Head & Shoulders pattern: 10 year yield could drop to 2.87%The series of tops shaped notorious Head & Shoulders pattern
on 10-Year Treasury yield (TNX).
The tallest peak is the Head and Shoulders are on both sides.
The Neckline is the support that is built through valleys of the Head.
The price has breached the Neckline this summer triggering the pattern bullish scenario.
The target is calculated by subtracting the height of the Head (from top to Neckline) from
breakdown point on the Neckline. It is located around 2.87%.
Almost 1% down from the current level
Treasuries
Downside Ahead For T Bonds - COT Strategy ShortDISCLAIMER: This is not trade advice. This is for educational purposes only to demonstrate how I am looking to participate in this market. There is significant risk involved in trading, do your own homework and due diligence.
COT Strategy
SHORT
T Bonds (ZB)
My COT strategy has me on alert for short trades in ZB if we get a confirmed bearish change of trend on the Daily timeframe.
COT Commercial Index: Sell Signal
Extreme Positioning: Commercials most short they have been in last 3 years = bearish. Small Specs most long they have been in 3 years = bearish.
OI Analysis: Extreme high in OI. Generally, extremely high OI found at market tops.
True Seasonal: Strong seasonal tendency for t bonds to go down into October
COT Small Spec Index: Sell Signal
Supplementary Indicators: Acc/Dist & POIV Sell Signals
Remember, this is not a "Short Now" idea. These indicators are not timing tools. They simply tell us that this market could have a move of some significance to the downside, which we will participate in with a confirmed Daily trend change to the downside.
Good luck & good trading.
GOVT ETF: Bullish Reversal on the Horizon?The GOVT ETF, representing U.S. Treasury Bonds, shows signs of a potential bullish reversal, according to our proprietary QuantEdge Momentum System.
Key Indicators:
Z-Score:
The Z-Score has surged to 1.60, signaling an overextension to the downside in the past months. This indicates that the recent downward momentum might be exhausted, leading to a possible trend reversal.
Z-Score of RSI:
The Z-Score of RSI at 1.72 shows a significant bullish momentum shift. This suggests that the asset might be gaining strength, with buyers stepping in to push prices higher. The crossing above 0 confirms that bullish sentiment is currently prevailing.
Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD):
The CVD indicator reflects a strong buying pressure, as demonstrated by the marked shift from deep negative territory (-451,481,504) towards a less pronounced negative reading. This shift suggests that the selling pressure has weakened, and buyers are beginning to dominate the market.
Price Action:
The price has broken above the green momentum cloud, signaling a potential shift from a downtrend to an uptrend. Given the alignment of other indicators, this could be the beginning of a bullish phase for GOVT.
Projection:
Over the next quarter, GOVT is likely to experience a bullish correction, driven by strong buying momentum. The ETF could target resistance levels in the $25.00-$26.00 range if the current momentum continues. The Z-Score and RSI suggest that the upside could be substantial as the ETF looks to recover from recent losses.
However, caution is warranted if the Z-Score or RSI starts to diverge negatively, as it could indicate the potential for a correction or consolidation before resuming the uptrend. Monitoring these indicators will be crucial to confirm the strength of the reversal.
Based on the proprietary QuantEdge Momentum System, GOVT appears poised for a bullish quarter. Investors looking to capitalize on U.S. Treasury Bonds might find this an opportune time to consider GOVT as a potential buy.
Time for TLTThe 20-year Treasury Bond ETF 'TLT' is looking good now that the Federal Reserve has stated that an interest rate cut could come as early as September if inflation continues to fall. The fact that Fed chairman Jerome Powell is now using dovish language and naming dates for potential cuts is cause enough to consider shifting some money to bonds. The swift selloff in stocks earlier this week is also good reason to be cautious in equities and bullish bonds, still waiting to see if that was a one-time dip or the start of something more prolonged. We also have rising unemployment, record personal debt and increasing rates of delinquency in auto loans that signal potential recession ahead. At this point it's not a question of 'if' rates cuts and money printing are going to happen, but 'when', especially if we see markets turn back down in a significant way and/or a continued move higher in unemployment.
