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Powell’s Testimony Takeaways

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Powell’s Testimony Takeaways
  • NFIB Small Business Survey Signals Cautious Outlook

Markets are trading with a risk-on tone this morning as U.S. equity futures track global shares higher after Powell’s testimony helped stabilize bond markets yesterday while investors look ahead to today’s CPI report.

Chinese inflation data was cooler than feared o/n with CPI dipping to 1.5% vs. (E) 1.8% and PPI falling to 10.3% vs. (E) 11.3% Y/Y which is helping ease inflation concerns today.

Looking into today’s session, the December CPI report (E: 0.4%, 7.1%) will be the main focus of markets early with the annual figures expected to hit a fresh multi-decade high. But as long as the headline and core figures are not materially “hotter” than feared, this week’s relief rally, led by tech shares, should be able to continue amid further stabilization in bond markets.

Outside of the early inflation data, there is one Fed speaker to watch: Kashkari (1:00 p.m. ET) as well as a 10-Year Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. And as long as Kashkari does not contradict any of Powell’s comments from yesterday regarding the balance sheet runoff coming “later in the year,” and the auction doesn’t spark a new move higher in yields, then risk-on money flows should be able to continue.

Where Is the Fed Put?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Bottom Line: Powell Renomination Hearings and the Fed Put
  • Chart: S&P 500 “Current Situation” Support Holds

Stock futures are extending yesterday’s afternoon rally in pre-market trade this morning as investors look ahead to Powell’s renomination hearings.

Overseas, Asian markets declined as new lockdown measures were imposed in parts of China due to rising Omicron cases while EU shares stabilized in sympathy with yesterday’s afternoon rally in U.S. markets.

Economically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index edged up to 98.9 vs. (E) 98.8 last month but the release is not materially impacting markets this morning.

There are no additional economic reports today but Esther George is scheduled to speak at 9:30 a.m. ET before Powell’s renomination hearings begin (10:00 a.m. ET). The market will be keenly focused on anything to do with balance sheet reduction plans and if the topic is “downplayed,” expect a further relief rally in equity markets.

Finally, there is a 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and if the results are weak, sending shorter duration yields to new multi-year highs, that could become a headwind for high valuation tech names and weigh on the broader stock market again.

How Should We React to Fed Hawkishness?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Should We React to Fed Hawkishness?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  All About the Fed (Powell testifies Tuesday, Brainard testifies on Thursday).
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  All About Inflation (CPI Wednesday is the Key Report).

Futures are slightly lower following a generally quiet weekend as investors digest last week’s hawkish surprises ahead of Powell’s testimony tomorrow and CPI on Wednesday.

Economically, the only notable number was Eurozone Unemployment, which met expectations at 7.2%.

Chances of Build Back Better passing fell further over the weekend as according to the Washington Post, Manchin remains against the current framework for the plan.

Today there are no economic reports and just one Fed speaker, Bostic (12:00 p.m. ET), so we’d not be surprised to see markets churn ahead the three major catalysts coming later this week:  Powell’s testimony on Tuesday, Wednesday’s CPI Report, and Brainard’s testimony on Thursday.  Those three events will determine whether stocks rally of decline this week and any additional hawkish surprises will pressure stocks.

 

Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in Market Watch on January 4, 2022

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Gold recoups half of its Monday loss on disappointing U.S. data, omicron uncertainty

A sharp rise in Treasury yields which begins to drive real interest rates higher is a “major risk to the gold market…analysts at Sevens Report Research wrote. Click here to read the full article.

Market Multiple Table: January Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table: January Update
  • OPEC+ Meeting Takeaways (Not So Bullish)

Stock futures are down modestly this morning, but off the overnight lows in sympathy with rising European shares while Asian markets declined on Chinese regulatory concerns and fresh COVID lockdowns in Hong Kong.

Final December Composite PMI’s were slightly disappointing but investors are already looking ahead to 2022.

Today, there are three economic reports to watch: Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 13.2M), ADP Employment Report (E: 414K), PMI Composite Final (E: 56.9). It will be important for the latter two to point to continued growth but not at a pace that would cause an additional hawkish shift by the Fed as that would likely send rates sharply higher and act as a headwind on broader equity markets.

