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The Fed outlook is essentially known at this point

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The Fed outlook is essentially known at this point: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

Stock Market Is In a Holding Pattern as Fed Officials Speak

“The Fed outlook is essentially known at this point,” Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye tells Barron’s.

He says that whether a first rate cut comes in September or December, it won’t matter too much.

“Maybe it causes a percent or two of volatility, but I don’t think it’s a substantial issue anymore,” Essaye says. “We know we’re getting something in September or December. I think the bigger question is, what’s growth look like when we get it.”

That’s why markets may hope for upbeat economic data in the months ahead, as signs of a slowing for the economy could have a more substantial impact on stocks than a brief delay for rate cuts.

“In the grand scheme of things, 25 basis points in September versus December, that’s not going to stop a slowdown if it’s occurring,” he says. “If somebody came out and said, ‘We’re thinking about not cutting rates at all,’ that would move markets. But I don’t think there’s any chance of that happening.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on June 19th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

It’ll be Very Hard for This Market to RallyIf 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.

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I expect the rest of the week to be very quiet

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I expect the rest of the week to be very quiet: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit New Records

“It essentially will kind of kill the week, to be honest, because anybody that can take Thursday and Friday off just got basically almost a week off,” Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s. “There will be plenty of people who will do that. So I expect the rest of the week to be very quiet.”

A wave of Federal Reserve speakers did little to shift the market. Investors know that interest rate cuts will depend on the data in the coming months. Essaye says it will take a surprise from economic data such as jobless claims to wake up the market this week.

“There’s really quite a confluence of data that’s starting to point to some labor market easing. In everyone’s concern that the economy is going to slow, that’s been the missing piece,” Essaye says.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on June 19th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

It’ll be Very Hard for This Market to RallyIf 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.

Market Multiple Chart: Multiple Expansion Lifts Scenario Targets

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Market Multiple Chart: Multiple Expansion Lifts Scenario Targets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • MMT Chart:  Multiple Expansion Lifts Scenario Targets

Futures are solidly higher thanks to a surprise rate cut from the SNB and despite worsening geo-political tensions.

The Swiss National Bank surprisingly cut rates 25 bps, citing easing inflation pressures, as the global rate cut cycle gets underway.

Geo-politically, the leader of Hezbollah threatened Israel with war, underscoring rising tensions between Israel and Lebanon.

Today will be a moderately busy day of data and news.  First, there is a Bank of England Rate Decision and while no change in rates is expected, the BOE may signal it’s ready to cut rates in the next meeting or two.

Economically, there are two important reports today: Jobless Claims (E: 235K) and Philly Fed (E: 5.2).  Given the recent data showing a loss of momentum in economic growth, investors will want to see better than expected readings (while soft readings will strengthen the narrative for slowing growth).

Finally, the parade of Fed speakers continues this week with Kashkari (8:45 a.m. ET) and Barkin (4:00 p.m. ET) but unless one of them openly discuss rate hikes, they shouldn’t move markets.

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Investors are taking a bit off the top with markets hovering near all-time highs.

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Investors are taking a bit off the top: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

2 Big Reasons Why the Dow and S&P 500 Are Down

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s that he thinks investors are taking a bit off the top with markets hovering near all-time highs.

“I think that markets are, especially at these levels, a bit nervous that perhaps growth is stronger than they think, and maybe inflation is just a touch stickier than they think following the jobs report,” he said in a phone interview.

Essaye thinks that it would take a very hot inflation report, one that spooks even the generally dovish Powell, to send stocks falling fast on Wednesday.

“If that starts to percolate, that’s a substantial change, because now they may hike again,” Essaye said. “And that would cause volatility. I think the chances of that happening tomorrow are extremely slim, unless CPI is just a total shock.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on June 11th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

It’ll be Very Hard for This Market to RallyIf 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.

