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Why High Growth Tech Is Still a Risk to the Market

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Bottom Line:  Why High Growth Tech Is Still a Risk to the Market
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Watch Treasuries and ARKK
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  January Data Coming into Focus

Stock futures are sharply lower today as global bond yields surge to multiyear highs on tighter monetary policy expectations.

The 2-Yr T-Note yield topped 1% this morning with a rise of 7 basis points which is weighing on high valuation tech names, sending Nasdaq futures down roughly 2%.

Today, there are two economic reports to watch: Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: 26.0) and the Housing Market Index (E: 84). The market will be looking for decent numbers that don’t imply the recovery is losing momentum but not data that is “too hot” and could cause further rate hike fears. There are no Fed speakers today.

The Treasury will hold auctions for both 3-month and 6-month T-Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET today which typically does not warrant much attention, but given the increasing concerns about rate hikes this morning, the outcomes of the auctions could shed additional light on bond traders’ rate outlook and therefore move markets (soft auctions and a further rise in yields would be a stiffening headwind on tech stocks).

Finally, earning season is continuing to get underway with a few notable companies releasing results: GS ($12.10), PNC ($3.61), JBHT ($1.99).

Where Is the Fed Put?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Bottom Line: Powell Renomination Hearings and the Fed Put
  • Chart: S&P 500 “Current Situation” Support Holds

Stock futures are extending yesterday’s afternoon rally in pre-market trade this morning as investors look ahead to Powell’s renomination hearings.

Overseas, Asian markets declined as new lockdown measures were imposed in parts of China due to rising Omicron cases while EU shares stabilized in sympathy with yesterday’s afternoon rally in U.S. markets.

Economically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index edged up to 98.9 vs. (E) 98.8 last month but the release is not materially impacting markets this morning.

There are no additional economic reports today but Esther George is scheduled to speak at 9:30 a.m. ET before Powell’s renomination hearings begin (10:00 a.m. ET). The market will be keenly focused on anything to do with balance sheet reduction plans and if the topic is “downplayed,” expect a further relief rally in equity markets.

Finally, there is a 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and if the results are weak, sending shorter duration yields to new multi-year highs, that could become a headwind for high valuation tech names and weigh on the broader stock market again.

Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in Market Watch on January 4, 2022

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Gold recoups half of its Monday loss on disappointing U.S. data, omicron uncertainty

A sharp rise in Treasury yields which begins to drive real interest rates higher is a “major risk to the gold market…analysts at Sevens Report Research wrote. Click here to read the full article.

Two Questions to Start 2022

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Two Key Questions To Start 2022
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Omicron, Build Back Better Progress?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  A Busy Start to the Year (Highlighted by the Jobs Report Friday)

Futures are starting the new year with moderate gains driven mostly by momentum/start of year positioning, following a quiet weekend of news.  Many major markets today (London, Japan, Australia, U.S. Bonds) are closed.

Tesla (TSLA) reported better than expected deliveries for the fourth quarter and the stock is up 7% pre-market, and that’s helping markets rally.

There was no new news on Omicron over the weekend as cases skyrocket but hospitalizations remain relatively low.

With so many major markets closed, today will be a mostly quiet day, and barring any surprises tomorrow will be the first “real” trading day of the year.  We do get one notable economic report today, the Markit December Manufacturing PMI (E: 57.8), and markets will want to see a “Goldilocks” number that shows Omicron isn’t a major economic headwind, but at the same time the data isn’t so strong it makes the Fed more aggressive.

 

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Tom Essaye Quoted in Market Research Telecast on December 28, 2021

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Wall Street opens green and the Dow Jones rises 0.16%

Optimism about omicron continues to help drive risk assets higher as markets continue to believe…said the president of the firm Seven Reports, Tom Essaye, in a note. Click here to read the full article.

Looking Ahead to 2022

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Looking Ahead to 2022 (The Omicron Threat May be Fading But the Coast Isn’t Clear)
  • Weekly Market Preview (Clear for a Santa Rally but Depends on Omicron Headlines)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet (Housing Data and Jobless Claims This Week)

Futures are slightly higher on continued momentum from last week’s rally following a quiet holiday weekend.

Omicron optimism continued to help push risk assets higher as markets continued to adopt the idea that while COVID cases will soar, hospitalizations will remain low and as such there won’t be any major lockdowns.

There were no economic reports overnight and the global economic calendar for the week is pretty empty (as is usually the case for this week).

Today there are no notable economic reports and no Fed speakers, so we’d expect generally quiet trading that will be driven by Omicron headlines and year-end positioning (that’s likely to be the case all week).  Any stories that further confirm Omicron COVID is not as severe as the previous COVID will help stocks extend the rally into year-end, while any headlines about lockdowns will be a headwind.

