USTEC rose after avoiding Lutnick as a Treasury Secretary
The Nasdaq index has surged, fueled by solid expectations surrounding Nvidia's Q3 earnings and the alleviation of uncertainty following the appointment of the new Treasury Secretary.
Investors are breathing a sigh of relief as Howard Lutnick, a staunch supporter of Trump's tariff policies, has been nominated for Commerce Secretary rather than Treasury Secretary. In contrast, Kevin Warsh, who is running for Treasury Secretary, has openly criticized protectionist measures such as tariffs. This shift has heightened expectations that some economic issues stemming from Trump’s tariff policies will be mitigated.
Furthermore, Wall Street consistently raises Nvidia's target stock price. Investors anticipate that Nvidia's Q3 earnings will surpass market consensus, and Wall Street confidently anticipates that the Q4 guidance will also exceed expectations.
USTEC briefly tested the support at 20300 and rebounded to 20770. The index sustains upward momentum, holding above the trend line. If USTEC sustains its upward trend above the resistance at 20700, the index could gain upward momentum toward the 21250 high. Conversely, if USTEC fails to hold above the trend line and 20300, the index may fall further to 19950.
Treasury
TLT +50% Every Time This Happens and It's Happening NowTLT/SPX Monthly RSI (8 Period Close)
It makes sense to analyze the most common institutional portfolio allocation (Equities and Bonds) rather than Equities or Bonds separately. Most investors focus on Fed Funds, unemployment, the business cycle, rates, to analyze the bond market. But those metrics are poorly correlated to returns at best. When you focus on allocation, as in Bonds plus Equities, you start making some progress. That's exactly what this chart represents; where the money is going and when. Hint: it's going into Bonds. Soon.
BBOT (Bonds Blast Off Time) is here
Bitcoin - Another sign that Fed credibility is waning.A Sick Feeling in the Belly of the Yield Curve
Another sign that Fed credibility is waning.
The socioeconomic point of view is that, as the Supercycle bear market develops, central banks will lose their mantle as being omnipotent directors of markets. Whereas in the bull market, central bankers like Alan “the Maestro” Greenspan were lauded because positive social mood was driving the stock market higher, in the bear market central bankers will be vilified as negative social mood causes a downtrend in stock prices.
Yesterday, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell sought to reassure Americans that the series of interest rate hikes that the central bank is embarking on would not tip the U.S. economy into recession. The bond market promptly ignored those soothing words and the yield curve flattened. A flattening yield curve, whereby the positive gap between short-dated bonds and long-dated bonds is narrowing, is a sign that the market is anticipating slower economic growth. When the yield curve inverts, with long-dated yields below short-dated, it has historically been a signal that an economic recession is on the horizon.
That historical relationship is most generally related to the yield spread between 2-year yields and 10-year yields, and that yield curve has been flattening over the past year from 1.50% to around 0.20% where it is currently hovering. So, not quite inverted yet, but trending in that direction.
However, in the so-called belly of the yield curve, the area between 5 and 10-year maturity, the message is already here. The chart below shows that the yield spread between 5 and 10-year U.S. Treasury yields has declined precipitously over the last year and, yesterday, turned negative. This yield curve inversion is a clue that a 2-yr /10-yr (2s 10s in industry vernacular) inversion is probably on its way.
Despite what the Fed says, a beast of a recession may be approaching.
U.S. Treasury 10-Year Yield Minus 5-Year Yield
USDJPY Analysis: Potential Bullish Bias for the Upcoming Week!USDJPY Analysis: Potential Bullish Bias for the Upcoming Week (Sept 23-29, 2024)
As we look ahead to the coming week, USDJPY appears poised for a potential slightly bullish bias. This outlook is based on a confluence of fundamental factors and current market conditions that favor USD strength relative to the Japanese yen. Below is a breakdown of key drivers supporting this outlook, along with insights that could influence price action.
1. Federal Reserve's Hawkish Stance
One of the key drivers for a potential bullish bias in USDJPY next week is the persistent hawkish tone from the Federal Reserve. Although the Fed opted to pause rate hikes in September, policymakers have indicated that they are open to further tightening if inflationary pressures persist. Recent inflation data in the U.S. showed a slight uptick in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), suggesting that the Fed may still consider additional rate hikes in 2024. Higher U.S. interest rates would continue to bolster the U.S. dollar, driving demand for USDJPY as traders seek yield differentials.
