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Inflation

FTSE 100 reaches seven month high on softer CPIThe FTSE 100 surged in early trading on Wednesday as the latest inflation figures showed consumer prices had risen less than expected in the last 12 months. Headline CPI came in at 3.9% year-over-year in November, the lowest level in two years. Analysts had been expecting the figure to drop to 4.3% from 4.6%. Core inflation also dropped more than expected to 5.1% from 5.7%. The softer data underpinned expectations for the Bank of England to start cutting rates sometime next year. Before the data and the FOMC’s surprise dovish tilt last week, markets were pricing in the first cut from the BoE sometime in the third quarter of 2024. As of Wednesday morning, the first full 25bps cut is priced in for May, but there are 13bps of easing priced in by March. By year-end, markets anticipate 134bps of easing, which would entail five 25bps cuts in 2024. This seems to contradict the messaging that came from the BoE in their meeting last week. The central bank failed to acknowledge rate cuts, going as far as to reiterate that further rate rises could be possible if needed. Markets failed to believe this, and the Federal Reserve is mostly to blame for that. Their unexpected dovish tilt opened the door for other central banks to welcome talk about easing, but neither the BoE nor the ECB took the bait. Regardless, markets see the Fed’s change in position as the turning point in monetary policy across central banks in developed economies, which means they expect the BoE to follow suit sooner or later. The BoE’s reluctance to show a dovish inclination at their meeting on Thursday last week weighed on UK stocks, especially those most sensitive to rates. The FTSE 100 shed over 1% as the central bank remained firm in its hawkish stance, but Wednesday’s softer CPI data has pushed the index to a seven-month high.
CAPITALCOM:UK100
by Capitalcom
Canadian dollar drifting ahead of CPI releaseThe Canadian dollar is showing little movement on Tuesday. In the European session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3382, down 0.13%. We could see stronger movement from the Canadian dollar in the North American session, with the release of the Canadian inflation report. Canada releases the November inflation report later on Tuesday. In October, inflation dropped to 3.1% y/y, down sharply from 3.8%. The market consensus for November stands at 2.9%. Two key core inflation indicators are expected to ease to an average of 3.3%, down from an average of 3.5% in October. A further drop in inflation would be an encouraging sign for the Bank of Canada, which has raised the cash rate to 5.0% but has paused three straight times. The BoC remained hawkish at the December meeting and kept the door open to additional rate hikes but the markets are convinced that the rate-tightening cycle is over and have priced in rate cuts next year, starting in mid-2024. A drop in the November inflation report would bolster expectations for rate cuts next year. If inflation surprises on the upside, it would bolster the Canadian dollar and force the BoC to continue pausing rates at restrictive levels ('higher for lower'). The US dollar has hit a rough patch since the Fed meeting last week when Fed Chair Powell penciled in three rate cuts next year. Traders are far more bullish and have priced in six rate hikes in 2024, starting in March. We're seeing some pushback from the Fed to dampen rate-cut fever in the markets. On Friday, New York Fed President John Williams said a rate cut in March was "premature" and even warned that rates could move higher if inflation were to stall or reverse. Cleveland Fed President Mester said on Monday that the markets are a "bit ahead" of the Fed on rate cuts, as the Fed was focused on how long it would need to maintain rates in restrictive territory, while the markets were focused on rate cuts. USD/CAD is testing support at 1.3363. Below, there is support at 1.3327 There is resistance at 1.3386 and 1.3422
by OANDA
The Great Inflation AGAIN? US Inflation Rate YoY Comparison - ECONOMICS:USIRYY Stark similarities to the beginning of the Great Inflationary Period (GIP) which ranged from 1965 - 1982. The GIP fractal is not a prediction, it only offers us perspective and context. As an example, US Inflation YoY could potentially bounce around between 3 - 4% for another 32 months as it did between 1975 - 1978 before making any major move. This is a scenario I had not considered, an almost 3 year sideways boring consolidation. We will continue to track this chart to see how it compares moving forward into the future. PUKA
ECONOMICS:USIRYY
by PukaCharts
MP Materials: Falling Wedge With Bullish Divergence at a 0.886The Federal Reserve during the FOMC and in its SEP has hinted greatly towards deep rate cuts in 2024 because they see the CPI going down and no longer feel the need to tighten further, and are under the assumption that great progress has been made. I for one do not agree with this perspective and think rates need to go much higher before inflation can truly be subsided. Since the Fed is under what I view as a false assumption, I think we will now see Inflation and the CPI come back up even higher and faster than the first inflationary run up and that we will see this greatly reflected in Food, Energy, and Shipping prices. Along with this, I think it will affect the pricing of Rare Earth Elements which should end up being a positive for the Assets on the balance sheet of producers such as MP Materials, VALE, and US Steel: X, along with the REMX ETF; as demand for ships and other means of shipment/transport increases. The increase in demand for these types of shipments should also drive demand for the materials the shipping vehicles are made of, which should drive the prices higher for both. I do not think Gold and Silver will join this inflationary rally due to the collapse of the Japanese Carry Trade, and I do not believe the Dollar will lose much value during this rally in inflationary materials except against the Yen. This dynamic should also limit the rally potential in the big stock indexes, I only really expect certain names to benefit from the kind of inflation we are dealing with. So in short, I think the Bulk Dry Index continues to rise, Shipping Cost Rise, Ships themselves Rise, Oil Rises, and Rare Earth Materials Rise and when that happens, I suspect the Fed will pivot hard back in the other direction and start raising rates again.
