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Geopolitical-risk

USDUSD Oil Prices react to Middle EastOn Thursday January 11th ( earlier today) WTI Crude prices gyrated widely likely in reaction to US /UK intervention on the terrorists who seized a tanker on the behalf of Iraq in the Red Sea / Suez Canal area putting shipping and supply concerns into the oil industry to offset any weak demand. The 15 minute chart shows a megaphone pattern as a demonstration of waves of relative volatility in price action. I have a position shorting oil and will now close that position as I see a long entry developing here. US companies that use rail and pipeline matching domestic production to consumption are less impacted by this oceanic shipping issue. I will focus on them especially. OXY is at the top of the list and then MRO.
EIGHTCAP:USOUSDLong
by AwesomeAvani
6
YANG ( a 3X leveraged inverse China megacap ETF ) LONGYANG on a 240 minute chart had a reverse head and shoulders pattern last summer. Price rose over the neckline in November and hit an increased trend angle at that time. With a set of VWAP bands anchored to the neckline cross, TANG had pulled back twice to the mean VWAP where it found support, the latter of which was this past week. While price is currently at 15.5, I could reasonably forecast another rise to the second upper VWAP bandline at 18.00 or about 16% upside. Price rose more than 4% today and 20% YTD for January. Fundamentally, China is in a recession. Additionally, the terror and tension in the Red Sea has increased shipping costs and diminished shipping volumes through the Suez Canal a a major gateway to the Eurozone markets or even Western Russia. The CCP has pleaded directly to Iran about this as the whole situation is worsening the China economy ( among others) The idea of China launching a gold standard currency seems to be out of the news at least for now. What is still on the table is Chinese interests in Taiwanese reunification. Any military action would basically flush Chinese stocks into nothingness because a trade war would ensue if not WW III. This lingering in at background is a drag on the China stocks. I see YANG as a safe bet now with an entry just above VWAP with a stop loss above it and 18.00 for the target.
AMEX:YANGLong
by AwesomeAvani
3
MRO US Oil LongThe US Energy Department has announced open bids for oil contracts to replenish the national strategic reserve which was depleted during the prior run up on global oil prices. This is a sure sign that the feds think that spot oil has but in a bottom especially in the context of shipping disruptions and higher insurance costs due to terrorism /piracy in the area of the Red Sea and Suez Canal. In the meanwhile two South American countries are having sovereignty disputes over oil fields and the British Navy is offshore to buttress the interests of Guyana. MRO is a domestic oil producer that is independent of Middle East issues. Its oil is consumed mostly in the US with a little shipping to Asia only. On the 50 minute chart, price downtrended from January 3th through and then below the high volume area of the volume profile. Price has reversed back up and reapproached the evolving high volume area. The dual TF MACD ( by Chris Moody) shows moving average divergence. Chris Moody's dual TF RSI indicator shows the faster TF RSI rising over the slower TF RSI as a sign of bullish momentum. I have taken both a stock and call options position in MRO having zoomed into the 15 minute TF for a good entry. Given the level of challenges current geopolitics presents to smooth flowing and inexpensive shipping of crude oil, I am expectant of significant gains in these positions. I have also looked into a position in OXY and CVE, which is a Canadian crude producer.
MLong
by AwesomeAvani
2
Crude Oil - Correction? Or Change in Trend?The December Crude oil contract has endured a precipitous drop in the past three trading sessions - falling nearly $7 per barrel. Is this just a correction? Are we in the midst of a trend change? The Bullish Case: Crude gapped higher on Monday, October 9th, following the start of the conflict between Hammas and Israel, and the geopolitical risk surrounding the situation served as a bullish catalyst for the crude oil contracts. A primary reason for the rally was anticipated escalation in the conflict, which has yet to materialize - causing the rally to stall. However, the risk of escalation still remains. Third party involvement from other nations or interest groups has the propensity to push crude oil prices even higher than the initial rally following the onset of the conflict. The Bearish Case: The winter months are typically not very kind to crude oil prices. Demand for crude oil wanes as consumers are usually more sedentary during the winter months. The seasonal chart below displays the 5, 10, and 15 year average tendencies for the December Crude Oil contract. Over each of those periods, crude oil prices trended lower from mid-October through November. If escalation does not materialize, it is likely that crude oil will continue to move lower. How Will We Know? In order to keep the uptrend intact, December crude oil will have to defend its recent low around $80/bbl. A turn higher ahead of that point will be a strong indication that crude will buck seasonal tendencies and continue higher. A failure to defend $80/bbl likely indicates that prices will continue to move lower. Check out CME Group real-time data plans available on TradingView here: www.tradingview.com Disclaimers: 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 *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. Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. Trading advice is based on information taken from trade and statistical services and other sources Blue Line Futures, LLC believes are reliable. We do not guarantee that such information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Trading advice reflects our good faith judgment at a specific time and is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that the advice we give will result in profitable trades. All trading decisions will be made by the account holder. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
