CNH: Chinese Currency Could Return to the 6.3-6.9 LevelCME: USD/Offshore RMB Futures ( CME:CNH1! )
Last week, I discussed how China’s huge stimulus package, coupled with the Fed’s supersized rate cut, could improve global energy demand and lift crude oil higher.
As soon as the stimulus was announced, China’s stock market staged a huge rally. The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) index moved from below 2,800 on September 24th to close at 3,336.5 on September 30th, up 19% in a week. One-month return for the SSE and notable Chinese stocks are listed here:
• SSE: +17.5%
• Yonghui Supermarkets: +59.9%
• JD: +51.3%
• BABA: +32.5%
• BIDU: +25.5%
China's stock market is closed on October 1st-7th for observation of the National Day holiday. Would the China rally continue when the market resumes trading on Tuesday?
Goldman Sachs just released a research note, saying: Unless China does QE now, the current market rally will crash and burn, and the economy will be a crater. If China does do QE, oil will soar, and gold and bitcoin will be orders of magnitude higher.
While this is presented as two alternative paths, there is only one way to go, in all practical purpose. After going all out last month with unprecedented fiscal stimulus, the Chinese government could not afford to see the stock market and the housing market to tank again. It really needs to finish the job by injecting fiscal stimulus into the economy. Now that the market sensation has already turned positive, government spending would trigger consumer spending as well as investment from the private sector. Such a multiplier effect could lift the Chinese economy higher.
Everything looks bright, with one small problem: China-listed stocks are off-limited to most foreign investors due to financial regulations and the foreign currency control regime.
China’s currency could strengthen as its economy recovers
I hold the view that the China’s currency could appreciate as its economy improves. Outside of China, investors could invest in USD/RMB futures to hitch the economic hike.
To start the discussion, let’s first make some clarification to the confusing terms in the FX market. The USD/RMB exchange rate is quoted as the number of RMB per dollar. The current USD/RMB rate is 7.09, meaning each dollar could exchange for 7.09 RMB.
When the RMB appreciates against the dollar, the price quote would get lower, not higher. For example, the rate 6.50 means you now need 6.50 RMB to get one USD dollar. In RMB terms, this is 0.59 Yuan less than the current USD/RMB rate 7.09. In this scenario, the RMB gains value relative to the dollar.
While the RMB appreciation equates to the dollar depreciation, in charts, the lines representing USD/RMB and the dollar index should move in the same direction.
• For dollar index, the line moving up means dollar gaining value.
• For the USD/RMB, the line moving up means the dollar appreciating against the RMB.
• These two things usually occur at the same time.
In 2023, as China’s economy did not rebound after the end of the pandemic closedown, the RMB depreciated more than 10% against the dollar, sending the rate from 6.69 to 7.37.
In 2024, the two lines diverged due to different economic forces.
• Dollar index moves down with the market expectation of the Fed cutting rates, reducing the interest earned from holding dollar asset.
• The USD/RMB quote moves up because of the slowdown in China’s economy.
In my opinion, the two lines will converge again, both moving down in Q4. Dollar index will get lower as the Fed continues rate cuts. The USD/RMB quote will also go lower, as improvement in China’s economy would strengthen the country’s currency.
For someone with a bullish view of RMB, he could establish a short position in CME USD/Offshore RMB Futures ( NYSE:CNH ). Remember, shorting means the expectation of the quote to go lower, which actually means RMB appreciating against the dollar.
The contract has a notional value of $100,000. At Friday closing price of 7.061, each December contract (CNHZ4) is worth RMB 706,100. CME Group requires an initial margin of RMB 14,000 for each CNH contract, long or short, at the time of writing.
Hypothetically, if CNH bounced back to 6.70, its previous high in January 2023, the quote difference of 361 pips (=7061-6700) would produce a gain of RMB 36,100 (=0.361x100,000) for a short position.
The risk of shorting the CNH is that the Chinese government did not follow through with a fiscal stimulus, and the market rally is short lived.
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
Fed
XAUUSD - Gold waiting for an important weekIn 4H timeframe, gold is moving above the EMA200 and EMA50 in its ascending channel
Gold is still trading in its range box, and geopolitical tensions and the strengthening of the dollar have not led to its failure to rise or fall so far
As long as gold is in this range, the best strategy will be to buy at the bottom and sell at the top
breaking of the two drawn upward and downward trend lines is the first warning in the direction of changing the trend, but the stabilization above the support and resistance ranges will provide the path for gold to break this range box in an authentic way
The potential target of this upward and downward movement will be the ceiling and bottom of the ascending channel
It should be noted that if Anas moves downward, we will look for medium-term gold buying positions at the bottom of the channel
XAUUSD - Gold waiting for an important weekIn 4H timeframe, gold is moving above the EMA200 and EMA50 in its ascending channel
Gold is still trading in its range box, and geopolitical tensions and the strengthening of the dollar have not led to its failure to rise or fall so far
As long as gold is in this range, the best strategy will be to buy at the bottom and sell at the top
breaking of the two drawn upward and downward trend lines is the first warning in the direction of changing the trend, but the stabilization above the support and resistance ranges will provide the path for gold to break this range box in an authentic way
The potential target of this upward and downward movement will be the ceiling and bottom of the ascending channel
It should be noted that if Anas moves downward, we will look for medium-term gold buying positions at the bottom of the channel
Geopolitical Concerns Support Gold PricesGold price remains resilient, with buyers showing persistence as long as the static support at $2,630 holds firm.
