The S&P 500 is up nearly 21 percent from last October’s low. Yet, US-based equity funds continue to bleed, and margin debt is lower from October through April. If equity bulls cannot mend the situation soon, non-commercials, with most net … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of May 16, 2023. 10-year note: Currently net short 692.4k, down 39.3k. FOMC minutes for the May 2-3 meeting are due out next Wednesday. The fed funds rate was raised by 25 basis … Continued
March-quarter earnings, which are on the home stretch, are raising questions – most prominently as to where the sell-side says things are headed and where they might in fact be headed. As of last Tuesday, 89.4 percent of S&P 500 … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of May 9, 2023. 10-year note: Currently net short 731.7k, down 17.4k. This week, April’s CPI (consumer price index) and PPI (producer price index) were published. Both showed continued decelerating trend in inflation … Continued
Small-cap bulls once again were forced to defend the lower bound of the 1700-1900 range in place since January last year. The Russell 2000 just does not respond to the optimistic growth forecasts in earnings for this year and particularly … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of May 2, 2023. 10-year note: Currently net short 749.1k, up 8.9k. The Federal Reserve’s job is not getting any easier. On Wednesday, post-FOMC meeting, Chair Jerome Powell dropped hints that they were … Continued
After hiking 10 consecutive times totaling 500 basis points, the Jerome Powell-led Fed hinted at a pause on Wednesday. Markets are now pricing in three 25-basis-point cuts by year-end. Powell – focused on inflation – promptly dashed hopes for rate … Continued
Medium- to long-term, Fed pivot-yearning equity bulls could be setting themselves up for disappointment given the Fed’s resolve to keep rates higher for longer and the trajectory of the US economy and/or corporate earnings. Near-term, in an FOMC week, a … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of April 25, 2023. 10-year note: Currently net short 740.3k, up 60.2k. The FOMC meets next week. A 25-basis-point hike is baked in. In the futures market, traders have assigned an 84 percent … Continued
Post-SVB collapse, community and regional banks have come under shorts’ attack. Bruised KRE, having sliced through the neckline of a head-and-shoulders formation last month, has more to go on the downside should the pattern complete. The number of commercial banks … Continued