NYMEX:CLZ2023
by Blue_Line_Futures
How Would a Major War Impact the US Stock Market?CME: Micro S&P 500 ( CME_MINI:MES1! ), CBOT: Micro Dow Jones ( CBOT_MINI:MYM1! ) In the last two stories, I discussed how the prices of crude oil, a strategic energy commodity, and gold, a safe-haven asset, could soar at wartime. Extended reading: “Would the Middle East Conflict Push Gold and Oil Prices Higher?” Extended reading: “MCO: Options Strategy to Capture Crude Oil Volatility” Today, I turn my focus on the U.S. stock market. The following analysis attempts to address this hypothetical question: How would US stocks be impacted by a major war? While the media constantly blasts breaking news from the Middle East, the US stock market behaves like business as usual. • On Friday October 6th, Dow Jones settled at 33,408. On the Monday after the conflict started, the Dow rose 197 points, or +0.6%, to 33,605. • 1-week change: Dow closed at 33,670 on October 13th, up 0.8%. • 2-week change: Dow closed at 33,127 on October 20th, down -0.8%. • The S&P 500 had a similar price trend. It settled on 4,308 right before the conflict. Price changes were: +0.6% (1-day), +1.5% (1-week), and -2.0% (2-week). What drive the US stock market are still corporate earnings and the Fed: • In the first half of October, strong Q3 earnings season drove stock indexes up; • On October 12th, higher-than-expected US CPI data pushed market indexes down; • October 18th, stock market plunged after the Fed Chair delivered a hawkish speech; • October 19th, Tesla’s Q3 underperformance led the decline of the broad market. All three US market indexes ended with a weekly loss. Time is too young to tell anything about the current conflict. How about the Russia-Ukraine conflict? US stocks were on a downtrend all last year. But I would argue that this was driven by the Fed rate hikes, which pushed interest rates up 525 basis points. Neither the Mideast nor East Europe saw US direct military involvements. Sending billions of dollars in aids to allies may raise federal budget deficit, but it is not likely to have a material impact on earnings for many of the US companies. To fully assess the impact of a major war, we need to find one where millions of US troops were sent to the front line. This analysis examines how the Dow index responded to the two World Wars, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. World War I (July 1914 to November 1918) • Phase I: In 1913-14, the U.S. suffered a two-year recession. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), U.S. GDP dropped by 25.9%. The Dow fell from 68 points in September 1912 to 52 points in July 1914, down 24%. • Phase II: The Great World helped end the recession. In the first two years, the U.S. remained neutral. American companies supplied vast quantities of arms and logistic materials to the warring countries in Europe. The Dow gained 106 points, up+104%. • Phase III: The U.S. declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917. The U.S. military grew from 128,000 to 4 million soldiers. Initially, entering the war produced a shock to the U.S. economy. The Dow fell to 72 points (-32%). However, wartime production helped companies expanded quickly. By October 1918, the Dow rebounded to 86, up 19%. • Phase IV: After the war ended, U.S. companies actively helped Europe rebuild. The Dow rose 118 points by October 1919, up 37%. Commentary: WW1 was mainly fought on European soil. Whether as wartime suppliers for Europe or as government contractors, U.S. companies saw expanded production and higher earnings. At the end of the war, the U.S. overtook Great Britain as the No. 1 World Power. The Dow index rose 127% throughout WW1. World War 2 (September 1939 to August 1945) • Phase I: In 1937-38, the U.S. experienced a major recession, with GDP falling by 18.2%, according to the NBER. The Dow went from 188 in February 1937 to 98 points in March 1938, down 48%. A year before the outbreak of WW2, U.S. economy was in a slow recovery. The Dow grew to 135 points in August 1939, up 38%. • Phase II: Germany started WW2 by invading Poland in 1939. Like in WW1, the U.S. remained neutral for two years and acted as a wartime supplier. As the Axis power threatened the very existence of the Free World, both Wall Street and Main Street went into a panic. The Dow closed at 111 points in November 1941, down 26%. • Phase III: Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. President Roosevelt declared war and joined the Allies. The U.S. military expanded from 330,000 to 16 million troops. Once again, U.S. manufacturers transformed into wartime production. Huge government orders helped them grow rapidly. By September 1945, the Dow rebounded to 180 points, a 62% gain. • Phase IV: The Marshall Plan made the U.S. a major force in rebuilding Europe after the war. U.S. companies benefited from these massive construction efforts. The Dow continued to rise, reaching 212 points, up 18%, by May 1946. Commentary: From a purely economic point of view, U.S. companies saw rapid growth in production scale, revenue, and profit during wartime. After the war, the U.S. consolidated its position as the No. 1 World Superpower. The Dow rose 57% throughout WW2. Korean War and Vietnam War • The Korean War lasted three years from its outbreak on June 25, 1950, to the signing of the armistice on July 27, 1953. The size of the U.S. military was as high as 6.8 