The Best Explanation of The Bond Market You're Ever Gonna Get12 Month US10Y Bollinger Bands between 2.5 and 2.9 Standard Deviations away from a moving average model greater than 4 years in length, preferably exponential. I haven't optimized this to perfection, but it's close enough to give you the basic idea.
The bond market is just a simple oscillator emerging from a complex system and simply does what every other very large and complex system does. It has a trend around which it travels but in decades and centuries not years. It isn't complicated, but it is extremely slow.
There are 2 phases and a 5,000 year long trend. It goes up. It goes down. Over the course of centuries it declines. In the down phase, it stays below trend and does the exact opposite in the opposite phase. A kindergartener can trade this thing.
Currently the phase is turning over from a down phase that lasted from 1980 to 2020, and entering into a new up phase that will most likely last for 3-4 decades.
Trading it: buy secondary market long duration government bonds at the bond yield 3 standard deviation line and sell at the trend. Repeat for the next 30-40 years. Easy peasy.
Bondmarket
Recession Now Well Underway The yield curve is now fully inverted after reaching EXTREME levels. With that, we can conclude the recession has officially contaminated the financial sector.
Soon (likely before year end) we will see a significant selloff in equities.
Suggest: sell stocks & buy US Treasury Bonds.
Goldman Sachs Predicts China's Central Bank to Cut Reserve RequiGoldman Sachs analyst Hui Shan expects China's central bank to reduce the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) in the third and fourth quarters, aiming to manage the decline in long-term yields. This move comes in response to rising bond prices and weak aggregate demand. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) is also focused on reducing financing costs for companies and households. Meanwhile, the yuan carry trade is under scrutiny as the Chinese currency strengthens against the dollar. Analysts are monitoring the potential risks and the impact on global markets.
The Looming Chinese Bond Market BubbleThe Chinese bond market is showing signs of a bubble, with rapid declines in bond yields and aggressive government interventions. Despite these warnings, some investors remain bullish due to a lack of alternatives. A potential burst could lead to significant financial instability, economic slowdown, and global market contagion.
Key Indicators of a Bubble:
Excessive Price Appreciation: Sharp decline in bond yields suggests prices are detached from fundamentals.
Speculative Behavior: Investors are driven by limited alternatives rather than solid valuations.
Government Intervention: Actions to cool the market indicate concern over potential instability.
Potential Impacts of a Burst:
Chinese Market: Financial instability, economic slowdown, and currency depreciation.
Global Market: Contagion risk, increased volatility, and a global economic slowdown.
Chain Reaction of a Burst:
1. Bond Prices Decline: Losses for bondholders.
2. Financial Institutions Suffer: Liquidity problems for banks.
3. Credit Crunch: Reduced lending.
4. Economic Slowdown: Dampened economic activity.
5. Currency Depreciation:*Inflationary pressures.
6. Global Contagion: Destabilization of global markets.
Conclusion:
The Chinese bond market's bubble risk demands close monitoring. Government interventions have provided temporary stability, but underlying economic issues need resolution to prevent a severe crisis. Investors should brace for potential volatility.
Title: Ringgit Rally Fuels Foreign Bond Inflows: A Deep DiveThe Malaysian ringgit has experienced a substantial appreciation, driven by robust foreign investment in the domestic bond market. A surge in capital inflows, totaling RM5.5 billion in July alone, has propelled the ringgit's performance. This analysis delves into the underlying economic factors driving this trend, examining key indicators and assessing the outlook for sustained growth. While the current trajectory is promising, investors must remain cognizant of potential global economic headwinds.
Key Points:
Strong foreign inflows into Malaysian bonds
Ringgit's appreciation driven by multiple factors
Deep dive into economic indicators shaping USD/MYR
Assessment of Malaysia's economic fundamentals
Cautious outlook amid potential global challenges
Key Drivers of the Ringgit Rally:
Currency Appreciation: Investors are buying bonds unhedged, betting on further ringgit gains.
Strong Domestic Economy: Malaysia's economic robustness and expected interest rate stability bolster investor confidence.
Global Factors: Anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts weakening the USD benefit the ringgit.
Economic Indicators Influencing USD/MYR:
Interest Rate Differentials: Higher local rates attract foreign capital, strengthening the ringgit.
Inflation Rates: Low inflation supports currency value.
