Macro Extremes (week ending March 1, 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.

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

Rotterdam Coal

Cotton

Lumber

Overbought (RSI > 70)

Robusta Coffee 

Rubber

AEX

Budapest

DAX

Dow Jones Industrial Average

Italy’s MIB

Egypt 30 Index

Nasdaq Composite

Nasdaq 100

Nasdaq Transportation Index

NIFTY 50

Nikkei 225

Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX)

TAIEX

Vietnam

And the S&P 500 Index

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

Cocoa (in U.S. and London)

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

None

Oversold (RSI < 30)

Chinese 10 year government bond yields

JKM LNG

Lithium Hydroxide

Corn 

Soybean

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

None

Notes & Ideas:

Government bond yields were mixed.

American and Australian Yields were lower,

While German Spanish, French, British, Japanese and South Korean yields rose.

Chilean yields rose with the 10 year yields and are in a 4 week winning streak 

German 2’s (yields) have also risen for the 4th consecutive week.

Equities were generally firmer although most closed the week within 1% either side of last week’s close. 

The Shanghai Composite is in a 3 week winning streak while the S&P Midcaps have closed higher for 7 consecutive weeks. 

The KSLE isn’t overbought anymore nor is the BIST 100.

The Hang Seng broke its 3 week winning run.

Mexico has fallen for 4 straight weeks.

Russia’s MOEX 10 has closed at an all-time high.

Copenhagen performed a bullish outside reversal week.

The S&P 500 is still overbought. It has risen for 16 of its past 18 weeks.

The CAC, the AEX and DAX took a break from posting made a new all-time highs.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has now spent the past 12 weeks in overbought territory.

The Philippines Stock Exchange has put together a 6 week winning streak.

And Italy’s MIB has traded to its highest point since June 2008.

Commodities were mostly stronger, with the larger winners listed below.

The strength seen in the commodity indices were heavily influenced by the energy contracts.

Coal, Gasolines and Gases had a strong week.

Gold saw renewed strength while the PGM’s were weaker.

The Baltic Dry Index has risen for 4 consecutive weeks.

Dutch TTF Gas and JKM (priced in Yen) moved out of oversold territory.

Hot Rolled Coil Steel is nearing an extreme.

Orange Juice had a bearish outside week.

Cattle is streaking ahead, posting 9 consecutive winning weeks and closing higher in 11 of the past 12 weeks and nearing overbought territory.

Lithium Hydroxide has now spent 34 consecutive weeks in weekly oversold territory.

Soybeans and Corn are registering oversold extremes. 

Soybeans broke their 10 week losing streak.

And Henry Hub Natural Gas bounced 8% after making all-time lows, last week.

Currencies was were the action was.

AUD and CAD were mostly weaker.

The greater USD measure, the DXY was unchanged.

The Euro was firmer.

While the Yen rose for the week and it is flirting with making lower lows across various pairs.

The AUD/JPY took a break testing its recent highest closing point since December 8, 2014.

GBP/JPY is at its highest price since August 3, 2015.

The Japanese Yen has fallen for 7 of the past 8 weeks versus USD.

MYR/USD bounced from that all time low mentioned in last week edition.

And the Colombian Peso rose against the USD and broke its 8 week losing streak.

The larger advancers over the past week comprised of;

Aluminium 2.5%, Rotterdam Coal 14.5%, Bloomberg Commodity Index 1.9%, Baltic Dry Index 18.6%, WTI Crude Oil 4.6%, Cotton 2.2%, Heating Oil 1.8%, JKM LNG 2.2%, JKM in Yen 3.3%, Newcastle Coal 9%, Natural Gas 8.7%, Nickel on MCX 2.5%, Gasoline 4.2%, Robusta Coffee 2.9%, S&P GSCI 2.5%, CRB Index 2.3%, Dutch TTF Gas 11.9%, Brent Crude 2.1%, Gasoil 2.3%, Gold in AUD 2.9%, Gold in CAD 2.7%, Gold in USD 2.3%, Corn 2.4%, Oats 5%, DAX 1.8%, Russell 2000 2.8%, Nasdaq Composite 1.7%, Karachi 4%, S&P MidCap 400 1.9%, MOEX 4.4%, Nasdaq 100 2%, Nikkei 225 2.1%, SOX 6.8%, Chile 4.7%, Vietnam 3.8% and Australia’s ASX Small Caps rose 2.2%.

The group of largest decliners from the week included;

Australian Coking Coal (2.6%), China Coking Coal (2.7%), Hot Rolled Coil Steel (2%), Orange Juice (5.5%), Palladium (3.9%), Platinum (2.4%), Sugar (6.8%), Uranium (2.5%), Rice (1.7%), Wheat (2%), Mexico (2%), South Africa (2.1%), SET (2.2%), Strait Times (1.5%) and Turkiye’s BIST fell 3%

March 3, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

U.S. bonds yields to fall to 2.8%

News of the poor management of the U.S. government’s income statement and balance sheet isn’t new.

