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Why Has the Trump Trade Stalled? (Part One)

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Why Has the Trump Trade Stalled? (Part One): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Has the Trump Trade Stalled? (Part One)
  • Economic Takeaways – November Retail Sales

Stock futures are recovering some of yesterday’s losses as cooler-than-feared inflation data in the EU is driving modestly dovish money flows ahead of the Fed decision.

Economically, inflation data out of Europe was “cooler” than feared with U.K. Core CPI rising to 3.5% vs. (E) 3.6% while Eurozone HICP rose to 2.2% vs. (E) 2.3%. The “cooler” data saw rates traders price in more policy rate cuts from the ECB in 2025.

Today, there is one economic report due to be released mid-morning: Housing Starts and Permits (1.340M & 1.430M) but the primary market focus will be the Fed decision at 2:00 p.m. ET and likely more importantly, Fed Chair Powell’s press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.

While the Fed will almost certainly be the primary catalyst for markets today, there is some micro-news that could influence sectors and sub-sectors of the equity markets as we will get late season earnings from GIS ($1.22), JBL ($1.88), MU ($1.75), and LEN ($4.18).

Bottom line, investors are looking for the Fed to reiterate their view that the economy is tracking for a soft-landing and that the FOMC is not overly concerned with the latest uptick in inflation data that could signal a sustained “pause” in rate cuts. A hawkish tone in the announcement or Powell’s press conference would likely trigger renewed selling pressure in equity markets and higher bond yields.

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Market Multiple Table: December Update

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

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table: A New Influence That Could Increase Volatility in 2025
  • Unbranded, Shareable MMT PDF Upon Request

Stock futures are stabilizing after Monday’s modest pullback as trader focus shifts ahead to tomorrow’s CPI report. Small caps are leading in pre-market trade thanks to a surprisingly solid NFIB report released earlier this morning.

Economically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index surged 8 points to 101.7 in November, handily topping estimates of 94.5 to hit the highest level since June 2021. Overseas, German CPI met estimates at 2.2% y/y, another Goldilocks inflation report.

Today, there is one economic report to watch: Productivity & Costs (E: 2.2%, 1.9%). The data has an inflation component (specifically the “Costs” part) that could move yields today and influence stocks (higher yields will weigh on equities).

Additionally, there is a 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and a few late-season earnings reports due out including AZO ($4.30), ASO ($1.25), and GME ($0.00).

The Treasury auction is another catalyst that could move yields and impact equities, but tomorrow’s CPI report is becoming the primary focus on the market as we progress through the week so market moves should be limited by trader positioning today.

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One Last Hurdle for the Santa Rally

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One Last Hurdle for the Santa Rally: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • One Last Hurdle for the Santa Rally
  • Weekly Market Preview: Can Goldilocks Data Offset Political Volatility?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: The Last Big Week of 2024

Futures are slightly lower on political volatility as Trump issued more tariff threats and made another unorthodox cabinet appointment while President Biden pardoned his son Hunter.

Trump threatened 100% tariffs on BRICs countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) if they abandon the U.S. dollar. In addition, Trump made another unorthodox cabinet pick with Kash Patel as FBI Director.

Finally, President Biden reversed course and gave an unconditional pardon to his son Hunter, sparking bi-partisan criticism.

Today focus will turn from politics to actual economic data and the key report today is the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.6).  As has been the case, an in-line to slightly soft number would be the best case for stocks as it wouldn’t signal any further deterioration in the manufacturing sector and, at the same time, keep a Fed rate cut more likely than not.

We also have two Fed speakers today, Waller (3:15 p.m. ET) and Williams (4:30 p.m. ET) and any commentary that makes a December rate cut more likely will be a positive for markets.

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Why the Gaetz Withdrawal Sparked Yesterday’s Rally

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Why the Gaetz Withdrawal Sparked Yesterday’s Rally: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Gaetz Withdrawal Sparked Yesterday’s Rally
  • Examining the Strange Positive VIX and S&P 500 Correlation

Futures are modestly weaker following surprisingly disappointing economic data from Europe.

