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CPI Preview: Good, Bad, and Ugly

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

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview: Good, Bad, & Ugly
  • Chart: S&P 500 in Typical Holding Pattern – Two Levels to Watch
  • NFIB Small Business Optimism Index – Inflation Concerns and Declining Earnings

There is a cautious bid in equity futures today as the 10-Yr yield hovers just under 4%. This is following an importantly steady inflation print in Europe and dovish leaning ECB chatter.

Economically, Norwegian CPI rose 4.8% in December, unchanged from November. Which is just below estimates of 4.9% which is a favorable development following last week’s concerning uptick in German CPI.

ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos was mildly dovish in a speech overnight, citing the possibility that the economy fell into a technical recession in late 2023 which could support the case for a more accommodating policy stance and that is helping keep yields in check this morning.

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports but one Fed speaker on the schedule who could move markets: Williams (3:15 p.m. ET).

In the early afternoon, three is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction (1:00 p.m. ET) and investors will want to see more evidence of strong demand as was seen in yesterday’s 3-Yr auction as weak demand could send the benchmark yield up through 4% creating a renewed headwind for equity markets.

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A Volatile Start to 2024, But Don’t Read Too Much Into It

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A Volatile Start to 2024, But Don’t Read Too Much Into It: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Volatile Start to 2024, But Don’t Read Too Much Into It
  • SPDR Reveals Nearly 5% Divergence Between Best and Worst Sectors Yesterday
  • Chart – S&P Global Manufacturing PMI Remains in Contraction Territory

Stock futures are modestly lower and Treasury yields are extending their early 2024 gains as some of the dominant money flows from late last year continue to unwind to start 2024.

Economically, Germany’s Unemployment Rate held steady, as expected, at 5.9% in December which is not moving markets.

Today, trader focus will be on two key economic reports in early trade with the ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 47.2) and JOLTS (E: 8.75 million) report both due out shortly after the opening bell. Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 15.4 million) will also be released today.

Additionally, there is one Fed speaker: Barkin (8:00 a.m. ET) that will be closely watched ahead of the release of the December FOMC Meeting Minutes this afternoon (2:00 p.m. ET).

Bottom line, start-of-year portfolio rebalancing is likely to continue to dominate the tape today, however, if economic data comes in “Goldilocks” and the Fed Minutes don’t derail the market’s dovish policy expectations for 2023, stocks and bonds should both be able to stabilize as calendar-driven volatility begins to subside.

A Volatile Start

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Why Last Week’s Price Action is Important for 2024

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Why Last Week’s Price Action is Important for 2024: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Last Week’s Price Action Is Important for 2024.

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet holiday weekend and on more signs inflation is falling globally.

Singapore’s CPI dropped to 3.6% vs. (E) 3.9% yoy and down handily from 4.7% in October, providing more evidence that inflation is declining globally.

Geo-politically, U.S./Iran tensions rose after U.S. forces struck Iranian backed militants in Iraq, although oil (the best geo-political barometer) is little changed on the news.

Today will be a quiet day as most European markets and Hong Kong are closed, but there are two notable housing reports we’ll be watching: Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.06% m/m, 5.0% y/y) and the FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.5%).  Declines is housing prices is part of the reason investors remain convinced CPI will continue to fall in early 2024 so these home price metrics need to show declines in housing prices, otherwise investors may be too optimistic on falling CPI and Fed rate cuts in the new year.

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Five Measurable Similarities to 2006/2007

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Five Measurable Similarities to 2006/2007: A Market Cycle Update

Futures are little changed ahead of the holiday weekend as poor Nike (NKE) earnings weigh on sentiment.

Earnings this week haven’t been great and that continued overnight as Nike (NKE) missed on revenues and cut revenue guidance. The stock is down –12% pre-market.

Economically, UK data was mixed as quarterly GDP declined (-0.1% vs. (E) 0.0%) while retail sales were strong.

Otherwise, the focus will remain on economic data and the key report today is the November Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.4% y/y), which is the Fed’s preferred inflation metric.  It is expected to show declines in the pace of headline and core inflation from October and if that happens, it should support stocks and bonds and reinforce rate cut expectations.

Other notable data today includes Durable Goods (E: 2.4%), New Home Sales (E: 690K) and Consumer Sentiment (E: 69.4, 1-Yr inflation: 3.1%). But barring a major surprise from them, they shouldn’t move markets.

Meanwhile the bond market closes at 2:00 p.m. today with the looming holiday weekend. So, we expect activity to quiet considerably in the markets as the trading day goes on.

