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Current Market Glossary (For Clients & Prospects)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Current Market Glossary (For Clients & Prospects)

Futures are slightly lower following a night of disappointing tech earnings.

NFLX, TSLA and TSM all posted disappointing earnings results (stocks down 3% – 6% pre-market) and that’s weighing on Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures.

There was no notable economic data overnight.

Today will be another busy day of data and earnings results.  On the economic front, the two key reports are Weekly Jobless Claims (E: 250k) and Philly Fed (E: -10.0), and as you can guess (and especially at these stretched valuations) markets will want to see more Goldilocks data (so stable claims and Philly and falling prices).  We also get Existing Home Sales (E: 4.23M) but, barring a big miss, that shouldn’t move markets.

Turning to earnings, focus today is on industrials and consumer/healthcare names, and some important results to watch include:  AAL ($1.58), TSM ($1.07), JNJ ($2.61), PM ($1.48), COF ($3.31), CSX ($0.49), and PPG ($2.14).

What Pushes Stocks Higher from Here?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Pushes Stocks Higher from Here?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Earnings Take Center Stage
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Growth Data in Focus this Week

Futures are slightly lower following mixed Chinese economic data and a potential further escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war.

Chinese economic data was mixed as GDP and Retail Sales both missed estimates, while Industrial Production beat, and the data will keep markets  wanting more stimulus.

Possibility of further escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war increased after Ukraine claimed responsibility for the destruction of a bridge linking Crimea and Russia.

Today focus will be on the first data point for July, the Empire Manufacturing Index (E: -4.3).  Markets will want to see this number be stronger than expectations and ideally turn positive, furthering the “Golidlocks” market narrative of falling inflation but stable growth.

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, and Ugly

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview – Good, Bad, & Ugly
  • Chart: Is Disinflation Accelerating?

U.S. stock futures are extending this week’s gains ahead of the all-important CPI report this morning following a mostly quiet night of news.

There were no economic reports overnight but the Reserve Bank of New Zealand did notably pause their rate hiking cycle leaving their policy rate unchanged at 5.50% (however this was expected and did not meaningfully move markets).

Looking into today’s session the big catalyst is the CPI report due out before the open. On the headline, CPI is expected to come in at 0.3% m/m and 3.1% y/y while the Core figure is seen rising 0.3% m/m and 5.0% y/y.

From there, focus will turn to Fed speakers with Kashkari speaking shortly after the open (9:45 a.m. ET) and Mester at the close (4:00 p.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and the outcome could shed light on the bond market’s outlook for the economy and Fed policy expectations in the wake of the CPI data release, so there is potential this auction moves markets in the early afternoon.

Jobs Day

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How the Two-Year Yield Caused Yesterday’s Drop in Stocks
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are slightly lower following a mostly quiet night of news as investors wait for this morning’s jobs report.

Economic data underwhelmed as Japanese Household Spending (-1.1% vs. (E) 0.5%) and German Industrial Production (-0.2% vs. (E) -0.1%) both missed expectations.

Taiwan exports also fell more than expected, down 23.4%, and that’s adding to general anxiety about future global growth.

Today the only major event is the June jobs report and expectations are as follows:  213K job adds, 3.7% UE Rate, 0.3% wage increase m/m and 4.2% y/y.  As we saw from yesterday’s ADP report, a “Too Hot” number will spike yields and further pressure stocks, as the rise in yields is now getting high enough to be a headwind on the market.  Conversely, a “Too Cold” number will increase stagflation worries.

A job adds number in the 100k range coupled with an increase in the unemployment rate and a drop in wages remains the best outcome for stocks, and if we get that number don’t be surprised if the S&P 500 recoups all of yesterday’s losses.

Jobs Report Preview (Will It Reinforce the No Landing Expectation?)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (Will It Reinforce the No Landing Expectation?)
  • FOMC Minutes:  Why They Reinforced the Fed’s Hawkish Tone

Futures are moderately lower on falling expectations for Chinese economic stimulus.

A Nikkei article stated Chinese economic stimulus could be much smaller than expected, and that hit the Hang Seng hard (down 3%) and is weighing on global indices.

Economically, German Manufacturers’ Orders were much stronger than expected, rising 6.4% vs. (E) 2.0%.

Today focus will be on economic data and the key reports, in order of importance, are:  JOLTS (E: 9.9M), Jobless Claims (E: 245K), ISM Services Index (E: 50.8) and ADP Employment Report (E: 235K).  Hopes for a “No Landing” are the reason stocks rallied in late June, so markets will want to see better than expected data across these reports to help support those recent gains.  Also, there is one Fed speaker today, Logan (8:45 a.m. ET), but she shouldn’t move markets.

Tom Essaye Quote in Barron’s on June 30th, 2023

U.S. Stock Futures Rise Ahead of Key PCE Inflation Data

Futures are moderately higher mostly on momentum and end of quarter/half positioning, as economic data overnight was mixed but not bad enough to interrupt the rally, said Tom Essaye, founder at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Why Economic Data Will Decide if the Rally Continues in 2H ’23

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Economic Data Will Decide if the Rally Continues in 2H ‘23
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Does Economic Data This Week Reinforce “No Landing” Expectations?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Jobs Report Friday, ISM PMIs Monday and Thursday.

Futures are flat to start the second half of 2023 following a quiet weekend of news.

Economic data was mixed overnight as the EU Manufacturing PMI slightly missed estimates (43.4 vs. (E) 43.6) while the UK reading slightly beat expectations (46.5 vs. (E) 46.2), but neither number is moving markets.

Saudi Arabia and Russia made separate announcements about further reducing oil supply in the coming months, although they aren’t causing a material rally.

Today focus will be on the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.2) and at this point, and with yields this high, markets need to see solid data and that means the ISM Manufacturing PMI moving closer towards 50 and beating expectations.

