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

Volatility is not rising, so stocks will

The attached study was first published in June 2023.

It highlighted the moment when the VIX registered a certain RSI level in late November 2022.

12 months on, the S&P 500 has climbed 15% up the wall of worry that I allude to in the graphic below.

Recently, the VIX weekly RSI did not trade above 64 and it’s approaching 38 again.

The actual VIX Index is now at its lowest point since mid-January 2020.

The is little volatility present.

Others may suggest complacency and imply the buying of insurance is cheaper…..my work suggests that there is life in this S&P 500 advance,

but in the short-term, it’ll be in timing when to add or allocate.

November 29, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Gaps will be filled

I don’t like the way some asset prices are behaving.

Some are not constructive.

I can see gaps between the highest price of a given day and the lows in subsequent days. This ‘gap up’ is eventually closed as the price makes its way ‘back’ lower to ‘fill’ it.

There is much backing and filling to do.

Below is an example of the Russell 2000 Index.

I don’t like it when individual stocks do it, let alone indices.

Identifying this occurrence helps me qualify whether I ‘rent’ or ‘own’ the asset or security, while also assisting with my next price entry.

November 29, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Checking probability – India’s SENSEX

While not registering overbought signals, the SENSEX Index in India is currently trading at a higher level within its range, prompting the need for a thorough examination of the probabilities involved of further advance.

November 28, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Macro Extremes (week ending November, 24, 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

SHY – 1-3 year Treasury ETF

Rice

BOVESPA

Overbought (RSI > 70)

Turkish 10 year government bond yields 

Cocoa

Rubber

Uranium

EUR/JPY

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

GBP/JPY

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

Chilean 2 year government bond yields 

British 5 year government bond yield

Swiss and British 10 year government bond yields

Cattle

Oversold (RSI < 30)

Lithium Hydroxide

Nickel 

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

None

Notes & Ideas:

Government bond yields rose slightly.

The TLT ETF broke its 4 week winning streak.

While we saw a slight rise oil yields this past (shortened trading) week, I continue to highlight many have fallen for the past 4-6 weeks and remain below the highs being recently heralded.

So much so, 6 weeks ago, the price of the IEI ETF was $112 and now is trading at $114. That’s a 1.8% capital gain, while not including the 0.45% in dividends (coupons) paid over that time.

Other misnomers and surprises include the BoA 5-7 year corporate bond yield is hovering at the same yield as September 4, 2023 and the same as November 7, 2022 and as previously seen on September 19, 2022.

British yields are flirting with a drop into oversold territory.

And as prompted in last week’s edition, Swiss 10 year government bond yields did enter oversold territory this week. 

Equities experienced a diverse week, with several indices ending near last week’s closing prices, showing marginal fluctuations of within +/- 1%. Advancing stocks slightly outnumbered declining ones during this period.

The following indices have risen for 4 consecutive weeks; DAX, DJ Industrials, Nasdaq Composite and the 100, KOSPI, Nikkei 225, Sensex, Copenhagen, S&P 500 and the TAIEX.

Brazil’s BOVESPA and the IPC Mexico Index are in a 5 week winning streak. The former appearing in this weeks overbought category.

The KOSPI has risen 8% in the past 4 weeks following it registering an oversold extreme.

The Nasdaq Transports and the Composite have advanced 11% and 12%, respectively, over the same time.

The ASX 200 rose 0.1%, the ASX Materials climbed 0.2%% while the ASX Small Caps and ASX Industrials fell 0.9% and 0.8% respectively.

And India’s SENSEX seems to be amongst the most extended of bourses, for it trades at 24% above its 200 week moving average.

Commodities were generally flat to weaker, with the commodity indices being influenced by the larger weighting of the energy contracts.

In fact, the S&P GSCI Index has fallen for 5 consecutive weeks.

WTI Crude, Brent Crude, Gasoline and Nickel are sporting 5 week losing weeks.

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

Inversely, Lumber is in a 5 week winning streak as is the Copper/Gold Ratio.

Orange Juice fell 1% which was enough to shift it out of overbought territory, although mean reversion to its 200 week moving average beckons.

Natural Gas has slumped 20% over the past 3 weeks.

The Baltic Dry Index has soared 38% in the past 3 weeks. 

Oats were in the oversold category 2 weeks ago. This past week, their price soared 13% higher. ,

Cocoa broke its 7 week winning streak and similar to Orange Juice, mean reversion risk lies below.

Uranium remains overbought for an 15th consecutive week.

Lithium Hydroxide declining streak extends to 20 consecutive weeks,

Last week’s note that Silver had a bullish outside week saw it follow through with a 2.6% gain this week.

Gold as priced in AUD has declined for each of the past 4 weeks

And I see price digestion in the (softs) agricultural’s.

Amongst currencies, the Australian Dollar was stronger again.

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%.

EUR/JPY is at its highest close since August 4th, 2008.

The Yen was weaker everywhere.

The Canadian Loonie was mixed. It was weaker versus the AUD & GBP….and stronger against the EUR & USD.

And I’m reflecting about the August 19, 2023 high seen in the AUD/CHF and if it coincided with a peak in ‘risk-on’ sentiment.

The larger advancers over the past week comprised of;

Baltic Dry Index 15.5%, China Coking Coal 4.5%, Gasoil 2.4%, Copper 1.5%, Heating Oil 2.2%, Lumber 2.6%, Newcastle Coal 3.1%, Palladium 2.1%, Rubber 1.6%, Dutch TTF Gas 3.5%, Uranium 3.3%, Silver USD 2.6%, Oats 13%, DJ Industrials 1.3%, IBEX 1.8%, Oslo 1.5%, Stockholm 1.4%, SMI 1.3%, S&P 500 1% and the Nasdaq Transports rose 1.4%.

The group of decliners included;

WTI Crude (1.2%), Lean Hogs (4.3%), Cattle (3%), LNG JKM in Yen (3.8%), Lithium Hydroxide (1.7%), Tin (2.9%), Natural Gas (3.6%), Nickel (4.6%), KRE Regional Bank Index (1.8%) and Thailand’s SET Index fell 1.3%.

November 26, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

Happy Birthday Mama !

There is more to being Oversold

It is 9 years ago, to the week….when Woolworths Group (the Australian supermarket retailer, food company and possible property developer)…..last saw its shares registering an oversold weekly reading.

While this moment is rare, there are nuances to this current (and the previous) occurrence.

Its current downtrend is strengthening.

I’m implying that the stock pice could trade down to the $30 region before finding any exhaustion.

Some investors may be surprised about its recent decline from $40, especially for a supposed defensive stock, let alone should it see $30.

But others wouldn’t be considering its a 2.5% net margin business which is carrying net debt equal to nearly 6 times its EBIT.

November 22, 2023

by Rob Zdravevski

rob@karriasset.com.au

The Pendulum’s Arc – Microsoft (MSFT)

When the price of Microsoft (MSFT:US) shares are trading at a certain percentage above their 200 week moving average, whilst also registering a weekly overbought reading along with being 2.5 standard deviations above its rolling weekly mean.

November 21, 2023
by Rob Zdravevski
rob@karriasset.com.au