There are no Fed speakers today but the minutes from the December FOMC meeting will be released at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Bloomberg Quint on January 4, 2022

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U.S. Stocks Start 2022 at Record; Treasuries Fall: Markets Wrap

Bottom line, the outlook is positive for stocks, but the removal of stimulus…wrote Tom Essaye, a former Merrill Lynch trader who founded “The Sevens Report” newsletter. Click here to read the full article.

Bloomberg Quint_300x250

Why Did Treasury Yields Surge Yesterday?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Treasury Yields Surge Yesterday?
  • Oil Update – OPEC+ Meeting Preview

Stock futures are trading at record highs as investors shrug off surging COVID cases and digest upbeat economic data.

New COVID cases topped 1 million in the U.S. Monday, nearly doubling the previous record, however, hospitalizations and deaths remain low, keeping economic lockdown odds minimal as the Omicron outbreak is increasingly expected to burn itself out in the coming weeks.

China’s Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.9 vs. (E) 50.0 in December further easing global growth concerns.

Today, there are two economic reports to watch: ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 60.5) and JOLTS (E: 11.060M). Investors will be looking for more good data, but not so good that rate hike expectations are brought forward.

There are no Fed speakers today. The January OPEC+ policy meeting will be underway soon (E: +400K b/d production hike in February) and if the group of oil producers disappoint the market, expect a potential spike in volatility that could spill over into both equity and bond markets.

Two Questions to Start 2022

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Two Key Questions To Start 2022
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Omicron, Build Back Better Progress?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  A Busy Start to the Year (Highlighted by the Jobs Report Friday)

Futures are starting the new year with moderate gains driven mostly by momentum/start of year positioning, following a quiet weekend of news.  Many major markets today (London, Japan, Australia, U.S. Bonds) are closed.

Tesla (TSLA) reported better than expected deliveries for the fourth quarter and the stock is up 7% pre-market, and that’s helping markets rally.

There was no new news on Omicron over the weekend as cases skyrocket but hospitalizations remain relatively low.

With so many major markets closed, today will be a mostly quiet day, and barring any surprises tomorrow will be the first “real” trading day of the year.  We do get one notable economic report today, the Markit December Manufacturing PMI (E: 57.8), and markets will want to see a “Goldilocks” number that shows Omicron isn’t a major economic headwind, but at the same time the data isn’t so strong it makes the Fed more aggressive.

 

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter Delivered Today

Our Q4 ’21 Quarterly Letter will be released today.

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Tom Essaye Quoted in Market Research Telecast on December 28, 2021

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Wall Street opens green and the Dow Jones rises 0.16%

Optimism about omicron continues to help drive risk assets higher as markets continue to believe…said the president of the firm Seven Reports, Tom Essaye, in a note. Click here to read the full article.

What Could Go Wrong in 2022

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Could Go Wrong in 2022
  • Chart: Rate Hike Prospects Weigh on Nasdaq

Futures are modestly higher despite negative COVID headlines and a mixed outlook for China’s economy.

New COVID cases topped 1 million and set a record for a second day Tuesday as the highly contagious, but less severe Omicron variant continues to rip through hot spots around the globe. But for now, few nations have implemented new lockdowns allowing investors to look past the latest surge in cases.

According to Bloomberg Economics, China’s economy grew this month but property sector risks remain a key concern and that weighed on Asian shares overnight.

Today, there are two economic reports due out: International Trade in Goods (E: -$86.0B), and Pending Home Sales (E: 0.6%) but once again, neither should move markets as they should not shift the outlook for monetary policy.

There are no Fed speakers today but there is a 7-Year Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. If the auction is weak and yields rise materially, that could add pressure to higher valuation sectors of the market like tech/Nasdaq and drag the broader equity markets lower in thin holiday trading today. Otherwise, the Santa Claus rally remains in effect and the path of least resistance does still remain higher given the recent records in the S&P 500.

 

Sevens Report Q4 ’21 Quarterly Letter Coming January 3rd

The Q4 2021 Quarterly Letter will be delivered to advisor subscribers on Monday, January 3rd.

With several key macro issues coming to a head in the next few weeks, we believe the first quarter could be the most volatile of 2022.

We deliver the letter on the first business day of the new quarter because we want you to be able to send your quarterly letter before your competition (and with little to no work from you).

You can view our Q3’21 Quarterly Letter here.

To learn more about the product (including price) please click this link, and if you’re interested in subscribing please email info@sevensreport.com.