The yield curve has to un-invert eventually… right? (Part 2)This week, we thought it will be interesting to review the trade from last week given the reaction post-FOMC, as well as discuss an alternative way to set up this trade.
Firstly, let’s review the post-FOMC/employment data reaction.
- Nonfarm Payrolls surprised to the upside, as over half a million jobs were added way above the estimates of a sub 200K number.
- Unemployment rate continues to fall further, reaching a 53-year low of 3.4%
A clear re-pricing has occurred since last Friday’s better-than-expected jobs data and Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting. With markets now expecting 1 more rate hike in May, bringing the peak rate up from the 475 -500 bps range to the 500-525 bps range.
Keeping this in mind, we go back to our analysis last week to understand this situation and historical precedence.
While the time for a pause in rate hike seems to be pushed back, in the grand scheme of things, we think that this has only kept the window of opportunity for this trade open for longer and at a more attractive entry point now.
Without repeating ourselves too much, we encourage readers to take a look at our idea last week which explores the historical correlation between the peaking of yield curve inversion and the pause in Fed rate hikes.
Link to our last week’s idea:
This week, let’s tap into a different instrument. Here, we aim to take a short position on the 2Y-10Y yield differential by creating a portfolio of Treasury futures to express this view.
To do so, we would have to first select the 2 instruments, the 2-Yr Treasury futures is a straightforward choice for the short end. But for the 10-Yr leg, we have a choice of the '10-Yr Treasury Note Futures' vs the 'Ultra 10-Yr Treasury Note Futures'. Digging into the contract specification, the 'Ultra 10-Yr Treasury Note Futures' provide a better proxy for the true 10-year duration exposure as the delivery requirements are for Treasuries with maturities between 9year 5 months and 10 years. In comparison, the underlying of '10-Yr Treasury Note Futures' has a maturity between 6 year 6 months and 10 years.
With contract selection out of the way, the next step is to calculate the Dollar Neutral spread. This requires us to identify the DV01 of the front and back legs of the spread and try to match them. This is to ensure that the entire position remains as close to dollar neutral as possible, so we can get a 'purer' exposure to the yield difference between the front and back legs, and parallel moves are negated. CME publishes articles on this topic to explain the setting up of a DV01 spread clearer than we can explain. You can find them attached in the reference section below.
You can handily find the DV01 of the Cheapest To Deliver (CTD) securities on CME’s website.
In this case, we are looking at the 2Yr and Ultra 10Yr Treasury Futures to set up the trade. With the DV01 of the 2Yr at 34.04 and the DV01 of the Ultra 10Yr at 96.26.
The spread ratio can be calculated as 96.26/34.04 = 2.83. Rounding this to the nearest whole number, we would need 3 lots of2-Yr Treasury Future and 1 lot of Ultra 10-Yr Treasury Future, to keep the DV01 equal (neutral) for both legs of this portfolio.
Given our view of the 2Yr-10Yr yield spread turning lower, we want to short the yield spread. Yield and prices move inversely, hence, to short the yield spread, we long the Treasury Futures spread as it is quoted in price. We can long 3 ZTH3 Futures (2Y Treasury Future) and short 1 TNH3 futures (Ultra 10Y Treasury Future) to complete 1 set of the spread. However, since the 2-Yr Treasury Futures has a notional value of 200,000 while the Ultra 10Y Treasury Futures a notional of $100,000, the price ratio will be 6:1 when the position/leg ratio in the spread trade is 3:1. As such the current level would provide us with an entry point of roughly 494 with a minimal move in Ultra 10yrs representing 15.625 USD and that in 2Y representing 7.8125 USD.
While slightly more complex in setting up, this trade allows us another alternative to express the same view on the yield curve spread differential. Being able to execute the trade via different instruments allows you to pick the most liquid markets to trade or take advantage of mispricing in the markets.
The charts above were generated using CME’s Real-Time data available on TradingView. Inspirante Trading Solutions is subscribed to both TradingView Premium and CME Real-time Market Data which allows us to identify trading set-ups in real-time and express our market opinions. 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
Disclaimer:
The contents in this Idea are intended for information purpose only and do not constitute investment recommendation or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products or services. They serve as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate fundamental concepts in risk management under given market scenarios. A full version of the disclaimer is available in our profile description.
Reference
www.cmegroup.com
www.cmegroup.com
www.cmegroup.com
www.cmegroup.com
Federalreserve
Fight or Flight?On February 1st, the Federal Reserve (Fed) announced a widely-expected 25bps rate hike. This was the rallying cry for the current market rally to continue.
Is this confidence warranted? An interesting note is that the FOMC meeting minutes and the associated press conference appeared contradictory in nature because there was not a straightforward hawkish or dovish narrative across both. The statement was hawkish. Meanwhile, Fed Chairman Powell’s language in the press conference was remarkably dovish, describing the disinflation process as having started and as "encouraging and gratifying". This was the point that markets took as the signal to continue the recent rally. Precious metals, equities, and risk assets have all seen significant post-meeting relief.
