HYG, JNK not likely to take kindly to hawkish Fed, let alone end of ZIRP

posted in: Credit, Economy, Equities | 0

Last six years, U.S. high-yield bond issuance of $1.6tn This week, several Fed officials signal imminent rate hike this year Junk bonds – popular risk-on vehicle – not likely to take kindly to end of ZIRP A week ago, HYG, … Continued

Imminent (?) breakout retest on RUT probably validates bullish small-cap thesis

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

Small-caps relative outperformer past several weeks Hard to make fundamental case, but technically RUT acts very well Ideal, and probable, scenario: RUT pulls back for successful retest of recent breakout There is something very interesting going on in the small-cap … Continued

Short interest fuel aplenty, can bulls exploit?

posted in: Equities | 0

Bulls have consistently climbed wall of worry, that is, elevated short interest Past 3 months, Naz/NYSE short interest sideways, shorts giving up? Hedgopia Risk Reward Index pokes head out of reward zone Post-FOMC, Wednesday sure felt like a session in … Continued

No rate hike in foreseeable future

posted in: Credit, Currency, Economy | 0

Fed gets rid of “patient”, but hints it will be patient in hiking rates Surging dollar impacts exports; Fed takes 2015 GDP forecast down a notch With economic data increasingly coming in weak, rate-hike odds this year next to nil  … Continued

FOMC will probably dictate next big move for dollar index

Dollar index signaling it is ready to at least pause? Stronger $ will adversely impact both exports and earnings Fed can ill afford to send hawkish signal post-FOMC on Wednesday Over the past three sessions, this is how the U.S. … Continued

R b/w average hourly earnings and NFIB comp plans started breaking down a year ago

posted in: Economy | 0

Below is one of the charts often used – this blog including – to validate expectations for imminent upward pressure on U.S. wages.  It shows the correlation between year-over-year change in average hourly earnings of production and non-supervisory employees and … Continued

Bond vigilantes vs. Fed: Who is calling whose bluff and where it might lead

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

U.S. bond market and Fed lock horns as relates to trajectory of short rates Fed continues to drop hints it is ready to lift rates off near-zero levels Should that come to pass, it has potential to help vigilantes’ case … Continued

FOMC may signal rate-hike plans pushed back

posted in: Commodities, Credit, Currency, Economy | 0

As FOMC meets, markets will be looking for clues on rate-hike timing Consensus, which had been betting on mid-year hike, vacillating of late Lower-than-expected inflation, strong dollar excuses for Fed not to move The Federal Open Market Committee begins its … Continued

Perhaps time to be on lookout for signs of $ reversal

posted in: Currency, Derivatives, Technicals | 0

Technically strong dollar bumping against two-decade-long resistance Trend-following hedge funds’ net longs in dollar index futures highest ever To watch out for: rise in odds of no rate hikes in U.S. and ECB QE disappointment Not a single day goes … Continued

Stocks at a crossroads, rallies will probably get sold for now

posted in: Equities, Technicals | 0

With massive inflows just last week, stocks need another to stay afloat With at least three important events on calendar, Jan can throw wrench in the works With stocks holding up amidst signs of preference for risk-off; opportunity to sell … Continued