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Is Oil’s Collapse an Anecdotal Warning Sign?

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Is Oil’s Collapse an Anecdotal Warning Sign? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • More Problems With Expectations (This Time Companies)
  • Is Oil’s Collapse an Anecdotal Warning Sign?

Futures are tracking most overseas equity markets lower as investors assess global growth concerns and look ahead to today’s critical U.S. inflation data.

Economically, U.K. data was weak as monthly GDP fell to 0.5% vs. (E) 0.6%, Industrial Production was down -0.8% vs. (E) +0.2% and monthly trade data showed both imports and exports slowed -4.6% and -10.8%, respectively in July.

Looking ahead to today’s session, the most important potential market catalyst is U.S. inflation data: CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.6% y/y) and Core CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.2% y/y). A “cool” CPI report should bolster hopes for a 50 bp rate cut next week, and in turn, support stocks while a “hot” print could pour cold water on this week’s tentative rebound in equity markets.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today however there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could shed additional light on investor expectations for inflation, growth, and Fed policy going forward. A weak auction outcome would be negative for stocks while solid demand for the 10-Yr Notes should support a continuation of this week’s rally.

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The Real Problem for this Market (Not Growth)

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The Real Problem for this Market (Not Growth): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Real Problem for this Market (Not Growth)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Does Weak Inflation Data Make a 50 bps Cut More Likely?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI Wednesday is the key report.

Futures are seeing a strong bounce following a generally quiet weekend of news.

There was no specific positive headline that’s rallying futures and instead we’re seeing mostly technical dip buying.

Economically, Japanese Q2 GDP missed estimates (2.9% vs. (E ) 3.1% and that’s pushing back on BOJ rate hike expectations, which is a mild positive (the yen is down 1%).

This week focus turns back to inflation and that includes today’s NY Fed Inflation Expectations (E: 3.0%).  If they fall more than expected, it’ll further boost expectations for a 50-bps cut (and help support stocks).  The other notable economic report is Consumer Credit (E: $12.5B) and there is another important tech earnings report after the close (ORCL (E: $1.33)).  Solid guidance from ORCL would be a welcomed positive for investors right now.

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It’s not structurally the most important stock in the market

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It’s not structurally the most important stock in the market: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

Why Nvidia Is the Market’s Most Important Stock

“Nvidia is the most important stock because people have decided it’s the most important stock,” Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s in a phone interview. “It’s not structurally the most important stock in the market—their business focus is very, very slim. They just happen to be the tip of the spear of what people are convinced will be the next tech revolution.”

AI is important because the market expects AI to boost corporate profitability in the coming decades,” Essaye says. “And the whole second step of this entire thing is the uptake of AI and how it actually makes money. Nvidia is the picks and shovels of the gold mine. But people will only buy the picks and shovels if they can actually find gold, right?”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on August 27th, 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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The Most Important Central Banker This Week (Not Powell)

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The Most Important Central Banker This Week (Not Powell): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Most Important Central Banker This Week (Not Powell)

Futures are slightly higher on better than feared tech earnings and more global central bank rate cuts.

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) posted solid guidance and that, along with CSCO results last week, is helping to bolster the outlook for tech and that’s supporting futures.

Sweden’s Riksbank (their central bank) cut rates 25 bps, as expected, and that reminded investors we are in the midst of a global rate cutting campaign (which is a positive).

There are no notable economic reports today but there are two Feds speakers, Bostic (1:35 p.m. ET) and Barr (2:45 p.m. ET) and if they join other colleagues in expressing openness to cutting rates in September, it should be a mild tailwind for stocks.

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U.S. oil futures fell to new lows for the week

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U.S. oil futures fell to new lows for the week: Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Morningstar

U.S. oil prices end lower for the week as demand fears outweigh Middle East war jitters

U.S. oil futures fell to new lows for the week as Chinese data showed declining imports and refinery input demand suggested that a further slowdown in the Chinese economy will weigh on total global demand, Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch. Data from China reportedly showed refinery runs fell 6.1% year over year in July.

That followed a negative International Energy Agency report on Thursday, which mentioned a likely surplus emerging in the physical market in the quarters ahead, and a “lackluster” weekly Energy Information Administration report Wednesday, which showed a surprise build in headline crude stockpiles, Richey noted.

Gains early on this week were geopolitically driven amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, said Richey.

Looking ahead, Richey said that “geopolitical tensions remain an influence on the market … with a mild fear bid remaining in place.” However, “recession fears have emerged to be a more important factor for the market as we approach the end of the summer driving season, and any rallies driven by headlines out of the Middle East are likely to be capped in the low $80s.”

