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What Does Wall Street Expect for 2025? (SPX Forecasts)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Does Wall Street Expect for 2025? (SPX Forecasts)
  • S&P Services PMI Takeaways – Slightly Hawkish

Futures are little changed this morning as global investors digest the solid rebound in stocks over the last two sessions amid largely as-expected economic data overnight.

Economically, Eurozone CPI met estimates with a 0.2% rise to 2.4% Y/Y in December while the EU Unemployment Rate held steady at 6.3%, also inline with expectations.

Today, market focus will be on economic data early with International Trade in Goods (E: $-77.6B), ISM Services PMI (E: 53.2), and JOLTS (E: 7.65 million) all due to be released this morning. The ISM report will be critical as a “hot” print is a risk to the early 2025 rally as it will support the case for a Fed “pause” in their rate cutting cycle and put upward pressure on yields.

There is also one Fed speaker who could shed light on FOMC policy plans (although that is not very likely): Barkin (8:00 a.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and the results will be important to watch as yesterday’s weak 3-Yr Note auction contributed to the afternoon rise in yields that weighed on stocks. So, the best-case scenario outcome for stocks is a solid auction that turns yields lower, ideally with the 10-Yr yield falling back below 4.60%.

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Why Have Stocks Dropped?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Have Stocks Dropped?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Goldilocks Data Fuel A Rebound?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Friday’s Jobs Report is the First Big Report of 2025.

Futures are extending Friday’s rally thanks to a rebound in political optimism and despite more mixed global economic data.

Mike Johnson was relatively easily re-elected Speaker of the House on Friday, providing a needed positive political event for markets and boosting pro-growth policy hopes.

Economically, global data remained lack luster as the UK Services PMI missed expectations (51.1 vs. (E) 51.4.).

Today focus will turn back to data with Factory Orders (E: -0.3%) and the December Services PMI (E: 58.5) and the more Goldilocks the readings, the more they’ll fuel this early bounce.  There is also one Fed speaker, Cook (9:15 a.m. ET), but she shouldn’t move markets.

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter

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Are Credit Spreads Confirming Stock Market Weakness?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are Credit Spreads Confirming Stock Market Weakness?

Futures are slightly higher and are seeing a modest bounce following a generally quiet night of news.

Economically, the only notable number overnight was German Unemployment, which met expectations at 6.1%.

Politically, the House of Representatives will vote on a Speaker today and if Speaker Johnson fails to quickly win that election, it’ll be a market negative as it will raise doubts Republicans can actually pass tax cuts later in 2025.

Today is an important day for markets from a political perspective, it’s also important from an economic standpoint as we get the first of the “Big Three” monthly economic reports via the December ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 48.5).  Markets will want to see that number in-line to slightly lower, as a much better than expected number will likely see a repeat of yesterday, as the dollar and yields should rise and this early rally in stocks should fade as investors reduce expectations for future rate cuts.  Goldilocks data is needed for this stock market dip to end.

Speaking of the Fed, we get our first two speakers of 2025 in Barkin (11:00 a.m. ET), and Daly (5:30 p.m. ET) although they shouldn’t move markets.

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A Higher Bar for the Bulls in 2025

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Higher Bar for the Bulls in 2025
  • Weekly Market Preview: Focus on Politics (Does Johnson Get Re-elected as Speaker?)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Another Slow Week But Important Reports Thursday and Friday

Futures are slightly weaker following a mostly quiet weekend of news and ahead of another holiday shortened trading week.

Economically, the only notable report was Spanish CPI, which came in hotter than expected at 2.8% y/y vs. (E) 2.6% y/y, reinforcing some fears of sticky inflation.

Politically, the first major event for the new U.S. Congress comes this Friday via the Speaker of the House election (markets will want to see current Speaker Johson re-elected).

Given the mid-week holiday this week is another relatively quiet one on the data front but there are some notable reports to watch today including Chicago PMI (E: 42.7), Pending Home Sales (E: 0.7%).  As is the case for the foreseeable future, anything Goldilocks (so in-line to slightly softer) is the preferred outcome for markets.

 

Sevens Report Q4 ’24 Quarterly Letter Coming Thursday. 

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I am currently finishing the Q4 2024 Sevens Report Quarterly Letter and it will be delivered Thursday, January 2nd.

2024 was a great year, but there is a lot of uncertainty looming for markets in 2025, from politics, the Fed, economic growth and earnings.

Don’t let your clients get blindsided by negative events!

You can view our Q3 ’24 Quarterly Letter here.

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Was Last Week A Preview of 2025?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Was Last Week A Preview of 2025?
  • Weekly Market Preview: Can the Santa Rally Re-start?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: A Quiet Week, But Claims Thursday Matter

Futures are slightly weaker following a quiet weekend of news and ahead of the holiday-shortened trading week.

Economically, the only notable number overnight was UK GDP which was slightly weaker than expected, rising 0.9% vs. (E) 1.0%.

