FTSE 100 needs to prove itself, otherwise lower

My previous post summarised my early 2023 reasoning to avoid the FTSE 100. Whilst that index is only 5% lower since then, the way I look at it, is there was little purpose to being actually exposed to the risk.

Today, the price action tells me that the #ftse100 needs to make a higher high’ to break it out of a consolidation funk.

Should it trade below 7,215, then probability of a move to the 7,030 area increases.

That is a further 5% below today’s level.

December 5, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Don’t believe the spin, corporate taxes are rising

Don’t be surprised reading the headline of this Bloomberg article.

Of course, corporate taxes were going to rise.

The British government made sure of it when they increased the corporate tax rate from 19% to 25% in April 2023.

In this article from February 2023, I wrote that “Corporate taxes were as good as they were going to get”.

In addition, I cited that the FTSE 100 is “full”.

it was trading at 7,915 at the time of writing that note compared to today’s price of 7,513

Furthermore, in other notes, I alluded to a pragmatic case when the “I” in company’s EBIT rises and when the expected increases in the “T” occurs, we will see earnings (net profits) come under pressure.

It also contains a link to very good paper concluding that much of the attributed earnings for S&P 500 companies over the previous 18 years, came with the assistance of low (subsidised) interest rates and corporate taxes.

And people wonder why investors and corporations are always looking for low taxation domiciles.

December 5, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Fat part of the SAP trade is done

The fat part of the trade in SAP shares has been seen.

My probabilities and the risk/reward ratio suggest so.

Although the stock price is making new higher high’s, a trifecta of weekly ‘extremes’ combined with the stock price completing a 7 week winning streak, it’s time to take the money and run.

8 consecutively rising weeks are rarely seen.

Furthermore, its valuations make it challenging to add to the position, let alone continue holding it.

I’ll wait for EUR 92.50 before being interested again.

This is much like my similar thoughts about Microsoft’s stock price as I wrote 2 weeks ago.

December 4, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Investors (Survey) Sentiment is bullish and euphoric

The most recent weekly AAII Investor Sentiment Survey registered the largest positive bull-bear result spread since July 20, 2023.

The previous time that the bulls outweighed the bears at this week’s percentage mark was (the survey results are posted each Wednesday) occurred on April 22, 2021.

The study below shows the S&P 500 with vertical lines when the other moments over the past 13 years when the bull-bear spread was above +29.2%.

Those other weekly survey dates were;

April 8, 2021

March 25, 2021

January 18, 2018

January 4, 2018

December 28, 2017

February 19, 2015

December 25, 2014

November 13, 2014

August 28, 2014

December 26, 2013

July 11, 2013

February 9, 2012

January 6, 2012

What a contrast from the bearish extreme we saw in this survey only a month ago.

December 4, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

A little more lower for Crude Oil prices

WTI Crude is ‘looseley’ trading 15% below the price it saw on the first trading day following Hamas’ attack on Israel.

And Brent Crude is doing a similar thing.

While my previous writings have re-iterated the peril of ‘trading the headlines’, for those euphoric and momentum buyers of Crude Oil are wearing some pain.

An announced OPEC+ production cut has provided oil price with any interim support. Possibly another headline traded by many.

I’m looking for a WTI Crude price to visit the $70 mark before possible buy orders are placed.

While that is 5% below the current $73.70 price, it could see that level within the next 10 days.

December 4, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Macro Extremes (week ending December 1, 2023)

A weekly Macro, Cross Asset review of prices trading at extremes which may generate future investment ideas and opportunities.

The following assets (on a weekly timeframe) either registered an Overbought or Oversold reading and/or have traded more than 2.5 standard deviations above or below its rolling mean.

Extremes “above” the Mean (at least 2.5 standard deviations

China 10 year government bond yields

SHY – 1-3 year Treasury ETF

Coffee

Silver

AUD/CAD

AUD/ZAR

IBEX

Overbought (RSI > 70)

Cocoa

Iron Ore

Uranium

Gold in USD

The Overbought Quinella – Both Overbought and Traded at > 2.5 standard deviations above the weekly mean)

Baltic Dry Index

U.S. Midwest Hot Rolled Coil Steel 

Extremes “below” the Mean (at least 2.5 standard deviations)

German and U.S. 2 year government bond yields 

German 5 year government bond yield

Swiss and Portuguese 10 year government bond yields

U.S. 20 year government bond yield

Cattle

Middle East Urea

Oversold (RSI < 30)

Lithium Hydroxide

The Oversold Quinella – Both Oversold and Traded at < 2.5 standard deviations below the weekly mean)

Chilean 2 year government bond yield

Notes & Ideas:

Government bond yields fell everywhere.