As a reminder, the stock market will close at 1:00 p.m. today ahead of the July 4th holiday.

 

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter Delivered Today

Our Q2 ’23 Quarterly Letter will be released today.

We use our strength (writing about the markets) to help you:

  • Save time (an average of 4-6 hours per quarterly letter)
  • Enjoy the holiday shortened week and know your client quarterly letter is already done, or mostly done!

You can view our Q1 ’23 Quarterly Letter here

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If you’re interested in subscribing, please email info@sevensreport.com.

Earnings Disappointments Rekindle Economic Worries

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Earnings Disappointments From FDX and WGO Rekindle Economic Worries
  • What the Strong Housing Starts Mean for Markets
  • Bear Flattening Trend in Treasuries Underscores Hawkish Fed Expectations

Stock futures are falling with global markets and yields are rising this morning after more hawkish central bank decisions overnight as focus turns to the BOE.

In Europe, monetary policy decisions were net hawkish as Norway’s central bank raised rates 50 bp vs. (E) 25 bp to 3.75% while the Swiss National Bank met estimates with a 25 bp hike to 1.75%. The rate hikes are pressuring global bond markets (yields higher) and weighing on sentiment, dragging equity markets lower.

Looking into today’s session, early focus will be on the Bank of England as a 25 bp hike to 4.75% in the benchmark policy rate is expected but there is risk of a 50 bp hike to 5.00% which would be another hawkish surprise for markets and likely result in rising yields and more pressure on overbought equity markets.

In the U.S. there are two economic reports to watch: Jobless Claims (E: 261K) and Existing Home Sales (E: 4.250M). A further rise in claims could bring into question whether or not the labor market is suddenly beginning to deteriorate meaningfully while strong housing data would warrant a hawkish reaction after the much better than expected Housing Starts print earlier this week.

From there, focus will turn to the Fed as Chair Powell continues his semi-annual Congressional testimony at 10:00 a.m. ET while Mester will speak around the same time (10:00 a.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 5-Yr TIPS auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could offer insight to inflation expectations and move yields, but most of the market-moving news will likely hit before the lunch hour today.

Updated Market Outlook

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Updated Market Outlook – Markets Price in “Economic Nirvana”
  • Based on Valuations, Cyclical Sectors Poised to Outperform
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Will the Flash PMIs Support Soft-Landing Optimism?

Futures are lower to start the holiday-shortened trading week today with Asian markets underperforming as the latest Chinese stimulus efforts were seen as underwhelming while inflation trends in Europe remain favorable.

The PBOC lowered both the 1-Yr and 5-Yr prime loan rates by 10 bp overnight to 3.55% and 4.2%, respectively, but the cuts disappointed versus hopeful investor expectations given weak economic data lately, and markets traded with a risk-off tone in the wake of the announcements.

In Europe, German PPI fell to 1.0% vs. (E) 1.8% in May offering the latest evidence that the global disinflation trends remain intact.

Looking into today’s session, there is just one economic report to watch: Housing Starts (E: 1.40M) which shouldn’t move markets, and only one Fed speaker: Williams (11:45 a.m. ET).

With stocks overextended by multiple measures right now, there will likely be some degree of digestion of the latest leg higher in equity markets now that the June Fed decision and Friday’s massive options expiration are behind us. With that in mind, focus will begin to shift to Powell’s semi-annual Monetary Policy Report to Congress which begins tomorrow as investors look for further insight to the Fed’s future policy plans.

Fed Decision Takeaways

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Decision Means for Markets
  • FOMC Decision Takeaways
  • Oil Update – Resilient Demand Offset By Fed Policy Worries

U.S. equity futures are lower as the Fed decision continues to be digested while global economic data largely missed expectations overnight.

Economically, Chinese data was universally disappointing with Industrial Production and Retail Sales both missing estimates while EU trade data showed that imports and exports both declined by more than anticipated. China’s central bank cut rates further overnight, however, which saw risk assets in Asia recover to end with gains.

Looking into today’s session, the ECB decision will be in focus this morning (E: +25bp hike) followed by President Lagarde’s press conference. If the ECB is seen as hawkish, it will likely weigh on stocks and other risk assets as it will show central bankers are not yet satisfied with the trends in inflation and more aggressive policy is likely in the months ahead.

In the U.S., there is a slew of economic data due to be released including: Jobless Claims (E: 250K), Retail Sales (E: 0.0%), Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -13.2), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -15.1), Import & Export Prices (E: -0.6%, -0.5%), and Industrial Production (E: 0.1%).

And with the Fed leaving future policy plans largely “open” and dependent on economic data, the market will want to see more “Goldilocks” trends with slowing growth and a more rapid decline in price readings.

 

Sevens Report Alpha: Artificial Intelligence Issue

This week’s Alpha issue focused on a very popular market topic:  Artificial Intelligence.

This issue was an update to a March 7th Alpha issue on AI, and the three ETFs we profiled in that report have risen 20%, 17%, and 14%, respectively in just three months! 

This week’s AI issue updated and expanded that research as we:

  • Reviewed and updated the research on our previous AI ETF picks.
  • Introduced two new AI-focused ETFs that are both up more than 30% YTD.
  • Included a proprietary spreadsheet of 30 AI stocks and categorized them by: Sector, Market Cap, Price/Earnings ratio, Price/Sales ratio, Revenue, and Performance.

If you’d like to start a risk-free trial subscription to Sevens Report Alpha and access the latest AI issue, and all previous Alpha issues and webinars since 2017, please email info@sevensreport.com.

We do ask that you pay the $330 quarterly subscription fee, but there is a 30 day money back guarantee, so you risk nothing to try the product.  

To learn more about Sevens Report Alpha, click this link.