The first innings of a recession always appear to be somewhat of a soft landing in which inflation and growth begin to slow gradually. Yesterday’s meeting echoed the idea that recent indicators point to a modest increase in spending and that inflation has eased, precisely what the first innings of a recession would predict. As markets, potentially shortsightedly, adopt the soft landing narrative, the Fed’s lack of pushback against easier financial conditions added fuel to the fire. Given this, it is doubtful that markets will stop rallying until one of two cases occurs: First, if data comes in hot, it potentially frightens markets into thinking the Fed will turn back hawkish and raise rates more than the recently observed 25bps hike. The second scenario is the other extreme. Should data start coming in highly recessionary with lower inflation and weak growth, this will eliminate all believers in the soft landing narrative, thus halting the rally. However, at present, it looks like the market rally of 2023 could continue until either of these scenarios happen. An important thing to note is that whenever inflation has exceeded 5% in the past, it has never come back down without the Federal Funds Rate exceeding the rate of CPI inflation. Considering the Federal Funds Rate is currently between 4.5% and 4.75% whilst CPI inflation is at 6.5%, more rate hikes are on the horizon unless data comes in highly recessionary. CPI data on the 14th of February will provide significant insight into whether or not the Fed will follow the likes of the European Central Bank & Bank of England and go with a 50bps hike rather than a 25bps hike.
Another important thing to note is that Apple , Amazon , and Alphabet (the parent company of Google ) all missed earnings last night. If three of the world's largest companies missed earnings, it does not breed confidence for economic hopes of avoiding a recession. One thing seems certain, the S&P500 is likely to take a hit when the NYSE opens later today.
ECB raises rates but euro fallsThe euro is catching its breath on Friday after some sharp swings over the past two days. EUR/USD is trading quietly at the 1.09 line.
This week's central bank rate announcements sent the euro on a roller-coaster ride. The Fed's 25-basis point hike pushed the euro higher by 1.16%, while the ECB hike of 50-bp sent the euro down by 0.76%. The end result is that the euro is back to where it started the week, just below the 1.09 line.
The Fed rate decision sent the US dollar broadly lower, as investors were heartened by Jerome Powell saying that the disinflation process had begun and that he expected another couple of rate hikes before the current rate-hike cycle wrapped up. The markets are expecting inflation to fall faster than the Fed is thinking and are counting on some rate cuts this year, even though Powell said yesterday that he does not expect to cut rates this year. The markets were looking for a dovish bend to Powell's remarks and once they found it, stocks went up and the US dollar went down.
The ECB meeting came a day after the Fed decision, and the rate hike of 50-bp was expected. Still, the euro fell sharply, perhaps due to a confusing message from the ECB. On the one hand, in its policy statement, the central bank signalled another 50 bp hike in March and kept the door open for additional hikes after March. At the same time, ECB President Lagarde said in a press conference that rate moves would be determined on a "meeting by meeting" basis seemed to veer away from the message in the policy statement. The ECB continues to have trouble communicating with the markets, which will only add to market volatility as investors try to figure out the central bank's plans.
The week wraps up with the US employment report. The Fed has said that the strength of the labour market is a key factor in its rate policy, so today's release could have a strong impact on the movement of the US dollar. Nonfarm payrolls fell from 256,000 to 223,000 in December and the downturn is expected to continue, with an estimate of 190,000 for January. The ADP payroll report showed a decline in December, but unemployment claims and JOLT job openings both moved higher, making it difficult to predict what we'll get from nonfarm payrolls. The markets will also be keeping a close look at hourly earnings and the unemployment rate.
1.0921 is a weak resistance line, followed by 1.1034
There is support at 1.0878 and 1.0826
GBP/USD sliding after dovish BoE hikeThe British pound has posted sharp losses on Thursday and continues to lose ground in the North American session. GBP/USD is trading at 1.2251, down 0.98%.
The major central banks remain the focus of the market's attention. The Bank of England raised rates by 50 basis points, just one day after the Federal Reserve's 25-bp hike. This marked a second straight increase of 50 bp, bringing the cash rate to 4%. As with the Fed decision, the hike was expected, but investors found plenty to cheer about, resulting in the pound reversing course and losing ground.
Governor Bailey said in a follow-up news conference that inflation pressures remained and inflation risks were skewed to the upside. Still, investors found plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Bailey said that inflation had turned a corner and noted that members had removed the word "forcefully" from its forward guidance statement. The BoE is now projecting that inflation will fall to around 4% by the end of the year and that the recession will be shallower than it had anticipated. The less pessimistic outlook for inflation and the economy sent risk appetite higher and pushed the pound lower. The markets were in a good mood after the decision, but there are plenty of problems ahead - inflation is above 10% and some half a million workers went on strike on Wednesday.
