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Why Is the Fed Thinking About Cutting Rates?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Is the Fed Thinking About Cutting Rates?

Futures are bouncing modestly following Wednesday afternoon’s drop thanks to solid earnings and merger news.

Micron (MU) posted strong earnings and guidance (stock up 5% pre-market). That’s helping to counter the negative earnings news from Wednesday.

Merger activity is also helping stocks bounce as Paramount (PARA) is said to be in talks to buy Warner (WBD). That news is also helping sentiment this morning.

Today focus will be on economic data and the two most important reports are Jobless Claims (E: 210K) and the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey (E: -3.0).  With the Fed having dovishly pivoted, data needs to be in-line with expectations. Otherwise, growth worries will rise and pressure stocks.  We also get the final Q3 GDP (E: 5.2%) but that’s very old data at this point and shouldn’t move markets.

Jobs Report Preview

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Why This Isn’t A Risk-Less Market (Despite The Fed Being Dovish)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why This Isn’t A Risk-Less Market (Despite The Fed Being Dovish)
  • Understanding Why the Dollar Is Plunging

Futures are modestly higher following mixed global economic data and as investors continued to digest Wednesday’s dovish Fed decision.

Global data was mixed, but not bad, and as such isn’t increasing global slowdown fears.  In Europe, the EU flash composite PMI missed estimates (47.0 vs. (E) 48.0) while the UK reading beat (51.7 vs. (E )51.0).  In China,

Retail Sales and Industrial Production were better than feared.

Today focus will be on economic data as we get the first look at December activity and for the rally to continue, the data needs to be Goldilocks (so close to expectations).  The key reports today are, in order of importance:    Dec. Flash Manufacturing PMI (E: 49.2), Dec. Flash Service PMI (E: 50.6), Nov. Industrial Production (E: 0.3%), Dec. Empire Manufacturing Index (E: 3.7).

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Is the Dovish Fed Decision A Bullish Gamechanger?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is the Dovish Fed Decision A Bullish Gamechanger?
  • What Sectors and Assets Benefit Most from the Surprisingly Dovish Fed?

Futures are modestly higher on continued momentum from yesterday’s surprisingly dovish Fed decision.

Global investors aggressively embraced the idea of global rate cuts as the 10-year yield fell below 4% overnight.

On earnings, they’ve been soft this week and that continued with disappointing ADBE results (stock down 5% pre-market) although that’s not impacting the markets more broadly.

The busy week continues today with a BOE Rate Decision (E: No Change) and an ECB Rate Decision (E: No Change) and markets expect no rate cuts but dovish tones from both central banks.  If that’s the reality, it’ll just add more fuel to the dovish rally.

Economically, the key reports today are Jobless Claims (E: 223k) and Retail Sales (E: -0.1%).  The Fed’s dovish pivot will overshadow these reports unless they show a sudden deterioration (so spike in claims and drop in retail sales) and barring those results, they shouldn’t move markets.

Bullish

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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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Catalyst #1 – CPI Preview: Good, Bad & Ugly

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

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview:  Good, Bad & Ugly
  • Weekly Market Preview:  The Last Busy Week of 2023 (Inflation Update, Fed Decision & Growth Reports)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Inflation Tomorrow, Fed Decision Wednesday, Economic Growth Updates Thurs/Fri

Futures are slightly lower on digestion of the multi-week rally following a quiet weekend and ahead of a the last catalyst-filled week of 2023.

Economically, there was no notable data overnight. Investors are focused on the looming reports this week (CPI tomorrow, Fed Wednesday, growth data Thurs/Fri).

On Japan, a Bloomberg article pushed back on the expectation for rate hikes and Japanese stocks are rallying 1%.

This is the last potentially busy week of 2023 but it starts slowly as the only notable report today is the N.Y. Fed 1 Year Consumer Inflation Expectations (3.6%).  If expectations drop sharply (possibly below 3.0%) that could provide a mild boost to stocks. But with key events looming Tuesday-Friday, the bar to move stocks and bonds today is pretty high.

CPI Preview

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FOMC Meeting Minutes Takeaways

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Meeting Minutes Takeaways (Dovish in Hindsight)
  • Existing Home Sales Data Offers Mixed Signals

Futures are modestly higher this morning as a pullback in oil futures is pushing bond yields lower while investors digest a volatile reaction to mostly positive NVDA earnings.

Economically, U.K. CBI Industrial Trends saw the headline Orders Balance fall -35% vs. (E) -25% in November which is driving dovish money flows this morning.

Today’s economic calendar is a busy one with Durable Goods Orders (E: -3.2%), Jobless Claims (E: 225K), and Consumer Sentiment (E: 60.5, 1-Yr Inflation Expectations: 4.4%) all due to be released before 10:00 a.m. ET.

