Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of February 27, 2024. 10-year note: Currently net short 665.6k, down 63.5k. January’s PCE (personal consumption expenditures) price index came out Thursday. Ahead of the report, futures traders were pricing in three 25-basis-point … Continued
Economic data for the most part continue to come in stronger than expected. In the futures market, traders’ rate expectations are now down to three to four cuts this year, down from six to seven post-December ‘Fed pivot’ meeting. It … Continued
Something is afoot in the bond land – in how bond shorts are viewing things. They have used the sharp decline in the 10-year T-yield post-December 13th FOMC meeting to aggressively go short these notes, betting on higher rates. They … Continued
The Russell 2000 had a phenomenal Friday as rate-cut expectations were brought forward to March. Futures traders now expect five cuts next year – unlikely unless the US economy craters, in which case small-caps will take the brunt of the … Continued
October’s CPI report showed continued disinflation since peaking last year at four-decade highs. Concurrently, Walmart, which commands a wide consumer reach with nearly $600 billion in annual sales, rather ominously commented that the company was more cautious than it was … Continued
Small-caps continue to act tentative. It is a group of stocks with the most exposure to the domestic economy, and their performance runs counter to the nearly-consensus view that the economy will do just fine next year. Oddly enough, small-cap … Continued
It is probable the 10-year T-yield has peaked at five percent. In this scenario, a sustained move lower will put shorts, who were heavily betting on higher rates, under pressure to cover. Two weeks ago, the 10-year treasury yield met … Continued
The sell-side just bumped up estimates for S&P 600 operating earnings for both this year and next. The Russell 2000 does not give a hoot. Small-caps act weak – much weaker than large-caps. If they are sending the right signal, … Continued
This week’s dot plot indicated one more hike is possible this year. Equity bulls did not want to hear this. In the futures market, a wide gap remains between what fed funds traders see things and what the Fed tells … Continued
With 2Q23 earnings season nearly over, S&P 500 companies are set to earn more than what was expected at the start of the quarter. This, however, is not so as relates to S&P 400 and 600 companies. Mid- and small-caps … Continued