Posts

Is Soft Economic Data a Reason to Buy Stocks?

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • An Easing of the Labor Market Is a Good Thing, But Be Careful What You Wish For…
  • Jobless Claims vs. the S&P 500 – An Ominous Chart
  • JOLTS Takeaways
  • Consumer Confidence Shows Measurable Deterioration in Current Family Financial Situations: Chart

Futures are slightly lower this morning as yesterday’s sizeable rally in the S&P 500 is digested ahead of more domestic jobs data while global markets were mixed overnight.

In Asia, PBOC officials met with leaders from the private sector regarding stimulus and development, but so far, government efforts have been underwhelming and Chinese markets ended little changed.

In Europe, some regional German inflation statistics came in hot, buoying government bond yields this morning which could weigh on equities if the trend continues into the U.S. session.

Today, focus will be on economic data early with the ADP Employment Report (E: 200K) and GDP report (E: 2.4%) due out ahead of the bell while Pending Home Sales (E: -0.4%) will be released shortly after the open.

There are no Fed speakers today, so investors will be looking for more evidence that supports a continued pause in the Fed’s rate hiking cycle (or peak rates already being in) and ultimately a soft landing. Anything that contradicts that narrative will be a headwind on equities and other risk assets today.

Why Have Markets Become Volatile?

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Have Markets Become Volatile?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Are the Three Pillars of the Rally Under Attack?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Key Growth and Jobs Data This Week

Futures are slightly higher following more small stimulus steps from Chinese authorities, as investors look ahead to an important week of economic data.

Chinese authorities reduced the stamp tax on stock investment, providing a small economic tailwind and boost to Chinese stock prices.

Economically, the only notable number was the EU Money Supply (M3) and the number was bad as M3 declined –0.4% vs. (E) 0.6%.

Today there are no notable economic reports so markets will focus on the tech sector to see if it can continue to stabilize after last Thursday’s ugly reversal.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Morningstar on August 13th, 2023

/in , /by

A stumbling stock market faces a crucial summer test. Here’s what will decide the bull’s fate.

“This scenario would essentially undermine the three pillars of the rally, and as such investors should expect a substantial decline in stocks, even considering the recent pullback,” Tom Essaye said in a note last week. “In fact, a decline of much more than 10% would be likely in this scenario, as it would undermine most of the rationale for the gains in stocks since June (and perhaps all of 2023).”

Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on August 9th, 2023

/in , /by

Stocks Pause Ahead of Inflation Data

“The Italian government clarified that a windfall tax on bank profits would be capped, sparking a relief rally in European financials and general risk-on trade in global markets,” Tom Essaye writes. “There are no notable economic reports and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak today which is setting the session up to be fairly quiet as traders await tomorrow’s CPI release.” Click here to read the full article.

What Can Push Stocks Higher from Here?

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Can Push Stocks Higher from Here? (Four Candidates)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Do the Three Pillars of the Rally Get Further Reinforced?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Focus on Growth Data this Week (Not Inflation).

Futures are drifting modestly higher following a quiet weekend of news, as markets digest the uptick in volatility so far in August.

Concerns about the Chinese economy grew this morning after real estate firm Country Garden suspended trading in select offshore bonds, reminding investors of Chinese property market volatility from years ago and reinforcing that recession risks in China are real.

There was no notable economic data overnight.

Today there are no notable economic reports so focus will remain on Treasury yields ahead of important economic data and earnings later this week. Generally speaking, the more calm the movement in yields (so no big rallies and no big declines) the better for stocks.

Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard Update

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard Update

Futures are little changed as markets digest Thursday’s failed rally amidst more conflicting economic data.

Chinese money supply growth missed estimates and again underscored existing recession risks and that modestly weighed on sentiment.

UK economic data was better than expected, however, with  GDP (0.2% vs. (E) 0.0%) and manufacturing (2.4% vs. (E) 0.2%) both beating estimates.

Today focus will remain on inflation, as we get headline PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 0.7% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.3% y/y) along with the University of Michigan inflation readings within Consumer Sentiment (E: 71.3).  As CPI showed, an in-line inflation number that shows on going and modest disinflation won’t spark a rally, as that’s already priced in, but it will help support stocks around current levels.  A hotter than expected number, however, will likely spark another market decline.

Market Multiple Table: August Update

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table – August Update
  • Oil Tests 2023 Highs – Chart

U.S. futures are modestly higher as deflationary Chinese price data is being offset by risk-on money flows in Europe fueled by a rebound in bank stocks.

The Italian government clarified that a windfall tax on bank profits would be capped, sparking a relief rally in European financials and general risk-on trade in global markets.

Economically, Chinese CPI fell -0.3% vs. (E) -0.5% and PPI fell -4.4% vs. (E) -4.0% revealing the emergence of deflationary price trends as the world’s second largest economy struggles to generate any meaningful growth momentum.

There are no notable economic reports and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak today which is setting the session up to be fairly quiet as traders await tomorrow’s CPI release.

There is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, however, and after yesterday’s strong 3-Yr Note auction, bond investors will be looking to see solid demand for longer duration Treasuries given the recent rise in yields, otherwise a further rise in longer-term rates will likely weigh on stocks (especially high valuation corners of the market).

Finally, earnings season is winding down but we will hear from DIS ($0.99) and WYNN ($$0.59) after the close and their quarterly results could shed some new light on the health of the consumer.

What Is the Yen Carry Trade?

/in , /by

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

/in , /by

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

/in , /by

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.