TLT has recently broke above a short-term resistance line as the 20-year treasury bond yield broke below a short-term support line which shows how inversely correlated they are. If we can expect bond yields to come down via Fed rate cuts then we can expect bond prices to go up. TLT is the most popular bond ETF and I've personally been buying ever since price fell below $100 last year with the intention of building a large position ahead of inevitable rate cuts. I'll stop buying when rate cuts begin and then ride TLT until it looks like a bottom in rates is in, and then sell the entire position and flip long stocks.
Yield CurveThe 2/10 treasury yield spread is quickly flattening and an inversion could happen soon.
All of the previous yield curve inversions are associated with memorable market sell-offs and recessions.
I believe the ripple effect of the ongoing financial and economic sanctions against Russia will end up being the catalyst for the next meltdown.
The market conditions have been favorable to a disaster by many measurements for some time now.
Again, there are many unknown cross-currents beginning to work their way into the global economy. On top of that, the FED is raising interest rates in less than two weeks.
2 Year yields are weakeningWhich often signals a incoming recession.
The market leads the #FED who always raise and lower rates too late.
We have #Unemployment starting to tick up
Tight financial conditions, delinquencies on the rise.
So make hay over the next few months in memestocks, coins, bitcoin, alts, NVDA and so on.
But don't be left holding the hot potato when the music stops playings.
#Macro
#Meltup
#NVDA
#Nasdaq
#Stocks
#Bitcoin
#Altcoins
#Ethereum
#Pulsechain
TBT / TLT T Bill Inverse TreasuriesOn this daily chart of the ratio of TBT ( Treasury Bills Bearish ) to TLT ( the inverse Bullish)
over time. This serves to accentuate shifts in prices from factors affecting them both but
with opposite effects. Federal actions or even reports of economic data are some
of those factors.
This chart shows that about November 1st, TBT ad topped out and fell. They are inverses
of one another . What makes one go down will make the other go up and viceversa.
By February 1, TBT bottomed out and the ratio reversed. The cycle took 3 months.
On a lower time frame, cycling would be more frequent.
At present, it would appear to be time to sell TLT and / or buy TBT
What applies to the TBT /TLT ratio would also relate to TMV / TMF as a ratio.
TLT Is Coming Into Key Support Within A Corrective DeclineTreasury bond TLT has been trading lower since the start of 2024, but after an impulsive rally at the end of 2023, we believe it's just making and finishing a deep A-B-C corrective decline. It's actually now coming into key strong support zone at 61,8% - 78,6% Fibo. retracement and channel support line, from where we should be aware of bounce, recovery and continuation higher back to 2024 highs. Just keep in mind that bullish confirmation is only above channel resistance line near 92.00 region, while invalidation level remains at 82.45.
An Uncharted Landscape of Prolonged Yield Curve InversionCBOT: Micro 2-Year Yield ( CBOT_MINI:2YY1! ) and Micro 10-Year Yield ( CBOT_MINI:10Y1! )
The recent US inflation cycle started in June 2020. As the global pandemic interrupted the global supply chain, the prices of goods began to rise rapidly. In the following two years, the headline CPI shot up nearly nine percent to a 40-year high.
The Federal Reserve initially judged inflation to be transitionary and sat on the sideline for almost two years. However, when it finally came into action, it did so decisively with a campaign of aggressive interest rate increases. The hikes started in March 2022 and went on for ten more times, pushing the Fed Funds rate up 525 bps, from 0-25 bps to 5.25-5.50%.
Has the Fed tightening policy been successful? Yes and No. On the one hand, inflation rate dropped nearly 2/3 from the peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 3.5% in March 2024. We are not yet back to the 2% policy target but are on the right track.
On the other hand, price levels remain stickily high. According to the “CPI Inflation Calculator” by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the purchasing power of $1.22 in March 2024 equals that of $1.00 in December 2019. This means that the average price in the US has gone up 22% since the start of the pandemic. Even though the inflation rate is moving down, price levels continue to move up.
After hiking interest rates 11 times and pausing 6 times, the Fed now has a dilemma. “To cut, or Not to cut”, this is a trillion-dollar question. Adding to the complexity of the situation is that we have been in a negative yield curve environment for two years.
