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Breadth matters because it basically speaks to investor conviction about fundamentals

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Breadth matters because it basically speaks to investor conviction about fundamentals: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

The S&P 500 Is Suffering From Bad Breadth Again

“Breadth matters because it basically speaks to investor conviction about fundamentals,” Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye tells Barron’s. “The more sectors that are rallying, the stronger the perception of underlying fundamentals (a rising tide lifts all boats). If just one sector is carrying the market (poor breadth) it’s viewed as a vulnerable market because fundamentals aren’t that strong outside of the one sector.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on May 23rd, 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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Explaining This Market to Clients (Summer Edition)

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Explaining This Market to Clients (Summer Edition): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Explaining This Market to Clients (Summer Edition)
  • Weekly Economic Preview – All Eyes on Inflation (Friday)

Futures are modestly higher, led by mega-cap tech, as traders return from the long weekend to mixed headlines.

Economically, an ECB survey showed a favorable dip in medium term (3-year) consumer inflation expectations which was well received by equity traders overnight.

Geopolitically, an Egyptian soldier was killed in a fire fight with Israeli forces at the Rafah border over the weekend while, separately, there were dozens of civilian casualties following an Israeli airstrike just north of Rafah leaving Middle East tensions as high as they’ve been in months (oil is up more than 1%).

Looking into today’s session, there are two economic reports to watch: S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.3%) and Consumer Confidence (E: 95.3) while several Fed officials are scheduled to speak: Kashkari (9:55 a.m. ET), Cook (1:05 p.m. ET), and Daly (1:00 p.m. ET). The market will want to see more “goldilocks” economic data and preferably less-hawkish Fed chatter.

Additionally, there are two key Treasury auctions, the first for 2-Yr Notes at 11:30 a.m. ET, and the second for 5-Yr Notes at 1:00 p.m. ET. With the total amount being auctioned just shy of $150B, demand for the Notes will be closely watched and weak auction outcomes could push yields higher and weigh on stocks with key inflation data looming later in the week.

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Did the Last 48 Hours Make the Fed More Hawkish?

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Did the Last 48 Hours Make the Fed More Hawkish? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Did the Last 48 Hours Make the Fed More Hawkish?

Futures are modestly higher following a quiet night as markets bounce following Thursday’s high-rate driven declines.

Economically, UK Retail Sales declined –2.3% vs. (E ) -0.1%, although that’s not making a June cut more likely.

Geo-politically, there are reports Putin will seek a cease-fire in Ukraine, although that’s unconfirmed (it would be a surprise positive if true).

Given the looming long weekend we can expect quiet trading today but there are two notable economic reports:   Durable Goods Orders (E: -0.5%) and University of Michigan Inflation Expectations (1-Yr Inflation Expectations: 3.5%, 5-Year Inflation Expectations 3.1%). As yesterday demonstrated, strong data is “bad” for stocks in the near term so markets will want to see in-line readings or slightly soft numbers on both reports to help fuel a rebound from yesterday.

There is also one Fed speaker and it’s an important one, Waller at 9:35 a.m. ET, but it’s unlikely he’ll say anything surprising (he just spoke earlier this week).

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“Good, bad and ugly” outcomes for the April consumer-price index reading.

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“Good, bad and ugly” outcomes for the April consumer-price index reading: Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, Quoted in Morningstar

Stock market could suffer ‘ugly’ day if April CPI comes in above this level

Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, took a look Tuesday at potential “good, bad and ugly” outcomes for the April consumer-price index reading.

So what would provoke an ugly reaction? Essaye puts the threshold at 3.9%.

A core reading at or above that threshold would be likely to spark a “solid selloff,” further entrenching the idea that inflation remains sticky and rates will be higher for longer, Essaye wrote. That has the potential of undoing much of the rally seen over the last two weeks, as investors would likely scale back rate-cut expectations, penciling in just one cut in December.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on May 14th, 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.

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.

Even a small bout of stagflation would result in a 10%-20% decline in stocks

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Even a small bout of stagflation would result in a 10%-20% decline in stocks: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch

The economy could be heading toward 1970s-style stagflation. What it means for the stock market.

 “Stagflation doesn’t have to be as bad as it was in the 1970s, but for a stock market that’s trading above 21 times earnings, the truth is that even a small bout of stagflation would result in a 10%-20% decline in stocks,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a Monday note.

“Of course, comparing this period to the 1970s, where GDP growth was flat or negative and CPI was running more than 10%, [Powell’s] absolutely right [that] there is no stagflation,” said Essaye. But he added that it’s somewhat “dismissive” to say that just because things aren’t as bad as they were in the 1970s, any talk of stagflation is unwarranted.

“In an absolute sense,” economic growth is not at levels that would imply stagflation — but data releases are becoming “more conclusive that economic momentum is slowing,” Essaye said. “While stagnation isn’t here yet, the data is showing a greater chance of it occurring than any time in the last year and a half.”

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on May 13th, 2024. 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.

Advisor Considerations of the “T+1” Settlement Change

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Advisor Considerations of the “T+1” Settlement Change: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Practice Management Update: Examining the Upcoming Move to T+1 Settlement
  • Long-Term S&P 500 Chart: Greatest Volatility Risk Since January 2022

Futures are flat this morning as economic data was mixed in Europe and global traders await NVDA earnings (tomorrow) to gauge the outlook for AI industry growth.

