Will the theme of weak demand and oversupply dampen oil prospectMacro theme:
- Oil prices have declined since last week as investors expect an OPEC+ supply increase in Oct and a potential deal in Libya to resume production, possibly adding over 500,000 barrels per day.
- Weak economic data from China, including Tue's ISM Manufacturing PMI, highlighted the country's sluggish recovery, fuelling calls for more stimulus.
- Concerns over China's weak demand and the prospect of increased supply are likely to keep oil prices under pressure in the short term.
Technical theme:
- USOIL tested EMAs' area confluence with 77.00 resistance before breaking below 71.50 support to maintain a bearish structure.
- If USOIL maintains below the 71.50 level, the price may continue to decline to test 67.80 support.
- On the contrary, if USOIL can close above 71.50, the price may retrace to retest its EMA21 along with the upper bound of its descending channel.
Macroeconomics
Possible forecast for BTC (Long-Term Movement)Just simply using fractals of BTC's own movements to map out what looks like a good chance of happening over the next 6 years. Crash in 2030 allowing for a new cycle of investors to jump in? Teasing between 87K and 13K allowing for high volatility and short/long sweeps. Provides room and time for the web3 and alt-coin market to gain momentum, usage, and volume. We will see!
*NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE | FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY
The market is impossible to predict. Anything can happen in the next 5 - 6 years. This is the most level-headed and realistic forecast IMO.
What do y'all think? :)
Comment your thoughts!
The case for investing in ChinaThe case for investing in China
I have had discussions on this platform about my investments in China, the overwhelming response I get is negative. In this article I would like to try and provide an objective, data focused case to invest in China. In a soon coming article I will look at the opposite position and the potential risks of investing in China.
Less competition
The first reason to consider investments in China is that there are less people searching there, and as a result more opportunities. Approximately 10%-15% of Chinese citizens own or invest in stocks. With so few people even looking at the Chinese market the amount of stocks trading below fair value is greater than that in my home country of the United States.
Valuations
The idea that there are more opportunities is reflected in the average valuation of Chinese equities. A metric I like to use for broad valuations is the CAPE ratio. It can be understood as the P/E ratio using 10 years of earnings. This ratio is used in an attempt to disregard cyclical earnings changes.
worldpopulationreview.com
The above link is the current CAPE ratios of countries around the world based on the most recent available data. At the current date 08/23/2024 China has a CAPE ratio of 13. This is compared with a CAPE ratio of 28 in the United States. In the following article I often refer to is data showing the average returns when investing at different CAPE ratios. In short the data shows that there is a substantial correlation between valuations and subsequent investment returns.
www.lynalden.com
Economic Data
Now there are many things to discuss in this section so I will do my best to keep it brief and to the main points on why I invest in China.
Personal Savings Rate : China's personal savings rate averages around 40%. This is in contrast to the United States at 3.5% consistently.
Balance of Trade: Since the year 2000 China has maintained large trade surpluses as a result of their massive manufacturing output (30% of global manufacturing capacity). This is a result of their hybrid state and market run economy. China's protectionist industrial policy allowed them to develop their own local industry offering the only real competitors to Silicon Valley tech firms.
In contrast the United States has had a trade deficit since the 1980's forcing us to de-industrialize and in return create a fictionalized economy based on debt and speculation. The US system requires constant inflows of capital to maintain it's currency and economic supremacy.
These are the two data points I would point to to get an idea of why China has overtaken the US as the worlds largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity (their local currency) as well as the two points I bring up the most. I hope I have given a different perspective of the Chinese economy.
Stay tuned for the bearish case of investing in China, and have a great day!
ETH - Macro Overview WATHOUT !!!Macro outlook remains BULLISH
Previous report we mentioned RSI which broke bearish… It has now reached the 50 retrace which should act as support. Of course it could go lower but as long as we maintain RSI above 50 it's all good.
For now, the price broke bearishly. It is crucial to reclaim back above $2,800 for further upside. If $2,800 acts as resistance then we could easily create a trading range from $2,800-$2,000 and dip as low as $1,600 and still be completely bullish (this will be the ONCE IN A LIFETIME LONG opportunity).
Any trades to be made right now? NO, price looks like it wants to revisit $2,000 again. There are no clear trading setups right now. We’ll rather stay on the sidelines for now and jump in once we see more confluence.
Is This the Start of a Recession? Why You Shouldn’t PanicMarkets have been selling off amid the latest fears of a recession, with the NASDAQ dropping over 10% and Bitcoin dropping over 20% in just a matter of days. Last Friday’s unemployment report further affirmed investors’ sentiment, exceeding expectations by 0.2% and sparking one of the biggest rotations of capital since the COVID crash. Investors are gearing up for tough times by flocking to bonds and panic-selling risky assets, but has a recession really begun? Should you panic?
Understanding the Economic Data
Recent unemployment numbers have triggered the Sahm Rule Recession Indicator, created by Claudia Sahm in 2019 to identify recessions as they start. This indicator is triggered when the three-month simple moving average (SMA) of the US unemployment rate rises by 0.5% above the lowest rate observed over the past year. Despite its growing popularity, it’s important to note that this tool has never actually identified any recessions in real time, except for the 2020 recession.
In contrast, more established indicators like the Smoothed U.S. Recession Probabilities, developed by Marcelle Chauvet and James Hamilton in 1998, have not indicated that the economy is currently in a recession. Unlike the Sahm Rule, this nearly 26-year-old tool, which relies on complex calculations and various datasets, accurately identified the 2001 and 2008 recessions in real time.
Moreover, recessions in the US typically occur when the US Composite Leading Indicator (CLI) is on a downward trend, which hasn’t happened yet. This further suggests that other indicators besides the unemployment rate aren’t currently showing signs of concern.
Even though the unemployment rate has risen sharply, other leading unemployment indicators, such as initial claims and continued claims, remain at historically low levels. Typically, these leading indicators rise sharply before a substantial increase in the unemployment rate, not the other way around.
With the market pricing in substantial rate cuts following the unemployment numbers, yields have dropped, increasing the spread between the short and long ends of the yield curve. Historically, recessions haven’t usually unfolded during inverted yield curves.
Additionally, expected looser monetary policy from the Fed combined with surprisingly tighter monetary policy from the BOJ pushed the DXY substantially lower. This resulted in a breakout in global liquidity, which is inversely correlated with the DXY and serves as a helpful indicator of future trends in risk assets.
Understanding the Market Trends
While the real economy hints that we are likely not currently in a recession, it’s crucial to examine the charts to better understand the downside risks and how to position oneself in order to stay on the right side of market risk. The spike in the VIX and the put-to-call ratio on Monday indicated extremely fearful sentiment, which historically suggests limited downside risk and the potential for a short-term rebound.
