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MMT Chart: Bearish Revisions and Building Technical Risks

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MMT Chart: Bearish Revisions and Building Technical Risks: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • MMT Chart – Bearish Revisions and Building Technical Risks
  • PPI Takeaways – Favorably, No Hawkish Surprise

Futures are higher with European shares led by U.K. stocks thanks to more “cooler-than-feared” inflation data released overnight.

Economically, U.K. Core CPI fell 0.3% to 3.2% vs. (E) 3.4% in December, favorably matching a 3+ year low. In the wake of yesterday’s lower than expected U.S. PPI report, we are seeing some recent hawkish money flows unwind and a tentative risk-on tone in the pre-market.

Today is lining up to be very busy with arguably the most important economic data of the week due out before the bell: CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.9% y/y) and Core CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.3% y/y). The Empire State Manufacturing Index will also be released at 8:30 a.m. ET (E: 1.0).

Fed speak also picks up materially today with multiple speakers scheduled to offer commentary over the course of the session including: Barkin (8:00 a.m. ET), Kashkari (10:00 a.m. ET), Williams (11:00 a.m. ET), and Goolsbee (11:00 a.m. ET).

Finally, today is the unofficial start to earnings season as well with big banks due to release Q4 results this morning. Noteworthy financial behemoths reporting before the bell include: JPM ($4.02), C ($1.25), BLK ($11.44), WFC ($1.34), and GS ($7.99).

Bottom line, in order for stocks to continue to stabilize near current levels, investors will want to see “cool” CPI data, less hawkish Fed speak, and solid big bank earnings. If any of those catalysts disappoint, there is a strong risk the 2025 stock market lows are retested today.

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Jobs Day (Abbreviated Jobs Report Preview)

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Jobs Day (Abbreviated Jobs Report Preview): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day (Abbreviated Jobs Report Preview)
  • Are the Global Bond Markets Punishing the UK?

Futures are little changed as none of the economic data or central bank speak of the past 48 hours was impactful, so investors are focused on today’s jobs report it’s potential to move markets, especially if it’s “Too Hot.”

Economically, Euro Zone retail sales missed expectations, adding another lack luster data point to the growing list.

Today the major event is the jobs report and stakes for stocks are clear:  If this report is “Too Hot” and boosts fears the Fed has paused rate cuts, it’ll cause yields to rise and hit stocks, potentially hard.

Expectations for the report are as follows: 164K Job-Adds, 4.2% Unemployment Rate, 4.0% y/y Wage Growth.   An in-line to slightly weak number vs. expectations is the best-case scenario for markets this morning:

In addition to the jobs report we also get Consumer Sentiment (E: 74.5) and some notable earnings from DAL ($1.76), WBA ($0.37) and STZ ($3.34), but today is really all about the jobs report.

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Why Have Stocks Dropped?

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Why Have Stocks Dropped?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Have Stocks Dropped?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Goldilocks Data Fuel A Rebound?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Friday’s Jobs Report is the First Big Report of 2025.

Futures are extending Friday’s rally thanks to a rebound in political optimism and despite more mixed global economic data.

Mike Johnson was relatively easily re-elected Speaker of the House on Friday, providing a needed positive political event for markets and boosting pro-growth policy hopes.

Economically, global data remained lack luster as the UK Services PMI missed expectations (51.1 vs. (E) 51.4.).

Today focus will turn back to data with Factory Orders (E: -0.3%) and the December Services PMI (E: 58.5) and the more Goldilocks the readings, the more they’ll fuel this early bounce.  There is also one Fed speaker, Cook (9:15 a.m. ET), but she shouldn’t move markets.

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter

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Can the Trump Trade Outperform in 2025?

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Can the Trump Trade Outperform in 2025?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Can the Trump Trade Outperform in 2025?

Futures are sharply lower following another failed attempt at a short-term government funding agreement.

A Republican plan for a new short-term government funding agreement was soundly defeated in a House vote and a government shutdown starting today is looking likely.

Specifically, futures aren’t down because of the shutdown itself, but instead because this is the type of political chaos markets fear in a second Trump term (that hasn’t even officially started yet).

Today politics will dominate the headlines and any positive news towards a funding agreement will fuel a bounce, while no progress will continue to weigh on stocks.

Beyond Washington, however, there is an important economic report today, the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.9% y/y).  This is the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation and given the Fed’s hawkish decision on Wednesday, this number needs to come in at or under expectations, otherwise it’ll just add to the selling pressure.

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Why Has Tech Been So Strong? (Again)

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Why Has Tech Been So Strong? (Again): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Has Tech Been So Strong? (Again)

Futures are modestly higher following better than expected tech earnings overnight.

Broadcom (AVGO) earnings were mixed but management commentary was bullish and the stock is rallying 15% pre-market and that’s helping to boost tech stocks and broader market futures.