The EU November flash PMIs tumbled (48.1 vs. (E) 50.2) with all three metrics (composite, manufacturing and services) falling below 50 and signaling contraction.

Similarly, the UK November flash PMIs were also weak (49.9 vs. (E ) 51.8) signaling a sudden drop in activity.

Today focus will remain on data and the more Goldilocks the data, the better for markets.  The key reports today are the November Flash Manufacturing PMI (E: 48.8) and Flash Services PMI (E: 55.2) while we also get Consumer Sentiment (E: 73) and, within that report, the 1-Yr Inflation expectations (E: 2.6%).  Again, in-line to slightly soft data will be the best outcome for stocks, as that implies solid growth and encourages a rate cut in December.

Finally, there is one Fed speaker today, Bowman (6:15 p.m. ET), but she shouldn’t move markets.

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Who’s Right on the Consumer? WMT (Positive) or TGT (Negative)

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Who’s Right on the Consumer?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Who’s Right on the Consumer?  WMT (Positive) or TGT (Negative)

Futures are little changed on disappointing NVDA earnings and after further escalation in the Russia/Ukraine war.

NVDA beat earnings estimates ($0.81 vs. (E) $0.74) but guidance disappointed at only 6.8% FQ4 revenue growth vs. (E) 11.75% and the stock is down 2% pre-market.

Geo-politically, Russia fired a non-nuclear ICBM into Ukraine for the first time, further escalating the conflict.

Today focus will turn back towards economic data as there are three notable reports (ranked in order or importance):  Jobless Claims (E: 219K), Philly Fed (E: 7.0) and Existing Home Sales (E: 3.90 million).  Given elevated Treasury yields, in-line to slightly soft data will be best for markets, as it reinforces a soft landing and would slightly boost December rate cut expectations.

There are also several Fed officials speaking today, including Hammack (8:45 a.m.), Goolsbee (12:25 p.m. ET) and Barr (4:40 p.m. ET) although they are unlikely to move markets (the Fed outlook is pretty known at this point and the looming jobs report will likely decide if we get a rate cut in December, or not).

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Contrarian Opportunity in Chinese Tech (3 ETFs)

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Contrarian Opportunity in Chinese Tech (3 ETFs): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Can Singles’ Day and Stimulus Offset Concerns in Chinese Stocks?

Futures are lower this morning as global equity markets take a breather and digest the sizeable post-election gains.

Economically, German CPI held steady at 2.0% last month while the ZEW Survey disappointed. In the U.S., the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 93.7 vs. (E) 91.7 but the solid release is having little impact on futures in pre-market trading.

There are no further economic reports today, but the Treasury will hold 3M and 6M Bill auctions at 11:30 a.m. ET that could move yields (Treasuries were closed for Veterans Day yesterday so how bonds trade this morning could move stocks).

Turning to the Fed, the speaker circuit is picking back up in the wake of last week’s FOMC meeting with several officials scheduled to speak today including: Waller (10:00 a.m. ET), Barkin (10:15 a.m. ET), Kashkari (2:00 p.m. ET), and Harker (5:00 p.m. ET).

Finally, a few notable companies reporting earnings today include: HD ($3.65), SHOP ($0.37), and OXY ($0.81). The former two could shed light on the health of the U.S. consumer and therefore have the potential to move the broader equity markets but a continued digestion, or potentially some profit taking, in the wake of the huge post-election advance before tomorrow’s CPI release is fairly likely today.

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Why the Bullish Thesis Got Stronger

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Why the Bullish Thesis Got Stronger: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Bullish Thesis Got Stronger
  • Weekly Market Preview: Does the S&P 500 Breakthrough 6,000?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: CPI on Wednesday, Important Growth Data on Thursday

Futures are modestly higher on post-election momentum and following a very quiet weekend of news.

