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Sentiment Has Deteriorated Since The Start Of December

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Sentiment Has Deteriorated: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Stocks Open Lower as Market Digests November Rally

“Investors will want to see more evidence that supports a soft landing in the data as sentiment has deteriorated since the start of December,” Tom Essaye writes.

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye points out that the decision by Moody’s Investors Service to downgrade the outlook for Chinese government credit to negative from stable could be weighing on sentiment. Economic reports due in the day ahead are the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey and ISM Services Index, both at 10 a.m. ET.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on December 5th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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Seeing the Forest for the Trees in Today’s Market

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Seeing the Forest for the Trees in Today’s Market: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Seeing the Forest for the Trees in Today’s Market
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Do Expectations for a Soft-Landing Shift This Week?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  An Important Week:  ISM PMIs and the Jobs Report Friday

Futures are little changed as Congress passed a short-term funding bill and avoided a shutdown while global manufacturing data largely met expectations.

The House passed the Senate’s “continuing resolution” to fund the government over the weekend, avoiding a shutdown.  However, funding only lasts until November 17th.

The Chinese Sept. Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.2 vs. (E) 50.0 while EU and UK readings were in-line with estimates.

Today focus will be on economic data and Fed speak.  The key report today is the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.8) and markets will want to see this number move closer to 50 and hint at an end to the manufacturing recession.  A further drop from here would be an incremental negative.  On the Fed, we hear from Powell & Harker at 11:00 a.m. and Williams at 1:30 p.m. and any hints from them that the Fed is likely done with rate hikes will be welcomed by markets.

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Hard Landing vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard

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Hard Landing vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard
  • Chart: 10-Yr Yield Quickly Approaching Last Week’s “Hawkish Technical Target”

Stock futures are lower and there is a modest fear bid in Treasuries this morning. This is amid renewed worries about China’s property sector and growing angst about a potential government shutdown in the U.S.

After one of China’s largest property developers, Evergrande, missed a debt payment, multiple former executives were arrested overnight adding to worries about the embattled sector and the Chinese economy more broadly.

Also, multiple ratings agencies have offered negative warnings regarding the impact of a government shutdown on U.S. debt as the deadline for Congress to reach a deal on spending is just days away. Any progress towards a deal will be a modest positive for risk assets today.

Looking further into today’s session, there are several economic reports to watch this morning including: Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.6%), New Home Sales (E: 699K), and Consumer Confidence (E: 105.9). To stabilize, markets will want to see more Goldilocks data showing stable but slowing growth and demand metrics and no signs of rising price pressures.

In the afternoon, there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, the first since the hawkish Fed meeting so the results very well could move yields and impact stocks today. Finally, there is one Fed speaker: Bowman (1:30 p.m. ET), and if “higher for longer” is reiterated, that could weigh on risk assets.

Hard Landing vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard

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Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard Update

Futures are little changed as markets digest Thursday’s failed rally amidst more conflicting economic data.

Chinese money supply growth missed estimates and again underscored existing recession risks and that modestly weighed on sentiment.

UK economic data was better than expected, however, with  GDP (0.2% vs. (E) 0.0%) and manufacturing (2.4% vs. (E) 0.2%) both beating estimates.

Today focus will remain on inflation, as we get headline PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 0.7% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.3% y/y) along with the University of Michigan inflation readings within Consumer Sentiment (E: 71.3).  As CPI showed, an in-line inflation number that shows on going and modest disinflation won’t spark a rally, as that’s already priced in, but it will help support stocks around current levels.  A hotter than expected number, however, will likely spark another market decline.

How to Explain This Market To Clients

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How to Explain This Market To Clients (Three Pillars of the Current Rally)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Does CPI Further Confirm Disinflation Is Happening?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Inflation in Focus This Week

Futures are modestly lower following a quiet weekend as investors look ahead to Wednesday’s CPI.

Most of the weekend news centered on China, as Yellen’s trip was viewed as constructive and will help slightly ease economic tensions between the two countries and that progress is a mild macro positive.

Economically, deflation risks are rising in China as CPI was flat y/y, highlighting the need for more economic stimulus.

Today there are no notable economic reports but there are numerous Fed speakers including Barr (10:00 a.m. ET), Daly (10:30 a.m. ET), Mester (10:30 a.m. ET) and Bostic (12:00 a.m. ET).  Barr’s comments will be especially important because he may hint at more regulation for banks in the wake of the regional bank crisis, while a hawkish tone from the remaining Fed members could increase expectations for two more rate hikes (markets are currently only expecting one more rate hike).