million troops during this period. About 480,000 fought in Korea. • The Dow went from 210 to 277 points during the war, up 32%. • Vietnam War lasted 10 years from March 1965 to April 1975. The U.S. military stood at 8.7 million troops. About 2.7 million soldiers fought in Vietnam. • The Dow was 900 in 1965 and ended at 815 ten years later, down 9%. Commentary: In WW2, the U.S. sent 3 million troops to Europe and 1.8 million soldiers to the Pacific theater. For a comparison, the Korean War had about one-tenth of the fighting forces. It did not have a big impact on the U.S. economy and the stock market. Troops size in Vietnam was five times bigger. However, in this decade-long war, the stock market was influenced by many other factors, from the Civil Right movement to the Space Race; and from Nixon's historic visit to China to his resignation from the presidency. Hedging with Micro Dow and Micro S&P Index Futures In conclusion, my analysis shows that wars did not have a negative impact on U.S. stock market. Contradicting our intuition, U.S. stock market indexes generally rose during a major war and continued to go up after the war. Why is this the case? All the wars we examined here were fought outside of the U.S. soil. In fact, no war has been fought in continental U.S. since the Civil War, for nearly 160 years. Even in the two World Wars, the U.S. did not pay the heavy toll of civilian casualty and property destruction most warring countries suffered. Furthermore, the U.S. government has been a “going concern” and the U.S. stock market operate at peace time and in wars. You can’t say the same for Germany, France, Italy, Russia, the Austria-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Japan Empire, or China. With two reginal military conflicts fighting simultaneously, the risk of a global conflict increases exponentially. For a rational investor, this is a good time to plan for global asset allocation. Those investors holding assets in foreign countries could consider hedging with U.S. stock market index futures. Whenever the next major geopolitical crisis break outs, assets in foreign markets and in foreign currencies may decline in value faster than that of the U.S. stocks. In the cases we illustrated, U.S. stock index could rise during wartime. CBOT Micro Dow Futures ( XETR:MYM ) is notional on $0.50 times the DJIX index. At Friday closing price of 33,222, each December contract MYMZ3 is value at $16,611. Each long or short futures contract requires an initial margin of $800. CME Micro S&P Futures ( FWB:MES ) is notional on $5 times the S&P 500 index. At Friday closing price of 4,244.75, each December contract MESZ3 is value at $21,223.75. Holding one contract requires an initial margin of $1,120. Investors could consider a “Buy and Hold” strategy for as long as they hold assets that are weaker and/or less safe than the US stocks. For futures hedging, this strategy entails buying the most liquid nearby contract, holding it until contract expiration month, and then rolling it over to the next liquid contract. Both MYMZ3 and MESZ3 expire on December 15th, the third Friday. By one or two weeks before the expiration, investors could close out the open positions and buy the March 2024 contracts, which are MYMH4 and MESH4, respectively. 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
DJ:DJILong
by JimHuangChicago
3
Seeking Shelter in Gold on Rising Geopolitical RisksShining bright and sizzling hot, gold has surged 8% over the past two weeks. Ample supply of geopolitical shocks from violence in the Middle East to ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has been driving gold high. This paper examines the drivers supporting the gold rally and prevailing bullish & bearish factors. It posits two hypothetical trades to astutely position portfolios amid a raft of geopolitical and economic shocks. GOLD IS A HAVEN WHEN GEOPOLITICS DELIVER SHOCKS In a previous paper , Mint Finance highlighted that gold is a resilient store of wealth as it outperforms in times of extreme volatility. Geopolitical tensions remain intense amid ongoing armed conflicts in Russia-Ukraine and Palestine-Israel which underpins gold as an investor haven. Gold responds to elevated geopolitical risks as reported by the World Gold Council . A 100 unit increase in the Geopolitical Risk Index ( GPR ) has a 2.5% positive impact on gold returns as measured by the Gold Return Attribution Model ( GRAM ). GOLD IS TRADING AT KEY PSYCHOLOGICAL PRICE LEVEL Gold prices have catapulted more than 8% since the rapid escalation in violence in the middle east over the last two weeks. Gold now trades just below USD 2,000/oz. The USD 2,000/oz mark is clearly an important psychological level. A more crucial level is USD 2,100/oz. Gold prices have failed to breach 2,100 three times over the last three years. Gold prices are exhibiting a solid bullish momentum. It has surpassed two resistance levels (1,902.9 and 1,943.4). Price action is close to forming a golden cross between 9-day and 100-day simple moving average. Gold is likely to surpass the USD 2,000/oz over the next few days. However, passing the sticky USD 2,100/oz levels might be more challenging. The continuous rally over the past two weeks may be due for a correction if the momentum fails to hold. RSI has already raced past its upper bound. Large upward moves are known to be followed by sharp price pullbacks. SEASONAL DEMAND FROM GOLD MAJORS POSITIVELY AFFECTS GOLD PRICES The top two largest gold consumers are China and India. Combined, they represent ~50% of total global demand. Both paint a positive picture for gold demand. 