Economically, the notable data was from the UK and it was soft.  Monthly GDP (-0.1% vs. (E) 0.2%) and Industrial Production (-0.6% vs. (E) 0.3%) both missed estimates.

Today there are no notable economic reports nor any Fed speakers, so markets will likely follow the tech sector.  If the AVGO led tech rally this morning can hold, it should pull other indices and sectors higher with it.

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What Credit Spreads Are Saying About the Economy

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What Credit Spreads Are Saying About the Economy: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Credit Spreads Are Saying About the Economy

Futures are little changed despite more trade threats from President-elect Trump overnight.

After the close, Trump stated he’d apply a 25% tariff to all goods from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, again reminding investors that not all proposed policies are market friendly.

Focus today will be on economic data and earnings and it’s likely to be the last potentially busy day of the week given the looming holiday.

The key report today is the FOMC Minutes (2:00 p.m. ET) which will give us insight into the November Fed decision.  Any commentary in the minutes that makes a December rate cut less likely will be a modest negative for stocks, while a strong sense of commitment for additional cuts will be a positive.  Other reports today include the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 4.8%) and New Home Sales (E: 725K),

Finally, there are important retail and tech earnings today and some reports we’ll be watching include: BBY ($1.30), DKS ($2.68), DELL ($2.05), HPQ ($0.94).

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Why Stocks Dropped (Two Main Reasons)

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Why Stocks Dropped (Two Main Reasons): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Dropped (Two Main Reasons)
  • Jobs Day (Abbreviated Jobs Report Preview)

Futures are modestly higher following “ok” earnings from major tech firms overnight and ahead of the jobs report.

AMZN and INTC posted solid earnings while AAPL results were only mildly disappointing and the cumulative reports are boosting futures this morning.

Economically, the UK manufacturing PMI dropped to 49.9 vs. (E) 50.3, keeping BOE rate cut expectations elevated.

Today focus will be on economic data, starting with the jobs report and expectations are as follows:  106K Job-Adds, 4.1% UE Rate, 4.0% y/y Wage Growth.  The jobs report isn’t the only important report today, however, as we also get the October ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.6).

Bottom line, both numbers need to come in close to expectations to help stocks extend this morning’s early bounce.  Data this week has been a bit “hot” and it’s pushed Treasury yields higher and Fed rate cut expectations lower and that’s weighed on stocks.  In-line reports this morning would be Goldilocks and would reverse that trend (and further fuel this morning’s bounce).

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Semiconductor stocks have cycle-leading characteristics

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Semiconductor stocks have cycle-leading characteristics: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

Tech’s Moment of Truth Has Arrived

As Sevens Report President Tom Essaye notes, “semiconductor stocks have cycle-leading characteristics,” given their volatility and risky balance sheets, meaning they “begin to roll over before most of the rest of the market as traders rotate away to lower-beta, more value-oriented names during times of uncertainty, including economic downturns (but admittedly also “growth scares” such as 2022). So, as we continue to navigate an uncertain market landscape in the second half, the SOX are offering us a ‘canary in the market coal mine’ right now that could, and likely will, offer fair warning before a more meaningful decline in the broader market indexes, such as the S&P 500 , eventually begins to take shape.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on October 18th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

It’ll be Very Hard for This Market to RallyIf 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.

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.

Why Don’t Stocks Drop On Bad News?

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Why Don’t Stocks Drop On Bad News?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Don’t Stocks Drop On Bad News
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Earnings Are the Key This Week
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Important Growth Data on Thursday

Futures are slightly higher following a quiet weekend of news as investors look ahead to the first busy week of Q3 earnings and more important economic data.

Economically, Chinese exports missed expectations and the latest stimulus announcement underwhelmed, but none of it was bad enough to reverse any more of the recent rally.

This week is full of potentially market moving events from earnings and economic data but they all come later in the week and today should be mostly quiet given it’s the Columbus Day holiday (banks and bond markets closed) and there are no notable economic reports.  We do get a few Fed speakers, however (Kashkari (9:00 a.m. ET & 5:00 p.m. ET), Waller (3:00 p.m. ET)), but they shouldn’t move markets.

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The port strike could disrupt the data

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The port strike could disrupt the data: Tom Essaye Quoted in Forbes

Could Dock Worker Strike Spike Inflation? Experts Are Split.

Sevens Report analyst Tom Essaye wrote Tuesday to clients any strike-related inflation uptick is ultimately just a “temporary disruption” and shouldn’t impact the view of the broader inflation picture.

“The port strike could disrupt the data, essentially creating a smoke screen for the Fed when trying to stick the soft landing,” wrote Essaye.

Also, click here to view the full Forbes article published on October 1st, 2024. 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.

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.