Gold's recent struggle to capitalize on the US Dollar's pullback, following the Greenback's seven-week highs, is notable. Despite weakening US Treasury bond yields, which typically support Gold prices, other global dynamics are weighing on the precious metal. Market risk sentiment remains elevated, driven by expectations of further stimulus measures from China as markets reopened after a week-long break. This surge in risk appetite has suppressed demand for traditional safe-haven assets like Gold and US bonds.
Another factor dampening Gold's outlook is the shifting sentiment regarding Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate cuts. Following stronger-than-expected US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data, which reported robust job growth of 254,000 in September, expectations for a 50 basis points (bps) rate cut by the Fed have almost disappeared. The probability of a 25 bps cut is now seen at 94%, leaving little room for further dovish moves. This has reduced Gold’s short-term appeal, as higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like Gold.
However, geopolitical concerns continue to support Gold prices. The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, highlighted by Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut and retaliatory rocket launches by Hezbollah into northern Israel, raises the risk of a broader regional war in the Middle East. This geopolitical uncertainty keeps safe-haven demand for Gold alive, counterbalancing the downward pressure from global risk appetite and Fed expectations.
GBP/USD Faces Continued Bearish PressureThe GBP/USD pair continues to experience downward pressure, primarily due to the resilience of the US Dollar. After breaking the key psychological level of 1.3100 following the release of stronger-than-expected US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data, GBP/USD remains in a corrective phase. The NFP report showed a job growth of 254K in September, significantly surpassing the 140K forecast. Additionally, the Unemployment Rate dropped to 4.1%, further strengthening the US labor market outlook and reducing the likelihood of aggressive rate cuts by the Federal Reserve (Fed). As a result, the US Dollar has extended its gains, limiting any upward momentum for GBP/USD.
Fundamentally, the Pound remains under pressure due to the dovish rhetoric from Bank of England (BoE) officials. Early Thursday, Governor Andrew Bailey's comments triggered a selloff in the Pound as the market interpreted his remarks as signaling imminent monetary easing. Although BoE Chief Economist Huw Pill struck a more cautious tone, stating that policymakers must avoid cutting rates "too far or too fast," this has done little to offset the bearish sentiment.
In conclusion, the combination of a stronger US Dollar, resilient US labor market data, and the dovish BoE rhetoric creates a challenging environment for GBP/USD. Unless the pair can break through key resistance levels, the path of least resistance remains to the downside, with potential targets at 1.3050 and 1.3000 in the short term.
THE KOG REPORT - NFP THE KOG REPORT – NFP
This is our view for NFP, please do your own research and analysis to make an informed decision on the markets. It is not recommended you try to trade the event if you have less than 6 months trading experience and have a trusted risk strategy in place. The markets are extremely volatile, and these events can cause aggressive swings in price.
Simple one for this NFP as we’re going to be more of the observer rather than the trader unless again, we get those extreme levels that we want.
Key level here is 2670 which was our bias level earlier in the week, that is also now a resistance being attempting to break open. For that reason, we will wait to see if it breaks and look higher at the levels of 2675 and then step by step upwards following the path. We’ll be looking at the extreme level of 2710-20 for the exhaustion and the RIP to attempt the short trade.
On the flip, downside risk on the break of 2650 key level should take us in to the order region 2630-35 where we may get a slight reaction in price, but potentially only for the scalp. Breaking this level opens the door and we won’t be looking to long again until we target 2600-10.
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As always, trade safe.
KOG
Gold Shakeout - Fed Comments/UD-Dollar - Rally TimeGold saw a huge shakeout this morning, as the Fed commented, and the move in the US dollar put some extreme pressure on metals.
The funny thing is this move ended almost as fast as it started - and now metals are rallying again.
Why?
The Fed is trying to transition into a more global friendly position - allowing foreign nations to become more competitive with the US Dollar. China recently went ALL IN on a resurgence economy - betting the US Fed is going to move towards more Dovish rate cuts. This bet may be the downfall of China if the Fed changes direction near the end of 2025.
The US dollar is still the biggest, badest currency on the planet. As Gold rises while the US Dollar rises - you are seeing global traders attempt to hedge global risk factors in precious metals while the US Dollar/Economy continues to be the 900lb Gorilla of the world's economies.
Things could get very interesting through the US election. Sit tight - buckle up and prepare for some very big moves in the markets over the next 60-90+ days.
Get some.
Gold is ready for NFP!Gold (XAU/USD) has shown resilience, bouncing back to around $2,640 per ounce after hitting a daily low of $2,638 on Thursday. This recovery was fueled by growing concerns over a potential conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as a stronger US Dollar. On the fundamental side, gold remains influenced by expectations surrounding the Federal Reserve's (Fed) monetary policy. Last week, the market predicted with over 60% probability a 50 basis point rate cut by November. However, stronger-than-expected US labor market data have reduced these expectations to 35%, boosting the US Dollar and applying bearish pressure on gold, which tends to lose appeal as the dollar strengthens.
Technically, gold is in a phase of uncertainty. A break above $2,673, the weekly high, could signal a resumption of the uptrend, with a potential target of $2,700. Conversely, a break below $2,625 could lead to a test of support at $2,600. In the medium to long term, gold maintains a general bullish trend, supported by its traditional role as a safe-haven asset and the global low-interest rate environment.