The Persistent Yield Curve Inversion
Yield Curve shows how interest rates on government bonds compare, notably three-month Treasury Bills, two-year and 10-year Treasury Notes, 15-year and 30-year Treasury Bonds. Bond investors expect to be paid more for locking up their money for a long stretch, so interest rates on long-term debt are higher than those on short-term. Plotted out on a chart, the various yields for bonds create an upward sloping line.
Sometimes short-term rates rise above long-term ones. That negative relationship is called yield curve inversion. An inversion has preceded every U.S. recession for the past half century, so it’s seen as a leading indicator of economic downturn.
The chart above shows a downward slopping Treasury yield curve on May 12th. We observe that 3MO Bill currently yields 5.391%, while the 10Y Note yields just 4.5%, which is 89 bps lower.
Financial markets use the yield spread of 10Y and 2Y Notes as a benchmark for yield curve relationship. In a normal interest rate environment, the 10-2 yield spread is a positive number. On July 21st, 2022, 2Y yield stood at 3.00%, above the 2.91% on 10Y yield. This was the first time in ten years that the 10-2 spread turned negative (-9 bps).
Almost two years later, the yield curve inversion remains in effect. On May 12th, the 10Y yield, the 2Y yield, and the 10-2 spread are 4.50%, 4.87% and -37 bps, respectively.
Under an unprecedented period of negative yield curve, how the shifting of Fed policy would impact interest cost of long- and short-duration remains to be seen.
Trading with CBOT Micro Yield Futures
The complexity of yield curve inversion makes analyzing interest rates extremely difficult. We could narrow down the analysis on the two key points of the yield curve, the 2Y and the 10Y. The underlying Treasury bonds are among the most liquid financial instruments in the world. The 10-2 spread trades are also very popular for interest rate investors.
We could simplify our analysis into the following:
• To formulate a viewpoint on the future direction of the 2Y yield;
• To formulate a viewpoint on the future direction of the 10Y yield;
• To formulate a viewpoint on whether the 10-2 spread will be widened or tightened.
From a trading perspective, if you have confidence in any one of the three, you could develop a trading strategy by using CBOT Micro Treasury Yield Futures.
Last Friday, the June contract of Micro 2Y Yield futures (2YYM4) were settled at 4.722%. Each contract has a notional value of 1,000 index points, or $4,722 at current price. To buy (long) or sell (short) 1 contract, a trader is required to deposit an initial margin of $340.
The June Micro 10Y Yield (10YM4) was settled at 4.489%. Notional value is 1,000 index points or $4,489. Initial margin is $320.
The 10Y-2YY yield spread for June contract is -23.3 bps (= 4.489 - 4.722). A long (short) spread trade involves buying (selling) one 10Y futures and shorting (buying) one 2YY futures simultaneously. It requires an initial margin of $660 (= 340 + 320).
My thought below is for your information only. First, on the 2YY:
• You could decompose the 2Y yield into 24 consecutive 1M rates over a 2-year period. The negative 37 bps between the Fed Funds rate and 2Y yield may be considered the weighted average of these 1M rates, with the expectations of Fed cutting rates.
• The Fed is unlikely to raise rates again. But it remains highly uncertain when it will start cutting rates and how often it will do.
• Consequently, the 2YY could fluctuate in the short-term, but would decline over time.
• To express this view, a short 2YY futures rollover strategy may be appropriate.
• My last idea on May 6th includes a detailed explanation on futures rollover strategy. Let’s recap the long futures rollover here:
o In April, buy (going long) a June contract.
o In June, short the June contract to close the existing position. Buy an August contract and reestablish a long position.
o The trader would repeat the above steps, so far as he holds a bullish view.
o A short futures rollover will be the exact opposite of the above.
My thought on the 10Y:
• The Fed rate hikes had a lagging effect on longer term rates. While mortgage rate, auto financing, business loan and credit card rate have all risen substantially, 10Y yield is still priced at 1 full percentage point below the Fed Funds rate. Due to the cumulative effect of past interest rate hikes, mortgage rates and auto loan rates are still rising, even though the Fed has paused.
