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Why the Bar for the Fed to Be Hawkish Is High

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Why the Bar for the Fed to Be Hawkish Is High: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Bar for the Fed to Be Hawkish Is High
  • What the CPI Report Means for Markets

Futures are slightly higher despite soft economic data, as markets await the Fed decision later this afternoon.

Economically, data from the UK and the EU was bad and is slightly increasing growth concerns.   UK monthly GDP  and UK & EU Industrial Production all missed estimates.

Chinese growth concerns also rose as China declared industrial development as the #1 economic priority, potentially signaling less economic stimulus in 2024.

Today focus will be on the FOMC decision (2:00 p.m. ET, No change to rates expected) and the keys are the 2024 dot (does it show 50 bps of cuts?) and whether Powell slams the door on the idea of rate cuts (or leaves it slightly open).  In addition to the Fed, we also get another important inflation reading via PPI (E: 0.1% 1.0%). A further decline will be peripherally positive for markets.

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The Market Has So Aggressively Priced In A Dovish Fed

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The Market Has So Aggressively Priced In A Dovish Fed: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch on MSN

November jobs report likely to show a solid 190,000 increase, with unemployment staying at 3.9%

As a result, market participants will be much more sensitive to a hotter-than-expected number than to a softer-than-expected figure, said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a Thursday note.

That means the threshold for “too hot” figures — including payrolls, the unemployment rate and wages — that cause a pullback in both stocks and bonds is lower than it’s been all year because the market has so aggressively priced in a dovish Fed, he wrote.

“So, there’s less of a margin for error if the jobs report is stronger than expectations.”

Also, click here to view the full article published by MSN on December 8th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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Expect General Digestion of Last Week’s Rally

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Expect General Digestion of Last Week’s Rally: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Stock Futures Slip as Investors Look Ahead to Jobs Report

“It’d take a major beat or miss to move markets, so we should expect continued general digestion of last week’s rally,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research.

Investors will want to see signs that the economy is no longer running hot—inflation and growth moderating sufficiently to support the lowering of borrowing costs.

But markets also don’t want to see signs of undue weakness, which could suggest that the economy is slowing to a worrying degree.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on December 4th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Expect General Digestion of Last Week’s Rally

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.

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What Are GLP-1 Drugs and Why Do They Matter to Markets?

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What Are GLP-1 Drugs and Why Do They Matter to Markets? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Are GLP-1 Drugs and Why Do They Matter to Markets?

U.S. equity futures are trading lower this morning as a credit downgrade of China’s debt is overshadowing mostly good Composite PMI data overseas.

Overnight, Moody’s cut their outlook for Chinese debt to negative. This weighed on Asian shares and EM stocks, as well as domestic equity futures.

Economically, China’s Composite PMI favorably rose to 51.6 vs. (E) 50.1 in November. While the Eurozone Composite PMI remained in contraction, but notably firmed to 47.6 vs. (E) 47.1 last month.

Two key economic reports to watch today: JOLTS (E: 9.4 million job openings) and the ISM Services Index (E: 52.4). Investors will want to see more evidence that supports a soft landing in the data.

Finally, there is one Fed economist speaking today: Gibson (10:00 a.m. ET) but his comments should not materially move markets.

What Are GLP-1 Drugs and Why Do They Matter to Markets?

Annual Discounts on Sevens Report, Alpha, Quarterly Letter, and Technicals.

We’ve recently been contacted by advisor subscribers who wanted to use the remainder of their 2023 pre-tax research budgets to extend their current subscriptions, upgrade to an annual (and get a month free) or add a new product (Alpha, Quarterly Letter, Technicals).

If you have unused pre-tax research dollars, we offer month-free discounts on all our products. If you would like to extend current subscriptions or save money by upgrading to an annual subscription (across any Sevens Report product), please email info@sevensreport.com.

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.

Bullish or Bearish? My Analysis

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Bullish or Bearish? My Analysis.: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Bullish or Bearish?  My Analysis.
  • EIA and OPEC Analysis

Futures are slightly higher following more encouraging inflation readings and despite underwhelming Chinese economic data.

EU HICP (their CPI) rose less than expected (3.6% vs. (E) 3.9%) furthering the idea the ECB is done with rate hikes.

Economically, Chinese Nov. PMIs disappointed as both the manufacturing and composite PMIs missed estimates.

Focus now turns to economic data as today and tomorrow contain the week’s most important economic reports.  Today, the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.2%, 3.5%) is the key report and anything that shows a greater than expected decline in inflation will likely spur a rally.

Other notable data today includes Jobless Claims (E: 219K) and Pending Home Sales Index (E: -2.0%) and we also have one Fed speaker: Williams (9:15 p.m. ET).  Again, data that is “Goldilocks” on growth combined with commentary from Fed officials that imply rate hikes are done should continue to support stocks.