EUR/USD Awaits NFP!The upcoming key EU inflation data could play a decisive role in the currency pair's movement. With the ECB signaling potential inflation stabilization at 2% by 2025, future monetary policy may be less aggressive. On the other hand, the Fed has kept the possibility of further rate cuts on hold, with the market anticipating up to 100-125 basis points of rate reductions over the next 12 months. This potential alignment between Fed and ECB policies could support EUR/USD, but the long-term economic strength of the US may limit the euro's upside.
The US dollar has shown a significant rebound, recovering ground due to rising US Treasury yields, pushing EUR/USD down towards the 1.1110 level.
The main resistance is set at 1.1214 (2024 high), followed by the 2023 peak at 1.1275. Should EUR/USD break these levels, a significant recovery may unfold. On the downside, immediate support is at 1.1113, followed by 1.1082.
In the short term, EUR/USD could move sideways between the identified support and resistance levels, with EU inflation data and the US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) report acting as catalysts for significant movements. If inflation data shows a marked decline or NFP data underperforms, EUR/USD may break above the 1.1214 resistance level.
MCL: One-Two Punch Could Lift Crude Oil to Higher GroundNYMEX: Micro WTI Crude Oil Futures ( NYMEX:MCL1! )
On September 18th, the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rate by a supersized 50 basis points, ushering a long-awaited monetary easing cycle.
Six days later, on September 24th, China introduced a broad stimulus package to revive its economy. It includes cutting interest rates, reducing bank reserve requirements, supporting the property sector, and injecting liquidity into the stock market. Specifically,
• The People’s Bank of China (PBOC), China’s central bank, cut its 7-day reverse repurchase rate to 1.5% from 1.7%
• The PBOC slashed the reserve requirement ratio of financial institutions by 0.5%
• The PBOC lowered home mortgage downpayment requirements to 15%; previously, those buying houses other than primary residence were required to put down 25%
• Separately, the PBOC would advise banks to lower mortgage interest rate by 0.5%
• The PBOC also announced a new RMB $1 trillion long-term credit facility (equivalent to US$143 billion). It allows financial institutions to use their stocks, bonds and ETF funds as collateral to obtain funding from the PBOC. The use of fund is specifically earmarked for credit lending to publicly traded companies for stock buyback
Each of these policies is a major stimulus measure. Putting together, they have the potential to reshape the economic outlook for China, and for the rest of the world as well.
Following the announcement, Chinese stock markets clocked their best week in 16 years as the CSI 300 rallied 15.7%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index recorded a weekly gain of 12.75%. On Friday, the CSI 300 climbed 4.47% to close at 3,703.68, its highest level in a year, while the HSI rose 3.32% to 20,586.94, its highest since February 2023.
On Monday, September 30th, China’s SSE Composite Index rallied 8.06%, closing at 3,336.50. This marks a nine-day winning streak, its best day since September 2008 and its highest point since August 2023.
In 2024, China’s economy has slowed significantly. Last week, China released its industrial profit data for August, which saw a 17.8% plunge year on year. On a year-to-date basis, profits at large industrial firms grew at 0.5% to 4.65 trillion yuan ($663.47 billion) for the first eight months, down from 3.6%.
However, China’s supersized monetary policies could help its economy turn a corner. It is highly expected that China’s Ministry of Finance will follow suit to announce new fiscal stimulus and add more ammunition to fuel economic growth.
Together, the extraordinary measures installed by the Top 2 economies, which account for 40% of global GDP, could help improve the global economy in a meaningful way.
WTI Crude Oil: Higher Demand from Economic Growth
While it is still too early to quantify how much the global economy would benefit from these stimulus measures, we could expect higher industrial output from the government credit extension and the lower business cost of capital. The potential impact could be huge for stocks, bonds, foreign exchange and commodities. Today, my analysis concentrates on crude oil.
The Fed rate cut and China Stimulus package both exceeded market expectations. These are game changers big enough to reverse the declining trend of crude oil prices. Recent escalation of Middle East conflict would only add to the uncertainty of oil supply.
In my opinion, WTI could reclaim the previous levels of $76, $83 and $89, consequently. The expected stimulus from China’s Ministry of Finance and the November 6th FOMC rate cut could support the upward trend if they meet or exceed market expectations.
The recent CFTC Commitment of Traders report confirms a shift to the long positions:
• As of September 24th, total open interest (OI) of WTI futures was 2,242,432 contracts
• Managed Money held 210,469 long and 48,541 short, a 4.3-to-1 ratio
• Compared to the previous week, the long positions increased by 24,734, while the shorts decreased by 3,969 contracts; this shows a bullish view building up
For someone with a bullish view of crude oil, he could establish a long position in NYMEX Micro WTI Crude Oil Futures ( GETTEX:MCL ). The contract has a notional value of 100 barrels. At 1/10 the size of benchmark WTI Crude Oil contracts, Micro WTI futures offer the same robust trading transparency and price discovery with smaller margin requirements. At Friday closing price of $68.63, each November contract (MCLX) is worth $6,863. CME Group requires an initial margin of $596 for each MCL contract, long or short.
Hypothetically, if WTI bounced back to $76.88, its previous high on August 5th, the price increase of $8.25 would produce a gain of $825 (=8.25x100) for a long position.
The risk of buying crude oil is that the follow-up government stimulus packages were less than market expectations, which could undermine the growth forecast. To hedge the downside risk, an experienced trader could consider the use of put options on WTI crude oil futures.
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
Hedging Yen amid bullish Nikkei outlook? The Nikkei-225 is trading near 40,000 once more. The sharp decline in early August due to the BoJ rate hike has been swiftly reversed. The outlook for the Nikkei remains bullish with continued investor interest driven by market reforms as well as foreign investor interest.
