Dollar Weakens After FED AnnouncementsAs of now, the FED interest rate decision has been announced and the FED has kept the interest rate constant. In addition to keeping it steady, Powell still made harsh and hawkish statements. Personally, I have question marks in my mind about how full these explanations are. Because now the job is not just to reduce inflation and most business sectors have started to break. I don't think it can go on like this.
If we are talking about interest rates, the only factor we need to look at is the dollar index. The dollar index has technically formed a descending triangle. The level to be seen in a down break will be $ 98.
Federalreserve
MACRO UPDATE - History is no longer reality since debasement
Take some time to focus on the information and macro movement here and compare it with my notes.
Why are leading economists and leading institutions fumbling? imagine comparing history prior to 2008 where Quantitative Easing did not exist.
No standard macro indicator will be accurate due to the debasement of money that happen during the GFC, compare the SPY to money supply we see that we barely have reached post 2001 levels, 2007 highs.
Jerome Powell will not admit this because the system has basically been debased hence the over compensation for rate rises why did he do it? because the debt situation is worse than it seems.
This is a very unique situation where retail is still majority short on options/futures while money market funds are still in trillions of cash. If this does play out and you're an institution do you wait for the final bubble to melt up? or do you allocate now and try to capitalize or risk missing the market, either way, something interesting is about to happen.
Reminder NO economic indicator can be trusted prior to 2008, its like using map plans for Atlantis you will quickly find out all your indicators are defected.
T10Y2 | Is the indicator the federal reserve uses to find recessions.
USM2 | M2 US money supply
USINTR | USA Interest Rates
WALCL | Federal Reserve balance sheet
SPY/M2SL | SPY adjusted for the debasement
Blue line | Global (major) central bank balances
Daily Market Analysis - FRIDAY JULY 07, 2023Key News:
USA - Average Hourly Earnings (MoM) (Jun)
USA - Nonfarm Payrolls (Jun)
USA - Unemployment Rate (Jun)
During Thursday's trading session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded a decline as robust job market data sparked expectations of further interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. This development subsequently led to a surge in Treasury yields, which raised concerns among market participants. The Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a notable decrease of 1.1%, resulting in a loss of 366 points. Similarly, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 also faced declines of 0.8% and 0.8% respectively.
NASDAQ, SPX, and DJI indices daily charts
Amidst the broader market decline, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) bucked the trend and achieved a gain of nearly 1% driven by optimism surrounding its advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Morgan Stanley, a prominent financial institution, expressed confidence in Microsoft's position within the software industry, particularly in relation to the projected $90 billion growth opportunity in generative AI by fiscal 2025. In light of this positive outlook, Morgan Stanley increased its price target on Microsoft from $355 to $415, indicating a favorable investment potential for the company.
Microsoft stock daily chart
Despite the launch of its Twitter competitor app called Threads and the announcement by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that it had garnered over 30 million sign-ups since its recent introduction, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) faced a reversal of its early-day gains. The company's stock failed to maintain its upward momentum, and the gains dissipated as the trading session progressed. The market response to Threads and Meta's overall performance suggests that investors and traders may have reacted differently to the news, leading to the subsequent decline in the stock price.
Meta Platforms stock daily chart
In the Eurozone, inflation expectations for the medium term experienced a decrease in May. The gauge measuring the 12-month expectation dipped from 4.1% to 3.9%. Despite this decline, the long-term (three-year) inflation expectations, which hold greater significance for the European Central Bank (ECB), remained unchanged at 2.5%. This level is notably higher than the ECB's target inflation rate of 2%.
The latest flash core Consumer Price Index (CPI) estimates for June further strengthen the argument for proponents of tighter monetary policies within the ECB. These estimates provide substantial justification for those who advocate for a more stringent approach to monetary policy, given that inflationary pressures persist in the Eurozone.
The ECB, as the central bank responsible for maintaining price stability, closely monitors inflation expectations and aims to keep them in line with its target. The fact that long-term inflation expectations remain above the ECB's target suggests that there may be a need for increased vigilance and potential policy adjustments to curb inflationary pressures.
The divergence between medium-term and long-term inflation expectations underscores the complexity of managing inflationary dynamics in the Eurozone. The ECB will need to carefully assess economic data, including CPI estimates, to make informed decisions regarding monetary policy and strike a balance between supporting economic growth and maintaining price stability.
EUR/USD daily chart
Today, the economic calendar in the Eurozone is relatively light, implying that the movement of the EUR/USD exchange rate will primarily be influenced by the market's reaction to data releases from the United States.
The market's response to US data is of particular significance, as it has a notable impact on shaping the direction of the EUR/USD exchange rate. Positive data releases from the US could strengthen the US Dollar and potentially lead to a decline in the EUR/USD pair, while weaker-than-expected data could exert downward pressure on the US Dollar, potentially favoring an upward movement in the EUR/USD pair.
Additionally, the market remains highly sensitive to price-related developments. In this context, there is ongoing concern regarding the Bank of England's aggressive tightening expectations. Speculation suggests that the BoE could implement a significant 140 basis point increase in interest rates by January 2024. This projection, if realized, raises the possibility of a reassessment in the market. If investors revise their expectations and perceive the tightening as too aggressive or potentially detrimental to economic growth, it could pose downside risks for the British Pound. Consequently, the GBP/USD exchange rate could experience downward pressure.
GBP/USD daily chart
The EUR/GBP pair has witnessed a decline over the past two sessions; however, it may find support at its current levels and potentially make a move towards the 0.8600 mark once again. This shift in the pair's direction could be driven by the potential threat of a repricing of the previously overbought British Pound, influenced by the actions of the Bank of England.
The recent weakening of the EUR/GBP pair suggests that the Pound has gained strength against the Euro. However, the current levels may act as a support zone, potentially leading to a reversal in the pair's direction. If the support holds, it could provide an opportunity for the EUR/GBP pair to regain some ground and move towards the 0.8600 level.
The potential repricing of the Pound is a significant factor that could influence the pair's movement. If market participants perceive that the British Pound had become overbought or overvalued in relation to its fundamentals, they may adjust their positions accordingly, leading to a corrective move in the currency. This adjustment could contribute to a potential reversal in the EUR/GBP pair, benefiting the Euro and causing the pair to move higher towards the 0.8600 mark.
EUR/GBP daily chart
Yesterday's market sell-off was primarily triggered by the release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve, which revealed a greater inclination for further tightening of monetary policy than previously anticipated. This direction gained further momentum with the release of strong employment-related data, namely the ADP payrolls and ISM services reports, which indicated that the US labor market remains robust and is expected to continue performing well.
The ADP payrolls report for June showcased an impressive addition of 497,000 new jobs. However, it is important to note that a significant portion of these positions were in lower-paid service roles, which could have implications for wage growth and overall economic recovery.
In addition to the employment data, the prices paid component of the ISM services report indicated a slowdown, reaching its lowest level in three years. This decline in price pressures suggests that inflationary pressures might be easing, potentially influencing the Federal Reserve's decision-making process regarding future monetary policy actions.
The combination of the Federal Reserve minutes highlighting a stronger inclination for tightening, along with positive employment data and easing price pressures, contributed to the market sell-off observed. Investors and traders reacted to these factors, reassessing their positions and adjusting their expectations accordingly.
US Employment Change
The resilience of the labor market presents a challenge for the Federal Reserve in its pursuit of achieving its target inflation rate. Despite the possibility of a potential decrease in headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) to 3% in June, the task of returning inflation to the desired level becomes increasingly difficult.
Today's release of the US nonfarm payrolls report for June has the potential to further reinforce optimism about the US economy. A strong jobs report would provide evidence of a robust labor market, indicating economic strength and potential future growth. However, there is also a concern that such a positive report could lead the Federal Reserve to overestimate the economy's resilience and prompt them to raise interest rates more aggressively than necessary.
