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Why Did Treasury Yields Surge Yesterday?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Treasury Yields Surge Yesterday?
  • Oil Update – OPEC+ Meeting Preview

Stock futures are trading at record highs as investors shrug off surging COVID cases and digest upbeat economic data.

New COVID cases topped 1 million in the U.S. Monday, nearly doubling the previous record, however, hospitalizations and deaths remain low, keeping economic lockdown odds minimal as the Omicron outbreak is increasingly expected to burn itself out in the coming weeks.

China’s Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.9 vs. (E) 50.0 in December further easing global growth concerns.

Today, there are two economic reports to watch: ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 60.5) and JOLTS (E: 11.060M). Investors will be looking for more good data, but not so good that rate hike expectations are brought forward.

There are no Fed speakers today. The January OPEC+ policy meeting will be underway soon (E: +400K b/d production hike in February) and if the group of oil producers disappoint the market, expect a potential spike in volatility that could spill over into both equity and bond markets.

Jobs Day

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Omicron Update
  • OPEC Meeting Takeways

Futures are slightly lower as markets digest Thursday’s rally ahead of the jobs report.

In Washington, the Senate passed a bill to avoid a government shutdown, removing a potential risk from markets.

The Omicron variant has been detected in five states now but symptoms so far appear mild.

Economically, EU and UK Composite PMIs generally met expectations.

Today focus will be on the Job Report and expectations are as follows: Job Adds 543K, UE Rate 4.5%, and Wages 5.0% y/y.  As long as the jobs report is around expectations (so not above 700k but still showing solid job additions with wages not spiking) then markets will expect a mild acceleration of tapering and the rally can continue.   We also get the ISM Services PMI (E: 65.0) and markets will be looking for a similarly “Just Right” number to show solid growth but nothing so strong it would encourage the Fed to substantially accelerate tapering of QE.

Jobs Report Preview

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview
  • Why the Bank of England Surprise Matters to You
  • OPEC Decision and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly higher ahead of the jobs report and despite underwhelming European economic data.

German Industrial Production (-1.1% vs. (E) 0.9%) and EU Retail Sales (-0.3% vs. (E) 0.8%) both missed estimates but those reports aren’t moving markets.

House Democrats are expected to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill later today, while the larger $1.75 trillion stimulus bill remains in negotiations.

Today focus will be on the Jobs Report and expectations are as follows: Job Adds:  400K, UE Rate:   4.7%, Wages: 0.4%/4.8%.  Given the Fed didn’t commit to a $15 billion tapering beyond December, a “Too Hot” number (in either jobs adds or wages) could cause market volatility, but outside of that occurring the jobs report shouldn’t move markets too much.  We also get one Fed Speaker, George at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in Independent Journal Review on August 29, 2021

Ida Slams US Coast Harder than Katrina, Virtually All Gulf Oil Production Now Crippled by Monster Storm

How demand expectations change in the wake of the storm will depend…said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, according to MarketWatch. Click here to read the full article.

 

evens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in Market Watch on September 2, 2021

Oil futures climb over 2%, buoyed by a drop in U.S. supplies, after OPEC+ output decision

The group’s leadership reiterated commitment to stable market conditions and flexibility in…Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch. Click here to read the full article.

 

What to Make of Yesterday’s Selloff

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What to Make of Yesterday’s Selloff
  • OPEC+ Policy Update and Oil Outlook

Price action is mixed across asset classes this morning as equity futures are cautiously rebounding with EU shares but bond yields made new lows amid lingering Delta variant fears.

Economically, German PPI fell to 1.3% vs. (E) 1.1% in June, down from 1.5% in May which offers some new support for the transitory inflation thesis.

Economically, there is one report on the real estate market today: Housing Starts and Permits (E: 1.590M, 1.700M) but it should not have an impact on stocks or bonds, and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak.

