Posts

FOMC Preview

/in , , /by

FOMC Preview: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • Empire State Manufacturing Index Takeaways
  • Chart: Equal-Weighted S&P 500 Index Hits Fresh Record

Futures are rallying ahead of key data on U.S. consumer spending as rates markets continue to price in better odds of a 50 bp rate cut from the Fed ahead of tomorrow’s FOMC decision.

Economically, the German ZEW Survey disappointed overnight with Economic Sentiment plunging more than 15 points to 3.6 vs. (E) 17.5.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on economic data early with Retail Sales (E: -0.3%) being the most important release to watch, but Industrial Production (E: 0.1%), and the latest Housing Market Index (E: 40) will also be closely monitored.

There is one Fed official on the calendar to speak today: Logan (10:00 a.m. ET), but her remarks have been pre-recorded and therefore should not move markets with the September FOMC meeting getting underway this morning.

Finally, there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that should not materially impact markets unless there is a significant discrepancy between the when-issued yield and yield-awarded that shows weak demand (higher yields), as a subsequent rise in yields could pour some cold water on the so-far-dovish money flows ahead of the Fed decision.

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.

What Powell and Uedas’ Friday Comments Mean for Markets

/in , , /by

What Powell and Uedas’ Friday Comments Mean for Markets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Powell and Uedas’ Friday Comments Mean for Markets
  • Weekly Market Preview:  A Big Week for Tech Earnings (Including NVDA on Wednesday)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  A Most Quiet Week But Thursday/Friday Are Important

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet weekend, thanks to momentum from Friday’s rally as investors digest Powell’s promise of coming rate cuts.

Economically, the only notable number overnight was the German Ifo Business Expectations and it slightly beat estimates (86.8 vs. (E) 86.5).

Geopolitically, a cease fire was not reached this weekend between Israel and Hamas although investors remain optimistic that a deal is close.

Today the only notable economic report is July Durable Goods (E: 4.0%) and markets will want to see stability in the data (so close to expectations) to ensure the recent plateau in business spending isn’t becoming a decline.  If Durable Goods is in-line, expect a continuation of the early rally.

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.

The Concerning Gap Between Stocks, Treasuries and the Yen

/in , , /by

The Concerning Gap Between Stocks, Treasuries and the Yen: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Concerning Gap Between Stocks, Treasuries and the Yen
  • Oil Update (Why is Oil Hitting Multi-Month Lows?)

Futures are slightly higher on more Goldilocks economic data.

The EU and UK August flash composite PMIs were better than expected (51.2 vs. (E) 50.7 in the EU and 53.4 vs. (E) 52.9 in the UK) and that’s supporting the global soft landing narrative.

On inflation, EU wages rose less than expected in Q2, reinforcing expectations for a Sept. rate cut from the ECB.

Today focus will be on economic data as today is the most important day of the week from a data standpoint.  Key reports, in order of importance, include Jobless Claims (E: 234K), August Flash Composite PMI (E: 53.3) and Existing Home Sales (E: 3.90 million).  More Goldilocks data (at or close to expectations) should further support the rally and if that’s the case, new highs for the S&P 500 shouldn’t be a shock.

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.

Watch the BLS Revisions Today

/in , , /by

Watch the BLS Revisions Today: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Something to Watch Today: BLS Revisions
  • How a Fed Mistake Would Impact Commodities
  • VIX Expiration Poses Threat to Short-Volatility Trade – Chart

Futures are slightly higher as traders await job growth revisions from the BLS after a mostly quiet night of news.

Economically, Japanese trade data revealed a deeper than anticipated deficit in July but amid solid import/export growth numbers which importantly helped pause a rally in the yen and reduced pressure on risk assets overnight.

Looking into today’s session, there are no typical economic reports on the calendar, however, the BLS Revisions to Net Payroll Growth for the trailing 12-months through March 2024 will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET and a significant downward revision could rekindle the recession fears initially sparked by the July jobs report which would result in broad market volatility.

In the afternoon, there is a 20-Yr Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET which could move yields and influence equity markets before investor focus will turn to the release of the July FOMC Meeting Minutes at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Finally, earnings season continues to wind down but a few notable companies reporting today include: TGT ($2.17), TJX $0.92), ZM ($1.21).

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.

The Most Important Central Banker This Week (Not Powell)

/in , , /by

The Most Important Central Banker This Week (Not Powell): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Most Important Central Banker This Week (Not Powell)

Futures are slightly higher on better than feared tech earnings and more global central bank rate cuts.

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) posted solid guidance and that, along with CSCO results last week, is helping to bolster the outlook for tech and that’s supporting futures.

Sweden’s Riksbank (their central bank) cut rates 25 bps, as expected, and that reminded investors we are in the midst of a global rate cutting campaign (which is a positive).

There are no notable economic reports today but there are two Feds speakers, Bostic (1:35 p.m. ET) and Barr (2:45 p.m. ET) and if they join other colleagues in expressing openness to cutting rates in September, it should be a mild tailwind for stocks.

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.

