Tag Archives: Featured

Global equities are beginning the last week of February on a firm note.  The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.75%, with China's markets gaining more than 2%, leading the way. European shares have followed suit.  The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is up 1.7% near midday in London, led by materials and telecom.  Like the MSCI Asia-Pacific Index, the Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is flirting with last week's highs.    Oil is trading nearly $1 a barrel higher, even though many are skeptical that the Russia and...

The big news is that the gold-silver ratio closed at 80. This is not only a new high for the move. It’s higher than it has been since 2008. It’s also exactly what Monetary Metals has been calling for. Last week, we said the gold fundamental was $1,450 and the silver fundamental was $14.90 (i.e. a fundamental value for the ratio over 97 last week). This week, the ratio moved up, and it’s now 1.3 points closer. In other words, silver got cheaper when measured in gold terms. [caption...

The big news is that the gold-silver ratio closed at 80. This is not only a new high for the move. It’s higher than it has been since 2008. It’s also exactly what Monetary Metals has been calling for. Last week, we said the gold fundamental was $1,450 and the silver fundamental was $14.90 (i.e. a fundamental value for the ratio over 97 last week). This week, the ratio moved up, and it’s now 1.3 points closer. In other words, silver got cheaper when measured in gold terms. [caption...

We think that it’s still too early to say whether Friday’s price action was simply profit-taking ahead of the weekend, or the resumption of overall negative market sentiment.  We think the global backdrop remains conducive for risk, at least near-term.  China concerns are on the back burner, while markets are still skeptical about the prospects for Fed tightening.  Commodity prices are the potential spoilers to a resume risk rally, as oil ended last week on a sour note. Country-specific...

We think that it’s still too early to say whether Friday’s price action was simply profit-taking ahead of the weekend, or the resumption of overall negative market sentiment.  We think the global backdrop remains conducive for risk, at least near-term.  China concerns are on the back burner, while markets are still skeptical about the prospects for Fed tightening.  Commodity prices are the potential spoilers to a resume risk rally, as oil ended last week on a sour note. Country-specific...

The main driver of the investment climate is not so much the incremental economic data as the capital markets themselves. The market turmoil contributed to the tightening of financial conditions, which in turn heightened risks, which monetary officials are committed to resisting.    Financial markets stabilized last week, but the tone remains fragile.  The damage to the technical condition and sentiment requires further consolidation to rebuild investor confidence.  The price action...

The main driver of the investment climate is not so much the incremental economic data as the capital markets themselves. The market turmoil contributed to the tightening of financial conditions, which in turn heightened risks, which monetary officials are committed to resisting.    Financial markets stabilized last week, but the tone remains fragile.  The damage to the technical condition and sentiment requires further consolidation to rebuild investor confidence.  The price action...

The CFTC Commitment of Traders reporting week ending February 16 was short due to the US holiday.  This may have contributed to the small adjustments to speculative positioning in the currency futures.  It also may reflect the lack of conviction that a dollar recovery was at hand.   On a net basis, speculators had switched to a long yen position six weeks ago.  In the latest period, speculators swung to a net long Australian dollar position for the first time since last May.  The 2.8k...

The CFTC Commitment of Traders reporting week ending February 16 was short due to the US holiday.  This may have contributed to the small adjustments to speculative positioning in the currency futures.  It also may reflect the lack of conviction that a dollar recovery was at hand.   On a net basis, speculators had switched to a long yen position six weeks ago.  In the latest period, speculators swung to a net long Australian dollar position for the first time since last May.  The 2.8k...

After a terrible first several weeks of the year, global capital markets stabilized in the past week.  Chinese markets re-opened after the extended Lunar New Year holiday and proved not to be disruptive.   Chinese equities did not decline to catch-up to the performance of global markets in its absence and instead gained 3% on the week. The offshore yuan appreciated during the holiday, and the onshore yuan strengthened to converge with it.  It traded in a narrow range after the markup. ...