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What Would Cause the Fed to Cut Rates Again? (Two Answers)

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What Would Cause the Fed to Cut Rates Again? (Two Answers): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Would Cause the Fed to Cut Rates Again? (Two Answers)

Futures are modestly higher despite mixed tech earnings.

TSLA (up 3% pre-market) and META (up 1% pre-market) results were “fine” while MSFT disappointed (MSFT down  4% pre-market) but none of the results were surprising enough to impact the broader tech sector.

Today will be a busy day of economic data and earnings including, in order of importance, the ECB Rate Decision (E: 25 bps cut), Jobless Claims (E: 224K), Advanced Q4 GDP (E: 2.7%) and Pending Home Sales (E: 0.4%).  And, following yesterday’s Fed meeting, it remains the case that in-line to slightly weak results are the “best” case for stocks as they imply solid growth but keep rate cut expectations stable.

On earnings, the key results today include: AAPL ($2.36), INTC ($0.12), V ($2.66), UPS ($2.52), MA ($3.68), CAT ($4.97).

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FOMC Preview (Good, Bad, and Ugly Scenarios)

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FOMC Preview (Good, Bad, and Ugly Scenarios): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview – What’s Expected, Hawkish-If, Dovish-If Scenarios
  • December Durable Goods Orders Takeaways (Goldilocks)
  • NVDA Chart – An Ominous Technical Setup

Stock futures are slightly higher ahead of today’s Fed decision as global bond markets remain steady on the back of some favorable inflation metrics overnight.

Economically, Australian CPI fell from 2.8% to 2.4% vs. (E) 2.6% in Q4’24 and Eurozone M3 Money Supply rose 3.5% Y/Y vs. (E) 4.0%, both of which helped ease inflation fears.

There are no economic reports today leaving market focus on the FOMC Decision (2:00 p.m. ET) and Powell’s Press Conference (2:30 p.m. ET). As today’s Fed preview details, a hawkish outcome that sends yields higher could cause a painful selloff in equities.

Today is also the first day of big tech earnings with TSLA ($0.75), META ($6.90), MSFT ($3.12), and IBM ($3.74) all due to report quarterly results after the close. Expectations are already optimistic for 2025 so any disappointment could pressure stocks in after-hours trading regardless of the initial reaction to the Fed announcement.

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Is DeepSeek a Bearish Gamechanger?

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Is DeepSeek a Bearish Gamechanger?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is DeepSeek a Bearish Gamechanger?

Futures are enjoying a relief rally after yesterday’s steep, tech-led losses as traders shrug off negative tariff news.

Late yesterday, Trump said he wants universal tariffs “much bigger than 2.5%” which pressured Asian markets overnight but is so far having a limited impact on U.S. stocks.

Looking into today’s session, price action should stabilize somewhat as the FOMC meeting gets underway and traders position into tomorrow’s policy announcement.

However, there are several noteworthy economic reports to watch this morning that could move markets including: Durable Goods (E: 0.8%), the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 4.1%), and Consumer Confidence (E: 106.3). Investors will be looking for more Goldilocks data (cooling inflation, slowing but not collapsing demand/growth).

In the afternoon, there is a 7-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and it will be important to see solid demand to help shore up the idea that rates have put in at least a near-term peak (weak demand and subsequently rising yields could weigh on stocks).

Finally, earnings season continues will a few noteworthy companies reporting today, including: BA (-$2.27), GM ($1.65), SYF ($1.90), and SYY ($0.93).

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It’s premature to relax on tariff concerns

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It’s premature to relax on tariff concerns: Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Investing.com

Strategist explains why tariff fears shouldn’t be exaggerated

The stock market’s rally this week, driven by the absence of immediate tariff announcements under President Trump’s new administration, has led some investors to believe tariff risks may have been overstated, according to the latest Sevens Report.

However, Sevens warned that it’s premature to relax on tariff concerns, highlighting potential volatility ahead.

“‘Day One’ of the Trump administration contained no blatant and additional tariff threats, as investors had feared,” Sevens Report analysts noted.

Yet, they cautioned, “tariff headlines will remain a consistent source of short-term volatility in markets this year.”

The report points out that Trump’s administration cannot unilaterally impose tariffs without first building a legal case.

“It’s not a surprise that Trump didn’t announce any new tariffs yet, Said the firm, adding that presidents do not have the power to just decree tariffs, especially with trading partners under existing legal trade treaties approved by Congress.

Also, click here to view the full article featured on Investing.com published on January 24th, 2025. 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.

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Expect increased noise and volatility surrounding the incoming administration’s new policies

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Expect increased noise and volatility surrounding the incoming administration’s new policies: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

Trump Will Take the Stock Market on a Bumpy, if Prosperous, Ride. What to Do Now.

