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Growth is holding up, and that’s the key

Growth is holding up, and that’s the key: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s


S&P 500 Marks Record Close. Tech Stocks Rebound.

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s that markets can rally higher on developments in the artificial intelligence world and signs of continued economic growth, even in the face of diminished hopes for imminent rate cuts.

“Growth is holding up, and that’s the key,” Essaye says. “It’s when growth begins to roll over that rate cuts really matter. And we’re not there yet. We’re getting hints of it. But we’re not there yet.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on March 19th, 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.


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What the Fed Decision Means for Markets

What the Fed Decision Means for Markets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Decision Means for Markets: Still All About Growth
  • Fed Statement and SEP Takeaways
  • Lesser Followed, But Still Important Data Eases Stagflation Threat
  • EIA Data Takeaways and Oil Update

Futures are rallying to new highs after the SNB unexpectedly cut rates overnight, the first major central bank to do so, while MU is up 18% pre-market on solid AI driven earnings which is bolstering big tech shares.

The March Eurozone Composite PMI rose to 49.9 vs. (E) 49.6 due to a 0.9-point rise in the Services index while the Manufacturing index unexpectedly fell 0.8 points to 45.7 pointing to an imbalanced EU economy that is at risk of slowing down meaningfully.

Looking into today session, there is a lot of domestic economic data to watch with Jobless Claims (E: 209K), the Philadelphia Fed Business Survey (E: -5.0), the PMI Composite Flash (E: 51.5), and the Existing Home Sales report (E: 3.92 million) all due to be released.

Additionally, traders will be focused on the BoE Decision and meeting minutes (8:00 a.m. ET) before the bell and then later the Fed’s Vice Chair, Michael Barr is schedule to speak at a  University of Michigan round table event (12:00 p.m. ET).

Bottom line, after the Fed yesterday, investors will want to see data hold up well but not be so “hot” that it dents the case for three rate cuts before yearend. Data that comes in “too hot” or “too cold” will be a negative for stocks as the Fed has a very narrow path to achieving a soft landing here.


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Fundamentals are positive, they still don’t justify current valuations

The market is vulnerable to a negative surprise: Tom Essaye Quoted in SwissInfo.ch


Stocks Struggle Near Record Before Inflation Data: Markets Wrap

The current set-up reflects the drivers that have powered stocks higher this year: solid growth, prospects for Fed rate cuts and artificial-intelligence enthusiasm, according to Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report. “While the fundamentals are positive, they still don’t justify current valuations — making the market vulnerable to a negative surprise.”

Also, click here to view the full article published on March 14th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Swissinfoch logo

Lastly, 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.

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 CPI release didn’t counter existing market narratives

The market views it as keeping the Fed on schedule for June rate cuts: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s


Stocks Are Rallying. Inflation Report Keeps the Fed on Track.

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s in a phone interview that while the headline figure didn’t meet expectations, the numbers didn’t counter existing market narratives.

“People still very much subscribe to the idea that housing is artificially inflating CPI, and that whenever that begins to work its way out of the data, the number will move down even more quickly than it is,” Essaye says. “Nothing in this report refuted that, and so as a result, I think that the market views it as keeping the Fed on schedule for June rate cuts.”

“For now, the script is still in place,” Essaye says. “The issue markets have is that it’s already priced in, so we need to find the next new catalyst.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on March 13th, 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 Rally

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.

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.

Why Didn’t Stocks Rally Last Week? (Despite Good News)

Why Didn’t Stocks Rally Last Week? (Despite Good News): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Didn’t Stocks Rally Last Week (Despite Good News)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Is the Tech Rally Finally Exhausted?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Focus on Inflation This Week

Futures are slightly lower mostly on momentum from Friday’s declines following a very quiet weekend of news.

Economically, the only notable number over the weekend was Chinese CPI, which rose more than expected (0.7% vs. (E) 0.3%) and that’s being seen as a positive as deflation was a growing risk in the Chinese economy.

Focus this week will remain on economic data (both inflation and growth) and tomorrow’s CPI report is the key report for the week.

Today, however, the calendar is sparse as the only notable economic report is New York Fed Inflation Expectations (E: 3.00%) and barring a major overshoot, this number shouldn’t move markets.


