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Why Didn’t Powells’ Comments Cause A Rally?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Didn’t Powells’ Comments Cause A Rally?

Futures are modestly lower as global economic data pointed to slowing growth and falling inflation pressures.

German PPI declined more than expected (-0.2% vs. (E) 0.4%). While UK Retail Sales were weak (-0.9% vs. (E) -0.1%) pointing to slowing growth and lower inflation.

Politically, there remains no end in sight to Republicans’ efforts to elect a Speaker, as Jim Jordan is expected to seek a third round of voting (one he is likely to lose, again).

Today there are no economic reports but there are two Fed speakers, Harker (9:00 a.m. ET) and Mester (12:15 p.m. ET), although given Powell’s comments yesterday neither should move markets.

So, trading today will be dominated by politics, geopolitics and yields.  Any progress on finding a Speaker of the House will be welcomed by market (regardless of whether it’s Jordan, McHenry or anyone else), any calming of tensions in the Middle East will similarly be welcomed by markets as would a decline in the 10-year yield.  Meanwhile, the opposite of any of those will likely add more headwinds to stocks.

Why Didn’t Powells’ Comments Cause A Rally?

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Powell Speech Preview

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Powell Speech Preview (Good, Bad & Ugly): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Powell Speech Preview:  Good, Bad & Ugly
  • EIA Update and Oil Market Analysis

Futures are slightly higher following a quiet night of news as investors await Fed Chair Powell’s speech later today.

Earnings overnight were mixed with TSLA (down 5% after hours) missing estimates while NFLX (up 14% after hours) posted strong results.

Today will be a very busy day of data and Fed speak.  The key event today is Powell’s speech at noon, and to keep things simple, if Powell repeats the sentiment that the spike in Treasury yields has done the Fed’s job for it and, as such, another rate hike is unlikely, that should be positive for stocks and bonds.  If he does not repeat that sentiment and leaves the door open for another hike in 2023, that will be a negative.

Outside of Powell, we get several important economic reports today including:  Jobless Claims (E: 211K), Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing (E: -7.0) and Existing Home Sales (E: 3.900M) and markets will want to see Goldilocks data to support a bounce.

Back to the Fed, there are multiple speakers today other than Powell, including Jefferson (9:00 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (1:20 p.m. ET), Barr (1:30 p.m. ET), Bostic (4:00 p.m. ET); Harker (5:30 p.m. ET) and Logan (7:00 p.m. ET) although their comments will be overshadowed by Powell, so they shouldn’t move markets.

Finally, earnings continue and important reports today include:  T ($0.63), TSM (1.16), AAL (0.26), WAL ($1.91) and CSX ($0.42).

Powell Speech Preview

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Why Markets Are Resilient Despite Geopolitical Risks

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Why Markets Are Resilient Despite Geopolitical Risks: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Markets Are Resilient Despite Geopolitical Risks
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Powell Signal Rate Hikes Are Over?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Can Economic Growth Stay Strong?

Futures are slightly higher as the weekend brought no major changes to the current macroeconomic set up.

Geo-politically, an invasion of Gaza by Israel remains imminent but so far the conflict hasn’t expanded regionally and oil is little changed as a result.

Economically, inflation in India declined –0.25% vs. (E) 0.50%, reinforcing that inflation is declining globally.

Today focus will be on the October Empire Manufacturing Survey (E: -5.0) and markets will want to see “Goldilocks” data that largely meets expectations combined with declines in the price indices.  We also get one Fed speaker today, Harker (10:30 a.m. ET & 4:30 p.m. ET), and one notable earnings report, SCHW ($0.75), but barring any major surprises they shouldn’t move markets.

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Seeing the Forest for the Trees in Today’s Market

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Seeing the Forest for the Trees in Today’s Market: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Seeing the Forest for the Trees in Today’s Market
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Do Expectations for a Soft-Landing Shift This Week?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  An Important Week:  ISM PMIs and the Jobs Report Friday

Futures are little changed as Congress passed a short-term funding bill and avoided a shutdown while global manufacturing data largely met expectations.

The House passed the Senate’s “continuing resolution” to fund the government over the weekend, avoiding a shutdown.  However, funding only lasts until November 17th.

The Chinese Sept. Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.2 vs. (E) 50.0 while EU and UK readings were in-line with estimates.

Today focus will be on economic data and Fed speak.  The key report today is the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.8) and markets will want to see this number move closer to 50 and hint at an end to the manufacturing recession.  A further drop from here would be an incremental negative.  On the Fed, we hear from Powell & Harker at 11:00 a.m. and Williams at 1:30 p.m. and any hints from them that the Fed is likely done with rate hikes will be welcomed by markets.

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter Delivered Today

Our Q3 ’23 Quarterly Letter will be released today.

