Jan 25, 2018 - Market Update (Trump up, Mnuchin down but market is concerned about who will buy US debt; ECB - just up is a problem but Draghi likely not to say anything again); EURUSD set to check 1.2500; Weaker USD good for equities; Gold - make or brake the 1380, then 1484...?; BofA with most blockchain patents; Qualcomm fined USD 1.2 bln by EU; Mexican drug cartels stealing fuel

Short recap

Asia mixed to lower

Europe opening lower

Trump a year ago – USD strength means confidence in US and his presidency

Mnuchin yesterday – USD weakness good for US economy

…and market took it as a future direction of US policy

In other words the US trade war has begun and weak USD is part of it

Market is concerned about widening current account deficit (a problem for USD)

But bigger one is that there are still less and less international investors who like to buy Trys

IMF’s Lagarde – USD value determined by markets

Bitcoin buyers getting more ground

China to tighten control over offshore private equity fundraising

Mexican drug cartels stealing fuel from refineries (USD 1 bln of lost government revenues)

ECB today

Lots of speculations about policy shift – not expecting any change, may be some word playing in March

Recent move in EUR creating some headaches for ECB as inflation levels still low

Unlikely ECB will come up with something hawkish, we need to wait until summer

So growth and inflation have more time to surprise

Draghi to touch FX rates with dovish comments after recent rise in EUR

EUR not overvalued

S&P – strong EUR to delay tapering

EURUSD

USD still under pressure with psychological 1.2500 in sight

Likely to test important 1.2516 (38.2% Fibo of 1.6038/1.0340 move)

Then 1.2597 (61.8% Fibo of 1.3992/1.0340 move)

Support from descending trendline (highs 2008, 2011, 2014)

The 1.2400 may help to push some longs off, to open door towards 1.2300-90 zone

1.2166 (50.0% Fibo), then 1.2092

USDJPY

Interest in USD from importers and retail after o/n decline

Bids sitting at 108.50

Large options (USD 2.3 bln) with strike at 110.00 expiring today

Support 109.06 (76.4% Fibo) and 108.12 & 107.31 lows

Resistance 110.14 (61.8% Fibo)

Equities

Lower USD = higher global equities for time being…

As we have easier credit conditions

And profits of US companies artificially higher due to weaker USD

BofA owning more blockchain patents than peers

SEC looking into GE’s huge insurance charge

Company planning to sell USD 20 bln of assets

Goldman Sachs and Citibank shortlisted to bid for metal business of Scotiabank

EU fines Qualcomm (USD 1.2 bln)

Bombardier and Boeing to hear decision over dispute on Friday

Earnings

Reporting today: Biogen, 3M, Caterpillar, Intel (update on security issues), Western Digital, Celgene, Starbucks

Bonds

10-yr Trys yield at 2.64% vs 2.62% yesterday

10-yr Bund yield at 0.58% vs 0.56% yesterday

No boom to doom for central Europe's bonds when ECB stimulus ends  link

Gold

Facing strong resistance zone where it got rejected in 2014/16/17

Mnuchin, weak USD, inflation up, geopolitical risks supporting gold

More investors using gold as a hedge for potential spike in volatility

With HFs aggressively buying since Dec

Resistance 1375 high, 1380 (38.2% Fibo), 1484 (50.0% Fibo) both based on 2011/15 decline

Source: Saxo Bank 

Data/events

ECB rate decision

Jan 26 – Trump speaking in Davos (1300 GMT)

Will be interesting to see Macron/Merkel and the world

Against protectionism of Trump/US

Jan 30 – US State of the Union

Trump to announce an infrastructure plan but is not clear who would build the infrastructure

Because of his anti-immigration policies, may be Norwegian workers

But having no idea how many of them will come

Also to announce a new security policy moving away from fighting terrorism

And focussing on challenges from growing military strength of Russia and China (more military spending coming)

Jan 31 – FOMC

Feb 3 – Powell taking office as Fed Chair (he is lawyer and not economist)

Feb 16 – Chinese New Year

Should you have any questions feel free to contact me anytime.

Good luck Champs!