The market has already priced in these expectations, as reflected by the recent rise in yields. The anticipation of a stronger economy and the possibility of more aggressive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve have contributed to an increase in yields. This pricing-in of expectations suggests that there is a level of caution in the market regarding the potential actions of the central bank and the impact they may have on various sectors.
Balancing the need to support the labor market with the goal of achieving the desired inflation rate remains a challenge for the Federal Reserve. The nonfarm payrolls report for June will be closely watched by market participants and policymakers alike, as it has the potential to shape future monetary policy decisions and market expectations.
As always, it is important to monitor economic data releases, central bank statements, and market sentiment to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape and make informed decisions regarding investments and trading strategies.
Daily Market Analysis - THURSDAY JULY 06, 2023Key News:
USA - ADP Nonfarm Employment Change (Jun)
USA - Initial Jobless Claims
USA - Services PMI (Jun)
USA - ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI (Jun)
USA - JOLTs Job Openings (May)
USA - Crude Oil Inventories
During Wednesday's trading session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average concluded the day with a decline, driven by the release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes for June. The minutes indicated a growing interest among policymakers in resuming interest rate hikes. However, in the tech sector, major players showcased mostly positive performance. Notably, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) soared to a 52-week high as anticipation mounted for its upcoming Twitter competitor.
Specifically, the Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded a decrease of 0.38%, translating to a decline of 129 points. Similarly, both the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 experienced a modest 0.2% decrease during the trading session.
Dow Jones Industrial Average Index daily chart
The release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes from June, which occurred on Wednesday, shed light on the members' sentiment regarding future rate hikes. The minutes revealed that a significant majority of the members, described as "almost all," expressed support for the notion of resuming rate hikes. This position was motivated by concerns about persistently high inflation levels, which were deemed "unacceptably high."
Furthermore, the minutes indicated a hawkish stance among some members, with a preference for raising rates rather than pausing during the June meeting. These members highlighted their worries about a tight labor market, recognizing that such conditions could potentially drive up wages and inflation even further.
However, while the discussion expressed a general inclination towards resuming rate hikes, the decision to implement such actions in July will largely depend on upcoming data. Pantheon Macroeconomics suggests that the forthcoming data expected to be released this week and next will play a crucial role in shaping the Fed's decision-making process.
It is worth noting that approximately 90% of traders, as indicated by the Fed Rate Monitor Tool, anticipate that the Federal Reserve will indeed resume rate hikes in July.
Effective Fed Funds Rate
Investor concerns regarding a potential global economic slowdown were heightened due to underwhelming services data from China. However, the impact of these concerns on the broader market was somewhat mitigated by the strong performance of prominent technology companies. Notably, Meta (previously known as Facebook) experienced a significant surge of over 3%, reaching 52-week highs. This impressive performance came ahead of the launch of Meta's rival Twitter app, Threads, scheduled for Thursday. It is noteworthy that Twitter had recently announced its decision to temporarily restrict the number of posts users can read on its platform.
Meta Platforms stocks daily chart
Despite Apple's 0.6% decline, the company's market capitalization remains above $3 trillion, demonstrating its significant value in the market. In contrast, Microsoft experienced a slight increase in its stock price. Wedbush, a prominent research firm, predicts that Microsoft will also join the exclusive $3 trillion club alongside Apple by early 2024. This projection is based on the belief that advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) will be a major driver of Microsoft's growth and valuation. Wedbush noted in a statement on Wednesday that, considering the potential of AI and through a sum-of-the-parts valuation, Microsoft's overall value should propel it to the esteemed $3 trillion club within the next few years.
Microsoft stock daily chart
During the US Independence Day holiday, major currencies displayed a noticeable trend of trading within narrow ranges in relation to the US dollar. Among the G10 currencies, the New Zealand dollar (NZD) emerged as the top performer. This could be attributed to the unwinding of long positions in the Australian dollar/New Zealand dollar (AUD/NZD) pair, which likely contributed to the NZD's relative strength in the market.
AUD/NZD daily chart
Throughout this week, European markets have faced consistent declines, with yesterday's losses being notably significant. The downward trend in the markets is expected to persist today.
The market weakness witnessed yesterday was primarily fueled by concerns surrounding disappointing services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data from both China and Europe. These underwhelming data releases have heightened worries about a potential global economic slowdown. Furthermore, the increasing risks related to interest rates have contributed to weakness in sectors such as basic resources, energy, and financials, amplifying the overall market downturn. These negative sentiments have had a spill-over effect on Asian markets as well, reflecting the widespread concerns about the global economic landscape.
Employed Usually Works Full time Chart
US Employed Persons status
Today's highly anticipated release of the ADP payrolls report is expected to show a robust figure of 225,000, slightly lower than the previous month's 278,000. Despite this slight decrease, it is important to note that the current level of job vacancies suggests that we are unlikely to see a weak jobs report in the upcoming months. Consequently, it is less probable that the labor market will serve as the catalyst for the Federal Reserve to signal a pause in its policies in the near future.
US Purchasing Managers Index (ISM)
The Federal Reserve has expressed concerns regarding the persistence of services inflation, highlighting its potential impact on the economy. Today's ISM services report is anticipated to reveal a modest uptick in headline activity, reaching around 51.3. However, special attention will be given to the prices paid component, which experienced a decline to 56.2 in May, marking a three-year low. This data will provide insights into the pricing pressures faced by service providers.
As for Independence Day, please note that trading hours may be affected due to the holiday in the United States.
The Unemployment Rate is a key economic indicator that measures the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment. It provides insights into the health of the labor market and is closely monitored by economists, policymakers, and market participants.
SOFR: Farewell to LIBORCME: SOFR ( CME:SR31! )
On June 30th, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler posted a 3-minute short video on Twitter. In this educational piece titled RIP LIBOR, he explains what the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is, and why its passing away is actually a good thing for consumers.
As CFTC Chairman in 2009-2014 and SEC Chairman since 2021, Mr. Gensler oversaw the investigation of the 2012 LIBOR scandal and its replacement by the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) in 2021 as the benchmark interest rate for US dollar.
Eurodollar and LIBOR
Offshore Dollar, the US currency deposited in banks outside of the United States, is commonly known as Eurodollar. Traditionally, offshore dollars were traded mainly among European banks. The name sticks to these days and applies to funds in non-European banks as well.
A key advantage of trading Eurodollar is the fact that it is subject to fewer regulations by the Fed, being outside of the US jurisdiction. London is the largest trading hub for Eurodollar.
The London Interbank Offered Rate came into being in the 1970s as a reference interest rate in the Eurodollar markets. By 1986, the British Bankers' Association (BBA) began publishing the US Dollar LIBOR daily. The BBA Libor was calculated based on interest rates reported by 17 member banks who together represented the bulk of Eurodollar transactions. Libor has been widely used as a reference rate for many financial instruments, including:
• Forward rate agreements
• Interest rate futures, e.g., CME Eurodollar futures
• Interest rate swaps and swaptions
• Interest rate options, Interest rate cap and floor
• Floating rate notes and Floating rate certificates of deposit
• Syndicated loans
• Variable rate mortgages and Term loans
• Range accrual notes and Step-up callable notes
• Target redemption notes and Hybrid perpetual notes
• Collateralized mortgage obligations and Collateralized debt obligations
How important was Libor? It is a reference rate in the documentation by private trade association International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), which sets global market standard for OTC derivative transactions.
In 2008, 60% of prime adjustable-rate mortgages and nearly all subprime mortgages were indexed to the USD Libor in the US. Furthermore, American cities borrowed 75% of their money through financial products that were linked to the Libor.
Libor has been the indispensable global benchmark for pricing everything from credit card debt to mortgages, auto loans, corporate loans, and complex derivatives.