 

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter

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Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Morningstar on June 27th, 2023

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Oil prices slump, shaking off Russia mutiny

Looking ahead, the turmoil within Russia is unlikely to have a material impact on oil markets unless we see it affect production or exports of oil. Looking ahead, the turmoil within Russia is unlikely to have a material impact on oil markets unless we see it affect production or exports of oil, said analysts at Sevens Report Research, in a note. Click here to read the full article.

Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard Update (Cracks Emerging)

Futures are flat as investors digest a disappointing earnings forecast by FDX (down 3% premarket) and a hotter than expected inflation print overseas as focus turns to Powell’s testimony on Capitol Hill today.

U.K. CPI held steady at 8.7% vs. (E) 8.4% y/y in May which saw the odds of a 50 bp BOE hike tomorrow jump to 50% which is weighing modestly on bonds this morning.

There are no notable economic reports in the U.S. today which will leave investors focused on Powell’s semiannual testimony before Congress which begins at 10:00 a.m. ET. Investors will be looking for any clarity on the Fed’s future policy plans as the markets currently do not believe the FOMC’s dot plot showing two more rate hikes before year end.

Outside of the D.C., there are several other Fed speakers to watch including: Cook (10:00 a.m. ET), Jefferson (10:00 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (12:25 p.m. ET), and Mester (E: 4:00 p.m. ET). Again markets will be looking for any clarity on rate hiking plans following the June “skip.”

Finally, there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could impact yields and if we see yields move meaningfully higher, that will weigh on the high valuation sectors that have led the market higher this year.

Why Home Depot Earnings Point to a Soft Landing

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Home Depot Earnings Point to a Soft Landing
  • Retail Sales Data Takeaways
  • Debt Ceiling Barometer: 1-Month T-Bill Yield Steadies

Stock futures are rebounding modestly from yesterday’s declines this morning as traders await more clarity on the debt ceiling negotiations (1-Month yield is down 2 bp to 5.56%) and digest in-line European inflation data.

Economically, Eurozone HICP (their CPI equivalent) met estimates at 7.0% y/y with the Narrow Core reading falling 0.1% to 5.6%, also as expected but still well above target.

There is just one economic report this morning: Housing Starts & Permits (E: 1.405M, 1.430M) and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak.

Retailer earnings continue this morning with TGT ($1.74) reporting ahead of the bell and investors will be looking for more signs of “soft landing” spending trends as we saw with HD yesterday.

As far as other potential catalysts go, there is a 20-Yr. Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET today and any big move in yields could impact stocks (too weak would indicate inflation worries, too strong would underscore growing debt ceiling fears).

Hard Landing vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard (Table Included)

Stock futures are tracking global equity markets lower while bonds rally thanks to disappointing bank earnings.

FRC, which has been in focus since the banking turmoil began in March, is trading lower by more than 20% in the premarket after reporting that deposits fell more than 40% in Q1 to just $104.5B vs. (E) $145B while the bank plans to cut as much as 25% of staff in Q2. The lower than expected deposit levels rekindled worries about the health of the banking system and financials are dragging the broader market lower this morning.

Today, there are a few economic releases to watch: Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: -0.4%), Consumer Confidence (E: 104.2), and New Home Sales (E: 635K) but unless there are any material surprises, investors will remain focused on earnings as we will begin to get some of the big tech companies’ results after the close today.

On the earnings front we will hear from UPS ($2.19), VZ ($1.19), GM ($1.58), MCD ($2.30), GE ($0.13), PEP $1.37), and MMM ($1.60) before the open, and MSFT ($2.22), GOOGL ($1.07), V ($1.97), and TXN ($1.76) after the close. Investors will be looking for good top and bottom line results but potentially more importantly, solid guidance given the uncertain market backdrop right now.

Hard Landing, Soft Landing, or No Landing?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing, Soft Landing, or No Landing? (Printable PDF Table Available)
  • Powell Interview Takeaways

Futures are moderately lower this morning as investors continue to digest Powell’s commentary from yesterday which was largely viewed as another missed opportunity to push back on recent dovish money flows across markets.

Looking into today’s session there are no notable economic reports but a slew of Fed speakers that could move markets. In chronological order, we will hear from: Williams (9:20 a.m. ET), Cook (9:30 a.m. ET), Bostic (10:00 a.m. ET), Kashkari (12:30 p.m. ET), and finally Waller (1:45 p.m. ET).

Additionally, the Treasury will hold a 10-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and seeing as yesterday’s dismal 3-Yr auction sent the S&P 500 to session lows, the outcome could very well move markets today.

Finally, Q4 earnings season continues today with a few notable companies releasing results: UBER (-$0.21), CVS ($1.92), DIS ($0.80).