The sudden surge in fear was reflected in the sharp increase in bond prices as investors shifted from high-risk to low-risk assets. With bullish short-term and long-term trends since early June, bond prices have reached overbought conditions, suggesting they are likely to slow down in the short term but continue outperforming in the long term, aligning with market expectations of future rate cuts.
The inverse can be observed in the equity markets, with US indices in oversold conditions and exhibiting recent bearish short-term and long-term trends. This suggests that equities are likely to experience a short-term bounce but will continue to decline in the long term, providing a potential opportunity to sell.
The cryptocurrency market tells a similar but much more pronounced story, with bearish short-term and long-term trends evident since late June. Despite being oversold, the future outlook for the cryptomarket remains pessimistic and is likely to underperform equities, especially if investors continue to reduce risk.
This flight to the relative safety of mega caps has been a recurring theme since March 2021, when both the small cap and mid cap to mega cap ratios turned bearish, a trend that remains unbroken and is likely to continue unless a recession materializes and forces a shift to looser monetary policy.
Similar trends are likely to continue in the cryptocurrency markets, as evidenced by the breakout in Bitcoin dominance, which currently positions Bitcoin’s market cap at 62% of the entire cryptocurrency market when stable coins are excluded from the calculation.
Concluding Thoughts
While the market is starting to panic amid recessionary fears, the data does not yet confirm that the economy is currently entering a recession. Investors should avoid panic selling, as a rebound is likely to occur in the short term given the current overextended conditions. For the mid to long term, the situation calls for a cautious approach, focusing on managing risk and gradually shifting from riskier to less risky assets, as indicated by longer-term trends in asset markets.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice.
A Recession Is Coming - Brace for Impact First things first
What is a Recession?
A recession is a period when the economy isn't doing well. It means businesses are selling less, people are losing jobs or not getting raises, and overall, there's less money being spent. It's like a slowdown in the economy where things are not growing, and sometimes they shrink. This period of economic decline usually lasts for a few months or longer. Usually, when we have two consecutive quarters of negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) we say that we are in a recession.
Now, let's look at previous recessions to see if we can find some patterns that help us predict the coming one. 😊
This is how you can navigate through the chart:
- past recessions are highlighted with orange colored boxes based on the data from "FRED economic data".
- The purple line chart shows the US inflation rate.
- The US GDP is shown in a green step-line chart.
- The US interest rate is shown with an orange line.
- The Yellow line chart shows the unemployment rate in the US.
- The most important line chart here is the blue one that shows the spread between the 10-year bond yield and the 3-month bond yield (Yes we could also use 2-year instead of 3-month).
This blue line, the yield curve, is important to us because it's a reliable indicator that almost every time gave us a heads up for a recession (if you were looking at it of course 😁). When it falls below zero, we call it the inverted yield curve and we hit a recession almost every time it gets back up after spending some time below zero.
An inverted yield curve tells us that the market participants are concerned about future economic growth It can lead to tighter financial conditions, reduced lending, and lower consumer and business spending, which can contribute to a downturn in the economy.
With that said, take a look at the chart and you can easily spot the repetitive pattern of interest rate hikes/cuts, unemployment rate, and the inverted yield curve just before each recession.
With the strong possibility of having the first rate cut in September, and the patterns you see on the chart, can you say that we are going to have a hard landing and a recession? I would say yes.
If you say we are not going into a recession and your counter argument is backed by a low unemployment rate and a positive GDP and a declining inflation rate, this chart does not support the idea.
I know there are other factors that might support the soft landing scenario, and I would like to have your point of view on this. So, please share your thoughts in comments section if you are reading this post through Tradingview. 😊
For further research, you can pull up the charts of indices like S&P500 or commodities of your choice to see how they moved during each recession. This will help you find some patterns that might assist you in your future investments.
UNEMPLOYMENT / FED FUNDS RATE - PLAY BOOKUNEMPLOYMENT / FED FUNDS RATE - PLAY BOOK
This post I intend to explore with you the cyclic relationship we can observer between:
1) US Unemployment Rate (BLUE),
2) 21D SMA (Orange) based in unemployment data, and
3) Resultant Recessions (Gray Bars)
Historically, the general play book / sequence of events suggest once we break the 21 Day SMA (orange line), it is the start of unemployment unwinding and we lead into a recession.
As the 'FED FUNDs RATE' is the artificial tool used to 'Guide' the credit market (politically correct explination), the obvious question then is;
"What is the relationship / behavior of interest rates historically with this trend? Are we experiencing similar behaviour to the last 30 - 40 years?"
The Red line show the FED funds rate on the chart. The below sequence of events show how these variable play with each other:
The story goes: the FED increases the 'FED FUNDS RATE' (aka interest rates) because low periods of interest rates is resulting in a 'HOT' economy and causing inflation (i.e. market forces the FEDs hand to raise interest rates as the return for lending money to credit markets does not match the current risks).
At some point during interest rate rises:
1) FED rise in interest rates is held constant (the lagging effect of higher rates start to hit the economy resulting in slowing down economic activity - i.e. spending)
2) Record low unemployment starts to rise (Cross of 21D SMA historically has signaled a point of no return)
3) Fed start to drop rates due to employment increase, deflationary market disruption
4) Unemployment begins to rapidly increase
5) Recession
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
According to this play book, we are in currently in step 2 and approaching point 3 .
If you find this post interesting, you may find my discussion around the 2 Year Treasury Bond Yield vs FED Funds Rate interesting.
This relationship is what I was using to speculate interest rate rises before they happened, and that they would be higher than people were expecting when there was talk of rates rising...
The Market in all cases will eventually win...
$EUIRYY -EU YoY (CPI) source: EUROSTAT
The inflation rate in the Euro Area declined to 2.9% year-on-year in October 2023,
reaching its lowest level since July 2021 and falling slightly below the market consensus of 3.1% .
Meanwhile,
The Core Rate, which filters out volatile food and energy prices,
also cooled to 4.2% in October;
marking its lowest point since July 2022.
However, both rates remained above the European Central Bank's target of 2%.
The energy cost tumbled by 11.1% (compared to -4.6% in September), and the rates of inflation eased for both food, alcohol, and tobacco (7.5% compared to 8.8%) and non-energy industrial goods (3.5% compared to 4.1%).
Services inflation remained relatively stable at 4.6%, compared to 4.7% in the previous month. On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up 0.1% in October, after a 0.3% gain in September.
Macro Monday 52 - Vietnam – The Global Food Supply Giant Macro Monday 52
Vietnam – A Global Food Supply Giant & Diverse Manufacturer
According to a report by global wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth and investment, Vietnam is forecast to see a 125% increase in wealth over the next 10 years. This would be the largest expansion in wealth of any country in terms of GDP per capita and number of millionaires, according to the New World Wealth.
