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Economic Breaker Panel: January Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Economic Breaker Panel – January Update
  • January Composite PMI Data Takeaways

U.S. stock futures are lower this morning, led by mega-cap tech after MSFT earnings topped estimates but guidance disappointed which is weighing on sentiment broadly.

Economically, the Business Expectations component of the German Ifo Survey notably firmed to 86.4 vs. (E) 85.0 further supporting hopes that Europe will avoid a recession in 2023 but concerns about the global tech sector is offsetting the good economic data this morning.

There are no notable economic reports and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak today which will leave the focus on earnings.

Notable companies releasing quarterly results today include: BA ($0.30), T ($0.58), and FCX ($0.40) ahead of the bell, and TSLA ($1.15), IBM ($3.60), CSX ($0.47), and STX ($0.08) after the close.

Intraday, the Treasury will hold a 5-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, and as we saw with yesterday’s 2-Yr auction which sent stocks to new session highs, the outcome of the auction could move markets before focus returns to post-market earnings reports.

Why Is Tech/Growth Rallying So Hard?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Is Tech/Growth Rallying So Hard?
  • Leading Indicators – Data Takeaways
  • Chart: Dollar Index Approaches Key Long-Term Technical Support

Futures are slightly lower as yesterday’s gains are digested while focus shifts to the start of big tech earnings.

Economically, Flash PMI data was mixed overnight with the broader Eurozone figure topping estimates but the U.K. headline badly missing expectations. The Solid Eurozone data is helping shore up recently more hawkish policy expectations for the ECB and that is weighing on EU shares this morning.

Today, the U.S. Composite PMI Flash will be in focus right after the opening bell. The report is comprised of two parts: the PMI Manufacturing Flash (E: 46.5) and the PMI Services Flash (E: 45.5) and investors will want to see some degree of stabilization in the data.

There are no Fed speakers today however the Treasury will hold a 2-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and the results could shed light on the market’s latest policy expectations ahead of next week’s Fed meeting, and weak demand (higher yields out of the auction) could weigh on stocks.

Finally, earnings season is continuing to pick up with: JNJ ($2.22), VZ ($1.21), MMM ($2.34), UNP ($2.75), and TRV ($3.50) reporting before the bell while the big report will be MSFT  ($2.29) after the bell. COF ($3.81) will also report after the close.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in MarketWatch on January 11th, 2023

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Oil ends higher even as the EIA reports one of its biggest weekly crude supply increases on record

Trader conviction “is low given renewed hopes for a soft landing and optimism about China reopening (bullish) being weighed against economic uncertainties and growing concerns about the Department of Energy’s commitment to buy oil at $70/barrel due to funding and liquidity issues (bearish),” wrote analysts at Sevens Report Research in a Wednesday note. Click here to read the full article.

Market Multiple Table Chart

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table Chart
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are little changed as overnight economic data was in-line with expectations while investors look ahead to this morning’s CPI Report.

Economically, Chinese CPI was the only notable number and it largely met expectations at 1.8% y/y (vs. (E) 1.9%).  That reading will keep Chinese authorities actively stimulating the Chinese economy, which is a positive for the global economy.

Today focus will clearly be on the CPI report (E: 0.0, 6.6%), but remember the Core CPI report is the more important number (E: 0.3%, 5.7%).  Markets need to see continued declines in CPI to underwrite recent gains in stocks and bonds.

Away from CPI, we get the latest Jobless Claims reading (E: 215K) and this number needs to move higher to reflect a better balance in the labor market.  Finally, there are multiple Fed speakers today including Harker (7:30 a.m. ET), Bullard (11:30 a.m. ET), and Barkin (12:40 p.m. ET) and while we should expect typically hawkish rhetoric, they shouldn’t reveal anything new (and as such shouldn’t move markets).

Technical Outlook for Growth vs. Value

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Current Technical Outlook for Growth vs. Value
  • Cooler Than Feared German CPI Roils Currency Markets

Markets are trading with a risk-on tone this morning following favorable economic data overnight while traders look ahead to today’s domestic data and the release of the Fed minutes.

