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Tom Essaye Interviewed on Yahoo Finance as the Fed Faces Twin Pressures

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Tom Essaye: Fed Faces Twin Pressures of Rising Inflation and Weakening Jobs

Fed is in the ‘worst possible’ position, analyst says

Central bank policy outlook grows more complicated heading into fall

The Federal Reserve is under mounting pressure as inflation shows signs of picking up while the labor market begins to soften, according to Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research.

Speaking on Opening Bid, Essaye explained that this combination leaves the Fed in a difficult policy position heading into the fall. The central bank must balance the risk of tightening too little against the danger of tightening too much at a time when economic growth is already showing cracks.

“The Fed is caught between two mandates,” Essaye noted, adding that rising producer and consumer price data alongside weakening job gains increases the likelihood of a policy dilemma in the coming months.

Also, click here to view the full video on Yahoo Finance published on August 30th, 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.

Breakeven Inflation Rates: Powell Has a “Price Problem”

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Breakeven Inflation Rates:  Powell Has a “Price Problem”

Futures are modestly lower following a night of underwhelming earnings.

Earnings overnight were bad as tech companies DELL (–6% pre-market) and MRVL (-15% pre-market) both posted disappointing results, as did retailer GAP.

Economically, German retail sales missed expectations (-1.5% vs. (E) 0.0%) but that isn’t moving markets.

Today focus will be on inflation via the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.9% y/y) and to keep things simple, if this number is “hot” (so Core PCE Price Index above 3.0% y/y) that will increase inflation concerns, push back on rate cut hopes and, likely, pressure stocks further.  The other notable economic report today is Consumer Sentiment (E: 58.6) and focus will be on the inflation expectations inside the report.  The less they rise from last month, the better.

 

Tom Essaye: Hot PPI Data Undermines Stock-Market Rally Pillars

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Surging producer prices raise doubts on inflation, Fed cuts, and profits

Thursday’s hot PPI challenges three pillars of stock-market rally

Sevens Report founder Tom Essaye said Thursday’s hotter-than-expected PPI report has chipped away at three key supports of the 2025 stock-market rally.

The first is confidence that inflation is on track to the Fed’s 2% target. The second is the assumption that a September rate cut is locked in. Essaye warned that if PPI flows into CPI, the Fed could face a “mandate dilemma” between curbing inflation and supporting growth.

The third is optimism for continued corporate profit growth in 2026. Rising producer costs, Essaye cautioned, could compress margins and leave investors disappointed.

Also, click here to view the full article published in MarketWatch on August 15th, 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.

Tom Essaye: Inflation-Driven Bitcoin Drop Doesn’t Derail Long-Term Bullish Outlook

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Sevens Report founder says institutional adoption and regulation support crypto’s future despite near-term volatility

Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Falls 7% as U.S. Inflation Hikes Pressure Rate Cut Prospects

Bitcoin slid 7% on Friday as hotter U.S. inflation data weighed on rate-cut expectations, sparking a broad risk-off move in markets. Despite the pullback, the cryptocurrency remains up roughly 25% year-to-date and has rallied nearly 57% from April’s lows.

Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, said the short-term volatility reflects Bitcoin’s heightened sensitivity to macroeconomic shifts. “Inflation pressures are clearly a headwind in the near term, but the longer-term outlook hasn’t changed,” Essaye noted. He pointed to institutional adoption and regulatory clarity as key drivers supporting Bitcoin’s structural bullish case.

“Volatility will always be part of crypto, but the foundation is getting stronger,” Essaye said, stressing that macro shocks don’t erase the sector’s long-term growth potential.

Also, click here to view the full article on Ainvest.com published on August 16th, 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 About the Yield Curve?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What About the Yield Curve (Recession Signal “On Hold”)
  • What CPI Means for Markets

Futures are trading at record highs, tracking global shares higher as traders cheer the latest evidence of benign inflation pressures despite the global trade war.

Economically, German CPI was unchanged at 2.0% in July, meeting consensus analyst estimates.

There are no noteworthy economic reports today however there is a 4-Month Treasury Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET that could shed light on investor expectations of Fed policy rates between now and year-end which could move markets.

Additionally, there are multiple Fed speakers including Barkin (8:00 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (1:00 p.m. ET), and Bostic (1:30 p.m. ET).

Finally, there are some late season earnings releases to watch: EAT ($2.43), CSCO ($0.80), EQX ($0.02) but none are likely to materially move markets today.

 

Nvidia, AMD Deal with Trump Administration Eases AI Investor Fears: Tom Essaye

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Chip sales to China continue under new revenue-sharing agreement

Nvidia & AMD investors can put China chip tariff risks ‘to bed’

Sevens Report founder Tom Essaye and Allspring Global’s John Campbell discussed reports that Nvidia and AMD reached a deal with the Trump administration to resume selling chips in China, with 15% of the revenue going to the U.S. government.

