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Is Gasoline Demand Another Economic Warning Sign?

Is Gasoline Demand Another Economic Warning Sign? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is Gasoline Demand Another Economic Warning Sign?
  • Did Earnings Season Change the Market Outlook?

Futures are solidly higher thanks to continued momentum from Thursday’s rally following a quiet night of news.

Economically, UK data was stronger than expected (GDP and Industrial Production beat estimates) but it’s not changing BOE June rate cut assumptions.

Today there is just one notable economic report, the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (E: 77.0) and the key parts of that release will be the 1-Yr Inflation Expectations (E: 3.2%) and the 5-Yr. Inflation Expectations (E: 3.0%).  If both of those numbers are higher than expected, it’ll be another negative signal on inflation and don’t be surprised if Treasury yields rise in response to them and stocks give back these early gains.

In addition to that one economic report, we also get numerous Fed speakers today including: Bowman (9:00 a.m. ET), Logan (10:00 a.m. ET), Kashkari (10:00 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (12:45 p.m. ET) and Barr (1:30 p.m. ET).  However, unless one of them explicitly advocates for rate hikes, they shouldn’t move markets.


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Gasoline demand is being closely watched as a high-frequency proxy

Gasoline demand is being closely watched: Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in MarketWatch


Recession-wary investors are watching gasoline demand for clues to consumer health

“Gasoline demand is being closely watched as a high-frequency proxy for consumer spending,” said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research.

In late April, U.S. economic data had been “coming in with a whiff of stagflation and the plunge in consumer demand for fuel amplified those worries,” said Richey.

“Worries that we could see a similar drop off in economic activity amid the onset of the long-discussed post-COVID-stimulus recession were recently reignited by the combination of stagflationary economic data and the high frequency drop off in gasoline demand,” he said.

The nearly 8.8 million bpd “gasoline supplied” figure marked a rebound to top the four-week moving average of 8.53 million bpd, and it was above the 2024 average weekly rate of 8.57 million bpd, according to Richey.

Going forward, “keeping an eye on the weekly gasoline supplied figure as a proxy for consumer demand for gasoline will be critical, especially relative to its four-week moving average to gauge the underlying trend in fuel demand, and compared with prior year’s levels for the corresponding reporting week,” Richey said.

“If we see demand roll over again, expect recession fears to rise and volatility across asset classes pick up, including renewed pressure on oil prices now that the geopolitical fear bid has largely gone stale,” he said.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on May 9th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.


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Optimism regarding a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas had been building

Optimism regarding a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas had been building: Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Morningstar


Oil pares gains as Hamas reportedly accepts cease-fire plan, Israel warns of Rafah invasion

“Optimism regarding a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas had been building over the last week or so, and that was reflected in last week’s steep drop in oil futures price,” Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch.

The reason the oil market didn’t see more of a selloff Monday in the wake of the news that Hamas has accepted the cease-fire proposal is that “it was largely already priced in,” said Richey.

Also, “despite the progress in negotiations, military action is continuing on with reports of 50 Israeli air strikes in Rafah today alone -and that is keeping speculative shorts on their toes as we start the new week,” he said.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on May 6th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

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Why the Outlook For Stocks Got Worse Last Week (Not Better)

Why the Outlook For Stocks Got Worse Last Week (Not Better): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Outlook For Stocks Got Worse Last Week (Not Better)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Fed Officials and the BOE Increase Rate Cut Hopes?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  A Quiet Week but Friday’s Inflation Expectations Will Be Important

Futures are extending the gains from Friday’s Goldilocks jobs report despite a potential increase in geo-political tensions this week.

Oil prices are rallying moderately following the breakdown of Israel/Hamas cease fire talks and an Israeli military operation in Rafah is likely.

Economically, the Euro Zone services PMI beat estimates at 53.5 vs. (E) 52.9, pushing back on EU recession risks.

Today there are no notable economic reports but there are two Fed speakers, Barkin (12:50 p.m. ET) and Williams (1:00 p.m. ET).  If either of them sound more open to rate hikes than Powell did last week, it’ll likely push yields higher and take back some of last week’s post-Fed rally.


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Gasoline supplied, dropped to the lowest level since mid-February

Gasoline supplied, dropped to the lowest level since mid-February: Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Morningstar


Oil prices end lower on weak U.S. gasoline demand

The most notable takeaway from the Energy Information Administration report Wednesday was the weekly implied measure of consumer demand for fuel at the pump, gasoline supplied, which dropped to the lowest level since mid-February, said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research.