“Vietnam is positioned to see the sharpest increase in wealth growth in the world over the next decade as it cements its status as a global manufacturing hub” New World Wealth.
The GDP growth rate for Vietnam in 2024 is expected to meet the government’s target of 6.5% making it one of the fastest growing economies in terms of GDP growth, the GDP growth rate reached as high as 8% in 2022. Vietnam is also home to 100 million people with 70% of the population between the ages of 15 – 69 and 25% under the age of 15, offering some sustainability to the long-term workforce.
Vietnam’s top exports:
1. Electrical machinery and equipment: Valued at $187.1 billion (40.8% of total exports).
2. Machinery including computers: Amounting to $40.1 billion (8.7%).
3. Footwear: Contributing $33.7 billion (7.4%).
4. Knit or crochet clothing and accessories: Worth $21.5 billion (4.7%).
5. Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, and prefabricated buildings: Totaling $21 billion (4.6%).
6. Clothing and accessories (not knit or crochet): Representing $20.1 billion (4.4%)
Footwear experienced the highest growth among these categories, increasing by 85% from 2021 to 2022. Additionally, machinery (including computers) saw a significant 66.3% advance in export sales during the same period. Nike and Adidas have established their main production bases in Vietnam. If there is one thing everyone needs, it’s a pair of shoes, a great staple for the country to specialize in.
Food Produce
In recent years, Vietnam has quietly transformed from a regional agricultural producer into a global food powerhouse. Its innovative food industry now plays a critical role in shaping the world’s food supply and that has not happened by chance. Vietnams food story is historic but has also been recently significantly leveraged through government incentives and investment. Vietnam’s impressive array of food exports includes rice, coffee, cassava, bananas, mangoes, and citrus fruits. These products not only sustain local communities but also have a substantial impact on feeding people worldwide.
If you ate rice recently or had a robusta coffee, there is an increasing probability that it came from Vietnam. Lets have a look at some of the main Vietnamese food exports that are critical to the global food supply
Rice
Vietnam will likely become the 2nd largest rice exporter in the world in the 2024/25 season, over taking Thailand’s current 2nd place export volume of 8.2 million tonnes annually. Vietnam exported approximately 7.6 million tonnes in the 2023 to 160 countries. This is expected to exceed 8.5 million tonnes in 2024/25. The Philippines remains Vietnams largest rice buyer, accounting for 45.5% of the country’s rice export turnover. It is interesting to revisit last weeks Macro Monday Country, the Philippines and their close trade ties with Vietnam. The Philippines is one of the largest producers of coconut oil. It is starting to look like South East Asia is a diverse set of critical food producers and disseminators.
India hold 1st place as the largest exporter of rice in the world, exporting 17 million tonnes annually. We must acknowledge China as the largest producer of rice in the world at 208 million tonnes, however China only exported c. 2.2 million tonnes, making China a lessor contributor to the supply of rice around the globe.
Coffee
Vietnam is also the 2nd largest coffee exporter in the world, exporting 1.5 million tons of coffee a year. It is their second most exported asset after rice. Vietnam is known as one of the world’s largest producers of the Robusta coffee bean. Remarkably, Vietnam contributes a significant 40% of the world’s overall Robusta bean production, renowned for its bitterness and suitability in well-rounded coffee blends.
Similar to the Ivory Coast, the largest producer/exporter of Cocoa in the world that we covered a few weeks ago, there is also a strong French colonial connection in Vietnam. Vietnam was colonised by the French between 1858 and 1900. This is relevant because the exploitation of natural resources for direct export was the chief purpose of most French investments post colonisation. The robusta coffee in Vietnam was introduced by the French during this period which is the only reason the region has the unique robusta coffee production and export ability. Whilst this could be perceived as having a good long term impact on Vietnams economy, there was a segment I came upon which outlined how rice production was significantly increased as early as the 1900’s, then pushed by the French colonists. This segment paints a tragic picture whilst helping us understand how these countries with favourable land and climates where forcefully farmed and natives subjugated;
“ Through the construction of irrigation works, chiefly in the Mekong delta, the area of land devoted to rice cultivation quadrupled between 1880 and 1930. During the same period, however, the individual peasant’s rice consumption decreased without the substitution of other foods. The new lands were not distributed among the landless and the peasants but were sold to the highest bidder or given away at nominal prices to Vietnamese collaborators and French speculators.” - Britannica Excerpt
Considering the above, it is easier to understand how these countries have become major producers but also major exporters for Rice, Coffee and Cocoa.
Robusta Coffee Background
Coffea canephora, commonly known as Robusta coffee, has its origins in central and western sub-Saharan Africa. Dutch botanists discovered it in its native form in the former Belgian Congo, and it was later introduced to Vietnam in 1900 after specific coffee rust disease devastated separate plantations in Ceylon(Sri Lanka) and Java (Indonesia). You might recognise these names for the famous name sakes, Ceylon Tea and Java Coffee (Arabica). It appears South East Asias has a strong history of production in not just tea, but coffee also.
Coffea canephora boasts several unique features. First, it contains nearly twice the caffeine compared to Arabica beans, contributing to its bold flavour and strength, making it ideal for espresso-based drinks and commercial blends. Second, Robusta plants thrive at lower altitudes (typically below 800 meters) and in hotter climates with ample rainfall. Their resilience against diseases and pests makes them a popular choice for coffee farmers in tropical regions. Lastly, Robusta beans deliver a pronounced bitterness and are less aromatic than Arabica beans, appealing to those seeking a powerful coffee experience.
Now lets have a look at The Vietnam Stock Index which is valued in Vietnamese Dong.
The Vietnam Stock Index - HOSE:VNINDEX
- You can clearly see a long term ascending triangle and a rising 10 month moving average. The targets and trade structure is clear and presents a great long term potential upside over 5 – 10 year time horizon.
VanEck Vietnam ETF - HOSE:VNM
For a shorter term play, and to take advantage of this growing economy, you could invest in the VanEck Vietnam ETF between now and 2026.
- Ideally you would want the price to break out above the red line (POC) and find support above the 200 Day SMA (Blue Line). Once the 200 Day SMA is sloping upwards it would be a matter of riding the trend.
- Given price has been gradually making higher lows since 2020, we can presume that this is a long term increase in demand gradually pressing up price. We have a stop placed with a 6.5% downside risk with potential for 77% return or an earlier exit if you wish with lessor percentage gained.
- The structure for the trade is clear on the chart and it is there to be played. We have economic information that suggests that Vietnam is going to have a good decade.
