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The Numbers Inside This Pullback

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Numbers Inside This Pullback
  • Monthly Bitcoin & Crypto Update

Futures are enjoying a moderate bounce on positive trade headlines and decreased shutdown risks.

On trade, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said a meeting with Commerce Secretray Lutnick was “positive” and “productive,” creating some tentative trade optimism.

Elsewhere politically, Democrat minority leader Schumer signaled he’d support funding the government, reducing shutdown chances.

Today focus will stay on trade headlines (of course) while the key economic report today is the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (E: 63.1).  Stability in that report will be encouraging for investors.  Markets will also be focused on the One-Year Inflation Expectations, which spiked to 4.3% on tariff fears.  Any decline in that number back towards 3.0% (where it was before tariffs) will be a positive.

Separating Short and Long-Term Market Views

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Separating Short and Long-Term Market Views

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news as investors look ahead to trade meetings and data.

Economically, the only notable report was Euro Zone Industrial Production and it slightly missed expectations (0.8% vs. (E) 1.0%).

Politically, focus will be on two events today, the USMCA renegotiation talks between U.S. and Canadian officials and progress on avoiding a government shutdown on Friday.

Outside of trade and politics, today there are two important economic reports:  Jobless Claims (E: 230K) and PPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.4% y/y).  Because of rising stagflation worries, investors will want to see better than expected numbers from both reports, while a jump in jobless claims would increase growth concerns and hotter than expected PPI would raise fears tariffs are boosting inflation (tariff price pressures will show up in PPI before CPI).

MMT Chart: S&P Targets Lowered Amid Ominous Technical Divergence

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • March MMT Chart Update: Fundamental Price Targets Lowered
  • An Increasingly Ominous Technical Divergence Has Emerged in the S&P 500

Futures are trading with tentative gains and bonds are little changed after another mostly quiet night of macroeconomic news as investors look ahead to today’s CPI report.

Economically, Japanese PPI fell from 4.2% to 4.0% y/y in February, slightly above the consensus estimate of 3.9% but the release did not meaningfully move markets ahead of today’s U.S. CPI report.

This morning, traders will be keenly focused on inflation data with CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.9% y/y) and Core CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.2% y/y) data due to be released ahead of the bell. A “cool” print is the best case scenario for stocks to mount a relief rally after recent losses.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today, however there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, and investors will be watching demand metrics to gauge bond traders reaction to the CPI data in afternoon trade (a healthy, but not too-strong auction outcome would be favorable for stocks).

Finally, earnings season continues with ADBE ($4.97) and AEO ($0.50) reporting after the close.

We can hope for is a churn sideways

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We can hope for is a churn sideways: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

Trump Wants an Economic ‘Detox.’ What It Means for Stocks.

According to Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye, “until there’s some movement towards stable policy, the best we can hope for is a churn sideways between around 5,700 and 6,000 in the S&P 500.” The index broke below 5650 in morning trading Monday.

Sevens Reports’ Essaye notes that concern about tariffs so far has been worse than their effects. While it makes sense to brace for volatility, “that negative scenario is not a foregone conclusion and actual facts on the economy and earnings [are] hanging on.” he says.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on March 11th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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Jobs Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day
  • Is Europe Finally Ready to Grow?
  • Jobs Report Preview (Abbreviated Version)

Futures are modestly higher following Thursday’s declines on solid tech earnings and as markets look ahead to today’s jobs report.

Broadcom (AVGO) earnings beat estimates and the stock is up 11% pre-market and that’s helping tech bounce.

Economically, German Manufacturers’ Orders badly missed expectations, falling –7.0% vs. (E) -0.9%.

Today the two big scheduled events are the jobs report and Powell’s speech.  For the jobs report expectations are 160K Job-Adds, 4.0% UE Rate, 4.1% Wages y/y.  In-line data will push back hard on stagflation fears and likely fuel a bounce in stocks (as long as there are no negative tariff headlines).

For the Fed, Powell (12:30 p.m. ET) is the most important speaker but we also hear from Williams & Bowman (10:15 a.m. ET) and Kugler (1:00 p.m. ET).  As long as those officials (especially Powell) reinforce that they expect rate cuts, it should help support markets.

Jobs Report Preview (Does the Growth Scare Get Worse?)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (Does the Growth Scare Get Worse?)

Futures are sharply lower on a combination of ongoing trade anxiety and disappointing earnings.

On tariffs, there was no news overnight but despite the one-month exemption of autos, trade uncertainty and volatility remains a major headwind on stocks.

On earnings, MRVL results underwhelmed and tech is getting hit as a result (MRVL is down –15% pre-market).