1. Shrinking Premiums in China to bolster demand China represents 25% of global gold demand. China’s domestic gold availability has been strained over the past few months while demand has remained high leading to an all-time-high premium on domestic gold prices over international gold prices. These premiums have eased sharply over the past few days as supply conditions improve after China’s golden week holidays. Lower premium on domestic gold makes it an attractive buy. Furthermore, wholesale gold demand in China is showing signs of improvement. Gold ETFs are attracting notable inflows. The PBoC is building its gold reserves at a brisk pace. 2. Strong Monsoon cements solid demand for Gold in India India represents 24% of global gold demand. Monsoon and festivals have a major impact on Indian gold demand. Indian consumers buy gold as wedding gifts or as investments during festivals. Demand is expected to spike during the upcoming festival and wedding season. This year, India witnessed a wet monsoon which bodes well for farmers. Consequently, that is good for gold demand too. Rural India represents 60% of the country’s gold demand. As highlighted by Debbie Carlson in CME OpenMarkets , a wet monsoon leads to better harvests and higher earnings for farmers driving a positive effect on gold demand. GOLD PRICES ARE SIZZLING HOT Despite the bullish drivers, a major headwind to the gold demand is its high prices. Gold prices remain elevated. Higher prices lead to guarded consumers. With prices 9% higher YTD and 20% higher over the past one-year, the rally in prices until now has been rapid, making consumers wary of overinvesting in the yellow metal. Gold does not generate yields. It pays no dividends or interest. When risk free rates remain high, investing in gold is not lucrative. As the 10Y US Treasury yield stubbornly stays around 5%, investors opt for treasuries over gold. Gold prices are at record high in several non-USD currencies. That makes gold even more expensive. Weaker Indian Rupee and the Chinese Renminbi crushes domestic demand down. INSIGHTS FROM COMMITMENT OF TRADERS AND OPTIONS MARKET Asset managers had been building up net short positioning in CME Gold Futures until recently. Bearish sentiment in gold began in July, when investors started to anticipate further Fed rate hikes. Against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, these asset managers are shifting away from net short to net long positioning over the last one week. Implied volatility on gold options has shot up to levels last seen during the banking crisis in March, but historical volatility remains far lower in comparison. This suggests potential for rising volatility ahead. Source: CVOL Skew on gold options have surged with call premiums having risen faster than put premiums. Source: CME Quikstrike Options traders are far more bullish than those trading Gold futures. Put/Call ratio for gold options is 0.52 implying two calls (bullish bets) for every put (bearish bet). Source: CME Quikstrike HYPOTHETICAL TRADE SETUP A hypothetical long position in CME Micro Gold Futures can be used to harness gains from the overwhelmingly bullish sentiment in gold. CME Micro Gold Futures expiring in December (MCGZ23) provides exposure to 10 oz of gold. It requires an initial maintenance margin of USD 780 (as of 23rd Oct 2023). These micro contracts can be used to secure granular exposure in a capital efficient manner. Still, given the uncertainty and the risk for sharp reversal, a tight stop loss is appropriate to protect from a sharp price correction. Entry: USD 1,994 Target: USD 2,090 Stop Loss: USD 1,945 Profit at Target: USD 960 ((2090-1994) x 10) Loss at Stop: USD 490 ((1994-1945) x 10) Reward to Risk: 2.1x Alternatively, investors can deploy bull call spread on CME Gold Options expiring in December (OGF4) to express the view that gold may retest USD 2,100/oz but not rise beyond. A Bull Call Spread consists of a long call position at a lower strike (USD 2,020) and a short call position at a higher strike (USD 2,100). The position requires net premium of USD 2,400 (USD 4,970 - USD 2,570). The payoff for the hypothetical position is provided below. Both upside and downside for the position are fixed. Hypothetically, the position breaks even when prices reach USD 2,044/oz and has a maximum payoff of USD 5,600. MARKET DATA CME Real-time Market Data helps identify trading set-ups and express market views better. 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 This case study is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services. Trading or investment ideas cited here are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management or trading under the market scenarios being discussed. Please read the FULL DISCLAIMER the link to which is provided in our profile description.
COMEX_MINI:MGC1!Long
by mintdotfinance
$BRN1! -Are you Ready for Winter's Storms ahead ?!- The most recent conflict on the Middle East between Israel and Palestine(Hamas) has caused TVC:GOLD and Brent Crude Oil (futures) ICEEUR:BRN1! price to jump 4% . This increase risk on Geo-Political spectrum is messing up with our Short in ICEEUR:BRN1! . Short Call idea was shared on bingX copy-trade community where 2.000 people saw the Short trade opportunity. Congratulations to those who took action. (Calm before Winter's Storm Idea; Russia & Saudi Arabia two of the largest World's Oil Producers steady keeping production cuts) We have already partially taken profits off our trade before conflicts occurrence, leaving the position opened by aiming at full TP profits at Golden Zone (which may not be reached now due to the conflict) *** NOTE This is not Financial Advice ! Please do your own research with your own diligence and consult your own Financial Advisor before partaking on any trading activity with your hard earned money based solely on this Idea. Ideas being released are published for my own trading speculation and journaling needed to be clear on different asset classes price action.
