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Bull vs. Bear Case (Part 1 of 3)

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Bull vs. Bear Case (Part 1 of 3): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Bull vs. Bear Case – What the Bulls Think Will Happen

Futures are flat with the 10-Yr yield hovering near 4.40% as traders await a slew of Fed speak and fresh economic data.

Economic data overnight was mildly disappointing. As Australian Retail Sales, the German GfK Consumer Climate report and Eurozone M3 Money Supply all missed estimates.

Looking into the U.S. session, there are a few second-tiered economic reports to watch today: Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.7%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.4%), and Consumer Confidence (E: 101.5), but none are likely to move markets ahead of the key inflation data due out Thursday.

Additionally, there are several Fed officials scheduled to speak today: Goolsbee, Waller, Bowman, and Barr. If any of them strike a materially hawkish tone or stray from the “soft landing” outlook narrative, it could weigh on stocks today.

Finally, there is a 7-Yr Treasury Note Auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. If the results are weak and yields move higher, expect that to be a headwind for equities today. Conversely, a strong auction could push rates to new lows and power stocks higher into the end of the month.

Bull vs. Bear Case

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Small Cracks in the Three Pillars of the Rally?

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Small Cracks in the Three Pillars of the Rally? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Small Cracks in the Three Pillars of the Rally?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can the Ideas of A Dovish Fed and Economic Soft-Landing Power Stocks to 2023 Highs?
  • Weekly Economic Preview:  Key Inflation and Growth Data This Week

Futures are slightly lower after a mostly quiet weekend as Chinese growth worries offset geo-political positives.

Chinese industrial profit growth slowed to 2.7% in Oct vs. 11.9% in Sept and that data combined with news of a quickly spreading respiratory illness in China is weighing on growth expectations.

Geo-politically, the Israel-Hamas cease fire will likely be extended several days and that’s easing geo-political tensions and oil is falling as a result (down more than 1%).

This week contains several potentially important catalysts on inflation and economic growth, but they come later in the week. So, focus today will be on holiday spending commentary and New Home Sales (E: 721k).  Positive commentary on spending and Goldilocks data would help support stocks.

Three Pillars of the Rally?

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Bullish Market Momentum

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Bullish Market Momentum: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Stocks Look to Close Out Another Week of Gains

“If the Fed speakers stick to the same narrative (less hawkish) expect more of the same sideways, digestive trading in equities today with the threat of a continued move higher based on bullish market momentum,” Tom Essaye writes.

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye adds that a handful of Federal Reserve officials will speak on Friday.

Stocks were little changed Friday, but poised to close out another week of gains.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on November 17th, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Bullish Market Momentum

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Three Pillars of the Rally Updated

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Three Pillars of the Rally Updated: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Three Pillars of the Rally Updated (An Important Change to Watch)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet – Friday’s Flash Composite PMI in Focus

Futures are steady after a mostly quiet weekend of financial news and thinning volumes coming into the holiday-shortened Thanksgiving trading week.

Geopolitically, Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized a cargo ship in the Red Sea. This is rekindling a fear bid in global energy markets as seaborne oil cargoes are viewed as “at risk.” The rise in oil prices is modestly pressuring Treasuries this morning (yields up slightly).

Economically, German PPI met estimates of -11.0% Y/Y in October further solidifying the global peak-inflation argument.

Looking into today’s session, there is just one economic report on the calendar with Leading Indicators (E: -0.6%) due out shortly after the open and there is just one Fed speaker midday: Barkin (12:00 p.m. ET).

One potential catalyst that could shake up markets today is the 20-Year Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET as weak results could trigger a rebound in yields. Especially given fading attendance this week and subsequently less liquid market conditions across asset classes.

Three Pillars

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Understanding Why Stocks Rallied Part Two

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Understanding Why Stocks Rallied Part Two: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Understanding Why Stocks Rallied Part Two (Visual Aid)
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are little changed despite underwhelming earnings as markets further digest Tuesday’s rally.  There was no notable economic data overnight.

CSCO (down 11%) and PANW (down 5%) both posted disappointing earnings although the positive macro news from earlier this week is helping markets stay buoyant.

Today we have several important economic reports as well as numerous Fed speakers.  For the economic data, the key remains “Goldilocks” readings that aren’t so good it makes the market rethink dovish Fed expectations, yet not so bad it increases hard landing worries.  Key reports today include Jobless Claims (E: 222K), Philly Fed (E: -11.0), and the Housing Market Index (E: 40) and close to in-line readings for each will help markets continue to hold Tuesdays’ gains.

On the Fed front, there are a slew of speakers today but the most important one is Williams (9:25 a.m. ET) because he’s part of Fed leadership.  Don’t be surprised if Fed officials push back on the markets aggressively dovish expectations today but unless Williams comes out and says another rate hike is very possible, markets will likely ignore the rhetoric.  The list of speakers today includes:  Barr, Mester, Williams, Waller, and Cook.

Understanding Why Stocks Rallied

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Was the CPI a Bullish Gamechanger?

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Was the CPI a Bullish Gamechanger? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Was the CPI Report a Bullish Gamechanger?
  • CPI Data Analysis and Takeaways

Stock futures are extending the November gains this morning and Treasuries are steady after more cool inflation readings in Europe and stabilizing economic data in China.