The Fed raised rates by 25 basis points as was widely expected. The Fed noted that inflation has eased but reminded listeners that it remained much higher than the 2% target. Jerome Powell signaled that more rate hikes are coming and said he did not expect to cut rates this year. This was essentially a repeat of the hawkish message we've heard before, but the markets chose to focus on Powell saying that the disinflation process had started and that he expected another couple of rate hikes before winding up the current rate-hike cycle. This sent the US dollar broadly lower on Wednesday.
Besides inflation, the Fed is focused on employment data, which will make Friday's nonfarm employment report a key factor in future rate policy. In December, nonfarm payrolls fell from 256,000 to 223,000 and the downturn is expected to continue, with an estimate of 190,000 for January. This release could result in further volatility in the currency markets on Friday.
.
BTC FED Meeting!BYBIT:BTCUSDT.P
Fed meeting on 1-Feb-2023 at 19:00 UTC
Looking for 25bp rate hike for potential bullish move.
BTC has had a run to almost 24k. But it's approach is quite tight like a triple tap in play.
Support levels marked in white for possible re-entry for Long via appropriate entry trigger.
Entry trigger could be bullish candle or bullish candlestick formation.
50MA 4h and 200MA 1D as guide.
But with BTC when it's hot, we don't always get support entries.
After Breakout level $25K (1D) we need break and retest for upside otherwise it's a level to target a short
via LTF (4h) break of structure.
If you liked this idea or if you have your own opinion about it, write in the comments.
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations.
You Can Have the Cake and Eat it TooCBOT: Treasury Yield Spread 10Y-2YY ( CBOT_MINI:10Y1! CBOT_MINI:2YY1! ), Micro Dow ( CBOT_MINI:MYM1! ), Micro S&P ( CME_MINI:MES1! )
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve raises its benchmark Fed Funds rate by 25 basis points to a target range of 4.5%-4.75%. The move marked the eighth consecutive hikes that have began in March 2022. The overnight risk-free rate is now at its highest level since October 2007.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell sends mixed signals in his post-FOMC meeting news conference but appears more dovish comparing to previous speeches.
The Committee thinks that “on-going increases in the target range will be appropriate”. These words send stocks down minutes after the speech begins at 2:30PM.
However, during the Q&A session, when the Fed Chair confirms, for the first time, that “the disinflationary process has started,” the stock market rebounds strongly and finishes in the positive territory for the day.
Other mixed messages:
• Inflation data shows a welcome reduction in the monthly pace of increases;
• It would be “very premature to declare victory or to think we really got this”;
• It’s “possible” that the funds rate could stay lower than 5%;
• Unlikely the Fed would cut rates this year unless inflation comes down more rapidly.
Actions speak louder than words. In two rate-setting meetings, the Fed has slowed the pace from 75 bps to 25 bps. The path is not likely to reverse, and future rate hikes will come down to just two options, either 0 or 25 bps. In my opinion, the terminal rate will end at 5% or 5.25% after the March and May meeting.
In recent months, the “Risk” button has been pressed on for risky assets:
• The Dow is up 19% since October, and the S&P and the Nasdaq are up 17% and 18% for the same period, respectively;
• Gold futures rallies 21% since November, while Bitcoin jumps 58%;
• Tesla and Ark Innovation ETF gain 47% and 33% year-to-date, respectively.
Historically, it’s rare for the stock market to dip two years or more in a row. For the S&P 500, it only happened four times in the last 100 years. The odds favor stock investors in the Year of Rabbits after a brutal double-digit selloff in 2022.
Fed rate hikes and high inflation are like a brake that decelerated the running economy car. Now that the driver’s foot is off the brake, will the economy improve immediately?
Not so fast. We will endure higher costs for months to come. Take the example of food items, once the price goes up, it usually stays up for the year. Sometimes, suppliers resolve to reducing the size of package for the illusion of keeping the same price, a tactic known as “Shrinkflation”. Wages, rent, phone bill, cable TV, utility, homeowner association fees and sales tax also seldom go down. All these point to a sticky inflation. Without massive government stimulus to press the gas pedal, subdued growth is on the horizon.
However, the stock market is forward looking. Investors already see an "invisible foot" on the accelerator and begin buying in the dip. On balance, I’m bullish about risky assets, but would consider protecting my investments carefully.
The inversed yield curve is a proven and tested signal of a potential recession. The 10Y-2Y Treasury yield spread is at -64 bps after the Fed rate decision. The yield spread turned negative last July and stayed below zero in the last seven months.
Major crises could break out unexpectedly, crashing our party. The year-long Russia-Ukraine conflict could intensify, tensions in the Taiwan Strait could escalate, and the US government might not be able to avoid a national debt default.
A Hedged Position on Stock Index Futures
We could consider using the CME Micro E-mini S&P futures to establish a bullish position on the U.S. stock market. The June contract MESM3 is currently quoted at 4177, which is 58 points above the cash index. To protect my position from any adverse market movement, an out-of-the-money put option could be placed at the 3950-strike. If you are more pessimistic, a lower strike of 3840 may be considered.