Based on all our information above and the positivity around the Vietnamese economy, there is ample opportunity over the next few years to establish a good long term allocations in the above indexes or specific stocks in Vietnam. Getting exposure to South East Asia in general is starting to seem like a smart choice. The Vietnam economy, similar to the Philippine economy we covered last week, and the South Korean economy we covered weeks ago, are all signalling that they are likely entering into golden era’s of significant growth.
All these charts are available on my TradingView Page and you can go to them at any stage over the next few years press play and you'll get the chart updated with the easy visual guide to see how the Vietnamese stock market has performed.
I hope it’s helpful.
$DOGE Set for 3,000% Surge Dogecoin Set for 3,000% Surge
Dogecoin, the leading meme cryptocurrency, is positioned for substantial growth. Although similar predictions have previously triggered FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) among investors, this time the potential upside appears more imminent.
Key Points:
Cycle Pattern: Dogecoin exhibits a distinct cycle pattern. It often remains flat for extended periods before breaking out and surging parabolically. Investors can either buy during the pump, taking a higher risk as momentum may soon decrease, or purchase during downturns and hold until the next significant surge, maximizing returns. The latter strategy presents today's opportunity.
Memes on the Rise: As new meme coins emerge, investors hope for significant gains. However, Dogecoin remains the most established and reliable meme coin, making it a safer bet for substantial returns.
Elon Musk's Endorsement: Elon Musk has indicated that Tesla will accept Dogecoin. Additionally, Dogecoin is set to be integrated into X.com, Musk's major social media platform. Notably, Dogecoin is the only cryptocurrency held by Musk, the world's richest person, underscoring its potential.
Trading Psychology: How to trade economic data.As traders, one of the biggest challenges we face is deciding what factors to consider when opening a trade: should we base ourselves on charts, news, macroeconomic data?
Many opt for a combination of all these elements, and although all traders go through the same stages, there are different routes to success. The problem with following the crowd is that you end up doing exactly what everyone else is doing.
The solution: forge your own path, with all the challenges this entails.
Most traders follow the news, analyze the data and then compare them with the charts to try to determine the best entry point. And as if that were not enough, they often seek the opinion of other online traders to confirm their decision. However, consulting the opinions of others can be counterproductive, as they can alter, for better or worse, any personal opinion about the analysis we are conducting.
We always tend to think that others know more than us and that if they think differently, it must be for some reason and that we will not be the ones who are right.
This is just another example of market psychology and the human tendency to always follow the crowd, regardless of whether it is right or not.
I believe that in order to make a living from trading, research must start with yourself, it is essential. And this is necessary to confirm or refute the information with which the market bombards us every minute.
You need very intense training and experience to make a living from trading.
How many traders trade intraday based on economic calendar data? How many really make money? It’s not worth it.
Aware of the multitude of traders who congregate around the platform at key times, market makers have all kinds of tricks. Their favorite; the sweep. Up, down and both sides at the same time.
Is a mental stop better? In my case, no. I don’t know how mentally strong you are, but the word says it all: mental-stop. When you expose yourself to letting the mind think, you are entering dangerous psychological terrain and it is very difficult, if you are losing, to close with discipline in each and every operation.
Notice that I say in each and every one, because with not respecting a single one and that the price does not return in that operation to the entry point, it will be your elimination as a trader.
Therefore, anything that can cause a loss is worth discarding.
Greed doesn’t let you, we know that with a data in favor of our position you can make a lot of money but if the data is contrary and also forms a gap, no one will save us. And let’s not talk about if you are leveraged. Being leveraged and having the position run against you is one of the hardest experiences a trader can have.
Seeing how your capital is destroyed at forced marches, how losses increase, how you are not able to close because you expect a recovery to do so is dramatic.
Realizing that first loss, which at first seemed big to you and now doesn’t seem so much. You would “kill” to lose only that.
Then, once you are losing a lot you will no longer be able to close. There comes a time when you assume it and let the losses run as far as they go. You have accepted it. You risk the account in the hope of recovering.
This means hours of waiting for the desired recovery. In addition, the market is very rogue. After the fall comes the rebound, usually up to half. You get the idea that it is going to recover completely and instead of closing you hold on to see if the moment comes when you no longer lose anything.
The market will make you believe that this is going to happen. You may even average (add more positions) so that the recovery is faster and by the way, if the price goes beyond where you have opened the first operation, you even come out with profits.
But, as I say, the market is very cruel and when you start to dream and have hope again, it turns around and falls with even more force if possible, crushing your account and destroying your morale.
The result we all know. If the account does not have enough capital to withstand the bleeding, margin call will “come to see us”. And if it does, it will take you days, weeks, months or even years to recover your capital, if you do. Days, weeks, months and even years without liquidity to do what you like the most, trading.
In view of this, stoploss, as well as avoiding any situation that makes you lose is more than justified.
MACRO MONDAY 21~NAHB Housing Market IndexMACRO MONDAY 21
NAHB Housing Market Index
The NAHB Housing Market Index (HMI) is compiled from a monthly survey issued by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to U.S. builders in order to measure the current and forward looking sentiment for single-family homes being built or with the prospect of being built in the U.S.
In the survey builders rate their current single-family sales, sales prospects over the next six months, and the traffic of prospective buyers.
The NAHB Builders consists of more than more than 700 state and local associations with 140,000 members. According to the NAHB these builders account for some 80% of the new homes built in the U.S.
Correlation with U.S. Housing Starts
The HMI displays a close correlation with “U.S. Housing Starts”. U.S Housing starts are a broader measure of new residential construction for privately owned homes which includes multi-family housing (units & apartment complexes). U.S. Housing Starts is supplied monthly by the U.S. Census Bureau from surveys conducted and is considered a key economic indicator of the overall housing sector.
The release of U.S. Housing Starts is the day after the HMI, so the HMI gives us a day head start on the 11thbusiness day of each month (16th Nov), with Housing Starts released on the 12th business day (17th Nov).
The correlation between the HMI and the U.S. Housing Starts:
The NAHB release on Thurs 16thNov (11th Business Day) came in at 34
▫️ HMI readings above 50 reflect a generally favorable market view and outlook in the housing sector whilst a reading below 50 indicates weakness in the housing sector.
▫️ Since July 2023 the HMI has fallen from 56 down to 34.
▫️ The HMI registered an all-time high reading in November 2020 at 90 and since then has made a series of lower highs over 32 months. These lower highs combined with a reading below 50 do not bode well on the recession front as you can see from the below chart (red arrows).