With the BoJ currently on pause and signalling no urgency to raise rates further, the Nikkei appears poised to retest its all-time high set in July. However, the significant influence of monetary policy on the Yen makes it advantageous to hedge a Nikkei position with a long Yen position. This approach offers similar upside potential while reducing downside risk.
BOJ ON HOLD FOLLOWING FALLOUT FROM RATE HIKE
The BoJ decided to maintain rates at 0.25% during its September 20 meeting. Their statement indicated that the economy is on a recovery path aligned with the BoJ's mandate, upgrading its assessment of consumption from a "resilient trend" in July to a "moderate increasing trend."
Governor Ueda noted that the recent yen strengthening is reducing inflationary pressures, signalling positive trends for the economy in line with the BoJ's mandate.
During the September 20 meeting, he reiterated that the BoJ would not raise rates amid market instability, which they attribute to recession risks in the U.S.
This cautious approach likely results from the fallout after the BoJ raised rates to a 15-year high at its July 31 meeting. This decision triggered a sharp yen appreciation and a significant unwind of the yen carry trade, leading to a global decline in equities fuelled by fear. The Nikkei-225 dropped over 20% in the following week, erasing all gains made in 2024.
MARKET STABILITY ANOTHER CONCERN FOR BOJ
The BoJ's policy mandate focuses on achieving sustainable economic growth through wage growth and consumption while maintaining a stable 2% inflation rate. Under Governor Ueda's leadership, the BoJ aims for a neutral policy rate that is neither overly restrictive nor too accommodative, indicating that rates must increase from their current excessively loose levels.
However, following the market reaction to the July 31 policy meeting, the BoJ faces an additional mandate: balancing its monetary policy trajectory with the risks of market volatility and its effects on business stability.
This additional mandate introduces a complex variable into the BoJ’s monetary policy balancing act, making it prudent for the BoJ to wait and assess the effects of policy changes. As Governor Ueda stated during the policy announcement, "We can afford to spend some time in making a policy decision."
The BoJ has two remaining policy meetings scheduled for 2024: October 30 and December 18. Following Governor Ueda's recent statement highlighting risks from market volatility, analysts unanimously agreed that September policy meeting would not result in a hike but majority still expect another hike by the end of the year.
With the recent encouraging inflation prints, BoJ has room to hike rates towards the end of the year.
PAUSE RATHER THAN HALT
The decision to maintain rates may signal a pause rather than a halt to rate hikes.
Governor Ueda indicated in an August parliamentary hearing that the BoJ would continue to raise rates if economic data aligns with expectations. With inflation around the target range, BoJ has room to raise rates further.
Additionally, the recent election concluded with Shigeru Ishiba becoming the next Prime Minister. The former defense minister has backed the BoJ's rate hike strategy and expressed concerns about yen depreciation. His leadership may foster political support for further rate increases in Japan.
Finally, recession fears in the US are subsiding with recent jobs data and GDP figures above expectations. This may help ease market instability concerns for the BoJ.
JAPAN EQUITIES REMAIN COMPELLING, ATTRACTING INFLOWS
Japan equities remain compelling for foreign investors. The TSE’s recent market reforms have led to a material improvement in the firm’s balance sheets with higher utilization of capital in the form of both returns to shareholders and capital expenditure.
Furthermore, Japan equities remains undervalued despite the massive improvement in valuations this year. While, the P/B ratio for Nikkei-225 has increased from 1.75 to 1.93 over the past year, the P/E ratio has remained largely unchanged at 20.88 (compared to 19.38 last year). The much unchanged P/E ratio reflects the strong earnings growth despite the 23% rally in the index.
The potential undervaluation has attracted global value investors including Warren Buffet. Warren Buffet has built up large positions in Japanese trading houses with the value totalling nearly USD 25 billion as of 12/June. Buffet has previously opted to increase stakes in these investments when they traded at P/E similar to the level during the downturn in August.
Furthermore, YTD inflows into Nomura Nikkei 225 Fund (NTETF) have totalled USD 891 million. While the fund is only available OTC in the US, it is one of the largest Japan equity ETF with USD 71 billion in AUM. Notably, inflows into the ETF have been concentrated after large declines this year suggesting investors are using decline in price to increase positions.
CHINA STIMULUS ADDS FURTHER WIND IN NIKKEI SAILS
The announcement of the massive stimulus package in China last week has supported most Asian equity markets with the rising tide of Chinese equities rippling through Japanese equities.
As the positive sentiment in China continues, other Asian indices are likely to benefit too.
HYPOTHETICAL TRADE SETUP
The Nikkei-225 is supported by strong tailwinds including market reforms that support foreign investment and a positive sentiment in Asia equities.
However, given the market reaction to the previous BoJ rate hike, monetary policy and Yen moves remain a pertinent concern for the Nikkei.
Nikkei and Yen are inversely correlated. The correlation is particularly tight during periods of Nikkei decline.
With the Yen remaining volatile from the impact of monetary policy, hedging a long position in Nikkei-225 with a long position in the JPYUSD is prudent.
A combined position of being long on both the Nikkei-225 and the Yen has delivered similar gains to a long position in the Nikkei-225 over the past three months. However, the combined position has also offered crucial downside protection, outperforming during periods of market decline.
The Yen remains on an uptrend, supported by both a weakening dollar from Fed rate cuts and a strengthening yen from BoJ rate hikes.