• Would the Fed rate cuts, applied on the overnight rate only, bring down the long-term interest rates? In my view, it takes a series of cuts to reverse the negative yield curve. In a presidential election year, the Fed is unlikely to make abrupt policy shifts.
• The uncertainty with long-term yield makes it risky to do an outright directional trade.
My thought on the 10Y-2Y spread:
• We have been in a negative yield environment for nearly two years, without having experienced an economic recession. This is an uncharted territory.
• In my opinion, the US economy is very resilient. Growth may be slowed, but a recession is unlikely. Massive government deficit spending would continue to pour money into the system, supporting business growth, full employment and robust consumer spending.
• The 2Y yield is affected directly by the Fed. It would decline in the next two years due to the expected Fed rate cuts.
• The 10Y yield is both impacted by the Fed actions and the market demand for long-term debt. It has been rising while the Fed kept the rates unchanged. Future rate cuts would slow the rise but may not be sufficient to push it downward.
• On balance, 2YY would likely fall faster than 10Y. Mathematically, it would translate into a wider 10Y-2YY spread.
• To express this view, a long 10Y-2YY spread trade may be appropriate.
Happy Trading.
Disclaimers
*Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services.
CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
10 Year to 5% or 5.5%10 year looks to be heading to 5 or 5.5 %. MACD and RSI showing upward trend on weekly still. Upward fib extension looks to retest previous high or beyond if Fed doesn’t lower rates anytime soon. Looking for CPI prints to see whether Inflation is going back up which may impact 10 year and I believe the market will continue down while 10 year heads upwards so I’m short the market.
TSLA - Weekly Inflection PointDaily is winding up to an inflection point, while the weekly is getting close as well. I'm favoring the bearish break; but there is a chance for a bullish reversal- so time will tell. What I can say is that we're approaching a conclusive point in time that will send price with signifcant momentum in either direction. When I look for an inflection point I watch for consolidating momentum. In turn I watch for breaks that releases the built up energy.
Previous Analysis:
TLT- Are rate cuts postponed? LONGTLT has been in a broadening wedge and formed a falling wedge within the larger pattern.
Price bounced off the lower supoort trendline in the mid-morning of trading then rising
to break out of the falling wedge. I see this as an opportunity to take a long trade in TLT
and close out a TBT position at the same time. This reversal may be due to the value of
existing bonds with the implications of a rate cut postponed beyond June. The faster RSI line
has recovered to cross the 50 level lending further support to this long trade.
TMF long trade setup 3X Bullish TreasuriesTMF on the 4H chart is set up at the bottom descending support trendline of a symmetrical
triangle in the approach to the apex. Price appears ready to reach for the upper descending
resistance trend line and the Echo Indicator ( Lux Algo ) makes that forecast. Current
ambiguities in a rate cut soon upcoming will make values of Treasuries a complicated matter.
I am taking a long trade targeting 54 with a stop loss at 50 in consideration of the triangle
pattern. I have existing positions in TLT.
1 YR US BILLS - WEEKLYSeeing a weekly momentum shift forming, expect major trend change.
Couple of scenarios, Economy could break and fed allows inflation to creep up while easing on rates, If they reduce reverse repo rates then yields will drop as money market funds buy 1 yr bills on the open market again.
Otherwise they might have to increase rates if inflation continues to weigh heavily on the economy with prices shooting up too fast.
1D
1W
TLT Long Treasury ETF- an options straddle idea TLT is here on a 15-minute chart. Price action is orderly and somewhat related to treasury yield
fluctuations and the value of the existing securities adjusting from those fluctuations. There is
adequate volatility. A straddle options strategy can be employed. Positions can be taken
in both directions. Depending on price action, one leg will rise and the other will fall. Overall
the trades make profit so long as there is volatility in one direction or the other. Additionally,
if the instrument is oversold and upward price action is more likely, the proportions between
the two legs can be skewed toward calls and vice-versa in overbought /overvalued scenarios.