ICEEUR:BRN1!Long
by Mr_J__fx
SOYB- the soybean ETF moves on buying pressure LONGOn the 4H Chart, SOYB has moved above both tthe near and intermediate term POC lines of the respective volume profiles. Upward price volatility above the running mean on the relative volatility indicator. In confluence pric emoved above the mean basis band of the double Bollinger band. Fundamentally, supply-demand imbalances including the collapse of the Black Sea shipping deal as bad actor Russia continues to inflict chaos has a ripple effect throughout agricultural commodity markets. Soybean prices are not following the chaos and volatility of the general markets like AMEX and NASDAQ but rather they follow the beat of their own drum like seasonality crop yields shipping costs and others. This make an alternative to avoid going heavy into topping or sinking general markets. They allow diversification not unlike adding bonds to a portfolio when trying to weather the storm. Given the narrow trading range I will play this with some call options If you would like my idea of an excellent call option trade please leave a comment. See also my ideas on WEAT and CORN. se to expire after the harvest and into the planting in in Brazil.
AMEX:SOYBLong
by AwesomeAvani
Equity outlook Restrictive policy and geopolitical risks raise the odds of a global recession What a difference a year makes. 2022 saw the ‘reopening’ of markets from the COVID pandemic evolve into a ‘recession’. Margaret Thatcher put it succinctly on 27 February 1981 – “The lesson is clear. Inflation devalues us all.” Monetary policy has been on the most pronounced tightening campaign in decades as inflation progressed from being transitory to potentially permanent due to the energy crisis. Politics is driving economics, not the other way around In the pre-war global economy, globalisation was an important source of low inflation. A large amount of global savings had nowhere to be deployed, rendering interest rates lower on a global basis. However, post-war, global defence spending has risen to a level not seen in decades as national security consumes government’s agendas. There will be vast opportunity costs involved, tied to the increase in world military spending. We expect the rate of globalisation to take a back seat, as Europe would never want to be as dependent on Russian energy as it is today. In a similar vein, the US does not want to fall privy to the same mistake Europe made and will aim to strengthen ties with Taiwan in order to ensure the smooth flow of chips. National security is inflationary We are in the midst of a war in Europe, owing to the brutal battle being waged by Russia in Ukraine. While the war is centred in Ukraine, the reality is we are all paying the price of this war by allowing it to continue. There is another war brewing in the background that we must not fail to ignore. The United States’ deepening ties with Taiwan is aggravating China. The Taiwan issue remains sticky. Taiwan’s role in the world economy largely existed below the radar, until it came to prominence as the semiconductor supply chain was impacted by disruptions to Taiwanese chip manufacturing. Companies in Taiwan were responsible for more than 60 percent of revenue generated by the world’s semiconductor contract manufacturers in 20201. Tensions between Taiwan and China could have a big impact on global semiconductor supply chains. The United States’ dependence on Taiwanese chip firms heightens its motivation to defend Taiwan from a Chinese attack. The desire for control of technologies, commodities, and straits is paving the way for economic wars ahead. China needs to get its house in order The economic headwinds that China faces are multifaceted. Unfortunately, policy easing from China in H1 2022 has been insufficient to arrest the extent of the slowdown. Of late, China’s State Council stepped up its economic stimulus further by announcing a 19-point stimulus package worth $146 billion (under 1% of GDP) to boost economic growth2. The property markets continue to deteriorate. The problem stems from a lack of financing among many developers that is needed for construction of their residential projects. All of this came about from the central government’s decision in 2020 to introduce the ‘three red lines’ policy to rein in excessive borrowing in the real estate sector. Vulnerable property developers are struggling to secure capital to sustain their businesses. Alongside, demand for housing has deteriorated due to intermittent COVID lockdowns, weakening economy, and doubts over developers’ ability to deliver completed housing units. However, the weakness in China’s economy extends beyond the property sector with rising unemployment and energy shortages. Chinese earnings growth since Q3 2019 has lagged the rest of the world. China has also suffered significant capital outflows, owing to its adherence to COVID-zero. This has set back its rebalancing towards a consumption-driven economy, rendering China to remain more addicted to export-led growth. However, export demand has begun to weaken as the rest of the world slows. US is in the early innings of a recession The US economy appears a safe haven amidst the ongoing energy crisis as it is less exposed to the vagaries of Russian oil supply. It also recovered faster from the pandemic compared to the rest of the world. The labour market remains strong as jobs continue to be added, wages accelerate, consumption has continued to grow (albeit more slowly), and unemployment remains at a five-decade low. Despite the recent upswing in GDP growth, caused by noise in the foreign trade numbers and technicalities in inventory data, the big picture of a slowing economy in the face of aggressive monetary tightening remains intact. There are mounting signs of slowing too, especially in the housing sector owing to the rapid rise in mortgage rates. Earnings in 2022 have reflected the challenging environment being faced by US corporates with earnings growth for companies grinding down to 3.17%3.The more value-oriented sectors such as energy, industrials, and materials continue to outperform. Looking ahead, earnings revision breadth for the S&P 500 Index are in deeply negative territory suggesting downside is coming from an earnings growth standpoint. Core inflationary pressures remain concerning, especially housing rents and medical inflation – components that are typically much stickier compared to goods and transport