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Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in MarketWatch on August 21st, 2023

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Oil prices settle lower to extend last week’s losses

Meanwhile, a consistent run of strong U.S. economic data has raised fears the Federal Reserve may need to push interest rates higher than previously expected and hold them there for longer than previously anticipated, while weekly government data last week showed a pullback in consumer fuel demand and a post-pandemic high in U.S. crude production, analysts at Sevens Report Research said in a note.

Click here to read the full article.

What Is “R Star” and Why Is It Important?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What is “R*” and Why Is It Important?
  • Palo Alto Shares Rip Higher by 15%, Sparking Tech Rally – Chart

Stock futures are higher this morning with mega-cap tech shares extending this week’s strong advance following news that SoftBank’s Arm semiconductor unit has filed for the largest U.S. IPO in 2 years after the close yesterday while traders await NVDA earnings tomorrow.

Overseas, the PBOC set the strongest yuan fixing on record overnight which has helped the currency stabilize and that is contributing to risk-on money flows this morning.

There were no other market moving headlines overnight and no notable economic reports were released.

Looking into today’s session, there is one economic report due out in the U.S. this morning: Existing Home Sales (E: 4.160 million) but it is unlikely to impact markets with traders primarily focused on tech so far this week.

There are two Fed speakers today: Barkin (7:15 a.m. ET) and Goolsbee (2:30 p.m. ET) and their commentary could move markets as markets look ahead to Fed Chair Powell’s remarks from Jackson Hole on Friday. Anything that sparks a further rise in Treasury yields could pour cold water on this week’s tech rally which is basically entirely responsible for the week-to-date gains in the broader equity markets.

How to Explain the Current Pullback to Clients & Prospects

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How to Explain the Current Pullback to Clients & Prospects
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Treasury Yields Stabilize? (That’s the Key to Ending This Pullback)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Important Growth Updates and Powell Speech on Friday

Futures are modestly higher thanks to more evidence of global disinflation and despite another round of underwhelming Chinese stimulus.

German PPI declined -6.0% y/y vs. (E) -5.1% y/y and that’s serving as a reminder that inflation is still falling globally.

In China, officials cut the Loan Prime Rate less than expected (-10 bps vs. (E) -15 bps) and while that will provide stimulus, it’s not alleviating concerns that the Chinese economy will be a headwind on global growth.

Today there are no economic reports and no Fed speakers (the Jackson Hole Fed conference is this week, so speakers will increase throughout the week culminating with Powell on Friday).  As such, Treasury yields will remain a short-term influence on stocks.  Yields and futures are higher this morning but if yields extend the rally throughout the day, don’t be surprised if stocks give back these early gains.

Another Reason Treasury Yields Are Rising

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Another Reason Treasury Yields Are Rising

Futures are modestly lower on more negative real estate news from China while Japanese inflation was hotter than expected.

Chinese real estate firm Evergrande filed for bankruptcy overnight, increasing concerns about the Chinese property market specifically and economy more broadly.

Economically, Japanese CPI was in-line (up 3.3% y/y) but services inflation rose to 2%, a 30 year high, and that’s increasing expectations the BOJ may get more hawkish (and that would put more upward pressure on global bond yields, which would increase the headwind on stocks).

Today there are no notable economic reports nor any Fed speakers so focus will remain on Treasury yields, and the market needs stability in yields for stocks to bounce back.  A sudden drop in yields on growth concerns (which is what we’re seeing this morning) or a sharp rally in yields (on inflation concerns) will only further pressure stocks, so the sooner yields can “calm down” and trade little changed, the better for stocks.

Pullback or Something More?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Pullback or Something More?
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are slightly higher on better than expected CSCO earnings amidst an otherwise quiet night.

Earnings this week have been solid and that continued with CSCO results overnight (stock up about 3% pre-market) and that’s driving the bounce in futures.

Earlier this week HD, TGT and TJX all posted solid results and the earnings reinforced the $240 2024 S&P 500 earnings expectation (which helps with market valuation).

Today focus will be on economic data and the key reports are:  Jobless Claims (E: 240K), Philly Fed Manufacturing Index  (E: -10) and Leading Indicators (E: -0.4%).

