Feb 6, 2018 - Market Update (No recession short-term, healthy correction done, no global contagion, so let's hunt for bargains; One Fed hike is priced off; Watch today for Trys yields, JPY crosses, VIX; New turning points for VIX at 22 & 30; XIV a problem for Credit Suisse; BNSF Railway (part of Berkshire) joining Blockchain in Transport Alliance; Hedging by book: long gold, JPY, 10- and 30-yr Trys; The panic is over, moving to the last leg up of 2009 bull run;German coalition talks well covered blockchain)

Short recap

Asia in red

Europe opening lower

US Congress to vote on government funding

German coalition talks well covered blockchain technology to make Germany a fintech hub

Draghi not ok with EUR volatility due to potential inflation miss

Kuroda – no near-term hikes

Question – what now?

Honestly, I am not sure either…

…as Janet is celebrating and Powell not being able to find the “Buy” button

Market is down and Trump focussing on long term fundamentals and not the short term sell off

It reminds me local CEE politicians who cheer and show up in the public only in good times

Let’s sum up a bit

S&P 500 was 12% above 200 DMA – markets do not stay very long 10% above 200 DMA

(for regular bull market it is between 5-10%)

Technicals showed way-overbought markets

Most of the market followed the same direction (robots, ETFs, investors selling volatility) for months/years

Selling volatility/insurance and now covering positions

But after market dropping more than 6% all start to hedge (thus more selling)

S&P 500 found support at 2538 (200 DMA) after touching low of 2530

DAX didn’t care about 200 DMA and found support around 2015 highs, 2017 support levels

And below 12 275 (76.4% Fibo) after printing 12 141 low

VIX skyrocketed above 33 (up 113% on a day) but corrected (25+ levels signal market fear)

XIV (short volatility ETF) plunged (speculation that Credit Suisse lost USD 500 mln)

Let’ wait for official comments

Hedging based on history

Long Gold – pretty unmoved (sitting right below resistance zone (1357-1375)

Long JPY – sitting right lows of 108.12/107.31 acting as support but not very affected

Long 10- and 30-yr Trys – enjoyed very decent rally yesterday

Why to hedge?

CBs believe in rising rates globally on inflation pressures and strong growth

But China is slowing down and coping with huge credit problems

US economy topped, EU to follow soon and as Japan population is old, the lag

Example from 2011 – losses prior week, losses on Monday, more at the open on Tuesday

And recovery taking more than half a year…

What to do next?

As there is no recession risk near term, the healthy correction & late stage bull market panic is done

Stock markets will hopefully find their calm soon

So we can focus on hunting as a part of final leg up of the bull market that started back in 2009

…but be aware of:

FX, EM unaffected (EM equities down only 5%) – a positive sign

One Fed hike is priced off; If volatility continues another one can get priced off

No global contagion – a positive sign  

Watch today for Trys yields, JPY crosses, VIX (can fly in both directions with turning points at 22 or 33)

JPY 1m ATM vols (jumped from 6% to 10%)

Equities

Broadcom bidding for Qualcomm (USD 121 bln)

Bayer to sell more assets (seeds/pesticides) to please EU as it buys Monsanto

Elliot Advisors don’t like BHP’s dual listing (among other things)

Energy stocks still worth of looking at (also multiplied by recent sell off)

Boeing keen on a new mid-market jet

Bristol-Myers still behind Merck with cancer drugs testing data

Apple and Cisco come together to work with insurance companies on cyber policy products

Banks moving away from models to stock picking on new research rules

BNSF Railway (part of Berkshire) joining Blockchain in Transport Alliance

Earnings

Allergan, GM, Gilead Sciences, Walt Disney

S&P 500 daily

DAX daily

Source: Saxo Bank

Bonds

10-yr Trys yield at 2.65% vs 2.86% yesterday

Yield at 3.00% a buying opportunity?