Market Multiple Table: Pushing Justifiable Valuations

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Market Multiple Table: Pushing Justifiable Valuations: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • June Market Multiple Table – Pushing the Edge of Justifiable Valuations
  • Empire State Manufacturing Survey Takeaways
  • Chart – NVDA Tests Near-Term Uptrend

Futures are little changed as ongoing strength in technology shares offsets weakness in small caps in pre-market trade after mixed economic data overnight.

Economically, the German ZEW Survey missed estimates while the EU’s Narrow Core HICP (Core CPI equivalent) was inline with the May Flash of 2.9%, which was up from 2.7% in April.

Today, focus will be on economic data early with Retail Sales (E: 0.3%) and Industrial Production (E: 0.3%) both due to be released. Investors will be looking for signs of healthy consumer spending but not a figure that is “too hot” (hawkish policy concerns) or “too cold” (growth worries) while steady factory sector data would be welcomed but not as impactful for markets today.

There is also a long list of Fed speakers today. In chronological order, we will hear from: Barkin (10:00 a.m. ET), Collins (11:40 a.m. ET), Musalem (1:00 p.m. ET), Logan (1:00 p.m. ET) and Goolsbee (2:00 p.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and weak demand could send yields higher and weigh on equities in afternoon trade.

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.

Growing Economic Concerns

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Growing Economic Concerns: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why I am Getting More Concerned About an Economic Slowdown
  • Weekly Economic Preview – A Critical Week of Data

Futures are higher on momentum from Friday’s late-day rally while news wires were mostly quiet this weekend.

Economically, the Eurozone Manufacturing PMI rose from 45.7 to 47.3 vs. (E) 47.4 in May while the UK’s Manufacturing PMI headline rose from 49.1 to 51.2 vs. (E) 51.3. The as-expected data is having a limited impact on markets, leaving stocks to extend Friday’s rally.

Today, focus will be on the ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 49.8) early with a report on Construction Spending (E: 0.2%) also due out after the open. There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today which leaves the ISM data the key catalysts of the session. A report that is “too hot” or “too cold” could see volatility pick up while a “Goldilocks” number would likely allow Friday’s relief rally to continue.

Finally, the Treasury will hold 3-Month and 6-Month Bill auctions at 11:30 a.m. ET, and while these auctions don’t typically move markets, we are within 6-months of the first expected rate cuts from the Fed so any surprises could impact yields and in-turn move equities.

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Explaining This Market to Clients (Summer Edition)

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Explaining This Market to Clients (Summer Edition): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Explaining This Market to Clients (Summer Edition)
  • Weekly Economic Preview – All Eyes on Inflation (Friday)

Futures are modestly higher, led by mega-cap tech, as traders return from the long weekend to mixed headlines.

Economically, an ECB survey showed a favorable dip in medium term (3-year) consumer inflation expectations which was well received by equity traders overnight.

Geopolitically, an Egyptian soldier was killed in a fire fight with Israeli forces at the Rafah border over the weekend while, separately, there were dozens of civilian casualties following an Israeli airstrike just north of Rafah leaving Middle East tensions as high as they’ve been in months (oil is up more than 1%).

Looking into today’s session, there are two economic reports to watch: S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.3%) and Consumer Confidence (E: 95.3) while several Fed officials are scheduled to speak: Kashkari (9:55 a.m. ET), Cook (1:05 p.m. ET), and Daly (1:00 p.m. ET). The market will want to see more “goldilocks” economic data and preferably less-hawkish Fed chatter.

Additionally, there are two key Treasury auctions, the first for 2-Yr Notes at 11:30 a.m. ET, and the second for 5-Yr Notes at 1:00 p.m. ET. With the total amount being auctioned just shy of $150B, demand for the Notes will be closely watched and weak auction outcomes could push yields higher and weigh on stocks with key inflation data looming later in the week.

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Advisor Considerations of the “T+1” Settlement Change

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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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CPI Preview: Good, Bad, & Ugly

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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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Is Gasoline Demand Another Economic Warning Sign?

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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.