CME Eurodollar Futures
In 1981, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange launched Eurodollar futures, the first ever cash-settled futures contract. It quickly became the most liquid contract by CME. At its peak, over 1,500 traders and clerks worked at the Eurodollar pit on CME trading floor.
Not to be confused with the Euro currency, Eurodollar futures contracts are derivatives on the interest rate paid on a notional or "face value" of $1,000,000 time deposit at a bank outside of the United. It uses the 3-month USD Libor rate as its settlement index. The late Fred D. Arditti, CME economist, is credited as the brain behind Eurodollar futures.
Eurodollar futures are priced as a Money Market instrument. The CME IMM index is used to convert a coupon-bearing instrument such as bank deposit, into a discounted instrument that does not make regular interest payments.
For instance, a futures price of 95.00 implies an interest rate of 100.00 - 95.00, or 5%. The settlement price of a Eurodollar futures contract is defined to be 100.00 minus the official BBA fixing of 3-month Libor on the day the contract is settled.
The 2012 LIBOR Scandal
The LIBOR Scandal was a highly publicized scheme in which bankers at major financial institutions colluded with each other to manipulate the Libor rate. As the scandal came to light in 2012, investigators found that the banks had been submitting false information about their borrowing costs to manipulate the Libor rate. This allowed the banks to profit from trades based on the artificially low or high rates.
A dozen big banks were implicated in the scandal. It led to lawsuits and regulatory actions. After the rate-fixing scandal, LIBOR's validity as a credible benchmark was over. As a result, regulators decided that Libor would be phased out and replaced.
If you want to learn more about the LIBOR scandal, feel free to check out the 2017 bestseller by David Enrich: “The Spider Network: The Wild Story of a Math Genius, a Gang of Backstabbing Bankers, and One of the Greatest Scams in Financial History”.
What is the SOFR
In 2017, the Federal Reserve assembled the Alternative Reference Rate Committee to select a Libor replacement. The committee chose the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as the new benchmark for dollar-denominated contracts.
The daily SOFR is based on transactions in the Treasury repurchase market, where firms offer overnight or short-term loans to banks collateralized by their bond assets ,similar to pawn shops.
Unlike LIBOR, there’s extensive trading in the Treasury repo market, estimated at $4.8 trillion in June 2023. This theoretically makes it a more accurate indicator of borrowing costs. Moreover, SOFR is based on data from observable transactions rather than on estimated borrowing rates, as was the case with LIBOR.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York began publishing the SOFR in April 2018. By 2021, SOFR has replaced most of the LIBOR-linked contracts. The LIBOR committee officially folded up on June 30, 2023. Chairman Gensler apparently chose this day to post his RIP LIBOR video to mark the end of an era.
The difference between Fed Funds Rate and SOFR
Fed Funds Rate is set by the Fed’s FOMC meeting, and SOFR is published by the NY Fed. However, they are very different.
• Fed Funds Rate is considered a risk-free interest rate, and only member banks have access to this ultra-low rate through the Fed’s discount window.
• SOFR is a commercial interest rate where banks charge each other. The NY Fed publishes the rate based on transactions in the US Treasury repurchase market.
SOFR is similar to LIBOR because they are both commercial interest rate benchmarks. On the other hand, Fed Funds Rate is a policy rate set by the US central bank.
CME SOFR Futures and Options
CME Group launched the 3-month SOFR futures and options contracts in May 2018. The contracts were based on the SOFR Index, published daily by the New York Fed.
SOFR futures contracts are notional at $2,500 x contract-grade International Monetary Market (IMM) Index, where the IMM Index = 100 minus SOFR. At a 5.215 IMM, for example, each contract has a notional value of $13,037.50. CME requires a $550 margin per contract. An interest rate move by a minimum tick of 0.25 basis point would result in a gain or loss of $6.25.
At the beginning, SOFR contracts traded side-by-side with the Eurodollar contracts. By 2021, Eurodollar liquidity has transitioned to SOFR contracts. By April 2023, All Eurodollar contracts were delisted, and the transition was completed.
For all intended purposes, you could think of the SOFR futures as the same as the legacy Eurodollar contracts, with the only notable exception being the settlement index switched from LIBOR to SOFR.
On June 30th, the daily trading volume and Open Interest of SOFR contracts were 4,443,245 and 9,310,433 contracts, respectively. On the same date, CME Group total volume and OI were 23,769,103 and 104,221,083, respectively.
On the latest trade day, SOFR accounts for 18.7% of CME Group’s trade volume and 8.9% of its total open interest. Indeed, SOFR has successfully replaced Eurodollar as new No. 1 contract at CME and is arguably the most liquid derivatives contract in the world.
Where We Are at the SOFR Market
On June 30th, the JUN SOFR contract (SR3M3) expired and settled at 94.785. This translates to the JUN SOFR rate of 5.215 (100-94.785).
SEP 2023 (SR3U3) is now the new lead contract. It settled at 94.595 and implied a forward SOFR rate at 5.405 (100-94.595). This shows that the futures market expects a rate increase in the next Fed meeting.
Like Eurodollar futures, rising futures price will confer to declining SOFR rate, as rate is equal to 100 minus futures price. Similarly, a decline in futures price equates to a rising SOFR rate.
Happy Trading.
Disclaimers
*Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services.
CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
How to position for yield curve un-inversions!It has been some time since we delved into the intricate world of interest rates and their prospective trajectories. With the yield curve experiencing significant movement in recent weeks, it's high time we reassess our stance. Following a staggering 500 basis points increase, we now find ourselves potentially nearer to the end of the rate hike cycle than ever before. The recent hawkish pause announced in the last meeting has left market participants on tenterhooks, pondering the future course of action in the ongoing battle against inflation.
Given the downward trend in inflation and the possibility of at least one more rate hike, 'real' yields have ascended beyond the 0% level, as depicted in the chart above. Since the 2010s, real yields have consistently struggled to surpass the 1.2% level. However, the recent lower inflation prints place the 'real' yield at a new decade high of 1.25%. So, how does the yield curve inversion behave during periods of real yields? Interestingly, in three of the past four instances, the curve 'un-inverted' once real yields exceeded 0.
Of greater significance is the yield curve's response after the Fed cuts rates. Since 1989, this has been a key signal of the yield curve un-inversion. Given this event's proximity and the current 2Y-10Y yield curve, we contemplate the optimal strategy to capitalize on this likely un-inversion.
One approach is to examine all possible inversion combinations between the 2, 5, 10, and 30-year yields. All these combinations present an inverted curve, except for the 10Y-30Y segment.
Upon dissecting the analysis to focus solely on 2-year inversions, we observe the following:
The 2-year inversion is generally the steepest, with the 2Y-10Y ranking as the most inverted segment of the yield curve. All inversions anchored with the 2Y are at their all-time highs, plunging us into uncharted waters.
In contrast, the 5-year and 10-year yields exhibit more subdued movements. Their inversions have yet to reach all-time highs, and the overall range of movement is relatively restrained.
Therefore, to maximize returns on the un-inversion move, one could position to short either the most inverted section of the curve, the 2Y-10Y, or the 2Y-30Y, which typically experiences the largest movement upon un-inversion.
Handily, CME has the Micro Treasury Yield Futures, quoted in yield terms, which allows us to express this view in a straightforward manner allaying the complications with DV01 calculation. By creating a short yield spread position, we are not merely speculating on the direction of individual yields but rather on the relative movement between them. Trading the yield spread instead of just an outright position in a single part of the curve also protects us from parallel shifts in the yield curve, especially in volatile times like these. This strategy takes advantage of the yield curve dynamics, particularly the inversion trend we've been observing. We create the short yield spread position by taking a short position in the Micro 2-Yr Yield Futures and a long position in the Micro 10-Yr Yield Futures or Micro 30-Yr Yield Futures to express the curve un-inversion view, with 1 basis point move equal to 10 USD.
