Tag Archives: newsletter

We have argued for a long time that 2016 will probably be a year of recession in the US and the Federal Reserve’s intent on raising rates will only help expedite it. We believe the current rate cycle will be short lived as the Federal Reserve is constrained by the heavy debt load weighing on the US economy. Or more specifically, the large share of unproductive and counterproductive debt that drain the US economy for resources.  Source: Federal Reserve – Financial Accounts of the United...

China was instructed by the IMF that as an operational requirement for joining the SDR that the gap between the onshore and offshore yuan (CNY and CNH respectively) needed to close.  This was important for central banks to hedge.  The opposite is taking place. That is what this Great Graphic, created on Bloomberg depicts. The yellow line is CNH.  The white line is CNY.  When PBOC facilitated a mini-devaluation in August, the spread widened out.  However, in September and October, as it...

There are two broad themes among the major currencies today.  The first is the pullback in the euro and yen after yesterday's run-up.  Position adjustments with the help of stop losses seemed to be the key consideration.  Both the euro and yen extended the recovery seen in the second half of last week.  Year-end considerations, both in terms of positioning and less liquidity, likely played a role as well.  The second broad theme is the relative strength of the Australian and New Zealand...

The SNB’s expected December 10 rate cuts have already been priced in to the Swiss Franc. The central bank’s failure to do more than the market expected resulted in a stronger CHF. Growing uncertainty over the Fed’s 2016 monetary policy is a bullish factor for the franc. As they watched the euro strengthen following the ECB’s meeting, SNB representatives rubbed their hands in glee. However, by the start of the Asian FOREX session, the franc was already recovering from its wounds. Now, Bern...

The second round of French regional elections will be held this weekend.  The first round last weekend saw the National Front do best in terms of popular votes and led in six of the twelve regions.    The National Front is not simply anti-austerity, but it is anti-EMU.  In regions that NF garnered more than 40% of the vote, the Socialists have withdrawn their candidate and urged their supporters to vote for the center-right candidate to boost the chances of defeating NF.  Sarkozy, who...

The US dollar continues its mixed performance.  The fragile stability of commodity prices today is not lending much support to the Australian and New Zealand dollars though the Canadian dollar is flat after yesterday's slide.  The euro has pushed above $1.09 for the first time this week.  We had suggested a $1.08-$1.10 range would likely dominate this week.  Technically, it appears poised to test the upper end of that range.  Stops above the $1.1010 retracement objective could carry the...

Many observers conclude OPEC is dead.  Oh, its demise has been claimed before, but after the oil cartel failed to provide a quota (output goal) in last week's statement, the claim has been given new life.  The problem is that OPEC's action under Saudi leadership may be perfectly rational for a cartel.  Suppose you were playing Machiavelli to a Saudi Prince.  What would you advise?  The Prince is concerned that many OPEC and non-OPEC producers increased their output and expected the...

This remains one of my favorite Great Graphics that illustrate the divergence theme that I think is the main driver of the euro-dollar exchange rate.  Composed on Bloomberg, it shows two time series.  The first (white line) shows the German two-year yield minus the US two-year yield.  It bottomed near -80 bp in mid-October and slid persistently through last Wednesday to hit reach almost -138 bp.   The second time series (yellow line) shows the euro.  It too peaked in mid-October near...

The US dollar is firm against the dollar-bloc currencies, and sterling, but is heavier against the euro and yen.   The 13th consecutive year-over-year decline in China's imports helped keep the pressure on the commodity producers.  Despite New Zealand reporting strong Q3 manufacturing sales (3.5% vs. -0.2% in Q2), the pendulum of market expectations have continued to swing for a rate cut later this week.   The drop in oil prices, and secondarily the widening of the interest rate gap with...

(from my colleague Dr. Win Thin) EM starts the week off in the familiar position of coming under pressure.  The strong US jobs report has all but cemented a Fed lift-off this month, helping the dollar to claw back some of its post-ECB losses.  Meanwhile, commodities continue to sink under the prospects of increased supply.  Brent oil in particular is making new cycle lows after last week’s OPEC meeting saw the quota system basically scrapped.  These factors all continue to conspire...