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Breadth matters because it basically speaks to investor conviction about fundamentals

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Breadth matters because it basically speaks to investor conviction about fundamentals: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

The S&P 500 Is Suffering From Bad Breadth Again

“Breadth matters because it basically speaks to investor conviction about fundamentals,” Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye tells Barron’s. “The more sectors that are rallying, the stronger the perception of underlying fundamentals (a rising tide lifts all boats). If just one sector is carrying the market (poor breadth) it’s viewed as a vulnerable market because fundamentals aren’t that strong outside of the one sector.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on May 23rd, 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.

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Explaining This Market to Clients (Summer Edition)

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Explaining This Market to Clients (Summer Edition): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Explaining This Market to Clients (Summer Edition)
  • Weekly Economic Preview – All Eyes on Inflation (Friday)

Futures are modestly higher, led by mega-cap tech, as traders return from the long weekend to mixed headlines.

Economically, an ECB survey showed a favorable dip in medium term (3-year) consumer inflation expectations which was well received by equity traders overnight.

Geopolitically, an Egyptian soldier was killed in a fire fight with Israeli forces at the Rafah border over the weekend while, separately, there were dozens of civilian casualties following an Israeli airstrike just north of Rafah leaving Middle East tensions as high as they’ve been in months (oil is up more than 1%).

Looking into today’s session, there are two economic reports to watch: S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.3%) and Consumer Confidence (E: 95.3) while several Fed officials are scheduled to speak: Kashkari (9:55 a.m. ET), Cook (1:05 p.m. ET), and Daly (1:00 p.m. ET). The market will want to see more “goldilocks” economic data and preferably less-hawkish Fed chatter.

Additionally, there are two key Treasury auctions, the first for 2-Yr Notes at 11:30 a.m. ET, and the second for 5-Yr Notes at 1:00 p.m. ET. With the total amount being auctioned just shy of $150B, demand for the Notes will be closely watched and weak auction outcomes could push yields higher and weigh on stocks with key inflation data looming later in the week.

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Even a small bout of stagflation would result in a 10%-20% decline in stocks

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Even a small bout of stagflation would result in a 10%-20% decline in stocks: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch

The economy could be heading toward 1970s-style stagflation. What it means for the stock market.

 “Stagflation doesn’t have to be as bad as it was in the 1970s, but for a stock market that’s trading above 21 times earnings, the truth is that even a small bout of stagflation would result in a 10%-20% decline in stocks,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a Monday note.

“Of course, comparing this period to the 1970s, where GDP growth was flat or negative and CPI was running more than 10%, [Powell’s] absolutely right [that] there is no stagflation,” said Essaye. But he added that it’s somewhat “dismissive” to say that just because things aren’t as bad as they were in the 1970s, any talk of stagflation is unwarranted.

“In an absolute sense,” economic growth is not at levels that would imply stagflation — but data releases are becoming “more conclusive that economic momentum is slowing,” Essaye said. “While stagnation isn’t here yet, the data is showing a greater chance of it occurring than any time in the last year and a half.”

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on May 13th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’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.

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Advisor Considerations of the “T+1” Settlement Change

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Advisor Considerations of the “T+1” Settlement Change: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Practice Management Update: Examining the Upcoming Move to T+1 Settlement
  • Long-Term S&P 500 Chart: Greatest Volatility Risk Since January 2022

Futures are flat this morning as economic data was mixed in Europe and global traders await NVDA earnings (tomorrow) to gauge the outlook for AI industry growth.

In Europe, German PPI fell -3.3% vs. (E) -3.1% underscoring that disinflation trends remain underway in the EU while the UK’s CBI Industrial Trends Order Balance dropped -33% vs. (E) -20% adding to global factory sector worries.

Looking into today’s session, there are no economic reports to watch but a handful of Fed speakers on the calendar this morning: Barkin (9:00 a.m. ET), Waller (9:00 a.m. ET), Williams (9:05 a.m. ET), Bostic (9:10 a.m. ET) and Barr (11:45 a.m. ET).

At this point, the higher-for-longer mantra has been absorbed by markets and it would take renewed talk of rate hikes to meaningfully move markets, especially as traders settle in and await tomorrow’s post-bell earnings release from NVDA which is widely viewed as the most important catalyst of this week.

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Still A Soft Landing, But Growth Is Slowing

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Still A Soft Landing, But Growth Is Slowing: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard:  Still A Soft Landing, But Growth Is Slowing

Futures are little changed as markets again digested the post CPI rally amidst more in-line inflation data and additional Chinese economic stimulus.

Core EU HICP (their CPI) met expectations, rising 0.7% m/m and 2.7% y/y, and kept a June rate cut on track.

In China, the government announced a sweeping program to support the property industry, potentially adding more critical stimulus to the Chinese economy.

Today focus will be on Leading Indicators (E: -0.3%) and two Fed speakers, Waller (10:15 a.m. ET) and Daly (12:15 p.m. ET), but barring any major surprises, they shouldn’t move markets and further digestion of the new highs is to be expected.

