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A Potentially Pivotal Week for the 2024 Bull Market

A Potentially Pivotal Week for the 2024 Bull Market: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Potentially Pivotal Week for the 2024 Bull Market
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Important Updates on Growth, Rate Cuts and AI Enthusiasm
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Jobs Report Friday, Fed Wednesday.

Futures are solidly higher on momentum from Friday’s rally and following a mostly quiet weekend of news, as investors look ahead to an important week for economic growth, rate cut expectations and mega cap tech earnings.

Geopolitically, tensions increased between Israel and Hezbollah following an attack in the Golan Heights and subsequent Israeli retaliation, but for now it’s not moving oil markets.

This week will give us a lot of color on the state of economic growth and a check on market rate cut expectations, but the important events don’t start until tomorrow (MSFT & AMD earnings) as there are no notable economic reports today.

Looking deeper at earnings, about 40% of the S&P 500 reports this week, including several major mega-cap tech stocks, but those important reports don’t start until tomorrow.  Today, we’ll be watching: MCD (E: $3.08), ON (E: $0.92) and SFM (E: $0.77).


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Is the Yen Carry Trade Become A Headwind on Markets?

Is the Yen Carry Trade Become A Headwind on Markets?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is the Yen Carry Trade Become A Headwind on Markets?

Futures are seeing a solid bounce following a mostly quiet night of news as investors look ahead to (hopefully) another good inflation report.

Earnings remained broadly mixed overnight (some good, some bad) but none of the results are impacting markets.

There was no notable economic data or geo-political events overnight.

Today the focus will be on the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.1% m/m, 2.5% y/y) and if this number is better than expected (or even dead in-line with expectations) that will remind investors that rate cuts are coming soon (September) and that should help extend this early rebound in stocks and bonds.

Earnings roll on although next week is, by far, the most important week of the season.  Reports we’re watching today include:  BMY (E: $1.64), MMM (E: $1.66) and CNC  (E: $2.42).


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What is Causing This Pullback?

What is Causing This Pullback?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What is Causing This Pullback?
  • Yield Curve Update:  10’s-2’s Just Hit a Two-Year High
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly lower as more mixed earnings are preventing a bounce in stocks.

Tech earnings were “ok” overnight (IBM and NOW posted good results) but other sectors’ results were weak, especially in the auto sector (Ford (F) is down 13% pre-market) and that’s weighing on futures.

Focus will remain on economic data and earnings today and the calendar is busy on both fronts.  Economically, the key reports today, in order of importance, are:  Jobless Claims (E: 235K), Final Q2 GDP (E: 2.1%), and Durable Goods (E: 0.3%).  Goldilocks economic data (so in-line with expectations across the board with no hints of inflation) would be a positive for stocks and help to slow this pullback.   But, if data is very soft or very strong, expect more downward pressure.

On the earnings front, results this season are, so far, very mixed and disappointing earnings are weighing on stocks.  Important results today include: AAL (E: $1.04), ABBV (E: $2.56), VLO (E: $2.61), LHX (E: $3.18) and BKR (E: $0.49).


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Dow Theory: Transports Sputter, Industrials Power On

Dow Theory: Transports Sputter, Industrials Power On: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Dow Theory: Transports Sputter, Industrials Power On
  • Visual – Existing Home Sales Fall, Home Prices & Inventories Rise

Futures are lower thanks to soft earnings from Mag-7 members TSLA (down 7% premarket) and GOOGL (down 3% premarket) as well as soft economic data in Europe.

The Eurozone’s July Composite Flash PMI fell to 50.1 vs. (E) 51.0 with both the manufacturing and services components missing estimates (German data was notably weak).

Looking into today’s session, the U.S. Flash Composite PMI (E: 51.6) will be the market’s primary focus early in the day but New Home Sales (E: 644K) data is also due to be released shortly after the bell.

From there focus will likely revert to how the Mag-7 trades in the wake of yesterday’s weak tech earnings and follow through selling (like we are seeing in the pre-market) will be a drag on the major indexes.

There is also a 5-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could impact markets (yesterday’s strong 2-Yr auction pushed yields lower).

Finally, there are a few notable earnings reports due after the close including: F (E: $0.64), CMG (E: $0.31), and IBM (E: $2.16) and the Fed’s Bowman is scheduled to speak at 4:05 p.m. ET.


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Explaining My Market View More Clearly

Explaining My Market View More Clearly: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Explaining My Market View More Clearly – Subscriber Q&A
  • Chart: Visualizing the Recent Market Rotation

Futures are flat while overseas markets were mixed overnight with European shares trading higher on tech earnings optimism but Chinese markets fell on growth concerns.

There were no market moving economic reports overnight.

Looking into the U.S. session, there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today and just one economic release to watch this morning: Existing Home Sales (E: 3.99M).

Additionally, there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could be a catalyst for bonds and ultimately impact stocks (especially if the outcome is weak, it could weigh on risk assets).

Finally, earnings season continues to pick up with UPS ($1.98), GM ($2.64), and KO ($0.80) releasing results before the bell and TSLA ($0.59), GOOGL ($1.84), V ($2.41), and COF ($3.28) reporting after the close.


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Market Impact of Biden’s Decision

Market Impact of Biden’s Decision: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Impact of Biden’s Decision to Drop Out
  • Putting Last Week’s Declines in Proper Context (What Tech Giveth, Tech Taketh Away)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Does the Changing Political Landscape Pressure Markets?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  The First Big National Report for July Comes This Week

Futures are solidly higher on surprise rate cuts from China and as President Biden dropped out of the Presidential election.