Essaye said the agreement signals that the companies are “ready to play ball” with policymakers to protect growth in the AI sector. “Eighty-five percent is a lot more than zero,” he noted, calling the resolution a relief for AI-focused investors now that a major uncertainty has been removed.

Also, click here to view the full video featured on Yahoo Finance published on August 11th, 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.

Why Today’s CPI Is So Important (Hint: 50, 25, 0)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Today’s CPI Is So Important (Hint: 50, 25, 0)
  • Gold Chart: Fragile Record Highs

Futures are flat as traders look ahead to today’s all-important CPI report.

Economically, the U.K.’s Unemployment Rate held steady at 4.7%, as expected, while the German ZEW Survey missed estimates, but the July NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 100.3 vs. (E) 98.9 from 98.6 in June.

Today, market focus will be almost exclusively on inflation data before the bell with CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.8% y/y) and Core CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.0% y/y) due out at 8:30 a.m. ET.

After the open, there are two Fed officials scheduled to speak: Barkin (10:00 a.m. ET) and Schmid (10:30 a.m. ET), and any comments or insights they may offer in reaction to the CPI data could move markets.

Finally, earnings season continues to wind down but there are a handful of companies due to report quarterly results today which could move markets, including: CAH ($2.03), SE ($0.72), RGTI ($-0.05), HRB ($2.81), CRCL ($-1.29), and ETOR ($0.49).

 

MMT Chart: A “Relatively” Different Look at Stocks

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • August MMT Chart Update: A “Relatively” Different Look at Stocks
  • ISM Services Index – A Fresh “Whiff” of Stagflation
  • Stagflation Risks Set Gold Up for Run to Record Highs

Futures are tracking global markets higher this morning as investors shrug off both the ISM Services Index from yesterday, which carried a whiff of stagflation, and soft earnings from semiconductor giants AMD (-7%) and SMCI (-17%) after the close yesterday.

Economically, EU Retail Sales rose 3.1% vs. (E) 2.6% which is serving to tamp down worries about the health of the global economy.

Looking ahead to today’s session, there are no noteworthy economic reports due to be released.

However, the Treasury will hold a 4-Month Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 10-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and investors will look for the recent trend of healthy demand metrics to continue, despite the sharp drop in yields since Friday’s dismal jobs report.

Additionally, there are a few Fed officials scheduled to speak who could shed light on the prospects of a September rate cut (which is increasingly expected) including Cook & Collins (2:00 p.m. ET) and Daly (3:10 p.m. ET).

Finally, earnings season continues with MCD ($3.15), UBER ($0.62), SHOP ($0.20), DIS ($1.47), NRG ($1.54), ABNB ($0.93), and ET ($0.32) all reporting quarterly results today.

For now, investors are overlooking the soft semiconductor earnings from late yesterday, however, any Q2 results that challenge the idea that the consumer remains resilient and healthy in 2025, could add to recession worries and pressure stocks again today.

 

What the Bad Jobs Report Means for Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Bad Jobs Report Means for Markets
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Do Stagflation Fears Keep Rising?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  ISM Services the Key Report This Week (Needs to Stay Above 50)

Futures are seeing a moderate bounce following Friday’s declines and after a mostly quiet weekend of news.

On trade, there was potentially positive news over the weekend as Swiss officials implied a trade deal with the U.S. was close, which would reduce tariffs.

There were no notable economic reports overnight.

Today there are no economic reports so focus will remain on trade, and any announcement of trade deals that reduce tariffs will be a mild tailwind on the markets.

Finally, earnings season has mostly wrapped up but there are some remaining notable companies reporting including: BRK.B ($5.24), W ($0.27), ON ($0.54), TSN ($0.72), PLTR ($0.08), MELI ($12.01), AXON ($0.08).

 

FOMC Preview: Wildcard to Watch

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview: What’s Expected, Hawkish Scenario, Dovish Scenario
  • Fed Meeting Wildcard to Watch: Dovish Dissents

U.S. equity futures are tracking European shares higher this morning amid continued optimism surrounding the U.S.-EU trade deal and resilient earnings ahead of the Fed decision.

There were no noteworthy economic reports overnight which will leave focus on earnings and U.S. economic data today as the July Fed meeting gets underway in Washington.

Today’s economic calendar is a fairly busy one with several potential market-moving reports due to be released including: Consumer Confidence (E: 95.8), JOLTS (E: 7.4 million), Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 2.9%), and International Trade in Goods (E: $-99.0B).

Looking at earnings, the Q2 reporting season continues with notable companies releasing results today including: UNH ($4.84), SOFI ($0.06), BA ($-1.54), PG ($1.43), V ($2.86), MRK ($2.01), SBUX ($0.64).

Bottom line, investors will continue to look for resilient, yet not “too hot” economic data trends and upbeat earnings and guidance in order for stocks to hold yesterday’s record highs, however a familiar sense of “Fed Paralysis” is likely to grip markets ahead of tomorrow’s critical Fed decision.