Macro Extremes (week ending July 19, 2024)

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.

denotes multiple week inclusion

Extremes above the Mean (at least 2.5 standard deviations)

U.S. 10 year minus U.S. 2 year government bond yield spread *

U.S. 10 year minus U.S. 5 year government bond yield spread *

U.S. 30 year minus U.S. 10 year government bond yield spread *

GBP/EUR

GBP/USD *

KBW Bank Index

DJ Industrials *

S&P Small Cap 600 Index

Russell 2000 *

KRE Regional Bank Index *

S&P MidCap 400 Index

Nasdaq Biotechnology Index *

Toronto’s TSX

Israel’s Tel Aviv 35 index

And Australia’s ASX 200

Overbought (RSI > 70)

Russian 10 year government bond yields *

Robusta Coffee *

Hungary’s BUX *

Pakistan’s KSE *

NIFTY *

SENSEX *

And Turkiye’s BIST 100 *

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

None

Extremes below the Mean (at least 2.5 standard deviations)

British 2 year government bond yield 

New Zealand and Swedish 10 year government bond yield

CAD/GBP *

CAD/EUR

Oversold (RSI < 30)

Cotton

North European Hot Rolled Coil Steel *

U.S. Midwest Hot Rolled Coil Steel *

Lumber *

Lithium Hydroxide *

Corn *

BRL/USD

And the Chinese RMB *

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

Soybeans *

Notes & Ideas:

Government bond yields were mixed. 

Most of the European yields fell while yields in the America’s rose…..and many of them took a break from their fortnightly trends.  

Except for the Belgium, Danish and Finnish 10’s.

The Australian 10 year minus U.S. 10 year bond yield spread broke its 5 consecutive weeks of advance.

And the Chilean 2’s are in a 5 week winning streak.

Equities were mostly lower.

The prominent risers for the week were U.S. banks, U.S. Transports and U.S. small and mid caps.

Last week’s edition alerted readers to the outside bullish outside reversal week performed by the  Dow Jones Transports and Nasdaq Transports Indices. They rose impressively this past week.

The rotation from large caps into the smaller and mid cap companies continued.

China’s CSI 300 has risen 3% over the past fortnight.

While Indonesia’s IDX 30 has a 5 week winning streak intact and Philippine’s PSE has climbed for 4 straight weeks.

Indonesia’s main index has climbed 10% over the past 5 weeks and the U.S. KRE Regional Banks index has risen 20% over the same time.

And the DAX broke its 4 week winning streak.

Commodities continued its bias for lower prices.

Hogs, Lumber and oats were amongst the few winners.

Lean Hogs climbed 6%, nearly halving the 15% decline seen over the previous 13 weeks.

The losers were much more widespread, with Aluminium, Copper, Coking Coal, Oil, Gases, Grains, the PGM’s and Nickel.

Cocoa, Tin, Silver also joined the notable declining brigade.

Cotton is back in oversold territory.

Natural Gas has posted a 34% loss during the previous 5 weeks.

Heating Oil has fallen 7% in the past fortnight.

Aluminium has sunk 14% over the past 8 weeks.

Soybeans have declined for 7 of the past 8 weeks.

And Lithium Hydroxide has now spent 53 consecutive weeks in weekly oversold territory.

Currencies continue to provide action, again and again.

The Aussie and the Loonie were both weaker

The anomaly was the CAD rising against the AUD and breaking 5 consecutive weeks of declines.

Inversely, it broke its 5 week winning streak against the USD.

Some CAD pairs appear in this week’s list of extremes.

The AUD broke its 4 week rising streak against all, except versus the Kiwi.  

And the British Pound continues to hold up.

The larger advancers over the past week comprised of;

Lean Hogs 6.3%, Lumber 3.2%, LNG in Yen 3.1%, Newcastle Coal 2.7%, Oats 2.4%, CSI 300 1.9%, KBW Banks 3.3%, Budapest 1%, DJ Transports 1.7%, S&P SmallCap 600 2.2%, Russell 2000 1.9%, KRE Regional Banks 7.5%, PSE 2.2% and the Nasdaq Transports rose 2.7%.

The group of largest decliners from the week included;

Australian Coking Coal (2.4%), Aluminium (5.2%), Bloomberg Commodity Index (3.2%), Baltic Dry Index (4.8%), Cocoa (7.6%), China Coking Coal (4.4%), WTI Crude Oil (2.7%), Copper (7.8%), Heating Oil (3.4%), Coffee (4.2%), Lithium (2.4%), Tin (8%), Natural Gas (8.6%), Nickel (3%), Orange Juice (3.7%), Palladium (7.2%), Platinum (3.9%), Gasoline (3%), Robusta Coffee (1.9%), Sugar (2.8%), SPGSCI (2.9%), Brent Crude Oil (2.8%), Gasoil (3.1%), Uranium (2.4%), Silver in AUD (3.7%), Silver in USD (5%), Corn (2.9%), Rice (2.7%), Soybeans (2.8%), All Developed World ex USA (2.1%), AEX 4%, DAX (3.1%), HSCEI (5.6%), Hang Seng (4.8%), IBEX (1.5%), Nasdaq Composite (3.7%), KOSPI (2.2%), Mexico (2.3%), Nasdaq 100 (4%), Nikkei 225 (2.8%), Copenhagen (2.9%), Helsinki (2.4%), Stockholm (2.3%), South Africa (2.4%), SOX (8.8%), S&P 500 (2%), Straits Times (1.4%), TAEIX (4.4%) and the S&P Materials Index fell 2.2%.

