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The VIX index and VIX futures both getting pressured in a big way

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The VIX index and VIX futures both getting pressured in a big way: Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in S&P Global

Stock market ‘fear gauge’ plunges; investors expect rally to persist into 2025

Volatility dynamics in the stock market have shifted since the election when many investors crowded into downside stock market hedges on fears that a Democratic victory could lead to taxes on unrealized capital gains, said Tyler Richey with Sevens Report Research. This also hurt the performance of short volatility strategies, which had been crushed by a massive VIX squeeze at the start of August, Richey said.

“Between the post-election unwind in broad stock market hedges and a suffering short-volatility crowd [throughout 2024], the derivatives market pendulum swung hard from one extreme to another with the VIX index and VIX futures both getting pressured in a big way over the last month,” Richey said.

Also, click here to view the full S&P Global article published on December 6th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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Jobs Report Preview

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

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview

Futures are little changed following a mostly quiet night of news and mixed economic data.

European economic data continued to point to lack-luster growth.  German Manufacturers’ Orders (-1.5% vs. (E) -2.0%) and UK Construction PMI (55.2 vs. (E) 54.3) beat while Eurozone Retail Sales (-0.5% vs. (E) 0.0%) missed expectations.

Bitcoin rose above $100k for the first time in overnight trading, hitting a new milestone.

Today the focus will shift to employment ahead of tomorrow’s jobs report as we get Challenger Job Cuts (E: 55k) and Jobless Claims (E: 215K).  The key for both metrics remains Goldilocks readings (generally meeting expectations but not too weak or too strong).  Additionally, there is one Fed speaker today, Barkin (12:15 p.m. ET).

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More Trade Volatility

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More Trade Volatility: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • More Trade Volatility

Futures are modestly higher as trade tensions eased following a call between Trump and the President of Mexico.

Late Wednesday Trump announced that he had a “productive” call with Mexico’s President while Canada announced measures to strengthen the border, easing trade tensions between the three countries.

Economically, the EU flash HICP (their CPI) was slightly better than expected, rising 2.7% y/y vs. (E) 2.8%.

Today should be a quiet day as there are no notable economic reports and markets close at 1:00 p.m. ET.

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Why Did Stocks Drop Last Week?

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Why Did Stocks Drop Last Week?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Stocks Drop Last Week?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Focus on Treasury Secretary, NVDA earnings and economic growth (Thursday/Friday).
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Important Growth Data Late This Week

Futures are little changed following a quiet weekend of news as markets continue to digest last week’s rise in Treasury yields, and the return of political surprises (via Trump’s cabinet announcements).

There were no notable economic reports overnight.

Politically, the major remaining cabinet pick from Trump is Treasury Secretary and it should come early this week (and another unorthodox choice would further roil markets).

Today the calendar is quiet as there is just one economic report, Housing Market Index (E: 43), and one Fed speaker, Goolsbee (10:00 a.m. ET).  So, focus will be on Trump’s cabinet (again, the more traditional choice for Treasury, the better for markets) and on the 10-year yield.  If it keeps rising, that will be a continued headwind on stocks.

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What the Trump Victory Means for Markets

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What the Trump Victory Means for Markets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Trump Victory (and likely Republican Sweep) Means for Markets

Futures are surging more than 2% as Donald Trump soundly defeated Kamala Harris, Republicans flipped the Senate and will likely win the House of Representatives, completing the sweep and taking control of Washington.

Markets are moving sharply on the expected Republican sweep, as the Dollar Index is 1.7% higher, the 10-year Treasury yield jumps 17 bps and oil falls more than 1%.

Away from the U.S., German Manufacturers’ Orders and Euro Zone Composite PMIs were stronger than expected.

Today most of the analysis and commentary will focus on the implications of the likely Republican sweep, but there is also an important economic report out this morning: the November Flash Composite PMI (E: 54.3).  That number needs to stay Goldilocks to keep growth and Fed rate cut expectations intact (and now that the election is behind us, those growth and rate cuts will again drive markets).

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Why Yields Are Suddenly Surging

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Rising Yields: Is it Growth, the Fed, or Fiscal Worries?
  • Chart: Market Based Inflation Expectations Hit 4-Month Highs

Futures are under pressure again this morning as the 10-Yr yield continues to edge further beyond 4.20%, the highest readings since July, while traders await more important earnings releases today and into the weekend.

Economically, Taiwan’s Industrial Production index, which includes the nation’s critical semiconductor output, slowed to 11.22% in September from a lower revised 12.54% rise in August signaling a potential slowdown in high-tech, AI-focused chips in H2’24.

