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Why Didn’t Stocks Rally Last Week? (Despite Good News)

Why Didn’t Stocks Rally Last Week? (Despite Good News): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Didn’t Stocks Rally Last Week (Despite Good News)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Is the Tech Rally Finally Exhausted?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Focus on Inflation This Week

Futures are slightly lower mostly on momentum from Friday’s declines following a very quiet weekend of news.

Economically, the only notable number over the weekend was Chinese CPI, which rose more than expected (0.7% vs. (E) 0.3%) and that’s being seen as a positive as deflation was a growing risk in the Chinese economy.

Focus this week will remain on economic data (both inflation and growth) and tomorrow’s CPI report is the key report for the week.

Today, however, the calendar is sparse as the only notable economic report is New York Fed Inflation Expectations (E: 3.00%) and barring a major overshoot, this number shouldn’t move markets.


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Money Supply and Stocks: Is There a Disconnect?

Money Supply and Stocks: Is There a Disconnect? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Money Supply and Stocks: Is There a Disconnect?
  • ISM Services Index Takeaways (Slightly Dovish)

Futures are rebounding with global shares amid positive stimulus news out of China and mostly better-than-feared economic data overseas ahead of several important catalysts today.

Overnight, China’s State Planner and the head of the PBOC both reiterated their commitment to achieving 5% growth in 2024 which is supporting a rebound in risk assets as investors gain confidence in the prospects of a stabilizing Chinese economy.

Eurozone Retail Sales fell -1.0% vs. (E) -1.4% helping ease concerns of a sharp slowdown in the EU economy which is adding to the risk-on money flows this morning.

Looking into the U.S. session, focus will be on economic data early today starting with the: ADP Employment Report (E: +150K job adds) followed by the JOLTS release (E: 8.9 million job openings).

From there attention will turn to Capitol Hill where Fed Chair Powell will begin his semi-annual testimony at 10:00 a.m. ET. The Fed’s Daly (12:00 p.m. ET) and Kashkari (4:15 p.m. ET) will also speak today but Powell will be firmly in the spotlight as investors look for clues as to whether the FOMC plans to begin rate cuts in the second quarter (market positive) or wait until H2’24 (market negative).


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Why the Tech Sector Is Like a Modern Day Gold Rush

Why the Tech Sector Is Like a Modern Day Gold Rush: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Tech Sector Is Like a Modern Day Gold Rush
  • Chart: Rising Market-Based Inflation Expectations Bolster Gold Prices

U.S. futures are modestly lower this morning as Chinese economic concerns are offsetting a cool EU inflation print.

A sizeable new wave of Chinese stimulus actions failed to soothe investor worries about the economy overnight, underwhelming investors as China’s Service PMI unexpectedly fell to 52.5 vs. (E) 52.9 in February.

In Europe, financial news flow was better as the EU Composite PMI rose to 49.2 vs. (E) 48.9 while PPI fell a steep -0.9% vs. (E) -0.1% helping to ease some recent worries about a resurgence in price pressures.

Looking into today’s session there are three domestic economic reports to watch: Composite PMI (E: 51.4), Factory Orders (E: -3.0%), and the ISM Services Index (E: 53.0). The ISM print will be the most important as investors will be looking for continued strength in consumer spending but steady or easing price indices to underscore disinflation has not stalled/reversed.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today and with Powell’s testimony looming tomorrow a slow churn in markets or modest continuation lower could play out today as short term traders book profits from the most recent run to record highs.


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What Could Interrupt This Rally?

What Could Interrupt This Rally? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Could Interrupt This Rally?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Inflation and Growth Data Push Stocks Even Higher?
  • Weekly Economic Preview:  CPI Tomorrow, Key Growth Readings Thursday.

Futures are little changed following a mostly quiet weekend of news, although geo-political risks continued to creep higher over the weekend.

