Good day to as any to welcome the next recession- yield curvesThe US5Y looks ready to break above the US10Y rate for bonds , signaling an inversion of the yield curve, the number one precursor to each recession in the US. The 10 year is sitting 3/1000 of a percent higher right now. When they cross I expect the market to turn red today.
The breakout of the US10Y from its cup and handle pattern dating back to June 2019 marked the top of the bull run, and when it backtested and bounced up the selling accelerated. You can learn a lot comparing the US10Y and the SPY or QQQ and how they relate.
Anyways, US10Y killed the bull, maybe now it causes a recession and brings back the bears. Happy trading!
US05Y trade ideas
Visualizing Yield InversionWhen investors have a poor outlook for the economy, what do they do? They buy the longest term debt they can because it's one of the ways to price in the uncertainty of "right now" into the long term. Therefore, rational actors would do something like this:
Buy 30 year treasuries. Buying ensues, yield goes down, price goes up. Eventually 20 year yield becomes greater than 30, as described in purple. Right now for example, you'd get about 3% more yield buying the 20 year VERSUS the 30 year (note: relative yield, not nominal yield), giving us a purple line of 0.968.
The teal line (1.0) is where the relative yields are inverted if the price is below this line. Short term debt pays more than long term debt under this line, which is usually not the case and signals that things are awry.
Now simply repeat this cycle until the rational short term outlook is priced into all irrationally priced long term treasuries. Prices are too low, therefore yields are too high, and rational actors begin buying them. Prices go up, yields go down.
Next up, we have 20Y/10Y (red) at 1.235, which is intriguingly lagging behind the shorter term inversions of 10Y/5Y and 5Y/2Y. If anyone knows why, I would be interested to know! I'm not exactly an expert on debt.
Eventually this cycle repeats until the ratio of short term yields are all very close to long term yields. These conditions always precede a recession, which, by the way, is NOT a well defined term. A recession simply describes "a general decline in economic activity". Not very scientific, is it? Economists utilize a wide range of data to attempt to foresee a recession, yet the outcome is inevitable and uncontrollable. As history shows, any attempt to control the economy and avoid recession (1930s, 1970s) often make things much worse than had policy makers simply let the storm pass initially.
I like to use ratios of yields. Some people subtract the yield of one from the other, which is fine too. I think a ratioized signal is much more pure as ratios rule the world around us. Not only that, given that we're monitoring multiple relative yields, we can get a good overall picture of the current landscape.
Unfortunately there's not much history for the longer term instruments, though as I believe the 30 year has been around for atleast 50 years but only has a few years of TradingView data.
Hopefully the illustrations on this chart along with relative yields help you visualize some of what's happening. I keep this chart of relative yields up ALL the time in a tab! If you have any feedback or comments, I would appreciate it.
Good luck and hedge your bets!
Quick note: In March 2020 not only did the FED setup new centralized repo facilities directly (reverse repo, unprecedented, it's ILLEGAL by the way) and at the same time, engaged in "QE Infinity". In essence there's more avenues at which they are "forced" to buy things that nobody wants. Albeit, they buy it at about market price, assume that's the right price and that they are somehow protecting the economy by pricing in bankruptcy in one asset class and spreading it to the rest of the economy. Belligerent and thoughtless, what more could you want? At the same time, they've sucked a lot of excess cash out of the system once again by offering banks an interest rate of 0.05% for their cash in exchange for some FED junk assets. So suddenly banks are bagholding assets nobody wanted, in order to get interest on their cash, genius huh? OH yeah, and banks are SHORTING those assets on the open market! Effectively making the cash tend towards zero value (the real contract value of those assets which were originally exchanged). Next time something goes wrong, they will unload this ~1.5T diaper of dollars directly into our faces, probably sooner than later, causing more inflation.
5’s & 30’sKeeping the ZIRP thesis alive for now, 30s & 20s remain inverted now 5s could overtake 10s then 30s. Bonds are screaming for sure with inflation still growing m/m, more printing is inevitable to keep the economy going, and printing is how we got here. The next announcement for fed QE expansion, I believe will be the catalyst for golds big move out of the major coil. When there’s nothing left to eat the snake eats it’s own tail.
