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Earnings Disappointments Rekindle Economic Worries

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Earnings Disappointments From FDX and WGO Rekindle Economic Worries
  • What the Strong Housing Starts Mean for Markets
  • Bear Flattening Trend in Treasuries Underscores Hawkish Fed Expectations

Stock futures are falling with global markets and yields are rising this morning after more hawkish central bank decisions overnight as focus turns to the BOE.

In Europe, monetary policy decisions were net hawkish as Norway’s central bank raised rates 50 bp vs. (E) 25 bp to 3.75% while the Swiss National Bank met estimates with a 25 bp hike to 1.75%. The rate hikes are pressuring global bond markets (yields higher) and weighing on sentiment, dragging equity markets lower.

Looking into today’s session, early focus will be on the Bank of England as a 25 bp hike to 4.75% in the benchmark policy rate is expected but there is risk of a 50 bp hike to 5.00% which would be another hawkish surprise for markets and likely result in rising yields and more pressure on overbought equity markets.

In the U.S. there are two economic reports to watch: Jobless Claims (E: 261K) and Existing Home Sales (E: 4.250M). A further rise in claims could bring into question whether or not the labor market is suddenly beginning to deteriorate meaningfully while strong housing data would warrant a hawkish reaction after the much better than expected Housing Starts print earlier this week.

From there, focus will turn to the Fed as Chair Powell continues his semi-annual Congressional testimony at 10:00 a.m. ET while Mester will speak around the same time (10:00 a.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 5-Yr TIPS auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could offer insight to inflation expectations and move yields, but most of the market-moving news will likely hit before the lunch hour today.

Fed Decision Takeaways

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Decision Means for Markets
  • FOMC Decision Takeaways
  • Oil Update – Resilient Demand Offset By Fed Policy Worries

U.S. equity futures are lower as the Fed decision continues to be digested while global economic data largely missed expectations overnight.

Economically, Chinese data was universally disappointing with Industrial Production and Retail Sales both missing estimates while EU trade data showed that imports and exports both declined by more than anticipated. China’s central bank cut rates further overnight, however, which saw risk assets in Asia recover to end with gains.

Looking into today’s session, the ECB decision will be in focus this morning (E: +25bp hike) followed by President Lagarde’s press conference. If the ECB is seen as hawkish, it will likely weigh on stocks and other risk assets as it will show central bankers are not yet satisfied with the trends in inflation and more aggressive policy is likely in the months ahead.

In the U.S., there is a slew of economic data due to be released including: Jobless Claims (E: 250K), Retail Sales (E: 0.0%), Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -13.2), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -15.1), Import & Export Prices (E: -0.6%, -0.5%), and Industrial Production (E: 0.1%).

And with the Fed leaving future policy plans largely “open” and dependent on economic data, the market will want to see more “Goldilocks” trends with slowing growth and a more rapid decline in price readings.

 

Sevens Report Alpha: Artificial Intelligence Issue

This week’s Alpha issue focused on a very popular market topic:  Artificial Intelligence.

This issue was an update to a March 7th Alpha issue on AI, and the three ETFs we profiled in that report have risen 20%, 17%, and 14%, respectively in just three months! 

This week’s AI issue updated and expanded that research as we:

  • Reviewed and updated the research on our previous AI ETF picks.
  • Introduced two new AI-focused ETFs that are both up more than 30% YTD.
  • Included a proprietary spreadsheet of 30 AI stocks and categorized them by: Sector, Market Cap, Price/Earnings ratio, Price/Sales ratio, Revenue, and Performance.

If you’d like to start a risk-free trial subscription to Sevens Report Alpha and access the latest AI issue, and all previous Alpha issues and webinars since 2017, please email info@sevensreport.com.

We do ask that you pay the $330 quarterly subscription fee, but there is a 30 day money back guarantee, so you risk nothing to try the product.  

To learn more about Sevens Report Alpha, click this link. 

FOMC Preview (Watch the Dots)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview (Watch the Dots)
  • Why Yesterday’s CPI Boosted the “Growth On” Trade
  • Gold Update:  Are the 2023 Highs Already In?

