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Why Is the Market Suddenly Resilient?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Is the Market Suddenly Resilient?

Futures are slightly higher on momentum from yesterday’s recovery and despite mixed Chinese economic data.

Chinese Industrial Production and Fixed Asset Investment both slightly missed estimates while Retail Sales beat expectations, but importantly the data didn’t show the Chinese economy had lost significant momentum.

Today there are numerous economic reports and some of them potentially will move markets.  The most important report today is 5-Yr Inflation Expectations (3.1% previous) and if they drop to 3.0% or lower that will be a good sign on inflation.  Retail Sales (E: 0.9%) and Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -1.3) are the next most important reports today and again markets will want to see moderation – a slowing of activity but not a collapse.  Finally, we also get Industrial Production (E: 0.1%) and Consumer Sentiment (E: 50.0).

We also have one Fed speaker today, Bostic (8:45 a.m. ET), and we’d expect him to follow yesterday’s script and push back on the inevitability of a 100 basis point hike (although acknowledge that anything’s possible depending on the data).

What The Hot CPI Report Means for Markets

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Hot CPI Report Means for Markets
  • EIA Analysis and Update (Demand Falling)

Futures are sharply lower as markets digest the hot CPI amidst numerous hawkish central bank decisions.

Global central banks are aggressively tightening policy and that was displayed yesterday and overnight as the Bank of Canada and the central banks of Singapore, Philippines, and, Chile all hiked more than expected.

Meanwhile, U.S. Fed Fund Futures are now pricing in a 100-bps hike in July.

Today we get two notable economic reports via Jobless Claims (E: 234K) and PPI (0.8% m/m, 10.4% y/y).  Starting with PPI, if we see a big drop (which isn’t expected but possible) that will be a mild positive as PPI is sometimes a leading indicator for broader inflation.  Jobless claims, meanwhile, should continue to tick higher towards 250k.

On the earnings front, Q2 earnings season unofficially kicks off today with results from JPM ($2.85) and MS ($1.55) and in addition to wanting to see earnings beats, markets will be looking for commentary from management on the state of the economy, and if that commentary is cautious it’ll be a headwind on stocks.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Market Watch on July 13th, 2022

Stock market faces inflation test Wednesday: Here are ‘good, bad and ugly’ scenarios

This would likely spark a move higher in stocks, allowing the relief rally to continue, since waning inflation pressures might allow the Federal Reserve to potentially pause its interest rate hikes later this year…Tom Essaye said. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in CNBC on July 12th, 2022

Bond yields fall with key part of yield curve hits lowest level since 2007

The widening spread between the 2-year and the 10-year is signaling a very clear recession warning, especially if it reaches 15 basis points…wrote Tom Essaye of The Sevens Report. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on July 12th, 2022

Dow Drops, Peloton Gains—and What Else Happened in the Stock Market Today

Rising recession concerns in the EU…continue to drive the dollar relentlessly higher vs. the euro, pound, and yen…wrote Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500 Chart

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500 Chart

Stock futures are trading with cautious gains this morning as inflation data overseas met expectations as traders look ahead to today’s all-important CPI report in the U.S.

Economically, German and French CPI headlines both met estimates in June, holding steady from May levels which is offering hope that global inflation pressures have peaked while several growth metrics in the EU topped estimates.

Today, the focus will almost entirely be on the June CPI report with the headline expected to rise 1.1% m/m and 8.8% y/y from 8.6% in May while core CPI is expected to moderate with a rise of 0.5% m/m and 5.8% y/y from 6.0% previously.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but the Treasury will hold a 30-Yr Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move markets in the afternoon.

Bottom line, markets are at a tipping point here and today’s CPI report could cause a breakout if the data suggests we are beyond peak inflation and peak Fed hawkishness, while conversely, we could see sharp declines if the data comes in hot again

CPI Preview (Good, Bad & Ugly)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview (Good, Bad & Ugly)

Futures are modestly lower following more disappointing economic data from Europe and as the dollar again surged to fresh multi-decade highs.

The German ZEW Economic Sentiment Index collapsed, falling to –53.8 vs. (E) -38.0, adding to quickly rising recession worries in the EU.

The bad ZEW reading further weighed on the euro and boosted the dollar, which rose to another 20+ year high.

Today there are no notable economic reports and just one Fed speaker, Barkin at 12:30 p.m. ET.  So, like Monday, we’d expect positioning ahead of tomorrow’s CPI report and any potential COVID headlines from China to move markets (and if there’s a path of least resistance today, it’s lower into the CPI print).

Market Multiple Table

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • July Market Multiple Table (Important Changes)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  All About Inflation (and CPI on Wednesday)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Important Inflation and Growth Data This Week

Futures are modestly lower following new COVID-related shutdowns in China.

Macau will close most businesses, including casinos, for one week following a COVID outbreak while Shanghai will continue with massive testing, in what is a signal that the “Zero COVID” policy is at least partially still in effect.

Geo-politically, Canada released a turbine to Gazprom (a Russian energy company) and the hope is that will result in increased natural gas flows to Europe in the coming weeks, putting more pressure on commodity prices.

Today there are no notable economic reports and just one Fed speaker, Williams at 2:00 p.m. ET.  Futures are taking the new lockdowns in China somewhat in stride but if headlines imply anything like a repeat of the Shanghai lockdowns of March-May, expect stocks to drop as a result.

Why Stocks Rallied Yesterday

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Rallied
  • Jobs Report Preview (Redux)
  • Is the VIX Fixed? (Chart)
  • Oil Update: Demand Rebound Helps Energy Markets Stabilize

Stock futures are trading modestly lower with EU markets this morning as traders digest yesterday’s gains ahead of today’s June jobs report.

Sadly, former PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has died after an assassination attempt at a campaign stop overnight.

Economically, Japanese Household Spending fell -1.9% vs. (E) +1.2%  in May, rekindling concerns about the health of global growth.

Looking into today’s session, the focus will be almost entirely on the June Employment Situation report from the BLS (E: Job Adds 270K, Unemployment Rate 3.6%, Wages 5.0% y/y) which is due out at 8:30 a.m. ET. There is also one Fed official speaking this morning: Williams (8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. ET).

Bottom line, the market will want to see jobs data that meets our “Just Right” scenario from our Jobs Report Preview which would suggest we are seeing slowing growth in the labor market, yet not a full-on collapse, and increase hopes we are close to or beyond “peak hawkishness” from the Fed. That would open the door to a continued relief rally, however, a report that is either too strong or overly disappointing could send stock falling sharply today.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Market Watch on July 6th, 2022

Why a rally in growth stocks could signal ‘peak’ Fed hawkishness has passed

While it’s too early to declare the value outperformance ‘over,’ we do think the outperformance of tech recently is notable, because if it continues that will be a strong signal that the market is now looking past future rates hikes towards eventual rate cuts in 2023…said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a note Wednesday. Click here to read the full article.