2. Bank of Japan's Dovish Policy
In stark contrast to the Fed, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) remains committed to its ultra-loose monetary policy, including negative interest rates and yield curve control. The BoJ's dovish approach continues to weigh on the Japanese yen, especially in an environment where other major central banks are tightening monetary policy. While some market participants expect the BoJ to consider policy changes in the future, there have been no concrete signals indicating a shift in the near term. This widening policy divergence between the Fed and BoJ is a key factor supporting a bullish outlook for USDJPY.
3. Safe Haven Demand Waning
The yen is traditionally viewed as a safe-haven asset, particularly during periods of global market volatility. However, recent market stability, coupled with optimism surrounding global growth prospects, has reduced demand for the yen as a haven. As risk sentiment improves, investors are more likely to allocate capital into higher-yielding assets, which could further weaken the yen.
Moreover, geopolitical tensions that previously supported yen demand have eased slightly, making USDJPY more likely to drift higher in a low-risk environment.
4. U.S. Treasury Yields Rising
Another factor contributing to the bullish bias in USDJPY is the rise in U.S. Treasury yields. Higher yields on U.S. government bonds make the dollar more attractive to foreign investors, adding upward pressure to USDJPY. The correlation between USDJPY and U.S. Treasury yields is well-documented, and as yields rise, so too does the currency pair. Traders will be closely monitoring U.S. economic data next week, including durable goods orders and GDP figures, to gauge the potential for further yield increases.
5. Technical Analysis: Key Support and Resistance Levels
From a technical perspective, USDJPY is trading within a well-defined range, but with a slight bullish bias as long as it holds above key support at the 147.50 level. A break above the psychological 150.00 level could open the door to further upside, with resistance seen at 151.50. On the downside, failure to hold above 147.50 could lead to a test of lower levels around 146.00. Momentum indicators, including the Relative Strength Index (RSI), are currently neutral but leaning slightly toward overbought territory, suggesting room for further gains before a pullback.
6. U.S. Economic Data Next Week
Next week, market participants will pay close attention to several high-impact economic reports out of the U.S., including the Durable Goods Orders on Tuesday and GDP Growth on Thursday. Positive readings on these metrics could fuel further gains in USDJPY, reinforcing the bullish bias. Conversely, any disappointing data could dampen USD strength and lead to some consolidation in the pair.
Conclusion
Given the combination of hawkish signals from the Fed, the BoJ's ongoing dovish stance, rising U.S. Treasury yields, and waning safe-haven demand, USDJPY appears to have a slightly bullish bias heading into next week. Traders should watch for any shifts in risk sentiment or unexpected economic data that could alter this outlook. The key levels to watch are 147.50 for support and 150.00 for resistance.
Keywords: USDJPY forecast, USDJPY bullish, USDJPY analysis, Bank of Japan policy, Federal Reserve rate hikes, U.S. Treasury yields, Japanese yen, safe-haven demand, forex trading, USDJPY technical analysis, USDJPY key levels, USDJPY next week, trading USDJPY.
10yr Treasury Yields Consolidate at Key 4.32% LevelThe world’s most important market, the 10yr US Treasury, is trading directly at a critical level. Going back years, the 4.32% level has served as reliable support/resistance, and today’s drop after peeking above that level yesterday has only emphasized the importance of that key level.
At the same time, the 10yr Treasury yield has put in a series of lower highs and higher lows dating back to Q4 of last year, creating a symmetrical triangle pattern that could lead to an outbreak of volatility in the coming weeks. A bullish breakout above 4.60% would hint at a possible retest of 5.00% (and likely weigh on risk assets like stocks and higher-yielding currencies), whereas a bearish breakdown in yields would open the door for a drop toward the December lows near 3.80%.
-MW
How CPI News Impacts Gold PricesGold prices are affected by Treasury yields and Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. High inflation typically leads to higher Treasury yields due to low unemployment and an overheating economy, which can decrease gold's appeal due to rising unemployment, making gold more attractive as a safe investment. Thus, gold tends to decline with high Treasury yields in inflationary times and increase when Treasury yields fall during deflationary periods.