Nor is the oft grouping of ‘money printing’ yet rates were below 1% not too long ago.

I say that the U.S. 2 year paper goes to 2.8% – 3.1% before it considers moving back higher,

And all the other capital market effects that would come with that…….

I expect U.S. rates to move to where they can do the most damage.

March 2, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Chinese households are in good health

I am not ‘worried’ about the Chinese property market The damage has been done and if you happened to be concerned, then don’t own equities in any associated property developers, banks or construction companies.

In fact, that malaise may provide better investing opportunity than the fully priced markets.

I’d be more concerned about Australian property sector.,

Australians households hold nearly twice the debt as a percentage of GDP (112%) than Chinese households (62%).

Source: IMF

Furthermore, Chinese households have 34% of their total household disposable income as household savings.

Australians are at 13% as are the Americans. The Canadians are at 6% while the Brits have kept 2% of their disposable income in the form of savings.

Source: OECD

March 1, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

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Image source: IMF

Coming soon – selling GBP / buying AUD

I think a bit more higher before selling GBP for AUD becomes a good idea.

February 29, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

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Banking stocks are made for trading

The circles in the chart below suggest moments when to accumulate shares in Wells Fargo & Co. #WFC.US

These are the moments when the stock price has traded below its 200 week moving average and also 2.5 standard deviations below its rolling weekly mean.

This study is only focused on the buying moment and not the selling moments.

Owning #WellsFargo stock hasn’t been synonymous with a ‘set and forget’ strategy. This is the case with many #banking stocks around the world.

Indeed, there are times when you should ponder selling the stock.

For example, today’s Wells Fargo stock price is still the same price it was 10 years ago.

And it hasn’t been an extraordinary compounder over the last 20 years either with an approx. annual return of 4.6%.

At ~ $54, I’m taking the ‘fat part of the trade’.

February 26, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

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Macro Extremes (week ending February 23, 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.

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

U.S. 3 month bond yield

Lean Hogs

NZD/AUD

Overbought (RSI > 70)

Rubber

AEX

Budapest

DAX

Dow Jones Industrial Average

Italy’s MIB

Egypt 30 Index

Nasdaq Composite

Nasdaq 100

Nasdaq Transportation Index

NIFTY 50

Nikkei 225

Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX)

TAIEX

BIST 100

And the S&P 500 Index

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

Cocoa (in U.S. and London)

KLSE

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

None

Oversold (RSI < 30)

China 10 year government bond yield

JKM LNG

Lithium Hydroxide

Dutch TTF Gas

Corn 

Soybean

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

None

Notes & Ideas:

Government bond yields had a boring week.

Most stayed within 10 basis either side of last week’s close.

Equities were stronger, however there were some losers too.

The Nasdaq 100, Composite and Transports are all back in overbought territory after having a breather last week. The first two had bullish ‘outside’ weeks while the Nasdaq transports hit an all-time high.

Bullish outside reversal weeks were also seen in Thailand’s SET and Malaysia’s KLSE.

The latter is revealing on the back of a weak Ringgit.

The S&P 500 is still overbought. It has risen for 15 of its past 17 weeks.

The CAC and DAX made a new all-time highs.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has now spent the past 11 weeks in overbought territory.

Amsterdam’s AEX continues to make new all-time highs.

The Philippines Stock Exchange has put together a 5 week winning streak.

Italy’s MIB has traded to its highest point since June 2008.

Turkiye’s BIST has risen for 8 consecutive weeks making for a 24% (in TRY terms) return.

And the Shaghai Compsoite, CSI 300 and the HSCEI has have risen 10% over the past couple weeks……in amongst all of that pessimism.

Commodities were mostly weaker. 

Uranium isn’t overbought anymore.

Nickel isn’t oversold.

Hot Rolled Coil Steel is nearing an extreme,

Cattle is streaking ahead, positing 8 consecutive winning weeks and closing higher in 10 of the past 11 weeks.

Nickel, Palladium, Cocoa and shipping rates had a good week.

Energy prices, industrial metals, grains, Coffee were the largest losers.

Lithium Hydroxide prices was unchanged for the week, once again, again.

Lithium Hydroxide has now spent 33 consecutive weeks in weekly oversold territory.

Heating Oil has fallen 9.5% in the past week and trading it must be a nightmare.

Cotton broke its 6 week winning streak.

Soybeans and Corn are registering oversold extremes. 

Soybeans are in a 10 week losing streak and have fallen 14 of the past 15 weeks.

And Henry Hub Natural Gas prices made an new all-time lows.

Currencies was were the action was.

The U.S. Dollar (DXY) Index broke its 7 week winning streak.

The AUD was firmer. The CAD was lower. The EUR mixed. The GBP stronger. The JPY weaker.