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Why the Outlook For Stocks Got Worse Last Week (Not Better)

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Why the Outlook For Stocks Got Worse Last Week (Not Better): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Outlook For Stocks Got Worse Last Week (Not Better)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Fed Officials and the BOE Increase Rate Cut Hopes?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  A Quiet Week but Friday’s Inflation Expectations Will Be Important

Futures are extending the gains from Friday’s Goldilocks jobs report despite a potential increase in geo-political tensions this week.

Oil prices are rallying moderately following the breakdown of Israel/Hamas cease fire talks and an Israeli military operation in Rafah is likely.

Economically, the Euro Zone services PMI beat estimates at 53.5 vs. (E) 52.9, pushing back on EU recession risks.

Today there are no notable economic reports but there are two Fed speakers, Barkin (12:50 p.m. ET) and Williams (1:00 p.m. ET).  If either of them sound more open to rate hikes than Powell did last week, it’ll likely push yields higher and take back some of last week’s post-Fed rally.

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Jobs Report Preview

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Jobs Report Preview: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview

Futures are modestly higher ahead of the jobs report thanks to good AAPL earnings and solid economic data.

AAPL posted better than expected earnings and boosted its buyback.  The stock is rallying 6% pre-open and that’s helping to push futures higher.

Economically, the UK Services PMI was better than expected (55.0 vs. (E) 54.9) implying solid growth.

Today focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are: 243K Job Adds, 3.8% Unemployment Rate and 0.3% m/m and 4.0% y/y Wage Growth.  To help extend this late week bounce, markets will need to see the jobs number modestly below expectations (preferably on all three metrics) to imply solid growth but still increase the likelihood of a September rate cut.  If the jobs report prints “Too Hot” across all three metrics, don’t be shocked if Thursday’s rally is given back and then some.

Outside of the jobs report, there are two Fed speakers today:  Williams & Goolsbee (7:45 a.m. ET).  Williams will be the more important of the two as he’s part of Fed leadership and if he brings up rate hikes again, look for an uptick in volatility.

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A Flash of Fear: FOMC Technical Preview

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A Flash of Fear: FOMC Technical Preview: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Technical Preview – A Flash of Fear in the Market (Shareable PDF By Request)
  • More Hot Inflation Data: Employment Cost Index and Case Shiller/FHFA Home Price Indices
  • Chart: Stagflation Concerns Bring Focus Back to the Yield Curve

Futures are lower as stagflation fears continue to weigh on risk assets while earnings were mixed overnight with AMZN reporting strong quarterly cloud sales (the stock is up 2%+) while AMD’s AI-chip demand forecast disappointed (the stock is down 6%+).

Economically, the U.K.’s April Manufacturing PMI was better than feared, rising to 49.1 vs. (E) 48.7 which is helping the FTSE buck the heavy trend across global equity markets this morning.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on economic data early with the ADP Private Payrolls (E: 175K), ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 50.0), Construction Spending (E: 0.3%), and JOLTS (E: 8.7 million) all due to be released by 10 a.m. ET.

Additionally, the Treasury Refunding Announcement (8:30 a.m. ET) for which estimates sparked some volatility earlier in the week, could move bond markets and subsequently impact equities in the pre-market.

In the afternoon, focus will turn to the Fed with the FOMC Announcement at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by Fed Chair Powell’s Press Conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Earnings season takes a breather today before AAPL and other tech companies report tomorrow but there are still a few notables to monitor today including: MA ($3.22), CVS ($1.69), QCOM ($2.31).

Bottom line, there are a lot of potential catalysts for markets today but the key to stocks stabilizing will be economic data that contradicts recent signs of stagflation emerging in the economy and a benign Fed day with an as-expected to dovish announcement and no surprises from Chair Powell. Otherwise, we could easily see a test or breakdown through the April lows in the S&P 500 today.

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There is certainly still a geopolitical fear bid in oil markets

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There is certainly still a geopolitical fear bid in oil markets: Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Morningstar

Oil prices score weekly gain, breaking run of back-to-back weekly losses

“There is certainly still a geopolitical fear bid in oil markets here with [West Texas Intermediate crude] prices in the low $80s,” Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch. “Geopolitical worries have eased from their most tense levels seen earlier in April as the escalation in the Middle East between Israel and Iran has receded back to a still unsettling, but notably more stable level.”

Without the simmering geopolitical worries, WTI would likely be in the low-to-mid $70-a-barrel range, “at best,” as consumer demand for gasoline has been sliding in recent weeks, while OPEC+ has made no changes to output policy in some time, he said.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on April 26th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

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.

Still “a simmering” geopolitical fear bid in the global oil market

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Still “a simmering” geopolitical fear bid in the global oil market: Sevens Report Founder, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Morningstar

Oil prices remain at more than 3-week low as Iranian crude supply concerns ease

Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report Research, said there is still “a simmering” geopolitical fear bid in the global oil market which is keeping futures above the $80-a-barrel level, and that fear bid will remain in the market until there is some “more formal” ceasefire agreed upon in the Middle East.

Outside geopolitics, higher-for-longer policy rates are a risk to demand down the road, but for now most economic data remains robust and supports the case for futures to sustain prices above $80 in the near term, Essaye said in a Tuesday client note.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on April 23rd, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

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.