NYSE:MPLong
by RizeSenpai
2
US Financial Markets facing CPI after US Down-Graded to AA+- Emerging Markets are in a paranoid state due to Major US Financial Markets nearing scheduled date of CPI numbers releasing day. Consensus forecasts are anticipating Inflation to steadily go up for the rest of 2023 and entering '24 10'th of August/23 will be a very important day for The Global Financial Markets. Casualties might follow soon due to the turbulence of this frenzy economic environment created. Is US about to enter a recession ? Or do you believe Powell's joke of 'Soft Landing' How about another joke Powell ... Note that US technically had entered recession by two negative consecutive Quarters, however, it got 'saved' by promising growing employment numbers. Seems like Feds are masters at postponing cascading tragedies, great tricksters filled with riddles. With Euro-Zone being officially in Recession for a while now, it's just a matter of time for US fate to be sealed. Why learn economics !? Broader and clearer pictures to strategize your investing/positioning and smaller time frames trading decisions, be it swings, intradays or scalps. Seems like it is enough today for a good poker player and a gambler to trade the markets. How many times can you get lucky in repetitive motion and consider making in to trading for a living ?! Not long . Open your horizons and explore financial literacy to be more in touch with Facade of Financial Markets.
TVC:SPX
by Mr_J__fx
NZD/USD slips ahead of GDP, Fed meetingThe New Zealand dollar is sharply lower in Wednesday trade. In the European session, NZD/USD is trading at 0.6095, down 0.61%. US inflation ticked lower in October as expected and the release was a non-event for the markets, which slightly reduced their rate-cut pricing. Headline CPI climbed 3.1% year-on-year in November, down from 3.2% in October and in line with the market estimate of 3.1%. Core CPI, which is considered a more reliable gauge of inflation trends, climbed 4.0% year-on year in November, unchanged from October. This matched the market estimate of 4.0%. On a monthly basis, both CPI and Core CPI ticked higher. CPI came in at 0.1%, up from 0.0% in October and the core rate also rose from 0.2% to 0.3%. Both readings matched the market estimates. A decline in gasoline prices helped pull down inflation. However, a wide range of goods and services experienced price increases, suggesting that underlying inflation remains sticky. Today's FOMC meeting could provide clues as to what the Fed has in mind in the New Year. The markets have priced in a pause today at close to 100%, so the focus will be the rate statement and Jerome Powell's post-meeting press conference. If Powell is hawkish and pushes back against rate cuts, it could force the market to again reduce rate cut expectations. New Zealand releases GDP for the third quarter on Thursday, with expectations for a weak gain of 0.2% q/q, compared to a sharp gain in Q2 of 0.9%. On an annualized basis, the market consensus stands at 0.5%, following a 1.8% gain in the second quarter. An unexpected reading could have a strong impact on the direction of the New Zealand dollar. NZD/USD is putting pressure on support at 0.6076. Below, there is support at 0.6031 There is resistance at 0.6150 and 0.6195
by OANDA
US CPI Data: Dollar Down As Rate Uncertainty Sustains VolatilityAs the clock ticks towards 13:30 GMT, financial markets are bracing for the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for November, a pivotal metric that provides a snapshot of the current state of the United States economy. The CPI measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services, making it a crucial indicator for gauging inflationary pressures. Against the backdrop of the recent dichotomy in US inflation trends, where rates have reduced from alarming figures in 2021 to a current 3.2%, the forthcoming CPI figures are anticipated to shed light on the continued trajectory. This reduction in inflation, although positive for economic stability, has occurred alongside a somewhat unconventional stance by the Federal Reserve. Traditionally, central banks opt to raise interest rates to curb spending and counteract inflation. However, the US Federal Reserve has maintained a steadfast position in increasing interest rates for over a year, even as inflation trends abate. This seemingly contradictory approach has prompted speculation within financial circles, with analysts debating the motives behind the prolonged interest rate hikes. The anticipated November CPI data is expected to show a 3.1% year-on-year increase, a slight dip from the 3.2% recorded in October. Additionally, annual Core CPI inflation is forecasted to remain steady at 4% for November. These figures will be closely scrutinised to discern any shifts or continuations in the recent trends. Interestingly, the foreign exchange market has already signalled early sentiments ahead of the CPI release. The British pound exhibited strength against the US dollar in the early hours of the London session, reaching a value of 1.2580 at FXOpen. This movement is an intriguing indicator of market sentiment and may reflect expectations or reactions to the anticipated CPI figures. As the financial community awaits the unveiling of the November CPI data, the juxtaposition of decreasing inflation and persistent interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve adds an element of complexity to the economic narrative. The numbers released will not only impact currency markets but will also influence broader economic outlooks and potentially shape future policy decisions. This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