T rade Balance: Surpluses strengthen the ringgit, reflecting Malaysia's export strength.
Economic Growth: Domestic consumption and government spending drive economic growth, enhancing the ringgit's appeal.
Political Stability: A stable political climate attracts investment, supporting the currency.
Global Economic Conditions: Global trends and geopolitical events affect investor risk appetite and currency flows.
Outlook:
Malaysia's diversified economy, fiscal prudence, and growing middle class underpin the ringgit's strength. Efforts to boost foreign direct investment and exports further support currency appreciation. However, global uncertainties, US monetary policy shifts, and geopolitical tensions could introduce volatility.
Time to flip short $TLT againWe made good money shorting NASDAQ:TLT into the summer down to the initial target I had of $88. Then we flipped long again and I exited my longs earlier this month on Dec 7th. Now, as you can see from the first chart , we've come up against resistance and I think it's time to flip short again to retest the lows.
How low we go is TBD, but I think this move could go to at minimum $95 and at maximum retest, or barely sweep the lows.
I bought some puts yesterday with a strike of $97 for a few months out.
Note: There is a possibility that we get one more retest of the highs before it starts falling (if this happens, I'll add more to my position).
Macro Monday 30~U.S. Net Treasury International Capital FlowsMacro Monday 30
U.S. Net Treasury International Capital Flows
In essence the U.S. Net Treasury International Capital Flows (US TIC Flows) refer to the movement of funds into or out of the United States through the purchase or sale of U.S. Treasury securities by foreign investors and governments. These flows of capital are an essential component of the overall balance of payments, reflecting the financial transactions between the United States and the rest of the world.
What does the data represent exactly?
The U.S. Treasury International Capital (TIC) system is compiled by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and provides information on cross-border financial transactions. The TIC data include details on purchases and sales of various U.S. financial assets and liabilities, such as Treasury securities, corporate bonds, equities, and banking flows.
In simple terms the Foreign Purchases of U.S. Securities (inflows) are taken away from the U.S. Purchases of Foreign Securities (outflows) to present a overall net figure. The net result of these two components determines whether there is a net inflow or outflow of capital.
What are the drivers of positive & negative flows?
Positive Flows (>0 on chart)
POSITIVE FLOWS in U.S Net Treasury International Capital result from factors such as attractive U.S. interest rates, a stable domestic economy, and global uncertainty that drives foreign investors to seek the safety of U.S. Treasury securities. During these periods, there is a net inflow of capital into the United States pressing the number higher above zero.
Negative Flows (<0 on chart)
Conversely, NEGATIVE FLOWS occur when other countries offer higher returns, there are concerns about the U.S. economic outlook, or global risk aversion prompts investors to repatriate funds. Exchange rate movements also play a role, as a stronger U.S. dollar can make U.S. assets less appealing.
The interplay of the above mentioned factors influences the direction of international capital flows, which impacts the balance of purchases and sales of U.S. Treasury securities by foreign and domestic investor.
Now that we have a general sense of what’s driving the data, and what makes an overall net positive and or net negative flow, let’s have a look at the chart.
The Chart
✅ Since Jan 2019 there has been an upward trend in Treasury Inflows into the U.S (Black Arrow).
❌This upward trend had one sudden interruption causing a decline from Mar - May 2023 going from positive inflows of $114B to negative outflows of $159.4B, the timing of which coincided with the 2023 U.S Banking Crisis where three small-to-mid size U.S. banks failed.
✅ Since the Banking Crisis in May 2023 Treasury Capital flows have moved from overall negative outflows of $159.4B to overall positive inflows of $260.2B. A major turn around and reversion to the long term trend.
✅The recent surge in positive inflows to $260.2B are the highest recorded since August 2022 ($275B)
In summary inflows to U.S Treasuries have been in an general uptrend since January 2019 with one brief interruption from Mar – May 2023 and inflows have increased significantly in recent months and look like they may be about to take out the Aug 2022 highs.
Recession Patterns
1. More isolated recessions that were not globally systemic events led to positive net inflows into the U.S. Treasury however larger global events led to outflows from U.S. Treasuries, particularly if those global events involved the U.S. engaging in foreign conflicts.
▫️ During the DotCom Crash (No. 3 on the chart) – The tech sector was badly hit but it was not necessarily a global recession with the associated geopolitical turmoil. Foreign investors sought safety in the U.S. Treasury Market during this time.