The benefit of futures over cash index ETFs lies with the leverage. With a smaller margin deposit upfront, investment return could be amplified if the market moves in your favor. The downside is that the loss will also ramp up quickly if the market moves against you.
Put options protect us from any downfall below the strike price. Unlike futures, the maximum loss from a long options position is the premium you have paid upfront. A combination of long futures and long put options is, in theory, limited downside with unlimited upside.
The risk and return tradeoff are asymmetry in this case. As a result, you can have the cake and eat it too!
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 trade set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, check out on CME Group data plans in TradingView that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
XAUUSD Potential Bearish Trade.The chart for XAUUSD could be a bearish trade given that the Federal Reserve increase interest rates to 25bp, this Federal decision could affect the XAUUSD trade favor to USD side, but according in the Federal report by Jerome Powell, Chairman of Federal Reserve, "that is for Congress to raise the debt ceiling so that the United States government can pay all of its obligations when due," Powell said. "Any deviations from that path would be highly risky. And no one should assume that the Fed can protect the economy from the consequences of failing to act in a timely manner." Powell said.
Trader should assets the trading situation before placing a trade.
If trend is bearish, the potential price point could be the three Fibonacci Retracement.
A possible bearish trend at three Fibonacci Retracement level.
1.(1827.11 at 0.382 Fibonacci Retracement level)
2. (1786.92 at 0.5 Fibonacci Retracement level)
3. (1746.74 at 0.618 Fibonacci Retracement level)
Forex Disclaimer.
This Published idea is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only and not for investment advice. It is important to do your own analysis in forex trading before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances. Regardless of anything to the contrary, nothing available on or through this information should be understood as a recommendation that you should not consult with financial professional to your particular information.
Forex trading may sustain a total loss greater than the amount you deposited to your account if the forex trading move against to the trader. The said forex is the responsible for all the risk and financial resources and trading system that has been used by the trader.
US FED Rate Rise and BTC PAPosting this again while we wait for the US Federal Reserve ( A PRIVATE Group of Representatives of Private Banks) to come out and announce the next rate Rise.
I feel it is important to note how BTC has reacted in the past.
Mostly well.
The major declines in PA are NOT actually from A Direct result of Rises but more the effect on other things. Both LUNA and FTX suffered a lack of liquidity as Loans became more expensive. This is an indirect result as far as I am concerned. There are a number of occasions were the rate raise has NOT negated PA, as can be seen on the chart.
Today, we are expecting a 25 point rise which shoud be a boost but should a 50 or 75 come in, It may be negative for a short while but as can be seen, soon recovers
Enjoy
NQ Power Range Report with FIB Ext - 2/1/2023 SessionCME_MINI:NQH2023
- PR High: 12121.50
- PR Low: 12096.00
- NZ Spread: 57.0
Evening Stats (As of 12:05 AM)
- Weekend Gap: N/A
- 8/19 Session Gap: -0.04% (open > 13237)
- Session Open ATR: 260.07
- Volume: 19K
- Open Int: 275K
- Trend Grade: Bear
- From ATH: -27.9% (Rounded)
Key Levels (Rounded - Think of these as ranges)
- Long: 12391
- Mid: 11820
- Short: 10678
Keep in mind this is not speculation or a prediction. Only a report of the Power Range with Fib extensions for target hunting. Do your DD! You determine your risk tolerance. You are fully capable of making your own decisions.
Market Update - How Traders May Play the Feds Rate Hike?Traders,
The market expects 25 basis points tomorrow. What they are unsure of is how it will look in March. While the fed may indicate yet another rate hike in March, the dollar, vix, and treasuries are telling us else wise. Let's take a spin through our lead indicators today as well as Bitcoin.
Stew
NZD/USD steady ahead of employment releaseThe New Zealand dollar has edged lower on Tuesday. In the North American session, NZD/USD is trading at 0.6462, down 0.10%.
New Zealand releases the Q4 employment report later today. Unemployment is expected to tick lower to 3.2%, following a 3.3% reading in the third quarter. This would mark the lowest unemployment rate in over four decades. Employment change is projected to have climbed 0.7% in Q4, after a 1.3% gain in Q3. What will be particularly interesting is wage growth, which has been robust and may have jumped as much as 9% y/y in the private sector. Wage growth has been contributing to high inflation, which the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is determined to bring down. Inflation was unchanged at 7.2% in the fourth quarter, more than three times the central bank's target of 2%.
The Federal Reserve concludes its 2-day meeting on Wednesday, and a 25-bp increase is priced at close to 100%. This doesn't preclude volatility in the currency markets, as a hawkish stance from the Fed, either in the rate statement or in comments from Jerome Powell, could provide a boost to the US dollar. The markets continue to talk about a rate cut late in the year due to the weakening US economy, but the markets could be in for a nasty surprise if the Fed reiterates its hawkish stance that rates will remain high until inflation is subdued. What the Fed has in mind after tomorrow's rate hike is not clear and investors will be hoping that the meeting will provide some clarity on that front.
