Posts

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly

/in , /by

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

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly
  • Where to Find Rate Cut Probabilities

Stock futures are modestly higher this morning as the bond market steadies ahead of tomorrow’s key inflation data while financial newswires were mostly quiet overnight.

Overseas, Taiwan’s headline CPI fell sharply from 3.1% to 2.1% vs (E) 2.5% in March. Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index dropped to 88.5 vs. (E) 89.9.

Looking ahead to today’s session, there are no economic reports today and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak which is setting up a fairly quiet morning in the markets.

The one potential catalysts on the calendar today is the 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. Equity markets are watching yields closely here, so if today’s auction is weak and yields move higher this afternoon that will weigh on stocks and other risk assets. However, moves should be limited as traders position into tomorrow’s inflation data.

Join thousands 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 Did Stocks Drop Again?

/in , /by

Why Did Stocks Drop Again? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Stocks Drop Again?
  • How High Can Gold Go?

Futures are bouncing modestly from Thursday’s afternoon selloff, following a quiet night of news and as investor look ahead to today’s jobs report.

Economic data overnight (German Manufacturers’ Orders and Euro Zone retail sales) slightly missed expectations but the numbers aren’t increasing growth worries.

Today the focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows: 200K Job Adds, 3.9% Unemployment Rate, 4.1% y/y Wage Growth.  The risk for this market remains for a “Too Hot” report that shows strong job adds, low unemployment and hot wages, while a number modestly below expectations would be welcomed as “Goldilocks” and likely spur a rebound in stocks and bonds.

In addition to the jobs report, we also have several Fed speakers including Collins (8:30 a.m. ET), Barkin (9:15 a.m. ET), Logan (11:00 a.m. ET) and Bowman (12:15 p.m. ET). If their tone is hawkish, it could reduce June rate cut chances and increase volatility.

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter 

Our Q1 ’24 Quarterly Letter was delivered to subscribers this past Monday, complete with compliance backup and citations. We’re already receiving feedback about how it is saving advisors time and helping them communicate with their clients in this environment!

You can view our Q4 ’23 Quarterly Letter here.

To learn more about the product (including price) please click this link.

If you’re interested in subscribing, please email info@sevensreport.com.

Join thousands 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.

A Four Way Assault on the Bullish Mantra

/in , /by

A Four Way Assault on the Bullish Mantra: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Stocks Drop and What’s It Mean for Markets? (Four Reasons)
  • JOLTS Data Takeaways – “Solid Enough” for Now
  • Chart: The S&P 500 Violated It’s 2024 Uptrend Yesterday
  • Chart: The “Short-Vol Trade” Is Beginning to Unravel (More to Come)

Stock futures are lower again this morning as the hawkish money flows of early Q2 continue with the 10-Yr yield at YTD highs ahead of Powell’s speech on the economy today.

Economically, China’s Composite PMI met estimates at 52.7 while the EU’s “Narrow Core HICP” (their Core-CPI equivalent) favorably fell from 3.1% to 2.9% vs. (E) 3.0%.

Today, there are two important economic reports due out: The ADP Employment Report (E: 150K) before the open and then the ISM Services Index (E: 52.7). Good economic news has been bad for markets lately, so softening growth numbers and low/falling inflation metrics in today’s data are the best case scenario for stocks today.

Beyond the data this morning, there are several Fed officials scheduled to speak: Bowman (9:45 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (12:00 p.m. ET), Powell (12:10 p.m. ET), and Barr (1:10 p.m. ET).

Powell’s speech at Standford shortly after 12:00 p.m. (ET) will get the most attention as traders look for him to reiterate the key takeaways from the March FOMC meeting (likely summer rate cut, three cuts in 2024 expected). Any hints at “higher for longer” will add to the hawkish money flows that have been weighing on stocks so far in Q2.

Join thousands 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 key for the ISM manufacturing survey is stability

/in , /by

The key for the ISM manufacturing survey is stability: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Stock Futures Point to Record Highs as Investors Mull Cuts to Interest Rates

“The key for the ISM manufacturing survey is stability. An in-line or better than expected result will further reinforce that growth is resilient and likely support the early rally,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on April 1st, 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.

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.

Any surprises could move yields and impact equities

/in , /by

Any surprises could move yields and impact equities: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

The Market Kicks Off the Day in the Green

“There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 5-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET,” wrote Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye. “With the elevated level of market anxiety surrounding Friday’s Core PCE release (when markets will be closed) any surprises via strong or weak demand in the auction could move yields and impact equities.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on March 26th, 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.

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.

Tom Essaye interviewed by Barron’s

/in , /by

 Durable-goods number showed stable growth: Tom Essaye Interviewed by Barron’s

Market’s Spirit Isn’t Dampened by Mixed Economic Data

In an interview with Barron’s, Tom Essaye of Sevens Report Research said the durable-goods number showed stable growth while the consumer confidence reading was light.

“Every time the market is reminded that we’ve got stable growth, still falling inflation, a looming rate cut —which was reinforced last week—and positive AI headlines, the default reaction is to rally. And rightly so. And that’s exactly what’s happening today,” he said.

Essaye also called the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge a “tremendous tragedy”and thinks the disaster could trickle into economic reports at a time when the Federal Reserve is watching all numbers closely.

“This is going to cloud some of the economic data, potentially, which has some risk associated with it because the data is really important right now,” Essaye said. “It will probably send some noisiness into the data. We’re just going to have to look through that as best we can over the next couple of months. That’s something to pay attention to.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on March 26th, 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.