▫️ Similarly during the brief Gulf War Recession (No. 4 on the chart) you can see that initially, there was increased net inflows however in Jan 1991 inflows sharply turned to outflows which coincided with the U.S. led invasion of Kuwait (a response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait). This was considered a global event and thus led to an exodus of outflows and repatriation of funds from the U.S Treasury Market.
▫️ More recently during the Great Financial Crisis (no. 2 on the chart) and the COVID-19 Crash (No. 1 on the chart) there was a significant outflow from U.S. Treasuries due to the magnitude of these global events. You can imagine foreign market participants clawing funds back into their respective countries to batten the hatches and get into a defensive financial position with global systemic risks high. Better to have a bird in the hand than two in the bush when the bush is on fire.
▫️One other pattern worth mentioning is highlighted in yellow on the chart with an A, B and C. Prior to the Great Financial Crisis and COVID-19 crashes we first had a reduction in overall U.S. Net Treasuries of $373B (A on chart) and $393B (B on chart), respectively. Within 13 to 16 months of both treasure drawdowns we had a recession. We recently had a drop of $437B (C on chart) which ended in May 2023. If history repeats and we had a recession within 13-16 months of this happening, this would be sometime between June and Sept 2024. An alternative view would be that the increase in declines from $373B (A) to $393B (B) to $437B (C) may correspond with the shortening timeframes from 16 months(A) to 13 months(B) to potentially 10 months(C) for the current $437B drop (C on the chart). This would suggest March/April 2024 as a potential recession timeframe (based on the historic reductive time pattern).
The U.S. Net Treasury International Capital Flows is a fascinating chart to keep an eye on and should be added to the economic data armory as it will help us interpret what is really going on in the treasury market (there is a lot of false narratives out there ATM). It is also useful in informing us on what the global perspective is in terms of systemic risk vs isolated risk, and also from a historic recessionary standpoint offers value.
The best investors in the world call the bond market the market of truth but I have found it hard to find a chart that illustrates this through a global lens UNTIL today. This chart captures that beautifully.
Thanks for coming along again
PUKA
US10Y ~ Bullish Downtrend Reversal (2H)TVC:US10Y chart mapping/analysis.
US10yr bond yields finding bullish reversal off lower range of descending parallel channel (white) - further momentum pending upcoming 10yr auction + US economic data.
Trading scenarios into EOY:
Bullish reaction to macro economic news = continued momentum to break above descending trend-line (white dashed) towards 38.2% resistance zone.
Bullish extension target(s) = re-test upper range of descending parallel channel (white).
Bearish reaction to macro economic news = reversal back below 50% Fib / 4.10% psychological support level / lower range of descending parallel channel (white) / ascending trend-line (green dotted) confluence zone.
Bearish extension target(s) = Golden Pocket zone / 4% psychological support level / 78.6% Fib.
US10Y vs. SPX ~ Inverse Correlation/Ratio Indicator (Dec 2023)TVC:US10Y versus SP:SPX inverse correlation analysis.
Work in progress indicator for anticipating market trend switches.
Notes:
Emerging correlation identified within US10Y/SPX ratio.
Spikes in ratio (orange vertical line, dotted) aka bond yield ROC/volatility = higher probability of risk-off sentiment (ie big tech & growth stock rotation).
Correlation only valid when market is "hyper-sensitive" to bond market fluctuations, especially during recent US Fed undertaking rate hike cycle.
Should be used in conjunction with other confluence factors to provide conviction in swing/position trades.
US10Y ~ Intraday Analysis (2H Chart)TVC:US10Y intraday mapping/analysis.
US yields dip while bonds & stocks rip.
US10Y in clear downtrend with potential bearish H&S pattern developing, TBC.
H&S development would correlate with bonds/stocks pullback before further bullish momentum into EOY.
Left shoulder, head & neckline outlined. Right shoulder parameters:
Rally above ascending 1st trend-line (green dashed)
Resistance at 200SMA, gap fill, 2nd ascending trend-line (green dashed) + upper range of descending parallel channel (white)
Price action rolls over to re-test/break neckline & validate pattern
Prelim target = lower range of ascending parallel channel (light blue) + 50% Fib confluence zone.
Note: break of "neckline" before right should formation negates H&S = express trip to prelim target.
