Mar 16, 2017 - Market Update

Short recap

Asia took the inspiration from Wall Street on dovish sounded Fed

EU opening higher on significant repricing of equities after Dutch elections and Fed

The Dutch stayed smart and said no to nationalism, thus sending the wave of relief across Europe

Fed still on the safe side

Hiked 25 bps, still sees 3 hikes this year as economy is doing well

On track to reach 2% inflation target, outlook for hikes/pace unchanged

Overall positive FOMC (in line) but what surprised many was no upgrade to the outlook/pace of hikes (dots) for 2017/18 despite the stronger data in Jan/Feb

That may prove that Fed is open to create asset bubbles and accept higher inflation over dumping the growth

Next hikes likely in June and Sept, Dec may bring balance sheet reduction talk

S&P 500 eying 2400

DAX to retest the April 2015 highs at 12 400

And may find additional support from another rise in car sales in EU (proving that economy is doing well)

Inditex (owner of Zara) doing better than H&M on the back of growing online business and better presence in emerging markets

Audi under emission scandal scrutiny

EDF working hard to put back to use 4 nuclear reactors after technical issues

FX – we need to respect the magnitude of the moves

EURUSD – back to the range 1.0500-1.0800/50

FOMC and Dutch election risks are off

Now we have Trump to watch as the importance of Fed is much lower as per their data dependency

But only until another round of speculations about June 14 hike re-emerge again

USDJPY – to follow yields, back to the range now

May get lower on yields even to touch the 111.50 level

Kuroda sees 1% inflation in 2018

FX options

Vols lower across the board

1m EURUSD down to 6.7% (lowest since Sep 2016)

1m USDJPY down to 7.9% (lowest since Dec 2015)

On the other hand overnight vols up on central bank meetings:

EURNOK, EURCHF, EURGBP, USDTRY - all up

Gold – fully depending on USD and yields

1221 important for further move up

But geopolitical risk of nationalism in EU receded

  

10-yr Trys yields at 2.52%

Experienced covering of shorts in Trys yesterday (strongest move since June 2016)

Questions – how durable this move is?

FR-GE yields spread below 60 bps on lower Le Pen fear

Data

BoJ meeting

SNB meeting (to be watched as EURCHF is not behaving in a normal way)

BoE meeting – no change expected

Trump to present budget (1100 GMT)

US: Housing Starts – expected slightly higher

US: Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey – expected a small dip

Mar 17 – Merkel meeting Trump

Mar 17-18 – G20 FinMin 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

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Mar 15, 2017 - Market Update

Short recap

Asia saw some profit taking ahead of FOMC

EU stocks opening higher

EU may officially authorize the start of Brexit talks on June 20 meeting

China keeps building in disputed South China Sea

Interesting to see extremely low level of volatility across many asset classes despite Trump and his policies

May be something is already boiling and FOMC tonight will be the trigger

Oil volatility giving the lead to equity markets

Lower oil may be a new catalyst for stocks

S&P 500 levels 2350/2400

Would need a strong impulse from FOMC to break 2400

US tech and healthcare overstretched and most sensitive to any correction

Volkswagen still recovering from diesel emission scandal and seems to be motivated to search for a tighter cooperation with other big names in the industry, like Fiat-Chrysler for example

Safran still interested in Zodiac Aerospace

Credit Suisse Fear Barometer (S&P500 puts to calls) strongly up as investors pay more for downside protection

EURUSD – crucial for bulls to stay above 1.0505/15 level

Still within the wider range 1.0500/1.0850

Tomorrow’s trading (after FOMC) to show further direction

But wouldn’t be surprised if we stayed range bound again

Base setup – a contrarian view:

ECB can not be dovish going to G20 and on German higher rates hopes

Should Germany want higher rates and higher currency, the Germanexit needs to take place

USD not reacting to strong data doesn’t mean bearish view

Monthly chart setup showing strong demand around 1.0500 level

FOMC can give the confirmation to break the level and head to parity

Than to 0.9500 in medium term

Likely this move will be accompanied by spike toward 1.0750/0850 as market will look for liquidity

