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It’s not structurally the most important stock in the market

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It’s not structurally the most important stock in the market: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

Why Nvidia Is the Market’s Most Important Stock

“Nvidia is the most important stock because people have decided it’s the most important stock,” Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s in a phone interview. “It’s not structurally the most important stock in the market—their business focus is very, very slim. They just happen to be the tip of the spear of what people are convinced will be the next tech revolution.”

AI is important because the market expects AI to boost corporate profitability in the coming decades,” Essaye says. “And the whole second step of this entire thing is the uptake of AI and how it actually makes money. Nvidia is the picks and shovels of the gold mine. But people will only buy the picks and shovels if they can actually find gold, right?”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on August 27th, 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.

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Is Market Momentum Faltering?

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Is Market Momentum Faltering?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is Market Momentum Faltering?
  • Oil Outlook Updated

Futures are slightly higher as better than expected EU inflation metrics offset slightly underwhelming NVDA earnings.

Spanish and German regional CPIs declined more than expected and that’s increasing ECB rate cut expectations and reminding investors of the global rate cutting cycle.

With NVDA results behind us, focus turns back to data and the important reports today include Jobless Claims (E: 232K), Pending Home Sales (E: 1.0%) and Final Q2 GDP (E: 2.8% y/y saar).  Of the three, jobless claims are most likely to move markets as a jump in claims will slightly increase hard landing worries, while a drop will further reinforce soft landing expectations.  There is also one Fed speaker today, Bostic (3:30 p.m. ET), but unless he says he supports a 50 bps cut, he’s unlikely to move markets.

Turning to earnings, NVDA was the highlight of the week but there are still several important reports today that will give us important insight on tech and consumer spending.  Notable reports today include: DELL (E: $1.68), MRVL (E: $0.30), BBY (E: $1.15), DG (E: $1.79), , LULU (E: $2.93),  ULTA (E: $5.49).

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Renewed Rotation Risks (Smart Money Is Getting Defensive)

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Renewed Rotation Risks (Smart Money Is Getting Defensive): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Recent Sector Performance Points to Smart Money Getting Defensive
  • Chart – 10Y-2Y Yield Curve Spread Revisits the Zero-Bound

U.S. equity futures are slightly higher after a mostly quiet night of news as traders look ahead to NVDA earnings.

There was no economic data overnight but the BOJ’s Deputy Governor, Himino, reiterated that policy makers would continue raising rates with the “utmost vigilance,” which supported a modest bid in equity markets and other risk assets overnight.

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports and just one Fed speaker after the close: Bostic (6:00 p.m. ET).

There is a 5-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and given the strong performance in the belly of the duration curve since the start of August, traders will be looking for demand to remain solid to confirm the recent drop in yields is sustainable.

Finally, likely the biggest catalyst of the week will come after the close today with NVDA earnings ($0.65) due shortly after the bell. Other notable companies reporting quarterly results today include CRM ($2.35) and HPQ ($0.86) but the main focus will be on NVDA as options traders are pricing in a volatile 10%+ reaction (up or down) to the earnings release and given the stocks heavy weight in the major indexes, a move of that magnitude will have an impact on the broader market in the back half of the week.

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Tech Weakness Amid Bullish Investor Sentiment

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Tech Weakness Amid Bullish Investor Sentiment: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Was Tech So Weak Yesterday?
  • How Bullish Is Investor Sentiment? (Very Bullish)
  • Chart – A Concerning Pattern in the SOX

U.S. stock futures are little changed this morning after a mostly quiet night of news as investors look ahead to NVDA earnings tomorrow.

Economically, German GDP rose to 0.0% vs. (E) -0.1% while the German GfK Consumer Climate Index fell to -22.0 vs. (E) -17.9, both of which are reinforcing growth concerns for the Eurozone right now.

Today, there are multiple economic releases to watch including the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 6.9%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 5.7%), Consumer Confidence (E: 100.1), and the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -14.0). Most of the releases are “second tiered” and lesser followed reports but investors will still want to see evidence of stabilizing growth and disinflation trends continuing.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could shed light on investor expectations for Fed policy in the months ahead in the wake of Powell’s Jackson Hole commentary. An auction with demand that is “too strong” could rekindle recession fears while an auction that is “too weak” could trigger hawkish money flows.

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Powell Speech Preview (What’s Expected, Dovish If, Hawkish If Scenarios)

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Powell Speech Preview: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Powell Speech Preview (What’s Expected, Dovish If, Hawkish If Scenarios)

Futures are solidly higher ahead of Fed Chair Powell’s speech thanks to not hawkish commentary from BOJ Governor Ueda.

Ueda stated that rates would continue higher but that increases would be data dependent and in conjunction with monitoring market conditions (meaning the yen spike from last month won’t be repeated, which is a good thing).

Economically, Japanese CPI rose 2.7% y/y, as expected and that’s further reducing hawkish BOJ concerns.

Today focus will be on Fed Chair Powell’s speech (10:00 a.m. ET) and as long as he removes any lingering doubts about a September rate cut, this rally can continue.

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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.

If 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.

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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The Right Way to Think About Economic Growth Right Now

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard (The Right Way to Think About the U.S. Economy)

Futures are slightly lower following a mostly quiet night of news as markets digest Thursday’s strong rally.

The only notable economic report overnight was UK retail sales, which rose 0.8% vs. (E) 0.5% and added to Thursday’s haul of solid global data.

Geo-politically, Israel/Hamas ceasefire talks continued and any breakthrough would be a surprise market positive.

Today there are a few notable economic reports including Consumer Sentiment (E: 67.0), 1-Yr Inflation Expectations: (E: 2.9%), 5-Yr. Inflation Expectations (E: 3.0%) and Housing Starts (1.342M).  However, those numbers aren’t that important to growth so barring a major surprise, they shouldn’t move markets and we should mostly see digestion of Thursday’s big rally.

There is also one Fed speaker today, Goolsbee (1:25 p.m. ET), and he’s dovish do don’t be surprised if he openly talks about cutting rates in September.

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Why Falling Inflation Won’t Help Stocks Anymore

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Why Falling Inflation Won’t Help Stocks Anymore: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Falling Inflation Won’t Help Stocks Anymore
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are slightly higher thanks to better-than-expected tech earnings and despite mixed economic data.

CSCO posted solid earnings and that’s helping extend the tech sector bounce and boosting futures.

Economically, Chinese and UK data was more mixed than good and point to a modest slowing of global growth.

Economic growth is now the main fundamental driver of this market and today is full of important growth updates including, in order of importance: Retail Sales (E: 0.3%), Jobless Claims (E: 234K), Industrial Production (E: -0.1%), Philly Fed (E: 5.8),  Empire Manufacturing (-6.0) and Housing Market Index (E: 42).  In-line to slightly underwhelming economic data will be the “best case” for stocks in the near term as it increases 50 bps rate cut chances but doesn’t imply a dramatic growth slowdown.

There are also two Fed speakers today, Musalem (9:10 a.m. ET) and Harker (1:10 p.m. ET) and officials might start to be more explicit about a rate cut following Wednesday’s CPI (Atlanta Fed President Bostic said he was open to a cut in September overnight).

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