US10Y ~ November TA Outlook (Weekly Chart)TVC:US10Y chart mapping/analysis.
US10Y getting dumped off combination FOMC decision, US economic data + US Treasuries update triggering institutional short covering.
Bond & equities market squeezed higher, in-line with seasonality.
Possible bearish H&S in development on lower timeframe, pending pattern confirmation.
Bond/Usdt | Rejection or Breakout?
Price has been repeatedly turned away from the same level, and here's the exciting part – the more rejections, the weaker the resistance becomes. 🚀 It looks like a breakout might be in the cards this time!
My medium-term target is set at $6, and I'm eager to see if this price action supports that goal. 📈
But remember, this isn't financial advice – just my personal opinion. Make sure to conduct your own research before making any trading decisions.
Happy trading, and your support means the world! 💰🤝
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Reverse Triangle (ABCD) set up, D leg of the bullish CypherLooking at the Monthly Chart of the TLT 20yr bond etf. I see a large ABCD Pattern Set up. The Initial Triangle has not completed. Currently there is heavy selling in Bonds (C leg sell off to D leg of the bullish cypher) The Trend Line was breached, and now the sell off is acting like a Magnet to retest 2008 lows.
It's worth noting this sell off appears to be A bullish Cypher pattern set up Around D leg. This set up is also tie to the USA real estate market. Based on the 18 year real estate theory, we're only 13 years removed from the 2009 financial market lows. Also based on the 18yr real estate theory, I see a project crash around 2027-2028. Which is likely due to a property tax crisis.
At the bottom of the chart you'll see the Stochastic has already bottom, however the AD is still in overbought territory. You want to be buying when both the AD and the stoch are bottom together like in 2008-2009 (see white box).. Dollar cost averaging into the 20yr bond etf is not a bad idea either. With Bond yields currently over 4% and likely to reach 6%-7% before the TLT finally bottoms is a good hedge. I also like the fact in the future, I can write cover calls against this position, which will lower my cost basis even more in the future.
I'm not looking to short bonds here, i'm a long term buyer of the dips with a breach of $90... price action could take this below $84, possible $78 but $84 is my target based on the last recession in 2008. Dollar Cost Avg for the win long term for the next 20yrs
MACRO MONDAY 12 - Positive MOVE IndexMACRO MONDAY 12
A Positive MOVE Index - TVC:MOVE
The U.S. Bond Market Option Volatility Estimate Index – the “MOVE” is similar to the VIX volatility index that lets us know when volatility/uncertainty is high or low in the stock market by monitoring options contracts. Instead the MOVE measures how much investors expect bonds prices to fluctuate in the future. The bond market is particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates thus the MOVE also can also advise of expectations of future interest rate volatility.
The MOVE index calculates the implied volatility of U.S. Treasury options using a weighted average of option prices on Treasury futures across multiple maturities (2, 5, 10, and 30 years). It reflects the level of volatility in U.S. Treasury futures.
When the MOVE Index is high, it means investors are worried and expect big price swings, which can be a sign of uncertainty or instability in the financial markets. When it's low, it suggests that investors are more relaxed and don't anticipate significant price movements.
In essence, the MOVE Index helps us gauge how jittery or calm the financial markets are by looking at the expectations of future price changes.
The MOVE Index can help inform us of the following:
1. A potential flight to safety: When the MOVE or Bond Option Market Volatility increases this can be a signal of a flight to safety as people exit riskier assets positions such as stocks and reallocate funds to less riskier government backed assets such as Bonds.
- The chart illustrates that increases in bond volatility
negatively impact the S&P500.
2. Future Interest Rates: By capturing investors’ expectations of potential future fluctuations in interest rates, the index serves as a proxy for the bond market’s overall sentiment regarding future interest rate movements.
- The MOVE can provide insights into the bond
market’s expectations about future interest rate
volatility, thus providing a heads up of upcoming
change to future interest rates.
The importance of the MOVE index lies in its ability to provide insights into the bond market’s expectations about future interest rate volatility and market volatility.
The Chart
With an understanding of the MOVE Index we can now dive into the chart and the implications we can draw from it;
- Above the 85 level is above average bond market
volatility and below the 85 level is below average
bond market volatility.
- Historically when the MOVE Index increases higher
than the 126 level it has resulted in significant
S&P500 price decline (red on chart).
