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FOMC Preview: All About December (and Beyond)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview: All About December (and Beyond)

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news as investors focus on the looming potential catalysts of tomorrow’s Fed meeting and hyperscaler earnings.

Economically, the only notable report overnight was Chinese Industrial Profits which met expectations (15.5%).

There was no notable AI or geopolitical news overnight.

Today focus will be on economic data and the key report is Durable Goods (E: 1.4%), as markets will want to see continued strong business investment (which is critical to the resilient economy).  We also get a lot of housing data via Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: -0.1%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.2%) and New Home Sales (E: 651K).  Finally, Consumer Confidence (E: 80.4) will also be released this morning.  With the housing and Consumer Confidence data, the stronger, the better.

Earnings season also continues and the key report today is Visa (V: $3.43) as markets will want to see strong commentary on consumer spending.  Other notable reports include KO ($0.87), NVS ($2.25), BA ($-0.21) and WM ($2.18).

 

New ETFs for Your Watchlist

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • New ETFs for Your Watchlist

Futures are pointing higher as investors take comfort in Fed Chair Warsh’s flexible stance on rates.

Warsh avoided signaling whether the Fed will hold or raise rates later this year, and markets viewed his comments as less hawkish than feared following two days of hotter-than-expected inflation data.

Economically, Eurozone HICP met expectations at 3.8% y/y, while Core HICP also met estimates at 2.5% y/y.

Today, focus will be on Import & Export Prices (E: 0.6% m/m, 0.9% m/m) and Industrial Production (E: 0.4%). Markets will be looking for signs that price pressures are not broadening further.

Finally, there are no Fed speakers scheduled today, while earnings include TRV ($7.01), TFC ($1.17), MTB ($4.98), CFG ($1.38), and RF ($0.67.

 

Why Gold Fell So Hard on Monday

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • New ETFs for Your Watchlist (Monthly Update)
  • Why Gold Fell So Hard on Monday

Futures are little changed as markets digest more mixed headlines on U.S./Iran ceasefire talks.

Geopolitically, President Trump denied Monday’s “sanction relief for nuclear concessions” headlines, but negotiations appear on going in some form (which is positive).

Geopolitics will remain the primary market driver today and any positive headlines on a ceasefire should pressure oil and help stocks rebound.

Economically, reports today include the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 2.1%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 2.4%) and Consumer Confidence (E: 90.0) but they’re unlikely to move markets, barring a major surprise.

We do have a lot of Fed speakers today and of them, Williams (2:00 p.m. ET) and Waller (3:00 p.m. ET) are the most important.  Other Fed speakers today include Bowman (11:00 a.m. ET), Barr (12:40 p.m. ET), Goolsbee (1:00 p.m. ET) and Musalem (1:30 p.m. ET).  Bottom line, if the tone from Fed speakers remains hawkish that will help support the dollar and yields.

Finally, there are two consumer-focused companies reporting today, CCL ($1.36) and KMX ($0.68) and the stronger the reports, the better.

 

Tom Essaye Analyzed Three ETFs Launched In July

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Small-Caps, Bitcoin, and a Cathie Wood Buffer: 3 New ETFs

Strategist Tom Essaye analyzed three exchange-traded funds launched in July: Wasatch Small/Mid Cap, T. Rowe Price Active Crypto, and ARK DIET Q3 Buffer.

Small-caps, crypto, and Cathie Wood. That trio caught the attention of top strategist Tom Essaye.

Two are the themes of new exchange-traded funds. The other is a new ETF run by the savvy money manager Wood.

Tom Essaye, editor of The Sevens Report newsletter, often takes a look at ETF launches and other actively managed funds in the news.

Also, click here to view the full article published in Barron’s on August 26th, 2026. 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.

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.

How to Capitalize on the World Cup (5 Top ETFs to Buy)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How to Capitalize on the World Cup – 5 Top ETFs to Buy
  • CPI Takeaways – Inflation Rises, But Core Up Less Than Feared

Futures are higher with tech/semis leading as the U.S. called an end to the latest wave of military strikes against Iran which is offsetting a negative reaction to ORCL earnings (shares down ~8%) due to lofty cap-ex plans.

There were no noteworthy economic reports overnight leaving traders focused on the ECB meeting announcement (8:15 a.m. ET) with President Lagarde’s press conference to follow.

Beyond the ECB decision, traders will be eyeing today’s Jobless Claims release (E: 215K) as well as the second important U.S. inflation print of the week: PPI (E: 1.4% m/m, 6.0% y/y). An in-line claims print and as-expected, or cooler-than-feared PPI print should help stocks stabilize.

Heading into the afternoon, the Treasury will hold a 4-Week & 8-Week Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 30-Yr Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET which will offer further insight to the bond markets view of inflation/Fed policy outlook as the Fed remains in their “blackout period” ahead of next week’s meeting (no Fed speakers today).

Finaly, there are a few noteworthy earnings releases to watch today including: ADBE ($4.74), LEN ($1.23), and RH (-$2.07), and as has been the case all season, the stronger the results, the better.

 

Sevens Report Alpha

Clients are hungry for income again, but the traditional playbook is becoming harder to execute. Bond yields remain attractive in some areas of the market, yet many investors still want higher levels of cash flow without taking on excessive duration risk or stretching for yield.

That has fueled interest in a new category of products built around autocallable notes, a strategy that has historically been reserved for high-net-worth investors and structured product desks.

In this week’s Alpha Report, we break down how autocallable ETFs work, why they are gaining trac-tion, the risks investors need to understand, and where they may fit within a diversified portfolio.