That will leave trader focus on earnings early with: ALLY ($1.49), PM ($1.54), TRV ($2.35), and SYF ($1.51) reporting Q2 results ahead of the bell and NFLX ($3.16), UAL (-$4.17), IBKR ($0.83) reporting after the close.

Outside of those potential catalysts, the broader market focus remains on the latest developments regarding the Delta-variant of COVID-19 and any subsequent restrictions or lockdowns that may be announced around the globe.

As has been the case in recent weeks, the stock market will likely react to moves in bonds, so if yields begin to extend this morning’s early drop amid new risk-off money flows, expect volatility to remain elevated. Conversely, if bond yields begin to recover meaningfully, then stocks would likely follow, potentially rising back towards Friday’s closing levels.

Why Powell Wasn’t Dovish (Tapering is Coming)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Powell Wasn’t Dovish (Tapering is Coming)
  • Infrastructure Update (Tax Hike Risks)
  • Oil Update, EIA Analysis, and OPEC Outlook (Where is Oil Going?)

Futures are modestly lower following mixed Chinese economic data.

Chinese Fixed Asset Investment, Retail Sales, and Industrial Production all beat estimates, although they were offset by a miss in Q1 GDP (7.9% vs. (E) 8.2%).  But, while GDP got most of the headlines, the bottom line is the rest of the data is more current, and on balance, the outlook for the Chinese economy has improved (which is good for global stocks).

Today there are numerous economic reports to watch including, in order of importance:   Philly Fed Manufacturing Index (E: 28.5), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: 18.3), Jobless Claims (E: 368K), and Industrial Production (E: 0.7%).  As has been the case “Goldilocks” data with muted pricing indices will help stocks rally (markets won’t want to see data that’s too strong or too weak).

Turning to the Fed, Chair Powell speaks to the Senate at 9:30 a.m. ET but we should expect the same message as Wednesday and his comments shouldn’t move markets.

Finally, earnings season continues to gain momentum and some reports we’ll be watching today include: TSC ($0.89), MS ($1.63), UNH ($4.41), USB ($1.14), BK ($1.01).

Market Multiple Table: July Update

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table: July Update
  • OPEC+ Update

U.S. stock futures are trading modestly higher with tech shares outperforming (Nasdaq futures are at a fresh record) as bond yields continue to fall to multi-month lows ahead of the Fed Minutes release this afternoon.

Economically, German Industrial Production fell -0.3% vs. (E) +0.5% in May, adding to a recent string of disappointing global economic data that has been pressuring bond yields.

Today, there is just one economic report to watch: May JOLTS (E 9.30M), and while it’s a dated release, some components of the report could shed some new light on the current trends of the labor market.

Looking to the Fed, the release of the June FOMC Meeting Minutes (2:00 p.m. ET) will be the main focus today as investors look for further clarity on the Committee’s taper timeline and eventual plans for raising rates. Additionally, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic speaks at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Second Half Outlook

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Second Half Outlook
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet

Stock futures are little changed with investors focused on OPEC+’s failure to reach a new output policy agreement yesterday while economic data was mixed overnight.

OPEC+ called off a follow-up meeting yesterday after the UAE would not agree to extending production cuts through 2022 which drove oil to new multi-year highs in overnight trading as current cuts will remain in place by default, deepening supply deficit expectations for the second half of the year.

Economically, Final Composite PMI reports were mostly as expected while EU Retail Sales topped estimates but none of the data materially moved markets overnight.

Today, there is just one notable economic report to watch: ISM Services Index (E: 63.5), and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak. That will leave investors focused on the oil market in the wake of the OPEC+ developments as well as awaiting any news on infrastructure as the calendar is otherwise fairly quiet as we start the holiday-shortened trading week today.

Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in Market Watch on June 28, 2021

Oil prices end at a more than a 1-week low on demand concerns, OPEC+ output uncertainty

There’s a resurgence in COVID-19 fears as case counts are rising sharply in parts of Asia, while the ‘Delta variant’ of the virus is…said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.