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2025 Market Risks: Pullback Causers vs. Rally Killers

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

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • 2025 Market Risks: Pullback Causers vs. Rally Killers

Futures are lower with EU shares as escalating geopolitical tensions are driving risk-off money flows this morning.

Overnight, Russian President Putin approved a doctrine that lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons and shortly thereafter, Ukraine reportedly launched their first long-range ballistic missile attack on targets in Russia prompting risk-off/safe-haven money flows.

Economically, Eurozone HICP (CPI equivalent) was inline in October with a headline of 2.0% y/y and 2.7% y/y Core which did not materially move markets amid the geopolitical developments.

Today, the fluid geopolitical situation in between Russia and Ukraine will be in focus as the uncertainties surrounding the next steps in the conflict will likely drive risk-aversion until some degree of clarity emerges.

Domestically, there is one economic report due to be released: Housing Starts (1.3M) and two Fed speakers to watch: Goolsbee (12:25 p.m. ET) and Schmid (1:10 p.m. ET). Barring a big surprise in the data or any meaningfully dovish or hawkish changes in rhetoric, the data and Fed speakers will not likely move markets materially.

Finally, on the earnings front we will get quarterly results from WMT ($0.53), LOW ($2.81) and MDT ($1.24) today.

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How Important Is AI to This Market?

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How Important Is AI to This Market? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Important Is AI to This Market?
  • Chart: Key Levels to Watch in NVDA Today
  • Fed’s “SHED” Release Takeaways Support Soft Landing

Futures are mildly lower as UK core inflation data failed to “cool” as much as hoped in April while traders await NVDA earnings after the close today.

Economically, the UK’s Core CPI figure came in at 3.9% vs. (E) 3.7% y/y in April, down from 4.3% in March which was a mild disappointment for broader global disinflation hopes.

Looking into today’s session it is a fairly busy day from a catalyst standpoint as we will get the latest Existing Home Sales report (E: 4.195 million) later this morning while the Fed’s Goolsbee is scheduled to speak at 9:40 a.m. ET.

As we move into the afternoon traders will be watching the results of a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction (1:00 p.m. ET) before waiting on the release of the latest FOMC meeting minutes (2:00 p.m. ET).

Finally, some late season earnings could move markets with two notable retailers releasing results in the premarket: TGT ($2.05), TJX ($0.87) before all eyes turn the widely anticipated release of NVDA earnings ($5.55) after the close.

Bottom line, with stocks sitting on record highs investors will need to see economic data that remains “goldilocks,” the absence of any hawkish Fed surprises (i.e. consideration of rate hikes), steady yields, good retailer earnings, and solid guidance from AI bellwether NVDA to meaningfully advance beyond current levels.

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A near-term technical signal of potential exhaustion in the latest leg higher in stocks.

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A near-term technical signal: Tom Essaye, publisher of Sevens Report Research, Quoted in MarketWatch

Dow’s ‘lack of conviction’ at 40K is a troubling sign for stocks

Ultimately, they finished near their lows of the day. Tom Essaye, publisher of Sevens Report Research, described this turnaround as “a near-term technical signal of potential exhaustion in the latest leg higher in stocks.”

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on May 17th, 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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What Makes The Pullback Worse?

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What Makes The Pullback Worse? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Makes The Pullback Worse?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Earnings and Growth Data Stabilize Stocks?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Growth focus early in the week, important inflation report on Friday.

Futures are enjoying a modest rebound following a quiet weekend of news and ahead of an important week of earnings (especially in tech).

There are major tech earnings this week (TSLA, META, GOOG, MSFT) and tech stocks are bouncing this morning ahead of those reports.

There was no notable economic or geo-political news over the weekend.

This is a potentially busy week of economic data and earnings but it starts slowly, as today there’s only one economic report,  Chicago Fed National Activity Index (E: 0.05), and that’s unlikely to move markets.

On earnings, the importance of the results increases this week.  Results we’re watching today include:  VZ ($1.12), TFC ($0.78), NUE ($3.62).

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Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen deterioration on multiple fronts

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Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen deterioration on multiple fronts: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Nasdaq Off Lows as Bond Yields Pull Back

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s in a phone interview that markets had a rosy outlook two weeks ago as traders bet on solid growth, stable yields, and hopes of near-term rate cuts.

“Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen deterioration on multiple fronts,” Essaye says. “Yields are now much higher, the Fed is not going to cut nearly as much as expected, and geopolitical risks are now bubbling up again.”

Essaye believes higher yields and worries that the Federal Reserve will turn to fewer rate cuts than expected has been the biggest problem for markets.

“The market was extremely aggressive on valuation, and central to that valuation is the idea of Fed rate cuts and lowered yields,” Essaye says. “Because that has been removed, the valuation for markets must come down. And that’s exactly what’s happening.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on April 16th, 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.

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.

