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3 Market Headwinds, 3 Indicators to Watch

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Three Market Problems, Three Indicators to Watch
  • Weekly Market Preview: De-escalation or Not?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: FOMC Decision the Key Event

Futures are modestly higher after several tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, raising hopes the key oil route could reopen.

Rhetoric from both sides continues to downplay the chances of near-term negotiations while reports say the U.S. may form a coalition to escort ships through the Strait.

There were no notable economic reports overnight.

Today focus will be on Empire Manufacturing, Industrial Production (E: 0.1%), and the NAHB Housing Market Index (E: 37). Markets will want to see stable growth data as investors monitor oil prices.

Beyond the data, the Treasury will auction 3 & 6-Month Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET while earnings today include DLTR ($2.53) and BEKE ($0.07).

 

Why the Strait of Hormuz Problem Likely Isn’t Solved Yet

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Strait of Hormuz Problem Likely Isn’t Solved Yet
  • Jobs Report Preview (Economic Data Is Key for this Market)

Futures are flat as there were no new significant headlines from Iran overnight while tech earnings beat estimates.

Geopolitically, investors are focused on when transit resumes through the Strait of Hormuz and there was no new news overnight.

Broadcom (AVGO) beat earnings and that’s helping to further fuel a tech rebound.

Focus today will remain on geopolitical headlines and any progress towards a cease-fire or increased transit through the Strait of Hormuz will be a positive for stocks.

Away from geopolitics, there are two notable economic reports today, Challenger Layoffs (Last: 108k) and Jobless Claims (E: 215K).  The stronger these numbers, the better, as they reinforce growth is solid (and that’s an important support for this market).

Finally, there is one Fed speaker, Bowman (1:15 p.m. ET) and some notable earnings:  MRVL ($0.62), COST ($4.55), IOT ($-0.01).

 

Is the Tariff Decision a Bullish Catalyst?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is the Tariff Decision a Bullish Catalyst?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  All About AI (Key AI Earnings This Week)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  More Inflation and Labor Market Insights

Futures are slightly lower are markets digest the SCOTUS tariff decision and despite reports of some de-escalation between the U.S. and Iran.

Fears of an imminent U.S. strike on Iran eased this weekend as the U.S. and Iran announced they will hold more negotiations this Thursday.

Economically, German Ifo Business Conditions slightly missed estimates (89.6 vs. (E) 90.5).

This week is a potentially important one with a lot of critical tech earnings reports, but it starts slowly as there is just one economic report today, Chicago Fed (E: -0.04) and one Fed speaker, Waller (8:00 a.m.) and neither are likely to move markets.

 

No signs it’s spiraling into a broader regional conflict

No signs it’s spiraling into a broader regional conflict: Sevens Report President, Tom Essaye, Quoted in USA Today


US stocks close higher as oil dips on Iran’s openness to ceasefire, nuclear talks

“There are no signs it’s spiraling into a broader regional conflict and that’s keeping geo-political concerns anchored” and stock markets buoyed, said Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report.

Also, click here to view the full article, published on June 16th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.


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Focus will remain on geopolitical headlines

Focus will remain on geopolitical headlines: Sevens Report Editor Tom Essaye Quoted in Bloomberg


Stocks Rise on Reports Iran Wants to Restart Talks: Markets Wrap

“Focus will remain on geopolitical headlines, but as long as the conflict stays limited between Israel and Iran, it’s unlikely to materially impact the markets,” said Tom Essaye at The Sevens Report.

Also, click here to view the full article featured on Bloomberg published on June 15th, 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.

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Why Are Markets Ignoring Scary Headlines?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Are Markets Ignoring Scary Headlines?
  • Weekly Market Preview: Does the Fed Signal Rate Cuts Ahead?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Is Consumer Spending Losing Momentum?

Futures are modestly higher as geopolitical risks didn’t rise substantially over the weekend while Chinese economic data was stronger than expected.

Geopolitically, the Israel/Iran conflict escalated as the two countries exchanged attacks over the weekend, but there are no signs it’s spiraling into a broader regional conflict and that’s keeping geopolitical concerns anchored.

Economically, Chinese retail sales rose 6.4% y/y vs. (E) 4.9%, pushing back on concerns of a dramatic slowdown.

