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Jobs Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day
  • Is AI Friend or Foe to the Labor Market?

Futures are modestly lower mostly on continued tech weakness following AVGO’s disappointing earnings and after a mostly quiet night of news.

Tech stocks are extending Thursday’s post AVGO earnings driven declines and that’s weighing on futures although nothing newly negative occurred overnight.

Economically, the only notable report was Q1 Eurozone GDP which missed estimates (0.3% vs. (E) 0.8%).

Today focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows: 85K Job-Adds, 4.3% Unemployment Rate and 3.4% y/y Wage Growth.  The “best case” scenario is a Goldilocks number with above expectations job adds and unemployment and wages that meet or slightly beat expectations, as that will imply a stable labor market but not one that is putting upside pressure on inflation.

 

Jobs Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day
  • Can a Run Hot Economy Turn into Stagflation?

Futures are modestly higher as President Trump downplayed the latest strikes on Iran.

President Trump called Thursday’s strikes on Iran a “love tap” and reiterated the ceasefire was still in place, easing markets concerns.

German Industrial Production slightly missed estimates (-3.0% vs. (E) -2.5% y/y) but that’s not moving markets.

Focus today will be on the April jobs report and expectations are as follows:  63K Job-Adds, 4.3% UE Rate, 3.8% Y/Y Wage Growth.  The best case for markets remains a Goldilocks number that combines a solid jobs number modestly above estimates and stable wage growth at or below estimates.

Geopolitically, the market continues to ignore headlines about limited U.S./Iran strikes and likely will continue to do so as long as the administration says the ceasefire is still in place.

Finally, there are several Fed speakers this evening including Bowman, Daly, Goolsbee & Waller (7:30 p.m. ET) but they shouldn’t move markets.

 

Jobs Day (A Critical Day for Markets)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (Abbreviated Version)
  • December Retail Sales Takeaways – Consumer Spending Sputtered into Yearend

Stock futures are trading cautiously higher with focus on the delayed release of today’s January jobs report following a quiet night of news.

Economically, Chinese CPI cooled to 0.2% Y/Y vs. (E) 0.4% in January, down from 0.8% Y/Y in December, a favorably “cool” inflation print but one that is not materially impacting markets ahead of the BLS report today.

This morning, traders will be keenly focused on the tardy release of the January BLS Employment Situation Report: (E: +67K Job Adds, 4.4% UE Rate, +3.6% Wage Growth). After a swath of soft labor market reports last week, markets will want to see a solid/”Goldilocks” dataset today to ease worries about a sudden downturn in the labor market while a “too-hot” release could spark hawkish money flows and subsequent volatility in equity markets.

Looking beyond the jobs report, there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that will offer a good read on the bond market’s interpretation of the latest BLS report. Solid demand will shore up expectations for an accommodative Fed stance in 2026 and support risk assets today.

On the Fed front, there are three officials speaking today: Schmid (10:10 a.m. ET), Bowman (10:15 a.m. ET), and Hammack (4:00 p.m. ET), and markets will be looking for clues as to when the FOMC will cut rates next amid the fresh context of today’s jobs numbers.

Finally, earnings season continues with SHOP ($0.41), MCD ($3.04), TMUS ($2.03), APP ($2.89), CSCO ($0.82), and ALB ($-0.40) all due to report Q4 results today.

 

Jobs Day (and Potential Tariff Decision)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day (and Potential Tariff Decision)

Futures are little changed ahead of today’s jobs report and the potential announcement of the Supreme Court’s IEEPA tariff decision.

Economic data was better than expected overnight as German Industrial Production and EU Retail Sales both beat expectations.

Today focus will first be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows:  E: 55K Job-Adds, 4.6% Unemployment Rate, 3.6% Wage Growth.  A Goldilocks number that shows job adds in line and no increase in unemployment will be the best case for stocks.

In addition to the jobs report, we could get the SCOTUS IEEPA tariff ruling today and if so, the key will be the 10-year Treasury yield.  If the yield jumps on the decision, that will be a new headwind on stocks.  Finally, there are two Fed speakers today, Kashkari (10:00 a.m. ET) and Barkin (1:35 p.m. ET) and the more dovish they are, the better for markets.

 

Jobs Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Abbreviated Jobs Report Preview

Futures are modestly higher ahead of the jobs report and following solid tech earnings overnight.

Semiconductor company Broadcom (AVGO) beat estimates and offered bullish guidance and the stock is up 9% pre-market and that’s helping to lift futures.

Economically, German Manufacturers’ Orders missed estimates, felling –2.9% vs. (E) 0.5%.

Focus today will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows:  E: 77K Job-Adds, 4.3% Unemployment Rate, 3.8% Wage Growth.  Any job adds number in the mid to low 100k range would be ideal for stocks as it would keep rate cut expectations high but also signal a stable labor market.  Conversely, if job adds drop close to zero (or even go negative even with revisions) it’ll increase concerns the labor market is cooling, boost slowdown fears and likely hit stocks.

 

Jobs Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day
  • Would New Highs in the Dow Be Positive for Stocks? (Not Necessarily)

Futures are little changed as markets await today’s important jobs report.