- Conversely when we are below the 126 level this
has corresponded with positive price action for the
S&P500 the majority of the time (green on the
chart). This makes sense as a MOVE below the 126
level would suggest the bond market volatility is
reaching down to the average 85 zone or under
suggesting stable financial markets with moderate
bond & interest rate volatility expected. Under such
circumstances there is certainty and an element of
calm in financial markets allowing for capital to flow
more freely into riskier assets (instead of the safer
bonds).
- When the MOVE Index falls back into the 126 – 100
zone (orange ) this zone has been a zone of
indecision with a potential increase and bounce
back out of the zone higher or a fall lower. I would
consider this a zone a wait to see what happens
next zone.
- At present we appear falling into 100 – 85 level
(green zone). Should we fall below the 85 level this
could be considered a confirmation signal of
stability returning to the bond market which could
lead to a flow of capital to riskier assets such as
those in the S&P500.
In the period from 2007 – 2009 during the Great Financial Crisis bond volatility remained elevated above the 126 level for approx. 23 months (in the red zone on the chart) and this consisted of three peaks in bond volatility that reached a high of 265 on the MOVE Index.
At present we have had 16 months of increased bond volatility reaching in and out of the 126 red zone. Similar to 2007 – 2009 period we have had three peaks in bond volatility however we only reached a high of 173 (in 2007-2009 it was a high of 265).
We are currently moving back down towards the 85 level and this appears to be positive for markets however I would remain cautious until we make a definitive move below the 85 level. We are aware that bond volatility can remain elevated for up to 23 months and we have only been elevated for 16 months and did not reach the highs of 265 like in the 2007 – 2009 period.
The chart does not have to play out the same, reach the same levels or follow a similar time pattern as the 2007 – 2009 period however we are aware that it can move higher and that it can remain elevated for longer therefore we can remain cautious until the volatility moves under the 85 level (below the historical average).
Its hard to ignore that this chart looks bullish for the market as we move down into the green zone and into lower bond market volatility. This creates a stark argument to some of the charts I shared in previous weeks. I would be more comfortable in confirming the bull thesis from this “one” chart should we move below the average 85 level. Furthermore, it is one chart and for me it would not be enough to rely on alone.
I was listening to market guru Raoul Pal this morning and he made an compelling argument to suggest that we are already in the deep trough of a recession and might be about to start climbing out of it. It’s worth considering as recessions are typically declared up to 8 months after they have started and with many countries having already established 2 quarters of negative GDP, we certainly could be in the trough. If there is one chart that would back up Raoul Pals thesis, it is the MOVE Index which is suggesting a move to lower than average bond volatility, suggesting we are potentially beginning to enter a period of stability and certainty which would allow for capital to feel more comfortable flowing towards riskier assets.
This chart will be a great chart to keep an eye on for those with a positive or negative market lens. You can press play on the chart on trading view and it will update and tell you if we are moving into low risk levels or high risk levels, you also have boundaries for the extremes.
This chart and the others I have completed on Macro Mondays are all designed so that you can revisit them at any point and press play and see if we are breaking new into higher or lower risk territory. I hope they all help towards your investing and trading frameworks.
PUKA
Increasing The DXY Profit Target to $154 From $103The DXY after catching a rally off a 4-Hour Bullish Butterfly, has reached my price target of $103, and if it gets above that zone, then I think the DXY will have plenty of room to make multi-decade highs due to The High Interest Rates, Tightening Credit Conditions, and The Deflation that is now being priced into the US Bond Market.
If things go as expected beyond the $103 zone, we will likely have entered into a Harmonic Wave Structure that should take us up to the Macro 0.886 Fibonacci Retrace which sits all the way up at $154
The RSI and PPO are both sitting at the mid point which is an area where it can often go just to reset before making higher highs in price.
Inflation vs Innovation Can the Markets Handle the HeatGlobal markets face contradictory forces in 2023. Inflation still simmers as central banks tighten money supply worldwide. Geopolitical friction continues while economic growth likely slows ahead. Yet technological transformation charges ahead, with artificial intelligence poised for explosive improvements. Investors and policymakers must stay nimble in this uncertain environment.
After plunging painfully in 2022, stocks have rebounded with vigor so far this year. This despite raging inflation and the Federal Reserve's hawkish stance on interest rates. Hefty liquidity efforts in China likely buoyed prices. Investors may also have grown too pessimistic amid still-sturdy corporate profits. But sentiment could sour again if supply chain snarls resurface.