If clients are asking for more in-come and you want to stay ahead of one of the fastest-growing areas of the ETF market, this is a report worth reading.

Sevens Report Alpha

New ETFs for Your Watchlist (March Launches)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • New ETFs for Your Watchlist (March Launches)

Futures are modestly higher overnight on general optimism towards falling geopolitical risks in the Middle East.

President Trump continued to post encouraging comments about the U.S./Iran ceasefire and investors now fully expect a lasting agreement in the coming days.

The 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is adding to the optimism, pushing oil modestly lower (down 3%).

Today will again be driven by geopolitical sentiment and there are reports the U.S. and Iran may meet in person over the weekend.  Confirmation of that meeting would be an incremental market positive.

Outside of geopolitics, there are no economic reports but there are three Fed speakers including Daly (11:30 a.m. ET), Barkin (12:15 p.m. ET) and Waller (2:00 p.m. ET) and the more they frame any inflation spike is temporary, the better for markets.

Finally, earnings season continues to roll on with a focus on regional banks today including: TFC ($0.99), FITB ($0.84), RF ($0.61) and STT ($2.58).

 

New ETFs for Your Watchlist

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • New ETFs for Your Watchlist

Futures are little changed despite solid economic data and some hopes any Iran strikes by the U.S. could be limited.

Economic data overnight was good as the EU flash composite PMI (51,9 vs. (E) 51.4) and the UK flash composite PMI (53.9 vs. (E) 52.2) both beat estimates.

Geopolitically, reports overnight stated a U.S. strike on Iran could be limited and aimed and furthering negotiations.

Today focus will remain on geopolitics (and reduced chances of a strike on Iran will be positive for markets) and economic data, as there are several economic reports today.  They are, in order of importance:  Flash Manufacturing PMI (E: 51.9), Core PCE Price Inde (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.9% y/y) and Advanced Q4 GDP (E: 2.8%).  As has been the case, solid data that’s a bit better than expectations remains the best-case scenario for stocks as it reinforces solid growth.

Finally, on the Fed front, there are two speakers today, Bostic (9:45 a.m. ET) and Musalem (3:30 p.m. ET), but they shouldn’t move markets.

 

Why Tech Declined Again

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Tech Declined Again
  • New and Notable ETFs

Futures are little changed despite more mixed tech earnings.

GOOGL reported solid results but slightly underwhelming guidance while QCOM outright disappointed and both stocks are lower as tech sentiment remains uncertain.

Today the calendar is busy with a Bank of England Rate Decision (E: No Change) and ECB Rate Decision (E: No Change) before the open.

Economically, we have two labor reports via Jobless Claims (E: 212K) and JOLTS (E: 7.25M) and they key here is stability (meaning no substantial deterioration).  There is also one Fed speaker, Bostic (10:50 a.m. ET), but he shouldn’t move markets.

Finally, earnings season continues and the key report today is AMZN ($1.98) and the market could really use a strong report this afternoon.  Other notable reports include: COP ($1.08), BMY ($1.15), CMI ($5.20), CI ($7.87),   RBLX ($-0.49).

 

New ETFs for Your Watchlist

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is Japan Having a “Liz Truss” Moment?
  • New ETFs for Your Watchlist

Stock futures are modestly lower as yesterday’s robust relief rally is digested ahead of the release of a slew of delayed economic reports.

Economically, German GDP met estimates of +0.3% Y/Y but steadied in Q/Q terms, up from -0.2% to 0.0% in Q3.

Looking into today’s session, there is a long list of economic data due to be released including PPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.6% y/y), Retail Sales (E: -0.4%), Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.1%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.1%), Consumer Confidence (E: 93.3), Pending Home Sales (E: -0.4), and Business Inventories (E: 0.2%).

No Fed officials are scheduled to speak (although some last-minute media interviews are possible), however there is a 5-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move yields and impact stocks, and the stronger the demand, the better for stocks (dovish money flows).

Finally, Q3 earnings continue to be released and noteworthy companies reporting today include BABA ($0.49), BBY ($1.31), ANF ($2.14), DELL ($2.26), WDAY ($0.90), and AMBA ($-0.40).

Bottom line, in order for yesterday’s relief rally to continue in thin holiday-week trading, markets will be looking for Goldilocks-to-strong economic data (not too strong to derail December rate cut bets, though) and stable to well-bid bond markets as a rebound in yields or resurgence in recession worries would pour cold water on yesterday’s risk-on money flows.

 

New ETFs to Watch and AI-Bubble Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • More Bubble Signs? OpenAI and NVDA Partnership
  • New ETFs for Your Watchlist

Futures are little changed as traders digest mixed EU Flash PMI data and await fresh comments from Fed Chair Powell today.

Economically, the EU Composite PMI Flash rose to 51.2 vs. (E) 50.9 with the Services Index notably rising to 51.4 vs. (E) 50.5 however the Manufacturing index disappointed.

Today, there are two economic reports to watch in the U.S., both of which will print shortly after the open: PMI Composite Flash (E: 53.0) and the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -10).

The Fed’s speaker circuit will remain fairly busy today with Bowman (9:00 a.m. ET) and Bostic (10:00 a.m. ET) speaking this morning before focus will turn to commentary from Powell (12:35 p.m. ET) mid-day.

Additionally, there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move bond yields and ultimately impact equities if there are any surprises regarding demand metrics (the stronger the demand the better for stocks).

Finally, some late season earnings reports continue to trickle in with notables reporting today including AZO ($50.52) and MU ($2.69).