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Is the Tariff Decision a Bullish Catalyst?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is the Tariff Decision a Bullish Catalyst?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  All About AI (Key AI Earnings This Week)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  More Inflation and Labor Market Insights

Futures are slightly lower are markets digest the SCOTUS tariff decision and despite reports of some de-escalation between the U.S. and Iran.

Fears of an imminent U.S. strike on Iran eased this weekend as the U.S. and Iran announced they will hold more negotiations this Thursday.

Economically, German Ifo Business Conditions slightly missed estimates (89.6 vs. (E) 90.5).

This week is a potentially important one with a lot of critical tech earnings reports, but it starts slowly as there is just one economic report today, Chicago Fed (E: -0.04) and one Fed speaker, Waller (8:00 a.m.) and neither are likely to move markets.

 

Sevens Report: Small-Cap Rally May Accelerate in 2026

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Tyler Richey says improving macro trends could fuel further gains in smaller stocks.

Most and least shorted REIT stocks with up to $2B market cap as of mid-Feb

Small-cap stocks are off to a strong start in 2026, significantly outperforming large-cap benchmarks. While the S&P 500 has hovered slightly in negative territory year to date, small-cap indexes have posted solid gains, reflecting renewed investor appetite for risk.

According to Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, the rally in smaller companies could intensify as the year progresses. With inflation trending lower, interest-rate cuts looming, and economic conditions remaining relatively stable, the macro backdrop appears increasingly supportive for small caps.

Improving financial conditions tend to benefit smaller firms disproportionately, as they are often more sensitive to borrowing costs and domestic economic growth. If expectations for monetary easing materialize, that could further strengthen the rotation into the segment.

As positioning shifts and macro conditions evolve, Sevens Report suggests small caps could remain an area of focus for investors seeking performance beyond mega-cap stocks.

Also, click here to view the full article published in Seeking Alpha on February 16th, 2026. 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.

Can the Market Hold Up Despite Tech Weakness?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Can the Market Hold Up Despite Tech Weakness?
  • Weekly Market Preview: Does Tech (and especially software) stabilize?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: An Important Week for Growth and Inflation

Futures are modestly lower as markets digest Friday’s big rally following a generally quiet weekend of news.

Politically, Japan’s LDP party won a landslide victory, increasing stimulus expectations. But, positively, the yen and Japanese government bonds are stable as the results largely met expectations.

There were no notable economic reports overnight.

This week is a busy and important one from an economic data standpoint but it starts quietly, as there are no notable economic reports today.

So, focus will be on the tech sector and if it can extend Friday’s rebound (the SaaS names like WDAY, CRM, NOW, remain the key to tech stabilizing in the near term).

On the Fed front, there are two speakers today, Bostic (10:50 a.m. ET) and Waller (3:15 p.m. ET) and some earnings (CLF ($-0.62), APO ($1.91), ON ($0.62)) but barring any surprises, they shouldn’t move markets.

 

Sevens Report Warns Weaker Dollar Is Supercharging a Run-Hot Economy

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Sevens says Trump-linked dollar weakness is amplifying growth and inflation risks.

How Trump creates another ’run-hot’ influence on the economy

The latest Sevens Report argues that the U.S. economy is being pushed further into a “run-hot” phase as the dollar slides to multi-year lows. According to the firm, President Trump’s dismissal of recent dollar weakness effectively signaled tolerance — if not support — for further depreciation, accelerating trends already in place.

Sevens notes that fiscal stimulus, pressure for lower rates, deregulation, and efforts to pull in foreign capital have already tilted the economy toward overheating. A weaker currency compounds that backdrop by ensuring more liquidity is chasing a limited supply of goods and services, keeping inflation pressures elevated even as growth remains strong.

The report outlines three key transmission channels. First, a softer dollar raises import costs, lifting prices on consumer goods in an import-dependent economy. Second, it boosts earnings for multinational companies, helping explain recent outperformance in technology and consumer discretionary stocks. Third, it inflates the value of real assets such as gold, oil, and other commodities that cannot be diluted like fiat currencies.

Sevens cautions that the dollar’s roughly 11% decline over the past year is far from benign. While markets have absorbed the move so far, a faster slide toward the low 90s could unsettle investors and intensify the risk of sustained inflation alongside resilient growth.

Also, click here to view the full article published in Investing.com on January 29th, 2026. 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 Warns Early-2026 Inflation Signals Are Flashing Red – Business Insider

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Tom Essaye says sector leadership and market rotation echo the painful setup of 2022.

The stock market is flashing a signal that inflation may be poised to spike

Early market action in 2026 is sending a cautionary signal on inflation, according to Tom Essaye of Sevens Report Research, who says investors may be underestimating the risk of a difficult year ahead.

Essaye notes that energy and materials stocks have surged more than 9% year to date, dramatically outperforming the S&P 500’s modest gain. Historically, strength in these sectors has often preceded broader inflation pressures, as higher energy and materials costs filter through supply chains and lift prices across the economy.

In Essaye’s view, the move is especially notable because it has received little attention from market participants so far. He argues that energy prices influence nearly every component of global commerce, while materials costs quietly add upward pressure to inflation through higher input expenses. Together, their strong performance is not something investors should dismiss as the first quarter unfolds.