Yields remain notably below their recent and oft touted highs and ‘higher for longer’ virtues.

So much so, we are seeing new bond yield entrants in the oversold category in this week’s edition.

The U.S. 5 year bond posted an outside bearish week, closing the week at 4.13%, down from its recent 5% level.

The TLT (20+ year) ETF stock price has risen 11.6% over the past 6 weeks. That ETF appeared in the oversold extreme categories in the weeks prior.

To the contrary of the herd, the long end of the yield curve has performed the best, while the IEI (3-7 year) ETF has climbed 2.8% over the same time.

Other eye-openers include the BoA 5-7 year corporate bond yield is hovering at the same yield as August 7, 2023.

Turkish 10 year government bond yields fell so much that they ended their 11 week stay in overbought territory.

Equities were mainly higher for the week extending most gains from the preceding 2 weeks.

Advancing stocks slightly outnumbered declining ones during this period.

Spain’s IBEX is registering an overbought reading.

We saw small and mid caps catching up to major indices, which were subdued compared to the overall bullish sentiment.

For example, the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.4%, the ASX 200 rose 0.5%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.8% while the SOX eased 0.3%.

The following indices have risen for 5 consecutive weeks; AEX, DAX, DJ Industrials, Nasdaq Composite and the 100, KOSPI, Sensex, Copenhagen, S&P 500 and the TAIEX.

Brazil’s BOVESPA and the IPC Mexico Index are in a 6 week winning streak. The former is a whisker from appearing in the overbought quinella in the next week or so.

U.S. Banks had a big week.

Chinese indices dominated the losers for the week.

And India’s SENSEX seems to be amongst the most extended of bourses, as it trades at 27% above its 200 week moving average.

Commodities were mixed with the winners outpacing the decliners this past week.

Precious metals were mainly stronger.

Iron Ore has made a new overbought appearance as it has out together a 7 week rising streak.

U.S. MidWest Hot Rolled Coil Steel rose 15% and completed a mean reversion (upward) towards its 200 week moving average, having soared 42% since spending the month of October 2023 being oversold.

While Cattle prices have clearly declined since their recent stint being overbought.

Rubber isn’t overbought anymore, joining Orange Juice which left that territory in the previous week. 

WTI Crude, Brent Crude, Gasoline extend their losing streaks to 6.

Nickel isn’t oversold anymore, braking its 5 week losing streak, rising 6% and posted a bullish outside reversal week.

WTI Crude is at its lowest weekly closing price since early July 2023. So much for geopolitical risks affecting the Oil price??

Lumber broke its 5 week winning streak as is the Copper/Gold Ratio.

Natural Gas has slumped 22% over the past 4 weeks.

The Baltic Dry Index has soared 90% in the past 4 weeks and is in a 4 week winning streak. Incidentally, it has tripled in price over the past 4 months.

Uranium remains overbought for a 16th consecutive week.

Lithium Hydroxide prices are now oversold for 21 consecutive weeks.

Silver’s bullish outside week seen 3 weeks ago has resulted in 14% advance since then. 

AUD priced Gold broke its 4 week losing streak, while USD Gold is a new overbought extreme.

Amongst currencies, the Australian Dollar was stronger again.

The Aussie was stronger, the Euro was weaker, the GBP was weaker as was the USD.

The AUD/USD closed at its highest levels since late July 2023.

The AUD/JPY is nearly overbought, while the AUD/ZAR soared 3.5%.

In the previous week, the EUR/JPY closed at its highest price since August 4th, 2008. This week, the Yen rose and so the EUR/JPY drifted out from being overbought.

The same goes for the GBP/JPY.

The EUR/USD had a bearish outside week, 

And…..I’m reflecting on how the AUD/JPY is nearing overbought levels again, mimicking and confirming the ‘risk-on’ sentiment amongst equities.

