Posts

Latest Bitcoin & Crypto Insights (New Regular Series)

Latest Bitcoin & Crypto Insights (New Regular Series): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Latest Bitcoin & Crypto Insights (New Regular Series)
  • FOMC Minutes:  Why Markets Still Expect a Rate Cut in 2025

Futures are slightly lower mostly on digestion following a generally quiet night of news.

Economically, the only notable report was German PPI, which was better than expected (-1.2% vs. (E) -0.5% y/y).

Politically, there has been little progress on a debt ceiling extension (March 12th deadline) and markets are starting to notice.

Today focus will be on economic data and Fed speak.  The key economic reports today are Philly Fed (E: 22.7) and Jobless Claims (E: 215K) and readings that are right around expectations will be the best case for markets.  For Philly Fed specifically, investors will be watching the price indices and if they leap higher, like we saw in Tuesday’s Empire State Manufacturing Index, that will increase inflation concerns and likely weigh on stocks.

Turning to the Fed, there are multiple speakers today including Goolsbee (9:35 a.m. ET), Musalem (12:05 p.m. ET), Barr (2:30 p.m. ET) and Kugler (5:00 p.m. ET) but as long as they don’t imply the Fed is done cutting rates, they shouldn’t impact markets.


Join thousands 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 joins Financial Sense to break down what’s driving inflation

Tom Essaye Interview With Financial Sense


This Week: Sticky Inflation and More Tariffs – Tom Essaye on Market Response

Financial expert Tom Essaye of the Sevens Report joins Financial Sense to break down what’s driving inflation, the potential impact of new tariffs, and why the Fed may be forced to reconsider rate cuts. With the S&P 500 at record highs, Essaye warns of market vulnerability and highlights where investors should be looking now. Don’t miss this deep dive into inflation, interest rates, and market strategy!

Also, click here to view the full interview with Financial Sense published on February 12th, 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.

Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard

Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard
  • Empire State Manufacturing Survey Takeaways

Futures are modestly lower as investors digest fresh tariff threats from President Trump and more “hot” inflation data out of Europe, both of which are driving global bond yields higher.

Economically, China’s House Price Index fell -5.0% in January rekindling concerns about the nation’s housing sector while UK CPI was 3.0% vs. (E) 2.8%, up from 2.5% in December, stoking inflation fears and adding upward pressure to bond yields.

Today, there is one economic report to watch: Housing Starts (1.397M) before the January FOMC Meeting Minutes will come into focus in the afternoon (2:00 p.m. ET).

There is also one Fed speaker but not until after the close: Jefferson (5:00 p.m. ET) while we will get a few noteworthy (but not likely market-moving) earnings releases from ETSY ($0.95), CVNA ($0.32), and TOST ($0.06).


Join thousands 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.

MMT Chart: S&P Reaches Technical Tipping Point

MMT Chart: S&P Reaches Technical Tipping Point: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • MMT Chart: Steady Targets Amid Rising Technical Risks
  • Powell Testimony Takeaways – Policy on “Hold” for Now
  • NFIB Shows Fading Optimism Among Small Business Owners

Futures are mixed but little changed and bond yields are flat ahead of today’s critical U.S. CPI release.

Economically, Italian Industrial Production fell -3.1% vs. (E) -0.2% in December which served as a reminder that Europe continues to face significant growth risks.

Traders will be keenly focused on the January CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.9% y/y), and Core CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.2% y/y) release before the bell this morning before focus turns back to Capitol Hill for Powell’s second day of semiannual testimony (10:00 a.m. ET).

A “hot” inflation print is a considerable risk to equities and other risk assets here as hawkish money flows could result in heavy market declines today.

Looking ahead to the afternoon, there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and two additional Fed speakers to watch today: Bostic (12:00 p.m. ET), Waller (5:05 p.m. ET), however CPI and Powell will be the primary market-focus over the course of the session.


Join thousands 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.

Market Multiple Table: February Update

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


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table (February Update)
  • NY Fed Inflation Expectations

Stock futures are lower and yields are higher after President Trump officially announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports late yesterday, reigniting global trade war worries.

Economically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell to 102.8 in January from December’s multi-year highs of 105.1. The headline missed estimates of 104.7 and underscored fading post-election optimism among business owners.

There are no other economic reports today, however there is a 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. Soft demand, and subsequently higher yields could further pressure equities this afternoon with tomorrow’s CPI report in focus.

Additionally, market focus will be on Capitol Hill today as Fed Chair Powell is set to begin his semi-annual Congressional Testimony at 10:00 a.m. ET. We will also hear from the Fed’s Hammack (8:30 a.m. ET) and Williams (3:30 p.m. ET) today. A dovish tone, and further confidence in a soft economic landing will be favorable for equity markets today.

Finally, earnings season continues today with reports from SHOP ($0.43) and KO ($0.51) before the bell and SMCI ($0.54) after the close.


Join thousands 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.