The charts above were generated using CME’s Real-Time data available on TradingView. Inspirante Trading Solutions is subscribed to both TradingView Premium and CME Real-time Market Data which allows us to identify trading set-ups in real-time and express our market opinions. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
Disclaimer:
The contents in this Idea are intended for information purpose only and do not constitute investment recommendation or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products or services. They serve as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate fundamental concepts in risk management under given market scenarios. A full version of the disclaimer is available in our profile description.
Reference:
www.cmegroup.com
www.cmegroup.com
www.cmegroup.com
DXY Potential UpsidesHey Traders, In the upcoming week, we are closely monitoring the DXY (U.S. Dollar Index) for a potential buying opportunity around the 102.600 zone. The DXY has been trading in a downtrend, but it recently broke out of this trend. However, it is currently in a correction phase, attempting to retrace for the second time before potentially continuing its upward movement.
From a fundamental perspective, there are signals indicating a potential upcoming couple of rate hikes from the Federal Reserve in their next monetary policy decisions. This information can have a significant impact on the DXY and related currency pairs.
I would recommend keeping a close eye on the DXY, not just prior to the new trading week, but also on a daily basis. This will help you trade USD pairs more professionally by identifying their direction. Additionally, monitoring the correlation between the DXY and the crypto market, as well as equities and indices, can provide valuable insights for trading decisions.
By staying informed about the DXY's movements, you can enhance your trading strategy and make more informed decisions regarding USD pairs and related markets.
Trade safe, Joe.
WTI: Crude Oil May Have Bottomed OutNYMEX: WTI Crude Oil ( NYMEX:CL1! ), Micro Crude Oil ( NYMEX:MCL1! )
The talk of inflation deceleration created a wishful misperception. Does a CPI read from 9.1% to 4.0% mean price relief for consumer? Certainly not. Something costed $1 last year will go up to $1.04 this year on average. What really comes down is the rate and the pace of price increase, but the absolute price level has forever gone up.
This makes the real decline in energy prices more extraordinary:
• On June 23rd, WTI crude oil ( NYSE:CL ) August futures settled at $69.16 a barrel. This is 44% below last June’s high of $123.70;
• At $2.44 a gallon, RBOB gasoline futures ( SIX:RB ) declined 34% year-over-year;
• At $2.37 a gallon, ULSD diesel futures ( EURONEXT:HO ) price dropped 45% YoY.
• At the retail level, the American Automobile Association reports the national average regular gasoline price at $3.57 a gallon on June 25th, down 27% YoY;
• The AAA diesel price is now $3.89/gallon, falling 33% YoY.
However, the era of low energy prices may be coming to an end. I am convinced that the market dynamic has changed. Elevated geopolitical tension, higher demand and a weak dollar could help pull crude oil out of the bottom, and onto an upward trajectory.
Global Tension Forms Solid Price Support
A week after the start of Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Crude oil futures shot up 30% from below $90 to $115. WTI peaked at $121 in June as the fighting continued.
Since then, high inflation and rate hikes raised the risk of global recession. As the demand outlook dimmed, oil price lost support and trended down in the past year.
Geopolitical tension may have been placed on the back burner, but it never went away. Last Saturday, the Russian private army Wagner Group mounted a short-lived rebellion against the Kremlin. What this means to the Ukraine conflict and the stability of Russia itself remain to be seen.
Geopolitical crisis could cause supply shock and raise the price of crude oil. My observation is that global tension will be at an elevated level throughout 2023 and 2024.
Oil Demand is Expected to Recover
Last July, I called the peak of gas price in this report. I discovered that record $5 gas had caused demand to fumble. AAA gas price surprisingly declined at the start of the traditional summer driving season.
Things look different now. Retail gas price creeped up 50 cents (+13%) since December. Many stations popped up gas price ahead of the July 4th holiday. With a still strong job market and inflation in check, consumers are taking their summer vacations.
A second key demand factor comes from the US government. The Biden Administration has drawn down the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to fight high oil price in the last two years. The Energy Information Agency data shows that the SPR holds 350 million barrels of crude oil as of June 16th. This is 285 million barrels less than the level on January 24th, 2020, the week when President Biden first took office. SPR is now at a critical four-decade low level.
The Department of Energy has begun replenishing the SPR. It announced buying up to 3 million barrels in May, and recently planned additional purchase of 6 million in August.
Thirdly, the risk of global economic recession is now lower than what we previously feared. This is my most important reason for raising the outlook of future oil demand.
• The Federal Reserve implemented ten consecutive interest rate increases since March 2022. US inflation rate has declined from the peak of 9.1% to 4.0% in May. Lowering inflation may have averted the US economy from falling on a hard landing.
• The banking failures, from Silicon Valley Bank to Signature Bank, First Republic, and Credit Suisse, have met with swift government rescue efforts. We have so far managed to contain these from spreading to systemic risk.
• The resolution of US debt ceiling crisis helped avoid a US default and a likely global financial crisis it may trigger. According to the USDebtClock.org, the US national debt is now $32.1 trillion, which is $700 billion more than the previous debt limit.
• The Biden-McCarthy deal in federal spending limits ensures that government budget will not be cut. The federal government accounts for one quarter of the US economy. As bad as it may sound, government spending spree with borrowed money does contribute to near-term economic growth. We just kick the can forward and leave the debt burden to future generations.
A Weak Dollar Supports Higher Oil Price
Last year, the main investment theme of global commodities market was “Strong Dollar, Weak Commodities” and “High Rate, Low Price”. We are now in a reverse course.
The US dollar index peaked at 114 in last September. While the Fed raised rates aggressively, other countries were slow in response, resulting in widening interest rate spreads between the US dollar and major foreign currencies. Since then, the Fed reduced the size of rate hikes from 75 bp to 50 and then 25, while UK and ECB caught up with bigger rate increases. The dollar index has fallen to 100 by April.
The Fed paused rate increase in its June meeting. Although it emphasizes in fighting inflation, there is no question that the monetary tightening cycle is now in its last stretch.
NYMEX WTI Crude Oil Futures
With the key factors discussed above, plus the OPEC having incentive to cut output, I could see WTI going back to the $80-$90 range.
December WTI (CLZ3) currently quotes $69.1 a barrel. Each contract has a notional value of 1,000 barrels. Margin requirement is $5,000 to place one contract.
Hypothetically, if Dec futures goes up to $80, one long contract would gain $10,900 (=10.9*1000). Theoretical return would be +118% (=10,900/5,000-1), excluding transaction fees.
The risk of long WTI is falling oil price. If CLZ3 falls to $65, a long position would lose $4,100. This would result in a Margin Call, with the Exchange requiring the trader to deposit fund and bring the account balance back to $5,000.
Alternatively, we could consider the Micro Crude Oil Futures ( CSE:MCL ). Contract size is one tenth of the standard CL contract. And so is the margin requirement. Everything else works the same.
Happy Trading.
Disclaimers
*Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services.
CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
Daily Market Analysis - FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2023Events:
UK - Manufacturing PMI
USA - FOMC Member Mester Speaks
USA - FOMC Member Bostic Speaks
USA - FOMC Member Bullard Speaks
USA - Services PMI (Jun)
During Thursday's trading session, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq displayed upward movement, propelled by the statements made by US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Powell's hawkish stance indicated that the central bank's tightening cycle was not yet complete, instilling confidence in investors. However, he also emphasized the Fed's commitment to exercising caution in its approach to monetary policy.
The Nasdaq, known for its heavy concentration of technology stocks, experienced significant gains. This surge in the index was primarily driven by the momentum stocks of prominent companies like Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT). These tech giants showcased impressive performance, contributing to the overall positive sentiment in the market.
On the other hand, the progress of the broader S&P 500 index was more modest compared to the Nasdaq's surge. While still displaying positive movement, the gains in the S&P 500 were not as pronounced as those in the technology-driven Nasdaq.