Futures are modestly higher following a quiet night of news as markets look ahead to the FOMC decision and expected pause in rate hikes.

Economic data was mixed overnight as UK Industrial Production missed estimates (-0.3% vs. (E) -0.1% in manufacturing) while Euro Zone IP slightly beat (1.0% vs. (E) 0.9%), but neither number is moving markets.

Today focus will be on the FOMC Decision and the consensus expectation is that the Fed will pause.  But, it’s not clear how many additional 2023 rate hikes the “dots” will show, and that will determine if the Fed decision is hawkish or dovish (more on that inside).

Away from the Fed we also get the May PPI (E: -0.1% m/m, 1.6% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.9% y/y) and if this metric comes in under expectations that’ll boost the “Immaculate Disinflation” expectation and should help cyclical sectors extend the rally.

Jobs Report Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview

Futures are moderately higher ahead of the jobs report thanks to solid earnings overnight.

Earnings overnight were good, highlighted by AAPL and SQ, which both rallied after hours and are helping lift futures.

Economic data underwhelmed as both the Chinese Composite PMI and German Manufacturers’ Orders missed expectations, but the numbers aren’t moving markets.

Today focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows:  178K Job Adds, 3.6% Unemployment Rate and 0.3% m/m,4.2% y/y wages.  As we cover in the Report, risks to this jobs number are two sided, as a “Too Hot” number could reverse the Fed pause expectations, while a “Too Cold” number will spike hard landing fears.  So, the market needs a number at or modestly below the expectation, and if it gets that “Just Right” number, stocks can rally today.

We also get two Fed speakers today, Cook (1:00 p.m. ET) and Bullard (1:00 p.m. ET), but neither should move markets.

Bull Case vs. Bear Case Part II (Tactical Ideas and My Opinion)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Bull Case vs. the Bear Case Part II (Tactical Ideas and My Opinion)

Futures are little changed as global inflation and regional bank liquidity stress both remain elevated.

The Fed’s balance sheet shrank slightly as discount window borrowing dropped –22 bln. while BTFP lending increased 10.7 bln. as bank liquidity stress didn’t get much worse, but it didn’t get much better, either.

On inflation, EU HICP fell to 6.9% from 8.5% y/y, but core HICP rose to 5.7% from 5.6%, reflecting still sticky inflation.

For the final day of the first quarter focus will be on inflation and specifically the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.4%, 4.7%) and investors need to see that number at or below expectations to further the “Fed Pivot” idea that’s supporting stocks.  We also get Consumer Sentiment (E: 63.4) and the five-year inflation expectations and there’s one Fed speaker Williams (3:05 p.m. ET).  As mentioned, if the data and Williams support the “Fed Pivot” idea, stocks can extend the rally.  If they refute that idea, stocks could give back some of the recent gains.

Dow Theory & Managing Risk-Reward in Stocks

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Dow Theory & Managing Risk-Reward in Stocks
  • What Is the TIPS Market Telling Us?

Money flows are decidedly risk off this morning with stock futures lower while Treasury yields fall sharply amid continued worries about the global banking system.

UBS shares are down more than 6% after Jefferies downgraded the bank following its acquisition of Credit Suisse while the bank is also under investigation regarding its bankers role in helping Russian oligarchs avoid sanctions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Economically, measure of Core CPI in Japan came in hot at 3.5% vs. (E) 3.4% y/y while the European PMI Composite Flash was strong, jumping to 54.1 vs. (E) 52.0. Both data points have hawkish implication for respective central bank policy in the near term but banking fears are preventing a move higher in yields.

Looking into today’s session, there are two economic reports to watch: Durable Goods Orders (E: 1.5%) and the PMI Composite Flash (E: 49.3) while there is one Fed speaker: Bullard (9:30 a.m. ET). Markets want to see signs of slowing growth, but not a collapse, in the data, and a less hawkish tone from Bullard.