inflation. The stickier high services inflation reflects strong labour market dynamics as services are labour intensive and housed domestically. The Federal Reserve (Fed) appears unwilling to declare victory in its war against inflation. As we look ahead, it’s clear that the Fed’s role in quelling inflation without tipping the economy into recession will take centre stage. Harsh winter ahead for Europe Europe is heading for a recession in response to a strong external shock. Gas flows from Russia to Europe have declined substantially to 10% of their levels in 2021, causing gas prices to spike. The Russian war in Ukraine is showing no signs of abating, with Russia deciding on a partial mobilisation after a rather successful Ukrainian counter-offensive. These higher energy prices are squeezing real disposable income out of consumers and raising costs higher for corporates, causing further curtailment of output. The energy driven surge in headline inflation to 10.7% year on year4 has sent consumer confidence to a record low, leaving Europe in a bind. Fiscal policy in focus The European Union (EU) aims to define the direction and speed of Europe’s energy policy restructuring through REPowerEU strategy. However, crucial energy policy decisions have been taken by EU countries at national level. In an effort to shield European consumers from rising energy costs, EU governments have ear marked €573 billion, of which €264 billion has been set aside by Germany alone. In most European countries, both energy regulation and levies are set at the national level. The chart below illustrates the funding allocated by selected EU countries to shield households and firms from rising energy prices and their consequences on the cost of living. No pivot yet from the ECB We experienced a decade of almost no inflation and quantitative easing in Europe. We have now entered a phase in which the European Central Bank (ECB) has gone ahead with its third major policy rate5 increase in a row this year, thereby making substantial progress in withdrawing monetary policy accommodation. The ECB remains eager to have policy choices dominated by risks, rather than the base case, owing to which more rate hikes are coming. If Eurozone inflation continues surprising to the upside, the ECB will have to continue raising rates and determine when to activate the Transmission Protection Instrument (TPI) to support the periphery. We expect the ECB to take the deposit rate to 2.5% by March, as it continues to see risks to inflation tilted to the upside both in the short and long term. A tightening cycle into a slower-growth macro landscape has never been helpful for equities. European equities are faced with an extremely challenging backdrop ranging from high energy prices, growing cost pressures, negative earnings revisions estimates, and cooling growth. Amid the sell-off in equity markets in the first half of this year, European equities currently trade at a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.3x, marking the steepest discount versus its long-term average of 21x compared to other major markets. The risk of a recession to a certain degree is being priced into European equity markets. Conclusion In our view, the global economy is projected to avoid a full-blown downturn; however, we expect to see a series of individual country recessions take shape at different points in time. Evident from recent data, the downturn in the US is expected in the second half of 2023 whilst the Eurozone and United Kingdom will enter a recession by Q4 this year. Contrary to the rest of the world’s key central banks, China and Japan are expected to keep monetary policy accommodative which should help buffer some of the slowdown. Given the highly uncertain environment, investors may look to consider US and Chinese equities, whilst potentially reducing weighting towards European equities. Across factors, we continue to tilt to the value, dividend, and quality factors given the expectations for weak economic growth, higher rates, and elevated inflation.
ICEUS:MWL1!
by aneekaguptaWTE
China's Economy Crisis: What You Need To Know‍China is the world’s second-largest economy. If that doesn’t impress you, consider this: It has grown from a ragtag collection of state-owned firms to the world’s second-largest economy in just 35 years. China is now the world’s largest producer of goods, from smartphones to steel, autos to aircraft carriers. In 2017 alone, China produced almost as much output as the U.S., Japan, Germany, France and Britain combined. However, there are signs that China is heading for a recession. The country’s stock market has crashed twice (in July 2015 and again in January 2016), and Chinese investors have lost a lot of money as a result. There are many reasons that explain why an impending economic crash in China is imminent... China Has a Debt Problem China’s debt-to-GDP ratio (Private Sector) is now over 250%, which is extremely alarming. China’s debt problem is a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment. As interest rates rise in the U.S., the cost of servicing the debt will become more expensive for Chinese issuers. If China continues to grow its debt at its current pace, it could easily become the next Greece or Argentina, where economic collapse is imminent. The Chinese government has tried to curb the rise in debt by tightening its domestic monetary policy. That caused the country’s stock market to plummet and its currency to depreciate. China’s aggressive money-printing has helped to fuel an emerging debt crisis that could trigger a global economic slowdown. In fact, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) says that China’s debt-to-GDP ratio has jumped from 150% in 2008 to more than 250% today. The Chinese Yuan Is Dropping Like a Rock China’s controlled currency is starting to depreciate. And that usually occurs before an economic crash. The Chinese yuan (also known as the renminbi) has fallen more than 7.7% against the U.S. dollar since March 2022. The yuan’s decline is partly due to the trade war with the U.S. China’s central bank has been intervening in the markets to prevent the yuan from declining too quickly. That’s caused the dollar to rise against other currencies. It’s also helped to fuel a rise in Treasury yields. A strong U.S. dollar is bad for American exports. But it’s also bad for China, since a strong dollar makes it more difficult for Chinese companies to compete