by FXOpen
1
GBP/USD drifting ahead of US inflationThe British pound is drifting on Tuesday. In the European session, GBP/USD is trading at 1.2551, down 0.04%. Tuesday's UK employment report was notable for the decline in wage growth. Earnings excluding bonuses rose 7.3% in the three months to October, down from 7.8% in the three months to September. This was lower than the consensus estimate of 7.4%. Wage growth is an important driver of inflation and the decline is an encouraging sign for the Bank of England. Still, earnings are rising much faster than inflation, which suggests that the BoE won't be cutting interest rates anytime soon. Inflation has fallen to 4.6%, but this is more than double the Bank's target of 2%. The BoE will announce its latest rate decision on Thursday and is widely expected to hold the cash rate at 5.25%. Governor Bailey has warned that rates could remain in restrictive territory for an extended period, but the markets are marching to a dovish tune and have priced in three rate cuts in 2024. Bailey has come out against expectations about rate cuts and we could see the BoE push back against rate cut speculation at the Thursday meeting. The US releases November CPI later today, with a consensus estimate of 3.0% y/y, compared to 3.2% in October. Monthly, CPI is expected to remain flat, unchanged from October. Core CPI, which has been running higher than the headline rate, is projected to remain unchanged at 4.0% y/y. Monthly, the core rate is expected to inch higher to 0.3%, up from 0.2% in October. The Fed is widely expected to hold rates at a range of 5%-5.25% at the Wednesday meeting, but the inflation release could be a key factor as to what the Fed does in the upcoming months. There is a major disconnect between the markets, which have priced in four rate cuts in 2024, and the Fed, which is insisting that the door remains open to further hikes. A strong inflation report could chill market expectations for rate hikes, while a soft inflation release will provide support for the market stance and could force the Fed to reconsider its hawkish position. GBP/USD is putting pressure on resistance at 1.25, followed by 1.2682 1.2484 and 1.2369 are the next support levels
by OANDA
USDX: Thoughts and Analysis Pre-US CPIToday's focus: USDX Pattern – LH Resistance push Support – 102.45 Resistance – 104.12 - 104.35 Hi, and thanks for checking out today's update. Today, we are looking at USDX on the daily chart. Today's video asks if USDX will continue to remain below resistance and possibly break lower if today's CPI data comes in lower than expected. We are mainly focused on the resistance areas and the current LH that has formed around the supply and resistance areas discussed in our video update. We have also noted some bullish price action; if CPI rises to the upside, this could set up a new continuation higher. But for now, as noted in today's video, we will continue to look at the resistance holds and the current trend of CPI declines on the y/y. US CPI data is due on Wednesday at 8:30 am EST or 12:30 pm AEDT. Good trading.
EIGHTCAP:USDXShort
by Eightcap
A Holly Jolly Inflation OutlookLast Friday's University of Michigan Survey of Consumers revealed some surprising bullish trends as we head into the heart of the holiday season. November’s 69.4 sentiment score, the highest since August, was a massive jump from 61.3 in October, making a positive change in how consumers feel about the state of the economy. Within the report, though, is what really raised eyebrows on trading desks to wrap up last week. My chart of the week is UMich 1-year inflation expectations. At 3.1%, it was the softest outlook for inflation since March 2021 and the biggest monthly drop since 2001. The stunning reversal comes amid rapidly falling gasoline prices. Bigger picture, the 5-year inflation outlook also came in tame at just 2.8%, tying for the lowest figure since July 2021. It’s all music to the Fed’s ears ahead of this week’s key December FOMC meeting. Bond traders widely expect no change in the policy rate, but households’ collective outlook for lower inflation means they could be less aggressive in asking for significant wage increases in the new year, thus squashing the chance of a wage-price inflation spiral to take place in the coming quarters. What does it mean for investors? It is yet another sign that inflation should continue its downward trajectory. Headline CPI is seen printing 0.0% for November, following October’s goose egg, while core prices are forecast to have risen by 0.3% last month. I assert this good news should help get the usually bullish back half of the December period off to a strong start, and the Santa Claus Rally period (the last five trading days of the year followed by the first two sessions of the new year) appear on track for gains.
