It is probably a foregone conclusion that the Fed later today leaves interest rates unchanged, and will announce a plan to gradually shrink its massive portfolio of mortgage and Treasury bonds. The question is, how would the markets react? The … Continued
Small-caps have come alive in the past month, with the caveat that the Russell 2000 small cap index is still 1.4 percent from its all-time high of July. The bulls’ best hope near term: squeeze non-commercials. Post-U.S. presidential election last … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of Sep 12, 2017. 10-year note: Currently net long 251.7k, up 29.9k. The FOMC’s two-day meeting begins Tuesday. A press conference by Janet Yellen, Fed chair, is scheduled for Wednesday. After this, there … Continued
With XLF (SPDR financial ETF) short interest near a multi-month low and the Treasury yield curve continuing to come under pressure, U.S. financials are acting weak, even breaking down. Back in March this year, XLF unsuccessfully tested the prior high … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of Sep 5, 2017. 10-year note: Currently net long 221.8k, down 61.9k. Last week, 2Q17 real GDP growth was revised higher to three percent – much better than the post-Great Recession average of … Continued
The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index is doing very well so far this year – up 22.4 percent. This compares with a rise of 10.3 percent for the Dow Industrials, 10.1 percent for the S&P 500 large cap index, and a … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of Aug 29, 2017. 10-year note: Currently net long 283.7k, up 22.5k. Hurricane Harvey may have given the Fed an excuse not to hike come December. At least that is how markets are … Continued
U.S. corporate profits adjusted for inventory valuation and capital consumption grew 1.3 percent quarter-over-quarter in 2Q17 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.14 trillion, but growth has been uneven since peaking at $2.23 trillion in 4Q14. Since that peak … Continued
The past couple of weeks offered both equity bulls and bears a little something to celebrate. The bulls got the relief rally, and the bears an opportunity to short. What next? Since the S&P 500 large cap index peaked on … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of Aug 22, 2017. 10-year note: Currently net long 261.2k, up 60.7k. Fed funds futures are currently pricing in 40 percent odds of a 25-basis-point increase in December, while September and November are … Continued