As oil price buckles, increase in talk of need to focus on S&P 500 earnings ex-energy Collapse in energy earnings important factor, but SPX ests were too rosy to begin with Sell-side struggles to wrap arms around energy repercussions; hard … Continued
Draghi finally delivers, igniting a global rally in stocks Here in U.S., sustainability in doubt unless stocks attract some of that money U.S. households not likely to be source of funds as money market funds lower than pre-crisis As expected, … Continued
As world’s largest debtor and one running deficit, U.S. needs constant demand for Treasurys Recycling of petrodollars has been reliable source of demand for U.S. federal debt So far, drop in price of crude has not adversely impacted this demand … Continued
Major U.S. banks’ 4Q14 earnings results big disappointment Release of reserves built up during crisis years have been big tailwind Financials’ path of least resistance down medium-term, though oversold near-term Investors were genuinely disappointed last week as all four major … Continued
Draghi drops credible (?) hints Eurozone QE is coming QE no panacea for economy, only a vehicle for transfer of bond ownership Investor reaction post-announcement key, as net shorts in euro futures remain very high “This may imply adjusting the … Continued
One of the perplexing things in the current economic cycle has been the suppressed velocity of money. Six years into recovery, velocity has yet to pick up steam. As the chart below shows, excess reserves have gone toe-to-toe with the … Continued
Despite escape-velocity meme, yield curve continues to tighten Message of belly/long end of curve to short-end: be careful what you ask for Financials diverge from 10-2 spread, perhaps setting up as shorting opportunity next month One of the contrarian themes … Continued
10-year notes yielding lower vs when Nov’s blockbuster jobs report came out Large speculators’ net shorts in 10-year-note futures at four-plus-year high Bond vigilantes not buying hopes and prayers of escape-velocity backers Treasury bonds continue to catch a bid. A … Continued
Gold fails to generate enough buying interest near important support levels Despite oodles of central-bank printing, inflation remains a no-show 1,180 next line of sand, which is not too far away; must-hold Remember the chart below? This was from Monday … Continued
Market expectations for rate hike next year runs risk of disappointment With monetary quiver nearly empty, Fed very much focused on wealth effect Job even more difficult, given adverse effects of cheap money beginning to loom Markets are sending mixed … Continued