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

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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.

Pullback or Something More?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Pullback or Something More?
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are slightly higher on better than expected CSCO earnings amidst an otherwise quiet night.

Earnings this week have been solid and that continued with CSCO results overnight (stock up about 3% pre-market) and that’s driving the bounce in futures.

Earlier this week HD, TGT and TJX all posted solid results and the earnings reinforced the $240 2024 S&P 500 earnings expectation (which helps with market valuation).

Today focus will be on economic data and the key reports are:  Jobless Claims (E: 240K), Philly Fed Manufacturing Index  (E: -10) and Leading Indicators (E: -0.4%).

Markets need Goldilocks economic data to stop rising Treasury yields while at the same time further downplaying hard landing worries.  If the data is “Too Hot” yields will rise and stocks will likely fall, while conversely, a sudden drop in activity will increase worries about a hard landing (and likely pressure stocks).  Numbers close to expectations are what investors need to help support stocks.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on August 2nd, 2023

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Stocks Open Lower Amid Fitch Downgrade

“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,” wrote Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report.

Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on August 2nd, 2023

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Tech Stocks Lead the Market Lower

Wednesday’s market action is a reminder to investors that stocks can still go down, Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report, said in an interview with Barron’s.

“When you have a market that is essentially pricing in nothing bad happening and all of a sudden you get kind of a surprise – then it’s a reason to sell and I think that’s what we’re seeing today,” Essaye said.

Click here to read the full article.

What’s Causing the Increased Volatility in Stocks?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What’s Causing the Increased Volatility in Stocks?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Do the Three Pillars of the Rally Stay Intact?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Key Inflation Data This Week (CPI on Thursday)

Futures are rebounding modestly from last week’s declines following a quiet weekend of news and ahead of an important week of inflation data.

Economically, the only notable number was German Industrial Production, which fell more than expected (-1.5% vs. (E.) -0.5%) and again underscored growing recession risks in Europe.

Today the key economic report is the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (9:00 a.m. ET) as this is viewed as an anecdotal reading on inflation, and markets will want to see a further decline in car prices.

We also get Consumer Credit (E: $13.00B) and there are two Fed speakers, Harker (8:15 a.m. ET) and Bowman (8:30 a.m. ET), and markets will want to see those events reinforce the Goldilocks narrative (solid consumer spending and the Fed basically done with rate hikes).

Jobs Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (Abbreviated Version)

Futures are slightly higher thanks to good AMZN earnings and solid EU economic data.

AMZN and AAPL, the last two big earnings reports for Q2, were mixed but generally fine. AMZN posted strong results (stock up 8%) while AAPL’s numbers were slightly underwhelming, but nothing terrible (stock down 1%).

Economically, EU data was solid as German Manufacturers’ Orders and EU Retail Sales beat estimates.

Today focus will be on the jobs report and estimates are as follows:  Job Adds, 200k.  Unemployment Rate, 3.6%.  Wages, 0.3% m/m, 4.2% y/y.  The key for markets today is the reaction of the 10-year yield to the jobs report.  If the jobs report is “Too Hot” then 10-year Treasury yield will rise and it’ll likely pressure stocks.  Conversely, if we get a Goldilocks number, then the 10-year yield should fall modestly and stocks can extend this early rally.

What Caused Yesterday’s Selloff? (It Wasn’t the Fitch Downgrade)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Caused Yesterday’s Selloff? (It Wasn’t the Fitch Downgrade)
  • Jobs Report Preview
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly lower following Wednesday’s selloff on more disappointing earnings and mixed economic data.

Economically, the EU Composite PMI slightly missed estimates (48.6 vs. (E) 48.9) as recession worries creep higher.

Tech earnings underwhelmed again, with disappointing results from QCOM and PYPL (both stocks down 7%-ish).

Today will be a busy day of data and earnings.  First, the BOE is set to hike rates 50 bps, but markets will want to see if they signal this is the last hike of the cycle.

Turning to the U.S., there are several important economic reports today including: Jobless Claims (E: 225K), ISM Services PMI (E: 53.0) and Unit Labor Costs (E: 2.6%).  Investors need Goldilocks economic data to help stabilize stocks, and if these reports are stronger than expected, look for Treasury yields to rise and for stocks to fall (like what happened yesterday).

Finally, on earnings, we get results from two of the biggest stocks in the market after the close:  AAPL ($1.19) and AMZN ($0.34).

What Caused Thursday’s Reversal?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Caused Thursday’s Reversal?
  • How Economic Data Was “Too Hot” Yesterday

Futures are modestly higher despite a slightly hawkish surprise from the Bank of Japan.

In a move that was telegraphed in trading on Thursday, the BOJ made a slightly hawkish shift and allowed the yield on 10-year Japanese bonds to move above the previous cap of 0.50%.  Technically, this is a hawkish move, although it’s a very small one.

Today focus will be on inflation, as we get two of the bigger inflation reports in the Core PCE Price index (E: 0.2% m/m, 4.2% y/y) and Employment Cost Index (E: 1.1%).  Markets will want to see continued signs of disinflation (so numbers at or below estimates) while readings that are higher then expected will push Treasury yields higher, and that will be a headwind on stocks (as we saw yesterday).

Earnings also continue and some notable reports we’re watching include:  XOM ($2.00), PG ($1.32), CVX ($2.95), CL ($0.75).

FOMC Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • Composite Flash PMI Takeaways – Service Sector Growth Falters
  • 10-Yr Note Yield Maintains Long-Term Uptrend (For Now) – Chart

Futures are little changed as mostly upbeat earnings in Europe were offset by a weaker than expected ECB Survey while focus turns to big cap tech earnings and this week’s central bank meetings.

The ECB’s latest Lending Survey revealed that corporate loan demand collapsed to the lowest on record in Q2 underscoring tighter credit conditions and the threat of a further slowdown in growth in the Eurozone.

Today, focus will be on economic data early with the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.8%) and Consumer Confidence (E: 111.8) reports both due to be released while the July FOMC meeting gets underway.

There is a 5-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET which could move yields and have an impact on stocks, but a material move in markets ahead of the Fed decision remains unlikely unless it is driven by earnings.

Speaking of which, today will be a busy one for corporate earnings as: VZ ($1.17), GM ($1.65), GE ($0.46), MMM ($1.65) are all scheduled to release results before the bell while tech giants MSFT ($2.54) and GOOGL ($1.32) report after the bell. Additionally, V ($2.11) will release results after the close.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on July 17th, 2023

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4 ETFs to Play a Stock Market That Keeps Rallying

However, last week’s readings point toward falling inflation and stable economic growth—a goldilocks scenario, or Immaculate Disinflation, as Sevens Reports’ founder Tom Essaye writes. However, last week’s readings point toward falling inflation and stable economic growth—a goldilocks scenario, or Immaculate Disinflation, as Sevens Reports’ founder Tom Essaye writes. Click here to read the full article.