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Powell Speech Preview

Powell Speech Preview (Good, Bad & Ugly): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Powell Speech Preview:  Good, Bad & Ugly
  • EIA Update and Oil Market Analysis

Futures are slightly higher following a quiet night of news as investors await Fed Chair Powell’s speech later today.

Earnings overnight were mixed with TSLA (down 5% after hours) missing estimates while NFLX (up 14% after hours) posted strong results.

Today will be a very busy day of data and Fed speak.  The key event today is Powell’s speech at noon, and to keep things simple, if Powell repeats the sentiment that the spike in Treasury yields has done the Fed’s job for it and, as such, another rate hike is unlikely, that should be positive for stocks and bonds.  If he does not repeat that sentiment and leaves the door open for another hike in 2023, that will be a negative.

Outside of Powell, we get several important economic reports today including:  Jobless Claims (E: 211K), Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing (E: -7.0) and Existing Home Sales (E: 3.900M) and markets will want to see Goldilocks data to support a bounce.

Back to the Fed, there are multiple speakers today other than Powell, including Jefferson (9:00 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (1:20 p.m. ET), Barr (1:30 p.m. ET), Bostic (4:00 p.m. ET); Harker (5:30 p.m. ET) and Logan (7:00 p.m. ET) although their comments will be overshadowed by Powell, so they shouldn’t move markets.

Finally, earnings continue and important reports today include:  T ($0.63), TSM (1.16), AAL (0.26), WAL ($1.91) and CSX ($0.42).

Powell Speech Preview


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Yields Are Rising – Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Yields Are Rising: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s


Stocks Gain as Concerns About Conflict in Middle East Ease

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s that reports President Joe Biden is weighing a visit to Israel have sent stocks higher and oil prices lower. WTI crude oil futures were down 0.7%, to $86.93 a barrel.

“Yields are higher but that’s likely by nervous investors reversing ‘fear based’ positions. That came last week as a result of the Israel/Hamas conflict,” Essaye wrote. “Point being, yields are rising as investors get more comfortable with the geo-political environment.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on October 16th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Yields Are Rising

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An Invasion of Gaza by Israel Remains Imminent

An invasion of Gaza: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s


Stocks Are Rising Ahead of Big Week for Earnings

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 215 points, or 0.6%, shortly after the market opened on Monday. The S&P 500 was up 0.5%. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.4%.

“Futures are slightly higher as the weekend brought no major changes to the current macro-economic set up,” wrote Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye earlier Monday morning. “Geopolitically, an invasion of Gaza by Israel remains imminent but so far the conflict hasn’t expanded regionally and oil is little changed as a result.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on October 16th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Israel Readies For A Potential Invasion

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How to Explain the Israel-Hamas Conflict to Clients

How to Explain the Israel-Hamas Conflict to Clients: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How to Explain the Israel-Hamas Conflict to Clients (How It Matters to Markets)
  • Empire State Manufacturing Index Takeaways (More Goldilocks Data)

Stock futures are modestly lower this morning as Treasury yields are rising back towards cycle highs. This is on news that President Biden will travel to Israel tomorrow to try and ease tensions in the region.

Economic data was largely shrugged off overnight. There were more signs of disinflation as wage pressures eased in the latest U.K. Labour Report. While New Zealand’s latest CPI report undershot estimates at 5.6% vs. (E) 5.9% year-over-year.

Today is lining up to be a busy session news-wise as we get several economic reports in the U.S. including: Retail Sales (E: 0.3%), Industrial Production (E: 0.0%), Business Inventories (E: 0.3%), and the Housing Market Index (E: 45). Investors will want to see more Goldilocks data supporting both peak-Fed-hawkishness and prospects for a soft economic landing in order for stocks to continue to rally.

There are also multiple Fed speakers to watch: Williams, Bowman, Barkin, and Kashkari. Markets will be looking for more commentary that suggests the FOMC is done with rate hikes for the cycle.

Finally, earnings season continues to ramp up with: BAC ($0.80), GS ($5.32), JNJ ($2.52), and LMT ($6.66) reporting results before the bell. While UAL ($3.40) and JBHT ($1.87) will report after the close. A drop-off in earnings is not priced into markets at these levels so investors will be looking for positive quarterly results and upbeat guidance.

How to Explain the Israel-Hamas Conflict to Clients


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Headline and Core CPI – The Important Difference

Difference Between Headline and Core CPI: Strengthen your market knowledge with a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Important Difference Between Headline and Core CPI
  • NFIB Small Business Optimism Index Contradicts the “No-Landing” Scenario

U.S. stock futures are tracking global shares lower this morning following more disappointing economic data in the Eurozone and continued pressure on the tech sector.

AAPL shares are extending yesterday’s post-product launch declines this morning, therefore, weighing on the tech sector broadly in pre-market trading.