Mr Hawk

  

DISCLAIMER: This material was created for informational purposes only and represents the Land of Trading team’s view of the past and current economic and capital market environment. It is not an investment advice and should not be viewed that way at all, and the creators of this material cannot be held liable for any potential losses resulting from trading, where despite this disclaimer someone would consider this material as an investment advice. All rights reserved ©2016. Contact: landoftradingATgmailDOTcom

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Jan 18, 2018 - Market Update (Apple with USD 38 bln tax bill, bringing home USD 250 bln; Renault-Nissan a king over Volkswagen; Goldman Sachs dropping bond trading?; GE still on short side; Junk bonds spreads at record lows, China/Japan getting rid of Trys - nothing new; USDRUB floor between 55.70-56.00; Brent having hard time to stay above USD 70 mark; Biggest Bitcoin mines in China)

Short recap

Asia hitting record levels

Europe opening higher on bullish sentiment from US and Asia 

China growing too fast with respect to economic and pollution standards

Trump fighting back China with intellectual property breaches (likely getting ready for Davos)

Loud calls for EZ reform with new fiscal rules (GE) and joint safe assets (FR)

Equities

Cyber security start-ups having hard time

As very crowded market is moving fast and facing criminal predators, competition is a tough job

Volkswagen produced 10.7 mln cars last year

But the crown goes to alliance of Renault-Nissan though

Peugeot looking to come back to US market using know-how of Opel

Chinese interested in diabetes business from Johnson&Johnson (USD 3-4 bln)

Apple planning to open 2^nd Campus in US that is a part of 5-yr USD 30 bln investment package

And also repatriate USD 250 bln of overseas cash, thus paying USD 38 bln of taxes

Looking to create 20k jobs in US, focussing on data centers for iCloud, AppStore and Apple Music

Earnings

Goldman Sachs hit by a drop in bond trading

What makes question marks about keeping bond trading in current form

Or searching for new profit generating activities

Adjusted profit beat expectations but company is having harder time in trading than rivals

GE shares keep declining on USD 11 bln of charges and likelihood of a breakup

…already touched the GE story: Nov 15, 2017 – Story of the Week: Comparing old and new economy…General Electric and Tesla  link

Morgan Stanley, Bank of New York Mellon, IBM, AMEX reporting

New US corporate tax cut should help earnings to be revised higher

Bonds

10-yr Trys yield at 2.59% vs 2.56% yesterday

10-yr Bund yield at 0.57% vs 0.55% yesterday

Not only China but also Japan is lowering their Trys holdings  link

Back in 2004/05 both China and Japan held 50% of all Trys held by foreigners

And now they do 36% only

Junk bonds - The Great Credit Dilemma: When to Quit After Historic Rally?  link

Corporate bonds too expensive to own, but too valuable to sell

Schroder, Aberdeen fund managers plot exit strategies

USDRUB

Rising oil makes Russian officials not comfortable with strong RUB

As we saw back in 2017, they are quite good at defending certain levels

Support at 56.20 and 55.72 (Apr 2017 low)

Resistance at 56.73 (10 DMA), 56.76 (Sep/Oct 2017 lows), 57.20 (23.6% Fibo)

USDRUB weekly

Source: Saxo Bank

Crude Oil

Supported by decline in private inventories in US

And attacks from rebels in Nigeria

EIA inventories and OPEC Monthly report out today

With speculations about another decline in oil stocks and substantial rise of shale production

Brent having difficulties to stay above USD 70 level

Support 69.06 (10 DMA), 68.19 (23.6% Fibo), 66.84 (38.2% Fibo), 64.91 (50 DMA)

To watch the 66.84 key level

Source: Saxo Bank

WTI

Support 63.15 (10 DMA), 62.75 (23.6% Fibo), 61.43 (38.2% Fibo), 58.77 (50 DMA)

Source: Saxo Bank

Bitcoin miners locations

…or where is the cheap electricity and smart people are…

Data/events

ECB’s Weidmann (0800 GMT)

ECB’s Coeure (1430 GMT)

ECB’s Villeroy (1730 GMT)

Fed’ Mester (2305 GMT)

IMF’s Lagarde to speak today as well

Jan 19 – US fiscal deadline

Jan 23-26 – Trump in Davos with his crew

Will be interesting to see Macron/Merkel and the world

Against protectionism of Trump/US

Jan 23 – BoJ – any hints on potential taper?