In bond markets, yields continue reflecting dreary growth expectations after last year's surge. The inverted yield curve especially screams pessimism on the near-term economy. Meanwhile, the Fed's bond portfolio shrinkage has yet to rattle markets. This implies the Fed's quantitative easing and tightening have limited impact on actual money supply, defying popular perception.
On inflation, early 2023 figures show it easing from 40-year heights but still well above the Fed's 2% bullseye. The Fed remains leery of declaring victory prematurely. Taming inflation sans triggering severe recession is an epic challenge. Geopolitical wild cards like the Russia-Ukraine war that evade the Fed's grasp will shape the outcome.
Amidst these crosscurrents, technological forces advance relentlessly. The frantic digitization around COVID-19 now gives way to even more seismic innovations. The meteoric success of AI like ChatGPT provides a mere glimpse of the transformations coming for healthcare, transportation, customer service and virtually every industry.
The promise appears gargantuan, with AI generating solutions and ideas no human could alone conceive. But the warp-speed pace also carries perils if ethics and safeguards fail to keep up. Mass job destruction and wealth hoarding by Big Tech could ensue absent mitigating policies. But wisely harnessed AI also holds potential to uplift living standards globally.
For investors, AI has already jet-propelled leaders like Google, Microsoft, Nvidia and Amazon powering this tech revolution. But smaller firms wielding these tools may also see jackpot gains, as costs plunge and new opportunities emerge across sectors. That's why non-US and smaller stocks may provide superior opportunities versus overvalued big US tech.
In conclusion, the global economic and financial landscape simmers with familiar threats and novel technological promise. Inflation may moderate but seems unlikely to vanish given lingering supply dysfunction and distortions from massive stimulus. Stocks navigate shifting sentiment amid rising rates and demand doubts. And machine learning progresses rapidly into a future we can now scarcely envision.
Nimbly navigating such turbulence requires flexibility, tech savviness and philosophical courage. Responsibly steering AI's development is a herculean challenge, to maximize benefits and minimize pitfalls. Individuals need to stay skilled while advocating protections against job disruption. Policymakers face wrenching tradeoffs between growth, inflation and financial stability - all compounded by geopolitics.
Yet within uncertainty lies opportunity for those poised to seize it. The future remains ours to shape, if we summon the wisdom and will to guide technology toward enriching human life rather than eroding it. The road ahead will be arduous but need not be hopeless, if compassion and conscience inform our creations.
Is the Worst OVER? This is the differential of 10yr vs 1yr US bond which represents long term against short term yield on sovereign debt, and those you don't know, short term bonds are used by central banks to control interest rates(amazing uh? the FED does not actually print money) therefore they do use bonds as a tool to control interest rates which then controls the S&D of capital.
As you can see, we are back at a differential which is extremely low, back to energy crisis levels. However, we seem to be already at very low levels, does that mean THE WORST HAS COME? What is going to happen to the stock market?
A very quick and personal thought to sum everything up as I do not consider myself an expert macroeconomist: the market is efficient, meaning that the current price on every single security is traded at all the current public information that is available and if something keeps going up, it means that expectation are in favor of it moving higher.
Hope that explains what I wanted to say,
Feel free to ask question, be safe!
ZB Shatters Resistance Level on 15-Minute ChartHello Traders,
There is a big potential bearish opportunity in the ZB market! The 15-minute time frame just showed a break in a key support level, indicating a potential downtrend. With this technical signal, combined with current market conditions, it's possible that we may see a further decline in the ZB price. Keep an eye on this market and follow me for more updates on potential trading opportunities!"
Tell me what you think
Regards,
The Mehdi
Interest rates - Bond yields... Are they really going higher?Recently the market's expectation for the Fed Funds Rate peaking around 5% and then coming down at the end of Q4 2023 changed, with the market now seeing rates going to 5.5%. Many investors/analysts are discussing bond yields heading to 6% and staying higher for longer. However, is that going to happen? What is sentiment telling us right now? What is data indicating? If rates keep going up, what does this mean for other risk assets?
