XLF breaks out, likely headed toward $24, if technicals prevail

posted in: Credit, Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

A month ago, we pointed out a divergence between 10- and two-year Treasury yield spread, which peaked as 2013 was unwinding, and financial stocks, which had ceased to track the spread and were rallying.  Going back nearly 18 years, the … Continued

With monetary quiver empty, are central banks ready to add arrows?

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

Two members of the Monetary Policy Committee, the Bank of England’s interest rate-setting committee, voted to raise interest rates by 25 basis points in August, the minutes released yesterday showed.  Market participants were taken by surprise.  They have been conditioned … Continued

Nasdaq mini breakout, odds grow S&P 500 at least tests recent highs

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

The Nasdaq Composite (4508.31)has managed to pull off a mini breakout, and is trading above the level identified previously.  As a matter of fact, indices/ETFs such as the S&P 500 Large Cap Index and XLF (financials) have convincingly taken out … Continued

If — a big if — these relationships hold, U.S. business capex is set to rise

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

At hedgopia, we try to be as objective as possible.  Currently, this blogger is bearish insofar as U.S. equities and economy are concerned.  Nevertheless, as someone famously said, “When the facts change, I change my mind.  What would you do, … Continued

Despite big yawn from bond market, job openings point to continued improvement in non-farm payroll

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

What is going on in the jobs market the past several months is reviving hopes that better days are ahead. There is a lot we can point to in order to validate how anemic the recovery has been post-Great Recession.  … Continued

Oversold bounce, or opportunity to go long?

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

The rally the past couple of sessions, is it an oversold bounce or is there more to it than meets the eye?  Particularly on Monday, money did come out of defensives such as utilities and health care, and into offensives … Continued

As stocks sell off, NAAIM members essentially already all-in

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

Yesterday was the first time since April the S&P 500 Index violated its 50-day moving average – both simple and exponential.  This was the first test since May, yet there was hardly any resistance from the bulls.  Sellers simply overwhelmed … Continued

Financials rally even as 10-2 spread narrows throughout 2014

posted in: Credit, Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

Depending on how mature an economic cycle is, different sectors, and industries within them, act differently.  Some lead, some lag, yet others are coincident.  Investors gravitate toward sectors such as technology and consumer discretionary when they are more optimistic and … Continued

ZIRP-induced interest-rate dynamics between income and payment

posted in: Credit, Currency, Economy | 0

There is probably no other price as important as the price of money – that is, interest rates.  They are what grease the wheels of an economy.  Simplistically, when rates are high, people are incentivized to save more.  When they … Continued