Israel is reportedly planning a ground offensive into the southern Palestinian province of Rafah and that’s met with pushback from numerous nations in the region and risks to further reduce any chances for a cease fire.

Today trading should be mostly quiet as the majority of Asian markets are closed for a holiday, but focus will be on the NY Fed Consumer Inflation Expectations (E: 3.00%) and any number below expectations will support Fed rate cut expectations (and support stocks).  We also have three Fed speakers today, Bowman (9:20 a.m. ET), Barkin (12:00 p.m. ET) and Kashkari (1:00 p.m. ET) but they shouldn’t move markets.


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Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard: Losing Momentum?

Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard: Losing Momentum? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard: Losing  Momentum?
  • Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index Falls Sharply: Chart

Stock futures ramped higher overnight amid more Chinese stimulus news, mixed economic data, and strong earnings from streaming giant NFLX which is up 10% premarket.

The PBOC cut bank reserve requirements by 0.40% o/n triggering a 3.5%+ rally in the Hang Seng as growth worries eased while PMI data in Europe was mildly disappointing

Looking into today’s session there is one economic release to watch shortly after the open: PMI Composite Flash (Service PMI: 51.2, Manufacturing PMI: 47.2) and markets will be looking for more “Goldilocks” economic trends in the data in order to hold this week’s gains.

There are no Fed speakers today but the Treasury will hold a 5-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move markets, especially if the results are weak and yields move higher as that would become a renewed headwind on growth stocks which have led the latest leg of the rally to all-time highs.

Earnings season continues as well with: T ($0.55), PGR ($2.38), FCX ($0.23), and GD ($3.66) reporting ahead of the bell, while results from TSLA ($0.74), IBM ($3.76), STX (-$0.06), and CSX ($0.44) are due after the close.


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Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Investing.com

Very Lofty Valuations: Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Investing.com


These five market assumptions are ‘aggressively optimistic’ – Sevens Report

Sevens Research said the S&P 500 is starting 2024 trading at “a very lofty” 19.5X valuation. While they don’t believe the valuation is unjustified, they do believe it makes several key, positive assumptions about critical market influences in the coming year.

Sevens argues that while the market assumptions “aren’t necessarily wrong,” the “assumptions are aggressively optimistic, and it is how events unfold versus these expectations and not on an absolute scale that will determine how stocks and bonds trade to start the year.”

Also, click here to view the full Investing.com article published on January 2nd, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Lastly, 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.


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Important (and still undecided) Questions About Economic Growth

Markets Have Priced In The Dovish Pivot: Tom Essaye Quoted in Blockworks


Bitcoin inches higher after outperforming stocks this year

“Looking forward, we can expect markets to get back to ‘normal’ next week as we start a new year and answer some pretty important (and still undecided) questions about economic growth, actual vs. expected Fed policy, and earnings,” Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, said. 

Also, click here to view the full Blockworks article published on December 29th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up 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.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Happy New Year

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news and ahead of the final trading day of the year.

Economically there was more evidence of global disinflation overnight as South Korea’s Core CPI fell to 2.8% vs. (E) 2.9% while Spain’s Core CPI also declined to 3.8% from 4.5%.

Geo-politically, there were no significant events overnight and the number of ships transiting the Suez Canal is rising again although tensions remain high.

Today there is one economic report, the Chicago PMI (E: 50.0), but barring a massive drop that shouldn’t move markets and we’d expect a mostly quiet trading on the final day of a good year in the markets and ahead of a long weekend.   From all of us at Sevens Report Research please have a happy and safe New Year.

Sevens Report Q4 ’23 Quarterly Letter

The Q4 2023 Quarterly Letter will be delivered to advisor subscribers on Tuesday, January 2nd.

The S&P 500 will end 2023 close to all-time highs but the Santa rally has left many investors complacent towards risks in 2024.  Showing clients and prospects a balanced view of markets is an opportunity to differentiate yourself from your competition and strengthen client relationships!