Similar to recent months, from May – Aug 1989 the HMI peaked its head above the 50 level for these four summer months before tanking down to 20. From May – Aug 2023 the HMI briefly rose above the 50 level in similar fashion and appears to now be reducing at a rapid rate. An interesting level to watch will be the diagonal support line at approx. 31 (dashed line). If held it would be a higher low and could indicate a pause in the decline. A level to keep an eye on because if lost it means we have consistently made lower lows and lower highs. Not a good look at all and we would be eyeing the 20 level in such a scenario.
US Housing Starts
▫️ US Housing Starts release on Friday 17th Nov (12th Business Day) which provides for Octobers figures came in higher than expected at 1,372K vs the 1,350K estimate. Building Permits came in higher than expected at 1,487K vs the 1,450K estimate.
▫️ Given that the HMI is in less than favorable territory at 34 (HMI only accounts for single family homes), the higher than expected US Housing Starts could be an indication that larger multi-family housing (units and apartments) are being built at a greater rate than single-family houses. In any event US Housing Starts has been in decline since April 2022
In summary the charts suggest the long term trend for both the NAHB and US Housing Starts are in decline with multi-unit properties (Apartments) being more rapidly built in recent months than individual homes.
We will keep an eye on the these metrics going forward and are now aware we can get a days advance indication from NAHB ahead of US Housing Starts being released.
PUKA
Is The EV Hype Over? How The Fed Is Destroying TeslaThe first quarter of 2024 is now over, closing in a record +10% YTD rally and an exceptional +43% YOY increase in the QQQ. Despite the markets pushing higher, Tesla is experiencing significant challenges, with a -30% decrease YTD and a -9% decline YOY. This performance has positioned Tesla as the worst performing megacap so far. Given these circumstances, it's essential to delve into both macroeconomic factors and technical analysis to understand what has happened and what is likely to happen moving forward.
The Macroeconomic Impact on Tesla
Two years ago, the Federal Reserve initiated a historic rate-hiking cycle, increasing interest rates from 0% to 5.5% within just over a year and maintaining this rate since July 2023. This shift in monetary policy has notably affected car financing rates, now at 8.2% for a five-year loan, which significantly discourages consumers from buying new vehicles, especially EVs.
The chart clearly illustrates an inverse correlation between Tesla stock and interest rates. Moreover, Tesla has operated exclusively during periods of historically low interest rates. Despite the Federal Reserve pausing rate hikes nine months ago, the interest rate on car loans continues to rise. Further examination of inflation trends indicates that most common inflation measures have either plateaued or slowed their pace of deceleration, at a level inconsistent with the Fed's 2% inflation target.
The M2 money supply and inflation expectations are critical indicators for predicting the direction of inflation. The peak in the headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) followed the peak in M2 YOY by 16 months, recently bottoming just three months before CPI YOY stopped making progress to the downside. This lagged correlation suggests that headline CPI is unlikely to continue its strong downward trend moving forward.
Moreover, inflation expectations, which remain well anchored, have also appeared to stop making progress to the downside, all remaining above 2%. This, combined with unchanged interest rates for nine months, suggests that the neutral rate of interest must be significantly higher than the pre-COVID trend.
Historically, recessions have played a key role in helping the Fed bring down inflation to their 2% target. However, current economic indicators, including low unemployment levels and easy financial conditions, suggest that a recession is unlikely in the near future, despite the fed funds rate staying unchanged at a two-decade high.
The Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI) captures the stimulative effects on the economy from the U.S. government's expansive fiscal policy. By borrowing and spending trillions directly from the Reverse Repo (RRP), the U.S. government has ingeniously counterbalanced the constrictive effects of tighter monetary policy without exerting upward pressure on long-term yields.
The prolonged inversion of the yield curve, significantly extended by the U.S. government's financial strategies, could mark this cycle as having the longest inversion in history. Typically, a steepening yield curve is a precursor to higher unemployment and economic recession. However, the steepening of the yield curve remains unlikely in the short term, with excess reserves still available in the RRP and the Treasury General Account (TGA).
With the U.S. employment sector still robust, showing historically low unemployment levels and low initial and continued claims, the likelihood of a significant uptrend in the unemployment rate seems low, as job openings are absorbing most of the excess labor supply and still remain well above the historical trend.
This suggests that the fed funds rate may remain at around 5% this year, maintaining car loan rates at a higher level for an extended period and consequently making EVs increasingly less affordable for the average consumer. This scenario is likely to lead to a continuation of price cuts and greater margin contractions.
Tesla's Technical Analysis Outlook
From a technical analysis perspective, Tesla stock faced rejection at the $205 horizontal resistance line and might be rejected from the $180 level, marked by the 0.236 Fibonacci level. The next significant support level is at $155, with a possibility of revisiting the January 2023 low of $110, given Tesla's stock has been in a downward trend ever since November 2021.
From a trend-based perspective, we can clearly see that TSLA stock is in a strong downtrend both in the 4H and daily timeframe with the EMAs and 20- week SMA trending lower.
Despite this unfavourable outlook, caution is advised when considering short positions in Tesla due to its market dominance and relatively stable financial position, making it a riskier target than other less financially secure EV manufacturers.
Concluding Thoughts
While the broader market demonstrates resilience, the Federal Reserve's monetary policy is significantly shaping the EVs industry future. With the economy likely transitioning away from historically low interest rates into a higher interest rate environment, caution is advised. Investors may benefit from considering less interest-rate-sensitive options until a clearer picture of the inflationary landscape and its impact on the economy emerges.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice.
Will Bitcoin Continue Its Pullback?Bitcoin (BTC) has experienced a remarkable surge since the speculation surrounding a potential Federal Reserve interest rate cut emerged. Recently, BTC hit an all-time high, reflecting the fervor in the market. However, it's essential to note that assets witnessing substantial increases often require a pullback or correction. Analyzing the daily timeframe from March 4th to March 13th, 2024, reveals indications of a bearish divergence pattern, suggesting an impending pullback. This anticipation materialized on March 14th and 15th, 2024, with BTC dropping from its all-time high of 73794 to 68166 at the time of writing, marking a decline of over 7% in just two days.
Assessment of Fed Rate Cut Possibility:
Despite the potential for a Federal Reserve rate cut should inflation continue to decline, the likelihood remains slim. Data from the Fed Watch Tools indicate a 99.0% probability of the Fed maintaining an unchanged interest rate during the March FOMC meeting. This prediction also aligns with the fact that the Fed's emphasis on reducing the Core PCE Price Index to its target of 2% year-on-year, while it currently stands at 2.8%.
Technical Analysis and Implications:
In addition to the factors mentioned, a technical analysis reveals that Bitcoin's prolonged rally since early February is poised for a significant pullback. The stochastic indicator clearly shows a lower high while the price sets a higher high, indicating a weakening trend. The observed bearish divergence in the daily timeframe signals a potential reversal in the upward momentum. This corrective movement aligns with market dynamics and the absence of strong indications for a Fed rate cut. Therefore, traders and investors in the BTC market should exercise caution and anticipate increased volatility as the asset undergoes a corrective phase.
