Foreigners, who had been cutting exposure for a while, have been warming up to U.S. stocks of late. Bulls obviously would like this to continue. Historically, foreigners’ activity and the S&P 500 have shown a tendency to move in tandem. … Continued
Major US equity indices continue to attract bids and are trading at fresh highs. Greed rules, with several metrics at nosebleed levels. In a seasonally favorable period, crazy can get crazier – at least that is what bulls hope. How … Continued
In the first eight months, US corporate bond issuance remained soft – relatively. This is not due a sudden rise in risk-off sentiment toward corporate bonds. They remain well bid. Rather, reduced corporate buybacks for the most part may have … Continued
Stars may be lining up near term for equity bulls, but medium-term worries remain. Margin debt and corporate buybacks are no longer providing the kind of tailwind they did until recently. Buybacks simply collapsed in 2Q19. With 94.9 percent of … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of June 25, 2019. 10-year note: Currently net short 281.1k, down 121.9k. Since peaking at 3.25 percent last October through the intraday low seven sessions ago of 1.98 percent, the 10-year Treasury yield … Continued
The S&P 500 rallied to a new high last week. Since January last year, it has more or less treaded water, although there have been higher highs. Several potential sources of tailwind are missing in action. Corporate buybacks are the … Continued
Kudos to equity bulls for pulling off an impressive reversal off of late-December lows. Major indices have now rallied for over three months, pushing them into extended territory. Looking at VIX futures, a lot of the good news is in … Continued
Stocks rallied for three months in defiance of deteriorating macro data. By essentially putting an end to the tightening cycle, the Fed is acknowledging this. Stocks could be the next. What just happened? Many are probably asking that question after … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of March 5, 2019. 10-year note: Currently net short 233.4k, down 619. The rally in the 10-year Treasury yield (2.63 percent) from July 2016, when rates bottomed at 1.34 percent, ended last October … Continued
Corporate buybacks were the savior last year, even as investors took cash out of equities and foreigners reduced exposure to US stocks. The status quo needs to change. Bulls cannot continue betting on continued buyback momentum. On a 12-month rolling … Continued