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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.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on August 2nd, 2023

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Tech Stocks Lead the Market Lower

Wednesday’s market action is a reminder to investors that stocks can still go down, Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report, said in an interview with Barron’s.

“When you have a market that is essentially pricing in nothing bad happening and all of a sudden you get kind of a surprise – then it’s a reason to sell and I think that’s what we’re seeing today,” Essaye said.

Click here to read the full article.

Why Treasury Yields Surged Yesterday (Hint: Inflation)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Treasury Yields Surged Yesterday (Hint:  inflation)

Futures are flat as markets digest Thursday’s rally and consider multiple reports that a debt ceiling deal is imminent.

Numerous media outlets have reported a two-year debt ceiling deal is imminent, and if that becomes official today we should expect a modest and temporary rally.

AI optimism/euphoria continued overnight with Marvell Technologies (MRVL) rising 18% on strong AI guidance.

Focus today will first be on the debt ceiling, and if a formal deal is announced with should expect a knee jerk rally, although by itself a debt ceiling compromise won’t be a sustainable bullish catalyst.  Outside of the debt ceiling, the key reports today include the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.3% m/m, 4.6% y/y)  and Durable Goods Orders (E: -1.1%) and investors will want to see stability in both reports to hint at ongoing disinflation and a soft landing.  We also get Consumer Sentiment (E: 58.0) and if inflation expectations rise further in that report, it could become a headwind on stocks.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on April 21st, 2023

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Stocks Gain on Signs of Economic Distress

“Since April 3, we’ve seen the yield on the 1-month Treasury bill fall from 4.7% to 3.9%, as investors have shunned near-term Treasury bills that might get caught up in the debt ceiling fight. Conversely, the 3-month Treasury bill yield has risen from 4.9% to 5.2% since April 3, as investors have sold that debt as it will be subject to potential increased volatility as the debt ceiling fight comes to a head,” Tom Essaye, founder of the Sevens Report, wrote Friday. Click here to read the full article.

 

Is the Market Pendulum Swinging Back?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is the Market Pendulum Swinging Back?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet

Stock futures are lower while the dollar and Treasury yields move higher as part of a continuation of last week’s hawkish money flows, partially thanks to strong data overnight.

Economically, the EU Composite PMI jumped to 52.3 vs. (E) 50.7 due to strength in the service sector, bolstering expectations for increasingly aggressive monetary policy in the months ahead which is weighing on risk assets globally this morning.

Today, economic data will be in focus early with the key report in the U.S. being the PMI Composite Flash (E: 47.2) while Existing Home Sales (E: 4.10M) will also be released. A hot PMI print like we saw in Europe earlier this morning would likely add to the hawkish tone and weigh further on stocks today while a weaker, but not terrible report, could see yields and the dollar ease back and allow for a modest relief rally.

As far as other catalysts go, there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak but there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and if yields continue higher in the wake of the auction, expect more pressure on stocks, especially higher valuation/growth names.

Finally, earning season is winding down but a pre-market release by WMT ($1.52) should shed some light on the health of the consumer and could impact markets as well.

How Far Can Stocks Run (New Technical Targets)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Far Can Stocks Run? (New Technical Targets)
  • Why Did the Dollar and Treasury Yields Fall So Hard?

Futures are modestly higher on continued momentum from Thursday’s CPI report and as Chinese officials further signaled changes to their “Zero COVID” policy.

China made more than 20 changes to COVID policies overnight, all of which relaxed COVID rules and further signaled a departure from “Zero COVID.”

Economic data was mixed as German CPI met expectations at 10.4%, while UK GDP and Industrial Production were slightly better than expected.

Today the only notable number is Consumer Sentiment (E: 59.6) and specifically the Five-Year Inflation Expectations Index.  If that number falls further away from 3.0% (and drops to or below 2.7%) that will further fuel the idea that inflation pressures are receding, and stocks should extend the rally.

Election Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Election Preview
  • Chart: Technicals Dominate S&P 500 Price Action – Key Levels to Watch

Stock futures are slightly higher and Treasury yields are largely steady ahead of today’s midterm elections.

Economically, the U.S. NFIB Small Business Optimism Index came in at 91.3 vs. (E) 91.8 while Eurozone Retail Sales met estimates at 0.4% but neither release is materially impacting markets this morning.

There are no additional economic reports today and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak.

In Monday’s Sevens Report we incorrectly said CPI was to be released on Wednesday but the report is due out on Thursday. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Bottom line, focus will be on the midterms today which will likely result in a mostly quiet session, however, there is a 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could cause a move in yields and ultimately impact trading in equities.

What Falls First, Treasury Yields or Earnings?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Key Market Question:  What Falls First, Treasury Yields or Earnings?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  All About Inflation
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI on Thursday is the Key Report

Futures are modestly higher mostly on momentum from Friday’s rally and despite negative COVID news from China and an APPL warning on I-Phone production.

Reports over the weekend pushed back on Chinese authorities abandoning the “Zero COVID” policy, although markets still expect some relaxing of restrictions.

APPL warned that COVID restrictions in China will impact IPhone production, although demand remains strong (so the news isn’t materially impacting the stock).

Today there are no notable economic reports but there are three Fed speakers: Mester (3:40 p.m. ET), Collins (3:40 p.m. ET) and Barkin (6:00 p.m. ET).  If they even slightly push back on the idea that “Terminal” Fed Funds will be higher than expected in September, as Evans did on Friday, then stocks can extend this rebound.

Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Market Watch on October 4th, 2022

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Gold futures end at a 3-week high; silver prices at highest since June

“If U.S. Treasury yields have peaked near term along with the dollar, gold and silver can both extend gains and claw back some of the recent losses”, analysts at Sevens Report Research wrote in Tuesday’s newsletter. Click here to read the full article.

Have We Reached Peak Hawkishness?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are We At Peak Hawkishness?
  • Putting the Pullback in 2-Yr Yields in Perspective: Chart
  • JOLTS Fall Sharply

Stock futures are down roughly 1% this morning as investors digest the sizeable week-to-date gains amid rebounds in Treasury yields and the dollar.

Looking overseas, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised rates 50 bps overnight, meeting consensus expectations while the Eurozone Composite PMI came in at 48.1 vs. (E) 48.2.

Today, the focus will be on economic data early with the ADP Employment Report (E: 200K) due out before the bell as well as data on International Trade in Goods and Services (E: -$68.0B), and then the ISM Services Index (E: 56.0).

There is also one Fed official scheduled to speak in the afternoon: Bostic  (4:00 p.m. ET).

Bottom line, most of this week’s gains have been a function of renewed “peak-hawkishness” hopes however if economic data comes in stronger than expected and we see yields turn back higher and the dollar resume its rally, then we could see stocks give back some of this week’s rally which has admittedly occurred at an unsustainable pace.