Posts

Market Outlook: Positive News, but Investor Complacency is Surging

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Outlook: Positive News, but Investor Complacency is Surging
  • Weekly Market Preview: Tariff Updates – Is TACO Still Valid?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: More Focus on the Labor Market This Week

Futures are moderately lower on an increase in trade anxiety as the July 9th reciprocal tariff deadline approaches.

President Trump threatened a 10% tariff for any countries that align with “anti-American” BRIC policies and that is reminding investors of ever-present trade tensions.

On reciprocal tariffs, Secretary Bessent said tariff rates won’t increase until August 1st but several countries would be notified of higher tariff rates this week.

Economically, UK retail sales & German IP beat estimates.

Today there are no economic reports nor any Fed speakers so focus will be on trade headlines.  Any reports of any more trade “deals” ahead of the July 9th deadline will be a positive for markets and help stocks recoup these early losses.

 

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter

Our Q2 ’25 Quarterly Letter was delivered to subscribers last Tuesday, complete with compliance backup and citations.

We’re already receiving feedback about how it is saving advisors time and helping them communicate with their clients!

If you are behind on your quarterly letter, let us help!  The Sevens Report Quarterly Letter will be delivered immediately after you subscribe. 

You can view our Q1 ’25 Quarterly Letter here.

To learn more about the product (including price) please click this link.

If you’re interested in subscribing, please email info@sevensreport.com.

FOMC Technical Preview

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Technical Preview
  • Retail Sales Data Takeaways – Signs of Weakness in Consumer Spending

Futures are higher as investors continue to monitor the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and digest largely as expected European inflation data ahead of the Fed.

Economically, Eurozone HICP fell to 1.9% from 2.2%, as expected, while UK CPI edged down to 3.4% vs. (E) 3.5% which is supporting a bid in the global bond market with yields falling moderately in premarket trade.

Today, there are two economic reports to watch: Jobless Claims (E: 244K) which come a day early, and Housing Starts and Permits (E: 1.360M, 1.430M). Another sharp rise in jobless claims could bolster concerns about the health of the labor market but a big reaction from markets is unlikely given the looming Fed decision.

Speaking of which, the primary focus of today’s session will be the FOMC Announcement (2:00 p.m. ET) and Fed Chair Powell’s press conference (2:30 p.m. ET) as investors look for clarity on the future path of monetary policy.

There are two late season earnings releases to watch as well: ACB ($0.11) and KFY  ($1.25) but with the Fed in focus, neither should materially move markets today.

FOMC Meeting Preview

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • Empire State Manufacturing Survey Takeaways

Futures are lower amid an elevated sense of market uncertainty after President Trump left the G-7 summit early as tensions between Israel and Iran remain elevated.

Economically, Economic Sentiment within the latest German ZEW Survey rose from 25.2 to 47.5 vs. (E) 31.3, however European stocks are trading with a heavy tone amid the elevated geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Today, there are several noteworthy economic reports to watch including: Retail Sales (E: -0.6%), Import & Export Prices (E: -0.3%, -0.1%),  Industrial Production (E: 0.1%), Business Inventories (E: 0.0%), and the Housing Market Index (E: 36).

Beyond the economic data, the June FOMC meeting gets underway today which should prompt a sense of “Fed paralysis” as investors await clarity on the future path of monetary policy.

Finally, there are two late-season earnings releases to watch: JBL ($2.15) and LZB ($0.93) but neither should move the broad markets as focus shifts to the Fed decision.

Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard: May Update

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard: Hard Data Still (Mostly) Hanging in There
  • ISM Manufacturing Index Takeaways

Futures sold off overnight as a notably weak Chinese factory report offset a favorably cooler-than-anticipated EU CPI print.

China’s May Manufacturing PMI fell to 48.3 vs. (E) 50.7 while EU Core CPI encouragingly fell from 2.7% to 2.3% vs. (E) 2.5% last month.

Looking ahead to today’s session, there are a few noteworthy economic reports including Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 16.4M), Factory Orders (E: -3.0%),  and JOLTS (E: 7.1 million). The market could be particularly sensitive to a soft Job Openings print as a drop below 7 million could stoke worries about the health of the labor market ahead of Friday’s May jobs report.

Additionally, there are a handful of Fed speakers but unless any of them deviate from the “wait-and-see” narrative of late, their market impact should be limited. Speakers today include Goolsbee (12:45 p.m. ET), Cook (1:00 p.m. ET), and Logan (3:30 p.m. ET).

Finally, some late season earnings continue to trickle in with DG ($1.47), NIO ($-0.22), CRWD ($-0.28), and HPE ($0.28) all reporting Q1 results today.

With the ISM Services (tomorrow) and BLS jobs report (Friday) still looming large, today should be a relatively quiet day for markets as traders digest the big May rally however risks of profit taking exist if a negative headline crosses the wires.

What Is the “TACO Trade?”

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The “TACO Trade” and Why It Matters to You
  • Durable Goods Orders Show Cracks Emerging in Business Spending
  • Consumer Confidence Rebounds – Chart

Equity markets initially traded with a risk-off tone overnight thanks to a rise in global bond yields on the back of a soft Japanese government debt auction, but futures are back to flat ahead of the Fed minutes this afternoon and NVDA earnings after the close.

There is one lesser followed economic report today: Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -9.0), but barring a major surprise, the releasee is unlikely to materially move markets given other catalyst in focus.

One of those catalysts will be the Fed minutes release this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. ET as traders will look for any fresh insight as to when the next rate cut will occur or clarity on the FOMC’s outlook for the economy/inflation in the quarters ahead.