Adding to the concern is a clear shift in market leadership. Essaye highlights a rotation away from mega-cap growth stocks and toward value, small caps, transportation stocks, and equal-weight indexes. Recent outperformance in benchmarks like the S&P 500 equal-weight index, the Russell 2000, and value-focused ETFs suggests that capital is moving toward areas that often lead during more inflationary or unstable periods.

That combination of sector leadership and early-year money flows reminds Essaye of the setup in early 2022, a year that proved especially damaging for traditional 60/40 stock-and-bond portfolios. While he is not calling for an immediate downturn, Essaye cautions that these dynamics raise the risk of a repeat scenario if inflation pressures continue to build.

Also, click here to view the full article published in Business Insider on January 24th, 2026. 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.

How Much Uncertainty Can Markets Withstand?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Much Uncertainty Can Markets Withstand?
  • Weekly Market Preview: Can Treasury Yields Remain Stable? (CPI, Possible SCOTUS decision, Fed concerns)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Inflation in Focus This Week

Futures are moderately lower following the announcement of a federal criminal investigation into Fed Chair Powell.

On Sunday night the government confirmed it had opened a criminal investigation focused on Fed Chair Powell and the construction of the Fed’s new headquarters.  The net impact of the news is to further pressure Fed independence and that is why futures are declining moderately.

There were no notable economic reports overnight.

Today there are no economic reports so focus will be on Washington, first via more details of the criminal investigation into Fed Chair Powell and then on a potential Supreme Court IEEPA tariff decision.  Regarding the Fed, any news that further raises concerns about the loss of Fed independence will send Treasury yields higher and stocks lower.

There are also three Fed speakers today, Barkin (8:00 a.m. ET), Bostic (12:30 a.m. ET) and Williams (6:00 p.m. ET) and any dovish commentary from the three should help support markets (Williams is the most important speaker today).

 

Shutdown’s End Brings Key Economic Data Back Into Focus, Says Sevens Report

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Shutdown’s End Brings Key Economic Data Back Into Focus, Says Sevens Report

US Stocks Gain as Dip Buyers, Hopes of Shutdown End Drive Rally

With an end to the record-breaking government shutdown in sight, traders are preparing for the return of key economic data releases. Over the past week, investors relied heavily on private reports, which suggested a softening labor market.

Official government data is expected to soon provide clearer insights into employment, inflation, and the broader outlook for interest rates.

“With the shutdown ending this week, it’s unclear at this point how quickly economic data will ‘catch up,’ but the fact that we will be getting key economic reports is a general positive for markets,” said Tom Essaye, founder of The Sevens Report.

Also, click here to view the full article published in Bloomberg on November 10th, 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.

Understanding Why Stocks Hit New Highs

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Understanding Why Stocks Hit New Highs
  • Weekly Market Preview: Does Goldilocks Growth and Inflation Data Continue?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: September Flash PMIs Tuesday, Core PCE Price Index Friday are Key Reports

Futures are modestly lower as markets digested last week’s new highs following a mostly quiet weekend of news.

Politically, the U.S. government could shut down this Friday and that is weighing slightly on markets, although we don’t view any temporary, partial shutdown as a risk to the rally.

There was no notable economic data overnight.

Today the only economic report is the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (E: -0.19) and it’s unlikely to move markets, so focus instead will be on the Fed.

There are several Fed speakers today and the most important of them is Williams at 9:45 a.m. ET.  If Williams embraces two additional rate cuts this year, that should help support markets.  More broadly, markets will want to see dovish tones from most Fed speakers going forward, confirming the Fed intends several more rate cuts.  Other Fed speakers today include: Musalem (10:00 a.m. ET), Hammack (12:00 p.m. ET) and Barkin (12:00 p.m. ET).

 

September Bitcoin Update and Outlook

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • September Bitcoin Update and Outlook
  • What Yesterday’s CPI Means for Markets

Futures are slightly lower on mixed data and earnings overnight.

ADBE was the latest tech company to post earnings and the results were solid (beat on EPS and revenue and a guidance increase) but concerns about AI sapping demand for software kept gains modest (ADBE is up 3% pre-market).

Economically, data was mixed.  UK Industrial Production badly missed estimates (-1.3% vs. (E) 0.5%) while German CPI and UK Monthly GDP both met expectations.

Today the only notable economic report is University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (E: 58.0) and focus will be on the inflation expectations.  As long as they don’t move sharply higher, it’ll cap a generally positive week for markets on the inflation front (which has been the main reason stocks are higher this week).

 

Jobs Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Abbreviated Jobs Report Preview

Futures are modestly higher ahead of the jobs report and following solid tech earnings overnight.

Semiconductor company Broadcom (AVGO) beat estimates and offered bullish guidance and the stock is up 9% pre-market and that’s helping to lift futures.

Economically, German Manufacturers’ Orders missed estimates, felling –2.9% vs. (E) 0.5%.

Focus today will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows:  E: 77K Job-Adds, 4.3% Unemployment Rate, 3.8% Wage Growth.  Any job adds number in the mid to low 100k range would be ideal for stocks as it would keep rate cut expectations high but also signal a stable labor market.  Conversely, if job adds drop close to zero (or even go negative even with revisions) it’ll increase concerns the labor market is cooling, boost slowdown fears and likely hit stocks.