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.

Jobs Report Preview (Will June Cuts Still Be Expected?)

Jobs Report Preview: Is There a Disconnect? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (Will June Cuts Still Be Expected?)
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are slightly higher following a generally quiet night of news as markets look ahead to tomorrow’s jobs report.

Economically, the only notable number overnight was German Manufacturers’ Orders and it badly missed expectations (-11.3% vs. (E ) -6.0%) but it isn’t impacting markets.

Japanese stocks fell sharply (Nikkei down more than 1%) as “chatter” grew louder the BOJ may hike rates in March.

Today is a relatively busy day of events but it’ll take some significant surprises to move markets ahead of tomorrow’s jobs report.

The key events today, in order of importance, are:   ECB Rate Decision (No change is expected but will Lagarde point to June cuts?), Jobless Claims (E: 215K, will they keep rising?), Unit Labor Costs (E: 0.7%), Powell’s Senate testimony (10:00 a.m. ET) and Cleveland Fed President Mester (11:30 a.m. ET).


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.

U.S. Defense Contractors May Benefit From Depletion of Hardware and Munitions

U.S. Defense Contractors May Benefit From Depletion of Hardware and Munitions: Tom Essaye Quoted in Morningstar


These defense stocks may fare best whether Biden or Trump wins in November

One of the industry groups whose stocks Tom Essaye, publisher of Sevens Report Research, said he would expect to perform well during a second Trump term is defense.

Trump’s return to the White House could benefit these stock-market sectors – while undercutting others

Of course, regardless of who wins the November election, U.S. defense contractors may benefit from the depletion of hardware and munitions resulting from U.S. and other NATO countries’ support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion, along with renewed efforts to bolster the conventional defenses of Western European countries.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on February 28th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

Lastly, 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.

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.

Is This A Teflon Market? (No. Here’s Why)

Is This A Teflon Market? (No. Here’s Why): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is This A Teflon Market? (No. Here’s Why)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Data and Fed Speak Extend the Rally?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  All About Employment (Jobs Report Friday among others).

Futures are slightly lower following quiet weekend of news as markets digest Friday’s rally.

Geopolitically, hope is growing for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza that could be announced in the coming days and that’s modestly weighing on oil prices.

The S&P 500 will become even more “AI” sensitive as SMCI  (Super Microcomputer) will in added to the S&P 500, incrementally increasing tech exposure to the index.

This will be a potentially busy week of catalysts but it starts slowly today as there are no economic reports and just one Fed speaker, Harker at 11:00 a.m. ET.  So, absent any surprises, expect yields to drive stocks.  If the 10-year Treasury yield drifts lower, don’t be surprised if stocks recoup these early losses.


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.

This Relentless Rally Has Gone Far Beyond

This Relentless Rally Has Gone Far Beyond: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s


The Stock Market Hasn’t Been This Hot in Decades. Is the Rally Justified?

“If we look at the facts, I cannot help but feel as though this relentless rally has gone far beyond either actual improvement in the fundamentals and reasonable expectations of continued improvement,” writes Sevens Report Founder and President Tom Essaye.

As Essaye points out, a price-to-earnings ratio around that level was “previously only reserved for periods of quantitative easing and 0% rates, not quantitative tightening and 5.37% fed funds.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on February 27th, 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.

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.

What’s Changed Since October (And Is It Worth A 25% Rally?)

What’s Changed Since October: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What’s Changed Since October (And Is It Worth A 25% Rally?)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Data and News Stay Platinumlocks?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  An Important Week for Inflation.

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

Geopolitically, news was mixed over the weekend.  Positively, progress was made in negotiating a Israel/Hamas cease fire and there is hope an agreement can be reached this week.  Negatively, chances of a U.S. government shutdown on March 1st (this Friday) are rising.

There were no notable economic reports overnight.

This will be a busy week of important economic data, earnings and political news (possible government shutdown on Friday) but it starts slowly as the only notable economic report today is New Home Sales (E: 685k) and there is just one Fed speaker, Schmid at 7:40 p.m. ET.  So, focus will remain on the political headlines today and if shutdown chances increase, look for mild pressure on stocks.


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.