Here in TLT, price is near to support and so relatively oversold. The hypothetical setup
is tipped in favor of the probabilities and expectations for a rise in TLT. Options can be OTM
or ITM depending on trader preference. In this example the calls selected are OTM at the level
of a Fibonacci retracement of the prior trend down and the puts selected are slight OTM at
the horizontal support level and the trade is skewed 70/30 ( by AMEX:USD ) toward the calls.
For a more astute explanation see the webpage from the link
Treasury Yields look ripe for further movesCurrent state of the short and long term #Yield.
The 1Yr is underperforming against the 2Yr yield. However, it looks like it wants to push higher.
10Yr vs 30Yr
The 10Yr is performing lil better than 30 but.......
The 30Yr has a BULLISH short term crossing over longer term moving avg, RSI also looks strong. IMO yields are looking good. Seems like there is still treasury selling pressure.
US 10Y : "FED vs MARKETS" (...who will win?)Hello Traders!
The FED's monetary policy is not convincing the markets, but Powell seems very determined to meet his inflation targets. In near term, market seems to want to counter this hawkish monetary policy, but that could change going forward. In short term, yields remain at high levels and I don't exclude that this rally could continue for the last bullish impulse with wave 5 formation.
Does this bullish pattern meet economic fundamentals over the medium term? ...What is your opinion?
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...trade with care! 👍
If you think that my analysis is useful, please...
"Like, Share and Comment" ...thank you! 💖
Cheers!
10Y Treasury Bond Is Looking For A Bigger RecoveryTreasury bond - 10Y US Notes came down a lot in the last two years but this cycle can now come to an end as we can see five waves down into 2023 lows ona weekly time frame. In fact, we also see five subwaves completed within wave (5) on a daily chart after prices recovered and break above the trendline resistance. The move is strong, thus we think that more upside can be coming within a three-wave (A)-(B)-(C) rally, where first leg (A) can be still in progress or maybe already completed as an impulse. Support on subwave 4 or wave (B) dips are at 110-111.
1-Treasury bills give the same returns as S&P 500 with less riskWall Street Investment banks are predicting various prices for the S&P 500 close at the end of 2024. But if the current 1-year Treasury Bill Yield is the same as the estimates then why bother buying the S&P 500? It would be safer buying bills and you may get an equal return.
This piece of analysis will look at:
Historical accuracy of Wall Street Banks S&P 500 estimates for the year ending
Current predictions for S&P 500 estimates for year-end 2024
The current yield on 1-year Treasury Bills
Comparison between the estimates for the S&P 500 vs. 1-year Treasury bills.
Historical analysis
According to research done by Bespoke Investment Group and by CNBC.
Excluding 2008, the analyst overshoot of the S&P 500 actual performance over the past 15 years goes down from being over 9% off to a miss of 3.4%. And the fact that analysts overshot the actual market performance 12 out of 15 times, means they did undershoot it three times. When looking at their S&P 500 price target prediction, analysts undershot the actual performance in seven of the past 20 years.1
Historically, these forecasts have often underestimated the actual market performance, especially during the bullish period since 2009, when they were off target seven out of nine times. The average annual projection tends to be around 9.3%, aligned with the S&P's historical average gain. 2
So, overall, excluding the outlier of 2008, analysts tended to overshoot their predictions of the S&P 500 performance by a decreasing margin over the past 15 years, moving from an initial overestimation of over 9% to a more moderate miss of 3.4%. Their track record shows a pattern of overshooting the market's actual performance in 12 out of 15 instances, with just three instances of undershooting.
Current predictions
BMO Capital Markets: $5,100
Deutsche Bank: $5,100
RBC Capital Markets: $5,000
UBS: $4,700
Goldman Sachs: $5,000
Bank of America: $5,000
Barclays: $4,800
Wells Fargo: $4,600
Morgan Stanley: $4,500
J.P. Morgan: $4,200
Average = $4,800
Median = $4,900
Mode = $5,000
1-Year Treasury Bill
The current yield on the 1-Year Treasury Bill is 5.061%. The reasons for the yield being somewhat high are:
Strong Economic Data: The resilience of the U.S. economy, especially the robustness of the jobs market, has surprised many experts. Despite expectations for a slowdown, the economy continues to perform well, leading to higher yields. The Federal Reserve's cautious approach to cutting interest rates too quickly is another reflection of this strong economic backdrop.
