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Why This Isn’t A Risk-Less Market (Despite The Fed Being Dovish)

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Why This Isn’t A Risk-Less Market: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why This Isn’t A Risk-Less Market (Despite The Fed Being Dovish)
  • Understanding Why the Dollar Is Plunging

Futures are modestly higher following mixed global economic data and as investors continued to digest Wednesday’s dovish Fed decision.

Global data was mixed, but not bad, and as such isn’t increasing global slowdown fears.  In Europe, the EU flash composite PMI missed estimates (47.0 vs. (E) 48.0) while the UK reading beat (51.7 vs. (E )51.0).  In China,

Retail Sales and Industrial Production were better than feared.

Today focus will be on economic data as we get the first look at December activity and for the rally to continue, the data needs to be Goldilocks (so close to expectations).  The key reports today are, in order of importance:    Dec. Flash Manufacturing PMI (E: 49.2), Dec. Flash Service PMI (E: 50.6), Nov. Industrial Production (E: 0.3%), Dec. Empire Manufacturing Index (E: 3.7).

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Catalyst #1 – CPI Preview: Good, Bad & Ugly

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

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview:  Good, Bad & Ugly
  • Weekly Market Preview:  The Last Busy Week of 2023 (Inflation Update, Fed Decision & Growth Reports)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Inflation Tomorrow, Fed Decision Wednesday, Economic Growth Updates Thurs/Fri

Futures are slightly lower on digestion of the multi-week rally following a quiet weekend and ahead of a the last catalyst-filled week of 2023.

Economically, there was no notable data overnight. Investors are focused on the looming reports this week (CPI tomorrow, Fed Wednesday, growth data Thurs/Fri).

On Japan, a Bloomberg article pushed back on the expectation for rate hikes and Japanese stocks are rallying 1%.

This is the last potentially busy week of 2023 but it starts slowly as the only notable report today is the N.Y. Fed 1 Year Consumer Inflation Expectations (3.6%).  If expectations drop sharply (possibly below 3.0%) that could provide a mild boost to stocks. But with key events looming Tuesday-Friday, the bar to move stocks and bonds today is pretty high.

CPI Preview

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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
  • An Excellent Explanation of the Economic Cycle
  • Oil Update (How Far Could It Fall?)

Futures are little changed despite hawkish commentary from the BOJ and more underwhelming economic data.

BOJ commentary overnight was hawkish and markets now expect a rate hike at the December meeting. And that expectation is pushing global yields slightly higher.

European economic data was again soft as German Industrial Production declined –0.4% vs. (E) 0.5%. This adds to the recent string of soft EU economic reports.

Today focus will remain on economic data and specifically weekly Jobless Claims (E: 222K) and Continuing Claims (1.91 million).  These numbers have been drifting higher lately and Continuing Claims just hit a two-year high.  If we see further upside in these readings today that will add to the growing list of readings that implies the economy is losing momentum and while that may not cause a drop in stocks today, a slowing economy will likely become a headwind in early 2024.

Jobs Report Preview

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What Are GLP-1 Drugs and Why Do They Matter to Markets?

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What Are GLP-1 Drugs and Why Do They Matter to Markets? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Are GLP-1 Drugs and Why Do They Matter to Markets?

U.S. equity futures are trading lower this morning as a credit downgrade of China’s debt is overshadowing mostly good Composite PMI data overseas.

Overnight, Moody’s cut their outlook for Chinese debt to negative. This weighed on Asian shares and EM stocks, as well as domestic equity futures.

Economically, China’s Composite PMI favorably rose to 51.6 vs. (E) 50.1 in November. While the Eurozone Composite PMI remained in contraction, but notably firmed to 47.6 vs. (E) 47.1 last month.

Two key economic reports to watch today: JOLTS (E: 9.4 million job openings) and the ISM Services Index (E: 52.4). Investors will want to see more evidence that supports a soft landing in the data.

Finally, there is one Fed economist speaking today: Gibson (10:00 a.m. ET) but his comments should not materially move markets.

What Are GLP-1 Drugs and Why Do They Matter to Markets?

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Bull Case vs. Bear Case: What’s It Mean Mean for Markets?

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Bull Case vs. Bear Case: What’s It Mean for Markets? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Bull Case vs. Bear Case:  What’s It Mean for Markets?
  • What Should Outperform in Q1/H1
  • OPEC+ Decision Takeaways

Futures are little changed as global manufacturing PMIs were better than expected, but looming commentary from Fed Chair Powell is keeping futures little changed.

Economically, Euro Zone (44.2 vs. (E) 43.8) and UK (47.2 vs. (E) 46.2) manufacturing PMIs beat estimates, reducing concerns about regional economic slowdowns.

Today focus will be on Fed speak and economic data.  Fed Chair Powell speaks twice today at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. ET. Markets will want to see if Powell repeats the “policy is appropriate” message we received from Fed Governor Waller earlier this week.  If he does, stocks can rally.

On the economic front, we get one of the “big three” monthly economic reports today via the November ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.5). So the markets will want to see more Goldilocks data (activity that meets estimates with declines in price indices).  Beyond Powell, we also get two other Fed speakers, Goolsbee (10:00 a.m. ET) and Cook (2:00 p.m. ET), but they shouldn’t move markets.

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Bull vs. Bear Case: Part II

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Bull vs. Bear Case: Part II: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Bull Case vs. The Bear Case – Part II
  • Chart – Gold Breaks Out to the Upside
  • Consumer Confidence Data Points to Soft Landing

Stock futures are tracking European equities higher this morning while the 10-Yr Note yield is below 4.30% at two month lows following less-hawkish ECB commentary and more evidence of disinflation in the Eurozone.

Economically, Spanish CPI fell to 3.2% vs. (E) 3.7% y/y while multiple regional German inflation prints suggest headline German CPI will come in well below the 3.5% estimate later this morning.

The ECB’s Stournaras notably said in commentary early this morning that rate cuts could come as soon as the middle of next year which saw more policy easing priced into rates futures markets in Europe and invited new bids into the bond markets.

Looking into today’s session, there are two domestic economic reports to watch this morning: GDP (E: 4.9%) and International Trade in Goods (E: -$86.7B) while there is just one Fed speaker in the afternoon: Mester (1:45 p.m. ET).

Bottom line, the early bid in the U.S. equity futures market and new lows in bond yields are being driven by cooler-than-expected inflation data in the EU, so it will be critical for the German CPI report to come in below estimates of 3.5% when the data is released at 8:00 a.m. ET. If so, expect the dovish rally to extend into Wall Street trading today.

Bull vs. Bear Case: Part II

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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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