A position consisting of long CME Nikkei (USD) futures can be combined with a position consisting of 2 x long CME Japanese Yen futures to roughly balance notional across both legs. Investors can also deploy 21 x long CME Micro JPY/USD futures to balance notional more closely. CME provides margin offset amounting to 35% as of 27/Sept for this trade which reduces margin requirements from USD 18,720 to USD 12,168.
A hypothetical trade setup consisting of long 1 x CME Nikkei (USD) December futures and long 21 x CME Micro JPY/USD December futures offering reward to risk ratio of 1.43x is provided below.
MARKET DATA
CME Real-time Market Data helps identify trading set-ups and express market views better. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs tradingview.com/cme .
DISCLAIMER
This case study is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services.
Trading or investment ideas cited here are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management or trading under the market scenarios being discussed. Please read the FULL DISCLAIMER the link to which is provided in our profile description.
Study of DXY, Gold, and Fed Fund Rates using 200MA indicatorBlack line: DXY (U.S. dollar index)
Green line: DXY 200 week moving average
Yellow line: GC (Gold futures)
Blue line: DFF (U.S. Federal Funds Effective Rate)
Since 1971 when U.S. dollar went off the gold standard, there have been 6 instances when the DXY crossed below its 200 week moving average while it was rising. At closing on 27 September 2024 was the 7th instance of this DXY crossing.
Of interest:
Performance of gold when DXY crosses below, until DXY reaches a local minimum. Results are highlighted in purple boxes.
Of the 7 instances, interest rates were rising in 4, flat in 1, falling in 1, and presumed to be falling in the current scenario. The only rising rate period was 1985-92, when gold had a very marginal 4% gain. This was notably on the backside of the 1970's high inflation period. Technically, gold showed gains in all but 1 of these historical periods, with 1994-95 showing a 2% loss.
Conclusions:
1) DXY trend reversal downward is not always, or often, associated with a U.S. interest rate cutting cycle nor is it strongly correlated with gold price gains.
2) The start of a U.S. interest rate cutting cycle is not predictive of gold price gains.
BTC breaks above 65,000On the back of a larger than expected FED rate cut of .50 risk assets breathe a sigh of relief long held in since the rate cut rumors of Q2 2024. The gains were cemented by a cooler than expected PCE of .1% as opposed to the expected .2% this is the FED’s preferred measure of inflation putting some level of ease to risk asset investor that the FED may turn face on the easing of monetary policies. If this continues a fear people have a of 70’s style inflation issue will be put to rest. China also joined the party will an AGGRESSIVE stimulus packages direct to the people and promises to do more if need be. They also encouraged stock buy backs, if you know anything about the investment market in China the options for quality investment are very limited as the Real Estate market was the main choice but since the Evergrande collapse Chinese investor have had little to no choice. This makes a scenario for crypto investment as an alternative to stocks but the CCP obviously like control so we will if that plays out.
How this affect Crypto bros the short of it is when global liquidity goes up so do assets especially when people get cash in hand example 2020-2021 when everyone and their dog was investing. Now while stimulus direct to consumers is like throwing gas on the fire the FED rate cuts are like throwing a log on embers. The rate cuts take about a year to affect the general economy but the immediate effect is bank to bank loan rate i.e it’s cheaper to take on debt. Now with the rise of NASDAQ:MSTR strategy with other companies this will make it cheaper for companies to take on debt so companies like Metaplanet and other yet to disclose will find the “BTC Yield” more significant to offset loan cost. And lastly all risk assets benefit from low rate environments.
In sum NFA but I would buy CRYPTOCAP:BTC as always and load up on alts while BTC out perform my mix ideally 75% BTC 15% alts and 10% cash for dippy dips
USDCHF Reaffirms Bearish Bias after Timid SNB & US PCEThe Swiss National Bank was the first major institution to shift to monetary easing and remains at the forefront after its third consecutive rate cut this week. However, it stuck with the small 0.25% increments, which are meager compared to the Fed’s jumbo 0.5% pivot and aggressive easing path. Furthermore, with rates already at 1%, the SNB easing runway may not be very long. Today’s US inflation figures favor the Fed’s dovishness, as headline PCE decelerated to 2.2% and the lowest in more than three years. These dynamics weigh on the pair and reaffirm the bearish below the EMA200. This sustains risk for further losses below 0.8333 and levels not seen since at least 2015, although sustained weakness below it is hard.
Core PCE ticked up to 2.7% y/y and the Fed’s frontloading may fuel further persistence in price pressures and lead to fewer cuts later on. On the Swiss front, policymakers may not be able to avoid larger rate cuts. Inflation dropped to 1.1% in August and they expect further deceleration to 0.6% next year, while the elevated Franc harms exports and ads to the pressure for bigger policy moves and/or FX intervention. Despite the post-pandemic shift, the SNB has generally sought to keep the Swiss Franc from appreciating and has kept rates below zero for most of the past ten years.
As a result, we can see another effort surpass the EMA200 and pause the bearish bias. This would bring the 38.2% Fibonacci of the May-September slump into the spotlight, but we are cautious around the ascending prospects as the upside looks unfriendly.
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USD/JPY Under Pressure: Weak Yen and Anticipation of US GDP!USD/JPY is receiving particular attention due to the weakness of the Japanese Yen (JPY), influenced by expectations that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) will delay further rate hikes. The minutes of the BoJ’s July monetary policy meeting revealed a consensus among members on the need to remain vigilant regarding inflation risks. While some members indicated that a rate hike to 0.25% might be appropriate, others suggested a moderate adjustment to monetary support.
