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What Pushes Stocks Higher from Here?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Pushes Stocks Higher from Here?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Earnings Take Center Stage
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Growth Data in Focus this Week

Futures are slightly lower following mixed Chinese economic data and a potential further escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war.

Chinese economic data was mixed as GDP and Retail Sales both missed estimates, while Industrial Production beat, and the data will keep markets  wanting more stimulus.

Possibility of further escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war increased after Ukraine claimed responsibility for the destruction of a bridge linking Crimea and Russia.

Today focus will be on the first data point for July, the Empire Manufacturing Index (E: -4.3).  Markets will want to see this number be stronger than expectations and ideally turn positive, furthering the “Golidlocks” market narrative of falling inflation but stable growth.

PPI and Jobless Claims Strengthen the “Goldilocks” Narrative

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • PPI and Jobless Claims Strengthen the “Goldilocks” Narrative

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news as markets digest the Wed/Thurs rally and focus turns to the start of the Q2 earnings season.

Economically, there was more evidence of global disinflation (or deflation) as German Wholesale Prices (think their PPI) declined –2.9% y/y vs. (-1.2%) y/y.

Today focus will be on earnings, as we get several major bank earnings results:  JPM ($5.92), C ($1.31), WFC ($1.15), and BLK ($8.47) as well as UNH ($5.92).  These large cap companies usually don’t provide too many surprises in their earnings reports, but markets will want to hear positive commentary on the overall environment to further support this latest rally in stocks.

There are also two notable inflation linked economic reports today, Import & Export Prices (E: -0.2%, -0.4%), Consumer Sentiment (E: 65.0), but barring any major surprises they shouldn’t move markets.

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, and Ugly

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview – Good, Bad, & Ugly
  • Chart: Is Disinflation Accelerating?

U.S. stock futures are extending this week’s gains ahead of the all-important CPI report this morning following a mostly quiet night of news.

There were no economic reports overnight but the Reserve Bank of New Zealand did notably pause their rate hiking cycle leaving their policy rate unchanged at 5.50% (however this was expected and did not meaningfully move markets).

Looking into today’s session the big catalyst is the CPI report due out before the open. On the headline, CPI is expected to come in at 0.3% m/m and 3.1% y/y while the Core figure is seen rising 0.3% m/m and 5.0% y/y.

From there, focus will turn to Fed speakers with Kashkari speaking shortly after the open (9:45 a.m. ET) and Mester at the close (4:00 p.m. ET).

Finally, there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and the outcome could shed light on the bond market’s outlook for the economy and Fed policy expectations in the wake of the CPI data release, so there is potential this auction moves markets in the early afternoon.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in MSN on June 30th, 2023

Oil futures climb, with global prices registering the first monthly gain of the year but a 4th straight quarterly decline

Like most assets, right now oil is beholden to the economy, analysts at Sevens Report Research wrote in Friday’s newsletter. Click here to read the full article.

Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Morningstar on June 29th, 2023

Oil futures finish higher, contributing to the month’s gain

Oil stabilized at support near the 2023 lows following Wednesday’s weekly Energy Information Administration report, which showed a “massive draw” in commercial crude-oil stockpiles, said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quote in Barron’s on June 30th, 2023

U.S. Stock Futures Rise Ahead of Key PCE Inflation Data

Futures are moderately higher mostly on momentum and end of quarter/half positioning, as economic data overnight was mixed but not bad enough to interrupt the rally, said Tom Essaye, founder at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on June 30th, 2023

Bank Stocks Are Higher After Passing Fed’s Stress Test

The 23 largest banks in the U.S. passed the Fed’s annual stress tests, and while none were expected to fail, the fact that there were no negative surprises is a general positive for the banking sector and financials, Tom Essaye, founder of research firm Sevens Reports, wrote Thursday. Click here to read the full article.

Why Economic Data Will Decide if the Rally Continues in 2H ’23

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Economic Data Will Decide if the Rally Continues in 2H ‘23
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Does Economic Data This Week Reinforce “No Landing” Expectations?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Jobs Report Friday, ISM PMIs Monday and Thursday.

Futures are flat to start the second half of 2023 following a quiet weekend of news.

Economic data was mixed overnight as the EU Manufacturing PMI slightly missed estimates (43.4 vs. (E) 43.6) while the UK reading slightly beat expectations (46.5 vs. (E) 46.2), but neither number is moving markets.

Saudi Arabia and Russia made separate announcements about further reducing oil supply in the coming months, although they aren’t causing a material rally.

Today focus will be on the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.2) and at this point, and with yields this high, markets need to see solid data and that means the ISM Manufacturing PMI moving closer towards 50 and beating expectations.

As a reminder, the stock market will close at 1:00 p.m. today ahead of the July 4th holiday.

 

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter Delivered Today

Our Q2 ’23 Quarterly Letter will be released today.

We use our strength (writing about the markets) to help you:

  • Save time (an average of 4-6 hours per quarterly letter)
  • Enjoy the holiday shortened week and know your client quarterly letter is already done, or mostly done!

You can view our Q1 ’23 Quarterly Letter here

To learn more about the product (including price) please click this link.

If you’re interested in subscribing, please email info@sevensreport.com.

What’s Changed Since February? (Other than the S&P 500, Not Much)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What’s Changed Since February?  (Other than the S&P 500, Not Much)

Futures are slightly lower on potentially negative U.S./China trade headlines and after more hawkish rhetoric from ECB members.

A WSJ article released late Tuesday stated the U.S. was considering more restrictions on chip exports to China, and that’s weighing on sentiment and the chip stocks.

Multiple ECB members made hawkish comments overnight, increasing the expectation for two more rate hikes.

Today there are no notable economic reports, but Fed Chair Powell does speak at 9:30 a.m. ET.  However, if he just reiterates his previous message (progress has been made on inflation but the work isn’t done, meaning another rate hike) then his comments shouldn’t materially move markets.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on June 23rd, 2023

S&P 500 Opens Lower, Heads for First Losing Week in More Than a Month

If the data meaningfully disappoints, especially in the service sector, expect more risk off money flows amid growing recession worries today, wrote Tom Essaye, president of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.