Conclusion:
The recent surge in Bitcoin's value amidst speculation surrounding a potential Federal Reserve rate cut has been remarkable. However, technical analysis suggests a high likelihood of a substantial pullback, as evidenced by the observed bearish divergence pattern and the weakening trend indicated by the stochastic indicator. Given the low probability of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve in the upcoming meeting, market participants should brace themselves for increased volatility and potential corrections in the Bitcoin market.
Black Rock push Bitcoin price to new highs, But Bitcoin is aboutAs the United States continues to approve Bitcoin spot ETFs, more and more funds are entering the market. Undoubtedly, these institutions have made a lot of profits.
However, the bull market for Bitcoin cannot last forever:
The overall economic performance in the United States is struggling, and the issue of inflation has not been fundamentally resolved. The Federal Reserve is likely to postpone interest rate cuts. Continued interest rate hikes could lead to a sharp decline in Bitcoin prices.
The current attitude of the United States towards Bitcoin remains delicate, and approving a few ETFs is not a particularly significant positive. Nevertheless, it remains a key factor driving the rise in Bitcoin prices, and I believe the market's imagination is overly optimistic. For any country, it is not yet time to compete for the pricing power of Bitcoin. Therefore, when the delicate attitude shifts, the market may panic, causing a decline in Bitcoin prices.
The news of Bitcoin's halving has fueled a continuous rise in its price. However, the problem is that this information has been known for a long time and has already driven the market higher. It should not be a reason to continue pushing prices. When Bitcoin's halving actually occurs, the price of Bitcoin may decline.
I believe the current market is overly irrational, with a significant influx of funds leading to a continuous rise in Bitcoin prices. However, I think we are not far from a sharp decline in prices. The current market risks are substantial, and there are ample reasons for a downturn.
The ETF AftermathIt has been 1 year almost to the day since my last publication and what a 12 months it has been. I previously laid out the case for a pending future recession but not before we saw massive regular bullish divergence play out on the monthly time frame for Bitcoin.
Since then we've seen a 187% move in BTC, a 25% move in the S&P 500 and every commentator, pundit and analyst confident that a recession has been avoided and a soft landing inevitable.
I'm here now telling you that I believe it to be no coincidence that the previous fundamental legacy events of which bitcoin has experienced in its past, once in Dec 2017 and the other in April 2021 has resulted in massive price corrections of 83 and 53% respectively within days of the CME and IPO announcements. Albeit the likelihood of such massive corrections are lesser given where we are in the macro cycle I do believe a sizable correction will occur days following this announcement.
What is of significant interest on the chart is the previous macro fibonacci extensions of the precious 2 cycles. That being a confluent correction at the 0.5 fib level and seeing a 40% and 72% correction there after. A 0.5 extension in this current cycle would suggest a monthly wick above $48500 followed by again a sizable correction.
To pontificate as to the extent of this correction I pose the following possibilities.
-A 30% drawdown to the 200 SMA, a support level which has served Bitcoin well historically
-A 40% drawdown to the 6 and a half year support line of macro lows.
-Or an unthinkable 70% correction somewhere around the previous bear market low, 2017 bull market high and the resistance held in July 2019 and Aug 2020.
For this to take place we need to consider some very worst case scenarios and evaluate the current macro/geopolitical landscape.
-Escalation of war in Russian Ukraine.
-Escalation of war in Israel Palestine.
-Military development of China's desire to remove Taiwan's international independence.
-The largest inversion of the 10 year 2 year yield curve in 40 years.
-The largest contraction of US M2 money supply since the great depression.
-A continuation of what is already a 50% crash in China's real estate market.
-A UK real estate crisis once affordability ceases as mortgages need rolling over after a 10,000% increase in interest rates.
-A US real estate crisis as 11 monthly falsified unemployment data is realised
-The energy and manufacturing crisis in europe compounded by the highest debt to GDP ratio in its history
-A Hollywood presidential election between a criminal and a dementia patient.
My point is the macro landscape is looking unpredictable and the TA has much confluence.
This feels very much like it did in the beginning of 2020 just before the un-inversion of the yield curve and the then pending recession. It's almost like something globally needs to be orchestrated in order to create an excuse to lower rates and roll the debt over for another 4 years!!
Who knows it might even be a cyber attack and CBDC implementation ;-)
Either way Bitcoin will still be doing its thing.
Keep yourself and those satoshi's safe.
Understanding Initial Jobless Claims as a Market IndicatorIntroduction
In the complex and multifaceted world of economic indicators, initial jobless claims hold a special place. As a measure of the number of individuals filing for unemployment benefits for the first time, this statistic offers a real-time glimpse into the health of the labor market, which in turn is a vital component of the overall economic landscape. This article delves into how initial jobless claims function as an indicator and their impact on the financial markets.
Understanding Initial Jobless Claims
Initial jobless claims refer to claims filed by individuals seeking to receive unemployment benefits after losing their job. These are reported weekly by the U.S. Department of Labor, providing a timely snapshot of labor market conditions. A lower number of claims typically signifies a strong job market, suggesting that fewer people are losing their jobs. Conversely, an increase in claims can indicate a weakening labor market, often a precursor to broader economic downturns.
Initial Jobless Claims as an Economic Indicator
Health of the Labor Market: The primary significance of initial jobless claims is its reflection of the labor market's health. A steady, low number of claims often correlates with job growth and declining unemployment rates, indicating a robust economy.
Leading Indicator for the Economy: As a leading economic indicator, jobless claims can provide early signals about the direction of the economy. Spikes in claims can forewarn of economic contraction, while consistent decreases might indicate economic expansion.
Consumer Spending: Since employment directly affects consumer income, initial jobless claims can also indirectly signal changes in consumer spending, a major driver of economic growth.
Impact on Financial Markets
Market Sentiment: Traders and investors closely watch initial jobless claims to gauge market sentiment. Fluctuations in these numbers can lead to immediate reactions in the stock, bond, and forex markets.
Monetary Policy Implications: Central banks, like the Federal Reserve, consider labor market conditions when setting monetary policy. Rising jobless claims can lead to a more dovish policy stance (like lowering interest rates), while decreasing claims might justify tightening policies.
Sector-Specific Implications: Certain sectors are more sensitive to changes in jobless claims. For instance, a rise in claims can negatively impact consumer discretionary stocks but might be favorable for defensive sectors like utilities or healthcare.
Analyzing the Data
Understanding initial jobless claims requires context. Seasonal factors, temporary layoffs, and unique economic events (like a pandemic) can skew data. Analysts often look at the four-week moving average to smooth out weekly volatilities for a clearer trend.