ECONOMICS:USMIE1YLong
by mikezaccardi
GC: Gold Reaches Record High on Hope of Fed Rate CutsCOMEX: Gold Options ( COMEX:GC1! ) Gold prices rallied to an all-time high on Friday. Spot gold climbed 1.6% to $2,069 per ounce, up 3.4% for the week. Gold price rose to $2,075 mid-session to beat the previous record of $2,072 reached in 2020. U.S. gold futures also broke new ground. The February 2024 contract of COMEX gold futures settled at a record high of $2,089.7, up 1.6% for the week. On Friday, gold futures trade volume was 259,889 lots, with open interest standing at 498,685 contracts. Options on the COMEX gold futures also attracted investor attention. On Friday, total options volume was 92,906, up 112% from the prior day. Open interest was 806,297 lots. For the lead February 2024 contracts, investors bought 19,565 call options and 6,894 put options. A call-to-put ratio of 2.83:1 indicates that investors are very bullish on gold. Gold prices have been pumped up on investor hype that the Federal Reserve may have completed its monetary tightening policy and could start cutting rates as early as March. How high could gold price go? Since last year, I have written extensively about gold on TradingView. Let’s revisit the fundamental drivers of the global gold market. Gold as an Inflation Hedge Gold has historically been an excellent hedge against inflation because its price tends to rise when the cost-of-living increases. The US CPI Index has a base value of 100 set at 1982-1984. Its latest reading in October is 307.7. Over the last 40 years, the cost of US goods and services has tripled on average. The year-end gold price between 1982 and 1984 averaged $378. As of Friday, the bullion gained 447% for the same period. Over the long run, investing in gold does beat inflation. Gold as a Precious Metal As a commodity, gold is negatively correlated to the US dollar. Since gold is priced in dollar, a strong dollar raises the cost for foreign investors who must pay more with weakened foreign currency. This reduces the demand for gold. “Strong Dollar, Weak Commodities” is the general theme in global commodities market, gold included. A closely related theme is “Higher Rates, Lower Prices”. Higher interest rates and Treasury bond yields raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold. Unlike other commodities, gold is not consumed or used up every year. Therefore, gold mining output is not a major factor in the pricing of gold. Gold as a Safe Haven Investment Gold retains its value in times of both financial chaos and geopolitical crises. People flee to its relative safety when world tensions rise. During such times, gold often outperforms other investments. In the past two decades, gold price peaked during the 2008 financial crisis, the 2010 European debt crisis, the 2018-19 US-China trade conflict, the outbreak of COVID pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the March 2023 U.S. bank run. Gold as an Investment Class As an investment class, gold competes for investor money along with stocks, bonds, cryptos and money-market funds. Even at record high, gold gained only 13.2% year-to-date, underperforming S&P 500 (+19.6%), Nasdaq 100 (+46.4%) and Bitcoin (+136.0%). A False Narrative on Monetary Easing The recent rise in the stocks and gold is largely shaped by the changes in market sentiment. Investors believe that the Fed is shifting gears from restricted to easing policy. Looking back in the past two years, market sentiment might not be the most reliable gauge of the Fed’s next step of action. The market has called for the Fed Pivot prematurely and incorrectly multiple times. We will need to wait and see what’s happening next. In his speech at Spelman College in Atlanta on Friday, the Fed Chair said that “the risks of under- and over-tightening are becoming more balanced,” but the Fed is not thinking about lowering rates right now. Investors focus on the current rate well into restrictive territory, but pointedly ignore the warning that it was premature to speculate on easing rates. The confirmation bias is at work here. They hear what they want to hear and create a new narrative that rate cuts will come sooner. Pricing in 5-6 rate cuts in a year is very aggressive. The Fed Chair has been accused of being too late to act, seeing inflation transitory earlier on. When it comes to cutting rates, the Fed would be very cautious, and at a very slow and measured pace. Trading Opportunities with Gold Options Market fundamentals haven’t changed. Market sentiment, however, has shifted. The aggressive rate-cut assumption has the effect of lowering the expected interest rates. This helps raise the present value of future cash flows. Hence, stock value goes up. Lower bond yield reduces the disadvantage of holding the non-yielding gold, and the US dollar weakening makes gold more attractive to foreign buyers. This bull market is vulnerable. If investors adjust their rate-cut assumptions from 5-6 to 2-3 times, the market could turn nosediving. However, investors set their sight on rate cuts and will not abandon it until the fact rejects the false narrative. Gold has a so-called “Santa Claus rally” and could continue for a while. The Fed Chair’s statement could become more convincing if: • Nonfarm payroll stays strong (December 8th) • CPI stops falling (December 12th) • The Fed keeps rate unchanged and emphasizes on fighting inflation (December 13th) Options on COMEX Gold Futures (GC) could be a cost-efficient and risk-mitigated way to express one’s opinion on how quickly the Fed would cut rates. Each options contract is based on 1 futures contract and has a notional value of 100 troy ounces of gold. At $2,089.7, each contract is worth $208,970. For illustration purpose: For the February 2024 contract, an out-of-the-money (OTM) call at 2190 ($100 above futures price) is quoted at 18.80. To acquire 1 call options requires an upfront premium of $1,880 (= 18.80 x 100 ounces). An OTM put at 1990 ($100 below futures price) is quoted at 9.00. To acquire 1 put requires an upfront premium of $900 (= 9.00 x 100 ounces). Options premium is significantly lower than futures margin, which stands at $7,800 per contract. It’s a fraction of the cost if you were to buy 100 ounces of gold in the spot market. If the trader buys a call and gold futures goes up, his account will increase in value. Unlike investing in spot gold or gold futures, the payoff in options is nonlinear, determining by the Black-Scholes option model. Similarly, when the trader buys a put and gold futures declines, he would also make a profit. On the flip side, the trader could lose money if the market moves against him. But the maximum loss is capped at the upfront premium. 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
COMEX:GC1!