0.6446 is a weak support line. The next support level is 0.6365
There is resistance at 0.6485 and 0.6532
Pre-fed DXYThe noise pollution for the market is extreme this week, from interest rate announcements to non-farm payrolls and manufacturing PMI's. Based off technicals, the dollar is looking rather perky at the moment. The DXY seemed to find support off its 61.8% Fibo retracement level, from the 2022 gains, of 101,841. I suspect a move higher towards the 50-day MA level of 103,950 is on the cards. This level coincides with the neckline as well as the 50% Fibo retracement level of 104,184. A break above this resistance range between 103,950 and 104,184 will allow the greenback to test the blue zone between 105,092 and 105,690.
The RSI has bounced out of the overbought zone and the daily MACD indicator is currently holding a buy signal which is dollar positive.
The Rand in the rocky credit markets The economic calendar is wild this week so I thought it would be best to do a deep fundamental dive into the USDZAR . All the attention will be on the Federal reserve tomorrow and whether or when they will pause their rate hikes. We need to look past the hype around the interest rate and the “pivot" narrative. Focus should however be on how the markets will cope with the Fed’s liquidity drain and how it will impact the future price of money ( ie . Interest rates).
Before we kick-off, correlation does not imply causation...
I’ll start by explaining the chart you’re looking at. What you’re seeing is the positive correlation between the USDZAR and the difference between the South African government bond 10-year yield (ZA10Y) and the US 10-year treasury yield (US10Y). The interest rate differential is referred to as the carry trade potential. Investors can borrow money on the cheap from developed low-risk markets and invest the borrowed money in riskier destinations to earn more interest. The interest rate difference is then pocketed by the investor. The preferred vehicle to capitalise on the interest rate differentials between two locations are government bonds (they are low risk and liquid).
The reason for the positive correlation between the USDZAR and the bond yield differential is because when there is risk-on sentiment in the market, investors tend to move funds out of the safety of US treasuries and into riskier assets. The sell-off in US treasuries causes US10Y yields to rise (decreasing the bond yield differential), and the rand tends to appreciate in risk-on phases of the market, citrus paribus. (Decreasing bond yield differential; USDZAR decrease due to rand appreciation). Conversely, when investors are risk-off they run to the safety of US treasuries. The buying of US-treasuries lowers the US10-year yield which increases our bond yield differential. We all know how rapidly the rand can depreciate in risk-off phases when the liquidity wave pulls back to the US, leaving the rand on the rocky shore. (Increasing bond yield differential; USDZAR increases). Our strong correlation however weakened in August 2022 when the US 10-year yield rocketed higher after the Fed started their hiking cycle.
Let’s zoom in on the Fed since its Fed week. The most important chart in the market , the Fed’s balance sheet: www.federalreserve.gov .
The Fed has so far tapered roughly 5.52% off its balance sheet since April 2022. The Fed is selling treasuries to taper its balance sheet and to soak up liquidity from the market (if there will be enough buyers, only time will tell). This is rand negative.
Now let’s get to where all this week’s focus will be, the Fed’s interest rate decision. The Fed is expected to slow its rate hikes to 25bps this week and push rates from 4.50% to 4.75%. The Fed tends to follow the US02-year yield (US02Y) as guidance on its interest rates and it seems as if the US02-year yield has topped out between 4.75% and 5.00%. The Fed pause seems near, and the latest inflation figures from the US supports the narrative that the Fed has managed to cool inflation.
The most concerning thing in the market currently is the inverted yield curve:
History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes. For the Fed to normalise the credit markets it will have to pause rates. That is usually when something the market breaks and the Fed is forced to cut rates and inject liquidity into the markets. When the Fed pushes easy money ( QE or whatever buzz phrase they'll use) into the market investors rotate from longer dated bonds to shorter dated bonds. To conclude, if and when the Fed pauses its rate hikes, the US10-year yield will melt higher which could be rand positive based off our correlation analysis. Just have popcorn (and gold , silver and other real assets) ready for when the Fed is forced to cut rates/ pivot because that will be caused by arguably the biggest credit market implosion in the history of fiat money.
To end off I leave you with the words of Zoltan Pozsar: "commodities are collateral, and collateral is money."
The yield curve has to un-invert eventually… right?Those who have been reading our past 2 ideas will know we’ve been harping on and on about expected rate path and policy timelines. Why the recent obsession you ask? Because we think we’re on the cusp of major turning points.
So, for the third time, let’s look at the market’s expected policy rate path.
With FOMC coming up this week, we are expecting a 25bps hike followed by some commentary/guidance on the next cause of action. Based on CME’s Fedwatch tool, markets are expecting a last hike of 25bps in the March FOMC before a pause in the hiking cycle. Now keep that in mind.
One interesting relationship we can try to observe is how the 2Yr-10Yr yield spread behaves in relation to where the Fed’s rate is. We note a few things here.