Focus today will, of course, stay on tariffs and trade and there are some reports suggesting agricultural products could also be exempted from tariffs (if so, that’d be another incremental positive but it won’t cure the policy/trade chaos currently impacting markets).

Economically, there are two notable reports today:  Jobless Claims (E: 244K) and Unit Labor Costs (E: 3.0%) and better than expected numbers in both will help to support stocks.  Finally, there are several Fed speakers today but with so much policy volatility, Fed speak has been rendered relatively unimportant for the time being (the Fed can’t do anything about tariffs).  Speakers today include: Harker (8:45 a.m. ET), Waller (3:30 p.m. ET) and Bostic (7:00 p.m. ET).

 

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Where Do We Stand With Tariffs (Updated)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Where Do We Stand With Tariffs? (Updated 3/5/25)

Futures are higher amid risk-on global money flows after U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick said tariffs on Mexico and Canada could be scaled back as soon as today while the Ukraine-U.S. minerals deal is also seeing progress which is easing geopolitical worries.

Economically, the Eurozone Composite PMI met estimates at 50.2 while EU PPI jumped up to 1.8% vs. (E) 1.4% in January, rekindling still simmering inflation worries.

This morning is lining up to be a busy one as there are several noteworthy and potentially market-moving economic reports due to be released beginning with the February ADP Employment Report (E: 162K). Then, shortly after the open, both Factory Orders (E: 1.4%), and the February ISM Services PMI (E: 53.0) will be released.

There are no Fed speakers today, however there is a 4-Month T-Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and demand for the short-duration securities could shed light on the latest shifts in Fed policy expectations.

Finally, earnings season continues with notable reports due to be released from ANF ($3.48), MRVL ($0.59), and VSCO ($2.30).

Where Is the Trump Put?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Where Is the Trump Put?
  • Chart – NVDA Violates Support
  • Chart – Atlanta FED GDPNow Collapses to Negative Territory
  • ISM Manufacturing Index Takeaways

Futures are modestly lower as investors digest the latest developments in the emerging global trade war.

The Trump administration confirmed 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico went into effect overnight while tariffs on China were increased from 10% to 20%, prompting retaliatory trade policy actions from those nations which added to trade-war uncertainties.

Economically, the Eurozone Unemployment Rate fell to 6.2% vs. (E) 6.3% which saw global yields rise modestly.

Looking into today’s session, there is one second-tiered economic report to watch: Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 15.9 million) and one Fed speaker in the afternoon: Williams (2:20 p.m. ET).

Additionally, we will get quarterly earnings from more big-name retailers today which could shed further light on consumer spending trends including: TGT ($2.25), BBY ($2.40), JWN ($0.90), and ROST ($1.65).

Are Credit Spreads Confirming Growth Worries?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are Credit Spreads Confirming Growth Worries?

Futures are bouncing modestly after Thursday’s declines and following better than expected EU inflation data.

Regional German, French and Italian inflation metrics were better than expected, reinforcing expectations for a rate cut from the ECB next week.

On tariffs, there was no new news overnight, but Trump will likely speak with reporters again during/following his meeting with Zelensky later today.

Today focus will be on the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.6% y/y) and put simply, this number needs to come in at or under expectations to ease inflation anxiety and help support stocks.

On the trade front, Trump will be signing a minerals deal with Ukrainian President Zelensky this morning and while there’s nothing specific about trade on the agenda, it’s possible Trump talks about tariffs, which obviously could move markets.

Finally, we have one Fed speaker today, Barkin at 8:30 a.m. ET.

What Outperforms in a Policy-Driven Economic Slowdown?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Outperforms in a Policy-Driven Economic Slowdown?
  • February Consumer Confidence Takeaways
  • Chart – Case-Shiller Home Price Index Highlights Sticky Inflation Pressures

Futures are solidly higher with mega-cap tech leading the early advance amid renewed AI optimism after Chinese AI company DeepSeek reopened access to its core interface model while investors await NVDA earnings after the close (shares up ~2.5% pre-market).

There are a slew of potential market catalysts today starting with one economic report due out shortly after the open: New Home Sales (E: 680K) and two noteworthy Fed officials scheduled to speak: Barkin (8:30 a.m. ET) and Bostic (12:00 p.m. ET).

Additionally, the Treasury will hold a 4-Month Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET (important for near-term Fed policy rate expectations) and a 7-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET (important to gauge investor concerns about an economic slowdown).

Finally, there are a few notable consumer companies reporting earnings before the open including LOW ($1.83) and TJX ($1.16) but the biggest potential market moving catalyst of the day comes after the close with NVDA earnings ($0.84), as well as two other important tech-related earnings releases from CRM ($2.61) and SNOW ($0.18).