight.

Geopolitically, optimism is continuing to build towards a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and that’s weighing on oil prices, although nothing formal has been announced.

Today there is only one economic number, Leading Indicators (E: -0.3%), and barring a big surprise that shouldn’t move markets.  There is also one Fed speaker, Waller (9:15 a.m. ET), and he is part of Fed leadership so if he strongly hints at a September rate cut, that should be a mild tailwind for stocks and bonds.

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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
  • Chart: 10-Yr Yield Falls to 52-Week Lows

Futures are flat this morning while overseas markets were mixed overnight with Europe underperforming amid soft economic data while Asian shares were mostly higher.

Economically, the August German ZEW Survey saw Current Conditions fall to -77.3 vs. (E) -74.5 and Economic Sentiment drop to 19.2 vs. (E) 34.5 which weighed on stocks and other risk assets.

Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 93.7 vs. (E) 91.7 which eased recession fears and is helping U.S. equity futures relatively outperform ahead of the open.

Looking into today’s session, trader focus will be on the first inflation data of the week with PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.6% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.0% y/y) due out ahead of the bell.

There is also one Fed speaker: Bostic (1:15 p.m. ET) and one consumer-focused earnings release: HD (E: $4.55) to watch.

Bottom line, PPI could move markets today if there is a big surprise in the release, but markets are likely to remain in wait-and-see mode as investors await the more important CPI release tomorrow.

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Market Multiple Table: All About Growth

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Market Multiple Table: All About Growth: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table – All About Growth
  • Chart – Semiconductor Stocks Bounce, But Long Term Technicals Deteriorate

Stock futures are tracking global equity markets higher as traders shrug off an earnings miss from AI-proxy SMCI (stock down 14% pre-market) and instead focus on a pullback in the yen and sharp drop in the VIX.

Economically, German Industrial Production rose 1.4% vs. (E) 1.0%, further easing global recession worries.

Today, there is one second-tiered economic report due to be released in the afternoon: Consumer Credit (E: $10.0B) but the data is unlikely to move markets.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. Auction results that are strong could bolster recession worries while a weak auction could rekindle “higher for longer” policy rate worries.

Finally, earnings season continues to wind down with only a few notable reports today including: DIS ($1.20), CVS ($1.74), LYFT ($0.19).

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The biggest question facing investors today remains ‘Is It Different This Time?

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The biggest question facing investors today remains ‘Is It Different This Time?: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

The Stock Market Doesn’t Look Like the Dot-Com Bubble. It’s Something Worse.

No, that’s not the real worry. The S&P 500 is. It smacks of 2007 all over again. From last July until now, the index has traded with an 85% correlation to July 2006 though July 2007, according to Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye.

Essaye went so far as to describe the resemblance of this market to the 2007 market as “concerning to say the least.” And he touched on the uncertainty that investors are facing.

“The biggest question facing investors today remains ‘Is It Different This Time?’” he wrote

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on July 31st, 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.

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.

Why Stocks Dropped (What We’ve Been Worrying About)

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Why Stocks Dropped (What We’ve Been Worrying About): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Dropped (What We’ve Been Worrying About)
  • Jobs Day (Updated Preview)

Futures are sharply lower and are extending Thursday’s losses following more disappointing tech earnings and as worries about economic growth grow.

Tech earnings disappointed last night as AMZN (down 8%), MCHP (down 5%) and INTC (down 20%, not a typo) all posted disappointing earnings or guidance.

Geo-politically, concerns are rising about a direct Israel/Iran conflict and that’s boosting oil and gold prices.

Today focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows: 180K Job Adds, 4.1% Unemployment Rate and 3.7% y/y Wage Growth.  Given Thursday’s poor economic data and the pop in growth concerns, a slightly better than expected number would be the best-case scenario for stocks and help support the “rest” of the market (tech will be under pressure today regardless because of earnings).  A number substantially below expectations (or a rise in the unemployment rate to 4.2% or higher) will increase growth concerns and further weigh on stocks.

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Is the Yen Carry Trade Become A Headwind on Markets?

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Is the Yen Carry Trade Become A Headwind on Markets?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is the Yen Carry Trade Become A Headwind on Markets?

Futures are seeing a solid bounce following a mostly quiet night of news as investors look ahead to (hopefully) another good inflation report.

Earnings remained broadly mixed overnight (some good, some bad) but none of the results are impacting markets.

There was no notable economic data or geo-political events overnight.

Today the focus will be on the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.1% m/m, 2.5% y/y) and if this number is better than expected (or even dead in-line with expectations) that will remind investors that rate cuts are coming soon (September) and that should help extend this early rebound in stocks and bonds.

Earnings roll on although next week is, by far, the most important week of the season.  Reports we’re watching today include:  BMY (E: $1.64), MMM (E: $1.66) and CNC  (E: $2.42).

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What is Causing This Pullback?

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What is Causing This Pullback?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What is Causing This Pullback?
  • Yield Curve Update:  10’s-2’s Just Hit a Two-Year High
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly lower as more mixed earnings are preventing a bounce in stocks.

Tech earnings were “ok” overnight (IBM and NOW posted good results) but other sectors’ results were weak, especially in the auto sector (Ford (F) is down 13% pre-market) and that’s weighing on futures.

Focus will remain on economic data and earnings today and the calendar is busy on both fronts.  Economically, the key reports today, in order of importance, are:  Jobless Claims (E: 235K), Final Q2 GDP (E: 2.1%), and Durable Goods (E: 0.3%).  Goldilocks economic data (so in-line with expectations across the board with no hints of inflation) would be a positive for stocks and help to slow this pullback.   But, if data is very soft or very strong, expect more downward pressure.

On the earnings front, results this season are, so far, very mixed and disappointing earnings are weighing on stocks.  Important results today include: AAL (E: $1.04), ABBV (E: $2.56), VLO (E: $2.61), LHX (E: $3.18) and BKR (E: $0.49).

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Dow Theory: Transports Sputter, Industrials Power On

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Dow Theory: Transports Sputter, Industrials Power On: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Dow Theory: Transports Sputter, Industrials Power On
  • Visual – Existing Home Sales Fall, Home Prices & Inventories Rise

Futures are lower thanks to soft earnings from Mag-7 members TSLA (down 7% premarket) and GOOGL (down 3% premarket) as well as soft economic data in Europe.

The Eurozone’s July Composite Flash PMI fell to 50.1 vs. (E) 51.0 with both the manufacturing and services components missing estimates (German data was notably weak).

Looking into today’s session, the U.S. Flash Composite PMI (E: 51.6) will be the market’s primary focus early in the day but New Home Sales (E: 644K) data is also due to be released shortly after the bell.

From there focus will likely revert to how the Mag-7 trades in the wake of yesterday’s weak tech earnings and follow through selling (like we are seeing in the pre-market) will be a drag on the major indexes.

There is also a 5-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could impact markets (yesterday’s strong 2-Yr auction pushed yields lower).

Finally, there are a few notable earnings reports due after the close including: F (E: $0.64), CMG (E: $0.31), and IBM (E: $2.16) and the Fed’s Bowman is scheduled to speak at 4:05 p.m. ET.

Join thousands 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.