Posts

Why the Tech Sector Is Like a Modern Day Gold Rush

/in , /by

Why the Tech Sector Is Like a Modern Day Gold Rush: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Tech Sector Is Like a Modern Day Gold Rush
  • Chart: Rising Market-Based Inflation Expectations Bolster Gold Prices

U.S. futures are modestly lower this morning as Chinese economic concerns are offsetting a cool EU inflation print.

A sizeable new wave of Chinese stimulus actions failed to soothe investor worries about the economy overnight, underwhelming investors as China’s Service PMI unexpectedly fell to 52.5 vs. (E) 52.9 in February.

In Europe, financial news flow was better as the EU Composite PMI rose to 49.2 vs. (E) 48.9 while PPI fell a steep -0.9% vs. (E) -0.1% helping to ease some recent worries about a resurgence in price pressures.

Looking into today’s session there are three domestic economic reports to watch: Composite PMI (E: 51.4), Factory Orders (E: -3.0%), and the ISM Services Index (E: 53.0). The ISM print will be the most important as investors will be looking for continued strength in consumer spending but steady or easing price indices to underscore disinflation has not stalled/reversed.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today and with Powell’s testimony looming tomorrow a slow churn in markets or modest continuation lower could play out today as short term traders book profits from the most recent run to record highs.

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.

Is This A Teflon Market? (No. Here’s Why)

/in , /by

Is This A Teflon Market? (No. Here’s Why): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is This A Teflon Market? (No. Here’s Why)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Data and Fed Speak Extend the Rally?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  All About Employment (Jobs Report Friday among others).

Futures are slightly lower following quiet weekend of news as markets digest Friday’s rally.

Geopolitically, hope is growing for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza that could be announced in the coming days and that’s modestly weighing on oil prices.

The S&P 500 will become even more “AI” sensitive as SMCI  (Super Microcomputer) will in added to the S&P 500, incrementally increasing tech exposure to the index.

This will be a potentially busy week of catalysts but it starts slowly today as there are no economic reports and just one Fed speaker, Harker at 11:00 a.m. ET.  So, absent any surprises, expect yields to drive stocks.  If the 10-year Treasury yield drifts lower, don’t be surprised if stocks recoup these early losses.

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.

“It doesn’t mean the economy’s rolling over”

/in , /by

Tom Essaye Interviewed by Barron’s

Stocks Are in a Holding Pattern. It’s All About Inflation Data.

Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s in a phone interview that recent economic data, including durable goods and retail sales, have come in softer than expected.

“It doesn’t mean the economy’s rolling over,” he says. “But for a market that is priced for zero slowdown whatsoever, that is the risk that I think people need to watch. About the most surprising thing that I feel could happen to this market right now is that growth suddenly slows.”

“They’re behaving for now, but if you start seeing the 10-year climb far above 4.25%, I think that begins to become a headwind on the market,” Essaye says. “Until we get that inflation data, you kind of got markets in a bit of a holding pattern.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on February 27th, 2024. 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.

Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard: More Signs of Slowing Growth

/in , /by

Hard vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard: More Signs of Slowing Growth: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing vs. Soft Landing Scoreboard: Still a Soft Landing But More Signs of Slowing Growth
  • Chart: Consumer Confidence Data Points to Slowing Growth

Futures are lower as traders continue to reposition following last week’s sprint to record highs while focus shifts ahead to tomorrow’s critical inflation data.

Economically, the headline of the Eurozone Economic Sentiment report fell to 95.4 vs. (E) 96.7 which didn’t help risk assets in pre-market trade.

Today, traders will be watching the release of Q4 GDP (E: 3.3%) and International Trade in Goods (E: -$88.1B) ahead of the bell. Any data that is not Goldilocks (or “Platinumlocks”) will likely keep stocks under pressure ahead of tomorrow’s PCE Price Index report.

Later in the day, there are several Fed speakers: Bostic (12:00 p.m. ET), Collins (12:15 p.m. ET), and Williams (12:45 p.m. ET). Bostic and Williams are on the FOMC, so their comments have the potential to move markets with tomorrow’s inflation data coming into view.

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.

What’s Changed Since October (And Is It Worth A 25% Rally?)

/in , /by

What’s Changed Since October: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What’s Changed Since October (And Is It Worth A 25% Rally?)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Data and News Stay Platinumlocks?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  An Important Week for Inflation.

Futures are little changed following a generally quiet weekend of news.

Geopolitically, news was mixed over the weekend.  Positively, progress was made in negotiating a Israel/Hamas cease fire and there is hope an agreement can be reached this week.  Negatively, chances of a U.S. government shutdown on March 1st (this Friday) are rising.

There were no notable economic reports overnight.

This will be a busy week of important economic data, earnings and political news (possible government shutdown on Friday) but it starts slowly as the only notable economic report today is New Home Sales (E: 685k) and there is just one Fed speaker, Schmid at 7:40 p.m. ET.  So, focus will remain on the political headlines today and if shutdown chances increase, look for mild pressure on stocks.