Short term yields still weak, longer term reversedWhat a difference 11 hours makes.
The 1 & 2 Yr #Yield are STILL under resistance & are weakening.
10 & 30 Yr completely reversed once markets opened. But this tends to be normal, pretty frequent.
This is why waiting for a CLOSE is of utmost importance. IF we CLOSE here, last night's thinking is NO MORE and the best plan of action is to WAIT.
TVC:TNX
Interest Rates NOT showing cuts...Let's keep looking at #InterestRates. Gives us an idea of what the Fed may do.
The 1 & 2 Year are still under their RESISTANCE level. Struggling a bit, but not breaking down. Trend is still there, weak though.
10 Yr looks like it wants to break the resistance zone.
30 YR looks like it's gone. Does not look like it wants to retrace at the moment.
#FederalReserve TVC:TNX
1 YR US BILLS - WEEKLYSeeing a weekly momentum shift forming, expect major trend change.
Couple of scenarios, Economy could break and fed allows inflation to creep up while easing on rates, If they reduce reverse repo rates then yields will drop as money market funds buy 1 yr bills on the open market again.
Otherwise they might have to increase rates if inflation continues to weigh heavily on the economy with prices shooting up too fast.
1D
1W
CRE & Small Banks coincide with each otherSmall banks account for about 70% of #commercialrealestate.
Small #banks are considered those with assets less than $10B.
We've been bearish CRE for a long time. We believe that this sector will likely not get better anytime soon.
#interestrates are still holding fairly strong. They are at banking crisis levels or higher.
TVC:TNX
Treasury Yields look ripe for further movesCurrent state of the short and long term #Yield.
The 1Yr is underperforming against the 2Yr yield. However, it looks like it wants to push higher.
10Yr vs 30Yr
The 10Yr is performing lil better than 30 but.......
The 30Yr has a BULLISH short term crossing over longer term moving avg, RSI also looks strong. IMO yields are looking good. Seems like there is still treasury selling pressure.
SPX Ready for crash or relief ? Short Term BullishMarket Analysis:
The S&P 500 (SPX) is currently exhibiting a Cup & Handle pattern, a classic technical analysis pattern often associated with potential bullish reversals. However, there are indications of a slowdown in the pattern formation, suggesting that the completion of the pattern may take some time.
Key Observations:
Bull Trap Warning: There is a cautionary note regarding the possibility of a Bull Trap at resistance. Traders should be vigilant and consider the potential for a false breakout that could lead to a reversal.
Double Top Scenario: It's advised not to discard the probability of the Cup & Handle pattern transforming into a Double Top. This implies the potential for a bearish reversal if the pattern fails to complete as expected.
Anticipation of Further Bullish Momentum: Despite the noted cautions, there is an anticipation of further bullish momentum leading up to the resistance line. This suggests that, even with the potential challenges in pattern completion, there may be opportunities for bullish trades.
Forecast:
Given the current analysis, it's prudent for traders to closely monitor price movements within the Cup & Handle pattern. The resistance level should be watched carefully for signs of a Bull Trap or a potential transformation into a Double Top. Traders may consider taking a cautious approach, using stop-loss orders, and staying informed about market developments.
For more in-depth analysis and real-time updates, it's recommended to refer to reliable financial news sources and consult with financial professionals. Always conduct your own research and analysis before making any trading decisions, and be aware of the risks involved in financial markets.
Please note that the provided forecast is based on the given context and should not be considered as financial advice. Market conditions can change rapidly, and it's crucial to stay informed and adapt to the evolving market dynamics.
$EURUSD Correction ImminentFX:EURUSD has been navigating sideways since January amid economic challenges, rising interest rates, and Western economic uncertainties.
Approaching yearly resistance at 1.10806, a rebound towards 1.05335 support is expected. By the end of the first financial quarter, a breakthrough of yearly resistance is anticipated, solidifying new support.
This aligns with expectations of improved global financial conditions and a revival of consumer confidence.
