Dollar seems finally ready to come under pressure

Contrary message from U.S. dollar and bonds as to prospects for interest-rate hike by Fed Latest Humphrey-Hawkins testimony shows Chair Janet Yellen leaning dovish Hedge funds are neck-deep in bullish dollar bets, expecting higher rates Currency and bond markets are … Continued

Peek into future through futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of February 17 (Tuesday).  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: The 10-year yield had been trending down within a channel since it peaked on December 30, 2013 at three percent.  Early this year, … Continued

Peek into future through futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of February 10 (Tuesday).  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: The 10-year yield tacked on another seven basis points for the week.  Daily indicators are now grossly overbought.  It is also right at … Continued

Has margin debt peaked? Can have repercussions for stocks, C&I loans

posted in: Credit, Equities | 0

Sideways movement in margin debt a sign investors’ risk appetite waning? 35-year correlation between stocks and margin debt of 0.95, 2014 was only 0.28 In 2000 and 2007, peak in margin debt preceded peak in C&I loans by one-plus year … Continued

A peek into future through the futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of February 3 (Tuesday).  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: The 10-year yield has risen from 1.65 to 1.94 in five sessions.  But it also dropped 52 basis points in January, and that … Continued

U.S. consumer sentiment high but consumers salting away gas savings

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

U.S. consumer confidence has surged since July 2014 Decent inverse correlation between gas price and consumer sentiment No correlation between personal consumption expenditures and consumer sentiment Consumer confidence is soaring in the U.S.  Since July 2014, the Thomson Reuters/University of … Continued

10-year Treasury yield seems to want to head higher for now

posted in: Credit, Derivatives, Technicals | 0

10-yr Treasury yield rises, diverging from loads of weaker-than-expected macro data recently There is no shortage of reason to argue for lower yield, even so sentiment can get extended Levels bond bulls will be drawn to if they believe rates … Continued

A peek into future through the futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of January 27 (Tuesday).  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Can we say squeeze?  Since the end of December, net shorts have dropped 59 percent, even as the 10-year yield has collapsed 50 … Continued

Core PCE inflation struggles to get to 2% despite $4tn expansion in Fed’s balance sheet

Disinflationary/deflationary pressures intensifying globally Fed favorite core PCE inflation persistently under two percent despite three QE’s Bonds do not see inflation as far as eye can see, signal slowdown in activity; stocks continue merry way Monday morning, investors will learn … Continued