The AUD/JPY saw its highest intra-week levels and close since December 8, 2014, although its not at an overbought extreme. 

GBP/JPY is at its highest price since August 3, 2015.

The Japanese Yen has fallen for 7 of the past 8 weeks versus USD.

MYR/USD – all time low, suggests buying Malaysian Ringgit 

Colombian Peso is in a 8 week losing streak again the USD.

DKK/USD broke its 5 week losing streak.

The IDR/USD is in a 4 week losing streak.

The Singapore Dollar broke its 7 week losing streak vs USD.

And the ZAR/USD had a bearish outside reversal week.

The larger advancers over the past week comprised of;

Baltic Dry Index 15.9%, Lean Hogs 2.3%, Newcastle Coal 1.9%, Nickel on LME 7.1%, Nickel on CX 3.6%, Orange Juice 2.1%, Palladium 3.8%, Rice 2%, Wheat 1.8%, Shanghai 4.9%, CSI 300 3.7%, CAC 2.6%, China A50 2.6%, DAX 1.8%, DJ Transports 1.9%, MIB 3.1%, HSCEI 3.7%, HSI 2.4%, IBEX 2.5%, Pakistan’s KSE 4.9%, Nasdaq Biotechs 1.8%, SMI 1.7%, SOX 1.9%, Nasdaq Transports 2.7% and S&P 500 rose 1.7%.

The group of largest decliners from the week included;

Aluminium (2.1%), WTI Crude (2.5%), Heating Oil (4.2%), JKM LNG (5.2%), Coffee (3.4%), JKM LNG in Yen (5%), Tin (3.8%), Gasoline (2.7%), Robusta Coffee (3.5%), Sugar (2%), SPGSCI (1.4%), Dutch TTF Gas (7.6%), Brent Crude (1.9%), Gasoil (1.7%), Uranium (5.9%), Silver in AUD (2.5%), Silver in USD (2%), Corn (4%), oats (4.7%), Soybeans (2.9%), MOEX (3.1%), KRE Regional Banks (1.7%), Chile (2.3%) and the ASX Materials fell 1.7%. 

February 25, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

What if the unemployment rate doubles?

I’m conditioning myself to see U.S. #unemployment rate between 5.5% – 6% within 30 months.

Opining that it should hold the current 3.7% levels is fighting against (my work on) probability and more so when you consider the quantum change seen in interest rates.

I’ll give you a floor of 3.3%.

What if the #unemploymentrate nearly doubles?

What do various capital markets look like with a 6% U.S. unemployment rate?

In business, wage pressure would certainly ease.

It’s not a very sharp outlook for residential real estate, especially if you lose your job.

February 25, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

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Form a view, reporting it doesn’t help

The Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 Index have risen 10% over the past 2 or 3 weeks.

Media reports simply reporting this adds little value.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-24/enjoy-the-rally-while-it-lasts-is-china-stock-traders-new-mantra?sref=qLOW1ygh

My subjective observation of recent pessimism along with my empirical analysis lead to my weekend publication, “Macro Extremes” listing these indices in the ‘extreme oversold’ category in the few weeks prior to this ‘reported’ news.

While this rebound is encouraging, it should be treated as a ‘trade’ for now. This means I expect a small pullback. Some ‘sideways’ travel and consolidation would also be constructive for China’s equity indices.

A couple weeks ago, I highlighted 7 moments (in a private note) when the CSI 300 provided an entry point which pointed to reasonably probability of a trading bounce.

Today’s situation is also labelled as one of those.

February 25, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

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some scenarios about Lend Lease

Whilst I acquaint myself with the numbers and the fundamental business of ‘beleaguered’ Australian property development company, Lend Lease (LLC.ASX)…….the decline in the stock price has been merciless.

Lend Lease’s current stock price is A$6.04

18 months prior, there were some other anecdotal concerns about the company which crossed my desk.

But the recent declining ‘wave’ (since August 2023) where the stock price has fallen 30% has seen 420 million shares traded, which equals 62% of its free floating shares on issue.

Subjectively, when 60%+ of the company’s shares have turned over, within a certain period, I start think that the last ‘hold-out’ has folded and thrown in their hand.

For some initial sport, I think this stock may trade down to the $5.20 – $5.70 range.

Alternatively, I think a ‘consortia’ will appear with a bid to buy the whole business at $5.60 per share, making it a ‘take-under’ from today’s price.

Not all acquisitions occur at a premium price.

But perhaps I may conclude that it’s better to own the debt rather than the equity….should I come to any decision at all.

February 23, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

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Nickel…..too early?

Perhaps early but not too late to by #nickel ?

Tuning in to the headline and operational mining pessimism seen amongst Nickel producers (explorers have their own issues)……Nickel prices on the LME are trading at ‘extremes’.

February 23, 2024

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

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