President Biden dropped out of the election this weekend and endorsed VP Harris as the new nominee and this should see a mild tightening of the polls.

Economically, China announced a surprise 10 bps interest rate cut and that’s helping to boost the economic outlook.

This week will be a busy one for earnings and economic data, but it starts slowly as there is just one notable economic report today, Chicago Fed National Activity (E: 0.18) and three notable earnings reports:  NXPI ($3.21),VZ ($1.15) and TFC ($0.78). NXPI is the most important earnings report today and if the semiconductor company can post strong guidance, it’ll help ease chip worries (which will help the tech sector and broader market stabilize).


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Olympic Style Ideas (Finding A Common Topic With Clients)

Olympic Style Ideas (Finding A Common Topic With Clients): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Olympic Style Ideas (Finding A Common Topic With Clients)

Futures are little changed following a night of mixed earnings as NFLX results were in-line while industrial PPG warned of a difficult macro-economic environment.

Economically, the only notable report was UK Retail Sales and they were worse than expected (-1.2% vs. (E) -0.4%) and that will push back slightly against the growing idea that the BOE won’t cut rates in September.

Today there are no notable economic reports, but we do get two Fed speakers, Williams (10:40 a.m. ET) and Bostic (12:45 p.m.).  Of the two, Williams is more important because he’s part of Fed leadership and if he again points towards a September rate cut (by saying the Fed is close to cutting rates) that should help boost stocks.

Earnings, meanwhile, continue to roll on and results so far are mixed.  Important reports today include AXP ($3.22), SLB ($0.83) and TRV ($2.35).


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History suggests the answer is probably no

History suggests the answer is probably no: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch


This major Treasury market shift could signal serious pain ahead for stocks

History suggests the answer is probably no. More often, the reversal of a yield-curve inversion has signaled that the wheels are about to come off the economy and the stock market with it, according to Tom Essaye, a former Merrill Lynch trader and founder of Sevens Report Research.

Since 1998, the spread between the 2-year and 10-year Treasury yields has inverted six times, including this latest episode, which began in July 2022. The others started in June 1998, February 2000, January 2006, June 2006 and August 2019. Only three of these episodes, including the current one, saw the yield curve remain inverted for a substantial amount of time. The others began in February 2000 and June 2006.

In both cases, the un-inversion of the yield curve preceded a turbulent stretch for stocks. When the 2s10s spread returned to positive territory on Dec. 29, 2000, the S&P 500 was trading at around 1,320. The S&P 500 declined for the next 22 months, bottoming out around 785 in October 2002, Essaye said.

According to Essaye, the logic behind why such a shift in the yield curve doesn’t bode well for the economy is fairly straightforward.

“When [2s10s] turns back positive, it’s usually because the 2-year Treasury yield is falling quickly as investors price in aggressive rate cuts. Rate cuts usually occur because the Fed is worried about economic growth,” Essaye said. “That’s happening right now, as the market prices in 100% chances for a September and December rate cuts and a growing chance for a third cut this year.”

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on July 17th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.


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What Caused This Rotation From Growth to Value (And How Long Can It Last?)

What Caused This Rotation From Growth to Value: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Caused This Rotation From Growth to Value?
  • How Long Can It Last?

Futures are slightly higher as tech stocks bounce modestly following better than expected earnings overnight.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) posted solid earnings and the stock is modestly higher pre-market and that’s helping the tech sector to bounce and support futures.

Economically there were no important reports overnight.

Today is a busy day of economic data and central bank speak.  First, on the data front, the most important report is the July Philly Fed Survey (E: 3.0) followed closely by Jobless Claims (E: 230k).  Economic data so far this week has been Goldilocks and that’s helped stocks and markets will welcome more Goldilocks reports today, while “Too Cold” data will increase growth worries.

Looking at central banks, there’s an ECB Rate Decision later this morning but they aren’t cutting rates (the only question is how forcefully they telegraph a September cut and the more forcefully, the better for stocks).  Looking at the Fed, we have three speakers today, Logan (1:45 p.m. ET), Daly (6:05 p.m. ET) and Bowman (7:30 p.m. ET) and if they echo recent sentiment that it’s “almost time” to cut rates that should also help support stocks.

Finally, on the earnings front, we get some notable reports today including TSM ($1.37), NFLX ($4.70) and PPG ($2.48).


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The Yield Curve May Un-Invert Soon. Why That’s Not Good (Historically)

The Yield Curve May Un-Invert Soon. Why That’s Not Good (Historically): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Yield Curve May Un-Invert Soon. Why That’s Not Good (Historically)
  • How the Post CPI “Rest of the Market” Rally Is Accelerating

Futures are moderately lower thanks to significant weakness in tech stocks.

Semi-conductor chip stocks are lower this morning on a trifecta of negative news including soft ASML guidance, reports of tighter chip restrictions with China and bellicose rhetoric from Trump on Taiwan in a recent interview.

Focus will remain on economic data today and the most important report is Industrial Production (E: 0.3%) while we also get Housing Starts (1.305M).  As Tuesday showed, markets still want Goldilocks economic reports, meaning they aren’t too strong but don’t point to economic weakness, either.  We also have two Fed speakers, Barkin (9:00 a.m. ET) and Waller (9:35 a.m. ET), but unless one of them floats the possibility of a third rate cut in 2024, they shouldn’t move markets.

Finally, earnings season continues to roll on and some notable reports today include: ASML ($3.87), JNJ ($2.82), and UAL ($3.97).


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