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Now What? Updated Market Outlook

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Now What?  Updated Market Outlook
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Yields Keep Rising?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Key Growth Updates This Week

Futures are modestly higher on a bounce back from last week’s losses following a generally quiet weekend of news.

Economic data was sparse and the only notable report was EU M3 money supply, which rose less than expected (3.5% vs. (E) 3.9%).

Geopolitically, fears are easing that China will send arms to Russia (concerns about this weighed on stocks late last week and an easing of them is helping futures rally).

Today focus will remain on economic data and the two notable reports are Durable Goods (E: -4.0%) and Pending Home Sales (E: 1.0%).  While neither should be a major market mover, markets will want to see stable data (so reports that don’t imply growth is too strong, or too weak).  We also get one Fed speaker, Jefferson (10:30 a.m. ET).

Core PCE Price Index Preview (Good, Bad & Ugly).

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Core PCE Price Index Will Mean for Markets (Good, Bad & Ugly)
  • EIA and Oil Market Analysis

Futures are moderately lower mostly on positioning ahead of the Core PCE Price Index release but also in reaction to disappointing EU economic data.

German GDP underwhelmed and fell –0.4% vs. (E) -0.2% while Gfk Consumer Climate also slightly missed estimates (-30.5 vs. (E) -30.4).

Today, focus will be on inflation and the key report is the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.4% m/m, 4.3% y/y).  We have a full Core PCE Price Index preview in the Report, but generally speaking, if the numbers are below expectations, it’ll spark a rally, if they are around expectations that’s mostly priced in, and if Core PCE is higher than last month, prepare for a selloff.

Other data today includes Personal Incomes and Outlays (E: 1.0%, 1.2%), , New Home Sales (E: 617K) and Consumer Sentiment (E: 66.4), but barring a move in five year inflation expectations above 3% none of those reports should move markets.

Finally, we also have two Fed speakers today, Mester (10:15 a.m. ET) and Collins (1:30 p.m. ET).

Tom Essaye Joins Yahoo Finance To Discuss The Economy on February 21st, 2023

‘The economy is stronger than everybody thought,’ Sevens Report Research Founder says

Sevens Report Research Founder and President Tom Essaye to discuss the expectations for the Fed’s upcoming FOMC minutes meeting, the future of Fed policy pathway, why investors should remain on recession watch in 2023, and the outlook for markets. Click here to watch the full discussion.

Equity Risk Premium Hits 2007 Levels

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Equity Risk Premium at 2007 Levels
  • February Composite PMI Flash Takeaways
  • Why Are Rising Rates Causing Stocks to Drop Now?
  • S&P 500 Chart: Trend Support From the October Lows In Focus

U.S. equity futures are little changed this morning following yesterday’s steep losses as Treasuries have stabilized ahead of today’s Fed meeting minutes release.

Economically, German CPI met estimates at 8.7% y/y but that remains a historically very high reading which continues to warrant aggressive policy from the ECB in the months ahead.

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports which will leave investors primarily focused on the FOMC meeting minutes release (2:00 p.m. ET). Before that release, the Treasury will hold a 5-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET which could move bond markets, and if we see new highs in yields, expect additional pressure on stocks.

Finally, the Fed’s Williams speaks after the close at 5:30 p.m. ET and his comments could move markets in after-hours trading if he is materially hawkish.

Three Technical “Cs” for a Lasting Market Bottom

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Three Technical “Cs” for a Lasting Market Bottom

Futures are sharply lower on continued momentum from Thursday’s late day drop and following hot German inflation data and strong UK retail sales.

German CPI didn’t decline as much as hoped, falling –1.0% vs. (E) -1.6% and rising 17.8% vs. (E) 16.0%.  UK Retail Sales were also better than expected (0.5% vs. (E) -0.3% and the two reports are combining with yesterday’s hot US PPI to push rate hike expectations higher.

Today focus will remain on data and Fed speak.  The two notable economic reports are Import & Export Prices (E: -0.1%, -0.2%) and Leading Indicators (E: -0.3%).  The first deals with inflation and the second deals with growth, and if inflation is hot and growth is cool, expect more selling pressure.

There are also two Fed speakers today, Barkin (8:30 a.m. ET) and Bowman (8:45 a.m. ET) and we should expect them to sound hawkish (as most Fed speakers have been this week).

Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in MarketWatch on February 14th, 2023

Oil traders hit ‘sell button’ with U.S. set to release more crude from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve

The release plans were part of a congressional-mandate related to annual budgets that has been in place for almost a decade, Tyler Richey, co-editor of Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch. But “when traders see an SPR release headline cross the wires, they think ‘more supply on the market’ and hit the sell button first and ask questions later.” Click here to read the full article.

Technical Update: Is This Another Bull Trap?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Technical Update:  Is This Another Bull Trap?
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are flat following a quiet night and as solid CSCO earnings are helping stocks hold yesterdays’ gains.

CSCO beat estimates and raised guidance and the stock is up 4% pre-market and that’s helping broader sentiment.

Economically, the only notable number was the Chinese Home Price Index (in-line at –1.5%).

Today focus will remain on economic data and the key reports are (in order of importance):  Philly Fed (E: -7.2), PPI (E: 0.4%m/m, 5.5% y/y), Jobless Claims (E: 200K) and Housing Starts (E: 1.365M).  As has been the case, solid data that implies a “No Landing’ scenario should support stocks, as long as yields don’t spike too much.

We also have several Fed speakers today including Mester (8:45 a.m. ET), Bullard (1:30 p.m. ET) and Cook (4:00 p.m. ET) although they shouldn’t move markets.

What the CPI Data Means for Markets

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the CPI Means for Markets
  • CPI Data Takeaways
  • How Will Russia’s Production Cut and the New SPR Release Impact Oil Markets?

U.S. equity futures are lower despite a stable Treasury market and better-than-feared inflation data overseas as investors continued to assess post-CPI Fed policy expectations.

U.K. CPI fell to 10.1% vs. (E) 10.3% in January down from 10.5% in December which sent the pound lower. Despite the bigger than expected drop, however, inflation remains far too high in the U.K. and more aggressive policy will be warranted to get price pressures back down towards the BOE’s target over time.

Today, focus will be on economic data as there are several important reports due to be released including: Retail Sales (E: 1.7%), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -18.5), Industrial Production (E: 0.5%), and the Housing Market Index (E: 37).

As has been the case lately, investors will be looking for signs of moderation in growth metrics (but not an all out collapse) and faster declining price readings to keep the hopes of a soft/no landing alive. Otherwise, it will be difficult for stocks to resume their 2023 advance.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and if demand is weak and yields begin to add to yesterday’s upward moves, stocks could come for sale.

Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500 Chart

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500 Chart (Printable/Shareable PDF Available)
  • NY Fed Inflation Expectations Data Takeaways
  • Key Levels to Watch Today in the Dollar and Treasuries

Stock futures are modestly higher thanks to good economic data overnight as traders await today’s U.S. CPI report and more Fed speak.

Economically, the U.K.’s Unemployment Rate held steady below 4% but wage growth favorably slowed to 5.9% in January from 6.5% in December.

Meanwhile the NFIB Small Business Optimistic Index in the U.S. met estimates at 90.3 which saw S&P 500 futures hit new pre-market highs at the top of the 6:00 a.m. hour ET.

Today, focus will be on economic data early with CPI (E: 0.5% m/m, 6.2% y/y) and Core CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 5.5% y/y) due out before the opening bell. Cooling inflation pressures have largely been priced in recently so a low print could see stocks add to YTD gains, but the risk is for a hot print to spark a significant wave of selling amid further hawkish shifting money flows across asset classes.

Moving through the day, there are three Fed speakers to watch: Logan (11:00 a.m. ET), Harker (1:00 p.m. ET), and Williams (2:05 p.m. ET) and they will all likely echo the hawkish tone coming from other Fed officials recently but their comments should not have a major impact on markets.

Earnings season is winding down but a few notable companies reporting today include: KO ($0.45), MAR ($1.84), ABNB ($0.27).

Tom Essaye Interviewed on BNN Bloomberg on February 10th, 2023

Uber is being rewarded for its diversification strategy amid a growth slowdown: Tom Essaye

Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research and Andrew McCreath, founder at Forge First Asset Management, join BNN Bloomberg to discuss the latest large-cap earnings reports. Essaye says that Uber’s strength this season is a signal that life is getting back to normal and discusses how diversification will be imperative for companies to succeed amid the growth slowdown. Click here to watch the full interview.