Today, there is one economic report due out: Existing Home Sales (E: 3.90 million) but unless it is meaningfully “hot” it should not have a major impact on markets (although a cool report that influences less hawkish money flows would be well received by equity markets).

Additionally, there are two Fed speakers to watch: Bowman (9:00 a.m. ET) and Barkin (12:00 p.m. ET) from which markets will look for a less-hawkish, more accommodative tone than the recent “higher-for-longer” policy rate chatter.

Finally, earnings season continues with several notable companies reporting quarterly results including BA ($-10.34), KO ($0.74), and T ($0.59) before the open, and TSLA ($0.58), IBM ($2.27), and TMUS ($2.34) after the close.

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Where SOX Go, Stocks Go: A Cyclical Canary to Watch in the Market Coal Mine

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Where SOX Go, Stocks Go: A Cyclical Canary to Watch in the Market Coal Mine

Futures are modestly higher thanks to solid earnings and ahead of important central bank decisions and economic data later today.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) beat earnings and is rallying 8% pre-market and that’s boosting tech and futures.

Today will be a busy day on the economic and earnings front, starting with the ECB rate decision, where the ECB is expected to cut rates 25 bps and signal an openness (but not a guarantee) of another rate cut in December.

Economically, there are several potentially important reports today including, in order of importance, Retail Sales (E: 0.3%), Jobless Claims (E: 260K), Philly Fed (E: 3.0) and Industrial Production (E: -0.1%).  With all of today’s data, Goldilocks readings around expectations are the best case for markets.

Finally, earnings season continues to roll along and NFLX (E: $5.09) after the close is the big report today.

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Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in S&P Global

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Rate-cut expectations played a major role in the stock market rebound: Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in S&P Global

Stocks surge to all-time highs; market questions if Fed cuts can sustain rally

“Rate-cut expectations played a major role in the stock market rebound off the early August pullback, but only because the increasingly dovish Fed policy expectations for sooner-and-deeper rate cuts were accompanied by encouraging economic data that helped ease the suddenly urgent fears of an imminent recession in the wake of the July jobs report,” said Tyler Richey, a co-editor with Sevens Report Research.

Rate cut expectations will weigh heavily on the stock market through the end of 2024, primarily as they relate to the outlook for economic growth, said Richey with Sevens Report Research.

“Soft landings are historically elusive, and the Fed has notably never pulled one off after a deep and prolonged yield curve inversion like we have seen in the Treasury market since the summer of 2022,” he said. “Using history as a guide, we are in a late cycle environment and very likely closer to seeing a lasting market top established than a new leg higher in a sustainable bull market.”

Also, click here to view the full S&P Global article published on September 20th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

If 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.

0DTE Options Primer (3 ETF Plays)

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0DTE Options Primer (3 ETF Plays): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Primer (and Potential Plays) on 0DTE Options
  • September Flash PMI Takeaways
  • Chart: The Rally in the “Rest of the Market” Is Losing Momentum

U.S. stock futures are tracking most global equity markets higher after the People’s Bank of China announced new stimulus measures to support economic growth overnight.

The PBOC cut a key policy interest rate, reduced bank reserve requirements, and injected more than $100B into the financial system sending Chinese stocks higher by 4%+.

Today, there are three economic reports to watch: Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 5.9%), FHFA House Price Index m/m (E: -0.1%), and Consumer Confidence (E: 103.0). After last week’s 50 bp rate cut from the Fed, investors are looking for stable and solid economic data so the risk to markets is underwhelming data this morning.

There is one Fed speaker today: Bowman at 9:00 a.m. ET and investors are increasingly hopeful the FOMC will cut rates by 50 bp again in November in order to pull off a soft landing so any pushback on that idea from Bowman could weigh on risk assets.

Finally, there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. Strong demand (lower yields) will be supportive of a continued rally in stocks while a weak auction (higher yields) could also weigh on equity markets this afternoon.

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Wednesday’s CPI inflation report has the door open to a half-percentage-point reduction

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Wednesday’s CPI inflation report: Sevens Report Founder Tom Essaye Quoted in Morningstar

The stock market is falling after CPI report. Investors may fear Fed mistake.

Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research – said that if Wednesday’s CPI inflation report came in weaker than expected and left the door open to a half-percentage-point reduction on Sept. 18, that would be “better for markets” and “generally welcome” news.

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

Oil Inventories

Lastly, If 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.