Yields expected to spike up but correct in the coming days (as history shows)

10-yr Trys yield likely to test 2.64% level that contained the recent selloff

If Fed not convincing about higher pace of rate hikes due to Trump policy uncertainty

USD selloff to follow what will hurt more then stronger currency

Looks like being bullish USD is an edge and market is positioning for weaker USD

On the other hand ECB and FOMC will need to take into account lower oil prices

And their impact on inflation at some point

Data

US: Consumer Price Index – expecting to touch 2.7%

US: Retail Sales – to easy slightly but keep rising

FOMC – 25 bps hike expected

But the wording on the pace of future hikes the most important

Dutch elections (polling stations close at 2000 GMT, first exit polls to start right after)

US debt ceiling deadline

This week is busy:

Mar 16 – BoJ meeting (right after Fed hiking…)

Mar 16 – SNB meeting (to be watched as EURCHF is not behaving in a normal way)

Mar 16 – BoE meeting

Mar 17 – Merkel meeting Trump

Mar 17-18 – G20 FinMin 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

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Mar 14, 2017 - Market Update

Short recap

Europe opened lower

Brexit bill approved without any amendments – victory for May

Not to be invoked before Mar 27

FTSE pushed to retest the highs

14 mln Americans to lose medicare coverage is a bit bitter pill for Trump and his administration to swallow

Merkel to meet Trump on Friday instead of today due to flight cancellation (NY area bad weather conditions)

Intel buying Mobileye (USD 15.3 bln) to enter the field of autonome driving with direct competition of Nvidia and Qualcomm

Building a one place to do get all, so car makers can get all what they need in driverless technology and equipment

Mylan settled with Roche to produce a biosimilar version of breast cancer drug

Vista Equity Partners buying DH Corp (CAD 4.8 bln) to bet on fintech future

Morgan Stanley taking wealth management more digital and hiring tech specialist to train advisors

Blackstone to set up EU headquarters in Luxembourg

US cyclicals reversed yesterday and VIX dropped, proving we are in a bullish trend going to FOMC

EUR – a nice correction of Friday move in many crosses

But let’s wait for FOMC and market reaction

Thursday to be a “D” day (decision day) for EURUSD and its direction

USD – getting muscles ahead of FOMC

FX options

Vols keep falling with Implied still above Realized

Despite risk events like Dutch elections and FOMC

Once these events are off the table, expecting further drop in vols

Looking further to French election vols on election days decline in line with overall market

Seeing the vols cheap considering that Le Pen is still strong part of the presidential race

May be vols pricing is derived from current market sentiments? It doesn’t really make sense.

GBP vols no reaction to Brexit bill approval

Just spot dropped to 1.2123 from around 1.2200

Vols in line with the market heading lower

Trys and Bund yields higher (2.62% and 0.48% respectively)

Peripheral spreads unchanged, waiting for Dutch elections tomorrow

GE-FR spread steady at 61 bps, to watch reaction to Dutch elections results

Oil still second guessing on how big and sustainable the supply overhang is

WTI and Brent oversold, resistance 50.60 and 53.30 respectively

US shale production rising

Gold range bound

Levels: 1177, 1193 and 1210, 1221

Data

GE: ZEW Economic Survey – expecting higher

EZ: Industrial Production – expecting higher

US: NFIB Small Business Optimism Index – to keep positive

This week is busy:

Mar 13-14 – US budget draft to show first details of Trumps stimulus plan

Mar 15 – FOMC (25 bps hike expected)

Mar 15 – Dutch elections (polling stations close at 2000 GMT, first exit polls to start right after)

Mar 15 – US debt ceiling deadline

Mar 16 – BoJ meeting (right after Fed hiking…)

Mar 16 – SNB meeting (to be watched as EURCHF is not behaving in a normal way)

Mar 16 – BoE meeting

Mar 17 – Merkel meeting Trump

Mar 17-18 – G20 FinMin 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

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