In contrast to the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) remained relatively unchanged. The Dow is composed of large, established companies from various sectors, including industrials and financials. However, during this particular trading session, these sectors had a minimal impact on the index's performance.
Overall, the market sentiment on Thursday was largely influenced by Powell's statements, which offered a mixed perspective. While indicating a continued tightening of monetary policy, Powell also reassured investors about the Fed's cautious approach. This combination of factors led to varying degrees of upward movement in different indices, with the Nasdaq taking the lead, followed by the S&P 500, while the Dow remained relatively stable.
NASDAQ indice daily chart
S&P500 indice daily chart
DJI indice daily chart
During his appearance before the Senate Banking Committee for the semi-annual monetary policy testimony, US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reiterated his stance on the likelihood of further interest rate hikes in the near future. This statement reaffirmed his belief in the need for continued tightening of monetary policy to address potential inflationary pressures and maintain economic stability.
Powell's perspective on future rate hikes was echoed by Fed Governor Michelle Bowman during the session. The alignment of views between Powell and Bowman highlights the consensus within the Federal Reserve regarding the potential necessity of raising interest rates as part of their ongoing efforts to carefully manage the country's economic growth.
The reaffirmation of this belief in further rate hikes signals the Fed's commitment to a proactive approach in addressing economic conditions and maintaining a balanced monetary policy. By emphasizing the likelihood of future interest rate increases, Powell and Bowman are providing transparency to market participants and indicating their intention to address inflationary pressures and promote sustainable economic expansion.
As the Federal Reserve's monetary policy plays a crucial role in shaping financial markets and investor sentiment, the reaffirmation of the potential for rate hikes in the coming months will likely influence market dynamics and investor decision-making. Traders and market participants will closely monitor future statements and actions from the Federal Reserve for further insights into the timing and magnitude of potential interest rate adjustments.
US initial jobless claims
In the economic landscape, the stability of jobless claims at a 20-month high reflects persistent challenges in the labor market. This indicates ongoing difficulties for job seekers and potential concerns about employment conditions. Additionally, the Conference Board's Leading Economic Index, which tracks various indicators to gauge the future direction of the economy, recorded its 14th consecutive monthly decline. This suggests that the Federal Reserve's efforts to moderate economic growth are starting to have the intended impact of slowing down the overall pace of expansion.
Meanwhile, the Bank of England (BoE) has made a decision to accelerate the pace of interest rate hikes during its 13th meeting under its tightening policy. This move has received mixed reactions from different stakeholders in the financial markets. Households, bond investors, stock investors, and foreign exchange (FX) traders have expressed their disapproval of the BoE's decision. This dissent stems from concerns about the potential impact of higher interest rates on borrowing costs, investment returns, and currency valuations. These stakeholders are closely monitoring the consequences of the BoE's actions and adjusting their strategies accordingly.
The BoE's decision to hasten the pace of interest rate hikes highlights their focus on managing inflationary pressures and ensuring economic stability. However, the varied reactions from market participants reflect the complexity and potential trade-offs associated with monetary policy decisions. As the effects of the BoE's actions unfold, it will be crucial to monitor the implications for different sectors of the economy and assess how market dynamics and investor sentiment are influenced by these policy moves.
UK interest rate
Despite the stabilization of the 2-year gilt yield above the 5% threshold, it failed to receive a substantial boost. This can be attributed to concerns among market participants regarding the potential negative consequences of the Bank of England's (BoE) proposed additional interest rate hike of one full percentage point. These concerns mainly revolve around the potential impact on the British economy, particularly in the property market. The anticipation of such a significant rate increase has dampened investor sentiment, leading to a cautious approach.
In parallel, the 10-year gilt yield has experienced a decline in response to the prevailing gloomy economic outlook. This decline reflects market expectations of a challenging economic environment and a lack of optimism regarding future growth prospects. The declining yield suggests that investors are seeking safer assets amid uncertainty, resulting in increased demand for long-term government bonds.
The possibility of Britain avoiding a recession, let alone a property crisis, appears increasingly unlikely in light of these developments. The market sentiment is shaped by concerns about the potential adverse effects of higher interest rates on the property market, which is a key sector of the British economy. This sentiment is further fueled by the prevailing economic uncertainties, both domestically and globally.
Turning to the FTSE 100, the index has approached the 7500 level. However, trend and momentum indicators are displaying negative signals, indicating a bearish sentiment in the market. Additionally, the index is nearing oversold conditions, suggesting that it may be due for a potential rebound or period of consolidation.
FTSE 100 daily chart
The performance of large British companies has been negatively impacted by falling energy and commodity prices, influenced by a relatively weak reopening in China. This year, these factors have contributed to bearish pressure on the companies, and the situation has been further intensified by rising interest rates. Until there is a rebound in global energy prices, which is yet to materialize, the outlook for the FTSE 100 remains neutral to negative. The market will closely monitor any developments that could potentially improve the prospects for energy prices and subsequently impact the performance of the index.
Interestingly, in response to the 50 basis point interest rate hike, the pound depreciated instead of appreciating, contrary to the typical expectation. This reaction reflects the sentiment of the market, which believes that the challenges and uncertainties facing Britain outweigh the potential positive effects that higher interest rates could generate. The prevailing concerns and uncertainties surrounding the British economy have outweighed the impact of the rate hike, leading to a depreciation of the pound.
Turning to the gold market, prices experienced a slight decline on Friday, signaling a potentially challenging week and heading towards their worst performance since January. This decline can be attributed to the significant rate hike by the Bank of England, coupled with hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve. These developments have raised concerns among investors about the prospect of tighter monetary conditions. Market participants will closely monitor any further signals and actions from central banks, as they have a significant influence on gold prices.
XAU/USD daily chart
Gold prices have reached a three-month low, breaking out of a narrow trading range observed over the past month, but unfortunately in a downward direction. This decline in gold prices indicates a shift in market sentiment and a potential weakening of demand for the precious metal.
Looking ahead to Friday's session, investors will closely monitor the release of preliminary manufacturing and services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data. These indicators provide valuable insights into the health and performance of these sectors, serving as important economic barometers. The PMI data can influence market sentiment and investor confidence, as it offers a glimpse into the overall economic activity and potential growth prospects.
In addition to the PMI data, market participants will also pay attention to speeches from several members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), including Bullard, Bostic, and Mester. These speeches have the potential to shed further light on the monetary policy outlook and provide clarity on the Fed's stance and future actions. The comments made by FOMC members can significantly impact market expectations, especially regarding interest rates and overall monetary policy direction.
Overall, Friday's session is expected to be influenced by the release of PMI data and the speeches from FOMC members. These events will shape market sentiment and provide crucial insights into the current economic conditions and the potential future trajectory of monetary policy. Investors will closely analyze these developments to make informed decisions and position themselves accordingly in the market.
Gold:the monetary commodity’s fate in the hands of central banksGold is arguably the most sensitive commodity to monetary policy. The metal operates more like a pseudo-currency than a regular commodity (a regular commodity’s price is driven by the balance of supply and demand, gold is driven by many of the macro determinants of currencies).
After hiking rates every meeting since February 2022, the Federal Reserve (Fed) took a pause in June 2023. The central bank has lifted the upper bound of Fed Fund target rates from 0.25% to 5.25% over that timeframe, marking one of the most rapid rate hiking cycles in history. At times, the Fed was hiking in 0.75% clips. Rising interest rates were an extreme headwind for gold for most of this period. Can gold investors breathe a sigh of relief now? Is this a temporary pause, or a halt on rate hikes? Well, if Fed Fund futures are to believed, there may be one more rate hike by September 2023. If the participants of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) are to be believed, there could be several more rate hikes (with the median expectation of these participants pointing to a terminal midpoint rate of 5.625%, that is, an upper bound of 5.75%). Professional economists1 seem less sure of such decisive action, with the median looking for no change in rates this year (and cuts commencing in Q1 2024). Senior Economist to WisdomTree, Jeremy Siegel, believes the Fed is done hiking and that alternative inflation metrics, which incorporate real time housing inputs, show inflation running at 1.4% instead of the official 4.1% in May 20232.