 

Annual Discounts on Sevens Report, Alpha and Quarterly Letter

We’ve continued to be contacted by advisor subscribers who want to use the remainder of their 2021 pre-tax research budgets to extend their current subscriptions, upgrade to an annual (and get a month free), or add a new product (Alpha or Quarterly Letter).

If you have unused pre-tax research dollars, we offer month-free discounts on all our products. If you want to extend current subscriptions or save money by upgrading to an annual subscription (across any Sevens Report product), please email info@sevensreport.com.

Omicron Optimism

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Omicron Optimism is Helping Stocks Rally

Futures are marginally higher as studies and articles continue to be released that confirm that the Omicron variant results in much fewer severe COVID cases.

Over the past 48 hours, studies from South Africa, Denmark, and England and numerous articles (Washington Post, Bloomberg, WSJ) have all generated the same conclusion, that Omicron results in substantially fewer severe

COVID cases and that confirmation is easing COVID anxiety.

Today there is a lot of economic data but the most important report is the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.4% m/m, 4.5% y/y).  As long as it’s not materially worse than feared, it likely won’t hit markets.  And, if the data comes in better than expected, that will add to the idea that inflation pressures have peaked, and we could easily see an extension of this week’s rally.

Other data today includes Durable Goods (E: 1.5%), Jobless Claims (E: 205k),  New Home Sales (E: 770k), and Consumer Sentiment (E: 70.4), but barring a major surprise those numbers shouldn’t move markets.

December Economic Breaker Panel

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • December Economic Breaker Panel – Are Economic Clouds Gathering on the Horizon?

Futures are little changed following a quiet night as investors digest the recent volatility and look ahead to the holiday at the end of the week.

Economic data was sparse overnight and the only notable report was UK GDP which slightly missed estimates (1.1% vs. (E ) 1.3%) although that’s not moving markets.

The Omicron outlook remained unchanged, as cases continued to surge but hospitalizations remain low, and as long as that’s the case market fallout will be limited.

Today we get three economic reports including Final Q3 GDP (E: 2.1%), Consumer Confidence (E: 110.7) and Existing Home Sales (E: 6.510M) but unless they provide a major surprise they won’t move markets. So, with the holiday quickly approaching and tomorrow’s Core PCE Price Index the only remaining “big” report of the week, and we’d expect both liquidity and activity to begin to decline into the weekend starting today.

 

Annual Discounts on Sevens Report, Alpha and Quarterly Letter

We’ve continued to be contacted by advisor subscribers who want to use the remainder of their 2021 pre-tax research budgets to extend their current subscriptions, upgrade to an annual (and get a month free), or add a new product (Alpha or Quarterly Letter).

If you have unused pre-tax research dollars, we offer month-free discounts on all our products. If you want to extend current subscriptions or save money by upgrading to an annual subscription (across any Sevens Report product), please email:  info@sevensreport.com.

Why Stocks Have Dropped

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Are Stocks Dropping?
  • Nasdaq Composite Chart: Below the 100 Day Moving Average

U.S. futures are rebounding with global shares after the U.K. decided against new lockdown measures due to Omicron while there is renewed hope for Biden’s spending bill.

Reports of a late Sunday call between Biden and Manchin, after Manchin announced that he would not support the bill on live TV, have revived hopes for the potential passage of Build Back Better in the weeks ahead.

The German GfK Consumer Climate Index fell to -6.8 vs. (E) -2.5 for January which points to a further deterioration in consumers’ outlook for income and spending in Europe’s largest economy.

There are no economic reports and no Fed officials speak today which will leave traders focused on the political drama surrounding Build Back Better and any new developments about Omicron and subsequent economic lockdown measures.

The one potential catalyst on the calendar is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. A weak auction could send yields higher which could add renewed pressure on high multiple tech names and cause the major indexes to roll over.

Will Politics Force a Fed Policy Error?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Will Politics Force a Fed Policy Error?
  • PPI Takeaways: Inflation Still Rising

U.S. equity futures are flat and global markets were mixed overnight as investors digest another hotter-than-expected inflation print and soft growth data ahead of the Fed.

U.K. CPI rose 5.1% vs. (E) 4.7% in November while Chinese growth data missed expectations across the board, rekindling stagflation fears ahead of the slew of central bank meetings in the back half of the week.

There are multiple economic reports due out this morning including: Retail Sales (E: 0.8%), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: 25.5), Import & Export Prices (E: 0.7%, 0.7%) and the Housing Market Index (E: 84). But once again, unless there are any material surprises, the market impact should be limited ahead of the Fed this afternoon.

The FOMC Announcement will hit at 2:00 p.m. ET and Fed Chair Powell’s Press Conference begins at 2:30 p.m. ET. Bottom line, the biggest risk to equities remains a more hawkish shift in tone with a faster than anticipated acceleration in tapering of QE and any hints at more than two rate hikes next year.