Breakout or fake-out? To find out, oil needs to retreat and find support at 47

Signs late last week WTI itching to move higher play out perfectly Oil as much a physical commodity as it is for investment/speculative purposes After 20-plus-percent move in four sessions, healthy if it retreats and finds support at 47 Some … 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

Capex hopefuls cannot catch a break

posted in: Credit, Currency, Economy | 0

Setback in orders for business-capex proxy; down four consecutive months Inventory-to-order ratios, nowhere near previous peaks, trending higher Zero-bound suppressed rates probably impacting incentive to borrow The much-anticipated capex boom in the U.S. will just have to wait a while … Continued

FOMC may signal rate-hike plans pushed back

posted in: Commodities, Credit, Currency, Economy | 0

As FOMC meets, markets will be looking for clues on rate-hike timing Consensus, which had been betting on mid-year hike, vacillating of late Lower-than-expected inflation, strong dollar excuses for Fed not to move The Federal Open Market Committee begins its … Continued

Too soon to say if already-crashing ’15 earnings estimates have been cut enough

posted in: Commodities, Economy, Equities | 1

As oil price buckles, increase in talk of need to focus on S&P 500 earnings ex-energy Collapse in energy earnings important factor, but SPX ests were too rosy to begin with Sell-side struggles to wrap arms around energy repercussions; hard … Continued

N/T bias is up, but likely setting up another shorting opportunity later on

posted in: Economy, Equities | 0

Draghi finally delivers, igniting a global rally in stocks Here in U.S., sustainability in doubt unless stocks attract some of that money U.S. households not likely to be source of funds as money market funds lower than pre-crisis As expected, … Continued

ITB close to breaking crucial support

posted in: Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

U.S. home builder sentiment chirpy, near multi-year highs Just a matter of time before sentiment follows home sales/starts lower Stocks follow builder sentiment; ITB perilously close to breaking crucial support Hope springs eternal.  U.S. home builders are an optimistic bunch.  … Continued

Collapse in crude yet to adversely impact petrodollars’ demand for Treasurys

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

As world’s largest debtor and one running deficit, U.S. needs constant demand for Treasurys Recycling of petrodollars has been reliable source of demand for U.S. federal debt So far, drop in price of crude has not adversely impacted this demand … Continued

WTI slices through 16-year support

True to ‘when it rains, it pours,’ Goldman turns bearish on oil Sustained low price will reverberate through oil earnings, jobs, capex Technicals have probably already spoken; WTI unable to save 16-year support Remember Arjun Murti?  He was a Goldman … Continued