There are no Fed speakers today so markets will trade off of the data. If the reports are largely in line, expect mostly sideways price action with the Thanksgiving Day break looming, however, hawkish or dovish surprises will still move markets despite thin attendance and low volumes.

The Treasury will hold auctions for 4-week and 8-week Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET. While auctions for these securities usually don’t move markets, investors are more closely watching auction results following the recent weak 30-Yr auction that roiled markets. As there is potential the outcomes impact equities in an otherwise quiet environment ahead of Thanksgiving.

FOMC Meeting Minutes Takeaways

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What the Fed Decision Means for Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Decision Means for Markets
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are moderately higher on momentum from Wednesday’s post-Fed rally while earnings and data were solid overnight.

Economically, Euro Zone Manufacturing PMI was slightly better than expected (43.1 vs. (E ) 43.0).

On earnings, reports were good overnight with solid reports from ALL, CLX, PYPL, QCOM and others.

Today focus will be on economic data and a big earnings report after the close.  Economically, the two notable reports are Jobless Claims (E: 213K) and Unit Labor Costs (E: 0.7%).  Of the two, Unit Labor Costs are the more important number and markets will want to see an in-line or lower reading to imply receding inflation risks.

On the earnings front, there are a lot of reports today, but the highlight is clearly AAPL ($1.39) which reports after the close.  Other notable earnings include SQ ($0.47) and SBUX ($0.97).

Bottom line, if the market gets more Goldilocks data and solid earnings, this relief rally can continue. But if yields start to rise, don’t be shocked if there’s a reversal.

What the Fed Decision Means for Markets

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Key Levels to Watch on Fed Day (Technical Tear-Sheet)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Key Levels to Watch on Fed Day (Printable/Shareable Tear-Sheet)
  • Economic Data Takeaways – Employment Cost Index, Eurozone CPI, Case-Shiller HPI

Futures are slightly lower as traders digest more weak economic data overseas ahead of today’s Fed decision.

Economically, Manufacturing PMIs in China and the U.K. both disappointed. Both came in under the 50 threshold indicating contraction in the sector in both countries. This is weighing modestly on stocks this morning ahead of the Fed.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on economic data early. The October ADP Employment Report (E: 150K), JOLTS (E: 9.375 million), and ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 49.0) are all due to be released this morning.

From there, attention will turn to the Fed with the FOMC Meeting Announcement at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by Fed Chair Powell’s press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET. Investors are hoping for a dovish message from the Fed, and if they deliver, a continued relief rally is likely this afternoon.

Lastly, outside of the policy decision and economic data, there are some notable earnings releases today. With: CVS ($2.13) and W ($2.98) releasing results before the open, and PYPL ($1.23), QCOM ($1.80), ABNB ($2.08), MET ($1.99) and AIG ($1.55) reporting after the close.

Key Levels to Watch on Fed Day

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FOMC Preview: Forward Guidance Will Be Critical

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Forward Guidance Will Be Critical: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview – What’s Expected, Dovish-If, Hawkish-If, Forward Guidance Will Be Critical
  • Chart: 10-Yr Yield Approaches Critical Tipping Point

Futures are cautiously higher thanks to more evidence of disinflation in Europe. While an underwhelming yield curve control policy announcement by the BOJ is digested by global investors.

Economically, Eurozone CPI fell from 4.3% in September to 2.9% in October, well below estimates calling for 3.4% which further supports the narrative that global inflation pressures are easing considerably. Meanwhile, quarterly GDP in the EU disappointed, turning negative at -0.1% vs. (E) 0.0% which is rekindling recession worries in the Eurozone.

Looking into today’s session, there are several economic reports to watch this morning. The Employment Cost Index (E: 1.0%) being the most important for markets. The Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.7%) and latest Consumer Confidence report will also be released later in the morning (E: 100.0) but are less likely to move markets.

This week’s FOMC meeting gets underway today which will likely mean a familiar sense of Fed paralysis will begin to grip markets ahead of tomorrow’s policy decision, however, there is a 52-Week Treasury Bill auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move yields and influence equity market trading in the early afternoon.

Finally, earnings season is winding down but there are a few notable releases today. Starting with CAT ($4.75) and JBLU (-$0.27) reporting ahead of the bell with AMD ($0.68) after the close.

FOMC Preview - Magnifying Glass

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It’ll be Very Hard for This Market to Rally

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It’ll be Very Hard for This Market to Rally: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Dow Falls Nearly 250 Points. 10-Year Nears 5%.

Stocks tumbled and bond yields rose Thursday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell paved the way for keeping rates steady.

“Treasury yields are doing exactly what we’d expect given Powell essentially said rates won’t go any higher, but they will stay higher for longer and the economy is strong,” Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s.

 “It’ll be very hard for this market to meaningfully rally with yields this high. But, barring a major geo-political positive surprise or great earnings season.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on October 19th, 2023. 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

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