by JimHuangChicago
7
EUR/USD drops ahead of eurozone CPIThe euro is in negative territory in Thursday trade. In the European session, EUR/USD is trading at 1.0940, down 0.27%. Germany's inflation rate declined sharply in November and the eurozone is up next, with the November inflation report later today. German inflation dropped to 3.2% y/y in November, down from 3.8% in October and below expectations. This was the lowest inflation rate since June 2021 and was driven by lower food and energy inflation. Will eurozone inflation follow suit? The markets are expecting a modest decline for November. Headline inflation is expected to fall to 2.7%, down from 2.9% in October, and the core is expected to ease to 3.9%, down from 4.2% in October. If inflation falls modestly as expected, it is unlikely to cause the ECB to reconsider its rate policy. The markets have priced in a rate cut in May 2024 and a softer-than-expected print would likely result in the odds of a rate cut being brought forward. The ECB has signalled a 'higher for longer policy', as have the Federal Reserve and other major central banks. Even though inflation has been dropping, it remains considerably higher than the ECB's 2% target and the central bank hasn't given any indications of a rate cut. Investors will be looking for hints about rate policy from ECB President Christine Lagarde, who will speak today at an ECB forum in Frankfurt after the eurozone inflation release. In the US, second-estimate GDP for the third quarter was revised to 5.2%, up from the initial estimate of 4.9%. The strong reading should ease fears of a recession but also provides the Fed with little reason to trim rates while inflation remains well above the 2% target. The Fed has signalled a 'higher for longer' stance on rates but the markets are more dovish and have priced in a rate hike in March 2024 at 45%, according to the CME's FedWatch tool. EUR/USD is putting pressure on support at 1.0920. Below, there is support at 1.0873 1.0986 and 1.1033 are the next resistance lines
by OANDA
EUR/USD dips as German inflation declinesThe euro is showing limited movement on Wednesday. In the North American session, EUR/USD is trading at 1.0984, down 0.11%. Gerrmany's inflation rate dropped more than expected, coming in at 3.2% y/y in November. This was down considerably from 3.8% in October and below the market consensus of 3.5%. This was the lowest inflation rate since June 2021 and was driven by lower food and energy inflation. Services inflation eased to 3.4%, down from 3.9%. Core inflation dropped to 3.8%, down from 4.3% in October. There's a lot to like in this inflation print and ECB policy makers will no doubt be pleased as German inflation continues to fall. The next text is on Thursday, with the release of eurozone inflation for November. Headline inflation is expected to fall to 2.7%, down from 2.9%, and the core is expected to ease to 3.9%, down from 4.2%. The ECB has signalled a 'higher for longer policy', as have the Federal Reserve and other major central banks. Even though inflation has been dropping, it remains higher than the ECB's 2% target, and the central bank hasn't given any indications of a rate cut. The markets are more dovish and have priced in a rate cut as early as May. If eurozone CPI follows the German release and declines more than expected, we could see the odds of a rate cut brought forward ahead of May. The US economy provided another reminder today that the economy is in strong shape. US GDP (second estimate) climbed an impressive 5.2% y/y in the third quarter, the strongest quarter since Q4 2021. The release beat the market consensus of 5.0% and was higher than the preliminary estimate of 4.9%. The economy showed marked improvement compared to the second quarter, which had growth of just 2.1%. EUR/USD is testing support at 1.0986. Below, there is support at 1.0920 1.1033 and 1.1099 are providing support
by OANDA
How the Grinch Stole Black FridayCME: E-Mini S&P 500 Options ( CME_MINI:ES1! ), E-Mini Nasdaq 100 Options ( CME_MINI:NQ1! ) Initial data from the biggest U.S. shopping day sends a mixed signal. • E-commerce sales on Friday increased by 8.5% year-over-year, while in-store sales grew by just 1.1%, according to MasterCard Spendingpulse. The aggregate Black Friday retail sales rose 2.5%, excluding automotive sales and not adjusted for inflation. • Adobe Analytics estimated that Black Friday shoppers spent a record $9.8 billion in U.S. online sales, up 7.5% from last year, according to Bloomberg. • Brokerage TD Cowen lowered its U.S. holiday spending estimate to 2-3% growth, from 4-5%, as it forecasts flat Black Friday traffic. On Friday, I toured a dozen stores in Alton, Illinois, a small midwestern town where the Illinois River and Missouri River merge and form the mighty Mississippi. My trip covers big box retailers Kohl and Target, discount retailer Walmart, home improvement store Home Depot, specialty store Big Lot, thrift stores Dollar Tree and Goodwill, and the Alton Square Mall. My unscientific survey reveals some common patterns: unfilled parking lot, low frequency of shoppers coming in and out, no crowd in the store, and a short wait line at the checkout counter. What’s missing this year are the deeply discounted and limited quantity Big Ticket merchandises that drive shoppers to the stores at 5:00 a.m. After taking the 4% core CPI into account, the real growth in Black Friday sales comes to