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Understanding Why the Decline in Inflation Has Stalled

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Understanding Why the Decline in Inflation Has Stalled: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Understanding Why the Decline in Inflation Has Stalled

Futures are slightly lower following more disappointing Chinese economic data and as geo-political concerns rise.

Chinese exports fell –7.5% vs. (E) -1.9% underscoring that growth remains a major concern in the Chinese economy.

Oil and gold are sharply higher on a WSJ article stating Iran could directly retaliate against Israel this weekend (a direct attack on Israel by Iran would be a substantial escalation).

Today there is one notable economic report, Consumer Sentiment (E: 79.0), but barring major surprise that shouldn’t move markets.    Instead, focus will be on Fed Speak and earnings.

Starting with the Fed, we have several speakers today including Schmid (1:00 p.m.), Bostic (2:30 p.m.) and Daly (3:30 p.m.) and if they echo Thursday’s commentary that rate cuts aren’t coming soon, expect mild pressure on stocks.

On earnings, today is the start of the Q1 earnings season and several big banks report including: JPM ($4.18), BLK ($4.92), WFC ($1.09) and C ($1.29).  Focus will be on the results and on consumer commentary and the stronger the commentary, the more of a tailwind earnings will provide to stocks.

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What Does the Hot CPI Report Mean for Markets

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What Does the Hot CPI Report Mean for Markets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Does the Hot CPI Report Mean for Markets?
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly lower and extending yesterdays’ declines ahead of more inflation readings and following disappointing Chinese economic data.

China’s CPI rose less than expected (0.1% vs. (E) 0.5%) and in China that’s a negative as deflation remains a major risk in that slow-growth economy.

Geopolitically, U.S. officials have warned about an imminent Iranian retaliation against Israel either directly or via proxy groups.

Today will be another busy day of events and following the hot CPI, today’s PPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.3% y/y) will be in focus. If it rises more than expected, look for higher yields and lower stock prices.  Conversely, if PPI is lower than expected it should deliver a bit of relief and potentially cause a bounce in stocks (and decline in yields).  Other notable events today include the ECB Rate Decision (E: No Change) and Jobless Claims (E: 215k).

Finally, there three Fed speakers today:  Williams (8:45 a.m.), Barkin (10:00 a.m.), Bostic (1:30 p.m.).  If they push back on rate cut hopes following yesterday’s CPI expect more pressure on stocks and if they are partially dismissive of it, expect a rebound.

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The Fed is going to cut at some point—but nobody knows when

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The Fed is going to cut at some point—but nobody knows when: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Dow Drops 300 Points as Indexes Turn Down

Traders were looking ahead to Wednesday’s consumer price index. Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye says traders seem to be biding their time, making sure their risk tolerance is appropriate heading into the 8:30 a.m. CPI release, especially with not much in the way of economic data or earnings in the meantime.

“We’re at this point where we all know the Fed is going to cut at some point—but nobody knows when—and it’s all going to be up to the data,” he says. “And there’s really not a lot else to focus on. So we’re all just sort of lurched from one data point to the other in this market right now. This is the way it gets when you get to long drawn out transitions in policy.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on April 9th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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Investors are on edge that the Fed may delay rate cuts

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Investors are on edge that the Fed may delay rate cuts: Tom Essaye Quoted in Forbes

Jobs Report: Unemployment Hits 3.8% As Job Growth Pops

How the jobs report impacts market expectations for an eagerly anticipated cut to interest rates, a move which would stimulate economic growth and which is currently priced in to come in June. “Investors are on edge [that] the Fed may delay rate cuts from June until later in the summer (or late in 2024) if we get another hot employment report,” Sevens Report founder Tom Essaye explained ahead of the release.

Also, click here to view the full Forbes article published on April 5th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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Investors are on edge the Fed may delay rate cuts

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Investors are on edge the Fed may delay rate cuts: Sevens Report Founder, Tom Essaye, Quoted in MarketWatch

A ‘too hot’ jobs report poses biggest risk to stock-market rally: strategist

The setup for the stock market heading into the release of the Labor Department’s April employment report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time is a bit out of the ordinary, Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, said in a Thursday note.

While either a “too hot” or “too cold” jobs figure is often sufficient to spark a market selloff, the biggest danger on Friday is firmly tilted toward a stronger-than-expected reading, he said.

“Investors are on edge the Fed may delay rate cuts from June until later in the summer (or late in 2024) if we get another hot employment report,” Essaye wrote. “If that occurs, expect a partial repeat of Tuesday,” when the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 400 points, or 1%, for its worst performance since March 5, while the S&P 500 lost 0.7% and the Nasdaq Composite declined 1%.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on April 4th, 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.

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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:

  • CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly
  • Where to Find Rate Cut Probabilities

Stock futures are modestly higher this morning as the bond market steadies ahead of tomorrow’s key inflation data while financial newswires were mostly quiet overnight.