Market inflation expectations are not falling away as fast as we would expect. Judging by the 5yr5yr swaps, longer-term market inflation expectations are actually rising modestly. Higher inflation tends to be gold-price supportive (other things being equal).
After hitting an all-time high in 2022, central bank demand for gold has maintained strong momentum. Official sector gold buying in Q1 2023 was the largest on record for the first quarter (albeit lower than Q3 2022 and Q4 2022). A YouGov poll, sponsored by the World Gold Council3 , showed that developing market central banks are expecting to increase their gold reserve holdings and decrease their US dollar reserve holdings.
With a lack of forceful stimulus from the Chinese government, and still elevated gold prices in Renminbi terms, we expect a slowing of retail demand in China. In fact, Shanghai premiums over the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) price slowed in May and remain low in June.
Looking to WisdomTree’s gold price model, we can see that bond headwinds have clearly fallen away and US dollar depreciation (relative to a year ago) is offering gold some support rather than dragging prices lower. However, investor sentiment towards the metal has moderated since March 2023, when the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the shotgun marriage between UBS and Credit Suisse Banks was announced. With the passing of the US debt ceiling debacle, there aren’t any specific risks driving gold demand higher. However, general recession fears and the potential for unspecified financial sector hiccups are likely to keep gold demand moderately high as the metal serves well as a strategic asset in times of uncertainty.
Source:
1 Bloomberg Survey of Professional Economists, June 2023.
2 The alternative measure calculates shelter inflation using Case Shiller Housing and Zillow rent which annualise at 0.5% instead of the 8% that is biasing the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI higher.
3 2023 Central Bank Gold Reserves Survey, May 2023.
Daily Market Analysis - WEDNESDAY JUNE 21, 2023As US stocks decline, the market retreats while investors eagerly await Powell's testimony.
Key events:
UK - CPI (YoY) (May)
USA - Fed Chair Powell Testifies
The trading session on Tuesday witnessed a decline in US stocks, marking a shift from the previous sustained rally as investors opted to secure their profits. This decision was influenced by concerns over weakening global demand, which contributed to a cautious sentiment prevailing at the beginning of the holiday-shortened week.
One of the key events that investors are eagerly anticipating is Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's scheduled testimony before Congress on Wednesday. The outcome of this testimony has the potential to significantly impact market dynamics and serve as a major catalyst for market movement.
All three major US equity indices concluded the session with negative results, although they did manage to recover slightly from the lows reached earlier in the day. Notably, the decline was influenced by the performance of oil super-majors such as Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp, which exerted downward pressure on both the S&P 500 and the Dow.
The broader sell-off that occurred follows the Nasdaq's impressive winning streak, which had been the longest since March 2019, and the S&P 500's longest winning streak since November 2021.
Despite the setback experienced on Tuesday, it is important to note that the benchmark S&P 500 has still achieved a notable gain of 14.3% year-to-date. This highlights the overall positive performance of the market thus far in the year, even with the temporary downturn observed in the recent trading session.
S&P 500 daily chart
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming congressional testimony presents a platform for him to expand on the discussions surrounding monetary policy that took place during the recent Fed meeting. However, given the relatively short timeframe between these two events, it is improbable that Powell will introduce substantial new insights during this testimony. It is important to note that the Federal Reserve follows a data-dependent approach, making decisions on a meeting-by-meeting basis. Therefore, their next decision, slated for July 26, will likely be influenced by a range of factors, including the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on July 12 and the employment report on July 7. These upcoming economic indicators will play a significant role in shaping the Fed's decisions regarding monetary policy moving forward.
GBP/USD daily chart
The GBP/USD currency pair witnessed a substantial surge of 60 pips, propelling it above the key level of 1.2800. However, the pair later retraced to 1.2760. This price movement unfolded as market participants engaged in reassessment of the UK inflation data ahead of the London open on Wednesday.
In May, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the UK surpassed market expectations by reaching a year-on-year figure of 8.7%, surpassing the anticipated 8.4%. This strong inflationary reading garnered attention and influenced the initial upward momentum in the GBP/USD pair.
On the other hand, the Core CPI, which factors out the impact of volatile food and energy prices, aligned with analysts' predictions. It indicated a more modest inflation increase of 6.8% year-on-year, in line with market forecasts.
The contrasting figures between the headline CPI and Core CPI may have contributed to the subsequent retreat in the GBP/USD pair, as market participants carefully considered the implications of these inflation data points. Such evaluations and reevaluations are common as traders and investors digest the latest economic indicators to adjust their positions in the market.
As the trading session progresses, market participants will continue to monitor developments and additional economic data releases to gauge the potential impact on the GBP/USD currency pair.
UK CPI
The GBP/USD buyers are currently facing challenges as the US Dollar continues to exhibit strength, extending its upward trend for the fourth consecutive day, despite recent lack of significant action. This poses a hurdle to the bullish outlook on the GBP/USD pair, even with the positive UK inflation data that supports the Bank of England (BoE) hawks.
At the same time, the US Dollar Index (DXY) remains relatively stable around the 102.60 level, maintaining its four-day uptrend without displaying a strong inclination to advance further. The recent resilience of the US Dollar can be attributed to the hawkish remarks made by Federal Reserve policymakers, particularly the nominees, as well as robust housing data from the United States. Additionally, concerns regarding geopolitical tensions between the US and China are weighing on market sentiment, further bolstering the safe-haven appeal of the US Dollar.
In light of these factors, the GBP/USD buyers are encountering resistance in their efforts to drive the pair higher. The prevailing strength of the US Dollar, supported by hawkish comments and positive economic data, poses a challenge to the bullish sentiment on the GBP/USD pair. Traders and investors will closely monitor further developments, including central bank communications and geopolitical developments, to assess the potential impact on the GBP/USD pair moving forward.
US Dollar Currency Index
Furthermore, during the course of the night, the Australian dollar experienced notable and noteworthy fluctuations, which consequently led to a substantial decrease in the AUD/USD exchange rate, edging closer to the critical level of 0.6800. The downward trajectory of the Australian dollar was triggered by the release of the minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) most recent policy meeting held on June 6th. To the surprise of market participants, the RBA opted to implement an additional 25 basis points hike, thereby elevating the policy rate to 4.10%. This updated guidance on the likelihood of future rate hikes was specifically aimed at attaining the desired inflation target.
AUD/USD daily chart
Nevertheless, the recently disseminated minutes of the meeting have given rise to an array of uncertainties with respect to the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) forthcoming stance on augmenting interest rates. Within the aforementioned minutes, it was brought to light that the RBA extensively deliberated on the prospect of temporarily halting any rate increases during their most recent policy meeting. However, after careful consideration, the RBA concluded that the arguments presented were intricately poised, yet slightly inclined towards implementing a rate hike.
1 & 2Yr Yields holding, $TNX & rest have been weakeningShort term #yield is still weakening
The 3M & 6M peaked not long ago & been going lower.
The 1Yr & 2Yr are holding area when the #banks began to fail.
The 10Yr peaked Oct 2022, last year.
TVC:TNX has been lower & looks 2b headed lower at the moment.
We'll see what the #FederalReserve does but Wall St thinks #fed is done with rates or @ CLOSE to the end of hikes
GOLD: awaiting the FOMC decisionIn a few hours we will know if FOMC decides to raise interest rates by 25bp or if there will be a pause in monetary policy. Having said that, if we look at 1H chart we still have the same technical structure (see analysis below), which is still valid at the moment. With this in mind it would be great if TVC:GOLD triggered a swing as shown on chart (first bearish then bullish), I say that because I really like the Pin Bar at 1,971 . What will happen on gold market? In the short term it's hard to say, but today's session will certainly be our driver for a few sessions/weeks.
