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How Bad Was the News Last Week?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Bad Was the News Last Week?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Democrats Close the Gap?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Jobs Report Friday.

Futures are modestly lower following a mostly quiet weekend of news as investors digested last week’s volatility.

On the Debt Ceiling and other Washington issues, there was no major progress over the weekend although Democrats continue to narrow the gap and progress is occurring towards a compromise deal between liberals and moderates (the compromise is likely at $1.5 trillion and the current negotiations are just above $2 trillion, down from $3.5 trillion).

Trade will be in focus again today as the Biden Administration gives a China trade and tariff update at 10:00 a.m. although no new tariffs are expected.

Today there are no notable economic reports although there are two Fed speakers, Bullard and Rosengren, both at 10:00 a.m. ET.  So, focus will be on the trade speech at 10:00 and on the Democrat’s ongoing negotiations.  Any signs of further progress towards a deal could help extend Friday’s rally.

Updating the Two Big Risks to the Rally

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Updating the Two Big Risks to the Rally
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Jobs Report Takeaways and ECB Preview

U.S. equity futures are little changed this morning while overseas markets were mixed overnight with Asian stocks outperforming on upbeat Chinese economic data but EU shares drifted lower with focus turning to this week’s ECB meeting.

Economically, Chinese Exports were encouragingly up 25.6% vs. (E) 19.5% y/y in August which supported risk-on money flows in Asian markets however a soft German ZEW Survey is weighing on EU stocks this morning.

Today’s U.S. trading session is lining up to be fairly quiet as there are no economic reports and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak.

There is a 3-Year Treasury Note Auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, however, and weak demand would likely lead to a hawkish reaction across markets with yields moving higher and stocks potentially trading with a defensive tone.

Jobs Day (Slight Shift in Expectations)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day (Slightly Shift in Expectations)
  • Washington Update  –  Why Manchin’s Op-Ed is Important

Futures are modestly higher as markets ignored disappointing economic data ahead of today’s jobs report.

Global PMIs were disappointing as the Chinese Services PMI dropped to 46.7 vs. (E) 52.3 while the EU (59.0 vs. (E) 59.5) and UK (54.8 vs. (E) 55.0) Composite PMIs both slightly missed estimates

Japanese stocks surged 2% after PM Suga resigned, igniting speculation the government will unleash more stimulus.

Today the Employment Situation report is the key event, and the expectations are as follows: Job Adds: 740K, UE Rate: 5.2%, Wages: 3.9% yoy.  Because of the soft ADP report, the “whisper number” is slightly underwhelming vs. expectations (say around 500k), so the market may be a bit more sensitive if the actual jobs report is slightly stronger than expectations (it may cause a mild decline in stocks, but nothing major).

We also get the ISM Services PMI (E: 62.0) and markets will want to see stability in that PMI.

Jobs Report Preview (Why It’s the Most Important Jobs Report of the Year)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (Why It’s the Most Important Jobs Report of the Year)
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are moderately higher following a very quiet night of news as investors position for tomorrow’s jobs report.

Euro Zone PPI was much hotter than expected, rising 2.3% vs. (E) 1.2%, and that is the second consecutive strong inflation number from the EU.

There were no new infrastructure or COVID headlines overnight, and investors continue to add exposure ahead of an anticipated “Goldilocks” jobs report.

Today’s focus will be on economic data, especially Jobless Claims (E: 350K) and Unit Labor Costs (which is contained in Productivity & Costs).  Unit Labor Costs are expected to rise 1.0% but if the number comes in decidedly higher than that, it will add to inflation fears (and could be a mild headwind on stocks today).

Tom Essaye Quoted in CNBC on August 30, 2021

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Treasury yields fall slightly as investors await key jobs report

The 10-year yield continues to build upside momentum, and Powell’s dovish tone on Friday won’t…Tom Essaye of the Sevens Report said in a note on Monday. Click here to read the full article.

