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“Good, bad and ugly” outcomes for the April consumer-price index reading.

“Good, bad and ugly” outcomes for the April consumer-price index reading: Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, Quoted in Morningstar


Stock market could suffer ‘ugly’ day if April CPI comes in above this level

Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, took a look Tuesday at potential “good, bad and ugly” outcomes for the April consumer-price index reading.

So what would provoke an ugly reaction? Essaye puts the threshold at 3.9%.

A core reading at or above that threshold would be likely to spark a “solid selloff,” further entrenching the idea that inflation remains sticky and rates will be higher for longer, Essaye wrote. That has the potential of undoing much of the rally seen over the last two weeks, as investors would likely scale back rate-cut expectations, penciling in just one cut in December.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on May 14th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

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Even a small bout of stagflation would result in a 10%-20% decline in stocks

Even a small bout of stagflation would result in a 10%-20% decline in stocks: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch


The economy could be heading toward 1970s-style stagflation. What it means for the stock market.

 “Stagflation doesn’t have to be as bad as it was in the 1970s, but for a stock market that’s trading above 21 times earnings, the truth is that even a small bout of stagflation would result in a 10%-20% decline in stocks,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a Monday note.

“Of course, comparing this period to the 1970s, where GDP growth was flat or negative and CPI was running more than 10%, [Powell’s] absolutely right [that] there is no stagflation,” said Essaye. But he added that it’s somewhat “dismissive” to say that just because things aren’t as bad as they were in the 1970s, any talk of stagflation is unwarranted.

“In an absolute sense,” economic growth is not at levels that would imply stagflation — but data releases are becoming “more conclusive that economic momentum is slowing,” Essaye said. “While stagnation isn’t here yet, the data is showing a greater chance of it occurring than any time in the last year and a half.”

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on May 13th, 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.


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.

Advisor Considerations of the “T+1” Settlement Change

Advisor Considerations of the “T+1” Settlement Change: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Practice Management Update: Examining the Upcoming Move to T+1 Settlement
  • Long-Term S&P 500 Chart: Greatest Volatility Risk Since January 2022

Futures are flat this morning as economic data was mixed in Europe and global traders await NVDA earnings (tomorrow) to gauge the outlook for AI industry growth.

In Europe, German PPI fell -3.3% vs. (E) -3.1% underscoring that disinflation trends remain underway in the EU while the UK’s CBI Industrial Trends Order Balance dropped -33% vs. (E) -20% adding to global factory sector worries.

Looking into today’s session, there are no economic reports to watch but a handful of Fed speakers on the calendar this morning: Barkin (9:00 a.m. ET), Waller (9:00 a.m. ET), Williams (9:05 a.m. ET), Bostic (9:10 a.m. ET) and Barr (11:45 a.m. ET).

At this point, the higher-for-longer mantra has been absorbed by markets and it would take renewed talk of rate hikes to meaningfully move markets, especially as traders settle in and await tomorrow’s post-bell earnings release from NVDA which is widely viewed as the most important catalyst of this week.


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Still A Soft Landing, But Growth Is Slowing

Still A Soft Landing, But Growth Is Slowing: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard:  Still A Soft Landing, But Growth Is Slowing

Futures are little changed as markets again digested the post CPI rally amidst more in-line inflation data and additional Chinese economic stimulus.

Core EU HICP (their CPI) met expectations, rising 0.7% m/m and 2.7% y/y, and kept a June rate cut on track.

In China, the government announced a sweeping program to support the property industry, potentially adding more critical stimulus to the Chinese economy.

Today focus will be on Leading Indicators (E: -0.3%) and two Fed speakers, Waller (10:15 a.m. ET) and Daly (12:15 p.m. ET), but barring any major surprises, they shouldn’t move markets and further digestion of the new highs is to be expected.


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Short vs. Long Term Market Outlook (Is Falling Inflation & Slowing Growth Good for Stocks?)

Short vs. Long Term Market Outlook: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Short vs. Long Term Market Outlook (Is Falling Inflation & Slowing Growth Good for Stocks?)
  • EIA Update and Oil Market Analysis

Futures are little changed as market digest Wednesday’s new high amidst more dovish global data.

