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What the Fed Decision Means for Markets (Near Term vs. Longer Term)

What the Fed Decision Means for Markets (Near Term vs. Longer Term): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Decision Means for Markets (Near Term vs. Longer Term)

Futures are sharply higher (up nearly 2%) as the Fed’s rate cut sparked a large global stock market rally (most major global indices are 1% – 2% higher).

Economically, there were no notable reports overnight.

Geopolitically, concerns are rising about a direct Israel/Hezbollah war, although investors are ignoring those increased risks, for now.

Today will be another busy day as there are two prominent central bank meetings and important economic data.  First, there is a BOE Rate Decision (E: No change) this morning but, more importantly, there’s a Bank of Japan rate decision late tonight.  The BOJ isn’t expected to raise rates but if they do (like in July) that could inject volatility into the markets (like it did in July).

Economically, there are two especially notable reports today, Jobless Claims (E: 230K) and Philly Fed (E: 2.0), while we also get Existing Home Sales (E: 3.90 million) and Leading Indicators (E: -0.3%).  With the Fed now having cut 50 bps, the stronger the data, the better, as it’ll increase soft landing expectations.


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Explaining My Market View More Clearly

Explaining My Market View More Clearly: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Explaining My Market View More Clearly – Subscriber Q&A
  • Chart: Visualizing the Recent Market Rotation

Futures are flat while overseas markets were mixed overnight with European shares trading higher on tech earnings optimism but Chinese markets fell on growth concerns.

There were no market moving economic reports overnight.

Looking into the U.S. session, there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today and just one economic release to watch this morning: Existing Home Sales (E: 3.99M).

Additionally, there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could be a catalyst for bonds and ultimately impact stocks (especially if the outcome is weak, it could weigh on risk assets).

Finally, earnings season continues to pick up with UPS ($1.98), GM ($2.64), and KO ($0.80) releasing results before the bell and TSLA ($0.59), GOOGL ($1.84), V ($2.41), and COF ($3.28) reporting after the close.


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Jobs Report Preview

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.

Is the Yield Curve Already Forecasting a Fed Rate Cut?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is the Yield Curve Already Forecasting a Fed Rate Cut?

Futures are slightly higher following a quiet night of news as investors digest Thursday’s declines and look ahead to the long weekend.

Economically the only notable report was Japanese CPI and it came in slightly lower than expectations at 3.7% y/y vs. (E) 3.8% y/y. but it didn’t move markets.

Today focus will be on economic data and the key reports are, in order of importance: Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.2% m/m, 4.6% y/y), University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (E: 59.1), Durable Goods (E: -0.8%) and New Home Sales (E: 600k).   Markets will want to see further confirmation of dis-inflation in the Core PCE Price Index and the Five Year Inflation Expectations in the University of Michigan report, and if that happens it could spur a mild rally following yesterday’s declines.

Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch on October 30, 2019

“If the Fed clearly signals that this cut is the last cut for sometime, then I’d expect it a pretty nasty reaction from stocks as markets want more rate cuts…” wrote Tom Essaye, president of the Sevens Report, in a Tuesday note to clients. Click here to read the full article.

Jerome Powell_MarketWatch

Reading the Rate Cut

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How the Bond Market Will Tell Us Whether the Fed Rate Cut is Preventative or “Too Late”
  • Key Levels to Watch in Gold Today

Futures are tentatively higher ahead of the Fed this morning as AAPL earnings beat (shares up 4%+), economic data was mixed, and there were no real trade war updates o/n.

Economically, China’s CFLP Manufacturing PMI was slightly better than feared at 49.7 but importantly still below 50 pointing to contraction while EU data remained “Goldilocks” with in-line growth metrics but soft inflation readings.

Today, investors will clearly be keenly focused on the Fed but there are some other catalysts to watch. On the earnings front, GE ($0.12) reports before the bell while QCOM ($0.75) results will be released after the close.

Economically, the first look at July jobs data will hit this morning with the ADP Employment Report (E: 155K) and then Q2 Employment Cost Index (E: 0.7%) will be released shortly after.

Turning to the Fed, the FOMC Announcement will print at 2:00 p.m. ET, (E: -25 bp cut to 2.00-2.25%) and Powell’s Press Conference follows at 2:30 p.m. ET. The market has high expectations for the Fed today and even a mildly hawkish disappointment could trigger significant volatility as valuations remain as stretched as they have been in years.

Tom Essaye Quoted in ETF Trends on May 28, 2019

The Federal Reserve has been on cruise control thus far in 2019 with respect to interest rate policy, opting to keep the federal funds rate untouched. However, the bond markets are screaming for a rate cut, according to Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Lady with a Loud Speaker