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Why Are Regional Banks Still Causing Market Declines? (It’s Not Contagion)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Are Regional Banks Still Causing Market Declines (It’s Not Contagion)
  • What the 1.5 Year High in Jobless Claims Means for the Economy

Futures are modestly higher following some potentially small progress on debt ceiling negotiations.

The debt ceiling meeting today was postponed to early next week as staffers needed more time to work on potential areas of compromise, and that’s being taken as a mild sign of progress.

Economically, UK manufacturing was stronger than expected (0.7% vs. (E) -0.1%) but that’s not moving markets.

Today focus will be on the University of Michigan Inflation Expectations Survey, and specifically the five-year inflation expectations.  The farther they fall from 3.0%, the better for markets as it reinforces inflation is not yet a longer-term problem.  There are also three Fed speakers today: Daly (2:20 p.m. ET), Bullard & Jefferson (7:45 p.m. ET), but even if they’re hawkish they shouldn’t move markets.

What Happens If There’s No Debt Ceiling Deal?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Happens If There’s No Debt Ceiling Deal?
  • Why CPI Was Positive for Stocks and Bonds Yesterday
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly higher mostly on momentum from Wednesday’s rally and following a quiet night of news.

China’s CPI rose 0.1% vs. (E) 0.3% and that’s combining with recently underwhelming Chinese economic data to raise doubts about the economic recovery.

There was no notable news on the debt ceiling, although another round of high level meetings will occur tomorrow.

Today focus will first be on the Bank of England Rate Decision (E: 25 bps hike) and then on economic data, specifically Jobless Claims (E: 245K) and PPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.5% y/y).  Stocks have benefitted from mostly “goldilocks” data over the past week, and if we get more of the same via in-line claims and PPI, stocks should be able to extend the rally.  Finally, there’s one Fed speaker, Waller (10:15 a.m. ET), but he shouldn’t move markets.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Swissinfo.ch on May 9th, 2023

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US Stocks Slump Before Inflation Report; Dollar Up: Markets Wrap

Equities could finally break out of that range and move higher if, data points more convincingly towards a soft landing, there are no more regional bank failures, core inflation drops faster than expected, the Fed confirms the pause and a debt ceiling deal is reached, said Tom Essaye, founder of The Sevens Report newsletter. Click here to read the full article.

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Market Multiple Table: May Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table – May Update (Unbranded PDF Available on Request)
  • Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey

Stock futures are lower this morning after soft economic data overseas and growing angst about the debt ceiling.

Chinese merchandise trade data for April revealed a -7.9% drop in imports vs. (E) -0.2% which has poured some cold water on hopes for a strong recovery in the world’s second largest economy.

In the U.S., the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index came in at 89.0 vs. (E) 89.7 for the month of April but the release is not materially moving markets this morning. There are no additional economic reports today.

There are two Fed officials scheduled to speak today: Jefferson (8:30 a.m. ET) and Williams (12:05 p.m. ET) as well as a 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, all of which have the potential to impact markets in intraday trade.

With increasing focus on the debt ceiling, investors will be keenly focused on today’s meeting between President Biden and Congressional leadership as hopes for a delay to September are building and any disappointment of those hopes could result in volatility across asset classes.

Hard Landing vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard (Table Included)

Stock futures are tracking global equity markets lower while bonds rally thanks to disappointing bank earnings.

FRC, which has been in focus since the banking turmoil began in March, is trading lower by more than 20% in the premarket after reporting that deposits fell more than 40% in Q1 to just $104.5B vs. (E) $145B while the bank plans to cut as much as 25% of staff in Q2. The lower than expected deposit levels rekindled worries about the health of the banking system and financials are dragging the broader market lower this morning.

Today, there are a few economic releases to watch: Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: -0.4%), Consumer Confidence (E: 104.2), and New Home Sales (E: 635K) but unless there are any material surprises, investors will remain focused on earnings as we will begin to get some of the big tech companies’ results after the close today.

On the earnings front we will hear from UPS ($2.19), VZ ($1.19), GM ($1.58), MCD ($2.30), GE ($0.13), PEP $1.37), and MMM ($1.60) before the open, and MSFT ($2.22), GOOGL ($1.07), V ($1.97), and TXN ($1.76) after the close. Investors will be looking for good top and bottom line results but potentially more importantly, solid guidance given the uncertain market backdrop right now.

