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How oil futures close out the week today will largely depend on how investors digest today’s jobs data

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in MarketWatch


Jobs report could decide how oil closes out the week

“How oil futures close out the week today will largely depend on how investors digest today’s jobs data. If it is more ‘market-friendly’ data that points to slowing inflation (specifically wages) and more loosening in the jobs market, oil is likely to rally past the $80/barrel mark,” analysts at Sevens Report Research said in a note.

“Conversely, a ‘hot’ report would likely send futures back towards support in the mid-$70s,” they wrote.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on March 8th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.


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The Jobs Report Was Goldilocks

The jobs report was Goldilocks: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s


Nvidia Sinks, Leading Tech Pullback

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s that although Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony this week and Friday’s jobs report kept market expectations intact for both a June interest rate cut and generally stable growth, neither event added anything incrementally positive.

“The jobs report was Goldilocks, but it also added to some hints that there may be some weakness forming in the labor market, and that combined with digestion is likely why markets are slightly lower…,” Essaye said.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on March 8th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

It’ll be Very Hard for This Market to Rally

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Tom Essaye’s breakdown of how markets could react to the February jobs data.

How markets could react to the February jobs data: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch


How markets might react to Friday’s jobs report: three scenarios.

Tom Essaye, publisher of Sevens Report Research, has provided a breakdown of how markets could react to the February jobs data.

“Just Right” (Expectation for a June Rate Cut Stay Near 90%) 50k-250k Job adds, UE Rate ≥ 3.7%, Wages: ≤ 4.3%. A number in this range would solidify expectations for June rate cuts and the best-case scenario for markets is a slightly underwhelming number, as that will 1) Keep a June rate cut full expected and 2) Not imply the labor market is suddenly losing momentum.

“Too Hot” (A June Rate Cut Probability Drops Below 50%) > 250k Jobs Adds, UE Rate ≤ 3.6%, Wages > 4.4% yoy. 

“Too Cold” (Hard Landing Concerns Grow) <50k Job adds. In the immediate reaction, a very soft number will pressure Treasury yields further and could result in a knee-jerk rally in stocks (i.e. bad data is good for stocks because it makes the Fed more likely to cut). 

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on March 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.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Jobs Report Preview (Higher “Too Hot” Limits)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (Higher “Too Hot” Limits)

Futures are little changed ahead of the jobs report and following a mostly quiet night of news.

Tech earnings were mixed as semi-conductor/AI linked stocks AVGO and MRVL earnings underwhelmed and both stocks are lower pre-market (-2% and -5% respectively).

Economically, ECB member Francois de-Villeroy said a rate cut in April or June is “very likely” further reinforcing expectations for summer rate cuts from global central banks.

Today focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows:  190K Job Adds, 3.7% Unemployment Rate, 0.3%/4.3% Wage Growth.  Powell and other Fed members sound committed to rate cuts barring a bounce back in inflation so for the jobs number to be “Too Hot” we’ll need to see strong job adds, wage gains and low unemployment.  Barring “hot” numbers across those metrics, the jobs report likely won’t materially reduce June rate cut expectations.  If it does, however, expect a real uptick in volatility.

Finally, there’s one Fed speaker today, Williams at 7:00 a.m. ET, but he shouldn’t move markets.


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Was Yesterday the Start of a Pullback?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Was Yesterday’s Hot CPI the Start of a Pullback? (Four Issues to Address)
  • VIX Chart Shows Options Trading Amplified Yesterday’s Selloff
  • CPI Takeaways

Stock futures are rebounding back from yesterday’s steep post-CPI selloff thanks to some “cooler” inflation data in the U.K. overnight and better than expected factory data out of Europe. The 10-Yr yield is stable, just below 4.30%.

Economically, the Q4 Eurozone GDP Flash met estimates at a tepid 0.1% y/y but EU Industrial Production jumped 2.6% vs. (E) -0.3% in December easing some ongoing growth worries.

U.K. PPI also favorably declined across the board which is offsetting the nation’s slightly higher than expected CPI data.

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports but two Fed officials who happen to be scheduled to speak at the open and close: Goolsbee (9:30 a.m. ET), Barr (4:00 p.m. ET).

Goolsbee is notably an FOMC voting member who leans towards the dovish camp and could potentially add support for a relief rally today after yesterday’s sharp decline. VIX futures expiration could also impact money flows in early trade.


