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What Is the Yen Carry Trade?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Is the Yen Carry Trade and Why Does it Matter to Markets?
  • Manheim Used Car Index Takeaways
  • S&P 500 Chart – Summer Uptrend Has Been Violated

Markets are risk-off this morning thanks to soft Chinese economic data, disappointing UPS earnings and guidance (shares are down over 6% in the premarket), and negative banking sector news in the U.S. and Europe.

Economically, Chinese exports fell -14.5% vs. (E) -12.6% in July, the steepest drop since the pandemic while imports also fell much more than expected which raises further concerns about the health of the Chinese economy, which was supposed to be a major source of global growth this year.

A surprise windfall tax on bank profits announced by the Italian government paired with Moody’s downgrading 10 smaller U.S. banks is weighing heavily on financials this morning and acting as a headwind on the broader equity indices as well.

Looking into today’s session, there is one economic report to watch: International Trade in Goods and Services (E: -$65.4B) and two Fed speakers: Harker (8:15 a.m. ET) and Barkin (8:30 a.m. ET), all scheduled for before the opening bell. The trade data shouldn’t move markets but if Harker and/or Barkin strike a more hawkish than anticipated tone today, that could send bond yields higher and weigh on equities.

Finally the Treasury will hold a 3-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and any meaningful moves in yields (higher or lower) could influence equity market trading this afternoon.

Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Market Watch on July 31st, 2023

Stocks could sink into a bear-market recession, says technician. Here are five signals on when it likely starts.

“We continue to respect the rally and acknowledge the trend in equities is still higher, but we remain ‘patient bears’ with regard to stocks given the deeply inverted yield curve,” Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research wrote in a Monday report.

“We view the fact that most Treasury spreads have inverted to levels not seen since the early 1980s as a clear warning sign that the more than 500 basis points of Fed rate hikes in less than 18 months was way too much for the economy to weather,” noted Richey. 

Click here to read the full article.

How to Explain Any Pullbacks to Clients

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How to Explain Any Pullbacks to Clients (Why Too Hot or Too Cold Data Is a Negative for Markets)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Goldilocks Data Continue to Support Stocks?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  All About Jobs (Jobs Report Friday, Claims Thursday, ADP Wednesday, JOLTS Tomorrow)

Futures are little changed following mixed global economic and inflation readings.

In China, the July PMIs were mixed as manufacturing was slightly better (49.3 vs. (E) 49.2) while services were worse (51.5 vs. (E) 52.9) and the result is markets will still want more stimulus from Chinese officials.

On inflation, EU flash core HICP (their CPI) rose 5.5% y/y vs. (E) 5.4% y/y, hinting at stickier than expected inflation.

This will be a busy week of data and earnings, but it starts slowly as there’s just one notable economic report today, the Chicago PMI (E: 43.5) and only a few notable earnings: ANET ($1.43), ZI ($0.23), WDC ($-2.01).  So, barring any major negative earnings announcements, we’d expect generally quiet trading ahead of an increase in activity starting tomorrow.

Dow Theory Update: Bullish Reversal in July

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Dow Theory Update – Bullish Reversal in July
  • Central Bank Decision Expectations: Fed, ECB, and BOE this Week

Futures are modestly lower as traders digest mixed mega-cap tech earnings and look ahead to today’s Fed decision.

On the earnings front, GOOGL is up 8%+ in premarket trade thanks to strong reported revenue growth while MSFT is down 3.5% on soft sales and weaker guidance specifically in the company’s cloud computing division.

Today, there is one economic report to watch: New Home Sales (E: 727K) before focus will turn to the Fed with the FOMC Meeting Announcement at 2:00 p.m. ET (E: +25 bp hike) and Fed Chair Powell’s Press Conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.

A busy week of earnings will also continue with T ($0.60), BA (-$0.99), and KO ($0.72) releasing quarterly results before the bell while META ($2.87) and STX (-$0.26) will report after the close.

Could A Recession Just Be Delayed (And Not Avoided?)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Could A Recession Just Be Delayed? (And Not Avoided)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Fed/ECB/BOE Decisions This Week and Key Earnings Reports
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Fed Decisions and Inflation Readings In Focus This Week

Futures are modestly higher despite underwhelming economic data as markets look ahead to a busy week of central bank decisions, earnings and economic data.