How the Debt Ceiling is Starting to Impact Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How the Debt Ceiling is Starting to Impact Markets

Futures are slightly lower despite solid economic data overnight, as markets await this morning flash PMIs.

EU and UK flash composite PMIs were better than expected at 54.4. vs. (E) 54.0 for the Euro Zone and 53.9 vs. (E) 52.4 for the UK, and both numbers are pushing back on the global recession narrative.

Today the focus will be on the April Flash Composite PMI (E: 50.7) and after yesterday’s soft Philly data, markets will absolutely want to see solid numbers. If that happens, we should expect a rebound from yesterday’s declines.

We also get another Fed speaker, Cook at 4:35 p.m. ET and some additional earnings: PG ($1.32), HCA ($3.99), SLB ($0.61), FCX ($0.46), RF ($0.65), SAP ($1.25).

Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch on April 19th, 2023

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Why is the stock market so resilient? Blame the ‘pain trade’.

The stock market’s resilience so far in 2023 is an example of a well-worn but sometimes useful market concept known as the “pain trade.” Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, defined it succinctly in a Tuesday note: “The goal of the market is to extract the most amount of pain from the greatest number of people.” Click here to read the full article.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in ZeroHedge on April 18th, 2023

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WTI Rises After Bigger Than Expected Crude Draw

Looking ahead, economic data will be in focus as a “strong economic recovery in China and the avoidance of hard landings in Europe and the U.S. are both priced into the market with WTI trading with an $80 handle,” said analysts at Sevens Report Research in Tuesday’s newsletter. Click here to read the full article.

Special Technical Report Coming Monday

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Special Technical Report Coming Monday
  • Why Did the VIX Just Hit 52 Week Lows?
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update
  • Two Notable Observations from a Quiet Trading Day

Futures are moderately weaker following a disappointing night of earnings.

TSLA, NOK, FFIV and TSMC all missed earnings and provided cautious commentary or guidance, and that’s increasing concerns about an economic slowdown.

Today there are numerous potential catalysts including important economic reports, lots of Fed speak and more earnings reports.

Starting with the data, the key report today is Philly Fed (E: -19.4) and markets will want to see if it confirms the rebound we saw in Empire (if it does, expect some stock weakness as Fed expectations become slightly more hawkish).  We also get Jobless Claims (E: 242K) and any move closer to 300k will be welcomed as it signals a slightly more normal labor market.

Turning to the Fed, there are multiple speakers today including Waller (12:00 p.m. ET), Mester (12:20 p.m. ET), Logan (3:00 p.m. ET) and Bostic (5:00 p.m. ET) and it will be notable to see if they all push back on the rate cut expectations in the markets.

Finally, on earnings, results lately have been underwhelming so these reports are becoming more important.  Earnings we’re watching today include: T ($0.58), TSM ($1.21), AXP ($2.63), UNP ($2.57), PPG ($1.55), CSX ($0.43), STX ($0.18).

Market Multiple Table: April Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table: April Update
  • S&P 500 Chart – Cautious Trade Ahead of Today’s CPI Report

Equity futures are slightly higher while the policy-sensitive 2-Yr Treasury yield is pushing further beyond 4% in pre-market trade as focus is exclusively on today’s CPI report.

Economically, Japanese PPI came in at 0.0% vs. (E) 0.1% which is adding a slight tailwind to risk assets this morning.

Looking into today’s session, all eyes will be on inflation data ahead of the open: CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 5.2% y/y), Core CPI (E: 0.4% m/m, 5.6% y/y).

From there, focus will shift to the Fed as Barkin speaks ahead of the bell (9:10 a.m. ET) and Daly speaks mid-day (12:00 p.m. ET), before the latest FOMC meeting minutes will be released at 2:00 p.m. ET. Any hawkish commentary or verbiage within the minutes will likely weigh on stocks and push yields higher.

Bottom line, the CPI data will be the main catalyst today and to recap yesterday’s “CPI Preview” the “good scenario” is a headline below 5.2% with Core below 5.5%, the “bad scenario” is a headline between 5.2% and 6.0% with Core at 5.6%, and the “ugly scenario” is a headline above 6.0% with Core above 5.6%.