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Also, you can view our Q2 ’23 Quarterly Letter here

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CPI remains the most important monthly economic metric

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CPI remains the most important monthly economic metric: Tom Essaye Quoted in MorningStar

Dow turns higher as Apple falls ahead of its iPhone event, with inflation data looming

“CPI remains the most important monthly economic metric for the simple reason that if CPI does not continue to decline, markets will have to price in a more hawkish Fed, and that would be a headwind on stocks,” said Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research, in a note Tuesday.

“Sensitivity to this report will be especially high tomorrow because there have been anecdotal signs that inflation may be leveling off or bouncing back,” he said.

A “good” CPI report would show core inflation, which excludes energy and food prices, rose 0.2% or less in August, according to Essaye. Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal have forecast that core CPI increased 0.2% last month and 4.3% year over year.

“A continued drop in core CPI will help to calm concerns that inflation is bouncing back, and that could trigger a solid drop in Treasury yields and a good relief rally in stocks,” said Essaye.

Also, click here to view the full Morningstar article published on September 12th, 2023. However, to see Tom’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on August 30th, 2023

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U.S. Stock Futures Waver After Rally With More Jobs Data in Focus

“There are no Fed speakers today, so investors will be looking for more evidence that supports a continued pause in the Fed’s rate hiking cycle (or peak rates already being in) and ultimately a soft landing,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research. “Anything that contradicts that narrative will be a headwind on equities and other risk assets today.”

Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on August 28th, 2023

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Stocks Open Higher Ahead of Busy Week for Economic Data

“This week will be more important than it appeared it would when we started August because of last week’s surprisingly soft flash PMIs, as there is a lot of important economic data this week,” argued Tom Essaye, president of Sevens Report Research. If it confirms that the economy is losing momentum and a hard landing is more likely than previously thought, it will pressure stocks,” he added.

Click here to read the full article.

 

Why Have Markets Become Volatile?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Have Markets Become Volatile?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Are the Three Pillars of the Rally Under Attack?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Key Growth and Jobs Data This Week

Futures are slightly higher following more small stimulus steps from Chinese authorities, as investors look ahead to an important week of economic data.

Chinese authorities reduced the stamp tax on stock investment, providing a small economic tailwind and boost to Chinese stock prices.

Economically, the only notable number was the EU Money Supply (M3) and the number was bad as M3 declined –0.4% vs. (E) 0.6%.

Today there are no notable economic reports so markets will focus on the tech sector to see if it can continue to stabilize after last Thursday’s ugly reversal.

Why Didn’t NVDA Earnings Spark A Rally?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Didn’t NVDA Earnings Spark A Rally?

Futures are bouncing modestly following a quiet night of news and as investors look ahead to Powell’s speech later this morning.

EU economic data was soft again overnight, as German IFO Business Expectations missed estimates (82.6 vs. (E) 83.6) and added to the list of disappointing economic reports this week.

Today focus will be on Powell’s speech (10:00 a.m. ET) and if Powell’s tone implies “higher for longer” on rates, that will boost Treasury yields and pressure stocks.  Conversely, if he talks about being “patient” with the 2% inflation target, that will be seen as dovish.

Away from Powell, the only notable reports are Consumer Sentiment (E: 71.2) and the One-Year Inflation Expectations (E: 3.3%) and Five-year Inflation Expectations (E: 2.9%).   If inflation expectations are solidly under estimates, that’ll be a mild positive for markets.

Economic Breaker Panel: August Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Sevens Report Economic Breaker Panel – August Update
  • A Surprising Warning from Macy’s
  • NVDA Earnings Could Trigger a Huge Move In the Stock: Chart

Stock futures are solidly higher this morning ahead of the widely anticipated release of NVDA earnings after the close today while Treasuries yields are retreating on the back of weak economic data overseas.

The Eurozone PMI Composite Flash indicated the economy fell deeper into contraction territory this month (47.0 vs. E: 48.4) led by an unexpected drop off in service sector activity which is weighing on bond yields this morning and easing some concerns about continued aggressive policy by central banks.

This morning, focus will be on economic data with the U.S. PMI Flash data due out just after the open at 9:45 a.m. ET. The Manufacturing Flash is expected to come in at 48.8 while the Services Flash is expected to hold expansion territory at 52.0).

The market is looking for stabilization in the manufacturing sector and moderation, but not contraction, in the service sector. Material weakness in either headline will rekindle worries about a hard-landing while data that is much better than expected would raise Fed rate hike expectations. So, a “Goldilocks” release will be important for both stock and bond markets to stabilize today.

New Home Sales (E: 702K) will also be released at 10:00 a.m. ET but should have a limited impact on markets.

From there, focus will turn to earnings with NVDA reporting after the close (Earnings Estimate: $2.18, Revenue Estimate: $11.09B). Investors have very high hopes for NVDA’s quarterly performance as well as their forward guidance, so any meaningful disappointment is likely to weigh heavily on the stock, the tech complex, and the markets more broadly in after hours trade.