#ForexAnalysis #EURUSD #FinancialMarkets #EconomicOutlook #TradingStrategy #MarketTrends #GlobalFinance #CurrencyPairs #YearlyResistance #SupportLevels #ConsumerConfidence #FinanceNews
Inflation SupercycleOn the afternoon of October 3rd, 2023 something unprecedented happened in the U.S. Treasury market. For the first time ever, bear steepening caused the 20-year U.S. Treasury yield and the 2-year U.S. Treasury yield to uninvert.
Bear steepening refers to a scenario in which long-duration bond yields rise faster than short-duration bond yields, as bond yields rise across the term structure. In all past instances, inverted yield curves have normalized due to bull steepening . The probability that bear steepening would cause an inverted yield curve to normalize is so low that, until now, most term structure models excluded the possibility of it ever happening. In this post, I'll explain why this anomalous event is a major stagflation warning.
The chart above shows that the 10-year Treasury yield has been rising much faster than the 3-month Treasury yield throughout 2023, narrowing the once-deep yield curve inversion.
Since a yield curve inversion indicates that a recession is coming, and bear steepening indicates that the market is pricing in higher inflation for the short term, and even more so, for the long term, then bear steepening during a yield curve inversion indicates that high inflation may persist even during the recessionary phase. High inflation during the recessionary period is what defines stagflation . Since very strong bear steepening is normalizing a deeply inverted yield curve, the combination of these events is a warning that severe stagflation is likely coming.
High inflation has caused Treasury yields to surge at an astronomical rate of change. Bond prices, which move in the opposite direction as yields, have sharply declined causing destabilizing losses. The effects of these massive bond losses are not even close to being fully realized by the broad economy.
The image above shows a bond ETF heatmap with year-to-date returns. Large losses have been mounting across numerous bond ETFs. Long-duration Treasury ETF NASDAQ:TLT has declined by more than 18% this year. Click here to interact with the bond ETF heatmap
Despite the extreme pace of monetary tightening, many central banks are still struggling to contain inflation. Inflationary fiscal spending and ballooning debt-to-GDP levels are confounding central bank monetary policy efforts. In Argentina, for example, inflation continues to spiral higher despite the central bank raising interest rates to 133%.
The chart above shows that the central bank of Argentina has hiked interest rates to 133%. Despite this extreme interest rate, the country's inflation rate continues to spiral higher. In an inflationary spiral, there is no upper limit to how high interest rates can go.
As the Federal Reserve tightens the supply of the U.S. dollar -- the predominant global reserve currency -- all other countries (with less demanded fiat currency) generally must tighten their monetary supply by a greater degree in order to contain inflation. If a country fails to maintain tighter monetary conditions than the Federal Reserve, then the supply of that country's (lesser demanded) fiat currency will grow against the supply of the (greater demanded, and scarcer) U.S. dollar, causing devaluation of the former against the latter. In effect, by controlling the global reserve currency, the Federal Reserve is able to export inflation to other countries. This phenomenon is explained by the Dollar Milkshake Theory .
The forex chart above shows FX:USDJPY pushing up against 150 yen to the dollar. The longer the Bank of Japan continues to maintain significantly looser monetary conditions than the Fed, the longer the yen will continue to devalue against the U.S. dollar.
The meteoric rise in bond yields is particularly concerning because it has broken the long-term downtrend, signaling the start of a new supercycle. After hitting the zero lower bound in 2020, yields have rebounded and pierced through long-term resistance levels.
The chart above shows that the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield broke above long-term resistance, ending the period of declining interest rates that characterized the monetary easing supercycle.
We've entered into a new supercycle, one in which lower interest rates over time are a thing of the past. The new supercycle will be characterized by persistently high inflation. It will start off insidiously, with brief periods of disinflation, but over the long term it will accelerate higher and higher, ultimately causing today's fiat currencies to meet the same fate that every fiat currency in history has met: hyperinflation.
* * *
Important Disclaimer
Nothing in this post should be considered financial advice. Trading and investing always involve risks and one should carefully review all such risks before making a trade or investment decision. Do not buy or sell any security based on anything in this post. Please consult with a financial advisor before making any financial decisions. This post is for educational purposes only.
Yields Surging / TLT FallingThe technical weekly uptrend that yields have formed is rather astonishing.