Markets need Goldilocks economic data to stop rising Treasury yields while at the same time further downplaying hard landing worries.  If the data is “Too Hot” yields will rise and stocks will likely fall, while conversely, a sudden drop in activity will increase worries about a hard landing (and likely pressure stocks).  Numbers close to expectations are what investors need to help support stocks.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on August 15th, 2023

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Stocks Could Be Sandbagged by Rising Treasury Yields

“That’s why rising Treasury yields are a problem for stocks, because investors will rotate out of riskier equities and into less-risky bonds because the additional return in stocks isn’t worth the volatility,” argues Essaye, who believes that while the current environment makes the historical 4% risk premium unlikely, a “fair” number for 2023 is “definitely higher than 1%!”

Click here to read the full article.

It’s Not How High Rates Go Anymore, It’s How Long They Stay There

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • It’s Not How High That Matters Anymore, It’s How Long
  • Retail Sales & Empire State Manufacturing Survey Takeaways (Very Mixed Reports)
  • Chart – S&P 500 Violates 50 Day Moving Average for the First Time Since March

Stock futures are little changed this morning as new stimulus efforts by China help offset more negative global economic data and a hawkish leaning RBNZ meeting decision.

Chinese Home Prices fell -0.1% vs. (E) 0.0% prompting a cash injection and stronger currency fix by the PBOC which helped stabilize global risk assets overnight given the recent turmoil in the world’s second largest economy.

In Europe, U.K. Core CPI held steady at 6.9% vs. (E) 6.8% in July solidifying peak rate expectations of 6.0%, however bond yields are retreating modestly from the week’s highs which is helping stocks continue to stabilize today.

Looking into today’s session, we will get two economic reports this morning: Housing Starts (E: 1.455 million), Industrial Production (E: 0.3%) before focus will turn to the release of the July FOMC meeting minutes at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Bottom line, the market wants to see more “Goldilocks” data consistent with a soft economic landing and no evidence in the Fed minutes that suggests a more hawkish policy path than is currently expected (rate cuts beginning H1’24). Otherwise, volatility is likely to remain elevated with equities under pressure.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on August 14th, 2023

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Asian Markets Sink as China Concerns Sour Sentiment

“Concerns about the Chinese economy grew this morning after real estate firm Country Garden suspended trading in select offshore bonds, reminding investors of Chinese property market volatility from years ago and reinforcing that recession risks in China are real,” said Tom Essaye, the founder of Sevens Report Research.

Click here to read the full article.

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Tom Essaye Quoted in Forbes on August 14th, 2023

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Major Chinese Real Estate Developer Craters To Record Low As Potential Default Reminds Investors Of China’s ‘Real’ Recession Risk

The Country Garden news reinforced the notion that “recession risks in China are real,” explained Sevens Reports’ Tom Essaye. Click here to read the full article.

Why Rising Treasury Yields Are a Headwind on Stocks

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What is Country Garden and Why Does It Matter?
  • Equity Risk Premium: Why Rising Bond Yields Are a Headwind on Stocks
  • Chart – Growth Stocks Approach Key 2023 Support

U.S. equity futures are tracking global markets lower this morning amid more negative news flow out of China while Treasury yields continue to test to cycle highs with the 10-Year Note yield above 4.20%.

Multiple Chinese economic reports badly missed estimates overnight with Retail Sales notably rising just 2.5% vs. (E) 4.2% in July.

The bad data and renewed concerns about the property market prompted surprise rate cuts by the PBOC but the policy action was seen as underwhelming by investors and markets traded with a decisive risk-off tone overnight.

Looking into today’s session, the headlines out of China will continue to influence money flows, however there are several key U.S. economic reports to watch this morning including: Retail Sales (E: 0.4%), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -0.4), Import & Export Price (E: 0.2%, 0.1%), and the Housing Market Index (E: 56).

Markets continue to look for “Goldilocks” dynamics in the data, consistent with easing growth, a loosening labor market, and continued drop in inflation. Anything that contradicts those trends could further risk assets including stocks today.

There is also one Fed speaker today: Kashkari (11:00 a.m. ET) but it is doubtful he wavers from the Fed’s narrative and is unlikely to move markets.