a negative number. Shoppers are paying more for fewer merchandises. The Grinch who stole the show is inflation. While inflation rate has been in decline this year, it only means a slower rate of price increase. The absolute price level continues rising. CPI for All Urban Consumers is 307.7 in October 2023, up from 252.9 in October 2018. The cumulative price increase in the last five years is 21.7%. While online sales is very robust, in-store purchases are more subdued. However, even though Black Friday is not as exciting as it used to be, U.S. consumers are remarkedly resilient when it comes to holiday shopping. When cash saving is depleted, they tap into credit card borrowing. Once credit limit is maxed out, they opt for the “buy now pay later” option offered by many stores and payment apps. As long as the job market stays strong, the deterioration of consumer spending will be a slow process. In my writing last week, I hypothesized that the U.S. retail sector could collapse if holiday shopping falters. With a mixed signal from Black Friday, we need to monitor Cyber Monday and the rest of the holiday shopping season to validate this claim. Year-to-date Performance by Asset Class As we are fast approaching the end of 2023, I want to pause and compare how major market assets performed so far. Below are year-to-date returns, ranking from high to low, for eight financial instruments. They each represent a major asset class: 1. Bitcoin (Cryptocurrency): +132.2% 2. S&P 500 (Equity Index): +18.8% 3. Gold (Precious Metal): +8.5% 4. Euro (Forex): +3.1% 5. Copper (Base Metal): +0.6% 6. WTI (Energy): -1.8% 7. 10-Year Bond (Fixed Income): -9.0% 8. Corn (Agricultural): -30.9% The stock market has an above-average annual gain, while cryptocurrencies have out-of-the-chart extraordinary performance. The rest of the asset classes either have mediocre returns or lost money for investors. One may tend to think what’s flying high now will continue to fly high. Is that true? Back testing this using the 2022 annual return, we will see completely different ranking: 1. Corn (Agricultural): +13.8% 2. Gold (Precious Metal): +2.6% 3. WTI (Energy): -0.7% 4. Euro (Forex): -6.2% 5. Copper (Base Metal): -14.8% 6. S&P 500 (Equity Index): +19.6% 7. 10-Year Bond (Fixed Income): -20.0% 8. Bitcoin (Cryptocurrency): -63.8% Corn, the loss-leader in 2023, was the champion star performer in 2022. Bitcoin lost the most last year, then rebounded and climbed the highest this year. Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. We can’t emphasize enough this plain simple truth. The Battle between the Fed and Market Expectation The Fed’s rate decision remains the single most important factor that drives market direction. Currently, investors price in an aggressive rate-cutting schedule for the Fed, while the Fed adapts to a step-by-step approach to rate decision-making. As time goes by, market expectation and the Fed decision will have to converge. We may not know who will give in first, but jobs and inflation data released ahead of the Fed meeting could carry invaluable insight. In my writeup, “Fed Pivot Breathes Life into Markets”, published on November 6th, I explored the idea of using stock index options to trade the events of big reports. The November jobs report will be released on December 8th, and the November CPI data will be published on December 12th. These big reports, available to the Fed right before the December 15th FOMC, could have a major impact on its rate decision. Consider this: Stock market volatility is at a 3-year low. VIX is currently quoting 12.5, down from about 26 in March. You could find asset-specific volatility using CME Group’s CVOL data. We know that options value is positively correlated with volatility. A low volatility suppressed the premium of both call and put options. My theory: The cost of acquiring options is getting lower. If a big report comes in beyond market expectation, volatility could spike, making the options more valuable. What’s more: with stock indexes trending up, put options get even cheaper. Therefore, the time may be ripe to trade the options on CME E-Mini stock index futures. CME E-Mini S&P 500 index futures ( NYSE:ES ) has a notional value of $50 times the index. With the underlying December futures ESZ3 settled at 4568.25 last Friday, an out-of-the-money (OTM) put options with the strike price of 4500 is quoted 21.50. An OTC call with 4650-strike is quoted 13.00. To acquire one put options, a trader will pay a premium of $1,075 (= 50 x 21.50) up front. The cost of one call options is $650 (=50 x 13.00). CME E-Mini Nasdaq index futures ( SEED_ALEXDRAYM_SHORTINTEREST2:NQ ) has a notional value of $20 times the index. With the December futures NQZ3 settled at 16,011, an OTM put options with a 15,500-strike is quoted 66.75. An OTC call with a 16,500-strike is quoted 49.50. To acquire one put options, a trader will pay a premium of $1,335 (= 20 x 66.75) up front. The cost of one call options is $990 (=20 x 49.50). If ES and NQ rise, call options would become more valuable, while put options decline in value. When the market turns against the trader, he could lose money, up to but not beyond the upfront premium. Similarly, if ES and NQ fall, put options would gain while call options lose out. When the trader is wrong, he could lose money, up to but not beyond the upfront premium. 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
CME_MINI:NQ1!
