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Re-Examining the Four Pillars of the Rally

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Bad Sign from the Most Important ETF in the Market
  • Re-Examining the Current Market Setup – 4 Pillars of the Rally

Futures are mildly higher as traders digest yesterday’s “AI-disruption” selloff ahead of Trump’s State of the Union address this evening.

There were no noteworthy economic reports overnight.

Today, trader focus will be on economic data early with the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 1.3%), the FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.3%), and Consumer Confidence (E: 88.0) reports all due to be released. As has been the case lately, the market will want to see “Goldilocks” data signaling resilient growth trends and cooling inflation pressures in order to mount a meaningful relief rally.

Additionally, there is a slew of Fed speak today as Goolsbee (8:00 a.m. ET), Bostic (9:00 a.m. ET), Collins (9:00 a.m. ET), Waller (9:15 a.m. ET), Cook (9:30 a.m. ET), and Barkin (3:00 p.m. ET) are all on the calendar scheduled to deliver comments.

Finally, there are a handful of noteworthy Q4 earnings due out today, including HD ($2.52), NRG ($1.17), MELI ($11.77), AXON ($-0.18), HPQ ($0.77), and GDDY ($1.58). In addition to solid economic data and less-hawkish Fed speak, strong earnings would offer another tailwind for markets in the wake of yesterday’s latest wave of selling pressure.

 

Tom Essaye Quoted in Yahoo Finance: “If AI goes south on us, tech will go.”

Tom Essaye tells Yahoo Finance, “If AI goes south on us, tech will go.”


AI took investors on a date in 2025. In 2026, analysts say it’s time to foot the bill.

“If AI goes south on us, tech will go,” Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report, told Yahoo Finance in an interview.

In a new report, “Taking Stock of the Four Pillars of the Rally Ahead of 2026,” Essaye observed that the initial unified enthusiasm for AI has become “fractured.” The industry is moving into a period where the market is aggressively sorting winners and losers. While memory plays like Micron (MU) have surged over 241% year to date, Essaye argued that former darlings like Oracle (ORCL) have faced more scrutiny as investors demand immediate ROI.

Also, click here to view the full article on Yahoo Finance published on January 5th, 2026. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.


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Taking Stock of the Four Pillars of the Rally Ahead of 2026

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Taking Stock of the Four Pillars of the Rally Ahead of 2026
  • Weekly Market Preview: Can Year-End Window Dressing Push Stocks Higher?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Another Quiet Week, But The Labor Market Will Stay in Focus

Futures are modestly lower following a mostly quiet weekend of news and as the Trump/Zelensky meeting failed to produce material progress on peace in Ukraine.

Geopolitically, markets were hopeful that the Trump/Zelensky meeting over the weekend would yield a formal agreement, but it did not (just more “progress”) and oil prices are rising moderately (2%) in response.

Notably, gold, silver and copper are all down 2% – 4% pre-market but that’s likely due to year-end positioning.

Today the calendar is generally quiet so focus will be on any signs of geopolitical progress (Russia/Ukraine). Oil remains the best barometer for geo-political concerns and despite the bounce in oil this morning, geo-political concerns from the market remain low (despite numerous unsettled situations including Russia/Ukraine, China/Taiwan and, now, Venezuela).  There is also one economic report today, Pending Home Sales (E: 0.9%), but that shouldn’t move markets.