Jan 25 - ECB

Jan 30 – US State of the Union

Trump to announce an infrastructure plan but is not clear who would build the infrastructure

Because of his anti-immigration policies

Jan 31 – FOMC

Feb 5 – Powell as Fed Chair

Feb 16 – Chinese New Year

Should you have any questions feel free to contact me anytime.

Good luck Champs!

Mr Hawk

  

DISCLAIMER: This material was created for informational purposes only and represents the Land of Trading team’s view of the past and current economic and capital market environment. It is not an investment advice and should not be viewed that way at all, and the creators of this material cannot be held liable for any potential losses resulting from trading, where despite this disclaimer someone would consider this material as an investment advice. All rights reserved ©2016. Contact: landoftradingATgmailDOTcom

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Jan 15, 2018 - Market Update (USD hit by non-US monetary tightening, No Bitcoin ETFs/mutual funds (for now), Bulls at extreme levels, SoftBank to list mobile biz, EUR longs up again, EURUSD to consolidate today, Gold to attack 2017 high at 1357, facing 1357-1375 range resistance)

Short recap

Asia in green

Europe opening higher

Trumps racist comments are dangerous in general

And can also change the behaviour of the public

Thus hurting the consumption habits, investments and economy

FR and GE looking at EZ investment budget/reforms

USD hit by markets pricing monetary policy tightening in other developed countries

Bitcoin ETF Fast Track Derailed by SEC Liquidity, Safety Worries  link

Applications for 12 ETFs and 2 mutual funds withdrawn from SEC approval process

On liquidity and security concerns

Equities

SoftBank Group to list mobile phone biz (USD 18 bln)

This step should cement the ambitions as a global investor in tech

Lactalis to compensate the victims of Salmonella

BlackRock with USD 6 trln of AUM

Earnings

Markets ready for strong figures only

BofA, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Schlumberger, ASML reporting

Bulls are at extreme levels

Markets with 15 months of gains

Equity funds experiencing record inflows

Source: Yardeni Research

Bonds

10-yr Trys yield at 2.55% vs 2.55% on Friday

10-yr Bund yield at 0.58% vs 0.52% on Friday

2-yr Trys yield at 2.00% after a recent sharp rise

2-yr Bund yield at -0.62%

ECB’s Weidmann calling for exact QE end date

ECB still with QE despite economy getting stronger

Bill Gross (Janus): Bonds are in a bear market  link

“The 1.45% for tens can legitimately be cited as the end of the bond bull market which began at 15.8% in 1981 and provided prescient portfolio managers with the potential for huge capital gains and the moniker of “total return”

COT report

EUR longs at 145k vs 128k week before

JPY shorts at 126k vs 122k week before

GBP longs at 26k vs 16k week before

EURUSD

ECB Minutes after taste still in the market

Draghi is definitely happy as higher EUR and yields tighten monetary conditions

What in turn gives him more time to keep negative rates despite EZ economy is getting stronger 

EUR is also supported by GE coalition talks and Merkel/Macron calls for EZ reforms

Bullish outside week is completed

Consolidation should be the name of the game today

Support at 1.2100, 1.2088, 1.2078 (23.6% Fibo), 1.2046 (10 DMA), 1.2041 (2012 low)

Resistance at 1.2227 (50% Fibo of 2014/15 move), 1.2330 (descending trendline – 2008/2011/2014 and 2008 low)

But serious one at 1.2644 (61.8% Fibo)

For Elliott Waves lovers the 1.2288 is critical 

Looking from short side at EUR

EURUSD daily

Focus on Fibo levels and yellow zones

Source: Saxo Bank

EURUSD weekly

Focus on two red circles (highs and descending trendlines)

Source: Saxo Bank

Gold

Specs added 110k lots recently on weaker USD, geopolitical risks

Resistance at 1357 (2017 high) and 1357-75 range

Support at 1321 (23.6% Fibo)

Source: Saxo Bank

Data/events

Should be quite day 

US closed on account of Martin Luther King Jr day

Jan 19 – US fiscal deadline

Jan 23-26 – Trump in Davos with his crew

Will be interesting to see Macron/Merkel and the world

Against protectionism of Trump/US

Jan 23 – BoJ – any hints on potential taper?