Let the US yield curve guide - viewing the 2s v 5s UST curveAs we approach a world where the Fed look set to hike in March, with 3.4 hikes priced by Dec 2022- we are also now hearing an open discussion around allowing maturing securities on its $8.8t balance sheet to run off (QT) -so, it's worth going back to the Dec FOMC minutes for real insight.
With the market having had time to pour over the wording, it feels clear that the key paragraph is the one highlighted on the chart - with the Fed saying that history has not been so kind when hiking into a flatter curve.
This suggests that if the curve does head towards inversion - and I've chosen the 2s v 5s - then the Fed will do its utmost to counter that - this suggests:
1) the Fed desire a steeper yield curve
2) will favour QT/ balance sheet run-off if we see a flattening curve
In the situation of continued high inflation, wage pressures and full employment, the Fed now have maximum optionality, but to counter the impact of higher fed funds on demand, utilising its balance sheet could be the key focus over hikes.
So our central guide on the Fed's thinking will be the yield curve...and judging by the FOMC minutes if this is flattening and headed towards inversion, the lessons of 1986, 1988, 1999, and clearly 2006 are our case study by which we can wok with.
So if the curve steepens and heads to 1%, the Fed will be compelled to hike concurrently with BS run off... but should if flatten then rate hikes will be priced out - This should offer excellent trading opportunities to go long US 2year Treasuries, and US rates (fed fund and ED futures) and may weigh on USDJPY initially before the market puts more weight on future relative balance sheet differentials. Gold should rally on a flatter curve.
CW
Black Swan - Risk Parity EventIdea for Bonds:
- US05Y and US02Y printed immense spikes in the pre-market. Glitch? Probably not. Bond market in general is having extreme events globally, US markets not immune.
- Not shown on TV, but HYG also printed -7% in the AH on Friday... and traded there for several minutes.
- Dollar is unstoppable with global shortage. Pension funds have elected to use leverage to meet a 5.5 trillion dollar liability gap. I'm betting they will not succeed.
In the context of everything, more likely it is a dark pool trade and people are running for the exits.
GLHF
- DPT
My Forecasts: PostscriptLet me say this from the outset; within the 2's5's curve is a manual, given that I do not have a great deal of time, it is not possible for me to go into great dimensions or detail I have chosen. Instead we will have to content ourselves with the revolutionary charts/diagrams both before and of the period where I have gone into more details. The same is true of the other important charts (VIX and Unemployment Claims) I refer to below. So now that we are all prepared and understand the knowledge, we must start to turn the dusty pages.
Firstly lets review a chart on which I stack tremendous value: I would not wish to enter into conspiracies. There have been a handful of inversions in the manuscripts over the past three decades which all speak historical truth in advance of the crisis. The advance in the 5 year suggests salvation from the Fed can only come in the medium term as the 2 year lags behind.
And now to the point around Alpha Protocol Seeking Immediate Extraction .
The 2's5's is already under the nature in an impulsive form. The prior three inversions (Housing and Credit, Dot com, GFC) also suffered from a lagging Fed, that of being at least 10-12 months behind! This means that it is not uninteresting to highlight the totally overlooked inversion in 2019, it was a loud SOS signal that the economy was clearly running out of steam.
I was the one who was able to properly understand that manoeuvre in both Unemployment Claims and Vix ahead of time, calling the move from 12 to 85; with complex inversions, always look to play against the crowd. See our opening in US Claims and VIX before the fact:
Given we are facing both inflation via contractions in globalisation and deflation via advancements in technology etc all at the same time, it is causing a major paradox/dissonance across the board. It would serve no purpose to mention or not hint at what will happen next; my personal sense is that because the Fed ALWAYS lags behind, we will see another example of the long end of the curve driving the flows ( for those interested in bull steepening and bear flattening I have also omitted the exclamations in bold ). This would suggest that it is likely that we could be heading into an environment where you see nominal yields receiving a booster shot while real yields flatten causing further pressure on USD.
Macro - Reading The CurveForecast for Macro:
- Falling Wedge Breakout must be re-tested.
- Bear Flattener coming as short-term rates rise with Fed tightening expectations:
- 2x ATR spike in US02Y:
- The Fed members will probably all have their turn to make comments, leaning hawkish. This should cause a rally in the US02Y.