by JimHuangChicago
GOLD - Short Squeeze Similar to 2008 ?Hi Traders, Investors and Speculators of the Charts 📈📉 Ev here. Been trading crypto since 2017 and later got into stocks. I have 3 board exams on financial markets and studied economics from a top tier university for a year. In today's analysis, let's discuss the recent surge in gold. Have we seen this before or is it dejavu? In light of the recent fears concerning the banking system, gold has been increasing rapidly. Bitcoin follows on it's heels as many investors diversify into crypto. (Please check out related ideas below, I did a comprehensive update on the SVB collapse). Now let's get call it what it is - a short squeeze. A short squeeze is a situation that can occur in the trading of commodities, stocks or other financial assets where investors who have bet against a particular asset (by shorting) are forced to buy back the asset at a higher price than they initially sold it for. This can happen when there is a sudden surge in demand for the asset, causing its price to rise sharply, which then triggers a chain reaction of buying by short sellers who need to cover their positions. To understand how a short squeeze works, let's start with a brief overview of short selling. Short selling is a trading strategy in which investors sell borrowed shares of an asset, hoping to buy them back at a lower price in the future. The idea is to profit from a decline in the asset's price, as the short seller can buy back the shares at a lower price than they sold them for, pocketing the difference as profit. However, short selling is inherently risky, as there is no limit to how much the asset's price can rise. If the price of the asset increases, short sellers may be forced to buy back the shares at a higher price than they sold them for, resulting in a loss. Now, let's assume that a large number of investors have sold a particular asset short, betting that its price will fall. If the asset's price starts to rise instead, these short sellers may start to feel pressure to buy back the shares to cover their positions, as they do not want to incur further losses. As more and more short sellers start to buy back the asset, its price may continue to rise even further, which can create a feedback loop. This, in turn, can trigger more short sellers to buy back the asset, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of buying that can drive the price up even higher. At some point, the short sellers may become desperate to cover their positions, as they fear the asset's price will continue to rise. This can lead to a sudden surge in demand for the asset, which can cause its price to skyrocket. This sudden increase in demand for the asset, driven by short sellers trying to cover their positions, is what is known as a short squeeze. The short sellers are "squeezed" out of their positions, as they are forced to buy back the asset at a higher price than they initially sold it for. A short squeeze can happen after a strong bullish surge because gold is a popular asset for short sellers to bet against. Short sellers often sell gold futures contracts or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with the expectation that the price of gold will fall, allowing them to buy back the contracts or ETFs at a lower price and pocket the difference as profit. However, if the price of gold starts to rise unexpectedly, these short sellers may become nervous and begin to buy back their positions to limit their losses. As more and more short sellers buy back their positions, this creates additional buying pressure, which can push the price of gold even higher. If the price of gold continues to rise, some short sellers may become desperate to cover their positions, as they fear that the price will continue to increase and their losses will mount. This can lead to a short squeeze, as short sellers compete with each other to buy back gold contracts or ETFs, driving the price even higher. Additionally, a short squeeze in the gold market can be exacerbated by the fact that gold is often seen as a safe-haven asset , particularly during times of economic uncertainty or geopolitical tension. During such periods, demand for gold can surge, leading to a sharp rise in its price. This can create a situation where short sellers are caught off guard and forced to cover their positions at a loss, which in turn can drive the price of gold even higher. One notable example of a short squeeze in the gold market occurred in the early 1980s. In the late 1970s, gold prices had surged due to high inflation, political uncertainty, and a weak US dollar. However, by the early 1980s, inflation had begun to decline and the US dollar had strengthened, leading many investors to believe that gold prices would fall. As a result, a large number of investors began to sell gold short, betting that prices would decline. However, in January 1980, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, leading to a spike in geopolitical tensions and a surge in gold prices. This caused some short sellers to begin buying back gold in order to limit their losses, which in turn led to further price increases. As the short sellers continued to buy back gold, other investors began to take notice and also started buying, leading to a widespread short squeeze that caused gold prices to soar to an all-time high of $850 per ounce in January 1980. This short squeeze ultimately led to significant losses for many investors who had bet against gold, while those who had held long positions in the metal enjoyed substantial profits. During past short squeezes in the gold market, prices have risen significantly, sometimes reaching all-time highs. For example, as I mentioned earlier, in January 1980, gold prices reached an all-time high of $850 per ounce during a short squeeze. Another example occurred during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, when investors flocked to gold as a safe-haven asset amid market turmoil. In March 2008, gold was trading around $900 per ounce, but by September 2011, it had reached an all-time high of $1,920 per ounce. Can it be possible to see something similar to this over the next few months ? In other words, be careful to short gold at resistance. This is exactly what would seems like a logical scenario after a period of upward trading, but we're trading at ATH's and in uncharted territory, so who can say where the next resistance zone is? It's important to note that short squeezes are unpredictable events and can be influenced by various market conditions and factors. Additionally, historical price movements may not necessarily indicate future price movements. Therefore, it's always important to conduct thorough research and seek professional financial advice before making any investment decisions. _______________________ 📢Follow us here on TradingView for daily updates and trade ideas on crypto , stocks and commodities 💎Hit like & Follow 👍 We thank you for your support ! CryptoCheck