Economically, France’s December CPI headline fell to 5.9% vs. (E) 6.3% y/y while Composite PMI headlines across Europe were revised solidly higher from the Flash prints. Those data points indicate a faster drop in inflation and more resilient economic activity which bolsters the prospects of a soft landing.

Looking into today’s session, we get a few notable economic reports this morning including: Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 13.7 million), ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 48.0), and JOLTS (10.1 million) before the focus will turn to the release of the December FOMC Meeting Minutes at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Bottom line, optimism about quickly retreating inflation rates overseas and better-than-feared growth readings are driving risk-on money flows overseas today and if we see more of the same in the U.S. data today, that can continue. Regarding the Fed Minutes, any positive mention about progress on getting inflation under control will be well received and could see the pre-market gains extended into the afternoon.

Three Keys to a Bottom: Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Three Keys to a Bottom: Update
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet – Jobs Report in Focus

U.S. equity futures have a tentative bid to start the new year today as tech stocks are outperforming amid a sharp pullback in Treasury yields.

Economically, China’s Manufacturing PMI fell to 49.0 in December from 49.4 in November while the U.K.’s Manufacturing PMI came in at 45.3 vs. (E) 44.7 last month. Both figures remained well below 50, in contraction territory, and that is seeing some of the recent hawkish central bank expectations unwind as we begin the new year.

Looking into today’s session, there are two economic reports to watch in the U.S., the Manufacturing PMI (E: 46.2) and Construction Spending (E: -0.4%).

Investors will be looking for data that points to a continued slowdown in growth but a more pronounced drop in price readings as that should help further ease hawkish policy expectations and allow the early but tentative risk-on money flows to continue.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak and no notable Treasury auctions today. That will leave investors focused on Treasuries as a continued drop in yields today should support a continued bid in tech stocks and equities more broadly as traders reposition into the new year.

 

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Why There’s Some Cause for (Cautious) Optimism

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why There’s Some Cause for Cautious Optimism

Futures are slightly lower following a quiet night of news as markets digest Thursday’s rally.

Economically the only notable number was the UK Home Price Index, which like the U.S. readings this week saw smaller than expected declines, falling –0.1% vs. (E) -0.7%.

Geopolitically, Russia continued Thursday’s missile bombardment of Ukraine is a clear signal that fighting will rage on as the New Year begins.

Trading today will be dominated by book squaring and year-end positioning but there is one notable economic report, Chicago PMI (E: 41.0), and if it’s weak it could weigh on markets moderately.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Market Watch on December 21st, 2022

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Oil prices end higher after drop in U.S. crude inventories

“Specifically, despite skyrocketing cases and reports of stressed hospitals, Chinese authorities are not locking down cities and that implies continued increases in energy demand as the world’s second largest economy comes back online,” said analysts at Sevens Report Research, in a note. Click here to read the full article.

Five Market Questions That Need to be Answered in 2023

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Five Market Questions That Need to be Answered in 2023 (And Which Answers are Positive or Negative)

Futures were volatile overnight but are now little changed following the Bank of Japan’s shock announcement of an effective interest rate increase.

The BOJ announced that it is widening the trading band on the 10 year Japanese Government Bond to 0.00% – 0.50% from the previous 0.0% – 0.25%.  This amounts to a 25 basis point rate hike.

Economic data was positive as German PPI fell more than expected (-3.9% m/m vs. (E) -2.2%) in what is another sign of global dis-inflation.

Today there is one economic number, Housing Starts (E: 1.4M), but that won’t move markets.

Instead, focus will be on the fallout from the BOJ surprise “ rate hike.”  Bottom line, markets dropped late last week and yesterday in part on higher global bond yields (following the hawkish ECB announcement) so this rate hike by the BOJ is another headwind and I’d not be surprised to see stock decline modestly on this news today, barring any positive surprises.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Market Watch on December 12th, 2022

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Oil ends higher as a major pipeline shutdown and improving Chinese demand outlook feed supply worries

Oil traded lower into the weekend, but the pace of declines “slowed as WTI approached technical support between $70 and $72,” said analysts at Sevens Report Research in Monday’s newsletter. Click here to read the full article.