CoT: Peek Into Future Through Futures, How Hedge Funds Are Positioned

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of March 13, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 271.4k, down 90.8k. Once again, 10-year Treasury yields are retreating from important resistance.  Caught in a three-decade-old descending channel, the 10-year rate came very … Continued

Growth Deceleration Ahead, Magnitude And Duration Notwithstanding

posted in: Economy | 0

After healthy growth last three quarters, the U.S. economy is in deceleration, magnitude and duration notwithstanding. On Wednesday, the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model was forecasting 1Q18 real GDP growth of 1.9 percent, revised down from 2.5 percent, reflecting this week’s … Continued

Corporate Debt Issuance Softens Further In February, Spreads Do Not Signal Stress

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

U.S. corporate debt issuance continued to decelerate in February.  High-yield spreads are not pointing to stress in the system. After January’s $133.7 billion, February issuance slowed down to $84.3 billion.  As a result, the first two-month total, comprised of $184 … Continued

Perfect Timing Tool They Are Not, But Several Metrics Stretched In 9-Year-Old Bull

posted in: Credit, Economy, Equities | 0

The bull market in U.S. stocks is nine years old.  While this alone does not necessarily sound the death knell for this aging bull, this is not a time to remain unambiguously sanguine either. Last Friday, the bull turned nine, … Continued

CoT: Peek Into Future Through Futures, How Hedge Funds Are Positioned

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of March 6, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 362.2k, up 19.3k. On February 2, January’s private-sector average hourly earnings were reported, and they rose 2.89 percent year-over-year, to $26.74.  This was the … Continued

CoT: Peek Into Future Through Futures, How Hedge Funds Are Positioned

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of February 27, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 342.9k, up 128.4k. On February 5 when Jerome Powell took over as Fed chair the S&P 500 large cap index dropped 4.1 percent, and … Continued

Signs Of Growth Deceleration – What, If Any, Repercussions For Orders, Inventories?

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

There are signs growth is decelerating, but from a healthy level.  Data relating to orders and inventories do not yet seem to be a problem, but worth watching. Most of this week’s economic data offered more of a downside surprise … Continued

After Last Week’s Buy-Write, Weekly Covered Call On TLT

posted in: Credit, Economy, Technicals | 0

The U.S. sovereign bond market has hit the headlines a lot these days.  Rates have rallied big since September 2017 lows, but from suppressed levels, and are at crucial stage technically.  At least near term, fundamentals do not allow for … Continued

CoT: Peek Into Future Through Futures, How Hedge Funds Are Positioned

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of February 20, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 214.5k, down 82.5k. Three percent on the 10-year Treasury note is a closely watched level by many.  If it is surpassed, stops likely get … Continued

M2 Growth Deceleration Plus Recent Backup In Rates No Recipe For Overheating

posted in: Credit, Economy, Technicals | 0

“…the details of the tax legislation suggested that its effects on consumer and business spending – while still uncertain – might be a bit greater in the near term than they had previously thought.  Al­though several saw increased upside risks … Continued