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.

Nvidia Has Been The ‘Poster Child’ Of AI Enthusiasm

/in , /by

Nvidia Has Been The ‘Poster Child’ Of AI Enthusiasm: Tom Essaye Quoted in Bloomberg Featured on Yahoo Finance

Tech Up in Late Hours on Nvidia’s Bullish Outlook: Markets Wrap

“Nvidia has been the ‘poster child’ of AI enthusiasm because NVDA makes the type of semiconductor chips that power generative AI and demand for those chips has gone through the roof,” said Tom Essaye, founder of The Sevens Report. “The AI-driven rally in the ‘Mag Seven’ is largely justified by the fact that they’re making a lot more money than they were previously.”

While Nvidia is the proverbial “picks and shovels” of the “AI gold rush”, other big-tech companies such as Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms Inc., Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Apple Inc. have also seen large stock rallies as investors expect these companies to harness the power of generative AI to boost profits, Essaye noted.

“Has the AI mania gone too far and are we looking at a bubble situation?” Essaye said. “Based on what most of us think about typical bubbles, the answer is ‘no’ they are not in a bubble.”

Also, click here to view the full Bloomberg article featured on Yahoo Finance published on February 21st, 2024. 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.

Tech Stocks Pulled Bacl – Tom Essaye Quoted In Barron’s

/in , /by

Hedging Up Ahead Of The Results: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Tech Stocks Pulled Back. The Nasdaq Fell 0.9%.

“You’ve got arguably the most important stock in the whole market producing earnings tomorrow, so I think that you’re just seeing some people reduce a little bit of exposure into that earnings print on the chance that perhaps it isn’t as fantastic as everybody expects it to be,” Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s in a phone interview.

Essaye said that last Friday’s selling flowed through to today as traders expressed worries that inflation isn’t going to come down as fast as they were previously pricing in.

“I don’t think it means a lot to be honest,” Essaye says. “Because if Nvidia posts good earnings tomorrow, all this is going to be undone relatively quickly.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on February 21st, 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 Rally

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.

What Blowout NVDA Earnings Mean for Markets

/in , /by

What Blowout NVDA Earnings Mean for Markets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Blowout NVDA Earnings Mean for Markets

Futures are sharply higher thanks to stronger than expected NVDA earnings (stock up 14% pre-market) as Nasdaq futures surge by more than 2%.

NVDA results beat on revenue, earnings and guidance and global markets are higher on renewed AI enthusiasm.

Economically, EU and UK flash PMIs were very slightly better than expected but aren’t moving markets.

Today focus will shift back to economic data and the notable reports today are Jobless Claims (E: 216K), February Flash PMIs (E: 51.4) and Existing Home Sales (E: 3.98 M).  The more Goldilocks the data, the better for markets and the key remains Treasury yields.  If yields rise in response to the data, look for a headwind on stocks to push back on the NVDA led rally.

There are also multiple Fed speakers today including Jefferson, Harker, Kashkari, Cook & Waller but barring a major surprise, they shouldn’t move markets (Fed messaging has been very consistent lately:  Inflation is receding, but they need more proof before cutting rates which means a June cut is most likely at this point).

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.

Hedging Up Ahead Of The Results

/in , /by

Hedging Up Ahead Of The Results: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s

Nvidia Weighs on Tech Stocks Ahead of Earnings

“I think what you’re seeing is just some hedging up ahead of the results,” Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s in a phone interview. “I think that’s part of it. The other part of it is you’re still seeing some follow through from Friday selling, too, as people are getting, not nervous about a rebound in inflation, but a little less sure that inflation is just going to keep going straight down in a line.”

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on February 20th, 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 Rally

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.

Rising level Of Greed In The ‘Short-Volatility’ Trade

/in , /by

Rising level Of Greed In The ‘Short-Volatility’ Trade: Tom Essaye Quoted in Business Insider

Stocks are vulnerable to a 5% ‘air-pocket drawdown’ as greedy traders short volatility, research firm says

“Stocks on Tuesday seemed to have an additional influence weighing on the broader market,” Tom Essaye, the founder and president of Sevens Report Research, wrote in a note on Thursday. “It turns out that it did… an overcrowded short side of the options market which was reminiscent of the 2018 ‘Volmageddon’ event.”

“Based on the magnitude of the move in VIX futures on Tuesday, there is an increasing threat that the rising level of greed in the ‘short-volatility’ trade, similar to what we saw in 2018, could result in an air-pocket drawdown of 5% or more in the S&P 500,” Essaye said.

“The rebound in interest in short-volatility strategies is once again posing a risk to the broader markets here as a negative catalyst can clearly spark a momentous, derivatives-driven selloff in the broader stock market like that which we saw in 2018,” Essaye said.

“Going forward, these expirations will remain dates to keep in mind as the threat of volatility will be elevated as we move further into 2024,” Essaye said.

Also, click here to view the full Business Insider article published on February 16th, 2024. 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.