Muddle-Along New Normal — CapX-Revival Hopes Keep Getting Dashed

posted in: Economy | 0

Last week when the advance report on U.S. durable goods for June was published, new orders for non-defense capital goods ex-aircraft – used as proxy for business capital expenditures – were $68.4 billion, and May was reported as $67.8 billion.  … Continued

How Oil Behaves Can Impact Demand — Or Lack Thereof — For Treasuries

posted in: Commodities, Credit, Economy | 0

One look at Chart 1, and it is not hard to imagine the possible repercussions of the collapse in crude oil.  The spot West Texas Intermediate crude traded at $107.68 in June last year, dropped to $42.41 in March, rose … Continued

COT: Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 28, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: The following from the FOMC statement drew a lot of attention: “The Committee anticipates that it will be appropriate to raise the target … Continued

June Softness In New Home Sales Preceded By Price Surge — Similar Fate Awaiting Existing Homes?

posted in: Economy | 0

There is a dichotomy between U.S. sales of new and existing homes.  This has been preceded by a dichotomy between how their median prices were diverging from each other. June saw existing homes jump to a seasonally adjusted annual rate … Continued

TLT Caught In Limbo Between 50- And 200-Day Averages

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

Last week, non-commercials went net long 10-year note futures for the first time since September 2014.  For reference, they were net short north of 183,000 contracts as early as early May and 261,000-plus at the end of last December (Chart … Continued

Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 21, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Is global growth slowing?  The ongoing slump in commodities seems to suggest that.  In this scenario, it would make sense for investors to … Continued

Soaring U.S. Corporate Bond Issuance — The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

posted in: Commodities, Credit, Economy | 0

U.S. corporate bond issuance is on track for yet another record year this year. In the first half, issuance totaled $877.7 billion, comprised of $697.8 billion in investment-grade and $179.9 billion in high-yield.  Annualized, both categories, as well as the … Continued

Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 14, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Fed Chair Janet Yellen during her mid-week Humphrey-Hawkins testimony reiterated her desire to hike interest rates later this year, if data cooperate.  On … Continued