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What Makes This Stop? (Key Indicators to Watch)

What Makes This Stop? (Key Indicators to Watch): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Makes This Stop? (Seven Indicators to Watch)
  • Chart – VIX Spikes to Pandemic Highs

There is a sense of stability in global markets this morning as the yen and VIX, two major sources of the recent volatility, are both pulling back amid easing recession fears.

Economically, German Manufacturing Orders rose a solid 3.9% vs. (E) 0.8%, helping to offset EU Retail Sales which fell -0.3% vs. (E) +0.1%.

Today, there is one economic report: International Trade (E: -$72.5B) but the data shouldn’t move markets while there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak.

Looking ahead to mid-day, the Treasury will hold a 52-Week Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 3-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. Investors will be watching the auction results closely to gauge Treasury demand, and if the auctions are weak, that could see some of the recession fears from the last few sessions ease further and allow stocks to recover a good portion of the losses.

Finally, earnings season is starting to wind down but there are a few notable companies releasing results today including: UBER (E: $0.31) ahead of the bell and SMCI (E: $8.10) and ABNB (E: $0.92) after the close.


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The market has likely reached a “tipping point”

The market has likely reached a “tipping point”: Sevens Report Co-Editor, Tyler Richey, Quoted in Morningstar


Stock-market rally has likely reached a ‘tipping point’ following spike in Wall Street’s ‘fear gauge’

A rising Vix coupled with a pickup in demand for bearish put options are signs that the market has likely reached a “tipping point” and could continue to soften in the weeks ahead, according to Tyler Richey, co-editor of Sevens Report Research, in a report shared with MarketWatch on Monday.

Richey suggested a repeat of the selloff that sent the S&P 500 down 10% between late July and late October of last year appears to be the most likely scenario for markets.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on April 9th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

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Reminiscent Of The 2018 ‘Volmageddon’ Event

Reminiscent Of The 2018 ‘Volmageddon’ Event: Tom Essaye Quoted in Morningstar


‘Volmageddon 2’ may be coming to a stock market near you, says this analyst

An important reason why the S&P 500 dropped 1.4% on Tuesday, according to Essaye, was an an overcrowded short side of the options market, which exacerbated the selling.

The action, says Essaye, “was reminiscent of the 2018 ‘Volmageddon’ event that ultimately resulted in several ‘short-volatility’ ETF’s being forced to liquidate as volatility exploded higher amid a more than 10% drop in the S&P 500 in just two weeks.”

“Fast forward to late 2023 and early 2024 and we are once again seeing similar, volatile price action into certain derivatives expirations, namely the monthly VIX futures expirations,” says Essaye. The chart below shows the sharp gap-down sell-offs for the S&P 500 into each of the last three VIX expirations.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on February 16th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

Lastly, 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 Is The VIX Suggesting?

What Is The VIX Suggesting?: Tom Essaye Quoted in Morningstar


What this key stock-market gauge is telling investors amid a rough start to 2024

Meanwhile, a break above the December high for the VIX “would suggest more volatility looming ahead. Conversely, a reversal back towards the current 2024 low of 13.10 would suggest volatility is easing and stocks would be in an improving position to stabilize in the weeks ahead and potentially resume the late-2023 rally,” said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, in a Friday note.

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article published on Morningstar on January 6th, 2024. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Oil Inventories

Lastly, 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.

Important To Watch The S&P 500 Index’s Support Zone

there’s no way The Fed Can Get Dovish: Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch on MSN


Fed day is here. Here are important technical levels to watch for stocks, bonds, and VIX

It is important to watch the S&P500 index’s support zone from 4,050 to 4,170, where the index spent most of April and May, according to Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research. 
On the other hand, “if policy makers deliver a dovish message and signal the hiking cycle is indeed ‘over’ then a relief rally could see stocks rise rapidly back towards the October highs,” according to Essaye.
The first important technical resistance level to watch is 4,225, while beyond that, investors should keep an eye on the level of 4,330, where the index saw a mid-October reversal. For the 2023 stock market rally to resume, the S&P 500 has to beat its October high of 4,377, Essaye wrote. 
“There is growing evidence that the VIX may be forming a near-term top as the ‘fear gauge’ did not close at new October highs last week despite the S&P 500 falling to new multi -month lows,” Essaye wrote.

Also, click here to view the full article published by MSN on November 2nd, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Index’s Support Zone

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.

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What’s the VIX Saying About This Market?

What’s the VIX Saying About This Market? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What’s the VIX Saying About This Market?

Futures are solidly higher as Thursday’s bounce extended overnight following additional reminders that global disinflation is still on going.

The EU Flash HICP (their CPI) rose 4.3% vs. (E) 4.6% and Core HICP increased 4.5% vs. (E) 4.8%, sending an important reminder that disinflation is still on going.

