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What the Fed Decision Means for Markets

What the Fed Decision Means for Markets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Decision Means for Markets: Still All About Growth
  • Fed Statement and SEP Takeaways
  • Lesser Followed, But Still Important Data Eases Stagflation Threat
  • EIA Data Takeaways and Oil Update

Futures are rallying to new highs after the SNB unexpectedly cut rates overnight, the first major central bank to do so, while MU is up 18% pre-market on solid AI driven earnings which is bolstering big tech shares.

The March Eurozone Composite PMI rose to 49.9 vs. (E) 49.6 due to a 0.9-point rise in the Services index while the Manufacturing index unexpectedly fell 0.8 points to 45.7 pointing to an imbalanced EU economy that is at risk of slowing down meaningfully.

Looking into today session, there is a lot of domestic economic data to watch with Jobless Claims (E: 209K), the Philadelphia Fed Business Survey (E: -5.0), the PMI Composite Flash (E: 51.5), and the Existing Home Sales report (E: 3.92 million) all due to be released.

Additionally, traders will be focused on the BoE Decision and meeting minutes (8:00 a.m. ET) before the bell and then later the Fed’s Vice Chair, Michael Barr is schedule to speak at a  University of Michigan round table event (12:00 p.m. ET).

Bottom line, after the Fed yesterday, investors will want to see data hold up well but not be so “hot” that it dents the case for three rate cuts before yearend. Data that comes in “too hot” or “too cold” will be a negative for stocks as the Fed has a very narrow path to achieving a soft landing here.


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The March FOMC meeting begins today

The March FOMC meeting begins today: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s


Stocks Open Lower Ahead of Fed Meeting

The FOMC’s March meeting kicks off on Tuesday. While a rate cut has been ruled out by traders, they will pay close attention to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference on Wednesday.

“The March FOMC meeting begins today and barring any material ‘tape bombs’ the markets should fall into a familiar positioning churn ahead of tomorrow’s policy announcement and Powell’s press conference,” writes Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on March 19th, 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.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.


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Fed Preview

Fed Preview: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview: Hawkish-If vs. Dovish-If
  • 10-Yr Treasury Note Yield Hits 2024 High: Chart

U.S. equity futures are giving back some of yesterday’s tech-led rally as there was a modest “sell the news” reaction to NVDA’s new AI chip (Blackwell) release while central bank decisions overnight favored policy doves.

Overnight, the BOJ delivered a dovish hike and the RBA signaled an end to rate hikes which sent both currencies lower and bolstered the dollar as this week’s Fed decision comes into focus.

Today, there is just one economic report to watch: Housing Starts (E: 1.449 million) and the Treasury will hold a 20-Yr Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. Neither should meaningfully move markets ahead of the Fed, but if the housing data is hot or there is weak demand for the Bonds (sending yields higher) we could see a hawkish/risk-off move in markets today.

The March FOMC meeting begins today and barring any material “tape bombs” the markets should fall into a familiar positioning churn ahead of tomorrow’s policy announcement and Powell’s press conference.


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Market Multiple Table: March Update

Market Multiple Table: March Update: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table – March Update
  • CPI Takeaways – Minimal Impact on Fed Rate Expectations

U.S. equity futures are flat as investors digest yesterday’s tech-led rally to fresh record highs in the S&P 500.

Overseas, Chinese developer Country Garden Holdings missed a yuan-denominated bond payment overnight which weighed on Asian markets.

Economically, U.K. monthly GDP and Industrial Production both largely met estimates, but Eurozone Industrial Production badly missed, falling -6.7% vs. (E) -2.7% in January.

Looking into today’s session, there are no economic reports or Fed speakers on the calendar which will leave traders focused on AI-focused names to see if the tech sector can lead stocks to new highs.

The one notable catalyst on the schedule today is a 30-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. A weak outcome could send yields higher which would act as a renewed headwind on stocks while a pullback in yields would be welcomed.


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This will be a potentially busy week of catalysts

This will be a potentially busy week of catalysts: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s


Stocks Open Lower as Bond Yields Rise

“This will be a potentially busy week of catalysts but it starts slowly today as there are no economic reports and just one Fed speaker,” writes Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye. “So, absent any surprises, expect yields to drive stocks. If the 10-year Treasury yield drifts lower, don’t be surprised if stocks recoup these early losses.”