Firstly, the ‘peak’ point of the 2Yr-10Yr spread seems to happen right around the point when rate hikes are paused. With the Fed likely to pause as soon as March, we seem to be on the same path, setting up for a potential decline in the spread.
Secondly, the average of the past 3 inversions lasted for around 455 days, and if you count just the start of the inversion to the peak, we’re looking at an average of 215 Days. Based on historical averages, we are past the middle mark and have also likely peaked, with current inversion roughly 260 days deep.
Looking at the shorter end of the yield curve, we can apply the same analysis on the 3M-10Yr yield spread.
The ‘peak’ point of the 3M-10Yr yield spread is marked closer to the point when the Fed cuts, except in 2006, while the average number of days in inversion was 219 days and the average number of days to ‘peak’ inversion was 138 days. With the current inversion at 105 days for the 3M-10Yr Yield spread, we are likely halfway, but the peak is likely not yet in. (Although eerily close to when the Fed is likely to announce its last hike, March FOMC, 51 days away).
Comparing the 2 yield curve spreads, we think a stronger case can be made for the 2Yr-10Yr spread having peaked and likely to un-invert soon.
Handily, CME has the Micro Treasury Yield Futures, quoted in yield terms, which allows us to express this view in a straightforward manner allaying the complications with DV01 calculation. We create the short yield spread position by taking a short position in the Micro 2-Yr Yield Futures and a long position in the Micro 10-Yr Yield Futures, at an entry-level of 0.623, with 1 basis point move equal to 10 USD.
The charts above were generated using CME’s Real-Time data available on TradingView. Inspirante Trading Solutions is subscribed to both TradingView Premium and CME Real-time Market Data which allows us to identify trading set-ups in real-time and express our market opinions. 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
Disclaimer:
The contents in this Idea are intended for information purpose only and do not constitute investment recommendation or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products or services. They serve as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate fundamental concepts in risk management under given market scenarios. A full version of the disclaimer is available in our profile description.
Reference:
www.cmegroup.com
www.cmegroup.com
The Fed rate or Why everyone is watching the US economy?The Fed or the Federal Reserve System is a kind of analogue of the central bank in the United States. It is an independent body and receives powers from the US Congress. Its independence lies in the fact that all decisions on monetary policy do not have to be approved by the authorities and even the president. We can say that the Fed does not belong to anyone, because. after agreement with the Senate, the main positions are appointed by the President of the United States, but the owners are private individuals.
The functions of the Fed are the same as those of the central bank: issuing money, controlling private banks, changing the key rate, and other important decisions for the US economy, which affects the economy of the whole world. Let's analyze them in more detail:
maintaining a balance between the financial and social spheres;
protecting the interests of participants in banking operations;
dollar issue;
control of the internal financial market;
acting as a depository for large organizations;
supporting the functioning of payments within the country and between countries;
maintaining liquidity.
And now let's take a look at the questions about the impact of the Fed's actions on the crypto economy in order, so that you have a general picture of what is happening.
1. Why do many investors and traders in stocks and cryptocurrencies constantly follow the news from the US, especially the speeches of the head of the Fed?
One of the Fed's main tools, through which they influence the US economy, is to raise or lower the key rate. The Fed sets the percentage rate at which loans are issued to banks. This, in turn, affects other market segments, and the effect is different for each.
This has a direct impact on the bond market: the higher the rate, the higher the yield.
However, the effect on the stock market is completely opposite, because the reduction in the rate is followed by an adjustment in other lending rates. At a low rate, companies' businesses can grow faster. Due to this, stock quotes of many companies also increase due to the increase in their capitalization. Consumer and business confidence is on the rise, the real estate market is rebounding, and corporate earnings are rising, which in turn has a positive effect on share prices.
As the interest on loans decreases, the interest on deposits also decreases. There is more money in the financial system, which encourages people to look for more profitable areas of investment.
Yes, just a second. We feel that you may get confused or never understand what it is and why everything works the way it does. Let's explain with a very simple example.
The Fed rate is the percentage at which the main bank lends to other banks. If it falls, then other banks can take out a loan at a low interest rate and also issue loans with a small interest rate for organizations and individuals, including mortgages and credit cards. The decline in market interest rates encourages people to take out loans and buy various goods, invest in real estate and invest. The interest on deposits is falling, it is becoming less profitable to keep money on deposits, and people are looking for more attractive ways to invest - these are, first of all, stocks. Due to increased demand, the price of stocks and indices rises. And if the main indices grow, such as the NASDAQ, S&P500 or the Dow Jones industrial index, then Bitcoin grows, and other cryptocurrencies follow it.
At the same time, if the Fed rate rises, then people pull their savings out of riskier types of investment into more stable ones (deposits / deposits). Thus, the capitalization of the stock and cryptocurrency markets is falling, followed by a price drop. As you have noticed, everything in the world of economics is interconnected, and it is extremely difficult to explain all its principles in one article. We just want to bring you to the relationship between the Fed rate and the cryptocurrency market.
And here comes the next question!
