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What the January Barometer Says for Markets in 2025

What the January Barometer Says for Markets in 2025: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the January Barometer Says for Markets in 2025

Futures are slightly lower as markets digest lingering tariff uncertainty and despite better than expected economic data.

The only notable economic report overnight was Euro Zone Flash GDP and it beat estimates, rising 0.1% vs. (E) 0.0%.

On tariffs, the lack of detail and action on reciprocal tariffs was a relief but a “tariff cliff” has formed on or around April 1st and that uncertainty will stay a market headwind.

Tariff headlines should theoretically slow down for the next few weeks given the various trade studies that need to occur before tariff announcements in March/April, so focus will turn back towards data and there are two notable reports today:   Retail Sales (E: -0.1%) and Industrial Production (E: 0.3%).  As has been the case, Goldilocks data that’s at or slightly under expectations remains the best case for stocks as it implies solid growth but won’t make the Fed less dovish.

There is also one Fed speaker today, Logan at 3:00 p.m. ET, but she shouldn’t move markets.


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What Yesterday’s Hot CPI Means for Markets

What Yesterday’s Hot CPI Means for Markets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Yesterday’s Hot CPI Means for Markets

Futures are little changed following a night of mixed economic data and as markets await more details on reciprocal tariffs.

Investors are waiting to learn which countries and what products will be subject to reciprocal tariffs and until that happens (maybe today or Thursday) that uncertainty will be a market headwind.

Economically, UK and EU data was slightly better than expected (UK GDP and Euro Zone IP both beat estimates).

Obviously tariff news could be market moving if we get any specifics on reciprocal tariffs but beyond that, focus will remain on economic data and due to yesterday’s hot CPI, PPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.2% y/y) will be the most important report today.  PPI is viewed as a loose leading indicator for CPI, so if PPI runs “hot” look for another rise in Treasury yields and a headwind on stocks.  The other notable economic report today is Jobless Claims (E: 217K) and markets will want to see more Goldilocks readings (so slightly above expectations).


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Sentiment Update: A Somewhat Shocking Discovery

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Sentiment Update:  A Somewhat Shocking Discovery

Futures are little changed following slightly disappointing economic data overnight.

EU and UK flash PMIs underwhelmed as the EU Services PMI declined to 50.7 vs. (51.5) while the UK Manufacturing PMI dropped to 46.4 vs. (E) 48.5, underscoring the economic headwinds facing the EU and UK.

Today focus will stay on economic data and the two key reports are the Flash Manufacturing PMI (E: 51.3) and Flash Services PMI (E: 53.0).  Markets will want to see in-line to slightly weak readings but most importantly, no big jumps in the price indices like we saw in Empire and Philly earlier this week.

Other notable events today include Existing Home Sales (E: 4.16 million) and Consumer Sentiment (E: 68.0) as well as two Fed speakers:  Jefferson (11:30 a.m. ET) and Daly (11:30 a.m. ET).

This market needs Goldilocks data to continue to hold up

This market needs Goldilocks data to continue to hold up: Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Investing.com


Sevens Report jobs preview: The ‘market needs Goldilocks data’

In the latest Sevens Report, analysts highlighted the importance of Friday’s jobs report, stating that “if it’s Goldilocks, it’s going to help support the market amidst all this tariff and policy noise.”

However, if the report is either too strong or too weak, it could introduce further volatility and pressure on stocks.

Sevens Report emphasizes that for markets to remain stable, “this market needs Goldilocks data to continue to hold up.”

Also, click here to view the full article published on February 6th, 2025. 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.


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Expectation for continued rate cuts this year is an important support

Expectation for continued rate cuts this year is an important support: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch Featured on Yahoo Finance


Jobs report and Trump’s trade war hold keys to outlook for stocks

The expectation for continued rate cuts this year is an important support for the bull market, Tom Essaye, founder and president at The Sevens Report Research, wrote in a Thursday note.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article featured on Yahoo Finance published on February 3rd, 2025. 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.


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Tom Essaye Interviewed On Schwab Network

Tom Essaye Interviewed On Schwab Network


A.I. Enterprise Monetization in Focus, AAPL’s ‘Upside Surprise’

A.I. companies were the name of the markets in 2024, now Tom Essaye says they need to prove they can make money.