abroad. China’s controlled currency is starting to depreciate. And that usually occurs before an economic crash. CNH1! Manufacturing Is Slowing Down China’s manufacturing PMI has been falling for months. In July 2018, it was 48.3, which is below the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction. A number below 50 is also considered to be “bad”, while a number above 50 is “good”. The PMI reading for July 2019 was 49.7. This may sound like good news for those employed in the U.S. However, it’s not. A slowdown in the manufacturing sector usually leads to a fall in consumer spending and a slowdown in the economy. That’s because reduced consumer spending leads to fewer sales and an excess of inventory or unsold goods. That often leads to a drop in GDP. China is Producing a Lot of Empty Buildings As an economic crash approaches, developers start to build a lot of empty buildings. That’s because people start to slow down their spending and are not prepared to make the necessary financial commitments. China’s ghost cities are the canary in the coal mine. These are cities where 90% of the buildings are either vacant or incomplete. Now, it’s interesting to note that China’s ghost cities were entirely vacant as recently as 2010. At that time, few people would have predicted that China would build an entire city and have no one living in it. China's shadow banking problem is a major concern for the Chinese economy. Shadow banking refers to financial services provided outside of the traditional banking sector. These include weaker institutions such as peer-to-peer lending, pawnshops and informal lending networks. Shadow banking is often used to circumvent government restrictions on the traditional banking system, which can make it harder for the government to monitor and control the overall economy. Shadow banks are also more likely to lend to high-risk borrowers, fueling asset bubbles and economic instability. As a result, shadow banking has become increasingly important in China as the country's economic growth has slowed. Despite its importance, understanding shadow banking in China is difficult due to its complexity and lack of transparency. It is best to keep an eye on developments in this area as they could have a significant impact on the Chinese economy in coming years. China Consumer Confidence Index China Unemployment Rate Conclusion In the final analysis, there are many signs that indicate that a looming economic crash in China is imminent. Indeed, analysts expect that the country could be poised for a major economic slowdown in the near future. If this happens, it will have a negative impact on global economic growth. Investors should be careful about which companies they invest in and may want to avoid companies that are heavily reliant on the Chinese economy.
NASDAQ:MCHI
by EQTSHARES
98
What Will A Geopolitical Compromise Means For Markets?Henry Clay was a US Senator from Kentucky, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the US Secretary of State, and a Presidential candidate in the 1800s. His legacy and nickname were “The Great Compromiser” for his involvement with the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise Tariff of 1833, and the Compromise of 1850. As Henry Clay understood, any great compromise means that both sides at the negotiating table must come to an agreement that makes them uncomfortable or incomplete. The price of an asset is always the correct price A messy geopolitical landscape Option one- A Great Compromise- High Odds Option two- A prolonged conflict Option three- The unthinkable In 2022, the geopolitical temperature has risen to the highest level since WW II. On February 4, Chinese President Xi and Russian President Putin met at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The leaders signed a $117 billion trade agreement, but the watershed event was the “no-limits” cooperation understanding. Twenty days later, after the end of the Olympics, Russia invaded Ukraine, launching the first major war on European soil in over three-quarters of a century. Many analysts believe the Russian invasion sets the stage for Chinese reunification with Taiwan. Markets reflect the economic and geopolitical landscapes. Volatility in markets across all asset classes has increased, and uncertainty is the market’s worst enemy. The war, sanctions, retaliation, and a Chinese-Russian alliance threatens the status quo over the previous decades. The price of an asset is always the correct price As we learned in early 2020 in nearly all asset classes, bear markets can take prices to levels that defy logic and rational and logical analysis. The same holds on the upside as price spikes can reach unthinkable heights. The moves to the upside or downside compel many market participants to sell what they believe are tops or buy when they think the market cannot go any lower. Picking tops or bottoms is more about ego than making money, as the effort contradicts to prevailing trends. Picking a top or a bottom is a statement that the current price is too high or too low, which is always a mistake. Market participants can be wrong, but markets are never wrong. The price of any asset is always the right price because it is the level where buyers and sellers agree on a value in a transparent marketplace. Declaring a market top or bottom is a contrarian statement as it goes against the prevailing trend. A messy geopolitical landscape Two years ago, the world faced a common enemy as COVID-19 ignored borders, race, religion, political ideology, and all of the other factors that separate countries and people. In February and March 2022, the world faces new and daunting challenges: The Chinese and Russian leaders shook hands on a “no-limits” alliance. Russia invaded Ukraine, starting the first major war in Europe since World War II. Ukraine continues to put up fierce resistance. The US, NATO allies in Europe and allies worldwide slapped sanctions on Russia. Russia retaliated with export bans and other measures. North Korea test-fired ICBM missiles. Iran fired missiles near the US embassy in Iraq. Russian missiles came within miles of the Polish border. An attack on Poland triggers article five of NATO’s charter- An attack on one member is an attack on all. China and Russia stand on opposite sides of the conflict from the US and Europe. China plans to reunify with Taiwan against their will. On the US domestic scene, the US remains divided along