The sheer power of this move suggests likely more upside yields. Some basic measured moves suggest a potential whopping 5.7% on the 20 year.
Imagine TLT long bond traders!
Nothing is probable but it makes you wonder if inflation is becoming more entrenched since the bond market is very forward looking.
Bond Yield Inversion vs. SPXThis is nothing new, really. People who have been in markets long enough know that when short term bond yields (3 month and 2 year, for example) come up to meet and invert to a higher yield than longer term bonds (like the 10 year, 30 year etc) that it often precedes a large market sell off as well as a recession that affects most everyone, not just stock prices.
On this graph, I maybe got a little carried away. I have the 1 month, 3 month, 1 year, 2 year, 10 year and 30 year as well as the actual Fed Funds rate with SPX in the background.
This goes back to the mid 1990s, you can see the dotcom boom, you see the yields invert, SPX tops and then takes near 3 years to finally find bottom before reversing course.
Unfortunately for long only stock holders, the treasury yields started to climb with stocks as well until they inverted in 2007 once more. Stocks started to come down, and, well, then 2008 happened...
You can see that in general, the fed funds and the shorter term yields find a plateau at their top, tend to stay there for awhile (sometimes for a whole year), then as they start to come back down, the stock market tends to be near its highs, and then the stock market starts to come down.
Big money tends to see higher treasury yields as a safer haven for their money than stocks at this point. If you have the ability to hold the treasury to expiration, you're guaranteed to get 100% of the money back plus whatever the yield % was at time of purchase as interest paid to you by the government.
Furthermore, there is an inverse relationship between bond yield percentage going up, and the value of bonds on the open market. As yields go up, the value of bonds goes down. Vice versa, as yields start to retract, bond values go up. So, there is high incentive to start buying a lot of bonds as the rates plateau near the top. Maybe some of these large hedges start to sell some equities as a hedge and buy more bonds as we get to that point. Rebalance their portfolio to be more bond-heavy.
Higher short term yields, higher fed funds rate also generally mean that the cost to borrow money for anyone is higher. Higher interest rates means more money out of the pocket of anyone borrowing to pay interest. Bonds themselves are just government debt.
The stock market is generally forward looking, so it's often making moves in response to moves in the bond market before main street really starts to feel the effects of the tightening in a meaningful sense. As time has gone on, it seems the market is reacting earlier and earlier to rate hike cycles.
Take 2018 for example, the yields didn't really invert until they all were already on their way back down. 2018 had volmeggedon to deal with to start the year, then came back, set a new high, then had a very rough second half of the year as bond yields plateaued. But, as the market saw that this small rate hike cycle didn't do any meaningful harm to the economy and started retracting, stocks took off again:
Then COVID happened, yields plummet, cost to borrow was as cheap as it ever has been, the government pumped money everywhere to try and prevent a complete collapse of everything, stocks were off to the races harder than ever before after finding bottom just a few weeks into the pandemic.
But, mentioning the market kind-of getting ahead of itself again, we had all of 2022, as it became apparent that inflation was now raging and bigger rate hikes than we've seen since the Great Financial Crisis would be necessary, the stock market sold off despite the economy still showing very solid recovery out of the pandemic.
But now, treasury yields are still climbing, but so are stocks. Treasuries hit a little hiccup in March as a couple regional banks were found to be overlevered in treasuries that had too low of a yield, and as more people began withdrawing money and those banks needed liquidity, they had to sell those treasuries at a loss. If they didn't have to come up with that liquidity and were able to allow those treasuries to mature, they make that small percent of interest for holding them. But because they were forced to sell them as treasury values were at a low because they had inadequate liquidity to cover deposits being withdrawn.
But, now maybe surprisingly, despite some of the troubles and the market sell off for most of 2022, we're now not all that far off of CBOE:SPX 's highs from the end of 2021, start of 2022. But, we still don't know what the full effect of the current high interest rates are going to be. It's possible the old mechanism where when we finally reach the top for interest rates, right as we get the precipice of rates starting to fall, equities top out and start to sell off shortly thereafter again. For how big and how long? Who knows.
