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Five Optimistic Market Assumptions for 2024

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Five Optimistic Market Assumptions for 2024: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Weekly Market Preview – Five Market Assumptions to Know As We Start 2024
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet – Jobs Report in Focus

Futures are moderately lower to start 2024 amid concerns about China’s economy and rising geopolitical tensions.

Economically, China’s government-issued PMI fell to 49.0 vs. (E) 49.6 in December while President Xi Jinping made some cautious comments on the state of the economy over the weekend that has poured cold water on Asian markets to start the year.

In Europe, the December PMI rose to 44.4 vs. (E) 44.2 but still points to a factory sector deep in contraction which reiterates very real recession risks in the Eurozone in 2024.

Geopolitical tensions are pushing oil prices higher to start the new year after the U.S. Navy sunk three Iran-backed Houthi vessels in the Red Sea this weekend.

Looking into today’s session, the Final U.S. December Manufacturing PMI (E: 48.2) will be in focus this morning and traders will want to see stability in the data in order for stocks to start the new year with an extension of the 2023 rally.

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Market Assumptions

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Expect General Digestion of Last Week’s Rally

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Expect General Digestion of Last Week’s Rally: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Stock Futures Slip as Investors Look Ahead to Jobs Report

“It’d take a major beat or miss to move markets, so we should expect continued general digestion of last week’s rally,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research.

Investors will want to see signs that the economy is no longer running hot—inflation and growth moderating sufficiently to support the lowering of borrowing costs.

But markets also don’t want to see signs of undue weakness, which could suggest that the economy is slowing to a worrying degree.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on December 4th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Expect General Digestion of Last Week’s Rally

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FOMC Meeting Minutes Takeaways

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FOMC Meeting Minutes Takeaways: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Meeting Minutes Takeaways (Dovish in Hindsight)
  • Existing Home Sales Data Offers Mixed Signals

Futures are modestly higher this morning as a pullback in oil futures is pushing bond yields lower while investors digest a volatile reaction to mostly positive NVDA earnings.

Economically, U.K. CBI Industrial Trends saw the headline Orders Balance fall -35% vs. (E) -25% in November which is driving dovish money flows this morning.

Today’s economic calendar is a busy one with Durable Goods Orders (E: -3.2%), Jobless Claims (E: 225K), and Consumer Sentiment (E: 60.5, 1-Yr Inflation Expectations: 4.4%) all due to be released before 10:00 a.m. ET.

There are no Fed speakers today so markets will trade off of the data. If the reports are largely in line, expect mostly sideways price action with the Thanksgiving Day break looming, however, hawkish or dovish surprises will still move markets despite thin attendance and low volumes.

The Treasury will hold auctions for 4-week and 8-week Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET. While auctions for these securities usually don’t move markets, investors are more closely watching auction results following the recent weak 30-Yr auction that roiled markets. As there is potential the outcomes impact equities in an otherwise quiet environment ahead of Thanksgiving.

FOMC Meeting Minutes Takeaways

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It’s Different This Time…Until It’s Not (Like 2000 and 2007)

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It’s Different This Time… Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • It’s Different This Time… Until It’s Not (Like ’00 and ’07)
  • Chart – Visualizing Where We Are in the Market Cycle

Stock futures are trading with a slight bias to the downside as inflation data overseas showed an uptick in price pressures ahead of the latest Fed minutes release today.

Economically, Hong Kong CPI rose to 2.7% vs. (E) 2.1% in October marking the first “warm” inflation print in months. There were several one-off factors influencing the increase in price pressures but the “hot print” was a reminder that the global inflation fight is not officially over just yet.

Looking into today’s session, there is one economic report to watch: Existing Home Sales (E: 3.91 million) and if it comes in strong, that could weigh on Treasuries (yields higher) and in turn pour some cold water on stocks.

There is another Treasury auction today at 1:00 p.m. ET, but this one is for 10-Yr TIPS and will likely receive less attention than yesterday’s 20-Yr Bond auction, limiting its market impact.

From there focus will turn to the release of the minutes from the November FOMC meeting at 2:00 p.m. ET. Any language that is more hawkish than the currently very dovish shift in policy expectations could also trigger a pullback in equities in thinning holiday week trading today.

Finally, although earnings season is effectively over, there is one notable release today as NVDA ($3.18), one of the “Magnificent Seven” mega-cap tech stocks that have led the market higher in 2023, will report results after the close.

It's Different This Time... Until It's Not (Like 2000 and 2007)

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What to Tell Clients Who Are Worried About U.S. Treasuries

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What to Tell Clients Who Worry About U.S. Treasuries

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What to Tell Clients Who Are Worry About U.S. Treasuries.
  • Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Futures are little changed following a mostly quiet night of news as investors look ahead to today’s CPI report.