Also, click here to view the full interview with Schwab Network published on February 3rd, 2025. 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.

Can Stocks Rally in the Face of Tariff Threats?

Can Stocks Rally in the Face of Tariff Threats?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Can Stocks Rally in the Face of Tariff Threats?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Do Fed Rate Cut Expectations Change This Week?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI on Wednesday is the Key Report

Futures are modestly higher despite more tariff threats as markets bounce following Friday’s decline.

President Trump announced he was imposing 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and will apply “reciprocal” tariffs on numerous countries later this week.

Markets are shrugging off the announcements so far, however, because they again lack specific details.

Economically, there were no notable reports overnight.

Today focus will be on the New York Fed 1-Year Consumer Inflation Expectations (E: 3.0%), which is a bit atypical.  On Friday, one year inflation expectations jumped but it was because of tariff concerns and as such, it’s not going to impact the Fed.  However, if we see another jump in inflation expectations this morning, that may be taken as a mildly hawkish signal and boost yields and pressure stocks.


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Jobs Report Preview: Why A Goldilocks Report Matters For This Market

Jobs Report Preview: Why A Goldilocks Report Matters For This Market: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview:  Why A Goldilocks Report Matters For This Market

Futures are little changed as markets await the next round of news on tariffs while economic data was mixed.

Economically, Euro Zone Retail Sales missed estimates (-0.2% vs. (E) 0.0%) underscoring still tepid EU growth.

On trade, a call between Trump and Xi still hasn’t happened but most expect tariffs to be reduced when it does.

Today will be a busy day in the markets, starting with a major central bank decision as the Bank of England is expected to cut rates 25 bps.

Economically, there are two notable reports today including Jobless Claims (E: 215K) and Unit Labor Costs (E: 3.3%) and as we’ve seen the last two days, slight misses vs. expectations will be positives for stocks and bonds.  On the Fed front, there are two speakers today but they won’t move markets as they both speak after the close (Logan at 5:10 p.m. ET and Waller at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Finally, on earnings, the key report today is AMZN ($1.52) after the bell.


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Earnings and economic growth are still solid

Earnings and economic growth are still solid: Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Investing.com


Are tariffs a gamechanger for the S&P 500?

While the tariffs add another headwind for equities, Sevens Report argues that they do not warrant an immediate reduction in equity exposure.

“Earnings and economic growth (the two most important foundational forces for stocks) are still solid,” the analysts wrote. However, they caution that “the factors that push stocks higher are being weakened or eliminated one-by-one,” while downside risks are mounting.

“These tariffs potentially undermine that positive price action from the ‘rest’ of the market and could weigh on other sectors while DeepSeek weighs on tech,” the analysts noted.

“Most still believe this is all a negotiation and that the tariffs won’t be on for long (and that’s still probably right),” the report states. However, with AI uncertainty and elevated valuations already straining investor sentiment, Sevens Report warns that “the recipe is coming together for a solid and extended pullback.”

Also, click here to view the full article published on February 3rd, 2025. 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.

What Would Cause the Fed to Cut Rates Again? (Two Answers)

What Would Cause the Fed to Cut Rates Again? (Two Answers): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Would Cause the Fed to Cut Rates Again? (Two Answers)

Futures are modestly higher despite mixed tech earnings.

TSLA (up 3% pre-market) and META (up 1% pre-market) results were “fine” while MSFT disappointed (MSFT down  4% pre-market) but none of the results were surprising enough to impact the broader tech sector.

Today will be a busy day of economic data and earnings including, in order of importance, the ECB Rate Decision (E: 25 bps cut), Jobless Claims (E: 224K), Advanced Q4 GDP (E: 2.7%) and Pending Home Sales (E: 0.4%).  And, following yesterday’s Fed meeting, it remains the case that in-line to slightly weak results are the “best” case for stocks as they imply solid growth but keep rate cut expectations stable.

On earnings, the key results today include: AAPL ($2.36), INTC ($0.12), V ($2.66), UPS ($2.52), MA ($3.68), CAT ($4.97).


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