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 the Falling Yen Matters to Your Clients

/in , /by

Why the Falling Yen Matters to Your Clients: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Falling Yen Matters to Your Clients
  • ISM Manufacturing Index Takeaways
  • 10-Yr Yield Testing Key 2024 Resistance – Chart

Stock futures are modestly lower and Treasury yields are testing YTD highs this morning amid new multi-month highs in oil and better-than-feared EU economic data.

Economically, the final EU Manufacturing PMI for March was revised up from 45.7 to 46.1 which is still in contraction territory but adding pressure to global bond markets.

Looking into today’s session, we will get data on Motor Vehicle Sales early (E: 16.0 million) but trader focus will be on two more important reports for the outlook for the economy and critically Fed policy: Factory Orders (E: 1.0%) and JOLTS (E: 8.8 million).

If either of the latter two reports come in “hot” expect the 10-Yr to extend pre-market gains and stocks to remain under pressure today.

Additionally, there are a few Fed speakers on the calendar with: Bowman (10:10 a.m. ET), Williams (12:00 p.m. ET), Mester (12:05 p.m. ET), and Daly (1:30 p.m. ET). Any pushback on the case for a summer rate cut and a total of three cuts in 2024 will add to hawkish money flows with yields rising and stocks likely extending the so-far-modest weekly declines.

Join thousands 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.

Assessing (and Ranking) Market Risks as We Start Q2

/in , /by

Assessing (and Ranking) Market Risks as We Start Q2: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Assessing (and Ranking) Market Risks as We Start Q2
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Important Data Continue to Point Towards a Soft Landing?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Jobs Report Friday, ISM Manufacturing and Services Mon/Wed

Futures are solidly higher to start Q2 as expectations for a June rate cut remain high after the Core PCE Price Index met expectations and Powell provided no surprises in his comments (both last Friday).

Friday’s Core PCE Price Index met expectations, rising 2.8% y/y and keeping June rate cut expectations in place.

The Chinese March Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.8 vs. (E) 50.1 increasing hopes for an economic rebound.

Today focus will be on the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 48.3) and the key here is stability.  An in-line or better than expected result will further reinforce that growth is resilient and likely support the early rally.   There’s also one Fed speaker,  Cook at 6:50 p.m. ET, but her comments come after the close.

Sevens Report Quarterly Letter Delivered Today

Our Q1 ’24 Quarterly Letter will be released today. We use our strength (writing about the markets) to help you:

Save time (an average of 4-6 hours per quarterly letter).

Show you’re on top of markets with impressive, compelling market analysis.

You can view our Q4 ’23 Quarterly Letter here.

To learn more about the product (including price) please click this link.

If you’re interested in subscribing, please email info@sevensreport.com.

Join thousands 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.

How the Baltimore Bridge Collapse Could Impact Markets

/in , /by

How the Baltimore Bridge Collapse Could Impact Markets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Core PCE Price Index Preview
  • How the Baltimore Bridge Collapse Could Impact Markets
  • Sevens Report Q1 ’24 Quarterly Letter Coming Monday

Futures are little changed on the final day of the quarter following a mostly quiet night of news.

Fed Governor Waller stated overnight the Fed should be in “no rush” to cut rates and while that’s being spun as hawkish, his full comments largely point to a June rate cut.

Economic data overnight, including Aussie Retail Sales, UK GDP and German Unemployment, met expectations.

Today is the final day of the quarter and the eve of a long weekend so trading should be mostly quiet, although some quarter-end book squaring could make for some low volume volatility late in the day.

Looking at the calendar, there are some notable economic reports to watch including, in order of importance:  Jobless Claims (E: 213K), Final Q4 GDP (3.2%) and Pending Home Sales (E: 1.3%) but as long as they mostly meet expectations, they shouldn’t move markets.  Additionally, the bond market will have an early close today (2:00 p.m. ET).

Sevens Report Q1 ’24 Quarterly Letter Coming April 1st.

The Q1 2024 Quarterly Letter will be delivered to advisor subscribers on Monday, April 1st.

The Q1 Sevens Report Quarterly Letter will highlight the best quarterly returns since 2019 but also address risks in the market, so clients aren’t blindsided by any sudden volatility over the next three months

We will deliver the letter on Monday, the 1st 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 Q4 ’23 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.

Join thousands 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 the Baltimore Bridge Collapse a Risk to Inflation?

/in , /by

Is the Baltimore Bridge Collapse a Risk to Inflation? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Could the Baltimore Bridge Collapse Spark a Rebound in Inflation?
  • Durable Goods Orders Takeaways (More Weak Revisions)
  • Philly Fed Nonmanufacturing Survey (Another Whiff of Stagflation)
  • Consumer Confidence Shows Fading Household Financial Situations – Chart

Stock futures are rebounding from yesterday’s late session selloff as economic data overnight was mostly market-friendly while traders eye continued volatility in the yen.

Economically, Chinese Industrial Profits jumped by 10.2% y/y in the first two months of the year and the Eurozone Economic Sentiment headline rose to 96.3 vs. (E) 95.8. The overseas data helped ease global growth concerns.

The yen is attempting to stabilize this morning after falling to its lowest level against the dollar since 1990 overnight. A short-squeeze in the yen is a threat stocks and other risk assets as it would force traditional carry trades to unwind. The yen warrants close attention into the end of the week here.

There is no economic data today and just one Fed speaker after the close: Waller 6:00 p.m. ET.

There is a 7-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET today. Yesterday’s 5-Yr auction was solid and investors will be looking for more strong demand for Treasuries in the belly of the duration curve today (a rise in yields would weigh on stocks).

Join thousands 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.