Politically, a “Continuing Resolution” to fund the government will be voted on in the House today and if passed, will avert a government shutdown.

Economically, the UK unemployment rate and German ZEW Business Expectations Index both beat expectations (although they aren’t moving markets).

Today focus will be on the CPI report and expectations are as follows:  CPI (E: 0.1% m/m, 3.3% y/y), Core CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 4.1% y/y).  Generally speaking, numbers that show core CPI is continuing to decline will be welcomed by markets. While readings that imply the decline in inflation is “stuck” or inflation is bouncing back, will likely result in declines in both stocks and bonds.

We also have several Fed speakers today including Barr, Mester, and Goolsbee. We’ll be watching for their reaction to the CPI report. If it makes them more hawkish that’s a negative and more dovish, a positive).

What to Tell Clients

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Why Markets Are Resilient Despite Geopolitical Risks

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Why Markets Are Resilient Despite Geopolitical Risks: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Markets Are Resilient Despite Geopolitical Risks
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Powell Signal Rate Hikes Are Over?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Can Economic Growth Stay Strong?

Futures are slightly higher as the weekend brought no major changes to the current macroeconomic set up.

Geo-politically, an invasion of Gaza by Israel remains imminent but so far the conflict hasn’t expanded regionally and oil is little changed as a result.

Economically, inflation in India declined –0.25% vs. (E) 0.50%, reinforcing that inflation is declining globally.

Today focus will be on the October Empire Manufacturing Survey (E: -5.0) and markets will want to see “Goldilocks” data that largely meets expectations combined with declines in the price indices.  We also get one Fed speaker today, Harker (10:30 a.m. ET & 4:30 p.m. ET), and one notable earnings report, SCHW ($0.75), but barring any major surprises they shouldn’t move markets.

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China Stimulus: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

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China Stimulus: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

China Stimulus Helps Asian Stocks Trade Higher

Worries over a slowdown in China have rattled global markets in recent months, with stimulus from Beijing doing little to stem the bleeding in stocks. However, the latest move to shore up the country’s economy seems to have been received more positively.

“China cut bank reserve requirements by 25 basis points in the latest step to help support the Chinese economy. And there are signs these measures are starting to have an impact,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on September 14th, 2023. However, to see Tom’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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.

What Is the Yen Carry Trade?

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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.

What Caused Yesterday’s Selloff? (It Wasn’t the Fitch Downgrade)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Caused Yesterday’s Selloff? (It Wasn’t the Fitch Downgrade)
  • Jobs Report Preview
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly lower following Wednesday’s selloff on more disappointing earnings and mixed economic data.

Economically, the EU Composite PMI slightly missed estimates (48.6 vs. (E) 48.9) as recession worries creep higher.

Tech earnings underwhelmed again, with disappointing results from QCOM and PYPL (both stocks down 7%-ish).

Today will be a busy day of data and earnings.  First, the BOE is set to hike rates 50 bps, but markets will want to see if they signal this is the last hike of the cycle.

Turning to the U.S., there are several important economic reports today including: Jobless Claims (E: 225K), ISM Services PMI (E: 53.0) and Unit Labor Costs (E: 2.6%).  Investors need Goldilocks economic data to help stabilize stocks, and if these reports are stronger than expected, look for Treasury yields to rise and for stocks to fall (like what happened yesterday).

Finally, on earnings, we get results from two of the biggest stocks in the market after the close:  AAPL ($1.19) and AMZN ($0.34).

What Caused Thursday’s Reversal?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Caused Thursday’s Reversal?
  • How Economic Data Was “Too Hot” Yesterday

Futures are modestly higher despite a slightly hawkish surprise from the Bank of Japan.

In a move that was telegraphed in trading on Thursday, the BOJ made a slightly hawkish shift and allowed the yield on 10-year Japanese bonds to move above the previous cap of 0.50%.  Technically, this is a hawkish move, although it’s a very small one.

Today focus will be on inflation, as we get two of the bigger inflation reports in the Core PCE Price index (E: 0.2% m/m, 4.2% y/y) and Employment Cost Index (E: 1.1%).  Markets will want to see continued signs of disinflation (so numbers at or below estimates) while readings that are higher then expected will push Treasury yields higher, and that will be a headwind on stocks (as we saw yesterday).

Earnings also continue and some notable reports we’re watching include:  XOM ($2.00), PG ($1.32), CVX ($2.95), CL ($0.75).