TVC:GOLDLong
by CryptoCheck-
39
EUR/USD steady as German GDP contractsThe euro is almost unchanged on Friday. In the European session, EUR/USD is trading at 1.0903, down 0.03%. German GDP posted a minor drop in the third quarter, coming in at -0.1% q/q. This was down slightly from -0.1% in the second quarter and matched the market consensus. On an annualized basis, GDP declined by 0.4%, down from a revised o.1% gain in Q2 and missing the market consensus of -0.3%. The consumer spending component of GDP decelerated in the third quarter and was a key driver of the decline in GDP. German consumers remain in a sour mood and are being squeezed by rising interest rates and a high inflation rate of 3.8%. The German business sector is also pessimistic about economic conditions. The Ifo Business Climate index managed to climb to 87.3 in November, up from 86.9 in October but below the market consensus of 87.5. A reading below 100 indicates that a majority of the companies surveyed expect business conditions to deteriorate in the next six months. Earlier this week, German services and manufacturing PMIs pointed came in below 50, which points to contraction. The manufacturing sector is particularly weak and has been in decline since June 2022. It has been a relatively light week for US releases, with markets back in action after the Thanksgiving holiday. Later today, the US releases manufacturing and services PMIs, with little change expected. Still, the markets will be watching carefully, as the data will provide insights into the strength of the US economy. The consensus estimates for November are 49.8 for manufacturing (Oct: 50.0) and 50.4 for services (Oct. 49.8). If the readings diverge significantly from the estimates, we could see some strong movement from the US dollar before the weekend. There is resistance at 1.0943 and 1.0997 1.0831 and 1.0748 are providing support
by OANDA
GBP/USD rises after Bailey's hawkish remarksThe British pound continues to rally on Tuesday after recording back-to-back winning days. In the North American session, GBP/USD is trading at 1.2544, up 0.33%. Earlier, the pound touched a high of 1.2559, its highest level since September 6th. Bank of England Governor Bailey testified before the Parliament's Treasury Committee earlier today. Bailey had a clear message for the markets, warning that they were underestimating inflation and "putting too much weight" on the fact that headline inflation is in decline. Headline CPI dropped to 4.6% in October, down sharply from 6.7% in September. However, much of that slide is due to falling energy prices. The BoE is more concerned with core CPI and services prices which remain stubbornly high - core CPI dropped from 6.1% to 5.7% in October. With the battle against inflation clearly not over, Bailey is pushing back hard against market speculation of a rate cut in mid-2024 and has said that cuts remain a long way off. The BoE is still concerned about inflation risks, such as the Israel-Hamas war and a possible spike in energy or food costs. The markets, which have priced in three rate cuts in 2024, are focused on the poor economic outlook and the risk of a recession, which should dampen any appetite in the BoE to raise interest rates. The Federal Reserve releases the minutes of the November meeting later today. At the meeting, the Fed maintained rates at 5.25%-5.50% for a second straight time and the markets are confident that the Fed is done with tightening and will trim rates in mid-2024. However, the Fed is in no mood to talk rate cuts, with inflation still well above the 2% target. At the meeting, Powell sounded hawkish, saying that inflation was still too high and that the Fed was prepared to raise rates if necessary. The minutes will likely bear a  similar hawkish message and that could provide a boost to the US dollar. GBP/USD is testing resistance at 1.2476. Above, there is resistance at 1.2575 1.2394 and 1.2312 are the next support levels
by OANDA
US CPI UpdateUS CPI US Headline and Core CPI for October both came in lower than expected (decrease). US Headline CPI: YoY – Actual 3.24% / Exp. 3.3% / Prev. 3.7% (Green on cha rt) US Core CPI: YoY – Actual 4.02% / Exp. 4.2% / Prev. 4.13% (Blue on chart) The chart below illustrates the direction of the current YoY down trend for both Headline and Core CPI however we are still not at the historical moderate levels of inflation desired. You can see these moderate levels of inflation between 1 – 3% from 2002 – 2020 below. Nice to see the Core CPI come down, almost down, into the moderate historical averages PUKA
ECONOMICS:USIRYY
by PukaCharts
Market Update - November 17th 2023 Bitcoin and ether dip early, but recoup some gains later in the week: Bitcoin and ether had a sudden drop on Tuesday as equity markets roared following a favorable inflation report. Both cryptos, however, retraced losses quickly. Ether was also boosted on Thursday as BlackRock filed its S-1 for a spot ether ETF with the SEC. Solana’s upward trajectory continues as Cathie Wood touts the network: Solana gained ~8% this week as ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood praised the network’s speed and cost-effectiveness in a CNBC interview. Solana has rallied ~150% over the past 30 days and is up more than ~325% over the past year. Equity markets soar as inflation cooled in October: Lower-than-expected inflation data released on Tuesday fueled a strong rally across equities, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both gaining over 2% on the day. The favorable inflation data suggests we may be nearing the end of the Fed's interest rate hiking cycle, which has brought rates to a 22-year high. Avalanche partners with JPMorgan and Apollo to bring blockchain to portfolio management: Avalanche announced a partnership with J.P. Morgan and Apollo Global Management during this week’s Singapore Fintech Festival to use blockchain technology in portfolio management. The initiative, overseen by the Singapore Monetary Authority’s (MAS) Project Guardian, plans to leverage blockchain smart contracts and tokenization to automate and simplify portfolio management. 📜 Topic of the Week: Private and Consortium Blockchains 🫱 Read more here
GEMINI:BTCUSD
by Gemini