Posts

Is Market Momentum Faltering?

/in , /by

Is Market Momentum Faltering?: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is Market Momentum Faltering?
  • Oil Outlook Updated

Futures are slightly higher as better than expected EU inflation metrics offset slightly underwhelming NVDA earnings.

Spanish and German regional CPIs declined more than expected and that’s increasing ECB rate cut expectations and reminding investors of the global rate cutting cycle.

With NVDA results behind us, focus turns back to data and the important reports today include Jobless Claims (E: 232K), Pending Home Sales (E: 1.0%) and Final Q2 GDP (E: 2.8% y/y saar).  Of the three, jobless claims are most likely to move markets as a jump in claims will slightly increase hard landing worries, while a drop will further reinforce soft landing expectations.  There is also one Fed speaker today, Bostic (3:30 p.m. ET), but unless he says he supports a 50 bps cut, he’s unlikely to move markets.

Turning to earnings, NVDA was the highlight of the week but there are still several important reports today that will give us important insight on tech and consumer spending.  Notable reports today include: DELL (E: $1.68), MRVL (E: $0.30), BBY (E: $1.15), DG (E: $1.79), , LULU (E: $2.93),  ULTA (E: $5.49).

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.

Renewed Rotation Risks (Smart Money Is Getting Defensive)

/in , /by

Renewed Rotation Risks (Smart Money Is Getting Defensive): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Recent Sector Performance Points to Smart Money Getting Defensive
  • Chart – 10Y-2Y Yield Curve Spread Revisits the Zero-Bound

U.S. equity futures are slightly higher after a mostly quiet night of news as traders look ahead to NVDA earnings.

There was no economic data overnight but the BOJ’s Deputy Governor, Himino, reiterated that policy makers would continue raising rates with the “utmost vigilance,” which supported a modest bid in equity markets and other risk assets overnight.

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports and just one Fed speaker after the close: Bostic (6:00 p.m. ET).

There is a 5-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and given the strong performance in the belly of the duration curve since the start of August, traders will be looking for demand to remain solid to confirm the recent drop in yields is sustainable.

Finally, likely the biggest catalyst of the week will come after the close today with NVDA earnings ($0.65) due shortly after the bell. Other notable companies reporting quarterly results today include CRM ($2.35) and HPQ ($0.86) but the main focus will be on NVDA as options traders are pricing in a volatile 10%+ reaction (up or down) to the earnings release and given the stocks heavy weight in the major indexes, a move of that magnitude will have an impact on the broader market in the back half of the week.

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.

Tech Weakness Amid Bullish Investor Sentiment

/in , /by

Tech Weakness Amid Bullish Investor Sentiment: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Was Tech So Weak Yesterday?
  • How Bullish Is Investor Sentiment? (Very Bullish)
  • Chart – A Concerning Pattern in the SOX

U.S. stock futures are little changed this morning after a mostly quiet night of news as investors look ahead to NVDA earnings tomorrow.

Economically, German GDP rose to 0.0% vs. (E) -0.1% while the German GfK Consumer Climate Index fell to -22.0 vs. (E) -17.9, both of which are reinforcing growth concerns for the Eurozone right now.

Today, there are multiple economic releases to watch including the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 6.9%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 5.7%), Consumer Confidence (E: 100.1), and the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -14.0). Most of the releases are “second tiered” and lesser followed reports but investors will still want to see evidence of stabilizing growth and disinflation trends continuing.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could shed light on investor expectations for Fed policy in the months ahead in the wake of Powell’s Jackson Hole commentary. An auction with demand that is “too strong” could rekindle recession fears while an auction that is “too weak” could trigger hawkish money flows.

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.

What Powell and Uedas’ Friday Comments Mean for Markets

/in , /by

What Powell and Uedas’ Friday Comments Mean for Markets: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Powell and Uedas’ Friday Comments Mean for Markets
  • Weekly Market Preview:  A Big Week for Tech Earnings (Including NVDA on Wednesday)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  A Most Quiet Week But Thursday/Friday Are Important

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet weekend, thanks to momentum from Friday’s rally as investors digest Powell’s promise of coming rate cuts.

Economically, the only notable number overnight was the German Ifo Business Expectations and it slightly beat estimates (86.8 vs. (E) 86.5).

Geopolitically, a cease fire was not reached this weekend between Israel and Hamas although investors remain optimistic that a deal is close.

Today the only notable economic report is July Durable Goods (E: 4.0%) and markets will want to see stability in the data (so close to expectations) to ensure the recent plateau in business spending isn’t becoming a decline.  If Durable Goods is in-line, expect a continuation of the early rally.

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 market is very sensitive to soft labor market data

/in , /by

The market is very sensitive to soft labor market data: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch

Revisions to U.S. jobs data due Wednesday have the potential to weigh on the stock market

The 12-month average for job additions over the revision period was 241,000 — a “very strong” figure that implies a solid labor market, noted Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research. A downward revision of 600,000 would drop the average payrolls gain to 191,000, while a downward revision of 1 million would make what’s been strong jobs data “more middling,” he wrote.