Economically, Chinese FAI and Industrial Production figures met estimates while Retail Sales importantly accelerated to 7.6% vs. (E) 7.0% in October up from 5.5% in September.

In Europe, CPI data from the U.K., France, and Italy all met estimates or came in “cooler” than expected. This bolsters the view that global central banks are done with rate hikes, fueling risk-on money flows today.

Today, there are several economic reports to watch early: PPI (E: 0.1% m/m, 2.0% y/y), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -3.0), and Retail Sales (E: -0.3%). The market will be looking for more signs of cooling inflation in the PPI release. And no major surprises either way in the Empire and Retail Sales releases as the market is still vulnerable to data that is “too hot” (risks of more Fed tightening) or “too cold” (risks of a “hard landing”).

There are also two Fed speakers today: Barr (9:30 a.m. ET) and Barkin (3:30 p.m. ET) but neither are expected to move markets.

Was the CPI Report a Bullish Gamechanger?

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What to Tell Clients Who Are Worried About U.S. Treasuries

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What to Tell Clients Who Worry About U.S. Treasuries

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What to Tell Clients Who Are Worry About U.S. Treasuries.
  • Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Futures are little changed following a mostly quiet night of news as investors look ahead to today’s CPI report.

Politically, a “Continuing Resolution” to fund the government will be voted on in the House today and if passed, will avert a government shutdown.

Economically, the UK unemployment rate and German ZEW Business Expectations Index both beat expectations (although they aren’t moving markets).

Today focus will be on the CPI report and expectations are as follows:  CPI (E: 0.1% m/m, 3.3% y/y), Core CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 4.1% y/y).  Generally speaking, numbers that show core CPI is continuing to decline will be welcomed by markets. While readings that imply the decline in inflation is “stuck” or inflation is bouncing back, will likely result in declines in both stocks and bonds.

We also have several Fed speakers today including Barr, Mester, and Goolsbee. We’ll be watching for their reaction to the CPI report. If it makes them more hawkish that’s a negative and more dovish, a positive).

What to Tell Clients

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CPI Preview: Good, Bad & Ugly

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CPI Preview: Good, Bad & Ugly: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview:  Good, Bad & Ugly
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Market Catalysts This Week Support A Further Rally?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI Tomorrow, Key Growth Data the Rest of the Week

Futures are slightly lower as markets digest two slightly negative events from the weekend and look ahead to a week filled with possible market moving catalysts.

Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit outlook to negative but importantly did not change the rating and as such it’s not significantly impacting markets.

Geo-politically, U.S. forces struck more targets in Syria over the weekend, escalating regional tensons but so far markets are not reacting (oil isn’t rallying off the news).

Looking forward, this is a potentially important week, but it starts slowly as there are no notable economic reports today nor any Fed speakers.

Beyond today, though, in addition to the economic catalysts this week, risk of another U.S. government shutdown is rising as there needs to be a short-term spending deal by Friday to avoid a shutdown.  So, any progress on that front today will help markets, while any negative headlines will likely provide a small headwind.

CPI Preview:  Good, Bad & Ugly

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Why Did Stocks Drop? (Familiar Reasons)

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Why Did Stocks Drop? S&P 500: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Stocks Drop? (Familiar Reasons)
  • What A Seven Month High In Continuing Jobless Claims Means for Markets

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news. Markets digest Thursday’s two “hawkish” events (poor Treasury auction and Powell comments), the rebound in Treasury yields and stock pullback.

Economic data was mixed overnight as UK manufacturing slightly disappointed (0.1% vs. (E) 0.3%). While monthly GDP slightly beat (-0.2% vs. (E) -0.1%) but overall, the data isn’t moving markets.

Treasury yields will likely remain in control of this market and if they continue to rise, expect more declines in stocks.  From a data standpoint, the numbers that could move Treasury yields today are Consumer Sentiment (E: 64.5) and the Five-Year Inflation Expectations (E: 3.0%).  Markets will want to see in-line readings for both (or lower in the case of inflation expectations) to pressure yields.

We also have two Fed speakers today, Logan (7:30 a.m. ET) and Bostic (9:00 a.m. ET) but they shouldn’t move markets (Logan will likely be slightly hawkish and Bostic slightly dovish).

Why Did Stocks Drop?

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Earnings Season Takeaways

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Earnings Season Takeaways: S&P 500: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Earnings Season Takeaways (More Reasons to Expect A Growth Scare)
  • A Contrarian Case for Long Oil

Futures are little changed following a generally quiet night of news.

Economically, Chinese CPI declined –0.2% y/y, signaling mild deflation and increasing Chinese economic concerns.

Geopolitically, the U.S. struck weapons depots in Syria in response to attacks on U.S. bases in the region and that’s slightly increasing geo-political tensions.

Today focus will remain on economic data and Fed speak. As has been the case, any data or comment that pushes the 10 year Treasury yield higher will likely weigh on stocks.

Economically, the only notable report is weekly Jobless Claims (E: 220K) and that’s slightly deteriorated over the past few weeks.  If that continues and accelerates it could be a short term tailwind for stocks.

Looking at the Fed, there are multiple speakers today but Powel (2:00 p.m. ET) is the only potential market mover.  Other speakers include: Bostic, Barkin, and O’Neill-Paese.

Earnings Season Takeaways

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