Bottom line, banks have reemerged as the primary influence on markets in the back half of the week and if the weakness in the sector continues today, stocks will have a very hard time extending yesterday’s modest bounce. Conversely if banks are able to stabilize, we could see the S&P 500 move back towards the 4,000 mark.

Fed Wildcard to Watch

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Dynamics Between Stocks, Bonds, and the Economy Have Changed Since Covid
  • Fed Wildcard to Watch Today
  • KBE Chart – Visualizing the Recent Carnage
  • Existing Home Sales Rebound Amid a Pullback in Mortgage Rates: Chart

Stock futures briefly spiked lower overnight in the wake of a hot CPI print in the U.K. but bond markets are steady and futures have largely stabilized as focus turns to the Fed.

Economically, U.K. CPI jumped from 10.1% in January to 10.4% in February, well ahead of estimates of 9.9%, however, both input and output PPI readings unexpectedly declined, easing some of the inflation worries this morning.

There are no notable economic reports today which will leave markets focused on the price action in the banking sector in the morning (meaningful weakness could drag the broader market lower) before attention shifts to the FOMC Meeting Announcement (2:00 p.m. ET) and Fed Chair Press Conference (2:30 p.m. ET) this afternoon.

A 25 basis point hike and no change to the dot plot is the consensus expectation but there are a lot of moving pieces to today’s meeting so watching the reaction from the Treasury market this afternoon will be critical in interpreting what today’s decision means for markets.

Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in MarketWatch on March 8th, 2023

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Oil marks back-to-back losses after Fed’s Powell sparks selloff

Powell’s comments before the Senate Tuesday “sent the clear message that economic data in the near term will be critical for the decision-making process on the pace of future rate hikes and eventually the terminal rate,” said Tyler Richey, co-editor of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Powell Testimony Takeaways

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Powell’s Comments Mean for Markets
  • Powell Testimony Takeaways

Stock futures are stable as yesterday’s Powell-driven losses continue to be digested while the yield curve is hitting new cycle lows with the 2-Yr Note holding above 5% for the first time since 2007 while the 10-Yr hovers just below 4%.

Economic focus was on German data o/n as Industrial Production topped estimates while the previous Retail Sales print was revised notably higher, bolstering Bund yields.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on labor market data early, especially considering Powell’s “data dependent” policy comments from yesterday’s testimony.

The ADP Employment Report (E: 175K) will hit the wires before the bell and then JOLTS (E: 10.6 million) will be released after the open. Investors want to see some deterioration in the jobs market but not an all-out collapse while any indication of declining wages would be well received. International Trade in Goods and Services (E: -$69.0B) will also be released this morning but is less likely to move markets.

From there, Powell’s two-day testimony continues before the House Banking Committee today at 10:00 a.m. ET and investors will continue to listen intently for further clues about policy plans and terminal rate expectations.

Finally, there is a 10-Year Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move yields and ultimately impact the bond market, specifically if the auction tails and rates move meaningfully higher.

Fed Pause Playbook & Powell Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Fed Pause Playbook
  • Powell Testimony Preview
  • Chart – Return Comparison After the Last Rate Hike Pauses

U.S. equity futures are trading with tentative gains amid a stable bond market following good data out of Europe as focus shifts to Powell’s Congressional testimony today.

The ECB’s latest consumer survey showed a notable drop from 3.0% to 2.5% in three year inflation expectations which is helping bonds stabilize while German Manufacturers Orders came in at 1.0% vs. (E) -0.6%, underscoring a resilient Eurozone economy.

This morning, focus will be exclusively on Powell testimony before the Senate which begins at 10:00 a.m. ET as investors will be looking for any new insight on the pace of future rate hikes (25 or 50 basis point hike this month?) and/or the expected terminal rate (currently priced in near 5.375%). If Powell strikes a hawkish tone, expect volatility in stocks amid a potentially sharp rise in yields.

Looking into the afternoon, there is a 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET which should offer some clues to how the bond market digests Powell’s first day of Congressional testimony (a badly tailing auction could further weigh on stocks), while there is one economic report due out late in the day: Consumer Credit (E: $26.4B), but unless the number comes in well above estimates, it should not move markets.