Despite the recent 'skip' from the federal reserve, opting to not hike at the June meeting, the 3 month yield, which typically is what most closely matches/leads what the fed is going to hike to, has in recent days made it look increasingly likely that we see at least a quarter point hike for July. The market probably won't like that news, maybe we get a few red days, but if economy data coming in still looks solid and inflation is showing a slow, steady reduction, it may not be long before the market decides to go back up again. We might even go past the 2021/early 2022 highs this year.
But, eventually, we'll find the top for yields, and I have a feeling a bigger correction for stocks will loom at that point. For right now, seems like a bad idea to go against the bulls. But, keep an eye out for when we finally reach the top in treasury yields, look in particular for the 3 month, fed funds and the 2 year to go sideways. Once all 3 start to go down, pay closer attention to economic data coming in. Also take a look at www.tradingview.com for evidence of lower highs off the lowest point for the current cycle. You see the combination of the two, we may be in for a big correction. Again.
Recap of my trade for today on ZB1!Good afternoon and good evening dear traders!
At the morning I shared a post where I said to sell ZB1!, it's too late but you still have made some profits if you got in early. For my clients and I it was a good day in ZB1! and NATURAL GAS, we could make some good profits on the 4% drop of the NATURAL GAS and on the 1% of the ZB1!, I didn't share the NATURAL GAS one since I already posted the ZB1! one and I can't give the trades I give privately.
See you tomorrow on another forerecast!
If you got any question don't hesitate to ask!
No Landing in the Twilight ZoneCBOT: Micro Treasury Yields ( CBOT_MINI:2YY1! , CBOT_MINI:5YY1! , CBOT_MINI:10Y1! , CBOT_MINI:30Y1! )
Is the US economy heading towards a “no landing”, as opposed to a “hard landing” or a “soft landing"? There is a heated debate among economists and market strategists.
What is a "no landing"? It is a new term drawn up by Wall Street, which describes the economy continuing to grow while the Fed raises interest rates to fight inflation.
Stock investors have a hard time making sense of the latest data from inflation, employment, and corporate earnings. The Fed’s future policy actions are unclear. As a result, the US stock market moved sideways in recent weeks.
Treasury Market in Disarray
With a widening negative yield curve, bond investors are convinced that a US economic recession is on the horizon. Let’s refresh our knowledge on this subject.
Yield curve shows interest rates on Treasury bonds with short-term, intermediate, and long-term maturities, notably 3-month T-Bill, 2-year and 10-year T-Notes, 15-year and 30-year T-Bonds.
Bond investors expect to be paid more for locking up their money for a long stretch, so interest rates on long-term debt are usually higher than those on short-term. Plotted out on a chart, the various yields for bonds create an upward sloping line.
Sometimes short-term rates rise above long-term ones. That downward sloping line is called yield curve inversion or negative yield curve. An inversion has preceded every U.S. recession for the past 50 years. It’s considered a leading indicator of economic downturn.
On July 21st 2022, the 2-year yield stood at 3.00%, above the 2.91% 10-year yield. Since then, we have been in negative yield curve environment for seven months. The 10Y-2Y yield spread has widened to -76.9 bps, but a recession has not yet occurred.
Below are current yields indicated by CBOT Treasury futures as of February 17th:
• 30-day Fed Funds: 4.665%
• 2-year Treasury: 4.618%
• 5-year Treasury: 4.014%
• 10-year Treasury: 3.848%
• 30-year Treasury: 3.883%
We observe that the longer the duration, the lower the yield. The 5Y, 10Y and 30Y yields all price below current Fed Funds rate target of 4.50-4.75%.
The US economy seems surprisingly strong, despite the Fed trying to cool it with eight consecutive rate hikes. However, negative yield curve contradicts the notion of “No Landing”.
Trading Opportunities in Micro Yield Futures
Investors currently expect the Fed to raise interest rates in March and June meetings, with the terminal rate consensus at 5.3% at the end of this tightening cycle.
Clearly, Treasury futures market has not priced in the pending rate hikes. The most underpriced interest rate is the 10-year yield. At 3.85%, it is 90 bps below current Fed Funds target and 1.45% below expected terminal rate.
On February 17th, the February and March 2023 contracts of CBOT 10-Year Micro Yield Futures (10Y) were quoted almost the same rate, at 3.850% and 3.853%, respectively. Investors apparently brushed off the upcoming rate increase in March.