Conclusion
In conclusion, initial jobless claims serve as a crucial barometer for the economy and financial markets. Investors, policy makers, and economists alike monitor these figures for insights into labor market trends and the broader economic picture. As with any indicator, it's essential to consider jobless claims in conjunction with other data to fully understand the economic landscape.
Better labour market is not equal better indices this time S&PFollowing last week's release of stronger-than-expected economic data, investors are recalibrating their expectations concerning aggressive Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts. The market sentiment is shifting, with investors scaling back their anticipation of imminent rate cuts. This change in perception is amplified by the surge in bond yields, indicating a rising consensus among institutional traders to build short positions.
The rationale behind these actions lies in the growing belief that the Fed might maintain its current restrictive policy stance for a longer duration than initially anticipated. This shift is underpinned by the robust health of the labor market, as evidenced by declining unemployment rates, diminishing jobless claims, and notably higher Non-Farm Payrolls reported last week.
The entry level aligns favorably for execution, especially just before the commencement of the London session. Two Take Profit (TP) levels have been identified for this trade. The initial TP is strategically positioned at the upcoming 4-hour (4H) support zone, reflecting a prudent approach to secure early gains.
For a more assertive yet realistic approach, the second TP is set at the 200-day Moving Average (200MA) on the Daily time frame (TF). Historical backtesting indicates a tendency for the market to approach or touch the 200MA during anticipated drops similar to the current market scenario. This second TP level, although more aggressive, presents a viable opportunity based on historical trends.
Comment your opinion below
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MACRO MONDAY 28 ~ Discretionary Index Vs Staples IndexMacro Monday 28 – Discretionary Vs Staples
Today we are going to look at the following two very interesting SPDR Indexes and their relationship to one another to help us understand where the U.S. consumer is at present.
SPDR Select Sector Funds (“SPDE SSF”)
1. Consumer Discretionary SPDR Fund AMEX:XLY
2. Consumer Staples SPDR Fund AMEX:XLP
For reference the SPDR (AKA the Spider) is a short form name for a “Standard & Poor's Depository Receipt”, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) managed by State Street Global Advisors that tracks the Standard & Poor's 500 index CBOE:SPX
What are Discretionary Expenses?
Discretionary expenses are defined as “a cost that a business or household can survive without, if necessary”. These are the nonessentials like meals at restaurants, entertainment costs, vacations and 50” flat screen TV’s.
What’s in the SPDR Consumer Discretionary Index?
The SPDR Consumer Discretionary Index seeks to provide focused exposure to companies that provide discretionary nonessential services or produces such as hotels, restaurants and leisure; textiles, apparel and luxury goods; household durables; automobiles; automobile components; distributors; leisure products; and diversified consumer services.
The SPDR Consumer Discretionary Index top 10 holdings are:
1. Amazon 22.62%
2. Tesla 17.76%
3. McDonalds 4.63%
4. Home Depot 4.58%
5. Nike 3.80%
6. Lowes Cos 3.70%
7. Booking 3.62%
8. Starbucks Corp 3.24%
9. TJX Companies 3.22%
10. Chipotle 1.85%
Now we understand exactly what the SPDR Consumer Discretionary Index is and what its main components are. We know that the index itself is driven by stock prices from a collection of companies that offer discretionary services and products in the U.S.
Now lets have a look at the SPDR Consumer Discretionary Chart
Chart 1 – SPDR Consumer Discretionary - AMEX:XLY
At a glance the chart demonstrates the following:
▫️ In December 2007 price fell below the 200 Week Moving Average (WMA) which coincided with the exact date the Great Financial Crisis commenced (from Dec 2007 – June 2009).
▫️ Interestingly price got back above the 200 WMA in February 2010, 8 months after the recession had ended.
▫️ Since 2009 Consumer Discretionary spending appears to be in a general up trend with a lot of volatility in recent years however still in an uptrend.
▫️ The 200 WMA is still rising and sloping upwards, and price is now back above it which indicates strength.
▫️ Recently we made a potential lower higher and this is something we should look to confirm over the coming months. Should we break higher this would be obviously bullish, another lower high and we know to be cautious.
▫️ In the event we breach the 200 WMA, we should start to get more cautious. This has occurred twice since 2020 and price got back above the 200 WMA however we are very aware that a breach of the 200 WMA can signal a recession as it did so accurately in Dec 2007.
▫️ If we fall below the “INITIAL SUPPORT” marked on the chart, consider this an initial serious warning.
▫️ If we breach the “MUST HOLD SUPPORT” this would be extremely bearish.
- you will see that volatility to the downside on Consumer Discretionary can be quiet something in our comparison charts below. It is worth noting the level of increased volatility since 2018 on the chart. We have not really seen anything like it before dating back to 1998.
Lets move onto the Consumer Staples and see what they are, what they consist of and what the chart is telling us here.
What are Staples?
The term consumer staples refers to a set of essential products used by consumers. This category includes things like foods and beverages, household goods, and hygiene products as well as alcohol and tobacco. These goods are those products that people are unable—or unwilling—to cut out of their budgets regardless of their financial situation.
What’s in the SPDR Consumer Staples Index?
The SPDR Consumer Staples Index seeks to provide a focused exposure to companies that providing consumer staples distribution & retail; household products; food products; beverages; tobacco; and personal care products industries in the U.S.
The SPDR Consumer Staples Index top 10 holding are:
1. Proctor & Gamble 14.11%
2. Costco Wholesale 11.56%
3. Pepsico 9.49%
4. Coca Cola 9.36%
5. Philip Morris Int 4.54%
6. Walmart 4.53%
7. Mondelez Int 4.47%
8. Altria Group 3.40%
9. Colgate Palmolive 3.06%
10. Target 3.00%
We now know exactly what the SPDR Consumer Staples Index is and what its main components are. We know that the index itself is driven by stock prices from a collection of companies that offer Consumer Staple services and products in the U.S. Products/services people cannot do without, products they need day to day.
Now lets have a look at the Chart
Chart 2 – SPDR Consumer Staples Index AMEX:XLP
At a glance the chart demonstrates the following:
▫️ The high in Consumer Staples in Dec 2007 coincided with the beginning of the Great Financial Crisis. In Chart 1 above on Consumer Discretionary we seen that a breach of the 200 WMA coincided with Dec 2007 GFC. Both charts demonstrated some synchronicity in advising caution from Dec 2007 forward.
▫️ Nine months later in Sept 2008 a lower high formed in Staples and after that the lower support line was lost following which capitulation occurred. I have marked up a similar “MUST HOLD SUPPORT” line for the current price structure. We have made a lower high similar to 2008. A breach above that lower high would be bullish, continued lower highs would indicate weakness.