“This matters because the market is very sensitive to soft labor market data and we know that from the recent pop in jobless claims and July jobs report. So, while investors are ok ignoring most disappointing data, they aren’t ignoring soft labor market data and if these revisions are worse than expected, look for it to weigh on stocks today,” Essaye said.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on August 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.

The slow and steady recovery implies some health behind the move

/in , /by

The slow and steady recovery implies some health behind the move: Sevens Report Editor, Tom Essaye, Quoted in Barron’s

The Stock Market Is Quiet. What Could Change That.

“The slow and steady recovery implies some health behind the move,” Sevens Report Research’s Tom Essaye told Barron’s. “The biggest thing of the last 10 days, is sort of how quickly the market has has sort of erased any of the concerns that hit stocks in early August.”

Essaye says Wall Street has reverted to a state where the default path is higher, “unless somebody puts something in front of it that really directly challenges it.”

“And right now, there’s really nothing going on,” he says.

Essaye notes that the very little news we’ve gotten was a bit negative, including the decision by Lowe’s to cut its full-year outlook. But the S&P 500 is still in striking distance of its ninth straight session of gains. He says it will take a truly bad economic number or Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell arguing that inflation is still high to really wake the market up.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on August 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 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.

The Concerning Gap Between Stocks, Treasuries and the Yen

/in , /by

The Concerning Gap Between Stocks, Treasuries and the Yen: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Concerning Gap Between Stocks, Treasuries and the Yen
  • Oil Update (Why is Oil Hitting Multi-Month Lows?)

Futures are slightly higher on more Goldilocks economic data.

The EU and UK August flash composite PMIs were better than expected (51.2 vs. (E) 50.7 in the EU and 53.4 vs. (E) 52.9 in the UK) and that’s supporting the global soft landing narrative.

On inflation, EU wages rose less than expected in Q2, reinforcing expectations for a Sept. rate cut from the ECB.

Today focus will be on economic data as today is the most important day of the week from a data standpoint.  Key reports, in order of importance, include Jobless Claims (E: 234K), August Flash Composite PMI (E: 53.3) and Existing Home Sales (E: 3.90 million).  More Goldilocks data (at or close to expectations) should further support the rally and if that’s the case, new highs for the S&P 500 shouldn’t be a shock.

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.

Watch the BLS Revisions Today

/in , /by

Watch the BLS Revisions Today: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Something to Watch Today: BLS Revisions
  • How a Fed Mistake Would Impact Commodities
  • VIX Expiration Poses Threat to Short-Volatility Trade – Chart

Futures are slightly higher as traders await job growth revisions from the BLS after a mostly quiet night of news.

Economically, Japanese trade data revealed a deeper than anticipated deficit in July but amid solid import/export growth numbers which importantly helped pause a rally in the yen and reduced pressure on risk assets overnight.

Looking into today’s session, there are no typical economic reports on the calendar, however, the BLS Revisions to Net Payroll Growth for the trailing 12-months through March 2024 will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET and a significant downward revision could rekindle the recession fears initially sparked by the July jobs report which would result in broad market volatility.

In the afternoon, there is a 20-Yr Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET which could move yields and influence equity markets before investor focus will turn to the release of the July FOMC Meeting Minutes at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Finally, earnings season continues to wind down but a few notable companies reporting today include: TGT ($2.17), TJX $0.92), ZM ($1.21).

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.

Updated Market Outlook

/in , /by

Updated Market Outlook: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Updated Market Outlook
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will Powell Confirm A September Rate Cut?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  The First Big Number of August (and It Needs to be Goldilocks)

Futures are little changed following a very quiet weekend of news as investors look ahead to more growth data this week and Powell’s speech on Friday.

There was no notable economic data over the weekend or overnight.

Geopolitically, optimism is continuing to build towards a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and that’s weighing on oil prices, although nothing formal has been announced.

Today there is only one economic number, Leading Indicators (E: -0.3%), and barring a big surprise that shouldn’t move markets.  There is also one Fed speaker, Waller (9:15 a.m. ET), and he is part of Fed leadership so if he strongly hints at a September rate cut, that should be a mild tailwind for stocks and bonds.

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 Right Way to Think About Economic Growth Right Now

/in , /by

The Right Way to Think About Economic Growth Right Now: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard (The Right Way to Think About the U.S. Economy)

Futures are slightly lower following a mostly quiet night of news as markets digest Thursday’s strong rally.

The only notable economic report overnight was UK retail sales, which rose 0.8% vs. (E) 0.5% and added to Thursday’s haul of solid global data.

Geo-politically, Israel/Hamas ceasefire talks continued and any breakthrough would be a surprise market positive.

Today there are a few notable economic reports including Consumer Sentiment (E: 67.0), 1-Yr Inflation Expectations: (E: 2.9%), 5-Yr. Inflation Expectations (E: 3.0%) and Housing Starts (1.342M).  However, those numbers aren’t that important to growth so barring a major surprise, they shouldn’t move markets and we should mostly see digestion of Thursday’s big rally.

There is also one Fed speaker today, Goolsbee (1:25 p.m. ET), and he’s dovish do don’t be surprised if he openly talks about cutting rates in September.

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.