Fed's Cautionary Stance: The Federal Reserve is wary of cutting rates swiftly due to concerns about inflation and the tightness of the labour market. They aim to maintain a balanced approach, keeping rates at a level that won't spur excessive inflation but also won't hinder economic growth.
The shift in Fed Messaging: Recent messaging from the Fed indicated less aggressive rate cuts in the future than previously expected. This change in outlook, particularly with the Dot Plot showing fewer rate cuts in 2024, has influenced bond market sentiment.
Increased Treasury Issuance: The U.S. Treasury's substantial pace of issuing new debt has disrupted the supply-demand equilibrium in the bond market. The unexpected announcement of raising a significant amount of money through bond sales has added pressure to yields as more bonds flood the market.
Yield Curve Dynamics: The yield curve, which had previously inverted (short-term yields higher than long-term yields), is now experiencing a lessening of this inversion. Typically, this occurs as short-term rates fall while long-term rates rise. However, the current situation is unique as the long-term yields are increasing while short-term rates remain relatively stable.
The surge in Treasury yields reflects a confluence of factors: a resilient U.S. economy outperforming expectations, the Federal Reserve's cautious approach to rate cuts amid concerns about inflation and a tight labour market, a shift in Fed messaging signalling fewer future rate reductions, increased government borrowing, and the unique dynamics of the yield curve. This unexpected rise in yields diverges from earlier predictions of a decline, shaping the current landscape of the bond market and influencing borrowing rates for consumers and businesses alike.
One's prediction of the future yield in a year may be higher or lower. But regardless, when you buy a bond it is stuck at that yield since it represents the interest earned.
S&P 500 vs Treasury bills
Yesterday's close of the S&P 500 was $4,567.18. If we assume the S&P 500 will reach the average and median estimates that represents a 5.10% and 7.13% return on investment respectively.
However, as we have established above looking at the historical analysis of Wall Street estimates they tend to overestimate. Most of the time the S&P 500 closed below their estimate. Wall Street estimates between 2000 and 2018 have an average overshoot of 4.40% from the table above. So there is reason to assume they will do the same this year.
If we assume the estate's average and median return of 5.10% and 7.13% respectively are overshooting. That means we might as well invest in 1-year Treasury Bills. Why? Because Treasury bills are safer, and guaranteed return and if they are giving similar returns to the more risker S&P 500 over the next year then why bother with the risker alternative? It makes more sense to just buy 1-year Treasury Bills.
Conclusion
In the landscape of investment choices for the year ahead, the comparison between the S&P 500 and 1-year Treasury Bills offers compelling insights. The historical analysis of Wall Street's predictions demonstrates a consistent pattern of overestimation, signalling a potential trend that might repeat itself in the current estimates for the S&P 500 for year-end 2024.
With the current projections showcasing potential returns for the S&P 500, it's crucial to consider the safety and reliability offered by 1-year Treasury Bills, especially given their current yield, standing at 5.061%. The compelling argument arises when assessing the historical trend of overestimation by financial analysts in forecasting S&P 500 performance.
If these estimations continue to overshoot, as historical data suggests, the seemingly safer investment in 1-year Treasury Bills could provide comparable returns with considerably lower risk. The prudent approach might lean toward the Bills, given their guaranteed return and stability, particularly if they yield similar or better returns than the potentially riskier S&P 500.
The choice between the S&P 500 and Treasury Bills becomes a contemplation of risk versus stability. While the S&P 500 might offer potential gains, the historical trend and current projections invite consideration of the Bills as a safer and possibly equally rewarding investment option for the upcoming year. Ultimately, it might be prudent for investors to weigh these factors carefully before making their investment decisions for the year ahead.
1
www.cnbc.com
2
seekingalpha.com
AUD/USD extends gains, RBA minutes next
The Australian dollar is in positive territory on Monday. In the European session, AUD/USD is trading at 0.6553, up 0.59%. The Aussie is flexing its muscles, gaining some 3% in the past week.