Finally, from all of us at Sevens Report Research, please have a happy and safe holiday weekend.

Five Measurable Similarities

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S&P 500 Market Multiple Levels Chart

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • S&P 500 Market Multiple Targets – December Update (Shareable PDF Available)
  • Housing Market Update: Where Are the Declines?
  • Housing Starts Come in “Hot” – Chart

Stock futures are modestly lower and bond yields are continuing to fall. As cooler-than-expected European inflation data o/n has investors weighing simmering recession fears.

Economically, U.K. CPI fell from 4.6% to 3.9% vs. (E) 4.3% in November while German PPI was down -7.9% vs. (E) -7.5%. The data is being digested by some as “too cold”. This is causing renewed recession worries which is weighing on risk assets this morning.

Today, we will get two economic reports in the morning: Consumer Confidence (E: 103.4) and Existing Home Sales (E: 3.775 million). The market will want to see more signs of a resilient consumer to reaffirm soft landing hopes and keep recession fears contained.

Finally, in the afternoon there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET which could shed light on how sustainable the bond market rally is. There is a risk that a weak auction outcome could pour some cold water on bonds and lead to some profit taking in equities ahead of more critical economic data due in the back half of the week.

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Why This Isn’t A Risk-Less Market (Despite The Fed Being Dovish)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why This Isn’t A Risk-Less Market (Despite The Fed Being Dovish)
  • Understanding Why the Dollar Is Plunging

Futures are modestly higher following mixed global economic data and as investors continued to digest Wednesday’s dovish Fed decision.

Global data was mixed, but not bad, and as such isn’t increasing global slowdown fears.  In Europe, the EU flash composite PMI missed estimates (47.0 vs. (E) 48.0) while the UK reading beat (51.7 vs. (E )51.0).  In China,

Retail Sales and Industrial Production were better than feared.

Today focus will be on economic data as we get the first look at December activity and for the rally to continue, the data needs to be Goldilocks (so close to expectations).  The key reports today are, in order of importance:    Dec. Flash Manufacturing PMI (E: 49.2), Dec. Flash Service PMI (E: 50.6), Nov. Industrial Production (E: 0.3%), Dec. Empire Manufacturing Index (E: 3.7).

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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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Catalyst #1 – CPI Preview: Good, Bad & Ugly

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CPI Preview: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview:  Good, Bad & Ugly
  • Weekly Market Preview:  The Last Busy Week of 2023 (Inflation Update, Fed Decision & Growth Reports)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Inflation Tomorrow, Fed Decision Wednesday, Economic Growth Updates Thurs/Fri

Futures are slightly lower on digestion of the multi-week rally following a quiet weekend and ahead of a the last catalyst-filled week of 2023.

Economically, there was no notable data overnight. Investors are focused on the looming reports this week (CPI tomorrow, Fed Wednesday, growth data Thurs/Fri).

On Japan, a Bloomberg article pushed back on the expectation for rate hikes and Japanese stocks are rallying 1%.

This is the last potentially busy week of 2023 but it starts slowly as the only notable report today is the N.Y. Fed 1 Year Consumer Inflation Expectations (3.6%).  If expectations drop sharply (possibly below 3.0%) that could provide a mild boost to stocks. But with key events looming Tuesday-Friday, the bar to move stocks and bonds today is pretty high.

CPI Preview

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Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard Update

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Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard Update: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard Update
  • Continuing Claims Hit 2-Year High: Chart
  • Philly Fed Survey Takeaways – More Signs of Stagflation
  • Industrial Production Confirms Slowdown in Factor Sector

Stock futures are modestly higher this morning as soft U.K. consumer spending data. Combined with an as-expected drop in EU inflation are supporting a continued bid in bond markets.

Economically, U.K. Retail Sales fell -0.3% vs. (E) +0.3%. As the Eurozone HICP (their CPI equivalent) met estimates across the board, falling significantly from 4.3% to 2.9% y/y. Positively the “Narrow Core” figure eased to 4.2% from 4.5%.

Looking into today’s session, there is just one economic report to watch: Housing Starts (E: 1.35 million) and barring a big surprise, the release should not move markets.

There are a handful of Fed officials speaking today with Barr & Collins, Daly, Goolsbee, and Collins again all on the schedule. If the Fed speakers stick to the same narrative (less hawkish) expect more of the same sideways, digestive trading in equities today with the threat of a continued move higher based on bullish market momentum.

Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard Update

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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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