In Europe, German PPI fell -3.3% vs. (E) -3.1% underscoring that disinflation trends remain underway in the EU while the UK’s CBI Industrial Trends Order Balance dropped -33% vs. (E) -20% adding to global factory sector worries.

Looking into today’s session, there are no economic reports to watch but a handful of Fed speakers on the calendar this morning: Barkin (9:00 a.m. ET), Waller (9:00 a.m. ET), Williams (9:05 a.m. ET), Bostic (9:10 a.m. ET) and Barr (11:45 a.m. ET).

At this point, the higher-for-longer mantra has been absorbed by markets and it would take renewed talk of rate hikes to meaningfully move markets, especially as traders settle in and await tomorrow’s post-bell earnings release from NVDA which is widely viewed as the most important catalyst of this week.

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How Long Can Goldilocks Last?

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How Long Can Goldilocks Last? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Long Can Goldilocks Last?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  More Updates on Growth and AI Enthusiasm (NVDA Earnings on Wednesday)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Will the First Big Report of May Confirm Slowing Growth?

Futures are little changed following a generally quiet weekend of news and ahead of another important week of potential market catalysts.

Geopolitics was in focus this weekend as Iranian President Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash, although it appears an accident and oil isn’t rallying on the news.

There was no notable economic data overnight.

Today there are no economic reports but there are multiple Fed speakers including: Bostic (7:30 & 8:45 a.m. ET), Barr & Waller (9:00 a.m. ET), Jefferson (10:30 a.m. ET), Mester (2:00 p.m. ET) and Bostic again (7:00 p.m. ET).  However, for all the commentary, unless multiple Fed officials start openly discussing rate hikes (which is extremely unlikely) their commentary shouldn’t meaningfully move markets.

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Still A Soft Landing, But Growth Is Slowing

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Still A Soft Landing, But Growth Is Slowing: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard:  Still A Soft Landing, But Growth Is Slowing

Futures are little changed as markets again digested the post CPI rally amidst more in-line inflation data and additional Chinese economic stimulus.

Core EU HICP (their CPI) met expectations, rising 0.7% m/m and 2.7% y/y, and kept a June rate cut on track.

In China, the government announced a sweeping program to support the property industry, potentially adding more critical stimulus to the Chinese economy.

Today focus will be on Leading Indicators (E: -0.3%) and two Fed speakers, Waller (10:15 a.m. ET) and Daly (12:15 p.m. ET), but barring any major surprises, they shouldn’t move markets and further digestion of the new highs is to be expected.

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Short vs. Long Term Market Outlook (Is Falling Inflation & Slowing Growth Good for Stocks?)

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Short vs. Long Term Market Outlook: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Short vs. Long Term Market Outlook (Is Falling Inflation & Slowing Growth Good for Stocks?)
  • EIA Update and Oil Market Analysis

Futures are little changed as market digest Wednesday’s new high amidst more dovish global data.

Japanese GDP (-0.5% vs. (E) -0.4%), Aussie Unemployment (4.1% vs. (E) 3.9%) and Italian HICP (their CPI, 0.9% vs. (E) 1.0% y/y) all pointed towards falling inflation and slowing global growth, which investors welcome (for now).

Today is a busy day full of data and Fed speak.  Broadly speaking, if the data/Fed speak is dovish and Treasury yields drop, it’ll extend the rally.

Notable economic data today includes (in order of importance):  Jobless Claims (E: 219K), Philly Fed (E: 7.8), Industrial Production (E: 0.1%) and Housing Starts (E: 1.435MM).

On the Fed, there are numerous speakers including:  Barr (10:00 a.m. ET), Barkin (10:00 a.m. ET), Harker (10:30 a.m. ET), Mester (12:00 p.m. ET), Bostic (3:50 p.m. ET).  But, unless they all start talking about rate hikes (very unlikely), their commentary shouldn’t move markets.

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Key Levels to Watch: S&P 500, 10Y, Gold, VIX

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Key Levels to Watch: S&P 500, 10Y, Gold, VIX: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Technical Preview: S&P 500, 10Y, Gold, VIX
  • Trading Color – The “Chase” Higher Continued Yesterday
  • PPI Takeaways: Downside Revisions Spark Dovish Money Flows

Futures are flat while European stocks are modestly higher thanks to market-friendly economic data overnight ahead of today’s U.S. CPI report.

GME and AMC are both notably up another 10%+ in pre-market trading suggesting the meme-stock frenzy is poised to continued today.

Economically, French CPI met estimates at 2.2% y/y while Eurozone Industrial Production was up 0.6% vs. (E) -0.5% helping to ease lingering worries about the threat of global stagflation.

Today, focus will be acutely on economic data in the premarket with CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.4% y/y) and Core CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.6% y/y) the most important release to watch. Downside revisions to March like we saw in yesterday’s PPI report and a goldilocks headline should see stocks extend gains and test or break through current records.

However, in order for the equity rally to continue it is important that Retail Sales (E: 0.4%), the Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -10.0), and the Housing Market Index (E: 51.0) don’t offer and negative surprises as there is a tentative and complacent feel to the current test of the all-time-highs.

After the economic data is digested, there are two Fed officials scheduled to speak today: Kashkari (12:00 p.m. ET) and Bowman (3:20 p.m. ET). Investors have become comfortable with the higher-for-longer tone recently, but any mention of hikes could pressure markets here.

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