Peek into future through futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of April 21, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Are bond vigilantes expecting a hawkish tone from the FOMC next week?  The latter meets on 28-29.  For the most part, macro data … Continued

U.S. Housing Data Mixed: Home Construction ETF (ITB) In Focus

posted in: Economy | 0

This week is perfect to be discussing U.S. housing dynamics as the March sales numbers for existing and new homes were just published.  The report was mixed.  Sales of existing homes rose 6.1 percent to an annual rate of 5.19 … Continued

Dynamics between orders, inventories and C&I loans

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

Orders for non-defense capital goods ex-aircraft – proxy for business capital expenditures – continue to lose momentum.  Year-over-year growth dipped in the negative territory for the first time since January 2014.  One month does not a trend make, but there … Continued

Fed craves higher inflation yet pays interest on reserves!

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

Government’s various measures of inflation continue to elude Fed’s 2% target U.S. banks’ excess reserves have followed QE higher, and are sitting idle By paying interest on reserves, Fed encourages banks to sit on them The Federal Reserve wants inflation.  … Continued

Bear call spread, to benefit from potential pressure on XLE near-term

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

XLE ($82.22), the energy ETF, seems to want to go lower near-term. Since the mid-January low of $71.22, it has carved out a pattern of higher lows, and higher highs, hence now finds itself in a slightly upward sloping channel.  … Continued

Party hard, but dance near exit

posted in: Economy, Equities | 0

Sideways move in stocks – just a pause or sign of fatigue after six-year run? Several different measures point to gradual buildup in complacency over the years Human nature not to want to leave party early, which is fine unless … Continued

Peek into future through futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of April 14, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: The 10-year yield fell in all five sessions.  Friday could have been different as March core CPI was initially treated as hawkish, but … Continued

Any chance S&P 500 and Shanghai index reestablish once-decent correlation?

posted in: Economy, Equities | 0

Central banks’ increasing role in deciding fate of stocks R between S&P and Shanghai index breaks down due to CB activism N/T direction for U.S. stocks look promising but not M/T, as QE morphine is lacking Did U.S. stocks go … Continued

Double whammy for U.S. economy — revolving credit down, savings rate up

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

Tremendous growth in student and auto loans (non-revolving) over the years First back-to-back drop in revolving consumer credit in February since June-July 12 Consumers holding back, even as they are saving more – not enough juice for U.S. economy The … Continued