PREVIOUS ANALYSIS
(Click on Chart below)
FUNDAMENTAL ANALYSIS (Long term)
(Click on Chart below)
PRE-FOMC ANALYSIS
(Click on Chart below)
Trade with care!
Like 🚀 if my analysis is useful.
Cheers!
FOMC REPORT : Stocks, Bonds, BTC & GoldHi Traders, Investors and Speculators of Charts 📈📉
Did you miss the 2023 June 13/14 FOMC meeting? No worries, CryptoChecks' got you covered. Here's a summary of what happened and how the outcome of this meeting may affect the respective markets.
First, let's clearly understand the FOMC meeting and it's importance to investors. The Federal Reserve, also known as the Fed, is the central banking system of the United States. It guides the country's monetary policy and influences the economy. The Fed's announcements and statements are closely watched by traders and investors because they can have a significant impact on financial markets. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is a committee within the Fed that makes decisions on monetary policy. It consists of twelve members, including the seven members of the Board of Governors and five Reserve Bank presidents. They meet eight times a year to discuss and set policies.
FOMC meetings are important events for traders because any changes in interest rates can affect various economic factors, such as employment, inflation, and exchange rates. The meetings occur every six weeks, and some include a Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) and a press conference by the Fed Chair. Traders pay close attention to the Fed's decisions and statements because they provide valuable information about the state of the economy and future policy changes.
Now, let's look at what was said in this FOMC meeting:
The Federal Reserve decided to pause its series of interest rate hikes at its June meeting, following ten consecutive increases. While the central bank expressed optimism about curbing inflation, the battle is not yet over, and further rate hikes may be on the horizon.
Important facts:
🏛 The Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) announced that the federal funds target rate would remain unchanged within a range of 5.0% to 5.25% during the June meeting. This marks the first policy meeting since the start of the Fed's tightening cycle in March 2022 in which interest rates were not raised.
🏛 The Fed confirmed its plan to continue reducing its balance sheet by allowing up to $60 billion in Treasury securities and $35 billion in agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) to roll off each month, employing quantitative tightening to combat inflation.
🏛 Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged the challenges during the press conference and highlighted the uncertainties surrounding the effects of monetary policy on the economy and potential credit tightening headwinds. Despite the pause, it does not indicate the completion of the Fed's interest rate hike cycle, and further increases may be necessary.
🏛 The Fed has been attempting to navigate the challenge of curbing inflation without causing a recession by gradually raising interest rates. Higher rates increase borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, slowing down economic activity.
🏛 The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 4.1% annually in May, down from the 4.9% gain in April, which was the highest in 40 years. The core personal consumption expenditures price index, the Fed's preferred measure of inflation, increased by 4.7% in April, slightly up from March but lower than the 2022 peak of 5.3%. The long-term target for core PCE inflation is 2%.
🏛 The tight U.S. labor market has posed challenges in the fight against inflation. In May, the U.S. economy added 339,000 jobs, surpassing expectations, and wages increased by 4.3% year-over-year. The unemployment rate rose to 3.7% but remained near historic lows.
🏛 Powell indicated that further rate increases might be necessary to gradually bring inflation down to the 2% target.
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Overall, the potential impact on stocks, commodities, and bonds could look as follow:
Stocks: The impact on stocks can be more nuanced. In general, a steady interest rate environment can be positive for stocks. Lower rates can make equities more attractive as an investment option compared to bonds or other fixed-income assets. It can encourage borrowing for business expansion and investment, potentially boosting corporate earnings and stock prices. However, if the market was anticipating a rate cut or an increase, a decision to keep rates unchanged might cause some short-term volatility or adjustments in stock prices as investors reassess their expectations. This could positively impact stock prices, especially in sectors that are sensitive to interest rates, such as technology, consumer discretionary, and housing.
Commodities: When interest rates remain steady, it can provide stability and potentially support commodity prices. Lower interest rates generally make borrowing cheaper, which can stimulate economic activity and increase demand for commodities. Conversely, higher interest rates can have the opposite effect, potentially dampening demand and putting downward pressure on commodity prices.
Bonds: The pause in interest rate hikes may be favorable for bond prices in the short term. When interest rates remain stable or decline, existing bonds with higher coupon rates become relatively more attractive, leading to increased demand and potentially higher bond prices. Lower interest rates also reduce borrowing costs for companies, which may improve their creditworthiness and decrease the risk of default, making corporate bonds more appealing to investors.
Now, you may be wondering to yourself... despite the above; why is Gold (and BTC) falling instead of rising?
💭💭💭
EXTRA for EXPERTS:
The fact that the US House of Representatives have passed US debt ceiling bill five days ahead of the deadline could be a reason behind the falling price of Gold. With this in mind, it becomes easier to see why the gold market could have slipped. Still, rampant inflation will probably keep a floor under the gold market and as such; a short term drop to next immediate support zone is the most probable. While the true utility of the metal as a hedge against rising prices is a subject of endless economic debate, many investors insist that it is. It’s notable that prices remain close to historic high levels despite much higher interest rates more or less everywhere. The backdrop of war in Ukraine, tensions in the South China Sea, and the durability of post-covid recovery are also clearly supportive of perceived ‘haven assets’ like gold, silver and bitcoin. Is it possible that the large, corporate investors are just countertrading the bullish retail investors in the commodities market at this point?
The odds of a July rate hike are at about 61%, according to CME FedWatch Tool. Investors anticipate a 61.5% chance of the Federal Reserve hiking rates by a quarter point at its July 25-26 meeting, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. The metric hasn’t moved much since Tuesday, even as the central bank indicated in its dot plot on Wednesday that two more rate hikes are coming up.
To understand the relationship between commodities, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and stocks can help you clearly plan your next move after the FOMC meeting.
Commodities and Stocks:
Inverse Relationship: Historically, there has been an inverse relationship between commodity prices and stock prices. When commodity prices rise, it can lead to higher production costs for companies, affecting profit margins and potentially dampening stock performance. Conversely, when commodity prices decline, it can lower input costs for companies, potentially benefiting their profitability and supporting stock prices.
Cryptocurrencies and Stocks:
Limited Relationship: Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, have gained prominence as a separate asset class and are not directly tied to traditional stock markets. As such, the relationship between cryptocurrencies and stocks is generally limited. However, during periods of market volatility or significant news events, there can be some short-term correlations as investors seek alternative assets or sentiment spills over from one market to another. But in terms of long-term correlations, the two asset classes have shown relatively independent behavior.
Bonds and Stocks:
Inverse Relationship: Bonds and stocks typically exhibit an inverse relationship. When interest rates rise, bond yields increase, making fixed-income investments more attractive relative to stocks. This can lead to a shift in investor preferences from stocks to bonds, potentially putting downward pressure on stock prices. Conversely, when interest rates decline, bond yields decrease, making stocks relatively more attractive, which can contribute to higher stock prices.
The relationship between bonds and commodities is typically more complex and can be influenced by several factors:
Inflation Expectations: Commodities are often considered an inflation hedge because their prices tend to rise during inflationary periods. When inflation expectations increase, commodity prices may go up, which can lead to higher inflation-adjusted yields on bonds. In this case, there may be a positive correlation between commodities and bond yields.
Economic Growth: Commodities, especially those related to industrial sectors like energy and metals, are sensitive to economic growth. When the economy is booming, demand for commodities tends to rise, potentially leading to higher prices. This can be associated with higher inflation expectations and upward pressure on bond yields. Hence, there can be a positive correlation between commodities and bond yields during periods of economic expansion.