My trading rationale: US businesses continue to expand, which provides solid support for the long-term debt market. With short-term yield rising fast, borrowers would flock to lower rate debt, pushing up demand for the longer-term credit. In my opinion, a 10-year yield below 4% is not sustainable.
For confirmation, let’s take a look at various market interest rates for 10-year duration:
• US Corporate AAA Effective Yield: 4.61%
• US Corporate BBB Effective Yield: 5.64%
• US Mortgage Rate, 10-year fixed: 6.24%
• Bank Certificate of Deposit, 10-year: 4.10% (Discover Bank)
Monthly contracts for the 10Y are listed for 2 consecutive months. Contract notional value is 1,000 index points. A minimum tick of 0.001 (1/10 of 1 bps) is worth $1. This means that a 25-bps increase will translate into $250 per contract. It would be a 77% gain in contract value if we use the $325 initial margin as a cost base.
April contract starts trading on March 1st. If it is quoted similar to the March contract, there is potential to gain. Whether we compare with market rates of debt instruments of the same 10-year duration, or with risk-free Treasury rates of different durations, a 10-year yield pricing below 4% is a bargain. Besides, the FOMC meeting on March 21st-22nd would likely give the contract a big boost, as long as the Fed raises rates. In summary, I would consider a long position for April 10Y contract at or below 4% yield.
What about the idea of yield curve reversal and the narrowing of 10Y-2Y spread? It may still happen, but its timing is unclear at this point.
Micro Yield futures are designed for shorter-term trading with contracts listing for only two calendar months. This is different from CBOT 2-year (ZT) and 10-year (ZN) futures which are listed for 3 consecutive quarters, currently through September. The traditional Treasury futures contracts would be better instruments for a yield spread strategy.
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 trade set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, check out on CME Group data plans in TradingView that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
Bonds Retrace from our LevelBonds hit resistance at 111'26, dipping back to support at 110'27. We anticipated this in our reports yesterday. It is likely we will continue the sideways correction from here, bound between these two levels. If ZN can break out, then 113'12 is the next target. We expect 110'05 to be a floor for now.
Master of MarketsIn 2008 the U.S. central bank purchased
$1.25 trillion in mortgage-backed securities
$200 billion in agency debt
$300 billion in long-term Treasury securities
2008 was named QE1 and would continue for the next 6 years before the FED paused and eventually began to tighten.
During times of QE, banks, companies, markets all perform great.
There is plenty of liquidity to operate, margin is cheap.
When the fed tightens, markets get volatile.
Margin becomes expensive.
Most companies will survive this volatility.
They just pass the cost on to the consumer.
This creates inflation. Sticky inflation. Fed has to tighten more to fight inflation.
At this point it’s all they can do. But they risk crashing the markets.
The fed controls just how much air is let out and how fast.
That’s why you saw Jay Powell start with easing, into light QT and now in September the amounts they will be selling are very likely to put more down pressure on the markets.
Just realize the FED can manage the market pressure, it’s the unexpected events during times of low liquidity and high volatility that concerns me.
See the effects of Net liquidity on VIX over the past 15 years.
Never reaching above 30 except during extreme events like the flash crash and china crash..
You can see we’re in a time of extreme volatility as clusters of volatility reaching over 30 4 times since Nov 2021.
What is Net liquidity?
Net liquidity is a formula I found on Fintwit that is supposed to predict the markets movements 2 weeks in advance.
I don’t know if I believe that, but I did some Covariance analysis and there are certainly times during QE with high bullish correlation and QT there is high bearish correlations.
To determine Net Liquidity you need to take
The total assets of the Federal Reserve Balance sheet at 8.8 Trillion.
Subtract The Treasury General Account at 617 Billion
Then Subtract the 2.1T Overnight Reverse Repo
You get 5.9 Trillion in Net Liquidity.
Changes in the level of Net Liquidity (step up or step down) are claimed to predict the S&P 500 direction 2 weeks in advance.
The claim is that of a 95% correlation since the transitory quantitive easing and reverse repo were implemented.
I was curious to see if the claims were true.
More on that tomorrow.