The Rally Is Broadening

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The Rally Is Broadening: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Rally Is Broadening
  • SPY vs. RSP Comparison – Bar Chart

Equity futures are higher this morning as traders position into a fairly busy morning of U.S. economic data while Chinese authorities intervened in the currency market to support the yuan which is helping general investor sentiment.

Economically, the German GfK Consumer Climate index was slightly better than feared at -27.4 vs. (E) -27.9 but the release is not materially impacting markets this morning.

Today, focus will be on economic data early with several key reports due to be released including: Durable Goods Orders (E: 1.3%), Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.2%), and Consumer Confidence (E: 106.7).

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 5-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. With the elevated level of market anxiety surrounding Friday’s Core PCE release (when markets will be closed) any surprises via strong or weak demand in the auction could move yields and impact equities.

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Market Multiple Table: March Update

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Market Multiple Table: March Update: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table – March Update
  • CPI Takeaways – Minimal Impact on Fed Rate Expectations

U.S. equity futures are flat as investors digest yesterday’s tech-led rally to fresh record highs in the S&P 500.

Overseas, Chinese developer Country Garden Holdings missed a yuan-denominated bond payment overnight which weighed on Asian markets.

Economically, U.K. monthly GDP and Industrial Production both largely met estimates, but Eurozone Industrial Production badly missed, falling -6.7% vs. (E) -2.7% in January.

Looking into today’s session, there are no economic reports or Fed speakers on the calendar which will leave traders focused on AI-focused names to see if the tech sector can lead stocks to new highs.

The one notable catalyst on the schedule today is a 30-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. A weak outcome could send yields higher which would act as a renewed headwind on stocks while a pullback in yields would be welcomed.

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Fed Meeting Preview

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Fed Meeting Preview: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Treasury Refunding Estimate Moved Markets
  • FOMC Meeting Preview

U.S. futures are slightly lower as yesterday’s late session rally is digested ahead of the Fed and key earnings reports.

Economically, Australian Retail Sales data from December missed (-2.7% vs. E: -0.6%) but the EU GDP Flash was slightly better than feared at 0.1% vs. (E) 0.0% Y/Y in Q4.

Today there are multiple economic reports beginning with housing market statistics ahead of the open: Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.4%) and FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.3%). Some moderation in home prices would be welcomed ahead of the Fed today.

After the open, two more closely followed releases on the health of the consumer: Consumer Confidence (E: 112.5) and state of the labor market: JOLTS (E: 8.70 million) will be released. With the FOMC meeting beginning today and some mega-cap tech names reporting earnings after the close, it will take a big surprise in the data to materially move markets this morning.

Regarding earnings, we have entered the peak of the reporting season with several notables reporting this morning: GM ($1.08), UPS ($2.44), and SYY ($0.88) while some of the biggest tech names, MSFT ($2.76) and GOOGL ($1.60) will report after the close. AMD ($0.77), and SBUX ($0.93) are two other notable releases to watch.

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What Earnings Are Saying

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What Earnings Are Saying: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Earnings Are Saying About Current Economic Growth

Futures are modestly lower following a night of underwhelming earnings results.

INTC (stock down 10% premarket) gave soft guidance while V and TMUS (stocks down –3% each) posted underwhelming results.

Economically, German GfK Consumer Climate missed expectations (-29.7 vs. (E) -24.5) but that’s not moving markets.

Today focus will be on the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.2% M/M, 3.0% Y/Y) and this number needs to meet or be lower than expectations to help support the stock rally.  If Core PCE prints solidly above expectations look for higher yields and lower stock prices.  The other notable economic number today is Pending Home Sales (E: 1.3%) but that shouldn’t move markets.

On the earnings front, the key report today is AXP ($2.65) and specifically we’ll be watching for is their commentary on consumer spending (the more positive, the better for markets).  Other notable earnings include CL ($0.85) and NSC ($2.90).

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The Reason Stocks & Bonds Are Declining (You’ve Seen It Before)

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The Reason Stocks & Bonds Are Declining: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Reason Stocks & Bonds Are Declining (You’ve Seen It Before)

Futures are bouncing modestly following solid earnings and positive corporate news overnight.

Earnings overnight were decent as TSMC beat expectations while Bank of American upgraded AAPL.

Economically, however, the Aussie jobs report was soft (- 66k vs. (E) 15k) and that’s increasing global growth worries.

Today focus will stay on economic data as we get two important report, Jobless Claims (E: 206K) and Philly Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -6.7).  The Philly index will be especially watched following the implosion of the Empire Manufacturing survey on Tuesday and if we see a similar number this morning, look for some hard landing concerns to drift higher.

Away from those two reports we also get Housing Starts (1.425 million) and there is one Fed speaker, Bostic (7:30 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. ET), but they are unlikely to move markets.

On earnings, results really ramp up next week but some reports we’re watching today include: TSM ($1.37), PPG ($1.50), JBHT ($1.74).

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