2. Why is Bitcoin most of the time correlated with major stock market indices?
Everything is a little easier here. Previously, Bitcoin was something incomprehensible to most - an uninteresting technology and hype. But as blockchain technologies are introduced into everyday life (mass adoption), Bitcoin has turned into a risky, but quite common asset of the market. Because of this, relatively recently, “old” money has entered this market. People who used to earn only in the stock market and large companies entered the market. Large investors have developed strategies for trading and investing. Thus, for them, Bitcoin has become a financial instrument, just more risky. From that moment on, there was a high correlation with the stock market.
In conclusion, one of the important questions.
3. How do the US and the US dollar affect the entire world economy?
In the past, there was a situation when world trade and its institutions, as well as the world banking system, became pegged to the US dollar, central bank reserves began to accumulate mainly in dollars, and a financial market was formed with tools that allow you to effectively
place these reserves in dollar form. Simply put, most of the world uses the dollar, which is why it is the main reserve currency of the world. US hegemony, which influences the whole world, has been developing since 1944.
Let's summarize step by step to consolidate the information:
The American dollar and the US economy affect the entire world market, the first - because it has historically happened, and the second - because it is the largest in the world.
If the rate rises, then after it interest on loans and deposits rises. It becomes more profitable to invest in bonds and keep deposits in banks. Companies and people are shifting funds from risky stocks and cryptocurrencies to more stable types of investment: precious metals, government. bonds or simply withdraw to fiat.
If the rate falls, then after it interest on loans and deposits goes down. Companies and people are becoming more willing to take out credit, thereby increasing the financial system. Companies are developing business and increasing capitalization, people are starting to invest in more profitable instruments such as stocks and cryptocurrencies.
The week ahead, US Dollar, Gold, AUD, Fed, US jobsIt is a big week ahead with the Federal Reserve and US jobs, Bank of England and the European Central Bank. My thesis is for a higher US dollar, a sell-off in Gold, hawkish Fed, a hawkish ECB, and firm US wage pressures. AUD/USD is one to watch for a sell-high opportunity in New York trade on Monday/Tuesday perhaps, same with Gold.
Was The BTC Bear made worse by the FEDBitcoin Bear PA key moments are listed here - the RED vertical lines are interest rate riaises by US FED.
Nov '21 TAPROOT installed on Bitcoin Network, after which PA reverses.
Slow "Bear" market takes hold and PA slides down
FED has 1st Rate Hike in a very long time in March '22, Bitcon PA actually Rises.
2nd Ratehike by FED on early May
News comes out that LUNA maybe having trouble and people begin getting nervous
LUNA Collapses, Slow Bleed, effect being negated by 4th week after and next green candle. Confidence begins returning Till News comes out that FED maybe looking at a larger rate hike. The timing is perfect, like Hitting a wounded animal
** 1st 75 point Rate Hike causes Large Drop in PA as more companies struggle
From here, the effect on PA of 2 more 75 point rate hikes are Minimal by comparison. PA actually recovers some.
** Another 75 point raise is too much and FTX is brought down. The Timing is perfect but after weeks of uncertainty and bad sentiment, BTC PA makes a rapid recovery
Without these 2 things, PA could very possibly be around $37K right now and would have been the least damaging Bear market in BTC, Less than the normal 80%.
And what we REALLY need to take into account here now, is what is going to happen on 1st Feb. TradFI ( the FED is KING odf TradFI) is threatned by Crypto....What will happen if they bring in another 75 points ?
NOT A LOT...as previously shown, Bitcoin was NOT dumped by the 2 middle raises as the Coins are held, Future profits secured.
So long as no more companies are brought down, Weak hands destroyed or played.....then We should be OK from here
However, This is a War between the old Monopoly and the New Kid on the block....and all is fair in Love and War.
Be cautious, enjoy the ride and trade safely - the likely hood is that 2nd half 2023 is not going to be kind.....
Time Will tell
Echoes of the great recession of 2008An echo of the great recession of 2008 would look easy on this chart and fits nicely with the percentage distance from the 3-year moving average. I think this downturn will be even greater in magnitude and worse in different ways. QQQ at $187 by mid-summer is what I see likely. The Fed and US Treasury need folks begging to justify their next blunder. The weight of reality will be more than can be absolved by fairy tales. Also, chart colors.
EURUSD STRUGGLES TO GO ABOVE 1.0900EURUSD is having difficulty establishing a bullish move above 1.0900 as price has been rejected on several attempts. The latest PMI readings from the eurozone didn’t help matters with a mixed report on the state of economic activities around the bloc. With sentiments of a slow pace Federal Reserve rate hike already weighing the US dollar, the price could still make it over the current psychological price level.
Current Scenario
Price is reacting to the current Resistance level at 1.0900 which could see selling activity towards the intraday support level around 1.0800. Should the near-term support fail to incite a bullish recovery then attention will be on the major level around 1.0750.