Japanese GDP (-0.5% vs. (E) -0.4%), Aussie Unemployment (4.1% vs. (E) 3.9%) and Italian HICP (their CPI, 0.9% vs. (E) 1.0% y/y) all pointed towards falling inflation and slowing global growth, which investors welcome (for now).

Today is a busy day full of data and Fed speak.  Broadly speaking, if the data/Fed speak is dovish and Treasury yields drop, it’ll extend the rally.

Notable economic data today includes (in order of importance):  Jobless Claims (E: 219K), Philly Fed (E: 7.8), Industrial Production (E: 0.1%) and Housing Starts (E: 1.435MM).

On the Fed, there are numerous speakers including:  Barr (10:00 a.m. ET), Barkin (10:00 a.m. ET), Harker (10:30 a.m. ET), Mester (12:00 p.m. ET), Bostic (3:50 p.m. ET).  But, unless they all start talking about rate hikes (very unlikely), their commentary shouldn’t move markets.


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CPI Preview: Good, Bad, & Ugly

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, & Ugly: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Thoughts on the Meme-Stock Revival
  • CPI Preview: Good, Bad, & Ugly
  • Chart – NY Fed’s Consumer Survey Contains Hot Inflation Print

Global markets are little changed this morning as traders digest mostly better-than-expected economic data from Europe and await today’s PPI report and commentary from Fed Chair Powell.

“Meme stocks” GME and AMC are notably up 58% and 64%, respectively, in pre-market trading this morning (more on that in today’s report).

Economically, German CPI met estimates at 2.2% y/y while Economic Sentiment in the German ZEW came in at 47.1 vs. (E) 45.0. Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index beat with a headline of 89.7 vs. (E) 88.3 but the data is having a limited impact on markets this morning.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on PPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.2% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.3% y/y) due out at 8:30 a.m. ET. A “hot” print would spark hawkish, risk-off money flows while a cooler-than-expected report could see the S&P 500 test all-time-highs as CPI whisper numbers are dialed back.

Finally, there are a handful of Fed speakers today including Cook (9:10 a.m. ET) ahead of the bell and Schmid (8:15 p.m. ET) later this evening. Most importantly though, Powell will speak at 10:00 a.m. ET and if he is more hawkish than two weeks ago at the May FOMC meeting, that will put upward pressure on rates and weigh, potentially heavily, on stocks.


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The latest data point to offer a whiff of stagflation

The latest data point to offer a whiff of stagflation: Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in MarketWatch


Oil prices head lower, paring gains for the week

The U.S. consumer sentiment report was the latest data point to “offer a whiff of stagflation,” said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research. “Risk assets didn’t like that,” and oil prices moved down toward session lows shortly after the data’s release.

“The geopolitical fear bid has largely gone stale since the realized impact of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war has been nominal compared to the implied threat to global oil supply when the conflict began last fall,” he told MarketWatch.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on May 10th, 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.

A high-frequency proxy for consumer spending

A high-frequency proxy for consumer spending: 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.

“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.

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.


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.

Are Stagflation Risks Real?

Are Stagflation Risks Real? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are Stagflation Risks Real?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  If Treasury Yields Rebound, Will That Hit Stocks?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI on Wednesday, Important Growth Data Throughout the Week

Futures are slightly higher following a very quiet weekend of news as investors look ahead to a potentially very important week that includes Wednesday’s CPI report.

China announced plans to sell $140 billion in long term bonds to fund more economic stimulus, which will help combat recession fears in that economy.

There was no notable economic data out over the weekend.

Today focus will be on the New York Fed One Year Inflation Expectations (3.0%).  If they run hot like we saw in Friday’s University of Michigan Inflation Expectations, Treasury yields should rise and pressure stocks.  Outside of that data, we also have two Fed speakers, Jefferson & Mester (9:00 a.m. ET), but they shouldn’t move markets unless they talk about rate hikes.


Join thousands 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.

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.


Join thousands 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.