Parts of the Trump administration are starting to come into view, most notably that Scott Bessent is looking most likely to become Treasury Secretary and the market views that as bullish.

Economically, there were no notable reports overnight.

Today is Veteran’s Day so trading should be quiet as there are no economic reports or Fed speakers, while the bond market is closed.  However, there are important updates this week on inflation (CPI on Wednesday) and growth (numerous reports on Thursday/Friday) so the week will get busier.

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The biggest risk for the market would be if the data come in strong anyway

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The biggest risk for the market would be if the data come in strong anyway: Tom Essaye Quoted in Market Watch

The stakes for the October jobs report are high — here’s what to expect: Sevens Report

The stakes for the latest reading from the main U.S. employment barometer are high. Although not in the way many investors might think, according to Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research.

Fallout from hurricanes that hit Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, coupled with the ongoing Boeing strike, are expected to push up the unemployment rate. Because of this, investors are already expecting a weak report, Essaye said in commentary shared with MarketWatch on Thursday.

It also means that the biggest risk for the market would be if the data come in strong anyway. Signs of a still-resilient labor market could pressure the Federal Reserve to leave its policy interest-rate target on hold next week, Essaye added.

A too-hot number could push stocks lower and Treasury yields higher as traders account for a greater likelihood of a “no landing” scenario.

“A second straight monthly jobs report above 200k and the unemployment rate dropping back below 4% will bolster the no landing expectation and push back hard on another rate cut quickly following the cut in September,” Essaye said.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on October 31st, 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.

Barron’s Senior Managing Editor and Deputy Editor speak with Tom Essaye

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Semiconductor stocks have cycle-leading characteristics: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, interviewed on Barron’s Live

Talking Markets with Sevens’ Report Tom Essaye

Barron’s Senior Managing Editor Lauren R. Rublin and Deputy Editor Ben Levisohn speak with Tom Essaye, Founder and President of Sevens Report about the outlook for financial markets, industry sectors, and individual stocks.

Tom Essaye: Absolutely. So the number one message we’re trying to convey in the Sevens Report is for investors to really stay focused on economic growth. And the reason I say that is because if growth can’t hold up, then we have to talk about this rally potentially ending in a very uncomfortable way. And for those of us who have been in the markets for a long time, at least at the start of this century, we’ve seen that happen a few times and it’s very painful. And if you think about investing, those are really the types of markets we want to avoid. So with the Fed cutting rates, we now know that if growth rolls over, they will not be able to cut fast enough to prevent any sort of a slowdown. So to use the analogy, the die has been cast to a point. Now the Fed is cutting and we must see if growth holds up. Everything that’s going on around growth, so how many cuts are they going to have in 2024? What’s going to happen with the election? Is the Chinese stimulus going to be enough? All of those are ancillary issues, but the main issue is growth. Because if growth rolls over, now we have to talk about that being a rally-killing event and those are the big events we want everyone to be able to avoid.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s interview published on MarketWatch on October 21st, 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.

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.

 

How Bullish Are Investors? (The Answer May Surprise You)

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How Bullish Are Investors? (The Answer May Surprise You): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Bullish Are Investors?  (The Answer May Surprise You)

Futures are modestly higher following a night of solid earnings and mixed economic data.

TSLA is rallying 11% pre-market after posting stronger than expected earnings and that’s helping futures rally.

Economically, EU and UK flash PMIs were mixed but, on balance, Goldilocks enough to support a bounce in stocks.

Today focus will shift from earnings to economic data and the important reports today are:  Jobless Claims (E: 247K), Oct. Flash Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.6) and the Oct. Flash Services PMI (E: 55.0).  Goldilocks data that’s in-line with expectations (so not too good or too bad) is the best outcome for a continued rebound in stocks and bonds today.

We also have one Fed speaker today, Hammack at 8:45 a.m. ET, and some notable earnings including UPS ($1.65), AAL ($0.13) and COF ($3.70).  But, barring any major surprises they shouldn’t move markets.

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