Bullish Scenario:
A convincing breakout from 1.0900 could open the door to 1.1000
Bearish Scenario:
A decline below 1.0740 could incite bearish activity but price will still need to contend with an ascending trendline running from September 2022.
When downside volatility becomes an advantage.It’s been a while since we looked at the Russell 2000. For the uninitiated, the Russell 2000 index is a small-cap stock market index that is made up of the smallest 2000 stocks in the Russell 3000 Index.
The small-cap nature means a few things, volatility tends to be higher for one. And capturing this downside volatility using the Russell 2000 as compared with the S&P 500 has almost always proven more fruitful.
When to take this trade you may ask? The recession bellwether indicator of the 2Y – 10Y yield spread is a simple place to start. With the benefit of hindsight, shorting each of the indexes at the peak ‘inversion’ points proves to be a decently successful strategy. Especially so using the Russell 2000.
So the next question to ask is if we are near the peak point of inversion?
To answer this, we have to circle back to research from last week, where we discussed the expected rate path for the Federal Reserve (Fed).
In short, markets seem to be pricing in a Fed pause, followed by a pivot in the coming year. Looking back at the charts, this shift in stance (or pause) highlighted in the top chart generally marks the turning points for the 2y-10y yield curve inversion, highlighted in the bottom chart. Therefore, with markets expecting a pause as early as the first quarter, we suspect that the turning point for the yield curve inversion is just around the corner.
On price action, the 1900 level proves to be of significant resistance, with multiple attempts to break through being rejected. As prices creep towards this resistance level once again, we think this might just provide another attractive opportunity for trading.
Zooming out to a daily timeframe, the 0.382 Fibonacci levels marked by the previous high and low, also coincide close to the resistance levels on the shorter timeframe.
The proven downside volatility, along with the coming turning point in the yield curve inversion, keeps us bearish on the Russell 2000. Additionally, the price action points to significant resistance overhead, around the 1900 level. Setting our stop at 2035 level (one Average True Range away & close to the next resistance level) and take the profit level at 1690, with each 1-point increment in the Russell 2000 futures contract equal to 50$.
The charts above were generated using CME’s Real-Time data available on TradingView. Inspirante Trading Solutions is subscribed to both TradingView Premium and CME Real-time Market Data which allows us to identify trading set-ups in real-time and express our market opinions. 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
Disclaimer:
The contents in this Idea are intended for information purpose only and do not constitute investment recommendation or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products or services. They serve as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate fundamental concepts in risk management under given market scenarios. A full version of the disclaimer is available in our profile description.
IEF ShortTo begin, I am not a Seasoned Trader; I use this blog for:
1. Record keeping; &
2. Formalizing my thoughts
a. If I can't explain simply here, I shldn't engage
To begin, my Rules of Engagement ( RoE ) to identify an upside of +3 to 1 Risk to Reward ( “R/R” ); in this case it may yield a 3.1- 3.94 R/R.
• Asset | IEF ( iShares 7-20 Year US Gov’t Bond )
• Type | Equity
o Alt. Type 1 | Option
• Position | Short
• Entry | $ 100.46
• Stop Loss ( SL ) | $ 102.05
• Bring SL to Zero | n/a
• Target | $ 94.19(-)
• Exp. Time Horizon | ~ x2 FED meetings so Mar-end
• Allocation | 5.00%
• R/R | 3.1- 3.94(+)
To begin, I will highlight the reasons why I am apprehensive about the trade ( the Con’s ) & finish up with the reasons why I’m interested in the position ( the Pro’s ). The issues / thoughts that make me uneasy ( the Con’s ) are:
• I structured it to allow for further moderate appreciation
o I “may” miss hitting the top but I have 1.5 wk’s for that too play out
Now, the reasons I am interested in this position ( the Pro’s ):
• In my blog, you can see the appendix whereby the 10Y can hover lower than the Fed Funds Rate (Upper) by 100 bps before it turns; we are there now
• The FED is either going to raise (25 – 50 bps) or stay fixed in 1.5 wk’s
o I believe they will raise; thus pushing the market down
• Although the date range for the 10Yr Yield goes further, I am playing with the IEF (ETF) so only goes back to July 2002. Nevertheless, that posts a 1.95 standard deviated move which I’ll see as ~2 if it hits my entry & thus happy with that
To summarize, the Tea Leaves & history is telling me to short albeit I may miss it.
Financial Disclaimer | To reiterate, I’m not a Financial Advisor. If you engage based on the contents herein, you will lose money. If you interpret that mean by doing the opposite you will make money, that’s incorrect; you will also lose money.
Thanks for your time; I hope you have a lovely day.
DXY potential LONG SIDEAfter the last three CPI reports that reported better than forecasts, DXY start a corrective move so bad…but we thinks it’s over in view of the macroeconomic aspect as well as technical. Financial markets thinks we will have pivot on monetary policies of Central banks…it’s make not sense by any mean…here on technical we have an nice spike base at 105.500, and 101.400 was touched by a hunting formation and we can expect to THIS MOVE IN WEEK AHEAD.