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Understanding Why the Decline in Inflation Has Stalled

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Understanding Why the Decline in Inflation Has Stalled: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Understanding Why the Decline in Inflation Has Stalled

Futures are slightly lower following more disappointing Chinese economic data and as geo-political concerns rise.

Chinese exports fell –7.5% vs. (E) -1.9% underscoring that growth remains a major concern in the Chinese economy.

Oil and gold are sharply higher on a WSJ article stating Iran could directly retaliate against Israel this weekend (a direct attack on Israel by Iran would be a substantial escalation).

Today there is one notable economic report, Consumer Sentiment (E: 79.0), but barring major surprise that shouldn’t move markets.    Instead, focus will be on Fed Speak and earnings.

Starting with the Fed, we have several speakers today including Schmid (1:00 p.m.), Bostic (2:30 p.m.) and Daly (3:30 p.m.) and if they echo Thursday’s commentary that rate cuts aren’t coming soon, expect mild pressure on stocks.

On earnings, today is the start of the Q1 earnings season and several big banks report including: JPM ($4.18), BLK ($4.92), WFC ($1.09) and C ($1.29).  Focus will be on the results and on consumer commentary and the stronger the commentary, the more of a tailwind earnings will provide to stocks.

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What Does the Hot CPI Report Mean for Markets

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What Does the Hot CPI Report Mean for Markets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Does the Hot CPI Report Mean for Markets?
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly lower and extending yesterdays’ declines ahead of more inflation readings and following disappointing Chinese economic data.

China’s CPI rose less than expected (0.1% vs. (E) 0.5%) and in China that’s a negative as deflation remains a major risk in that slow-growth economy.

Geopolitically, U.S. officials have warned about an imminent Iranian retaliation against Israel either directly or via proxy groups.

Today will be another busy day of events and following the hot CPI, today’s PPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.3% y/y) will be in focus. If it rises more than expected, look for higher yields and lower stock prices.  Conversely, if PPI is lower than expected it should deliver a bit of relief and potentially cause a bounce in stocks (and decline in yields).  Other notable events today include the ECB Rate Decision (E: No Change) and Jobless Claims (E: 215k).

Finally, there three Fed speakers today:  Williams (8:45 a.m.), Barkin (10:00 a.m.), Bostic (1:30 p.m.).  If they push back on rate cut hopes following yesterday’s CPI expect more pressure on stocks and if they are partially dismissive of it, expect a rebound.

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The Most Important Long-Term Market Indicator

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The Most Important Long-Term Market Indicator: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Most Important Long-Term Indicator for Markets
  • Remaining Catalysts This Week
  • Chart: 2-Yr Yield Quietly Breaks Out to New 2024 Highs

S&P futures are flat while Treasury yields are slightly lower and the dollar is little changed following a quiet night of news ahead of today’s critical U.S. CPI report.

In corporate news, TSM reported the fastest revenue growth since 2022, renewing some AI optimism in global markets.

The biggest catalyst of the day will hit before the bell with CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.5% y/y) and Core CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.7% y/y) being reported at 8:30 a.m. ET. Simply put, a “hot” print will be hawkish and bad for stocks; a “cool” print will be “risk-on.”

There are no other economic reports on the calendar, however, there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and the monthly Treasury Statement (-$340B) will hit the wires at 2:00 p.m. ET. Both could move yields and impact stocks (higher yields will pressure equities).

Regarding the Fed, there are two speakers on the schedule today, Bowman right after CPI (8:45 a.m. ET), and Goolsbee mid-day (12:45 p.m. ET) before the March FOMC Meeting Minutes are released mid-afternoon (2:00 p.m. ET).

Any hawkishness in the speakers’ tone or language that points to “higher for longer” policy will be negative for stocks. Conversely, if a summer cut and three total 2024 rate cuts are reinforced that will support risk assets and rally stocks broadly.

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Geopolitical factors remain the primary influence on the oil market

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Geopolitical factors remain the primary influence on the oil market: Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Morningstar

Oil prices fall, but settle above lows, as traders monitor Middle East risks

Geopolitical factors remain the “primary influence on the oil market,” and news that Israel was withdrawing some troops from parts of Gaza was seen as a step toward de-escalation in its military conflict with Hamas, Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch.

However, reports on Monday indicated that there has been no progress toward a cease-fire agreement between the sides.

Also, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly announced that a date has been set for an invasion of Rafah, which has been a “hotly contested issue in the ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas,” said Richey.