From a macroeconomic perspective, traders are focused on the release of the annualized US GDP for the second quarter, scheduled for Thursday. The dollar's performance is being hindered by the increasing likelihood of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve by the end of the year. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, there is about a 50% chance that the Fed will reduce rates by 75 basis points, bringing them to the 4.0-4.25% range.
In terms of resistance, the level of 149.40, the highest in the past six weeks, represents a potential target for the USD/JPY rally. On the support side, the first significant level is around 144.00, which coincides with the upper boundary of the previous descending channel. A break below this level could restore the bearish bias, with the next target around 139.58, the lowest point since June 2023.
DXY - MidtermThe FED surprised the markets with a 0.50 point preemptive rate cut. We expect this preemptive cut to cause a downward movement in the dollar index. However, we do not foresee a long-term downtrend. While the FED started the process with a larger-than-expected cut, other central banks had already begun their rate-cutting cycles much earlier. Therefore, after a brief decline, we expect the dollar index to stabilize and rise again.
Technically, the first of our two major support levels, 100.6, has been broken. We now expect the decline to continue towards the second major support zone between 99.4 and 99.75. The double-top technical formation on short-term charts also supports the downward momentum. If the price finds support in the 99.4 - 99.75 range, we could see a rise towards the 102.2 - 103 area.
As for the impact on other dollar pairs, we expect to see upward movements in XxxUsd pairs and downward movements in UsdXxx pairs.
Copper Gets Double Boost from China Stimulus & Fed Jumbo CutThe Fed’s outsized pivot last week and guidance for multiple cuts ahead helped copper’s recovery, as it increases chances of a soft landing for the worlds largest economy. Furthermore, lower rates are expected to bring mortgages down and help the real estate market.
Copper got a second boost this week, from a massive monetary stimulus package from China - the world’s top consumer. Authorities have been enhancing their efforts to prop the sputtering economy recently and the new measures constitute a step up. Crucially, these include lower mortgage rates on existing home loans and a reduction in rates for second homes, in further support for the ailing property sector.
These developments lead copper towards a third straight profitable week and the best month since April, with bulls now getting the opportunity to tackle 4.700. Along with the return of AI euphoria that drives the rebound of the chip industry (where copper is a critical component), there are prospects for further gains.
On the other hand, the Fed’s frontloading creates risk for inflation persistence and less cuts in the future, while China’s actions are in the right direction, but bolder measures are needed on the fiscal front. Furthermore, the move looks stretched technically so a pullback towards the EMA200 (black line) would not be unreasonable. However, the downside appears well protected and sustained weakness below the EMA200 looks hard.
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WTI Price Outlook: Key FactorsThe price of WTI is hovering around $69.60 per barrel, remaining at relatively low levels compared to recent peaks. However, several signals suggest a potential reversal towards an upward trajectory. The reduction in U.S. crude oil inventories, reported by the EIA, was significantly larger than expected, with a drop of 4.471 million barrels compared to the forecasted 1.2 million. This signal of shrinking supply could exert upward pressure on crude oil prices.
On the other hand, the effectiveness of recent economic stimulus measures adopted by China, the world's largest oil importer, remains uncertain. If these measures fail to stimulate demand, crude prices could face downward pressure. Additionally, rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly after an Israeli airstrike that killed a Hezbollah commander, increase the risk of a potential supply disruption from the region.
From a technical standpoint, WTI is currently in a consolidation phase. If prices manage to break through the key resistance level around $70-72 per barrel, a bullish breakout could occur, supported by increased trading volumes.
Interest Rate Strategies: Trade Smarter with Fed Rate DecisionsInterest Rate Strategies: Trade Smarter with Fed Rate Decisions
Trading interest rates may seem straightforward at first: buy when cuts end and sell when they fall. However, this approach often defies expectations, as determining when rate cuts truly end isn't as simple as pointing to a rate pause following a cut. While today’s Federal Reserve rate decisions are made during scheduled (and unscheduled emergency) Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings, this wasn’t always the case. Before the 1990s, the Fed often made changes outside of meetings. The shift to exclusively deciding rates during FOMC meetings was implemented to provide greater transparency and predictability for markets.
Topics Covered:
How Are Interest Rates Traded?
Three Interest Rate Trading Strategies.
Key Insights from Backtesting Interest Rate Trading Strategies.
Interest Rate Trading Indicator (Backtest For Yourself).
█ How Are Interest Rates Traded?
This strategy focuses on trading around Federal Reserve interest rate decisions, including hikes (increases), cuts (decreases), and pauses. These decisions are believed by many to have both short- and long-term effects on the market.
Key Strategy Concepts Backtested:
Buy on Rate Pauses or Increases: Go long (buy) when the Fed pauses or raises interest rates, typically signaling market stability or optimism.
Sell on Rate Decreases: Go short (sell) or close longs when the Fed cuts rates, often indicating economic concerns or slowing growth.
Buy on Specific Rate Decreases: Enter trades when the Fed implements specific rate cuts, such as 50 basis points (bps) which represents 0.5%, and analyze market reactions over different time horizons.
█ Strategy: Long during Pauses and Increases, Short during Decreases
This section examines the effectiveness of going long on rate pauses or increases and shorting during decreases. This strategy performed well between 2001 and 2009, but underperformed after 2009 and before 2001 compared to holding positions. The main challenge is the unpredictability of future rate changes. If you could foresee rate trends over two years, decision-making would be easier, but that’s rarely the case, making this strategy less reliable in certain periods.