Bullish or Bearish?  My Analysis.

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Small Cracks in the Three Pillars of the Rally?

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Small Cracks in the Three Pillars of the Rally? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Small Cracks in the Three Pillars of the Rally?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can the Ideas of A Dovish Fed and Economic Soft-Landing Power Stocks to 2023 Highs?
  • Weekly Economic Preview:  Key Inflation and Growth Data This Week

Futures are slightly lower after a mostly quiet weekend as Chinese growth worries offset geo-political positives.

Chinese industrial profit growth slowed to 2.7% in Oct vs. 11.9% in Sept and that data combined with news of a quickly spreading respiratory illness in China is weighing on growth expectations.

Geo-politically, the Israel-Hamas cease fire will likely be extended several days and that’s easing geo-political tensions and oil is falling as a result (down more than 1%).

This week contains several potentially important catalysts on inflation and economic growth, but they come later in the week. So, focus today will be on holiday spending commentary and New Home Sales (E: 721k).  Positive commentary on spending and Goldilocks data would help support stocks.

Three Pillars of the Rally?

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Bullish Market Momentum

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Bullish Market Momentum: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Stocks Look to Close Out Another Week of Gains

“If the Fed speakers stick to the same narrative (less hawkish) expect more of the same sideways, digestive trading in equities today with the threat of a continued move higher based on bullish market momentum,” Tom Essaye writes.

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye adds that a handful of Federal Reserve officials will speak on Friday.

Stocks were little changed Friday, but poised to close out another week of gains.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on November 17th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Bullish Market Momentum

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.

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Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard Update

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Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard Update: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard Update
  • Continuing Claims Hit 2-Year High: Chart
  • Philly Fed Survey Takeaways – More Signs of Stagflation
  • Industrial Production Confirms Slowdown in Factor Sector

Stock futures are modestly higher this morning as soft U.K. consumer spending data. Combined with an as-expected drop in EU inflation are supporting a continued bid in bond markets.

Economically, U.K. Retail Sales fell -0.3% vs. (E) +0.3%. As the Eurozone HICP (their CPI equivalent) met estimates across the board, falling significantly from 4.3% to 2.9% y/y. Positively the “Narrow Core” figure eased to 4.2% from 4.5%.

Looking into today’s session, there is just one economic report to watch: Housing Starts (E: 1.35 million) and barring a big surprise, the release should not move markets.

There are a handful of Fed officials speaking today with Barr & Collins, Daly, Goolsbee, and Collins again all on the schedule. If the Fed speakers stick to the same narrative (less hawkish) expect more of the same sideways, digestive trading in equities today with the threat of a continued move higher based on bullish market momentum.

Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard Update

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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
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Market Catalysts This Week Support A Further Rally?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI Tomorrow, Key Growth Data the Rest of the Week

Futures are slightly lower as markets digest two slightly negative events from the weekend and look ahead to a week filled with possible market moving catalysts.

Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit outlook to negative but importantly did not change the rating and as such it’s not significantly impacting markets.

Geo-politically, U.S. forces struck more targets in Syria over the weekend, escalating regional tensons but so far markets are not reacting (oil isn’t rallying off the news).

Looking forward, this is a potentially important week, but it starts slowly as there are no notable economic reports today nor any Fed speakers.

Beyond today, though, in addition to the economic catalysts this week, risk of another U.S. government shutdown is rising as there needs to be a short-term spending deal by Friday to avoid a shutdown.  So, any progress on that front today will help markets, while any negative headlines will likely provide a small headwind.

CPI Preview:  Good, Bad & Ugly

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Why Did Stocks Drop? (Familiar Reasons)

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Why Did Stocks Drop? S&P 500: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Stocks Drop? (Familiar Reasons)
  • What A Seven Month High In Continuing Jobless Claims Means for Markets

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news. Markets digest Thursday’s two “hawkish” events (poor Treasury auction and Powell comments), the rebound in Treasury yields and stock pullback.

Economic data was mixed overnight as UK manufacturing slightly disappointed (0.1% vs. (E) 0.3%). While monthly GDP slightly beat (-0.2% vs. (E) -0.1%) but overall, the data isn’t moving markets.

Treasury yields will likely remain in control of this market and if they continue to rise, expect more declines in stocks.  From a data standpoint, the numbers that could move Treasury yields today are Consumer Sentiment (E: 64.5) and the Five-Year Inflation Expectations (E: 3.0%).  Markets will want to see in-line readings for both (or lower in the case of inflation expectations) to pressure yields.

We also have two Fed speakers today, Logan (7:30 a.m. ET) and Bostic (9:00 a.m. ET) but they shouldn’t move markets (Logan will likely be slightly hawkish and Bostic slightly dovish).

Why Did Stocks Drop?

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