▫️ Since 2009 Consumer Staples still appear to be in a general up trend with increased volatility in recent years however still in an uptrend.
▫️ The 200 WMA is still rising and sloping upwards, and price is now back above it now again which indicates strength.
▫️ All the same levels are apparent here as above in Chart 1. The 200 WMA, the “INITIAL SUPPORT” and the “MUST HOLD SUPPORT”.
Now that we are familiar with the charts, their price history, the important levels to watch and some synchronicities, lets have a look at how these charts compare when you line them up together on the same scale.
Chart 3 – Discretionary versus Staples
SUBJECT CHART AT TOP OF ARTICLE
We will take three main things away from this chart:
1. The big obvious finding on the chart is just the extent at which the Consumer Discretionary Index (orange) has risen above Consumer Staples(blue). This wide gap between the orange and blue lines is really stark and it appears it may be starting to close.
2. Historically Consumer Discretionary (orange) revisits and falls lower than Consumer Staples (Blue), particularly during recessions. We have a long way to go for this to happen again. See Chart 1 and Chart 2 above for important support levels to watch (for both).
3. Consumer Discretionary (Orange) started to make a series of lower highs prior to the Great Financial Crisis (see black arrow on chart), something similar may be occurring now. We are also already aware that Consumer Discretionary fell below the 200 WMA in exactly December 2007 which was the first month of the Great Financial Crisis. This is also the exact date when Consumer Staples topped in 2007. At present Consumer Staples made a top in April 2022 and Consumer Discretionary made a potential lower high in Dec 2023, however it has not fallen below and remained below the 200 WMA (making this a key line in the sand to watch going forward).
Chart 4 – The Relative Strength of Consumer Discretionary
In this chart I just wanted to illustrate the relative strength of the Consumer Discretionary over the Consumer Staples over the longer term. You can create this chart by inserting XLY/XLP into TradingView.
As you can see this chart has been trending up and to the right since 2008. Discretionary spending appears to be on a long term uptrend and this is worth noting as a long term potential shift towards spending on services, experiences and higher end electronics. Technology Index’s in prior Macro Mondays are showing strength and we have to consider that if we do not breach the important support levels marked in Chart 1 and Chart 2 above, we may have a secular shift in spending habits towards discretionary (until support levels are broken). Granted this may be the least probable and least accepted view given recession fears, liquidity concerns and the yield curve un-inversion likely to occur in 2024. We do however need to keep an open mind, a COVID-19 type event might bring us down to the bottom trend line only to bounce off it after another stimulus hits the market. If we lost that lower support line, we can say unequivocally that the secular trend of discretionary spending strength is over.
We now have a two more Indexes to watch that give us a good idea of the impact consumer spending is having on companies in the marketplace. We have our levels to watch and a good understanding of the risks and potential trends. Use it wisely.
All my charts are on TradingView and you can revisit them at any time and press play to see have we breached any important levels to the upside or downside.
Thanks for reading.
PUKA
Is Bitcoin broken? Why isn't it going up? A lot of folks are scratching their heads, wondering why Bitcoin isn't taking off like a rocket 🚀. Some even reckon it needs to take a nosedive before we see any action. But what's the deal with Bitcoin? Why does it seem like we're just going sideways? Let me break down a few things that, in my humble opinion, are affecting Bitcoin's price and what I think might go down.
**1️⃣ Miners Offloading Bitcoin**
Let's talk about mining. Miners are the backbone of the Bitcoin network. They validate transactions and keep the blockchain secure. But here's the kicker: Bitcoin's got this thing called "halving," where the rewards miners get are cut in half. In a few months, the cost of mining will double as the block reward drops from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC per block. So, miners are stocking up to cover their costs after the halving. Most of this selling happens on the down-low to avoid messing with the price, hence the sideways action.
**2️⃣ Big Picture Stuff**
Bitcoin was born in the ashes of the 2008 banking crisis, where Quantitative Easing (QE) was the name of the game, meaning cheap money galore. But now, we're in a period of Quantitative Tightening. Interest rates are sky-high, making money expensive. People are holding onto their cash, expecting a possible recession down the line. Geopolitical tensions and global shake-ups don't help either.
**3️⃣ It's All About the Cycles**
Take a look at the Bitcoin price chart, and you'll see cycles every four years. Bull run after the halving, hitting a peak, then dipping into bear territory. Rinse and repeat. BTC hasn't broken its all-time high before the next halving so far, and I don't see why it would now.
✅ So, what's the outlook, you ask?
📍 We're probably in for more sideways action, at least until we get close to the halving. Here's what's on my radar:
**1️⃣ BlackRock's ETF:** They wouldn't bother filing for an ETF if they didn't think it'd get the green light. The expected decision date is March 30th, 2024, right before the next BTC halving.
**2️⃣ Scarcity on Exchanges:** Unlike past halvings, there's hardly any BTC sitting on exchanges. This scarcity could lead to some wild price swings.
**3️⃣ The Halving:** As Satoshi said, "The price of any commodity tends to gravitate toward the production cost." After the halving, production costs double, so BTC's gotta climb to catch up. Miners will try to hold onto their BTC to turn a profit, making it even scarcer.
**4️⃣ End of QT:** When people stop spending, and the economy tanks, we'll likely see a shift from Quantitative Tightening (QT) back to Quantitative Easing (QE). That's a good sign for BTC and investment in general.
❓ When's all this gonna happen? My gut says not much until the second half of 2024, but if those four factors line up nicely, we might get a Bitcoin rally reminiscent of 2017, rolling into 2025. 🚀
🎙️Got thoughts? Share 'em in the comments and hit that like button if you found this overview useful. Don't forget to follow for more ideas.
Dr copper potential more downside moveHello traders, lets take a look at copper which testing an important resistance area and see what can possibly happen and what are the consequences of possible bearish move in other markets like us equities.
first lets talk technical, price overall bearish Daily move in copper formed a standard #head_and_shoulder pattern in form of consolidation in downtrend move and as we know this chart pattern in the middle of a move showing continuation. As it can be seen price formed clear H&S pattern and now forming possible LH at key resistance area below Daily EMA and at the 4H timeframe 200 EMA. more importantly price failed to close above 3.80$ in the past 3 days.
Also we know that copper as one of the most important commodities is very sensitive on economic data, and since central banks are in raising interest rate campaign in order to take control inflation this can be interpreted as lower economic growth and as a result les demand for industrial commodities like copper which can bring prices lower.
so now obvious chart pattern and a valid downtrend, price testing important resistance area and failed to break above it and more importantly we have fundamental aspect inline with technical analysis which all together gives good odd to find a trigger to short.