2001-2009
Trade Result: 67.02%
Holding Result: -31.19%
2019-2021
Trade Result: 19.28%
Holding Result: 25.22%
1971-Present
Trade Result: 444.13%
Holding Result: 5694.12%
█ Strategy: Long 50bps Rate Cuts
This section evaluates trading around 50 basis point (bps) rate cuts, which is a 0.5% decrease. Large cuts usually respond to economic stress, and market reactions can vary. While these cuts signal aggressive economic stimulation by the Fed, short-term responses are often unpredictable. The strategy tends to perform better over longer timeframes, as markets absorb the effects.
1971-Present
Trade Duration: 10 trading days — Average Return: -0.19%
Trade Duration: 50 trading days — Average Return: 2.41%
Trade Duration: 100 trading days — Average Return: 2.46%
Trade Duration: 250 trading days — Average Return: 11.4%
2001-Present
Trade Duration: 10 trading days — Average Return: -2.12%
Trade Duration: 50 trading days — Average Return: -1.84%
Trade Duration: 100 trading days — Average Return: -3.72%
Trade Duration: 250 trading days — Average Return: 1.72%
2009-Present
Trade Duration: 10 trading days — Average Return: -15.79%
Trade Duration: 50 trading days — Average Return: -6.11%
Trade Duration: 100 trading days — Average Return: 7.07%
Trade Duration: 250 trading days — Average Return: 29.92%
█ Strategy: Long Any Rate Cuts
This section reviews the performance of buying after any rate cut, not just large ones. Rate cuts usually signal economic easing and often improve market conditions in the long run. However, the size of the cut and its context greatly influence how the market reacts over different timeframes.
1971-Present
Trade Duration: 10 trading days — Average Return: 0.33%
Trade Duration: 50 trading days — Average Return: 2.65%
Trade Duration: 100 trading days — Average Return: 4.38%
Trade Duration: 250 trading days — Average Return: 8.4%
2001-Present
Trade Duration: 10 trading days — Average Return: -1.12%
Trade Duration: 50 trading days — Average Return: -0.69%
Trade Duration: 100 trading days — Average Return: -1.59%
Trade Duration: 250 trading days — Average Return: 0.22%
2009-Present
Trade Duration: 10 trading days — Average Return: -3.38%
Trade Duration: 50 trading days — Average Return: 3.26%
Trade Duration: 100 trading days — Average Return: 12.55%
Trade Duration: 250 trading days — Average Return: 12.54%
█ Key Insights from Backtesting Interest Rate Trading Strategies
The first assumption I wanted to test was whether you should sell when rate cuts begin and buy when they end. The results were inconclusive, mainly due to the difficulty of predicting when rate cuts will stop. A rate pause might suggest cuts are over, but that’s often not the case, as shown below.
One key finding is that the best time to be fully invested is when rates fall below 1.25% or 1.00%, as this has historically led to stronger market performance. But this can be subject to change.
█ Interest Rate Trading Indicator (Backtest For Yourself)
Indicator Used For Backtesting (select chart below to open):
The 'Interest Rate Trading (Manually Added Rate Decisions) ' indicator analyzes U.S. interest rate decisions to determine trade entries and exits based on user-defined criteria, such as rate increases, decreases, pauses, aggressive changes, and more. It visually marks key decision dates, including both rate changes and pauses, offering valuable insights for trading based on interest rate trends. Historical time periods are highlighted for additional context. The indicator also allows users to compare the performance of an interest rate trading strategy versus a holding strategy.
USD/JPY jumps as BoJ Core CPI stallsThe Japanese yen is sharply lower on Wednesday. In the North American session, USD/JPY is trading at 144.49, up 0.89% at the time of writing.
The Bank of Japan is expected to raise interest rates and continue on the path to normalization. The BoJ lifted rates out of negative territory in March but rates are barely above zero and the markets are expecting further hikes, although the timing remains unclear. This has made the BoJ an outlier among the major central banks, which have lowered rates in response to falling inflation.
In Japan, inflation has been on the rise and hit 3.0% in August after running at 2.8% in the prior three months. The BoJ has signaled that it will raise rates but has been cautious, and Governor Ueda said on Tuesday that the central bank can afford to wait and is not in any rush to hike rates.
The US Conference Board consumer confidence index is usually not a market-mover but a very soft reading on Tuesday sent the US dollar lower against most of the major currencies. The index slipped to 98.7 in September, down sharply from a revised 105.6 in August and below the market estimate of 103.8. The US labor market has deteriorated and consumers are worried about job security.
The US releases GDP (third estimate) for the second quarter with a forecast of 3.0%. This would confirm the second estimate and point to stronger economic growth after a 1.4% gain in the first quarter. Still, the Fed may be planning another jumbo rate cut – the markets have priced in a 50-basis point cut at the next meeting in November, according to CME’s FedWatch.
USD/JPY has pushed above resistance at 143.67 and 144.23. Above, there is resistance at 145.23
There is support at 142.67 and 142.11
BTC - 9/24/2024Historically, unemployment and inflation tend to alternate each other- hence the Philips inversion curve and other trading philosophies.
Inflation is not necessarily under check in my opinion, but retail and establishments are eyeing up entries here as central banks like the ECB, BOJ, and Fed start cutting their interest rates as job numbers have arguably seemed to look good. In any case, I see cash injections in the economy and eased lending leading to some faith for a bullish scenario.