Today focus will remain on geo-political headlines but as long as the conflict stays limited between Israel and Iran, it’s unlikely to materially impact the markets.  Outside of geopolitics, the notable report today is the June Empire Manufacturing Survey (-7.3) and markets will want to see stable data and declining prices (further pushing back on stagflation fears).

What Yesterday’s “Inside Day” Means for Markets

What Yesterday’s “Inside Day” Means for Markets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Yesterday’s Inside Day Means for Markets
  • Takeaways From Oil’s Reaction to Israel’s Retaliatory Air Strikes

Futures are flat this morning while global markets rallied modestly overnight amid quiet news flow as traders look ahead to multiple important catalysts looming over the next week.

Economically, data was largely encouraging overnight as the Japanese Unemployment Rate fell to 2.4% vs. (E) 2.5% while the German GfK Consumer Climate Index rose to -18.3 vs. (E) -20.5, however, neither report meaningfully impacted markets.

Looking ahead to the U.S. session, there are several noteworthy economic releases today beginning with a housing market report, the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 5.2%), before we the first labor market report of this critical jobs week, JOLTS (E: 7.9 million), and finally Consumer Confidence (E: 99.1).

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 7-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. The 7-yr auction is notable because soft demand in past auction have roiled bond markets and sparked volatility in equities, something to watch for today.

In corporate news, this critical week of earnings begins in earnest today with consumer-focused companies including PYPL ($1.08), MCD ($3.18), and BP ($0.78) reporting before the bell while tech giants AMD ($0.92) and GOOG ($1.83) report after the close along with credit card staple V ($2.58).


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What the Iranian Missile Strike Means for Markets

Economic Implications of the Port Strikes: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Iranian Missile Strike Means for Markets
  • ISM Manufacturing Mildly Disappoints
  • JOLTS Top Estimates

Stock futures are lower amid a continued risk-off tone in markets as investors digest negative earnings news and await Israel’s response to Iran’s missile attack on Tuesday.

In corporate news, NKE earnings disappointed as sales fell 10% y/y and guidance was withdrawn ahead of a CEO change, leaving shares down 5% pre-market.

Economically, the Eurozone Unemployment Rate held steady at 6.4% in August, meeting estimates which is having little impact on markets today.

Today, investor focus will be on the ADP Employment Report (E: 121.5K) before the bell as well as a handful of Fed speakers on the schedule through the lunch hour: Hammack (9:00 a.m. ET), Musalem (10:05 a.m. ET), Bowman (11:00 a.m. ET), and Barkin (12:15 p.m. ET).

In addition to the jobs data and Fed chatter, tensions in the Middle East will remain a major focus as further deterioration in the Israel-Iran conflict is likely to weigh further on risk assets and influence flight-to-safety money flows.

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter Delivered

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There is certainly still a geopolitical fear bid in oil markets

There is certainly still a geopolitical fear bid in oil markets: Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Morningstar


Oil prices score weekly gain, breaking run of back-to-back weekly losses

“There is certainly still a geopolitical fear bid in oil markets here with [West Texas Intermediate crude] prices in the low $80s,” Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch. “Geopolitical worries have eased from their most tense levels seen earlier in April as the escalation in the Middle East between Israel and Iran has receded back to a still unsettling, but notably more stable level.”

Without the simmering geopolitical worries, WTI would likely be in the low-to-mid $70-a-barrel range, “at best,” as consumer demand for gasoline has been sliding in recent weeks, while OPEC+ has made no changes to output policy in some time, he said.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on April 26th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

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.

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.

What Has Really Changed In This Market?

What Has Really Changed In This Market? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Thoughts on the Israeli Strike in Iran
  • What Has Really Changed In This Market?
  • Oil Market:  Technicals vs. Fundamentals

Futures are moderately lower as Israel conducted a limited strike in Iran while NFLX guidance disappointed.

Israel struck an Iranian military base in response to the weekends’ drone attack, but the operation was small and viewed as an effort to de-escalate the situation.

NFLX posted strong earnings but mixed guidance and the stock is down 6% pre-market.

Today there are no economic reports and only one Fed speaker, Goolsbee at 10:30 a.m. ET, and on the dovish side of the spectrum so barring a hawkish tone from him, he shouldn’t move markets.

On the earnings front, results early in the season have been a bit disappointing and focus on earnings will increase (especially next week).  This market needs better results to help stabilize.  Earnings we’re watching today include:  AXP ($2.97), PG ($1.42) and SLB ($0.74).


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