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What’s the VIX Saying About This Market?

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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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What the Hawkish Fed Decision Means for Markets

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Hawkish Fed Decision: Strengthen your market knowledge with a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Hawkish Fed Decision Means for Markets
  • Key Levels to Watch:  Post-Fed Takeaways
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are moderately lower on momentum from Wednesday’s late sell-off. As the Fed’s hawkish statement and projections weighed on global markets overnight.

The Norges Bank (Central Bank of Norway) hiked rates by 25 bps and signaled another hike in December. This wasn’t expected and added to hawkish central bank anxiety.

Economically there were no notable reports overnight.

Today will be another busy day and the first important event is the Bank of England Rate Decision (E: 25 bps hike).  If the BOE hikes 25 bps and strongly signals another hike is coming, that will be incrementally hawkish and likely add to global selling pressure.

Looking at economic data, there are two important reports today: Jobless Claims (E: 225K) and Philly Fed (E: 0.5).  Especially after yesterday’s declines, markets will want to see stable data, because if data is “Too Hot” it’ll push Treasury yields higher and weigh on stocks and if data is suddenly very bad it’ll increase stagflation concerns.  We also get Existing Home Sales (E: 4.10M) but that number shouldn’t move markets.

 

Hawkish Fed

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FOMC Preview: How Long Will Rates Stay High?

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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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What’s Causing the Increased Volatility in Stocks?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What’s Causing the Increased Volatility in Stocks?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Do the Three Pillars of the Rally Stay Intact?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Key Inflation Data This Week (CPI on Thursday)

Futures are rebounding modestly from last week’s declines following a quiet weekend of news and ahead of an important week of inflation data.

Economically, the only notable number was German Industrial Production, which fell more than expected (-1.5% vs. (E.) -0.5%) and again underscored growing recession risks in Europe.

Today the key economic report is the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (9:00 a.m. ET) as this is viewed as an anecdotal reading on inflation, and markets will want to see a further decline in car prices.

We also get Consumer Credit (E: $13.00B) and there are two Fed speakers, Harker (8:15 a.m. ET) and Bowman (8:30 a.m. ET), and markets will want to see those events reinforce the Goldilocks narrative (solid consumer spending and the Fed basically done with rate hikes).

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on May 9th, 2023

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U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Investors Look Ahead to Inflation Data

With increasing focus on the debt ceiling, investors will be keenly focused on today’s meeting between President Biden and Congressional leadership as hopes for a delay to September are building and any disappointment of those hopes could result in volatility across asset classes, said Tom Essaye, the founder of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Blockworks on April 20th, 2023

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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.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on March 24th, 2023

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Stocks Gain as Volatile Week Ends

“Bottom line, banks have reemerged as the primary influence on markets in the back half of the week and if the weakness in the sector continues today, stocks will have a very hard time extending yesterday’s modest bounce,” says Tom Essaye, the founder of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

FOMC Meeting Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • VIX Chart – Is Volatility About to Surge Again?

U.S. stock futures are tracking European markets lower this morning amid a hawkish reaction to strong economic data and disappointing earnings from UBS and Samsung.

Economic data in Europe showed a reversal back higher in French inflation and better than-feared growth in the EU which is resulting in more hawkish money flows ahead of the several key central bank decisions this week and that is ultimately weighing on risk assets this morning.

Looking into today’s session, there are a few economic reports to watch in the U.S. (in order of importance): Q4 Employment Cost Index (E: 1.1%), Consumer Confidence (E: 109.0), Chicago PMI (E: 45.1), and the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: -0.5%).

With the FOMC Meeting getting underway, the macro focus will be on rate markets and expectations for the terminal rate as tomorrow’s 25 basis point hike is priced in with nearly 100% confidence. If market-based terminal rate expectations rise today, expect further pressure on risk assets and lower equity prices broadly.

Meanwhile, earnings season continues in full force today with notable releases coming from: UPS ($3.58), GM ($1.65), XOM ($3.32), MCD ($2.45), CAT ($3.95), and AMD ($0.67).

Tom Essaye Interviewed on BNN Bloomberg on January 3rd, 2023

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Gold is the top metal pick for kicking off 2023: Tom Essaye

Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss his market take for the new year. Essaye says that nothing fundamentally changed in the markets, despite it being a new year, and discusses his advocacy for defensive sectors amid Q1 volatility and lower returns. He says that gold is looking particularly attractive when compared to its commodity peers. Click here to watch the full interview.

The Key Events to Start 2023

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Key Events to Start 2023

Futures are slightly higher following a quiet night of news as markets bounce following Wednesday’s declines.

The economic calendar was mostly quiet overnight and the only notable economic report was Euro Zone Money Supply while was essentially in-line with expectations, rising 5.4% vs. (E) 5.5%.

In China, COVID cases continue to explode higher and there were reports of overwhelmed hospitals, but officials are proceeding with a full economic reopening.

Today the focus will be on Jobless Claims (E: 222K) and markets will want to see this number move higher towards 250k (and ultimately 300k).  If claims remain stubbornly low, that could weigh on stocks (like it did last week).