As mentioned, a soft JGB auction overnight weighed on global risk assets. As such, today’s Treasury auctions, the first for 4-Month Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET and the second for 5-Yr Notes at 1:00 p.m. ET both have potential to impact equity trading today (recall it was a 20-Yr auction that sparked last week’s mid-week selloff).

Finally, one of the last major earnings releases of the season will hit after the close with NVDA (E: $0.80) reporting post-market. A few other noteworthy late-season reports today include:  DKS ($3.37), ANF ($1.36), M ($0.14), CRM ($1.87), and ELF ($0.57).

Alleviate consumer-demand concerns and recession worries

/in , /by

Alleviate consumer-demand concerns and recession worries: Tyler Richey, editor of Sevens Report Technicals Quoted in MarketWatch

U.S. oil prices settle at highest in 3 weeks as trade-war optimism eases consumer-demand concerns

U.S. benchmark oil prices settled Tuesday at their highest in three weeks, as trade-war optimism helped “alleviate consumer-demand concerns and recession worries,” said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research.

A multiyear low in annualized U.S. headline inflation was also a “welcomed surprise that effectively poured gasoline on an already raging risk-on fire across financial markets since the better-than-anticipated outcome of the U.S.-China trade negotiations over the weekend,” he told MarketWatch.

A continued relief rally seems to be likely in the weeks ahead, with the $70- to $72-a-barrel range the “first logical upside price target for WTI,” said Richey.

Also, click here to view the full article featured on MarketWatch published on May 14th, 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 the Fed Decision Means for Markets

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Decision Means for Markets

Futures are moderately higher on more trade optimism.

President Trump posted on social media that he would announce a new trade deal this morning (likely with the UK) and this is driving optimism for more tariff relief.

Economically, the only notable report was German Industrial Production, which beat estimates (3.0% vs. (E) 2.7%).

Today focus will remain on economic data and specifically Jobless Claims (E: 232K), as investors will want to see claims decline from last week’s spike.  If claims continue to rise, that will increase economic anxiety (and likely pressure stocks).  Other economic events today include a BOE Rate Decision (E: 25 bps cut) and U.S. Unit Labor Costs (E: 5.2%), which are an important measure of inflation (and again, the lower this number, the better).

On earnings, the season is virtually over but there are a few notable reports today:  SHOP ($0.17), COP ($2.06),  COIN ($2.04), MELI ($7.67), AFRM ($-0.08).

More S&P 500 stocks are trading below their 200-day MAs than their 50-day MAs

/in , /by

The primary negative influences on copper: Tyler Richey, editor of Sevens Report Technicals Quoted in MarketWatch

More S&P 500 stocks trade below 200-day moving average than 50-day moving average

“The fact that more S&P 500 stocks are trading below their 200-day MAs than their 50-day MAs continues to support the case that the rally off the April 2025 lows remains a countertrend move in an otherwise still downward-trending market,” Tyler Richey, editor of Sevens Report Technicals, wrote in a Monday note.

Using the 2022 bear market as a guide, a test of the 50% level in the percentage of S&P 500 companies that are trading above their 200-day moving average “should not come as a surprise ahead of another washout as initial attempts to find a bottom in this bear market commence,” Richey wrote.

Also, click here to view the full article featured on MarketWatch published on May 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.

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.

FOMC Preview

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • ISM Services PMI Takeaways – Resilience Points to Soft Landing

Stock futures are lower thanks to a combination of weak earnings news and disappointing economic data overnight.

On the earnings front, PLTR missed estimates (shares down -8% in premarket trading) while F pulled 2025 guidance noting a tariff impact estimated to be -$2.5B on this year’s earnings.

Economically, China’s Service PMI fell to 50.7 vs. (E) 51.8 in April which dragged the Composite PMI down from 51.8 to 51.1, highlighting the negative impact the global trade war is having on the Chinese economy.

Looking into today’s session, there is one economic report to watch: International Trade Balance (E: -$136.3B). Typically, trade data is now widely followed, however given the trade war, a deeper than anticipated deficit could bolster recession angst.

Moving to the afternoon, the Treasury will hold a 6-Week Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 10-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. The outcome of the former could shed light on near-term rate-cut odds while the latter auction could offer insight into growth and inflation expectations.

Finally, some late season earnings are due out today including: MAR ($2.27), CEG ($2.14), AMD ($0.75), SMCI ($0.21), and ET ($0.33).

Bottom line, good economic news and dovish money flows in Treasury auctions could help stabilize markets as the Fed meeting gets underway in Washington which will likely result in a growing sense of “Fed paralysis” as the session progresses today.

MMT Chart: A Rare Oversold Condition

/in , /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table Chart:  A Rare Oversold Condition

Futures are moderately lower (down around 1%) as investors take profits following Wednesday’s massive rally.

There was no new tariff or trade news overnight and investors digested the good news/bad news of no punitive global reciprocal tariffs (positive) but still-in-place 125% tariffs on China and 10% tariffs on most U.S. imports (negative).

Today focus will turn back towards economic data and the two key reports are CPI (E: 0.1% m/m, 2.6% y/y) and Jobless Claims (E: 225K).  A weaker than expected CPI and lower than expected jobless claims will push back against stagflation concerns and help stocks potentially extend yesterday’s rebound.

Turning to the Fed, there are multiple speakers today but they are unlikely to move markets (the Fed is in “wait and see” mode like the rest of us).  Speakers today include:  Barkin (8:30 a.m. ET), Logan (9:30 a.m. ET), Schmid & Bowman (10:00 a.m. ET), Goolsbee & Harker (12:00 p.m. ET).