A soft economic landing is “continuing to be priced in with oil at current levels but if a hard landing becomes more likely in the weeks or months ahead,” expect oil prices to fall, Richey said – with WTI moving toward the low to mid-$60s “not only possible, but likely.”

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on August 16th, 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.

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Updated Market Outlook

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Updated Market Outlook
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Powell Confirm A September Rate Cut?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  The First Big Number of August (and It Needs to be Goldilocks)

Futures are little changed following a very quiet weekend of news as investors look ahead to more growth data this week and Powell’s speech on Friday.

There was no notable economic data over the weekend or overnight.

Geopolitically, optimism is continuing to build towards a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and that’s weighing on oil prices, although nothing formal has been announced.

Today there is only one economic number, Leading Indicators (E: -0.3%), and barring a big surprise that shouldn’t move markets.  There is also one Fed speaker, Waller (9:15 a.m. ET), and he is part of Fed leadership so if he strongly hints at a September rate cut, that should be a mild tailwind for stocks and bonds.

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The Right Way to Think About Economic Growth Right Now

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard (The Right Way to Think About the U.S. Economy)

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

The only notable economic report overnight was UK retail sales, which rose 0.8% vs. (E) 0.5% and added to Thursday’s haul of solid global data.

Geo-politically, Israel/Hamas ceasefire talks continued and any breakthrough would be a surprise market positive.

Today there are a few notable economic reports including Consumer Sentiment (E: 67.0), 1-Yr Inflation Expectations: (E: 2.9%), 5-Yr. Inflation Expectations (E: 3.0%) and Housing Starts (1.342M).  However, those numbers aren’t that important to growth so barring a major surprise, they shouldn’t move markets and we should mostly see digestion of Thursday’s big rally.

There is also one Fed speaker today, Goolsbee (1:25 p.m. ET), and he’s dovish do don’t be surprised if he openly talks about cutting rates in September.

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I continue to advocate for defensive sector exposure and and minimum volatility funds

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 I continue to advocate for defensive sector exposure and and minimum volatility funds: Tom Essaye Quoted in SwissInfo.ch

Stocks Halt Rebound as Oil Hits $80 on War Angst: Markets Wrap

Tom Essaye at The Sevens Report says he doesn’t think fundamentals have deteriorated enough to warrant de-risking and reducing equity or risk exposure — but he also wants to caution against dismissing the recent uptick in volatility.

“Much of what I read over the weekend characterized this recent volatility as just a typical pullback in an upward-trending market,” Essaye. “Because of that, I continue to advocate for defensive sector exposure and and minimum volatility funds.”

Also, click here to view the full article published on August 12th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Swissinfoch logo

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.

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly

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CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly
  • Chart: 10-Yr Yield Falls to 52-Week Lows

Futures are flat this morning while overseas markets were mixed overnight with Europe underperforming amid soft economic data while Asian shares were mostly higher.

Economically, the August German ZEW Survey saw Current Conditions fall to -77.3 vs. (E) -74.5 and Economic Sentiment drop to 19.2 vs. (E) 34.5 which weighed on stocks and other risk assets.

Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 93.7 vs. (E) 91.7 which eased recession fears and is helping U.S. equity futures relatively outperform ahead of the open.

Looking into today’s session, trader focus will be on the first inflation data of the week with PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.6% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.0% y/y) due out ahead of the bell.

There is also one Fed speaker: Bostic (1:15 p.m. ET) and one consumer-focused earnings release: HD (E: $4.55) to watch.

Bottom line, PPI could move markets today if there is a big surprise in the release, but markets are likely to remain in wait-and-see mode as investors await the more important CPI release tomorrow.

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How Worried Should We Be About This Market?

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How Worried Should We Be About This Market?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Worried Should We Be About This Market?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Important Updates on Economic Growth and Earnings
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Stagflation or Not?  (CPI Wednesday, Retail Sales Thursday)

Futures are slightly higher following a quiet weekend of news as investors digested last week’s early swoon and strong rebound, ahead of important updates this week on inflation and economic growth.

Geo-political tensions remained elevated as the world waits for the Iran/Hezbollah retaliation on Israel and expectations for an attack any day remain high.

There was no notable economic overnight and investors’ focus is on Wednesday’s CPI and Thursday’s Retail Sales.

Today is a quiet day on the calendar as there are no notable economic reports and no important Fed speakers.  But, this week provides important updates on inflation and economic growth and the stakes are high:  If inflation cools further and growth is solid, stocks can extend the rally.  If inflation isn’t cool and growth disappoints, brace for stagflation worries (and more volatility).

Join thousands 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.