Jan 25 - ECB

Jan 30 – US State of the Union

Jan 31 – FOMC

Feb 5 – Powell as Fed Chair

Feb 16 – Chinese New Year

Should you have any questions feel free to contact me anytime.

Good luck Champs!

Mr Hawk

  

DISCLAIMER: This material was created for informational purposes only and represents the Land of Trading team’s view of the past and current economic and capital market environment. It is not an investment advice and should not be viewed that way at all, and the creators of this material cannot be held liable for any potential losses resulting from trading, where despite this disclaimer someone would consider this material as an investment advice. All rights reserved ©2016. Contact: landoftradingATgmailDOTcom

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Jan 11, 2018 - Market Update (Crytpos getting hit in SoKo, Chinese like Trys anyway, 10-yr Trys yields holds above 2.50% despite China/BoJ, USDJPY looking towards 110.00 ?, VIX above 10 but still very low, Bayer hoarding cash by selling more Covestro, Aramco seeking cheap loans ahead of IPO, PIMCO to buy more Trys on recent weakness, SNB with profit of USD 55 bln)

Short recap

Asian in red as stocks getting nervous, VIX above 10

Europe opening lower

Cryptos – SoKo preparing a trading ban, tax authorities cracking on some exchanges

China – halt of Trys buying based on wrong info (I like it as some made a nice money..)

US attacking NAFTA, opting for more protectionism

While French Macron signing nice contracts in China

Equities

Volatility still remains low but that can change quickly

As markets may get nervous at current record levels

Will get more hints from Q4 earnings season kicking off 

Earnings may be irrelevant to some extent and investors will be more interested in discussing:

US effective tax rates, CAPEX outlooks and buybacks/dividend payouts

…what about positioning ourselves in cash, gold and bonds without any equity link in 2018?

Bayer selling bigger stake in Covestro (EUR 1.5 bln) to hoard the cash

Intel may go short on security issues against its competitors

Aramco seeking cheap loans before IPO

Canada speeding up Basel rules implementation

Likely this year

PIMCO may buys some US Trys on the recent weakness

Berkshire Hathaway moving higher on Buffett’s succession moves

By adding Abel, Jain to the board

SNB with USD 55 bln profit in 2017  link 

From its USD 800 bln holdings of US/EU stocks, bonds and gold

Bonds

10-yr Trys yield at 2.53% (printing high at 2.59% yesterday)

Surprisingly staying above 2.50% level despite China denouncing halt of Trys purchases

10-yr Bund yield at 0.47%

Spikes in US 2-yr and 5 yr yields were translated yesterday into 10-yr Trys/Bunds as well

Chinese slowdown or hald of Trys purchases and speculation about BoJ taper were the main triggers

Investors look at US inflation linked bonds as economic growth, rising oil and commodity prices

Are likely to spur inflation

BoJ keeps bond buying unchanged despite news from yesterday 

EURUSD

Resistance at 1.1962 (23.6% Fibo), 1.1994 (10 DMA), offers sitting above 1.2000

Support at 1.1915, 1.1831 (10/50 DMA)

Source: Saxo Bank

USDJPY

111.71 (200 DMA) may act as a support for correction higher

112.00 again in sight but seller sitting here

Resistance at 111.89 (38.2% Fibo), 112.24 (100 DMA) and 112.37 (Ichimoku)

The potential rally should fade here as well

JP investors like US yields but unhappy with recent moves in JPY

Chinese Trys plans and BoJ potential tapering as themes fade away

BoJ hates volatility – likely to keep all under control as they proved with no change to JGB buying today

Interesting to see USDJPY not bouncing higher after China/BoJ today and higher Trys yields?

