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Why There’s A Clear Path for the Santa Rally

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Why There’s A Clear Path for the Santa Rally: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why There’s A Clear Path for the Santa Rally
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Do inflation metrics make a December rate cut guaranteed?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI on Wednesday is the key report

Futures are slightly lower as geo-political unrest is slightly outweighing more stimulus promises from China.

Geopolitically, rebels overthrew the Assad regime in Syria over the weekend.  While this is a major geo-political event, the impact on markets is likely small given Syria isn’t a major oil exporter.

China’s officials promised an easier monetary policy bias and more fiscal stimulus over the weekend, boosting Chinese shares.

Today there are no notable economic reports nor any Fed speakers so focus will on be geo-politics and oil prices.  As long as the turmoil in Syria doesn’t push oil prices higher, it shouldn’t impact stocks.

 

Annual Discounts on Sevens Report, Alpha, Quarterly Letter and Technicals

We’ve continued to be contacted by advisor subscribers who wanted to use the remainder of their 2024 pre-tax research budgets to extend their current subscriptions, upgrade to an annual (and get a month free) or add a new product (Alpha, Quarterly Letter, Technicals).

If you have unused pre-tax research dollars, we offer month-free discounts on all our products.

If you want to extend current subscriptions or save money by upgrading to an annual subscription (across any Sevens Report product), please email  info@sevensreport.com.

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Jobs Report Preview

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

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview

Futures are little changed following a mostly quiet night of news and mixed economic data.

European economic data continued to point to lack-luster growth.  German Manufacturers’ Orders (-1.5% vs. (E) -2.0%) and UK Construction PMI (55.2 vs. (E) 54.3) beat while Eurozone Retail Sales (-0.5% vs. (E) 0.0%) missed expectations.

Bitcoin rose above $100k for the first time in overnight trading, hitting a new milestone.

Today the focus will shift to employment ahead of tomorrow’s jobs report as we get Challenger Job Cuts (E: 55k) and Jobless Claims (E: 215K).  The key for both metrics remains Goldilocks readings (generally meeting expectations but not too weak or too strong).  Additionally, there is one Fed speaker today, Barkin (12:15 p.m. ET).

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A Unique ETF Focused on Managing Tax Liabilities

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A Unique ETF Focused on Managing Tax Liabilities : Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Unique ETF Focused on Managing Tax Liabilities
  • JOLTS Data Takeaways – Another Goldilocks Report

Futures are higher with tech shares leading thanks to solid earnings reports after the close yesterday as investors look past political turmoil overseas.

Politically, lawmakers in South Korea moved to impeach President Yoon for implementing martial law yesterday while the French government faces a no-confidence vote today. Neither situation is a material negative for markets but both are weighing on sentiment.

In corporate news, CRM and OKTA (a newer cloud software focused company) both posted solid earnings after the close yesterday which is bolstering the broader tech sector in premarket trade today.

Today, we will get two more important economic reports: The ADP Report (E: 165K) and the ISM Services PMI (E: 55.5). Factory Orders (E: 0.4%) will also be released but is less likely to move markets than the first two data points.

The Fed’s Musalem is scheduled to speak at 8:45 a.m. ET, however the market’s main focus today will be Powell’s commentary (1:45 p.m. ET) as he could shed light on December rate cut plans or the policy rate path in 2025. Any hawkish surprise from the Fed Chair could spur volatility today.

Finally there is one notable earning release today from discount retailer DLTR ($1.07) that could offer insight into consumer spending habits.

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Sentiment Divergence Between Advisors and Investors

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Sentiment Divergence Between Advisors and Investors: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Sentiment: Divergence Appearing Between Investors and Advisors
  • ISM Manufacturing PMI Takeaways

Futures are little changed amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions and ongoing political turmoil in Europe.

Overnight, China announced an export ban of specific rare minerals with military applications to the U.S. in the latest escalation of trade tensions between the two countries.

EU shares edged higher ahead of the French government’s “vote of no confidence” (tomorrow) linked to ongoing budget turmoil.

Looking into today’s session, there are two economic reports to watch: JOLTS (E: 7.49 million) and Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 16.0 million). Investors will want to see more “Goldilocks” data to support post-election growth optimism.

Additionally, there are two Fed speakers to watch: Kugler (12:35 p.m. ET) and Goolsbee (1:30 p.m. ET and 3:45 p.m. ET), and as long as they do not offer any hawkish surprises, stocks should be able to extend gains to new record highs today.

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One Last Hurdle for the Santa Rally

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One Last Hurdle for the Santa Rally: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • One Last Hurdle for the Santa Rally
  • Weekly Market Preview: Can Goldilocks Data Offset Political Volatility?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: The Last Big Week of 2024

Futures are slightly lower on political volatility as Trump issued more tariff threats and made another unorthodox cabinet appointment while President Biden pardoned his son Hunter.

Trump threatened 100% tariffs on BRICs countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) if they abandon the U.S. dollar. In addition, Trump made another unorthodox cabinet pick with Kash Patel as FBI Director.

Finally, President Biden reversed course and gave an unconditional pardon to his son Hunter, sparking bi-partisan criticism.

Today focus will turn from politics to actual economic data and the key report today is the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.6).  As has been the case, an in-line to slightly soft number would be the best case for stocks as it wouldn’t signal any further deterioration in the manufacturing sector and, at the same time, keep a Fed rate cut more likely than not.

