US equity indices have had massive gains in the past four months. In the options market, calls heavily outweigh puts – to a point where it is beginning to look dangerously lop-sided. If past is prologue, during such times it … Continued
Last week, the Russell 2000 jumped 3.6 percent, while the Nasdaq 100 slid 1.8 percent. If investors are indeed moving away from tech toward small-caps, this is no good news for markets as a whole. The five largest US companies … Continued
Small-caps and large-caps went their own separate ways for a while, with the Russell 2000 peaking as far back as August 2018 and the S&P 500 in February this year. Since the trough this March, they have been on the … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of June 23, 2020. 10-year note: Currently net long 6.5k, up 17.4k. The Federal Reserve continued to reduce its assets this week. Since rising to a record $7.17 trillion two weeks ago, the … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of June 16, 2020. 10-year note: Currently net short 10.9k, down 13.1k. Foreigners are aggressively getting out of the US sovereign bond market. In March and April, they sold $475.6 billion in Treasury … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of June 9, 2020. 10-year note: Currently net long 2.3k, up 55.2k. Post-conclusion of FOMC meeting, Fed Chair Jerome Powell Wednesday sought to play down May’s much-better-than-expected jobs report, which showed the economy … Continued
Major US equity indices continue their two-and-a-half-month momentum. Short squeeze helped. As did the Fed backstop. On an FOMC day, Chair Powell’s body language is worth a listen. For equity bulls, there is this thing called the law of gravity. … Continued
Stocks are ripping higher. Sentiment is exuberant. Several technical indicators are extended. The Fed’s aggressive action was a catalyst in March when major US equity indices bottomed. Its asset holdings continue to grow, but the pace of growth has decelerated. … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of June 2, 2020. 10-year note: Currently net short 52.9k, up 14.9k. This week, the ECB surprised markets with its new bond purchase program (more below). The FOMC meets next week. But no … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of May 26, 2020. 10-year note: Currently net short 38.1k, down 55.1k. The 10-year treasury yield (0.65 percent) has essentially gone sideways for nearly three months now. This was at a time when … Continued