Politically, a U.S. government shutdown was averted as Congress passed a bill to fund the government but only through March, which adds complication to Republican plans to pass aggressive pro-growth legislation.

Today the only notable economic report is Consumer Confidence (E: 113.0) and barring a major surprise, it shouldn’t move markets.

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Did the Fed Decision Weaken the Bull Market?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Four Reasons the Fed Decision Caused Such a Big Selloff
  • Did the Fed Decision Weaken the Bull Market?

Futures are seeing a bounce following yesterday’s steep selloff despite more negative news overnight.

Politically, government shutdown risks spiked on Thursday after support for the stop-gap funding bill collapsed and a government shutdown on Friday is becoming more likely.

On earnings, Micron (MU) posted disappointing guidance and the stock is down –15% pre-open.

Today is another busy day of economic data and policy decisions.   The Bank of England has a rate decision (E: 25 bps cut) while there are numerous U.S. economic reports including, in order of importance,  Jobless Claims (E: 232K), Philly Fed (E: 2.5), Final Q3 GDP (E: 2.8%) and Existing Home Sales (E: 4.05 million).  The market needs Goldilocks data to help it hold this early bounce and any data that’s “Too Hot” (meaning much stronger than expected) will only increase hawkish Fed worries, push yields higher and likely hit stocks, again.

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FOMC Preview (All About the Projections)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview – All About the Projections
  • NVDA Chart – Three Negative Technical Developments
  • Economic Data Takeaways – Empire Survey and PMIs “Goldilocks Enough”

Futures are moderately lower as mostly strong international economic data overnight is putting upward pressure on global bond yields as focus turns to this week’s central bank decisions, including the Fed tomorrow.

Economically, Germany’s December Ifo Survey was mixed with Current Conditions edging up to 85.1 vs. (E) 83.8 but Business Expectations declined to 84.4 vs. (E) 87.0 while UK wage growth jumped 5.2% y/y vs. (E) 4.6% which sent Gilt yields higher.

Today, trader focus will be on economic data early with Retail Sales (E: 0.5%), Industrial Production (E: 0.3%) and the Housing Market Index (E: 47) all due to be released.

However, with the FOMC meeting getting underway in Washington, market moves are likely to be limited (barring any material surprises) as a familiar sense of “Fed-Paralysis” is likely to begin gripping the market with tomorrow’s FOMC decision looming.

Finally, there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that has the potential to move yields and impact equity market trading but odds of that happening ahead of the Fed announcement tomorrow are relatively low.

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What to Expect from Markets in 2025

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What to Expect from Markets in 2025
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Does the Fed Keep Cutting and Does Data Stay Goldilocks?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  All Eyes on the Fed Dots

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet weekend of news and despite mixed global economic data.

Chinese Retail Sales (3.0% vs. (E) 4.6%) and Fixed Asset Investment (3.3% vs. (E) 3.5%) both missed estimates, reminding investors that despite promises for more stimulus, Chinese growth remains lackluster.

In Europe, data was better as the flash Composite PMIs for the EU (49.5 vs. (E) 48.0) and the UK (50.5 vs. (E) 50.0) both beat estimates.

Today focus will be on the Empire Manufacturing Survey (6.4) as that’s the first data point for December and investors will want to see in an-line to slightly soft reading to reinforce the Goldilocks narrative.

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Why Has Tech Been So Strong? (Again)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Has Tech Been So Strong? (Again)

Futures are modestly higher following better than expected tech earnings overnight.

Broadcom (AVGO) earnings were mixed but management commentary was bullish and the stock is rallying 15% pre-market and that’s helping to boost tech stocks and broader market futures.

Economically, the notable data was from the UK and it was soft.  Monthly GDP (-0.1% vs. (E) 0.2%) and Industrial Production (-0.6% vs. (E) 0.3%) both missed estimates.

Today there are no notable economic reports nor any Fed speakers, so markets will likely follow the tech sector.  If the AVGO led tech rally this morning can hold, it should pull other indices and sectors higher with it.

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The VIX index and VIX futures both getting pressured in a big way

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The VIX index and VIX futures both getting pressured in a big way: Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in S&P Global

Stock market ‘fear gauge’ plunges; investors expect rally to persist into 2025

Volatility dynamics in the stock market have shifted since the election when many investors crowded into downside stock market hedges on fears that a Democratic victory could lead to taxes on unrealized capital gains, said Tyler Richey with Sevens Report Research. This also hurt the performance of short volatility strategies, which had been crushed by a massive VIX squeeze at the start of August, Richey said.

“Between the post-election unwind in broad stock market hedges and a suffering short-volatility crowd [throughout 2024], the derivatives market pendulum swung hard from one extreme to another with the VIX index and VIX futures both getting pressured in a big way over the last month,” Richey said.

Also, click here to view the full S&P Global article published on December 6th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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