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What the CPI Report Means for Markets

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the CPI Report Means for Markets
  • EIA and Oil Market Analysis

It’s “green on the screen” as global indices and U.S. futures extend yesterday’s CPI driven rally.

Economically, UK Industrial Production (IP) was better than feared (down –1.2% vs. (E) -1.5%) while EU IP slightly missed estimates (0.2% vs. (E) 0.5%).

Earnings season officially begins today and the first reports are solid, as PEP and DAL both beat earnings estimates.

Today focus will be on economic data, specifically Jobless Claims (E: 245K) and PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 0.4% y/y, Core PPI E: 0.2% m/m, 2.8% y/y).  If jobless claims are mostly stable and PPI falls more than expected, markets should extend yesterday’s “Immaculate Disinflation” driven rally. Finally, there is one Fed speaker today, Waller (6:45 p.m. ET), but markets are ignoring hawkish rhetoric right now so he shouldn’t move markets.

Explaining Current Market Risks to Clients (And Prospects)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How to Explain Risks in This Market to Clients/Prospects
  • Mannheim Used Vehicle Value Index Takeaways (Chart)

Futures are slightly higher while most international markets rallied overnight thanks to news of more Chinese government support for the property sector and steady EU inflation data.

German CPI met estimates of 0.3% m/m and 6.4% y/y in June, both unchanged from May, while the ZEW Survey was inline with expectations on the headline but Economic Sentiment deteriorated to -14.7 vs. (E) -10.2.

Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index came in at 91.0 vs. (E) 89.8 in June which is helping bolster investor sentiment in the premarket.

There are no additional economic reports today and just one Fed speaker on the calendar: Bullard (9:00 a.m. ET) which will leave investors looking ahead to tomorrow’s critical CPI report.

Jobs Day

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How the Two-Year Yield Caused Yesterday’s Drop in Stocks
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are slightly lower following a mostly quiet night of news as investors wait for this morning’s jobs report.

Economic data underwhelmed as Japanese Household Spending (-1.1% vs. (E) 0.5%) and German Industrial Production (-0.2% vs. (E) -0.1%) both missed expectations.

Taiwan exports also fell more than expected, down 23.4%, and that’s adding to general anxiety about future global growth.

Today the only major event is the June jobs report and expectations are as follows:  213K job adds, 3.7% UE Rate, 0.3% wage increase m/m and 4.2% y/y.  As we saw from yesterday’s ADP report, a “Too Hot” number will spike yields and further pressure stocks, as the rise in yields is now getting high enough to be a headwind on the market.  Conversely, a “Too Cold” number will increase stagflation worries.

A job adds number in the 100k range coupled with an increase in the unemployment rate and a drop in wages remains the best outcome for stocks, and if we get that number don’t be surprised if the S&P 500 recoups all of yesterday’s losses.

ISM Data Points To Rising Odds of a Hard Landing

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Trading Color – Quarterly Rebalancing Helps Improve Breadth
  • ISM Manufacturing Index Takeaways – Not a Good Report
  • If the Yield Curve Is Right, The U.S. Economy Will Roll Over Hard

U.S. equity futures are tracking global markets lower this morning after more disappointing PMI data overnight.

Economically, China’s June Composite PMI dropped to 52.5 from 55.6 in May with the Services Index notably missing estimates at 53.9 vs. (E) 55.9. Meanwhile, the Eurozone Composite PMI fell into contraction at 49.9 vs. (E) 50.3.

Looking into today’s session, there are two economic reports to watch: Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 15.3 million) and Factory Orders (E: 0.9%), although barring any huge surprises, neither should materially move markets ahead of the Service PMI data and June jobs report due later in the week.

From there, focus will turn to the release of the June FOMC Meeting Minutes at 2:00 p.m. ET as markets look for further clarity on the Fed’s commitment to raising rates further in H2’23 (a hawkish interpretation would weight on risk assets).

Finally, there is one Fed speaker: Williams but not until the closing bell at 4:00 p.m. ET so any impact by his comments will likely not be realized until tomorrow.

Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Morningstar on June 29th, 2023

Oil futures finish higher, contributing to the month’s gain

Oil stabilized at support near the 2023 lows following Wednesday’s weekly Energy Information Administration report, which showed a “massive draw” in commercial crude-oil stockpiles, said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quote in Barron’s on June 30th, 2023

U.S. Stock Futures Rise Ahead of Key PCE Inflation Data

Futures are moderately higher mostly on momentum and end of quarter/half positioning, as economic data overnight was mixed but not bad enough to interrupt the rally, said Tom Essaye, founder at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Why Economic Data Will Decide if the Rally Continues in 2H ’23

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Economic Data Will Decide if the Rally Continues in 2H ‘23
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Does Economic Data This Week Reinforce “No Landing” Expectations?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Jobs Report Friday, ISM PMIs Monday and Thursday.

Futures are flat to start the second half of 2023 following a quiet weekend of news.

Economic data was mixed overnight as the EU Manufacturing PMI slightly missed estimates (43.4 vs. (E) 43.6) while the UK reading slightly beat expectations (46.5 vs. (E) 46.2), but neither number is moving markets.

Saudi Arabia and Russia made separate announcements about further reducing oil supply in the coming months, although they aren’t causing a material rally.

Today focus will be on the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.2) and at this point, and with yields this high, markets need to see solid data and that means the ISM Manufacturing PMI moving closer towards 50 and beating expectations.

As a reminder, the stock market will close at 1:00 p.m. today ahead of the July 4th holiday.

 

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter Delivered Today

Our Q2 ’23 Quarterly Letter will be released today.

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  • Save time (an average of 4-6 hours per quarterly letter)
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You can view our Q1 ’23 Quarterly Letter here

To learn more about the product (including price) please click this link.

If you’re interested in subscribing, please email info@sevensreport.com.

Is “No Landing” Back?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is “No Landing” Back?
  • Why Thursday’s Data Was Positive for the “Growth On” Basket

Futures are moderately higher mostly on momentum and end of quarter/half positioning, as economic data overnight was mixed but not bad enough to interrupt the rally.

European inflation (HICP) fell to 5.5% vs. (E) 5.7% y/y, although the more important core reading rose to 5.4% y/y from 5.3%, as expected.  So, there was some progress on headline inflation, but core inflation remains a problem.

In China, the June Manufacturing PMI rose to 49.0 vs. (E) 49.1, which is increasing expectations for more stimulus.

Today focus will be on inflation via the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.4% m/m, 4.7% y/y).  The idea of “No Landing” requires inflation to, at a minimum, stay flat, so any hotter than expected inflation metric will push yields higher and that likely would weigh on stocks today.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Swissinfo.ch on June 26th, 2023

Tech Stocks Slide as Traders Rein in Rate Cut Bets: Markets Wrap

Tom Essaye, a former Merrill Lynch trader who founded “The Sevens Report” newsletter, wrote that the political strife in Russia is likely to have little market impact. Looking forward, obviously this injects more geopolitical uncertainty into the world, but as long as commodity prices don’t spike higher, the markets will largely ignore Russian political volatility, he wrote. Click here to read the full article.

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Why the Fed Wants Higher Rates

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Would the Fed Keep Hiking Rates if Inflation Is Coming Down?
  • Jobless Claims Chart – Critical to See Further Move Higher

Equity futures are modestly higher this morning as traders weigh renewed optimism about Chinese growth against more hawkish policy speak from multiple ECB officials, including President Lagarde, reiterating the need for a “higher for longer” policy rate path.

Premier Li of China confirmed the government is committed to achieving their 5% GDP target overnight which helped Asian markets outperform and fueled modest risk-on money flows around the globe.

Today’s list of economic data releases is a long one with Durable Goods Orders (E: -1.0%), Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.5%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.4%), Consumer Confidence (E: 103.7), and New Home Sales (E: 663K).

Beyond those economic reports, there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 5-Yr Treasury Note Auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move yields and influence equity market trading.

Bottom line, in order for markets to stabilize here and stocks to resume their 2023 rally, we will need to see signs of slowing, but not collapsing growth in today’s economic data and no surprises in the Treasury auction. Looking ahead, trading may slow down some today as investors position into tomorrow’s Central Bank Forum hosted by the ECB in which Fed Chair Powell will participate.