We also have two Fed speakers today, Waller (3:15 p.m. ET) and Williams (4:30 p.m. ET) and any commentary that makes a December rate cut more likely will be a positive for markets.

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More Trade Volatility

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More Trade Volatility: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • More Trade Volatility

Futures are modestly higher as trade tensions eased following a call between Trump and the President of Mexico.

Late Wednesday Trump announced that he had a “productive” call with Mexico’s President while Canada announced measures to strengthen the border, easing trade tensions between the three countries.

Economically, the EU flash HICP (their CPI) was slightly better than expected, rising 2.7% y/y vs. (E) 2.8%.

Today should be a quiet day as there are no notable economic reports and markets close at 1:00 p.m. ET.

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How Clients Should View Political Headlines

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How Clients Should View Political Headlines: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Clients Should View Political Headlines
  • Weekly Economic Preview: Inflation and Fed Minutes in Focus

Markets are trading with a risk-on tone to start the week with stock futures solidly higher, bond yields falling and the dollar declining as investors digest Trump’s Wall-Street-friendly pick of Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary.

Economically, Industrial Production in Taiwan (a proxy for global semiconductor demand) slowed from 11.22% to 8.85% in October which could weigh modestly on tech stocks today while a German Business Sentiment gauge saw current and expected conditions deteriorate, rekindling worries about the EU economy.

Looking into today’s session, there is one second-tiered economic report to watch: Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey (E: -3.9) but it should not meaningfully move markets.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today however there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. A good portion of today’s early rally in stocks futures can be attributed to the pullback in yields this morning, so a soft auction that sends yields back higher is the biggest risk to the early week gains today.

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Why the Gaetz Withdrawal Sparked Yesterday’s Rally

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Why the Gaetz Withdrawal Sparked Yesterday’s Rally: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Gaetz Withdrawal Sparked Yesterday’s Rally
  • Examining the Strange Positive VIX and S&P 500 Correlation

Futures are modestly weaker following surprisingly disappointing economic data from Europe.

The EU November flash PMIs tumbled (48.1 vs. (E) 50.2) with all three metrics (composite, manufacturing and services) falling below 50 and signaling contraction.

Similarly, the UK November flash PMIs were also weak (49.9 vs. (E ) 51.8) signaling a sudden drop in activity.

Today focus will remain on data and the more Goldilocks the data, the better for markets.  The key reports today are the November Flash Manufacturing PMI (E: 48.8) and Flash Services PMI (E: 55.2) while we also get Consumer Sentiment (E: 73) and, within that report, the 1-Yr Inflation expectations (E: 2.6%).  Again, in-line to slightly soft data will be the best outcome for stocks, as that implies solid growth and encourages a rate cut in December.

Finally, there is one Fed speaker today, Bowman (6:15 p.m. ET), but she shouldn’t move markets.

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Who’s Right on the Consumer? WMT (Positive) or TGT (Negative)

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Who’s Right on the Consumer?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Who’s Right on the Consumer?  WMT (Positive) or TGT (Negative)

Futures are little changed on disappointing NVDA earnings and after further escalation in the Russia/Ukraine war.

NVDA beat earnings estimates ($0.81 vs. (E) $0.74) but guidance disappointed at only 6.8% FQ4 revenue growth vs. (E) 11.75% and the stock is down 2% pre-market.

Geo-politically, Russia fired a non-nuclear ICBM into Ukraine for the first time, further escalating the conflict.

Today focus will turn back towards economic data as there are three notable reports (ranked in order or importance):  Jobless Claims (E: 219K), Philly Fed (E: 7.0) and Existing Home Sales (E: 3.90 million).  Given elevated Treasury yields, in-line to slightly soft data will be best for markets, as it reinforces a soft landing and would slightly boost December rate cut expectations.

There are also several Fed officials speaking today, including Hammack (8:45 a.m.), Goolsbee (12:25 p.m. ET) and Barr (4:40 p.m. ET) although they are unlikely to move markets (the Fed outlook is pretty known at this point and the looming jobs report will likely decide if we get a rate cut in December, or not).

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Data Check: Hard Landing or Soft Landing?

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Data Check: Hard Landing or Soft Landing?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard
  • Chart: NVDA Earnings Loom Large – Key Technical Support in Focus

Futures are slightly higher but well off session highs as “warm” EU inflation data pushed yields higher overnight with the U.S. 10-Yr pushing back beyond 4.40%.

Economically, inflation data in Europe was “warm” as U.K. Core CPI rose 3.3% y/y vs. (E) 3.2% in October while German PPI unexpectedly rose 0.2% m/m last month following a sizeable 0.5% drop in September.

There are no notable economic reports today but there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move markets depending on demand measures for the longer duration government bonds (higher yields would weigh on stocks again).

Additionally, there are two Fed speakers today Cook (11:30 a.m. ET) and Bowman (12:15 p.m. ET), but unless they are materially hawkish, their comments should not move markets.

Finally, earnings season has largely wound down however there are some notables reporting quarterly results today including: TGT ($2.29), TJX ($1.09), NVDA ($0.74), PANW ($1.48), SQM ($0.64).

Interestingly, Barclays analysts noted earlier this week that options markets suggest today’s report from NVDA will be the biggest catalyst remaining in 2024, underscoring the importance of investor sentiment towards the AI-darling’s growth prospects, leaving the chip-maker’s earnings report a potential make-or-break event for markets this afternoon.

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