Sentiment right now seems to be quite bullish on yields (bearish on bonds). We are probably near a short-term top for bond yields, and I think this Fed hike may be the last one. The reason is that in Q3-Q4, we started seeing an actual economic deceleration, and inflation dropped significantly. In January, we had some weird data that might have to do with seasonality and adjustments on how inflation is calculated. The critical thing to note here is that rising interest rates act with long and variable lags and that the drop in inflation since July 2022 was caused by factors irrelevant to interest rate hikes.
So let's take things from the beginning... Since Covid hit, we have seen tectonic shifts in markets. Many things changed in the global economy, which was already in bad shape. It's unlikely that inflation will be contained for a long time, given that we are at the end of the debt cycle, the end of globalization, we are in a war cycle, we are at war against the climate, and the labor market is changing rapidly. Therefore, bonds will likely substantially underperform inflation in the next decade. In 2020 and 2021, fiscal policy was heavily used over monetary policy, and we still feel the effects of those policies and the aftereffects of Covid.
US monetary policy started shifting in March 2022, when the Fed began hiking rates and Quantitative tightening in July. Hence the changes in monetary policy couldn't have affected markets, as it takes more than 12 months for changes like this to have any effect. Of course, we also had the Russian invasion, which caused a commodity spike, and we had Europe and the US spending a lot on Ukraine and war equipment broadly. Then the relationship between US and China started worsening, while China was under lockdown and only started reopening in December - January.
The global economy is in terrible shape and will get into a steep recession eventually. Some data make it look strong at times, but it isn't. I think the Fed is looking and acting in the worst possible way, and it's trapped. At the moment, markets are afloat mainly because of human ingenuity, past fiscal and monetary stimulus, and the actions of Central banks like the BoJ, HKMA, and PBoC, as well as the BoE and ECB having some form of QE going on, while the Fed & US treasury is increasing market liquidity by draining the TGA, creating T-bills and bank reserves. It's unclear what will happen when all the interest rate hikes start affecting the economy, but Central banks and Governments will resume supporting markets and the economy. There are several tricks they can implement before they start cutting rates or continuing QE, or doing Yield Curve Control, but ultimately they will get to that point.
Now finally, let's get to the charts!
TLT / UB look like they are bottoming here. Swept the lows but closed slightly above them. Double top and significant gaps are higher, so that's where I think it's headed. I don't want to say that we will go massively lower, but for now, I treat this as a range, and I don't want to let my view that inflation will come down affect me. My target is the range highs and nothing more.
SHY looks like it capitulated and filled a double gap (partially) to the downside. That double gap occurred near the bottom, but now we have a massive double gap open to the upside, telling me it could go higher. Both that and TLT tell me yields down (bonds up)!
Short-term yields have been increasing, with US 2y getting near 5%. Maybe that's the psychological level everyone thinks will break easily, but it doesn't. The majority is eyeing 6%. Perhaps we do a slight break above 5% on the 2y, then fall quickly below it. The average bond yield (random average) is at 4.5%, it also made a new high, but this could be a trap. I am not seeing much strength here. The 10y, which I used as the base chart for today, reaches a critical level where the major correction to the downside began and has found some resistance there.
Finally, I wanted to discuss a few currencies and some overall observations. EURUSD and GBP are at support but looking weak. I can see how they could have one last dip and then higher, but I don't want to see them go much lower from here.
USDJPY and USDCNH are trading higher, with USDJPY being 10% lower from where it peaked. The interest rate differential was the same as now or lower, so something is happening here. Maybe rates are peaking? Maybe the interventions from CBs and Govs are working? Stocks are also much higher than back then, and they don't look like they will go down. Both pairs seem to be back in an uptrend which seems close to peaking. Based on how their charts look, I don't think the USD will keep strengthening, which is telling me that something big has shifted in markets, which is bullish risk assets, and potentially bearish on bonds yields.
Interest rates are moving againWhat is moving this week? Our weekly eyeball into the different markets.
Interest rates likely to be breaking its all time high again, get ready for another volatile month ahead.
Difference between yield and interest rate:
Borrowers take reference from interest rates and lenders take reference on the yield. Interest rates and yield moves in tandem.
Minimum price fluctuation:
0.001 Index points (1/10th basis point per annum) = $1.00
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BOND, huge buying volume on the highs!To all the perma bulls out there, look at bonds, there won't be any pivot till higher interest rates at or above 6%.
Bonds risk-off is the most important out there, as the bond market is much bigger than the stock/indexes market.
Something will have to give, either bonds or the markets...