July 21, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

My musings about the Natural Gas price

On December 7, 2023, I wrote,

“On a daily trading basis, Henry Hub Natural Gas (NG) is my nearest buying candidate. Following today’s 5% decline (currently trading at $2.57), whether it tickles the $2.47 region is myopic.”

While, the front contract of NG trade down to $2.52 in the next 3 days, it then rallied ~ 38% in the next 30 days.

In that same note, I framed that short-term view with;

“Although, this may be a short-term trade where I scalp some returns, while I keep in mind that $2.10 could be seen if certain trend indicators exhibit strength.”

then in May 2024, I wrote that Natural Gas and Urea may be nearing their lows…..the former has continued to decline since, I think we are getting close but not yet.

Today, Henry Hub Natural Gas price is mired with news of supply glut and milder North American weather.

Today, NG prices traded to (and below) $2.10.

Today, I need to respect the downward trend before entering a long position.

July 18, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

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Macro Extremes (week ending July 12, 2024)

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.

denotes multiple week inclusion

Extremes above the Mean (at least 2.5 standard deviations)

U.S. 10 year minus U.S. 5 year government bond yield spread *

U.S. 10 year bond yield minus U.S. inflation rate (YoY)

GBP/EUR

GBP/USD

KOSPI *

Nikkei 225

Russell 2000

Toronto’s TSX

And the Israel’s Tel Aviv 35 index

Overbought (RSI > 70)

Russian 10 year government bond yields

Coffee – both Arabica and Robusta *

GBP/JPY

Netherlands AEX *

Hungary’s BUX *

Pakistan’s KSE *

Nasdaq Composite * 

Nasdaq 100 *

NIFTY *

SENSEX *

Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) *

S&P 500 *

U.S. Regional Banks Index

Turkiye’s BIST 100 *

and Taiwan’s TAEIX *

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

Nasdaq Biotech Index

Singapore’s Strait Times Index *

Extremes below the Mean (at least 2.5 standard deviations)

South Korean 10 year government bond yield 

Soybeans 

CAD/GBP

Shanghai Composite Index *

China’s CSI 300 Index *

Oversold (RSI < 30)

North European Hot Rolled Coil Steel *

U.S. Midwest Hot Rolled Coil Steel *

Lumber *

Lithium Hydroxide *

And the Chinese RMB *

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

Corn *

Russia’s MOEX equity index

Notes & Ideas:

Government bond yields fell. Most of them for the 2nd consecutive week.

Except for the Belgium, Danish and Finnish 10’s.

The Australian 10 year minus U.S. 10 year bond yield spread has risen for 5 consecutive weeks.

Inversely, the U.S.10Y minus Aussie 10’s spread have fallen for 5 weeks.

Chilean 2’s are in a 4 week winning streak.

Czech 10’s have fallen fro 5 of the past 6 weeks.

Brazilian 10 year bond yields are not overbought anymore

And IEF is in the early stages of an upward trend.

Equities were mostly higher, again !

For example, the Nasdaq Composite has risen for 11 out of the past 12 weeks.

The S&P 500 has climbed higher for 5 of the past 6 weeks.

There was a stunning rotation late in the week, from large caps into the smaller and mid cap companies.

China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite rose and broke their 7 week losing streak and the KOSPI broke its 5 straight weeks of advance.

The DAX is in a 4 week winning streak as is Indonesia’s IDX 30.

Indonesia’s main index has climbed 9.5% over the past 4 weeks.

The Developed World equities index ex USA along with the FTSE 250 have risen 4.4% over the past fortnight.

And Sweden’s OMX30 along with the Dow Jones Transports and Nasdaq Transports Index had bullish outside reversal weeks.

Commodities were mixed, although the bias was towards weakness, again.

Again, Cocoa, Coffee, Tin, Orange Juice and Urea were the prominent winners for the week.

Aluminium, Coal, Oil, Gases, Grains, PGM’s, Nickel and Cattle were the largest losers.

WTI Crude, Brent Crude, gasoline and Heating Oil both broke their 4 week winning streaks.

Cotton moved out of oversold territory.

Lean Hogs have slumped for 10 of the past 12 weeks, falling 15% over that time.