political lines with mid-term elections in November. The central bank liquidity and government stimulus that stabilized the economy during the pandemic ignited an inflationary fuse before the geopolitical landscape deteriorated. The war in Ukraine only exacerbates price increases as Russia is a leading world producer of raw materials. Europe’s breadbasket in Ukraine and Russia is now a mine and battlefield at the start of the 2022 crop year. Russia and Ukraine typically supply one-third of the world’s wheat and other crops. They are also leading fertilizer exporters, causing problems in other worldwide growing regions. In 2022, the war will lead to rising prices, falling supplies, and the potential for famine and civil uprisings. Historically, food shortages have caused many revolutions. The 2010 Arab Spring that began as food riots in Tunisia and Egypt caused the sweeping political change in North Africa and the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Biden administration pledged to address climate change by supporting alternative and renewable fuels and inhibiting the production and consumption of fossil fuels. US production declined in 2021. After decades of working to achieve energy independence from the Middle East, US policy handed the pricing power to the international oil cartel. Since 2016, Russia has had an increasing role in OPEC’s production policy. In 2022, the cartel does not move unless Moscow agrees to cooperate. Oil prices were already rising when Russia invaded Ukraine, and they moved over $100 per barrel after the attack. Meanwhile, other fossil fuels have moved higher. Coal traded to a new all-time peak. US natural gas rose to a multi-year high, and European and Asia gas prices rose to record levels. Rising energy prices fueled inflation, and the war has poured fuel on an already burning inflationary fire. The war in Ukraine is less than one month old, and the human toll is rising. Tensions are at the highest level in decades. Markets are nervous, and the developments on the geopolitical over the coming days and weeks will dictate the direction of markets across all asset classes. I see three potential outcomes. Option one- A Great Compromise- High Odds In the current standoff, neither side wants to give an inch. The Russian leader faces disgrace or worse if he loses to an inferior military but impassioned Ukrainian population, many of who would choose death over capitulation. The US and Europe do not want to appease Russia like the UK’s Nevil Chamberlain appeased Hitler in the 1930s. China may support Russia, but the world’s second-leading economy has close economic ties with the US and Europe. A Henry Clay-inspired great compromiser could emerge and come up with a solution where Russia, China, the US, Europe, and the rest of the world walk away from the negotiating table unhappy but with a workable solution. I believe, and it is more than a bit of wishful thinking, that this is the high odds result of the current geopolitical mess, and the result will go down in history as the great compromise of 2022. A great compromise would likely lead to a significant stock market rally and a commodity correction. Option two- A prolonged conflict A prolonged conflict where Russians fight a long and bloody war against Ukrainian forces will devastate the world economy and peace. Russia may capture territory, but it is clear President Putin will never capture the souls of the Ukrainian masses. The Russian brutality over the past weeks will never be forgotten. President Putin did not count on the passionate resistance Russian troops encountered across Ukraine. The longer the battle and the more brutal the weapons, the greater the price for Russians controlling the territory over the coming years. Millions of refugees have left the country, but that leaves over 40 million Ukrainians; most now consider Russians their mortal enemy. A long battle will weaken the Russian military and the Russian leader abroad. A prolonged conflict will cause sanctions to collapse Russia’s economy, causing domestic problems for President Putin and his government. Moreover, skirmishes are likely to break out worldwide. In the early days of the war in Ukraine, North Korea and Iran flexed their military muscles. With Europe and the US focused on Ukraine, China could use the opportunity to seize Taiwan. A prolonged conflict would weigh on US stocks and likely lift commodity prices to higher highs. Option three- The unthinkable The final option is the nuclear one, which is low odds, but a highly frightening scenario. If Russian aggression spreads across the Ukraine border into Poland or any NATO member country, it will trigger Article five that states an attack on one is an attack on all. The US and Russia have the most nuclear weapons, which increases the potential of MAD or mutually assured destruction. In this scenario, it does not matter how markets react as the world would face a disastrous situation. I believe that a great compromise is on the horizon, which would cause markets to stabilize. However, the extent of the compromise is critical as it must address the current situation in Ukraine and Taiwan and threats from North Korea and Iran. Anything short of a comprehensive understanding between the world’s powers will cause years of rising tension and threats to the nearly eight billion people that inhabit our planet. Where is Henry Clay when the world needs him? Expect the volatility in markets to continue. -- Trading advice given in this communication, if any, is based on information taken from trades and statistical services and other sources that we believe are reliable. The author does not guarantee that such information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Trading advice reflects the author’s good faith judgment at a specific time and is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that the advice the author provides will result in profitable trades. There is risk of loss in all futures and options trading. Any investment involves substantial risks, including, but not limited to, pricing volatility , inadequate liquidity, and the potential complete loss of principal. This article does not in any way constitute an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any investment, security, or commodity discussed herein, or any security in any jurisdiction in which such an offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
SP:SPX
by Andy_Hecht
2