Economically, U.K. GDP dropped to -0.5% vs. (E) -0.2% in July after hot wage data yesterday, bolstering stagflation fears while EU Industrial Production fell -1.1% vs. (E) -0.7%. Despite the recently soft data, rates markets continue to price in a 75% chance of an ECB rate hike this week.

Today, focus will primarily be on inflation data and how Treasuries react to the release: CPI (0.6% m/m, 3.6% y/y), Core CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 4.4% y/y).

There are no Fed speakers or Treasury auctions today so a “hot” CPI report will likely spark cross-asset volatility while a Goldilocks release will setup a possible extension of the early September relief rally.

Headline and Core CPI


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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.

Is Bad Economic Data Good For Stocks Now?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is Bad Economic Data Good For Stocks Now?  No.
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

S&P 500 futures are solidly higher thanks to strength in tech following very strong NVDA earnings.

NVDA beat earnings estimates and raised guidance on strong AI chip demand and the stock is up 8% pre-market and boosting Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures.

However, the “non-tech” parts of the market are flat to down as investors digest Wednesday’s disappointing economic data.

Today another AI driven rally in tech, following the NVDA earnings, should help support markets.  But, away from tech, markets will be focused on Jobless Claims (242K) and Durable Goods (E: -4.0%), and again the key here is stability, in that the data doesn’t show a sudden deterioration in activity (so spike in claims, drop in Durable Goods) or extreme strength (which would undo yesterday’s Treasury yield decline and weigh on the markets).

Economic Breaker Panel: August Update

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Sevens Report Economic Breaker Panel – August Update
  • A Surprising Warning from Macy’s
  • NVDA Earnings Could Trigger a Huge Move In the Stock: Chart

Stock futures are solidly higher this morning ahead of the widely anticipated release of NVDA earnings after the close today while Treasuries yields are retreating on the back of weak economic data overseas.

The Eurozone PMI Composite Flash indicated the economy fell deeper into contraction territory this month (47.0 vs. E: 48.4) led by an unexpected drop off in service sector activity which is weighing on bond yields this morning and easing some concerns about continued aggressive policy by central banks.

This morning, focus will be on economic data with the U.S. PMI Flash data due out just after the open at 9:45 a.m. ET. The Manufacturing Flash is expected to come in at 48.8 while the Services Flash is expected to hold expansion territory at 52.0).

The market is looking for stabilization in the manufacturing sector and moderation, but not contraction, in the service sector. Material weakness in either headline will rekindle worries about a hard-landing while data that is much better than expected would raise Fed rate hike expectations. So, a “Goldilocks” release will be important for both stock and bond markets to stabilize today.

New Home Sales (E: 702K) will also be released at 10:00 a.m. ET but should have a limited impact on markets.

From there, focus will turn to earnings with NVDA reporting after the close (Earnings Estimate: $2.18, Revenue Estimate: $11.09B). Investors have very high hopes for NVDA’s quarterly performance as well as their forward guidance, so any meaningful disappointment is likely to weigh heavily on the stock, the tech complex, and the markets more broadly in after hours trade.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Investing.com on August 21st, 2023

Dow Jones, Nasdaq, S&P 500 weekly preview: All eyes on Nvidia and Powell

Sevens Report analysts: “The market of 2023 is being defined almost by hyperbolic extremes. We started 2023 with investors fearing a catastrophic recession, 1970s- style inflation and 1970s-style rate hikes. That hasn’t happened. But just because that didn’t happen, it doesn’t mean that: No economic slowdown will occur, inflation will magically crash to late 20-teens levels, and the Fed will suddenly turn dovish (as markets priced in at 4,600). The truth is in the middle, and that’s where we are now.”

Click here to read the full article.

What Is “R Star” and Why Is It Important?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What is “R*” and Why Is It Important?
  • Palo Alto Shares Rip Higher by 15%, Sparking Tech Rally – Chart

Stock futures are higher this morning with mega-cap tech shares extending this week’s strong advance following news that SoftBank’s Arm semiconductor unit has filed for the largest U.S. IPO in 2 years after the close yesterday while traders await NVDA earnings tomorrow.

Overseas, the PBOC set the strongest yuan fixing on record overnight which has helped the currency stabilize and that is contributing to risk-on money flows this morning.

There were no other market moving headlines overnight and no notable economic reports were released.

Looking into today’s session, there is one economic report due out in the U.S. this morning: Existing Home Sales (E: 4.160 million) but it is unlikely to impact markets with traders primarily focused on tech so far this week.

There are two Fed speakers today: Barkin (7:15 a.m. ET) and Goolsbee (2:30 p.m. ET) and their commentary could move markets as markets look ahead to Fed Chair Powell’s remarks from Jackson Hole on Friday. Anything that sparks a further rise in Treasury yields could pour cold water on this week’s tech rally which is basically entirely responsible for the week-to-date gains in the broader equity markets.