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Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Market Watch on March 2nd, 2023

Demand optimism lifts oil futures to their highest finish in 2 weeks

“Optimism surrounding China’s economic recovery are offsetting more hot inflation data in Europe and the U.S.,” which sparked further hawkish money flows early Thursday, said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research. The Chinese government is “simultaneously raising their growth outlook for 2023, and considerably so,” he told MarketWatch. That’s “being seen as a balancing factor for any economic slowdown the West.” Click here to read the full article.

Technical Update: Key Levels to Watch

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Technical Update:  Key Levels to Watch
  • Value vs. Growth – What Do the Charts Say?

Futures are modestly higher as a soft EU inflation reading is helping to extend Thursday’s rally.

Euro Zone PPI came in much lower than expectations (15% vs. (E) 17.7% y/y) and that’s helping to slightly offset the hot inflation data from earlier in the week.

Economically, Euro Zone and UK Composite PMIs were generally in-line with expectations.

Today the key report will be the ISM Services PMI (E: 54.5).  For stocks and bonds, the best case for this report is that the headline is stable (not much above expectations) while the price indices decline.  If that happens, stocks can extend the rally.

We also get several Fed speakers today including Logan (11:00 a.m. ET), Bostic (11:45 a.m. ET), Bowman (3:00 p.m. ET) and Barkin (4:15 p.m. ET).  If they echo Bostic’s comments from yesterday about the Fed being done with hikes by mid to late summer, that will be a tailwind on stocks.

Disinflation On, Disinflation Off

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Disinflation On, Disinflation Off (Scenario Table with Asset Performance Guide)
  • Chart – 2 Yr. Note Futures Approach Multiyear Lows
  • Chart – “Another Bull Trap” Update

U.S. stock futures are tracking global shares higher this morning as investors cheer better than expected economic data out of China.

Economically, China’s Manufacturing PMI jumped to 51.6 vs. (E) 49.9 in February, up from 49.2 in January, indicating the recovery process is gaining momentum. The Eurozone Manufacturing PMI, meanwhile, met estimates at 48.5.

Today, investor focus will be on economic data early beginning in Europe with the German CPI release at 8:00 a.m. ET (E: 8.7%). So far this week, European yields have led global yields higher on hot inflation data and if the German print is above estimates, expect that trend to continue and stocks to remain under pressure.

In the U.S. we will get the February ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 48.0) as well as the lesser followed Construction Spending report (E: 0.2%). Investors will want to see improving, but not overly strong growth metrics and fading price pressures to see some of the recent hawkish money flows ease.

Finally, there is one Fed speaker today: Kashkari (E: 9:00 a.m. ET), and as a voting member of the FOMC, his comments will be closely watched for any new hints at the Fed’s policy plans.

Economic Breaker Panel: February Update

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Sevens Report Economic Breaker Panel – February Update
  • January Durable Goods Orders Takeaways
  • Breakout in Natural Gas Futures

Stocks futures are trading with modest gains this morning while Treasury yields are tracking European bond yields higher following stubbornly high inflation data overnight.

Economically, both Spanish and French CPI headlines were hotter than expected, above 6%, which saw European rates markets price in a 4% terminal ECB rate for the first time. Government bond yields across the Eurozone notably rose to multi-year highs.

Looking into today’s session, there are several economic reports to watch including: International Trade (E: -$91.0B), Case-Shiller Home Price Index (-0.5%), FHFA House Price Index (E: -0.3%), and Consumer Confidence (E: 108.5).

Traders will be looking for less signs of stagflation in the data as elevated inflation figures and weakening growth metrics were a headwind for equities last week.

Finally, the Chicago Fed’s Goolsbee (who just succeeded Evans) has his first speaking engagement since taking over the role at 2:30 p.m. ET, and as a voting member of the FOMC, his comments will be closely watched for any new clues about Fed policy plans in the months ahead. A notably hawkish tone, could easily cause another bout of volatility in risk assets this afternoon.

Core PCE Price Index Preview (Good, Bad & Ugly).

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Core PCE Price Index Will Mean for Markets (Good, Bad & Ugly)
  • EIA and Oil Market Analysis

Futures are moderately lower mostly on positioning ahead of the Core PCE Price Index release but also in reaction to disappointing EU economic data.

