Consumer credit is at a record high, including auto loans. Already stretched, consumers are now having to deal with higher rates. Evidently, consumer sentiment remains suppressed. This has the potential to seriously impact retail sales next year – negatively, of … Continued
The fed funds rate has gone up more than 450 basis points since last March, and more tightening is on the way. This is yet to sufficiently make a serious dent in consumer inflation, even as economic data particularly surrounding … Continued
In the early months of 2020, the Fed aggressively flooded the system with liquidity, meeting three times in March alone. That was the need of the hour. Now, it probably needs to act with a similar speed – only in … Continued
VIX flashed a spike reversal last week. If history repeats itself, this probably means downward pressure on volatility, and higher stock prices. This is near term. Medium- to long-term, it will take time to heal the technical damage inflicted this … Continued
US home prices continue to rise at an accelerating pace but may be in the process of cooling down. This can have implications for consumer sentiment, hence consumer spending. In June, home prices nationally shot up 18.6 percent year-over-year. This … Continued
Major US equity indices were down last week, but recovered from the lows, as dips were bought at important support. Jerome Powell’s Friday speech at Jackson Hole this week is important in that a possible announcement of tapering of bond … Continued
Last week, equity bulls stepped up in time to save a rising 14-month trend line on the S&P 500. A similar trend line has been breached on the Nasdaq 100, which acts weak. It is just a matter of time … Continued
Economic data are coming in mixed after recent lows. In the aggregate, there is no V as far as the economy is concerned. In contrast, the S&P 500 completed a perfect V, which came about over six months. As things … Continued
In the latest period, Nasdaq/QQQ shorts went on an offensive. The index/ETF rallied to a fresh high last Friday. Longs are salivating over the jump in short interest as yet another squeeze opportunity. In the past, zealous bears have repeatedly … Continued
The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the global economy ferociously the past several months, although several data points showed improvement in May, some of them substantially. US retail sales was one of them. Persistently elevated home prices must be helping consumer sentiment. … Continued