One may think that further JPY strength is to come…

Support at 111.02 (50.0% Fibo), then 111.26 and 110.83 (short specs may bail out here)

And we can see a dip to 110.14 (61.8% Fibo) with psychological 110.00 level next

Source: Saxo Bank

Gold

After consolidation on rising yields higher

As the news about China slowing down/halting Trys purchases and BoJ potential tapering (resulting in stronger JPY/weaker USD) pushed gold higher

Still feels support from stocks in red and rising physical demand from China

But need a correction before moving higher again

Support at 1314 (10 DMA), then 1300 and 1290 (100 DMA)

Resistance at 1321 (23.6% Fibo)

Source: Saxo Bank

Data/events

Fed’s Dudley (2030 GMT)

Eurogroup president speaking about future of EZ (1630 GMT)

Jan 19 – US fiscal deadline

Jan 23-26 – Trump in Davos

Jan 23 – BoJ – any hints on potential taper?

Jan 25 - ECB

Jan 30 – US State of the Union

Jan 31 – FOMC

Feb 5 – Powell as Fed Chair

Feb 16 – Chinese New Year

Should you have any questions feel free to contact us anytime.

Good luck Champs!

  

Mr Hawk

DISCLAIMER: This material was created for informational purposes only and represents the Land of Trading team’s view of the past and current economic and capital market environment. It is not an investment advice and should not be viewed that way at all, and the creators of this material cannot be held liable for any potential losses resulting from trading, where despite this disclaimer someone would consider this material as an investment advice. All rights reserved ©2016. Contact: landoftradingATgmailDOTcom

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Jan 8, 2018 – Weekly Commodity – Commodity Index rebalancing may bring corrections this week

The second week of the year is usually about Commodity Index rebalancing. During this process Commodity Index funds adjust their portfolios to those indices they follow. This often results in buying the worse performing commodities and selling the high performers. Some commodities may see a short term bounce or drop but without fundamental support any correction will be short lived

Oil

The main topic on the ooil markets is the increasing compliance of OPEC members with the extented agreement to cap oil production, although this is in some cases forced by external factors as in case of Venezuela. How ever the effect is the same, at the ned of the equation containing less supply and rising demand the result can be only hogher prices. The positive mood is also supported by overall rise of manufacturing activity. The Energy sector overall maybe not loking that bright due to low Natural gas prices but the oil bulls seem to be driven by strong fundamentals. However WTI is currently testing a key resistance (or rather the top of resistance zone) which could be hard to break as technical sellers will increase activity – also dont forget about rebalancing as crude had a very good year in 2017 and positions need to be adjusted.

Weekly Chart WTI Crude

Corn

Grains in general had a bad year despite several attempts to bounce, no real trend reversal took place. The high ending stocks and concerns about weak US exports pushing prices down. There are fears that the USDA Wasde report will bring another weak export data although on the spot market the export premiums seem to move despite missing any support of freight prices. After corn prices drop again below 350 this opens the room for testing 340 or even 330 in the coming weeks.

Weekly Chart Chicago Corn Futures

Sugar

With the cancelled European sugar quotas the market doesn‘t have a bright future ahead. The prices in Europe are still strongly diverging from the global sugar markets altough the move will have to come after the minimum sugar prices in Europe where also ending with the quota system. The prices tested 15.50 twice and recently dropped back. Give the oversupply and missing any short term weather threats, sugar will probably revisit the bottom of the uptrend channel which could be also broken on the way to tes new lows this year however the prices at or below production cost will bring drop in supplies in the long run.

Weekly Chart Sugar No 11

Good Luck and remember to watch your risk and be consistent.

Mr. Tech Man

DISCLAIMER: This material was created for informational purposes only and represents the Land of Trading team’s view of the past and current economic and capital market environment. It is not an investment advice and should not be viewed that way at all, and the creators of this material cannot be held liable for any potential losses resulting from trading, where despite this disclaimer someone would consider this material as an investment advice. All rights reserved ©2016.

Contact: landoftradingATgmailDOTcom, Blog: landoftrading.blogspot.com

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