German GDP underwhelmed and fell –0.4% vs. (E) -0.2% while Gfk Consumer Climate also slightly missed estimates (-30.5 vs. (E) -30.4).

Today, focus will be on inflation and the key report is the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.4% m/m, 4.3% y/y).  We have a full Core PCE Price Index preview in the Report, but generally speaking, if the numbers are below expectations, it’ll spark a rally, if they are around expectations that’s mostly priced in, and if Core PCE is higher than last month, prepare for a selloff.

Other data today includes Personal Incomes and Outlays (E: 1.0%, 1.2%), , New Home Sales (E: 617K) and Consumer Sentiment (E: 66.4), but barring a move in five year inflation expectations above 3% none of those reports should move markets.

Finally, we also have two Fed speakers today, Mester (10:15 a.m. ET) and Collins (1:30 p.m. ET).

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Market Watch on February 16th, 2023

Energy Shares Fall as Oil Prices Edge Lower — Energy Roundup

The “primary risk to oil prices remains to the downside as recession warnings from the Treasury market point to a potential collapse in consumer demand in the coming months or quarters,” analysts at Sevens Report Research wrote. Click here to read the full article.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in MorningStar on February 16th, 2023

Oil ends lower on signs of ‘sluggish’ U.S. consumer demand and a big build in supplies

The U.S. Energy Information Administration data so far this year has been “consistently bearish and pointed to sluggish consumer demand, hesitant refining activity, sizeable builds in oil stockpiles and incrementally rising domestic oil production,” analysts at Sevens Report Research wrote in Thursday’s newsletter. Click here to read the full article.

Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in MarketWatch on February 14th, 2023

Oil traders hit ‘sell button’ with U.S. set to release more crude from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve

The release plans were part of a congressional-mandate related to annual budgets that has been in place for almost a decade, Tyler Richey, co-editor of Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch. But “when traders see an SPR release headline cross the wires, they think ‘more supply on the market’ and hit the sell button first and ask questions later.” Click here to read the full article.

Technical Update: Is This Another Bull Trap?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Technical Update:  Is This Another Bull Trap?
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are flat following a quiet night and as solid CSCO earnings are helping stocks hold yesterdays’ gains.

CSCO beat estimates and raised guidance and the stock is up 4% pre-market and that’s helping broader sentiment.

Economically, the only notable number was the Chinese Home Price Index (in-line at –1.5%).

Today focus will remain on economic data and the key reports are (in order of importance):  Philly Fed (E: -7.2), PPI (E: 0.4%m/m, 5.5% y/y), Jobless Claims (E: 200K) and Housing Starts (E: 1.365M).  As has been the case, solid data that implies a “No Landing’ scenario should support stocks, as long as yields don’t spike too much.

We also have several Fed speakers today including Mester (8:45 a.m. ET), Bullard (1:30 p.m. ET) and Cook (4:00 p.m. ET) although they shouldn’t move markets.

What the CPI Data Means for Markets

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the CPI Means for Markets
  • CPI Data Takeaways
  • How Will Russia’s Production Cut and the New SPR Release Impact Oil Markets?

U.S. equity futures are lower despite a stable Treasury market and better-than-feared inflation data overseas as investors continued to assess post-CPI Fed policy expectations.

U.K. CPI fell to 10.1% vs. (E) 10.3% in January down from 10.5% in December which sent the pound lower. Despite the bigger than expected drop, however, inflation remains far too high in the U.K. and more aggressive policy will be warranted to get price pressures back down towards the BOE’s target over time.

Today, focus will be on economic data as there are several important reports due to be released including: Retail Sales (E: 1.7%), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -18.5), Industrial Production (E: 0.5%), and the Housing Market Index (E: 37).

As has been the case lately, investors will be looking for signs of moderation in growth metrics (but not an all out collapse) and faster declining price readings to keep the hopes of a soft/no landing alive. Otherwise, it will be difficult for stocks to resume their 2023 advance.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and if demand is weak and yields begin to add to yesterday’s upward moves, stocks could come for sale.