Economically, data was not Goldilocks as the Euro Zone and UK flash PMIs missed estimates, falling to 48.9 vs. (E) 49.6 and 50.7 vs. (E) 52.2 respectively, and they reminded investors rate hikes can still slow growth.

Today focus will be on the July Flash Composite PMI (E: 53.1), as this is the first “big” number of July, and markets will want to see stability in the data to keep the Goldilocks rally going.

The major earnings reports occur later in the week but results we’ll be watching today include:  DPZ ($3.04), NXPI ($3.29), WHT ($3.80), LOGI ($0.45) and we’ll be looking for any signs of margin compression due to on going disinflation.

How Disinflation Can Be Negative for Stocks

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Disinflation Can Be Negative for Stocks

Futures are modestly higher on more Goldilocks global economic data and after there were no major earnings disappointments overnight.

Economically,  Japanese CPI met expectations (up 3.3% y/y) while UK Retail Sales were better than expected (0.7% vs. (E) 0.1%).

On earnings, transports CSX and KMX both missed estimates, but it’s not impacting the broader markets as results were expected to be soft and the companies offered some positive commentary.

Today there are no notable economic reports so focus will be on earnings, and the highlight today is AXP ($2.80), as markets will want to hear insight into the state of more affluent spenders.  Other notable results today include AN ($5.83) and CMA ($1.89).

Market Multiple Table Chart (July Update)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table Chart (July Update)
  • Why More Goldilocks Data Sent Stocks Higher Again Tuesday

Futures are little changed ahead of a busy day of earnings and despite more encouraging news on global disinflation.

UK CPI rose less than expected, gaining 0.1% vs. (E) 0.4% m/m and 7.9% vs. (E) 8.2% y/y, providing bullish investors more evidence that inflation is declining globally, although that good news was partially offset by a very slightly higher final look at EU HICP (up 5.5% y/y vs. 5.4%).

Today focus will turn to earnings and the key reports to watch are: TSLA ($ 0.82), NFLX ($2.83) and GS ($3.25), as those results will help set the tone for the start of earnings season (results from companies up to today have been fine, although it’s very, very early).    Other notable earnings include:  ASML ($4.97), USB ($1.13), UAL ($3.99), and IBM ($2.00).

Economically, the only notable number today is Housing Starts (E: 1.48M) but barring a shocking miss, that shouldn’t move the broader markets.

Market Multiple Table (July Update)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table (July Update)
  • Why the Empire Manufacturing Survey was “Goldilocks” enough to push stocks higher.

Futures are little changed following a generally quiet night of news as markets look ahead to important economic data and the start of a deluge of earnings results this week.

Economically, there was no data overnight while there was more vague talk of Chinese stimulus, but nothing concrete.

Today the calendar is full of notable economic reports and earnings.  Starting with economic data, Retail Sales (E: -0.3% mm, 1.6% y/y) is the key report today and markets will want to see stability in the data to further the “Golidlocks” narrative of falling inflation and stable growth.  So, no big disappointments.  We also get Industrial Production (E: 0.0% m/m, 1.10% y/y) and the U.S. Housing Market Index (E: 56.0) and again stability is the key word for both reports.

On earnings, most of the results today will be focused on banks/financials, but the bottom line is markets want to hear solid guidance and economic commentary to further dispel hard landing worries.  Important reports today include:  BAC ($0.84), SCHW ($0.72), MS ($1.14), LMT ($6.43), PNC ($3.31), WAL ($ 1.98) and JBHT ($1.97).

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.

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, and Ugly

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview – Good, Bad, & Ugly
  • Chart: Is Disinflation Accelerating?

U.S. stock futures are extending this week’s gains ahead of the all-important CPI report this morning following a mostly quiet night of news.

There were no economic reports overnight but the Reserve Bank of New Zealand did notably pause their rate hiking cycle leaving their policy rate unchanged at 5.50% (however this was expected and did not meaningfully move markets).

Looking into today’s session the big catalyst is the CPI report due out before the open. On the headline, CPI is expected to come in at 0.3% m/m and 3.1% y/y while the Core figure is seen rising 0.3% m/m and 5.0% y/y.

From there, focus will turn to Fed speakers with Kashkari speaking shortly after the open (9:45 a.m. ET) and Mester at the close (4:00 p.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and the outcome could shed light on the bond market’s outlook for the economy and Fed policy expectations in the wake of the CPI data release, so there is potential this auction moves markets in the early afternoon.