XLF breaks out, likely headed toward $24, if technicals prevail

posted in: Credit, Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

A month ago, we pointed out a divergence between 10- and two-year Treasury yield spread, which peaked as 2013 was unwinding, and financial stocks, which had ceased to track the spread and were rallying.  Going back nearly 18 years, the … Continued

With monetary quiver empty, are central banks ready to add arrows?

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

Two members of the Monetary Policy Committee, the Bank of England’s interest rate-setting committee, voted to raise interest rates by 25 basis points in August, the minutes released yesterday showed.  Market participants were taken by surprise.  They have been conditioned … Continued

Nasdaq mini breakout, odds grow S&P 500 at least tests recent highs

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

The Nasdaq Composite (4508.31)has managed to pull off a mini breakout, and is trading above the level identified previously.  As a matter of fact, indices/ETFs such as the S&P 500 Large Cap Index and XLF (financials) have convincingly taken out … Continued

If — a big if — these relationships hold, U.S. business capex is set to rise

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

At hedgopia, we try to be as objective as possible.  Currently, this blogger is bearish insofar as U.S. equities and economy are concerned.  Nevertheless, as someone famously said, “When the facts change, I change my mind.  What would you do, … Continued

Nervous money managers sticking with their longs, but buying protection

posted in: Derivatives, Equities | 0

In a global survey of 200 institutional money managers, the Bank of America/Merrill Lynch found that the pros are worried about the stock market and are buying protection against a crash.  They are worried about geo-political events and about interest … Continued

Despite big yawn from bond market, job openings point to continued improvement in non-farm payroll

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

What is going on in the jobs market the past several months is reviving hopes that better days are ahead. There is a lot we can point to in order to validate how anemic the recovery has been post-Great Recession.  … Continued

Oversold bounce, or opportunity to go long?

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

The rally the past couple of sessions, is it an oversold bounce or is there more to it than meets the eye?  Particularly on Monday, money did come out of defensives such as utilities and health care, and into offensives … Continued

Bulls and bears duel for euro’s near-term direction, former likely to win

posted in: Currency, Derivatives, Technicals | 0

Non-commercials further added to net shorts in euro futures.  They are now net short 129k contracts – a two-year high.  In recent weeks these large speculators have been adding more shorts than cutting longs.  Since early June, they cut longs … Continued