10-yr Bund yield at 0.73% vs 0.76% yesterday

Bitcoin

Bitcoin's Brutal Week Is Even Worse in South Korea  link

So-called kimchi premium disappears amid government clampdown

Bitcoin prices globally are sliding to their lows of the year

Data/events

ECB’s Weidmann (0900 GMT)

Fed’s Bullard (1350 GMT)

Feb 16 – Chinese New Year

Mar 4 – Elections in Italy

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

Read More

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

Read More

July 7, 2017 - Market Update (Good NFPs may trigger collapse in bonds/stocks, EZ stocks under pressure from higher yields/EUR, BoJ buying and buying, ECB not respecting allocation key, thus pushing core yields/EUR higher, EUR - make it through 1.1500 or ? Berkhsire to buy Oncor, Celgene/BeiGene to cooperate)

Short recap

Asia in red

Europe opening lower

Flash crash in Silver

Trump to meet with Putin

Very good US NFPs numbers may trigger collapse in bonds and stocks

As the risk of rising rates further will all implications will be higher

ECB Minutes with some tightening of financial conditions

Central Banks’ Reversals Signal the End of One Era and the Beginning of Another (Bridgewater CIO)  link

Equities

EZ stocks under pressure from higher rates and stronger EUR (like capital/debt intensive utilities)

But banks/financials doing well

In general financials (higher profits), health care (defensive play), consumer staples and techs (low debt) generally doing better

China pushing GM, Mercedes and Volkswagen to recall vehicles with air bags produced by Takata

Volvo selling 25% stake in Deutz

Berkshire to buy Oncor (utility)

Microsoft to cut 30k jobs (mostly outside US)

Dish Network and Amazon.com in talks about partnership

Knee surgery done by robots? Top medical techs working on…

Axis Capital to buy Lloyd’s Novae

EU to fine Merck, GE and Canon

Celgene and BeiGene agree on tumor cancer treatment cooperation

Bonds

BoJ to purchase an unlimited amount of 10-yr bonds at 0.11% yield

10-yr Trys yield at 2.39% vs 2.33% yesterday morning

10-yr Bund yield at 0.57% vs 0.47% yesterday morning

Broke an important 0.50% level, next is 0.60% and 1.00%

Looks like the move higher in core EZ bond yields comes from ECB

As it has not purchased assets fully in line with allocation key

What in turn supports EUR

Higher gov bond yields represent a risk for bonds with long durations and EM as such

EURUSD

Bounced off the pivot 1.1300 (post election high)

As mentioned on Monday getting way over 1.1600 not sustainable

Trading right below strong resistance from descending trendline and 1.1445, then 1.1615 high

If above resistances are broken we can eventually get ready for a move towards 1.2000/1.2500

With first target at 1.1714 (1.1750)

In order to look at 1.1580 need get through 1.1450

On the top of very strong resistance range

1.1400, 1.1344 (38.2% hourly Fibo) and 10 DMA at 1.1365 providing some support

But bear in mind that financing long EURUSD positions is pretty expensive swap wise

USDJPY

Pretty resilient in risk off mood

Broke descending trendline

Resistance at 114.36 high

Support at 113.05 (76.4% Fibo)

Gold

Getting support from geopolitical risks

Support at 1214 low

Resistance at 1231 (200 DMA), 1234 (76.4% Fibo) and rising trendline

Data/Events

US NFPs

Payrolls 179k exp vs 138k prior

Unemployment rate 4.3% exp vs 4.3% prior

Earnings 0.3% exp vs 0.2% prior

Participation …. vs 62.7% prior

Fed to publish its semi-annual report on mon pol (1500 GMT)

July 7/8 – G20 meeting

To discuss terrorism, free trade and climate

Trump meeting Putin while Merkel hosting them

Trump readying for a steel fight and withdraw from international talks on financial regulation

July 12 – Yellen testifying before Congress (prepared text to be released at 1230 GMT)

July 20 – ECB meeting

July 26 – FOMC meeting

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

Read More

May 5, 2017 - Market Update

Short recap

Asia lower on commodities losing the ground on worries about the global growth

Europe opening lower

DAX printing new historical high

Praet pushed EURUSD higher with ECB guidance shift to focus on data

House approved new healthcare bill

Now it is heading to Senate where it will face a strong opposition

EZ to grant a relief on Greek debt but reforms first

Equities

Ferrari driving super high

Having the room to go even higher among luxurious brands based on fundamentals?