The last time inflation and unemployment alternated severity, it caused a pretty substantial drop in BTC prices before a super-cycle.
I'm bullish on the cycle overall.
M2K: SmallCap May Get a Big Lift with Rate Cuts UnderwayCME: Micro E-Mini Russell 2000 Futures ( GETTEX:M2K )
Global financial market orbits around Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions. Hiking interest rates means monetary tightening while cutting them signals easing.
In the past three years, we have witnessed a full cycle of Fed hikes and now its reversal.
• In March 2022, as inflation rose rapidly, the Fed started a series of rate increases, pushing the Fed Funds rate up by 525 basis points from 0-0.25% to 5.25-5.50%.
• In September 2023, after 11 consecutive rate hikes, the Fed put the brake on. It kept the Fed Funds unchanged for a full year in eight FOMC meetings.
• Last Wednesday, the Fed finally entered the long-awaited rate cut cycle. It slashed interest rates by a supersized half point, or 50 basis points, in its first cut since 2020.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the latest reading of headline CPI is 2.5% in August, down 6.6% from its peak in July 2022. We may conclude that the Fed has largely completed its mission of combating inflation.
The BLS data shows that the U.S. unemployment rate has risen to 4.2% in August 2024 from 3.6% two years ago in August 2022. Fed’s easing signals its pivot to the second mandate, to support full employment. Lowering interest rates could reduce borrowing costs, and in return help business expansion and employment.
Russell 2000: SmallCap may get the biggest Boost
The discounted cash flow (DCF) model estimates the present value of an investment based on its expected future cash flows. A lower cost of capital (CoC) shall cause the price of the investment to go up, other things equal.
Small companies would gain the most compared to larger corporations. In the preceding rate hike cycle, they were hit hard as credit standards got tightened and credit spreads expanded. We will now see the reversal.
Russell 2000 is the benchmark stock market index for US small companies. CME Micro E-mini Russell 2000 futures ( GETTEX:M2K ) were settled at 2,252.6 on Friday, up 10.05% year-to-date.
For a comparison, the S&P 500 gained 19.50% YTD as of Friday, while the Nasdaq 100 was up 17.59%. In my opinion, the major stock indexes rose on the back of the AI-driven technological breakthroughs, where Big Tech dominated but few Small Cap companies could benefit. In this new cycle, lowered borrowing costs and the abundance of credit could help small businesses improve their balance sheets.
The Fed is expected to continue cutting rates in the next two years. Corporate bond yields could likely return to the 2-3% range. The credit spreads, including Baa-Bbb, Baa-Bb, and Baa-Ccc, would likely get smaller. This could bring further boost to the Russell index.
Could we quantify the impact of rate cuts? Let’s illustrate this with a $1 million payment, to be received in five years.
• Applying the BBB corporate bond yield of 4.88% as the CoC, present value of $1 million will be $788,019.
• If the CoC moves down by 250 bps to 2.38%, the PV will be increased to $889,046.
• This shows that a 2.5% reduction in CoC could boost the PV by 12.8%.
The same concept would work on the Russell index. CoC could drop either due to interest rate decrease or because of the narrowing of credit spread, which favors smaller companies. The result would be an increase in the market value of Russell component companies.
For someone with a bullish view of the Russell 2000, he could establish a long position in CME Micro E-mini Russell 2000 futures. The contract has a notional value at $5 times the index. At Friday closing price of 2,252.6, each December contract (M2KZ4) is worth $11,263. CME Group requires an initial margin of $760 for each M2K contract, long or short.
The Fed will next convene on November 5th-6th and meet one last time in 2024 on December 17th-18th. In my opinion, if the Fed continues lowering rates in these two meetings, Russell 2000 could likely move up further.
Hypothetically, if the Russell is 5% higher by December, the 113-point increase would translate into $563 (=2252.6*0.05*$5) gain per contract for the long holder.
The risk of long futures is the index going down. If inflation spikes unexpectedly, the Fed could possibly pause its rate cuts, casting doubt on the future rate trajectory. For more experienced traders, put options on the E-Mini Russell 2000 futures could be deployed to hedge the downside risk.
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
EURUSD Analysis: Anticipating a Slight Bearish Bias Towards 1.1!EURUSD Analysis: Anticipating a Slight Bearish Bias Towards 1.10000 (24/09/2024)
As we analyze the EURUSD pair this week, a slight bearish bias appears probable, with a target near the pivotal level of 1.10000. Key drivers for this outlook include the recent economic data releases, central bank policies, and market sentiment.
1. Economic Data:
Recent Eurozone economic indicators have shown mixed results, with weak manufacturing PMI figures suggesting slowing growth. Conversely, US economic data, particularly strong job numbers and retail sales, point to a robust economy, potentially strengthening the dollar.
2. Central Bank Divergence:
The European Central Bank (ECB) is likely to maintain a dovish stance amid economic uncertainties, while the Federal Reserve appears committed to a tighter monetary policy. This divergence could exert downward pressure on the euro.
3. Market Sentiment:
Increased risk aversion due to geopolitical tensions may lead investors to favor safe-haven currencies like the USD, further supporting the bearish outlook for EURUSD.
In conclusion, the combination of economic fundamentals, central bank policies, and market sentiment suggests that EURUSD may trend towards 1.10000 this week. Traders should stay alert for potential market shifts and adjust their strategies accordingly.
Keywords: EURUSD analysis, bearish bias, economic data, central bank policy, ECB, Fed, market sentiment, forex trading, trading strategies, 1.10000 target.