“The initial perception of improving geopolitical dynamics between Israel and Hamas initially weighed on oil prices [Monday], but renewed uncertainties about the potential for the military conflict to intensify” saw much of the early losses recovered before the close, Richey noted.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on April 9th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

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The CPI report has the potential to either push the S&P 500 index to new highs

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The CPI report has the potential to either push the S&P 500 index to new highs: Sevens Report, Quoted in MarketWatch

Fed-funds futures point to doubts over June rate cut as inflation data looms

Investors this week are waiting for a reading on inflation in March due out on Wednesday from the closely watched consumer-price index. The CPI report has the potential to either push the S&P 500 index to new highs or extend the U.S. stock market’s drop last week, according to a Sevens Report Research note on Monday.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on April 8th, 2024. 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.

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Investors are on edge that the Fed may delay rate cuts

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Investors are on edge that the Fed may delay rate cuts: Tom Essaye Quoted in Forbes

Jobs Report: Unemployment Hits 3.8% As Job Growth Pops

How the jobs report impacts market expectations for an eagerly anticipated cut to interest rates, a move which would stimulate economic growth and which is currently priced in to come in June. “Investors are on edge [that] the Fed may delay rate cuts from June until later in the summer (or late in 2024) if we get another hot employment report,” Sevens Report founder Tom Essaye explained ahead of the release.

Also, click here to view the full Forbes article published on April 5th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Lastly, 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.

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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.

Investors are on edge the Fed may delay rate cuts

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Investors are on edge the Fed may delay rate cuts: Sevens Report Founder, Tom Essaye, Quoted in MarketWatch

A ‘too hot’ jobs report poses biggest risk to stock-market rally: strategist

The setup for the stock market heading into the release of the Labor Department’s April employment report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time is a bit out of the ordinary, Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, said in a Thursday note.

While either a “too hot” or “too cold” jobs figure is often sufficient to spark a market selloff, the biggest danger on Friday is firmly tilted toward a stronger-than-expected reading, he said.

“Investors are on edge the Fed may delay rate cuts from June until later in the summer (or late in 2024) if we get another hot employment report,” Essaye wrote. “If that occurs, expect a partial repeat of Tuesday,” when the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 400 points, or 1%, for its worst performance since March 5, while the S&P 500 lost 0.7% and the Nasdaq Composite declined 1%.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on April 4th, 2024. 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.

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly

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CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly
  • Where to Find Rate Cut Probabilities

Stock futures are modestly higher this morning as the bond market steadies ahead of tomorrow’s key inflation data while financial newswires were mostly quiet overnight.

Overseas, Taiwan’s headline CPI fell sharply from 3.1% to 2.1% vs (E) 2.5% in March. Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index dropped to 88.5 vs. (E) 89.9.

Looking ahead to today’s session, there are no economic reports today and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak which is setting up a fairly quiet morning in the markets.

The one potential catalysts on the calendar today is the 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. Equity markets are watching yields closely here, so if today’s auction is weak and yields move higher this afternoon that will weigh on stocks and other risk assets. However, moves should be limited as traders position into tomorrow’s inflation data.

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The Most Important Short-Term Market Indicator

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The Most Important Short-Term Market Indicator: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Most Important Short-Term Market Indicator
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will CPI Decline Further?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Inflation in Focus This Week (And It Needs to Keep Falling)

Futures are flat following a mostly quiet weekend as markets digest Friday’s rally and look ahead to Wednesday’s CPI.

Geo-political tensions eased slightly and that’s weighing modestly on oil prices as Iran said it would not retaliate again Israel if a cease-fire in Gaza is reached.

Economically, German Industrial Production solidly beat estimates (2.1% vs. (E) 0.3%).

Today will be a mostly quiet day as there are no notable economic reports and just one Fed speaker, Kashkari (7:00 p.m. ET), but he speaks after the close.  So, digestion of Friday’s rebound and positioning ahead of Wednesday’s CPI will likely drive trading today.

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Why Did Stocks Drop Again?

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Why Did Stocks Drop Again? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Stocks Drop Again?
  • How High Can Gold Go?

Futures are bouncing modestly from Thursday’s afternoon selloff, following a quiet night of news and as investor look ahead to today’s jobs report.

Economic data overnight (German Manufacturers’ Orders and Euro Zone retail sales) slightly missed expectations but the numbers aren’t increasing growth worries.

Today the focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows: 200K Job Adds, 3.9% Unemployment Rate, 4.1% y/y Wage Growth.  The risk for this market remains for a “Too Hot” report that shows strong job adds, low unemployment and hot wages, while a number modestly below expectations would be welcomed as “Goldilocks” and likely spur a rebound in stocks and bonds.

In addition to the jobs report, we also have several Fed speakers including Collins (8:30 a.m. ET), Barkin (9:15 a.m. ET), Logan (11:00 a.m. ET) and Bowman (12:15 p.m. ET). If their tone is hawkish, it could reduce June rate cut chances and increase volatility.

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