That indicated a “steady and relatively quick pullback” in domestic fuel consumption in recent weeks,” he told MarketWatch.

U.S. gasoline supplied for the week ended April 19 fell by 239,000 barrels a day to 8.4 million bpd.

And that was “not a ‘one-off’ either, as the 4-week moving average of the often volatile gasoline supplied data fell for a third consecutive week to the lowest reading since the week of March 8th,” said Richey. The EIA data showed the four-week average for gasoline supplied, as of last week, down 3.7 million bpd at 8.7 million bpd.

“Those disappointing implied consumer demand figures paired with the smaller than expected gasoline supply draw on the headline poured some cold water on the market…as worries of a persistently tight physical fuel market are beginning to subside,” said Richey.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on April 24th, 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.


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The stock-market selloff has removed some of its positive bias

The stock-market selloff has removed some of its positive bias: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in MarketWatch


Stock-market pessimism is climbing. Why it’s still not bad enough to imply stocks hit a bottom.

Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, said the slump in bullish sentiment since November indicates the stock-market selloff has removed some of its positive bias, but that it also implies a return to a “normal” market sentiment.

“It isn’t yet created enough negativity that makes me more confident this pullback is over,” he wrote in a Tuesday client note.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on April 24th, 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.

Still “a simmering” geopolitical fear bid in the global oil market

Still “a simmering” geopolitical fear bid in the global oil market: Sevens Report Founder, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Morningstar


Oil prices remain at more than 3-week low as Iranian crude supply concerns ease

Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report Research, said there is still “a simmering” geopolitical fear bid in the global oil market which is keeping futures above the $80-a-barrel level, and that fear bid will remain in the market until there is some “more formal” ceasefire agreed upon in the Middle East.

Outside geopolitics, higher-for-longer policy rates are a risk to demand down the road, but for now most economic data remains robust and supports the case for futures to sustain prices above $80 in the near term, Essaye said in a Tuesday client note.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on April 23rd, 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.

Geopolitical factors remain the primary influence on the oil market

Geopolitical factors remain the primary influence on the oil market: Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Morningstar


Oil prices fall, but settle above lows, as traders monitor Middle East risks

Geopolitical factors remain the “primary influence on the oil market,” and news that Israel was withdrawing some troops from parts of Gaza was seen as a step toward de-escalation in its military conflict with Hamas, Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch.

However, reports on Monday indicated that there has been no progress toward a cease-fire agreement between the sides.

Also, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly announced that a date has been set for an invasion of Rafah, which has been a “hotly contested issue in the ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas,” said Richey.

“The initial perception of improving geopolitical dynamics between Israel and Hamas initially weighed on oil prices [Monday], but renewed uncertainties about the potential for the military conflict to intensify” saw much of the early losses recovered before the close, Richey noted.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on April 9th, 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.

Investors are on edge the Fed may delay rate cuts

Investors are on edge the Fed may delay rate cuts: Sevens Report Founder, Tom Essaye, Quoted in MarketWatch


A ‘too hot’ jobs report poses biggest risk to stock-market rally: strategist

The setup for the stock market heading into the release of the Labor Department’s April employment report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time is a bit out of the ordinary, Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, said in a Thursday note.

While either a “too hot” or “too cold” jobs figure is often sufficient to spark a market selloff, the biggest danger on Friday is firmly tilted toward a stronger-than-expected reading, he said.

“Investors are on edge the Fed may delay rate cuts from June until later in the summer (or late in 2024) if we get another hot employment report,” Essaye wrote. “If that occurs, expect a partial repeat of Tuesday,” when the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 400 points, or 1%, for its worst performance since March 5, while the S&P 500 lost 0.7% and the Nasdaq Composite declined 1%.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on April 4th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.


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The initial market reaction to the CPI release was a hawkish one

Oil prices decline to session lows: Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in MarketWatch


Oil futures move up after CPI data, OPEC’s latest forecast for growth in oil demand

The initial market reaction to the CPI release was “a hawkish one, which saw oil prices decline to session lows,” said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research. “Hawkish central bank policy is bad for the oil market because high interest rates over time act as a steady headwind on global growth and ultimately that weighs on consumer demand expectations.”

Looking at the reaction in the rates markets, “hawkish money flows were only modest, and investors are still pricing in a June rate cut from the Fed, just with a slight dip in confidence,” Richey said.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on March 12th, 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.