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Cut Through the Market Noise: The Four Drivers of This Rally

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Cut Through the Market Noise:  The Four Drivers of This Rally
  • Why Markets Rallied Despite Friday’s Hot Jobs Report
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Fed Speak, Growth Data and an Important Inflation Update
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Data Focused on Economic Growth and Inflation

Futures are modestly lower as Fed Chair Powell’s 60 Minutes interview is being taken as slightly hawkish.

Powell’s 60 Minutes interview is being framed as hawkish but in reality, Powell didn’t say anything new as this was his main message: Rates cuts are coming sooner than later, but a March cut is unlikely.

Economically, China’s January services PMI missed estimates (52.7 vs. (E) 53.0), reinforcing economic concerns.

Today focus will be on the ISM Services PMI (E: 52.1) and the key here is clear:  This number needs to stay above 50 otherwise we will see growth concerns start to rise.  There is also one Fed speaker today, Bostic (2:00 p.m. ET), but he shouldn’t move markets given Powell’s recent interviews.


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Jobs Day (Updated Jobs Report Preview)

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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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Key Technical Levels to Watch on Fed Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Key Technical Levels to Watch on Fed Day (Shareable PDF Available)
  • Jobs Report Preview

Stock futures are in the red this morning after mega-cap tech earnings failed to meet overly optimistic estimates (but were not that bad, all things considered), Chinese Manufacturing PMI missed estimates, and French CPI was higher than expected.

On the earnings front, AMD (-11%), GOOGL (-6%), and MSFT (-1%) are all lower in the pre-market despite generally healthy quarterly reports with most earnings and revenue figures topping analysts estimates while some corporate guidance was not as strong as hoped.

Today is lining up to be a very busy day full of catalysts. Starting with the economic data, we get the first look at January labor market data with the ADP Employment Report (E: 130K) while Q4 Employment Cost Index (E: 1.0%) will offer a look at wage pressures from late 2023.

The Treasury will release the official Refunding Announcement details before the open (8:30 a.m. ET) before focus will turn to the Fed with the FOMC Decision (2:00 p.m. ET) and Powell’s press conference (2:30 p.m. ET) in the afternoon.

There are no “Mag7” earnings today, but a few notables to watch include: MA ($3.08), QCOM ($2.37), and MET ($1.95).

Bottom line, equities are on edge in pre-market trade this morning with all of today’s catalysts looming, but, if the Treasury Refunding Announcement supports the bond market (keeps a lid on yields) and the Fed doesn’t not offer a hawkish surprise, we should be able to see markets stabilize. Conversely, any disappointments or hawkish reactions will support further volatility into the back half of the week.

Computer chips


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Jobs Report Preview

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


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview

Futures are rebounding very slightly following better than expected global service PMIs.

The December Chinese Service PMI handily beat estimates (52.9 vs. (E) 51.6) offering an encouraging signal on Chinese growth while the EU and UK services PMIs also slightly best estimates.

On inflation, data was more mixed as French CPI met estimates at 3.7% but rose slightly from last month challenging the disinflation narrative.

Today focus will be on economic data and specifically the labor market via Jobless Claims (E: 218K) and the ADP Employment Report (E: 115K) and the key here remains Goldilocks data that isn’t so strong it reduces rate cut expectations nor so bad it stirs worries about the economy.  Also, we get the December PMI Composite Index (E: 51.0) but barring a major surprise that shouldn’t move markets.

Jobs Report


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Jobs Day

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


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news as markets await the jobs report later this morning.

Economically, the only notable number overnight was German CPI which met expectations, rising 3.2% y/y.

Globally, the yen is falling slightly but global yields are higher as markets digest a potential Bank of Japan rate hike later this month.

Today the jobs report is the key event and expectations are as follows:  180K job adds, 3.9% Unemployment Rate, 0.3% m/m & 4.0% y/y wages.  Keeping things simple, the key to today’s jobs report is whether it refutes the expectation for a March rate cut or reinforces it.  A “Too Hot” number will refute that March rate cut expectation and stocks and bonds will likely drop while a Goldilocks number will reinforce expectations for a March cut and stocks should rally.

Outside of the jobs report, we also get University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (E: 61.9) and the 1-Year and 5-year Inflation Expectations but barring a major surprise these numbers shouldn’t move markets.

Jobs Day

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