“We think Powell will hold his ground and not try to give anything away,” writes Andrew Brenner, head of international fixed income at NatAlliance Securities. “He won’t be that hawkish or show signs of dovishness, although we see Powell as a dove in wolf’s clothing.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on March 4th, 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 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.


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.

More Aggressive Rate Cuts Will Provide Temporary Relief…

More Aggressive Rate Cuts Will Provide Temporary Relief, It Won’t Stop A Decline In Stocks: Tom Essaye Quoted in Blockworks


Bitcoin jumps above $60k for first time in 27 months

A hard landing and resulting economic slowdown could be enough to erase the stock gains traders have enjoyed since October, according to Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research.

“The reason a hard landing would be so damaging to markets in the near term is the Fed can’t really help the market out because it’s already dovishly pivoted and the market already expects aggressive rate cuts,” Essaye said. “So, while more aggressive rate cuts will provide temporary relief, it won’t stop a decline in stocks because the economic benefit of rate cuts will take too long to hit the economy to prevent a slowdown.”

Also, click here to view the full Blockwork article published on February 28th, 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.

This Relentless Rally Has Gone Far Beyond

This Relentless Rally Has Gone Far Beyond: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s


The Stock Market Hasn’t Been This Hot in Decades. Is the Rally Justified?

“If we look at the facts, I cannot help but feel as though this relentless rally has gone far beyond either actual improvement in the fundamentals and reasonable expectations of continued improvement,” writes Sevens Report Founder and President Tom Essaye.

As Essaye points out, a price-to-earnings ratio around that level was “previously only reserved for periods of quantitative easing and 0% rates, not quantitative tightening and 5.37% fed funds.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on February 27th, 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.

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye Quoted In Barron’s

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye Quoted In Barron’s


Nasdaq Loses Steam as Stocks Give Back Some Earlier Gains

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York released median inflation expectations from its January survey that were unchanged at the one- and five-year ahead horizons. But three-year expectations fell to 2.4% from 2.6%.

“That will make the Fed more confident in cutting rates and amidst an other wise quiet day, that’s what’s driving this market,” Essaye said.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on February 13th, 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 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.


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.

The Four Drivers Of This Bull Market

The Four Drivers Of This Bull Market: Tom Essaye Quoted in SwissInfo.ch


S&P 500 Rally Hits a Wall in Run-Up to CPI Report: Markets Wrap

Last week’s news and data reinforced the four drivers of this bull market: Fed rate cuts by May, solid economic growth, continued disinflation and strong earnings, according to Tom Essaye at the Sevens Report.

“It’s important to acknowledge that this rally has been driven by actual good news and bullish expectations being reinforced by actual data,” Essaye said. “At the same time, the risks that kept investors worried in October (and even throughout 2023) haven’t been vanquished — they simply haven’t shown up yet.”

Also, click here to view the full article published on February 13th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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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.

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, and Ugly

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, and Ugly: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview – Good, Bad, and Ugly
  • Middle East Update: Understanding the Situation with Rafah

U.S. equity futures are lower with European shares as investors await today’s critical inflation data ahead of the bell while most Asian markets are closed for holidays.

Economically, the German ZEW Survey was mixed as Current Conditions deteriorated to -81.7 vs. (E) -79.0 but Economic Sentiment Improved to +19.9 vs. (E) +18.0. The headline miss is one more of several recent data points that suggests the German economy is slowing more rapidly than most anticipated.

Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index was disappointing as it fell to 89.9 vs. (E) 92.4 underscoring a downbeat and cautious mood among small business owners despite economic data otherwise pointing to continued resilience in the U.S. economy.

Today, focus will be almost exclusively on the CPI report (8:30 a.m. ET) with the headline expected to come in at 0.2% m/m and 3.0% y/y while the Core CPI figure is expected to come in at 0.3% m/m and 3.7% y/y (full scenario analysis in today’s report).

There are no Fed speakers on the calendar or Treasury auction scheduled for today which will leave the session likely dominated by how the market digests the latest inflation data. Market-based Fed policy rate expectations are currently pricing in a 16% chance of a March rate cut and a 56% chance of a May cut. If those two figures decline materially, especially the latter one, expect an extension of yesterday’s intraday pullback.


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.