Natural Gas broke its 4 week losing streak, by rising 0.4% for the week. Natural Gas has posted a 26% loss during the previous 4 weeks.

Palladium fell 7%, shaving half off the 15% advance seen in the previous 3 weeks.

Lumber showed some spirit although it has fallen for 11 weeks of the past 16 weeks.

And Lithium Hydroxide has now spent 52 consecutive weeks in weekly oversold territory.

Currencies continue to provide action, again and again.

The Yen bounced and the extremes seen amongst its pairs are not there this week.

The AUD has risen for 4 consecutive weeks against the CAD, INR, NZD and USD, 

While it broke its trending streaks against the JPY, EUR, SGD and THB.

The Canadian Dollar was mostly weaker.

The CAD/AUD has fallen for 5 weeks, while the Loonie against the USD has climbed for 5 straight weeks.

And strength in the British Pound continue. 

The larger advancers over the past week comprised of;

Baltic Dry Index 1.6%, Cocoa 6%, Arabica Coffee 8.7%, Tin 4.5%, Orange Juice 3.8%, Robusta Coffee 10.3%, Urea Middle East 1.7%, Developed World equities index ex USA 2.3%, KBW Bank Index 4.3%, DAX 1.5%, DJ Industrials 1.7%, DJ Transports 1.6%, MIB 1.7%, HSCEI 2.4%, Hang Seng 2.8%, IBEX 2.1%, BOVESPA 2.1%, S&P SmallCap 600 5.5%, Russell 2000 6.1%, KRE Regional Banks 8.7%, FTSE 250 2%, S&P MidCap 4.4%, Mexico 5%, Nasdaq Biotech 6.8%, Stockholm 2.9%, Philippines PSE 2.4%, SET 1.5%, SMI 3%, SOX 2,1%, STI 2.6%, TAEIX 1.5%, TSX 2.8%, ASX 200 1.8%, ASX Industrials 1.9%, ASX Small Caps 2.6%, BIST 2.2% and Israel’s TA35 rose 2.6%.

The group of largest decliners from the week included;

Aluminium (2.8%), Bloomberg Commodity Index (1.7%), China Coking Coal (3%), Heating Oil (3.6%), HRC (1.5%), Cattle (2.2%), JKM in Yen (5.2%), Nickel (3.1%), Palladium (6.5%), Platinum (3.1%), Gasoline (1.7%), Biodiesel (3.4%), Sugar (4.7%), S&P GSCI (2.5%), Dutch TTF Gas (4.1%), Brent Crude (2.2%), Gasoil (3.1%), Silver in AUD (1.9%), MOEX (5.6%), Corn (2.1%), Soybean (5.7%) and Wheat fell 6.7%.

July 14, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

A shift coming in Iron Ore prices

I see a change in trend for Iron Ore prices coming “soon”;

and so the effect on the various companies involved within the supply and production chain.

July 13, 2024

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more cheaper calories

cheaper corn tortillas and cereal….

the price of Corn has nearly halved since the moment Russia invaded Ukraine.

Remember all the headlines about export bottlenecks, food inflation and a pending calorie crisis?

Today, “nobody” is taking about #Corn 🌽.


July 13, 2024

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Soybeans are oversold

…..cheaper protein

Would you like to see how the price of soybeans dances with the U.S. inflation rate?

#tofu

July 13, 2024

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More stock market curveballs are being thrown

If the U.S. stock market was a baseball pitcher, it has mostly been throwing attractive looking fastballs, up near the eyes.

But I’m noticing some sliders and curveballs entering the repertoire.

Those pitches are intended to deceive the hitter into reaching for the ball and being early.

This is when you need to wait a little longer…….perhaps keep your weight back…..sometimes leave your bat on the shoulder…….until the ball is thrown in the strike zone.

Inflation has abated, interest rates next?

U.S. inflation has nearly reverted back to its 200 week moving average.

Whether it sees 2% or not, is mute. It has abated and mean reverted.

Such mean reversions are honoured more so after such parabolas.

The bet is now whether interest rates follow……and what that means for various asset classes and business sectors.

The U.S. 2 year government bond yield is the orange line.

July 12, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

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Mining companies disconnected from underlying prices

The Gold price in AUD has risen yet the equity price in gold mining companies are lagging and subdued.

Here is a study of the stock price of ASX listed Evolution Mining and the Gold price in AUD.

Mining is difficult…..when publicly listed, you are forced to produce, irrespective of the costs.

And it matters how an investor expresses their view relating to a particular theme or idea.

July 11, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

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A little more weakness for the GBP/AUD

Since my note dated, February 29, 2024 and the subsequent peak in the GBP/AUD, it notable eased lower since.

And a new medium frame, downward trend is developing.

At the very least, I think that the British Pound will decline to the 1.83 mark against the Australian Dollar.

July 10, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

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