Earnings and economic growth are still solid

Earnings and economic growth are still solid: Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Investing.com


Are tariffs a gamechanger for the S&P 500?

While the tariffs add another headwind for equities, Sevens Report argues that they do not warrant an immediate reduction in equity exposure.

“Earnings and economic growth (the two most important foundational forces for stocks) are still solid,” the analysts wrote. However, they caution that “the factors that push stocks higher are being weakened or eliminated one-by-one,” while downside risks are mounting.

“These tariffs potentially undermine that positive price action from the ‘rest’ of the market and could weigh on other sectors while DeepSeek weighs on tech,” the analysts noted.

“Most still believe this is all a negotiation and that the tariffs won’t be on for long (and that’s still probably right),” the report states. However, with AI uncertainty and elevated valuations already straining investor sentiment, Sevens Report warns that “the recipe is coming together for a solid and extended pullback.”

Also, click here to view the full article published on February 3rd, 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.

This accelerated approach has generated 3.5% annualized alpha

This accelerated approach has generated 3.5% annualized alpha: Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Investing.com


Analyst explains 2 sector rotation strategies with proven outperformance

According to Sevens, this accelerated approach has generated 3.5% annualized alpha versus the S&P 500.

The second strategy called the Cheapskate Sector Strategy, involves buying the sector with the lowest price-to-earnings ratio from the previous year.

Sevens notes that the contrarian approach, while more psychologically challenging, has historically paid off, delivering an annualized return of 12.6% over 34 years. It has outperformed the S&P 500 in 20 of those years, with a 59% win rate. For 2025, Energy is the cheapest sector in the S&P 500 based on trailing P/E.

Sevens Report notes that while these strategies don’t work every year, their long-term success rates exceed those of most active managers.

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

Are Tariffs A Bearish Gamechanger? Not Yet.

Are Tariffs A Bearish Gamechanger? Not Yet.: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are Tariffs A Bearish Gamechanger?  Not Yet.
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Tar War 2.0 and Key Economic Data (Including Friday’s Jobs Report)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  The “Big Three” Monthly Reports (Highlighted by Friday’s Jobs Report)

Futures are sharply lower (more than 1%) after President Trump made good on threats and placed 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico in addition to an incremental 10% tariff on China, igniting another round of trade wars.

Economically, EU and UK manufacturing PMIs were slightly better than expected but both still were solidly in contraction territory, reinforcing EU and UK growth concerns.

Today could be a very busy day in the markets.  Obviously trade rhetoric will dominate trading today and to that end, Trump has calls planned today with Canadian PM Trudeau and Mexican President Sheinbaum and obviously those headlines will move markets.  Outside of trade drama, however, we get an important economic report, the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 49.5) and markets will want to continue to see Goldilocks readings close that are in-line or slightly weak.

In addition to trade drama and an important economic report, we also have two Fed speakers, Bostic (12:30 p.m. ET) and Musalem (6:30 p.m. ET) and their commentary on future cuts could also move markets.


Join thousands 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 Would Cause the Fed to Cut Rates Again? (Two Answers)

What Would Cause the Fed to Cut Rates Again? (Two Answers): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Would Cause the Fed to Cut Rates Again? (Two Answers)

Futures are modestly higher despite mixed tech earnings.

TSLA (up 3% pre-market) and META (up 1% pre-market) results were “fine” while MSFT disappointed (MSFT down  4% pre-market) but none of the results were surprising enough to impact the broader tech sector.

Today will be a busy day of economic data and earnings including, in order of importance, the ECB Rate Decision (E: 25 bps cut), Jobless Claims (E: 224K), Advanced Q4 GDP (E: 2.7%) and Pending Home Sales (E: 0.4%).  And, following yesterday’s Fed meeting, it remains the case that in-line to slightly weak results are the “best” case for stocks as they imply solid growth but keep rate cut expectations stable.

On earnings, the key results today include: AAPL ($2.36), INTC ($0.12), V ($2.66), UPS ($2.52), MA ($3.68), CAT ($4.97).


Join thousands 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 Stocks Go Back-to-Back-to-Back?

Can Stocks Go Back-to-Back-to-Back?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Can Stocks Go Back-to-Back-to-Back?
  • Why CPI Was An Important Positive for Markets
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly higher thanks mostly to solid earnings and guidance from Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM).

For AI related tech companies, guidance will be key this earnings season and TSM posted better than expected revenue guidance and the stock is up 5% pre-market.

Economic data overnight largely met expectations.

Today will be a busy day of notable economic data and earnings.  On the economy, we get several important reports today including, in order of importance, Retail Sales (E: 0.5%), Jobless Claims (E: 214K), Philly Fed (E: -8.0) and the Housing Market Index (E: 46).  As has been the case, data that meets or slightly misses expectations is the “best” case for markets (while very strong data will boost yields and pressure stocks).

On earnings, the Q4 reporting season is just starting to ramp up and some important results we’re watching today include BAC ($0.77), MS ($1.65), UNH ($6.71), JBHT ($1.63).


Join thousands 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.