Johnson & Johnson to pay USD 110 mln in cancer dispute

CIBC making offer for PrivateBancorp better (USD 4.9 bln)

Earnings season,

Berskshire Hathaway reporting, the annual shareholders meeting to follow

Bonds

Bond markets pricing in Macron’s win

FR-GE spread down to 44 bps

10-yr Trys yield at 2.35% - substantial rise on June hike expectations

10-yr Bund yield at 0.38%

EURUSD higher ahead of French elections

Move in EUR, not USD

Strong resistance at 1.1020 (descending trendline on daily chart)

But USD strength can come from much better headline NFPs or earnings rising more than +0.3%

Eventually, the rising peripheral spreads

Data

US: NFPs – market not expecting any surprise based on strong ADP

Full focus on earnings growth given the full employment

Headline +185k exp. vs +98k prior

Unemployment rate 4.6% exp. vs 4.5% prior

Average hourly earnings +0.3% exp. vs +0.2% prior

Fed speakers (GMT):

Fischer 15:30

Williams 16:45

Yellen, Evans, Rosengren, Bullard 17:30

Upcoming

Sunday – French presidential elections 2^nd round (Macron/Le Pen – 60/40)

May 25 – OPEC/Non-OPEC meeting

Jun 11/18 – French Legislative (Parliamentary) elections (a big question mark for Macron to gain majority)

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

   

Read More

Apr 18, 2017 - Market Update

Short recap

Asia lower

Europe opening higher, UK lower but heading lower now

Markets getting ready for French elections this Sunday and developments around North Korea

Need some risk events to go away to focus on fundamentals and earnings season again

Trump congratulated Erdogan in a call

Appreciated Turkey’s support in Syria attack

Mnuchin smoothed out Trump’s comments against strong USD in a short term

Strong currency in a long term reflecting strength and confidence in the economy

But may hurt exports short term

Admitted that health care bill stop delaying tax reform discussions

US fully supporting Japan’s security

Japan appreciates all options against North Korea on the table

Chinese real estate prices keep rising

Despite cooling measures

Fed’s Fisher glad about muted market reaction to potential taper

Stocks

Genentech (Roche Holding) received approval from FDA on bladder cancer drug

Volkswagen positive on China sales grow this year

Wal-Mart looking to enter the online fashion world by Bonobos acquisition

To face competition from Amazon.com

Berkshire and Juwai.com working together to help Chinese to buy properties in US

Boeing keeps laying off employees

M&A in US telecom industry coming as the ban will be lifter in the coming days

Earnings season

Mostly US names reporting but Europe should bring more positive surprises

Need very strong earnings to push equity markets higher

Goldman Sachs – expecting a positive surprise supported by investment banking and bond trading. Markets also waiting for insides about the use of data and technology to be more efficient and profitable.

Bank of America – expecting positive results based on increased trading and rate hikes

UnitedHealth Group – should benefit from clients leaving Obamacare but lots of uncertainty after Trump lost the healthcare vote

IBM – not to surprise the market on a positive note as the company is still turning around

Johnson & Johnson – investors are curious how the company is coping with Obamacare repeal defeat, ongoing Actelion acquisition (USD 30 bln) and future plans

Yahoo – let’s check the last earnings report before getting acquired by Verizon

Bonds

GE-FR spread at 72 bps

Markets waiting for French elections results

Hedging started to go through the market last week

10-yr Trys yield at 2.25%

10-yr Bund yield at 0.19%

EURUSD – support 1.0566 (23.6% Fibo)

Resistance 1.0706 (38.2% Fibo)

Buyers sitting in 1.0550-1.0600 area

USDJPY – Mnuchin setting support line for the cross

Strong support at 108.82 (200 DMA) holding

DXY – support at 100

Resistance 101 (76.4% Fibo/100 DMA)

Gold – looking at 1295/1300 resistance; 1315 (Fibo 76.4%)

Likely to correct first to 1263/1270; 1278 (Fibo 61.8%)

Reacting to retracing of JPY and bond yields

Oil – recent rally was supported by strong short-covering with few new longs

Data

Fed’s George to speak

Upcoming:

Apr 23 – French presidential elections - still 40% of voters undecided

Apr 29 – EU Summit to sign off the Brexit negotiations guidelines – until then we won’t have clearer EU position on Brexit

May 7 – French presidential elections 2^nd round

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

Read More