Politically, the Big, Beautiful Bill made more progress in the House overnight and it is expected to pass by July 4th (although this expected so it’s not a market moving event).

Economically, both EU and UK Composite PMIs beat expectations, pushing back growth fears in those regions.

Today focus will be on economic data and specifically the jobs report and expectations are as follows: 110K Job-Adds, 4.3% UE Rate, 0.3% Wages.  Given yesterday’s soft ADP report, the stronger the number, the better as it’ll push back on slowdown fears.  Other important reports today include Jobless Claims (E: 240K) and the ISM Services PMI (E: 50.5) and, again, better than expected numbers will be welcomed by the markets.

Finally, there is one Fed speaker: Bostic (11:00 a.m. ET) but he shouldn’t move markets.

Tom Essaye has proposed two unlikely scenarios for Friday’s jobs report

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Two unlikely scenarios for Friday’s jobs report: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch

Two ‘wildcard’ scenarios for Friday’s jobs report

Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, has proposed two unlikely scenarios for Friday’s jobs report that are nevertheless worth considering.

In a report shared with MarketWatch early Friday, Essaye outlined his two “wildcard” scenarios — one where jobs growth surprises to the upside, but wage growth slows, and another that is essentially the inverse.

  • “The first potential wildcard to watch today is a jobs report that supports the case for a “no landing” or already-achieved soft-landing, which would be characterized by an as-expected or better-than-anticipated job adds headline, steady or falling unemployment rate, and significant drop in wage growth to suggest suddenly easing inflation pressures.”
  • “The second wildcard to watch is data that suggests the economy is falling into a rut of stagflation with a sharp slowdown in growth that is on the brink of contraction but with still sticky and elevated inflation pressures. A very underwhelming job adds headline, a spike in the unemployment rate, and an unforeseen jump in wage growth would fit the criteria of a stagflationary release.”

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on June 7th, 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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Jobs Day (Updated Jobs Report Preview)

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Jobs Day: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day (Updated Jobs Report Preview)

Futures are solidly higher ahead of today’s jobs report thanks to strong earnings overnight.

META (up 17% pre-market) and AMZN (up 7% pre-market) posted strong earnings while AAPL (down 2% pre-market) underwhelmed, but overall earnings results were good overnight and that’s pushing futures higher.

Today focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows: 187K job adds, 3.8% Unemployment Rate, 0.3%/4.1% wage growth.  Powell pushing back on a March rate cut helped increase the threshold for a “Too Hot” report, so there’s a wider lane for a “Just Right” reading.  But, if job growth remains very strong (so solidly above 200k) and the other details are “Too Hot,” don’t be surprised if yields rise and stocks decline as some investors start to doubt a May rate cut.

Other notable events today include Consumer Sentiment (E: 78.8, 1-Yr inflation expectations: 2.9%) and the last “important” day of earnings, although neither of those should move markets.

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Jobs Report Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day

Futures are modestly higher ahead of the jobs report following slightly better than expected final global manufacturing PMIs.

Economic data overnight was better than expected as the Chinese Caixin manufacturing PMI (a private market reading) beat estimates (51.0 vs. (E) 49.3). While EU (43.5 vs. (E) 43.7) & UK (43.0 vs. (E) 42.5) final manufacturing PMIs were no worse than feared.

Today there are two important economic reports that have the potential to move markets.  The first is the jobs report, and expectations are as follows:  170K Job Adds, 3.5% UE Rate, 0.3% m/m & 4.4% y/y Wage Growth).

As we covered in the Jobs Report Preview, “Too Hot” readings in job adds or wages will likely push Treasury yields higher and weigh on stocks.  But, a “Too Cold” job adds number would be a potentially more concerning signal over the medium and longer term, regardless if there’s any short term “bad is good” rally.

The other important economic report today is the ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 46.8) and markets will want to see stability.  The August flash PMIs were ugly and if we see the ISM manufacturing PMI drop from current levels, that will increase hard landing concerns.

Finally, there’s one Fed speaker today, Mester at 9:45 a.m. ET, but she shouldn’t move markets.

Jobs Report Preview

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Jobs Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day
  • Signs of Slowing Growth and Inflation Are Growing
  • Technical Update

Futures little changed following a quiet night of news as investors further digest Wednesday’s big rally in stocks and Thursday’s big rally in bonds all while awaiting today’s jobs report.

Economically, the only notable number overnight was Euro Zone PPI which fell more than expected (-2.9% vs. (E) -2.0%), adding to this week’s list of indicators showing global dis-inflation.

Focus today will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows:  Job Adds 200K, UR Rate 3.7%, Wages 0.3% m/m 4.6% y/y.  Due to the big rally in stocks and bonds on Wed/Thurs, a lot of the “benefit” from a “Just Right” number is likely priced in at these levels, so the risk going into the report today is for disappointment, especially if we get a job adds number in the mid to high 200k.

Away from the jobs report, we also get two Fed speakers: Barkin (9:15 a.m. ET) and Evans (10:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m. ET).