There was no material progress in avoiding a government shutdown overnight (which at this point is likely).

Today focus will be on the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.9% y/y) and put simply, if that number meets or is below expectations, then this bounce back rally should continue.  If the Core PCE Price Index is higher than expectations, don’t be shocked if stocks give back these early gains.  Finally, there is one Fed speaker today, Williams at 12:45 p.m. ET, but he shouldn’t move markets.

What's the VIX Saying


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FOMC Preview: How Long Will Rates Stay High?

FOMC Preview: Strengthen your market knowledge with a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview – How Long Will Rates Stay High?
  • VIX Chart – Is Volatility About to Surge

S&P futures are modestly higher this morning after a favorable dip in EU inflation statistics and upward revisions to global growth forecasts while oil continues to climb towards $100/barrel.

The Eurozone’s Narrow Core HICP (their CPI equivalent) met estimates at 5.3% in August, down from 5.5% in July. The OECD raised their global growth forecast from 2.7% to 3.0%, primarily thanks to strength in the U.S. and Japan while growth estimates for Europe and China were reduced. However, the net increase in the global growth outlook was received as a mild positive this morning.

Looking into the U.S. session, there is just one economic report: Housing Starts and Permits (E: 1.435M, 1.440M). As long as there are no big surprises in the release, markets should fall into a holding pattern as the September FOMC meeting begins in Washington.

However, there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, and if the outcome moves rates materially, stocks could react amid last-minute positioning ahead of tomorrow’s Fed decision.

Fed Preview


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Tom Essaye Quoted in Blockworks on April 20th, 2023

Bitcoin, Ether Hover Below Key Levels While Volatility Dips

“The VIX is trading at the lowest levels since the S&P 500 hit its standing all-time high in the early days of 2022,” Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research, said. “It will be hard to believe the market is poised to casually cruise towards new record highs from here,” he added. “I.e., the bottom of the bear market is not in.” Click here to read the full article.

Special Technical Report Coming Monday

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Special Technical Report Coming Monday
  • Why Did the VIX Just Hit 52 Week Lows?
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update
  • Two Notable Observations from a Quiet Trading Day

Futures are moderately weaker following a disappointing night of earnings.

TSLA, NOK, FFIV and TSMC all missed earnings and provided cautious commentary or guidance, and that’s increasing concerns about an economic slowdown.

Today there are numerous potential catalysts including important economic reports, lots of Fed speak and more earnings reports.

Starting with the data, the key report today is Philly Fed (E: -19.4) and markets will want to see if it confirms the rebound we saw in Empire (if it does, expect some stock weakness as Fed expectations become slightly more hawkish).  We also get Jobless Claims (E: 242K) and any move closer to 300k will be welcomed as it signals a slightly more normal labor market.

Turning to the Fed, there are multiple speakers today including Waller (12:00 p.m. ET), Mester (12:20 p.m. ET), Logan (3:00 p.m. ET) and Bostic (5:00 p.m. ET) and it will be notable to see if they all push back on the rate cut expectations in the markets.

Finally, on earnings, results lately have been underwhelming so these reports are becoming more important.  Earnings we’re watching today include: T ($0.58), TSM ($1.21), AXP ($2.63), UNP ($2.57), PPG ($1.55), CSX ($0.43), STX ($0.18).

Why Stocks Won’t Drop Part II: The Economy

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Won’t Stocks Drop Part II: The Economy
  • VIX Falls to 52-Week Lows – Chart

Hawkish money flows are dominating markets this morning with stock futures falling, yields rising and oil and gold both testing support after hot inflation data overnight.

Economically, U.K. CPI was 10.1% vs. (E) 9.8% y/y in March while the Eurozone Narrow Core HICP reading rose 0.1% to 5.7% meeting estimates. The two inflation prints are causing a hawkish shift in central bank policy expectations this morning, which is in turn rekindling hard landing fears.

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports today however there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could impact both bond and equity markets.

As far as the Fed goes there are two speakers today, but both are after the close: Goolsbee (5:30 p.m. ET) and Williams (7:00 p.m. ET).

That will leave investor focus on earnings early with more big banks and notable consumer financial companies reporting ahead of the bell including: MS ($1.67), CFG ($2.15), SYF ($1.49), ALLY ($0.88), USB ($1.13), and TRV ($3.64), while TSLA ($0.85) and IBM ($1.27) will release results after the close.

Bottom line, the 2-Yr Treasury yield is testing a more than one-month high this morning and stocks are coming for sale broadly which underscores deteriorating sentient among investors with the S&P 500 trading well above 4,100 this week. And if earnings news is not encouraging today, and yields continue to move higher over the course of the session, the selling pressure on equities is likely to continue and liable to accelerate.