The larger advancers over the past week comprised of;

Australian Coking Coal 4.4%, Baltic Dry Index 51.9%, Cocoa 2.7%, China Coking Coal 12.1%, Copper 3.8%, HRC 15.3%, Coffee 9.6%, Newcastle Coal 4%, Nickel 5.7%, Silver in USD 4.7%, Silver in AUD 3.3%, Gold in AUD 2.2%, Gold in CAD 2.6%, Gold in USD 3.5%, Corn 4.6%, Wheat 4.4%, KBW Banks 5.5%, DAX 2.3%, DJ Industrials 2.6%, DJ Transports 2.5%, IBEX 2%, BOVESPA 2.1%, Indonesia 1.8%, S&P SmallCap 600 2.8%, KRE Regional Banks 6.9%, S&P MidCap 400 2.5%, Nasdaq Biotechs 2.8%, Russell 2000 3.3%, Sensex 2.3%, Chile 1.9%, Nasdaq Transports 2% and Toronto’s TSX rose 1.7%.

The group of decliners included;

WTI Crude (2%), Cotton (1.9%),  Gasoil (3.3%), Heating Oil (6.1%), Lumber (4.7%), JKM LNG (4.9%), Lithium (13.6%), Tin (5.7%), Orange Juice (4.1%), Palladium (6%), Sugar (7%), Dutch TTF Gas (6.8%), Urea U.S. Gulf (4.4%), Urea Middle East (12.2%), Rice (2.2%), CSI 300 (1.6%), China A50 (2.5%), HSCEI (4.6%), MOEX (2.4%) and the Hang Seng fell 4.2%.

December 3, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

A tragedy for many at both ends of the pendulum

ASX listed lithium hopeful, Core Lithium (CXO:ASX) raised $100m in August ’23, pricing the offer at 40 cents

Prior to this, in October 2022, it raised $100m with investors paying $1.03 per share.

Today, the stock is trading at 27 cents.

Even those who have held the stock since the August 2021 $91m raise at 31 cents are underwater.

Also today, Citi research analysts have downgraded the equity of Core Lithium to a “Sell” rating.

I don’t recall any suggestions to Sell appearing when the stock was trading at $1.10, $1.30 or a $1.50 per share.

The mind boggles !

and similar fate awaits those investors who paid 25 cents and still holding shares from the $40m capital raising conducted during February 2021.

More investors may yet throw their stock away.

The silver lining without implying that I have conducted any research; is that company may have all the money it needs in the near-term and is possibly ‘all dressed up for the dance’.

But perhaps we should spare a thought for those you paid $1.03 per share, only a year ago?

It’s an illustration of poor decision making at both ends of the pendulum by the various parties involved in the investing and capital markets.

This sort of capital and equity damage can be found the world over.

It’s also a reminder that the mining business is difficult and it highlights the importance of separating the euphoria of a theme and the valuation of any intended investment.

December 1, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Uranium price have 40% downside risk

The euphoria behind Uranium prices are back (following a 16 year absence).

I’d be wary.

The chart below shows my simple read of the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust.

My notations partly cite where you would’ve captured the ‘fat part’ of the trade.

But I see the price of this security (trust) and equally the price of Uranium at risk of declining 40% from today’s price.

More interestingly is that I don’t think I’ll find anyone who’d agree with me.

November 30, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Down 75% since I warned of bubbles

15 months ago, to the day I warned of ‘bubbles’ in Natural Gas, LNG, Coal and Lithium.

The charts below show you the prices then and since.

Most have have fallen 75% from that date my note was published.

It’s not about ‘shorting’ but instead knowing when to stay away.

It’s about knowing what time you are arriving at the party.

It’s about identifying a frenzy, euphoria or mania.

Today, some friends were asking about my investing style and I said that I spend much time telling clients “No”.

In other words, not chasing such mania’s and not losing capital, doesn’t show up in your investing performance reports.

November 30, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Buyers of Swiss Francs are being defensive, consider the antithesis

For the strategic asset allocators;

When the circles represent an overbought condition for CHF/AUD on a Monthly basis, the rectangles on the main chart indicate an opportune moments for accumulating equities.

In this scenario, the S&P 500 is represented by the orange line.

November 29, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au