The stock market, then, is left not to climb the proverbial wall of worry but to navigate a swamp of uncertainty. How Trump decides to attack taxes, tariffs, the national debt, and immigration will result in wilder gyrations than we’ve been used to during the past couple of years. “Expect increased noise and volatility surrounding the incoming administration’s new policies, but these are the four main areas whereby those policies could impact the markets and the economy,” writes Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on January 24th, 2025. 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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The last thing Saudi Arabia wants right now is lower oil prices amid their already subdued output

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The last thing Saudi Arabia wants right now is lower oil prices amid their already subdued output: Tyler Richey, Sevens Report Co-Editor, Quoted in MarketWatch on MSN

Crude oil extends losing streak as Trump urges OPEC to lower prices

While Trump is known to enjoy good relations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but “the last thing Saudi Arabia wants right now… is lower oil prices amid their already subdued output, so they would not be likely to roll over and open the spigots without some sort of concessions – whether it be military [or] defense assets… or some other promise of U.S. investment in Saudi Arabia,” according to Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research.

Also, click here to view the full Seeking Alpha article published by MSN on January 24th, 2025. 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.

Investors are likely waiting on specifics before reacting

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Investors are likely waiting on specifics before reacting: Sevens Report Co-Editor Tyler Richey Quoted in S&P Global

Markets shrugging off Trump tariff threats so far

Investors are likely waiting on specifics before reacting, although the tariff threats could signal some forthcoming broad market volatility as new and fluid trade policies inject some uncertainty into the macroeconomic outlook, said Tyler Richey, a co-editor with Sevens Report Research.

“As forward-looking discounting mechanisms, equity markets in particular love stability and a clear consensus outlook for future growth trends,” Richey said. “The implementation of new tariffs would derail the current Wall Street consensus that the Fed is in the process of nailing a soft economic landing that will result in strong, AI-amplified earnings growth in 2025 driving the broader stock market to new records.”

Richey with Sevens Report believes that the upcoming tariffs will likely have a greater impact on equities than those in Trump’s first term.

Also, click here to view the full S&P Global article published on January 24th, 2025. 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.

Oil began to “peel off” after comments from Trump

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Oil began to “peel off” after comments from Trump: Tyler Richey Quoted in Morningstar

Oil at 2-week low as Trump’s efforts to lower crude prices imply a boost in output

Oil began to “peel off” after comments from Trump suggested that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries may raise oil production, Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, told MarketWatch.

In part due to the president’s “America First global policy stance,” Richey said, “the world knows that he wouldn’t hesitate to inflict economic pain on nations with policies in place that are not aligned with our domestic best interests. That includes major oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia, which has been the de facto leader of OPEC since its inception.”

He continued: “The last thing Saudi Arabia wants right now, though, is lower oil prices amid their already subdued output, so they would not be likely to roll over and open the spigots without some sort of concessions – whether it be military [or] defense assets … or some other promise of U.S. investment in Saudi Arabia.”

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published in Morningstar on January 23rd, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

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.

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Why Did Stocks Hit New Highs?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Did Stocks Hit New Highs?
  • Weekly Market Preview: Major Tech Earnings and Wednesday’s Fed Decision
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Fed Wednesday (Do They Push Back on Pause Fears?)

Futures are sharply lower (down more than 2%) on AI and tariff concerns.

Tech stocks are extremely weak (Nasdaq futures are down 4%) on news that a Chinese AI company “Deep Seek” has produced cutting edge AI with minimal costs and no next-gen chips, and this is seriously undermining AI enthusiasm.

Geopolitically, Trump threatened Colombia with tariffs over the weekend and while they ultimately weren’t implemented, it’s a reminder that trade volatility is back.

Today there is only one notable economic report, New Home Sales (E: 669K) and that shouldn’t move markets.  Instead, tech (and specifically the Mag 7) will lead the markets and for stocks to rebound from these steep early losses, we’ll need to see the Nasdaq stabilize and rebound, otherwise this is looking like an ugly day in the markets.

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Were Tariff Fears Exaggerated? (No. Two Reasons Why)

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Were Tariff Fears Exaggerated? (No. Two Reasons Why): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Were Tariff Fears Exaggerated? (No. Two Reasons Why)

Futures are slightly lower following a major central bank rate hike and despite better-than-expected economic data.

The Bank of Japan raised interest rates 25 bps, as expected, and signaled further rate hikes are coming (also as expected).

Economically, Euro Zone and UK Manufacturing PMIs slightly beat estimates but both remained in contraction territory.

Today we get the most important economic reports of the week via the January Flash Manufacturing PMI (E: 48.9) and Flash Services PMI (E: 56.7) and again, markets will want to see in-line to slightly soft data.  Stronger than expected readings would likely boost yields and pressure stocks.  Other economic reports today include Existing Home Sales (E: 4.16 million) and Consumer Sentiment (E: 73.2).

Turning to earnings, the key report I’m watching today is AXP ($3.03) as that will give us insight into consumer spending and the stronger the report, the better.

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