We will deliver the letter on the first business day of the quarter because we want you to be able to send your quarterly letter before your competition (and with little to no work from you).

You can view our Q3 ’23 Quarterly Letter here.

To learn more about the product (including price) please click this link, and if you’re interested in subscribing please email info@sevensreport.com.

Annual Discounts on Sevens Report, Alpha, Quarterly Letter, and Technicals.

If you have unused pre-tax research dollars, we offer month-free discounts on all our products. If you would like to extend current subscriptions or save money by upgrading to an annual subscription, please email info@sevensreport.com.


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.

Thoughts for 2024

Thoughts for 2024: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Thoughts for 2024 (The Benefit of Staying in the Middle)

Futures are flat following a quiet night of news as investors look ahead to the looming three day weekend.

Economically, there were two Japanese economic reports, both of which best estimates.  Japanese Industrial Production fell less than expected (-0.9% vs. (E) -1.7%) while Retail Sales rose more than expected (1.0% vs. 0.1%).

Geo-politically, there was no new news overnight, but tensions remain elevated in the Mid-East.

With the long weekend looming we should expect another quiet trading day although there are two notable economic reports today:  Jobless Claims (E: 210k) and Pending Home Sales (E: 0.8%).  However, given the calendar, it’d take substantial negative surprises from either metric to materially move markets and that’s very unlikely.

Sevens Report Q4 ’23 Quarterly Letter

The Q4 2023 Quarterly Letter will be delivered to advisor subscribers on Tuesday, January 2nd.

The S&P 500 will end 2023 close to all-time highs but the Santa rally has left many investors complacent towards risks in 2024.  Showing clients and prospects a balanced view of markets is an opportunity to differentiate yourself from your competition and strengthen client relationships!

We will deliver the letter on the first business day of the quarter because we want you to be able to send your quarterly letter before your competition (and with little to no work from you).

You can view our Q3 ’23 Quarterly Letter here.

To learn more about the product (including price) please click this link, and if you’re interested in subscribing please email info@sevensreport.com.

Annual Discounts on Sevens Report, Alpha, Quarterly Letter, and Technicals.

If you have unused pre-tax research dollars, we offer month-free discounts on all our products. If you would like to extend current subscriptions or save money by upgrading to an annual subscription, please email info@sevensreport.com.


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.

Two Important Differences in 2024

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


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Two Important Differences in 2024

Futures are little changed following a generally quiet night of news as there was no notable economic data or significant market moving events.

Chinese industrial profits rose 29.5% in November, accelerating substantially from the 2.7% gain in October and offering some anecdotal optimism about future growth.

Geo-political tensions remained elevated in the Mid-East following increased attacks on U.S. troops in the region, but no specific escalation occurred overnight.

Today the most notable event is a five-year Treasury bond auction and markets will want to see strong demand (like we saw at yesterday’s two-year auction) to keep rates drifting lower and dovish Fed/lower rates momentum in place through year-end.

Sevens Report Q4 ’23 Quarterly Letter

The Q4 2023 Quarterly Letter will be delivered to advisor subscribers on Tuesday, January 2nd.

The S&P 500 will end 2023 close to all-time highs but the Santa rally has left many investors complacent towards risks in 2024.  Showing clients and prospects a balanced view of markets is an opportunity to differentiate yourself from your competition and strengthen client relationships!

We will deliver the letter on the first business day of the quarter because we want you to be able to send your quarterly letter before your competition (and with little to no work from you).

You can view our Q3 ’23 Quarterly Letter here.

To learn more about the product (including price) please click this link, and if you’re interested in subscribing please email info@sevensreport.com.

Annual Discounts on Sevens Report, Alpha, Quarterly Letter, and Technicals.

If you have unused pre-tax research dollars, we offer month-free discounts on all our products. If you would like to extend current subscriptions or save money by upgrading to an annual subscription, please email info@sevensreport.com.


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.