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly

/in , , /by

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

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly
  • Chart: 10-Yr Yield Falls to 52-Week Lows

Futures are flat this morning while overseas markets were mixed overnight with Europe underperforming amid soft economic data while Asian shares were mostly higher.

Economically, the August German ZEW Survey saw Current Conditions fall to -77.3 vs. (E) -74.5 and Economic Sentiment drop to 19.2 vs. (E) 34.5 which weighed on stocks and other risk assets.

Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 93.7 vs. (E) 91.7 which eased recession fears and is helping U.S. equity futures relatively outperform ahead of the open.

Looking into today’s session, trader focus will be on the first inflation data of the week with PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.6% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.0% y/y) due out ahead of the bell.

There is also one Fed speaker: Bostic (1:15 p.m. ET) and one consumer-focused earnings release: HD (E: $4.55) to watch.

Bottom line, PPI could move markets today if there is a big surprise in the release, but markets are likely to remain in wait-and-see mode as investors await the more important CPI release tomorrow.

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.

Market Multiple Table: Chart

/in , , /by

Market Multiple Table: Chart: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table Chart (Scenario Targets Compress)
  • The Most Important Financial Asset in the World (Right Now)

Futures are slightly lower following a generally quiet night of news as markets digest Wednesday’s failed rally.

Japan remains at the center of global markets and the “Summary of Opinions” (think of it as the BOJ minutes) showed officials discussed further rate hikes but also that the BOJ is, for now, on hold (and that’s a mild positive).

Geopolitically, tensions between Israel and Iran/Hezbollah remain elevated and a retaliation is expected any day.

Today focus will be on Weekly Jobless Claims (E: 240K) and a better-than-expected number (so under 240k) will help incrementally ease slowdown fears.  Conversely, if claims jump above 250k, expect recession worries to rise further and stocks to react accordingly (lower).

There is also one Fed speaker, Barkin at 3:00 p.m. ET, but he 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.

FOMC Preview

/in , , /by

FOMC Preview: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • Chart: Stocks Are Trading With an 85% Correlation to 2007

U.S. equity futures are tracking European stocks higher as traders look ahead to the Fed, big-tech earnings, and more important economic data due in the sessions ahead.

Economically, Japan’s Unemployment Rate fell to 2.5% vs. (E) 2.6% while the EU’s GDP Flash rose to 0.6% vs. (E) 0.5%. The reports are not meaningfully moving markets but seem to be easing recession fears to some degree in pre-market trade.

Looking into today’s session, there are two housing market reports due out early: Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 7.2%) and the FHFA House Price Index (E: 6.3%) before Consumer Confidence (E: 99.5) and JOLTS (E: 8.0 million) will be released after the opening bell.

The July FOMC meeting begins today so there are no Fed speakers which will likely bring a sense of “Fed paralysis” before tomorrow’s meeting announcement and Powell’s press conference.

That will leave trader focus on earnings with BP ($0.92), PG ($1.37) and PYPL ($0.97) all due to report before the open while AMD ($0.67), MSFT ($2.90), and SBUX ($0.93) will release results after the close.

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.

A Potentially Pivotal Week for the 2024 Bull Market

/in , , /by

A Potentially Pivotal Week for the 2024 Bull Market: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Potentially Pivotal Week for the 2024 Bull Market
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Important Updates on Growth, Rate Cuts and AI Enthusiasm
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Jobs Report Friday, Fed Wednesday.

Futures are solidly higher on momentum from Friday’s rally and following a mostly quiet weekend of news, as investors look ahead to an important week for economic growth, rate cut expectations and mega cap tech earnings.

Geopolitically, tensions increased between Israel and Hezbollah following an attack in the Golan Heights and subsequent Israeli retaliation, but for now it’s not moving oil markets.

This week will give us a lot of color on the state of economic growth and a check on market rate cut expectations, but the important events don’t start until tomorrow (MSFT & AMD earnings) as there are no notable economic reports today.

Looking deeper at earnings, about 40% of the S&P 500 reports this week, including several major mega-cap tech stocks, but those important reports don’t start until tomorrow.  Today, we’ll be watching: MCD (E: $3.08), ON (E: $0.92) and SFM (E: $0.77).

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.

Market Impact of Biden’s Decision

/in , , /by

Market Impact of Biden’s Decision: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Impact of Biden’s Decision to Drop Out
  • Putting Last Week’s Declines in Proper Context (What Tech Giveth, Tech Taketh Away)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Does the Changing Political Landscape Pressure Markets?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  The First Big National Report for July Comes This Week

Futures are solidly higher on surprise rate cuts from China and as President Biden dropped out of the Presidential election.

President Biden dropped out of the election this weekend and endorsed VP Harris as the new nominee and this should see a mild tightening of the polls.

Economically, China announced a surprise 10 bps interest rate cut and that’s helping to boost the economic outlook.

This week will be a busy one for earnings and economic data, but it starts slowly as there is just one notable economic report today, Chicago Fed National Activity (E: 0.18) and three notable earnings reports:  NXPI ($3.21),VZ ($1.15) and TFC ($0.78). NXPI is the most important earnings report today and if the semiconductor company can post strong guidance, it’ll help ease chip worries (which will help the tech sector and broader market stabilize).

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.