Why Powell’s Speech Caused a Rally

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Powell’s Speech Caused a Rally
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Data Keep the Goldilocks Rally Going?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Jobs Week (This is the Most Important Jobs Report in Months)

Futures are slightly higher mostly on momentum from Friday’s “dovish Powell” rally, following a quiet weekend.

Fed Chair Powell’s speech on Friday was taken as slightly dovish and that drove the rally in U.S. stocks and it’s carried over globally as we start a new week (all the major foreign markets we monitor are modestly positive).

Economic data was sparse as Euro Zone Economic Sentiment slightly missed expectations (117.5 vs. (E) 118) although that’s not moving markets.

Today there is one economic report, Pending Home Sales (E: 0.3%), but that shouldn’t’ move markets.  Instead, as long as the dual tailwinds of 1) Receding COVID cases in the U.S. and 2) A dovish Fed remain, stocks should be buoyant (although if either idea is contradicted expect some give back of last week’s rally).  Finally, keep in mind this is one of the most popular vacation weeks of the year due to the looming Labor Day weekend, so don’t be surprised by low volumes and some added volatility.

Jobs Report Preview (Too Hot is the Risk)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (Too Hot is the Risk)
  • Oil Update and Inventory Analysis

Futures are slightly higher following a quiet night as markets tentatively bounce back from Wednesday’s losses.

Economic data was mixed overnight as German Manufacturers’ Orders beat estimates (4.1% vs. (E) 1.5%) while the UK Construction PMI missed estimates (58.7 vs. (E) 63.8).

On COVID, Los Angeles could  follow NYC in requiring proof of vaccination for indoor activities (if this becomes widespread policy in large cities it’ll be an economic headwind.)

Today we have a Bank of England meeting (No Change to Rates Expected), Jobless Claims (E: 381K), and one Fed speaker, Waller at 10:00 a.m. ET (who could be hawkish again, remember he called for tapering to start as early as September).

But, unless there’s a major surprise from the BOE or jobless claims, then COVID headlines will drive markets, and any signs of restrictions or behavior changes in people will cause volatility (and a decline in stocks).

Tom Essaye Interviewed by Yahoo Finance on July 1, 2021

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Why a ‘too hot’ jobs number could spell trouble for markets.

As I said in my morning report, for the first time in years, I’m actually worried about a too…said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full interview.

Jobs Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Inflation Might Not Be As Temporary as the Fed Thinks
  • OPEC Update and Oil Outlook

Futures are slightly higher ahead of the jobs report following a quiet night of news.

The only notable economic report overnight was Eurozone PPI, which rose 9.6% yoy vs. (E) 9.5% yoy.  That report isn’t moving markets, but it’s the second inflation report in two days to imply inflation pressures haven’t peaked.

There were no new developments on infrastructure.

Today the jobs number is key and expectations are as follows: Job Adds 675K, UE Rate 5.7%, Wages yoy 3.1%.  As long as the headline job adds number isn’t close to 1 million and the wages number doesn’t spike well above expectations, markets should be able to generally digest this report, even if it is a mild surprise.

Other economic indicators today include International Trade in Goods (E: -$71.2B) and Factory Orders (E: 1.3%) but we don’t expect them to move markets.

Jobs Report Preview (Could It Make the Fed More Hawkish?)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview – Could A “Too Hot” Report Make the Fed more Hawkish?
  • Oil Update and EIA Analysis

Futures are slightly higher following a night of mixed economic data.

Global June manufacturing PMIs were mixed as the Japanese (52.4 vs. 53.0) and UK (63.9 vs. (E) 64.2) PMIs missed estimates, while the EU manufacturing PMI beat expectations (63.4 vs. (E) 63.1.).

The net impact of the data is to show the global recovery is on going, but also that it has lost a bit of momentum.

Today’s focus will be on economic data, with the two important reports being Jobless Claims (E: 387K) and the June ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 61.1).  As has been the case, markets will want “Goldilocks” data to start the quarter, in that the numbers show solid activity, but nothing that would make the Fed taper more aggressively.  There’s also one Fed speaker, Bostic at 2:00 p.m. ET, but he shouldn’t move markets.

 

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