Safe-Haven Demand : Bonds, especially government bonds, are considered safe-haven assets that investors flock to during times of uncertainty or market turbulence. In contrast, commodities, which are more directly influenced by supply and demand dynamics, may not exhibit the same safe-haven characteristics. Therefore, during risk-off periods when investors seek safety, there can be an inverse relationship between commodities and bond yields.
Interest Rates and Opportunity Cost: Changes in interest rates can impact both bonds and commodities. When interest rates rise, the opportunity cost of holding commodities, which do not pay interest or dividends, increases. This can potentially lead to downward pressure on commodity prices. Conversely, when interest rates decline, the opportunity cost of holding commodities decreases, which can be supportive of commodity prices. In this case, there can be an inverse relationship between bond yields and commodity prices.
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AMEX:SPY TVC:US10Y TVC:GOLD INDEX:BTCUSD COINBASE:BTCUSD BINANCE:BTCUSDT NYSE:GOLD CURRENCYCOM:GOLD
Bitcoin Reactions to FED Rate Rises#Bitcoin, FED Rate Rises, US Inflation index & Key moments
For me, The FED interest Rate raise had little Direct effect on BTC PA
What DID have bigger impact were the effects on companies like LUNA and FTX ( though that was very possibly Always going to Crash) - the increase in Loan repayments being the Cause of instability and so people got cold Feet
BTC PA is nearing the point of a full recovery from these Company crashes
The REAL Crunch comes When the FED do decide to Pivot, Which Powell has suggested, may not be Till next year.
Pivots have historically brought Markets Down shortly after
Next year we have #Bitcoin Halving, habitually a time of Large Price rises for Bitcoin, leading to ATH
TradFi and Crypto are at War, literally.
Will the FED, ( The DXY support Group) try and use the Pivot to keep BTC price down ?
Or will they be too late ?
I honestly cannot wait to find out and personally, I think they Will but they Will Fail, COMPLETELY
BluetonaFX - GBPUSD 13/06/2023 Triangle Formation Update Hi Traders!
PLEASE SEE LINK TO ORIGINAL IDEA BELOW.
With the Federal Reserve pausing to increase interest rates for now but hinting at two more increases in the near future, the markets signalled this as US dollar strength.
Our GBPUSD triangle broke to the upside today before the interest rate announcement and almost broke the 1.27000 level, as we noted in our original idea. We reached as high as 1.26993 and have pulled back since then.
The new candle forming on the 1D chart will either be a retest of the triangle trendline that was broken or a continuation candle to retest the 1.27000 level to see if this level can be broken with a possible further bullish push to the upside.
If the new candle does retest the trendline, it is very important that there is enough buying demand at the trendline to make sure we do not end back below the trendline. If we do go back below the trendline, then we will most likely go back into the range zone of the triangle (highlighted on the chart).
Please do not forget to support us by liking, following, and commenting on our posts; this helps us greatly.
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BluetonaFX
S&P500 Crash: Trillions Vaporized in Titanic Fed-Inflated BubbleThe S&P 500 is facing a significant correction due to the potential bursting of the Federal Reserve's asset bubble, which is currently driving its artificially inflated values. Amidst signs of overheating markets, soaring valuations, and unsustainable monetary policies, the equity market is on the brink of a major downturn.
The 2008 financial crisis, a debacle of epic proportions, wreaked havoc on a worldwide scale, decimating trillions of dollars in wealth. Subsequently, the COVID-19 pandemic, an unanticipated black swan event, exacerbated the situation, warranting an even more vigorous response from monetary authorities.
To offset these crises' debilitating effects, the Federal Reserve rapidly escalated its balance sheet from a figure shy of $1 trillion in 2008 to a staggering excess of $8 trillion by 2021. This monumental expansion was effected primarily via the purchase of government securities and other asset classes, essentially serving as the economic bellows to reignite the embers of the economy and replenish market confidence.
My prediction lies at the levels waiting beneath us including the 2.618, 4.236, 6.854, and 11.09....
A notable Fibonacci cluster is at 2,400... onky time will tell.
XAUUSD - KOG REPORT - FOMC!KOG Report
FOMC – 14/06/23
This is our view for FOMC today, please do your own research and analysis to make an informed decision on the markets. It is not recommended you try to trade the event if you have less than 6 months trading experience and have a trusted risk strategy in place. The markets are extremely volatile, and these events can cause aggressive swings in price.
We’ll start by saying we’ve had a decent week so far as well as month and will not be wanting to give anything back to the market. For that reason, we’re sharing the levels we have for the potential move and the regions to look for a reaction in price. It is expected to move, especially during the press conference which will take place after the statement. We would say best practice is to wait for them to take the price where they want, let is settle and look for signs of a reversal before jumping into a trade.
We’ve seen a big range forming here over the last few weeks which has been used to accumulate orders, maybe now enough for Gold to find its feet and make the move many traders are anticipating. We have the immediate levels of 1950-55 order region which we are now above and potentially looking for the price to settle pre-event around here.
We have the higher levels of 1980-85 which we were looking for on the KOG Report so target region for longs that are held from below could be around that level. If price is driven up into that region, we would be looking for resistance higher to potentially see a reaction in price and a confirmed reversal before even attempting to short it.
On the flip side, we have order region 1930-35 and below that the extreme level of 1915-07 on the break. If the price is driven down, then we will potentially be looking here for a reaction in price and upon confirmed reversal signs look to take the long trade back up.
As we’ve said above, we’re sharing our view with everyone but please do your own research. We’re not likely to enter any new trades, rather let the runners we have open run or close at break even. The best trades and set ups will come once the price has been taken to it’s level.
Please do support us by hitting the like button, leaving a comment, and giving us a follow. We’ve been doing this for a long time now providing traders with in-depth free analysis on Gold, so your likes and comments are very much appreciated.
As always, trade safe.
KOG
BluetonaFX - EURUSD 12/06/2023 Key Levels UpdateHi Traders!
PLEASE SEE LINK TO ORIGINAL IDEA BELOW.
Our vector level of 1.08047 is still holding; we reached this level yesterday but failed to break and close above the level.
Traders are still attempting to break and close above this level today, so we will see if it happens this time.
The volume in the markets this morning is very thin, so please take caution as we have the Federal Reserve's interest rate announcement later today.
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Thank you for your support.
BluetonaFX
DXY Outlook FOMC Prep 14th JuneWill the Federal Reserve finally decide to pause on further rate hikes, keeping interest rates at 5.25%, or will the Feds hike rates one final time to take rates to 5.50%?
There has been much speculation about the likely outcome of the US FOMC regarding its interest rate decision.
Especially with the most recent CPI data being released at 4.0% (Expected 4.1% Previous 4.9%) a significant slowdown in inflation growth is being witnessed and it is likely to play towards encouraging the Feds to pause on further hikes.
Although the June unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.7%, the NFP was still significantly stronger than expected at 339k.
There are several technical analysis factors applying the downward pressures on the DXY, in particular, the downward trendline, 50MA and the 103.40 resistance level.
If the Feds does pause on rates, I'd be looking for the DXY to trade down to the support area of 102.80 and 103, which coincides with the 50% Fibonacci retracement level.
DXY: It won't happen, but if it does... 😱More than 97% of analysts say the FOMC won't raise interest rates tomorrow, but what will happen to Dollar Index, FX:EURUSD , TVC:GOLD and FRED:SP500 if Powell decides to hike interest rates by 25bp instead?
Most likely, tomorrow's announcement will be our driver at least for the whole summer, because this event will have a strong impact on the market. So we just have to wait 24 hours, and we will have the verdict!
...And you? what do you think?
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!
US30(Dow Jones) / D1 - Wait for a Correction!Dow Jones is near the famous top (34k). If it can not break the top it will fall and break the trend line in the first step.
Then probably a pullback to the broken trendline , then fall to 31k.
So if you are not in any position just be hold till its time.