Overseas, Taiwan’s headline CPI fell sharply from 3.1% to 2.1% vs (E) 2.5% in March. Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index dropped to 88.5 vs. (E) 89.9.

Looking ahead to today’s session, there are no economic reports today and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak which is setting up a fairly quiet morning in the markets.

The one potential catalysts on the calendar today is the 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. Equity markets are watching yields closely here, so if today’s auction is weak and yields move higher this afternoon that will weigh on stocks and other risk assets. However, moves should be limited as traders position into tomorrow’s inflation data.

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Why Did Stocks Drop Again?

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Why Did Stocks Drop Again? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Stocks Drop Again?
  • How High Can Gold Go?

Futures are bouncing modestly from Thursday’s afternoon selloff, following a quiet night of news and as investor look ahead to today’s jobs report.

Economic data overnight (German Manufacturers’ Orders and Euro Zone retail sales) slightly missed expectations but the numbers aren’t increasing growth worries.

Today the focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows: 200K Job Adds, 3.9% Unemployment Rate, 4.1% y/y Wage Growth.  The risk for this market remains for a “Too Hot” report that shows strong job adds, low unemployment and hot wages, while a number modestly below expectations would be welcomed as “Goldilocks” and likely spur a rebound in stocks and bonds.

In addition to the jobs report, we also have several Fed speakers including Collins (8:30 a.m. ET), Barkin (9:15 a.m. ET), Logan (11:00 a.m. ET) and Bowman (12:15 p.m. ET). If their tone is hawkish, it could reduce June rate cut chances and increase volatility.

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Jobs Report Preview (An Important One)

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

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (An Important One)
  • Is the Short-Vol Trade Starting to Unwind?
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly higher as economic data and corporate earnings were slightly better than expected.

Economically, Euro Zone and UK Composite PMIs were above 50 and that’s pushing back on EU recession worries.

On earnings, Levi Strauss (LEVI) posted strong results (stock up 9% pre-market) and that’s helping to counter soft retailer earnings from PVH and ULTA.

Markets are still sensitive to hawkish data or commentary that reduces June rate cut chances, so the focus today will be on Jobless Claims (E: 213K) and on several Fed speakers including Barkin (12:15 p.m. ET), Mester (2:00 p.m. ET) and Kugler (7:30 p.m. ET).  Tomorrow’s jobs report should keep volatility somewhat subdued, but if there are any hawkish surprises from the data or Fed speak, don’t be surprised if there’s more volatility.

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A Four Way Assault on the Bullish Mantra

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A Four Way Assault on the Bullish Mantra: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Stocks Drop and What’s It Mean for Markets? (Four Reasons)
  • JOLTS Data Takeaways – “Solid Enough” for Now
  • Chart: The S&P 500 Violated It’s 2024 Uptrend Yesterday
  • Chart: The “Short-Vol Trade” Is Beginning to Unravel (More to Come)

Stock futures are lower again this morning as the hawkish money flows of early Q2 continue with the 10-Yr yield at YTD highs ahead of Powell’s speech on the economy today.

Economically, China’s Composite PMI met estimates at 52.7 while the EU’s “Narrow Core HICP” (their Core-CPI equivalent) favorably fell from 3.1% to 2.9% vs. (E) 3.0%.

Today, there are two important economic reports due out: The ADP Employment Report (E: 150K) before the open and then the ISM Services Index (E: 52.7). Good economic news has been bad for markets lately, so softening growth numbers and low/falling inflation metrics in today’s data are the best case scenario for stocks today.

Beyond the data this morning, there are several Fed officials scheduled to speak: Bowman (9:45 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (12:00 p.m. ET), Powell (12:10 p.m. ET), and Barr (1:10 p.m. ET).

Powell’s speech at Standford shortly after 12:00 p.m. (ET) will get the most attention as traders look for him to reiterate the key takeaways from the March FOMC meeting (likely summer rate cut, three cuts in 2024 expected). Any hints at “higher for longer” will add to the hawkish money flows that have been weighing on stocks so far in Q2.

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Tom Essaye interviewed by Barron’s

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 Durable-goods number showed stable growth: Tom Essaye Interviewed by Barron’s

Market’s Spirit Isn’t Dampened by Mixed Economic Data

In an interview with Barron’s, Tom Essaye of Sevens Report Research said the durable-goods number showed stable growth while the consumer confidence reading was light.

“Every time the market is reminded that we’ve got stable growth, still falling inflation, a looming rate cut —which was reinforced last week—and positive AI headlines, the default reaction is to rally. And rightly so. And that’s exactly what’s happening today,” he said.

Essaye also called the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge a “tremendous tragedy”and thinks the disaster could trickle into economic reports at a time when the Federal Reserve is watching all numbers closely.

“This is going to cloud some of the economic data, potentially, which has some risk associated with it because the data is really important right now,” Essaye said. “It will probably send some noisiness into the data. We’re just going to have to look through that as best we can over the next couple of months. That’s something to pay attention to.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on March 26th, 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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