The Reserve Bank of Australia releases the minutes of the meeting earlier this month on Tuesday. There wasn't much of a surprise as the RBA raised rates by a quarter-point to 4.35%, but the Australian dollar dropped sharply in the aftermath, which is an unusual move after a rate hike. Investors jumped all over the language of the rate statement, which suggested that the bar had risen for an additional rate hike. Interestingly, the statement also warned that inflation was "too high" and the "risk of inflation remaining higher has increased", but investors ignored this hawkish assessment.
The RBA minutes may provide more clarity on whether rates have peaked. The markets are betting that the tightening cycle is over, but if the minutes signal that rates could go up, the Australian dollar could get a boost. As for 2024, the markets are expecting a rate cut, but the RBA is still trying to convince the markets that rate hikes are on the table and it isn't discussing trimming rates.
Just a month ago, 10-year US Treasuries were trading at 4.98%, but have fallen to 4.44% at present. The lower yields have made US Treasuries less attractive and the US dollar has fallen against the majors recently, including the Australian dollar.
The FOMC minutes will be released on Wednesday and the markets will be combing through, looking for hints about upcoming rate decisions. Despite the Fed insisting that rate hikes remain on the table, the markets are confident that Fed policy will be less restrictive in the first half of 2024. According to the CME's FedWatch tool, there is a 100% likelihood of a pause in December, with a 30% chance of a rate cut in March 2024, followed by a 64% chance in May.
There is resistance at 0.6587 and at 0.6600
0.6470 and 0.6397 are providing support
Bonds are compelling as collateralEver since 2008, the world shifted more to the world of collateral and distrust, after the world of unsecured collapsed.
Treasuries are dollars are in the future. As long as uncertainty remains high (or increases) there will be a place for government loans. Treasuries yielding near 5% on most maturities is "good enough" when compared to the historical 7% ish from equities.
Technically speaking, treasuries may be forming a short term bottom.
Tactically speaking, the gap between treasuries and stocks is very wide.
Fundamentally speaking, there may not be enough reward to justify most large cap equities current yield when compared to the healthy yield in treasuries.
Risk speaking, the biggest risk in holding treasuries is the loss in opportunity and the risk of more dollar devaluation/consumer inflation loss of purchasing power.
In summary, Treasuries are worth a shot and they are likely de-risked at current levels.
I will be considering bullish option spreads.
GBP/USD flat as retail sales eyedThe British pound is drifting on Thursday. In the North American session, GBP/USD is trading at 1.2142, almost unchanged.
The UK inflation report on Wednesday was a stark reminder that inflation remains stubborn and sticky. The Bank of England has raised the benchmark rate to 5.25%, but headline inflation was steady at 6.7% y/y and the core rate ticked lower to 6.1%, down from 6.2%. Both readings were higher than expected disappointed investors sent the British pound lower on Wednesday.
A key driver of headline inflation was rising motor fuel prices. The Israel-Hamas war has raised tensions throughout the Middle East and if there are disruptions in crude oil, inflation would likely rise due to higher motor fuel costs.
The UK wraps up the week with retail sales on Friday. The markets are braced for a weak September with a market estimate of -0.2%, following a 0.4% gain in August. On an annualized basis, retail sales declined by 1.4% in August, but are expected to improve to -0.1% in September.
In the US, unemployment claims for the week of October 14th sizzled at 198,000. This was lower than the previous week's release of 211,000 (revised) and lower than the consensus estimate of 212,000. The US labour market has been showing signs of softening as the Federal Reserve's rate hikes continue to filter through the economy and dampen economic growth.
The markets are always interested in what Fed members have to say, hoping for some insights into Fed rate policy. A host of FOMC members will deliver remarks today, highlighted by a speech from Fed Chair Powell at an event in New York City.
Today's lineup has added significance as the Fed will enter a blackout period ahead of the meeting on November 1st. The sharp rise in US Treasuries has led to some Fed members saying that inflation could fall without further hikes, and investors will be watching to see if that dovish message is repeated today by Powell and his colleagues.
There is resistance at 1.2163 and 1.2202
1.2066 and 1.1987 and providing support