- Bonds Volatility Technically Bullish:
- However, this will be followed by a steepener, respecting the Falling Wedge Breakout, as the Fed implements monetary policies to control Deflation, creating a Stagflation environment.
- US30Y, this is bearish and deflationary:
- USOIL, deflationary. The US economy depends on Oil:
- US Manufacturing Employment Index, looks to be at the top of the range, and on a decline:
- Capital goods are the heart of every economy. Without manufacturing employment, no capital goods. No capital goods, no innovation.
- CN30Y, also bearish and deflationary:
- China's Credit Impulse, and consequently - global credit impulse turns negative.
- No more credit flows means no more liquidity to flow into risk assets.
- M2V declining, if the economy was booming and growing, money velocity should be increasing:
- Business destruction cannot be inflationary. Thriving tech businesses lead the recovery, but Tech is inherently deflationary.
- Reading the curve will be critical to see the macro turns coming!
GLHF
- DPT
WILL YIELDS DROP? CRAZY MOVES!Hey tradomaniacs,
The market is seriously playing games here! 🙈
The blast of yields can not be sustainable as this is going to be a be a thorn in Powells flesh.
Why is that? Basically because rising yields will "raise the price of" debts!
First of all, this is a BET against the FED and looks like TEST.
As often explained, YIELDS are currently rising due to the inflation-worries.
BUT here is the thing:
In his last testimonial Jerome Powell said the FED is not even close to its inflation-goal of 2%❗️
So you may ask yourself, when will the YIELDS stop rising?
Well there are two options:
1️⃣ Yield-Curve-Controle with Bond-Buying-Purchases
2️⃣ To back down and change the current policy
Yield-Curve-Controle of long-term-yields would be an option but probably not a solution as the FED would PRINT money in order to buy bonds 👉 More inflation 👉 More worries!
Will 10-Year-Yields reject off the resistance and correct?
We have to keep in mind that gamblers can bet on rising yields, which will likely take some of their profits.
This could cause a retracement, but fundamentally I can`t really say whether the yields will continue to rise or not.
One thing is for sure:
Rising yields are showing cashflow out of equities into bonds and put stocks under pressure, especially NASDAQ100 and tec-stocks.
If equities fall due to rising yields then US-DOLLAR will have a lot of support to change its trend❗️
Today we have got very nice pullbacks for almost all pairs!
If we see profit-saves in YIELDS, in other words a correction, then we might see again soem risk-on and great opportunities to follow the trends!
Very interesting, but also a very tricky situation for Forex-traders.🙏
Game, Set and Match!📌 ridethepig | Game, Set and Match!
In order to inform ourselves about the dangers of this move, we shall in what follows point to a few live charts which we called live together from 2019 that the 2s5s was going to invert frantically , and was a bad sign. It enables occupation of the dominos, which for those following long enough will know the one thing we always through individually is our playbook .
1️⃣ Every other time this happened it ended badly for the global economy via recession. ✅
2️⃣ A Fed that lags and finances the Whitehouse will only add fuel to the flames... "it's different this time". ✅
3️⃣ The longer the delay in USD devaluation from Fed, the worst the blow is going to be in Equity markets. Assuming USD does not devalue materially into 2020 its repo will grow and continue expanding the balance sheet , one way or another eventually this is going to look like Fed has been financing the WhiteHouse and then the game is up. ✅ ✅
Powell's noble attempt to pick a fight with the end game in an economic cycle can be regarded as having come to nothing. The threat comes from confidence and credit . Aiming for a complete annihilation across risk assets later in 2021, the presence of the inversion was sufficient. Now this move is being made with momentum.
Game
Set
... & Match
The simplest example is to explain the move with diagrams which was the wish here. To occupy a piece of tradingview real estate with a live walk through in the end of an economic cycle. This could be considered as a momentum move in the sense of the word. The rule is:
I’m long vol for a very long time.
Insane risks are palatable but you need to understand the game otherwise you have a very high likelihood of total destruction.
Stay long vol short dollars.
We are entering into a series of exchanges between public and private assets, the door is closing, like in the Star Wars movie when Chewy and Harrison Ford are running to the doors, we can see the door closing in China, and in Russia and yet we still have a chance to get out.
An exchange towards a decentralised world is possibly into 2032.
HEAD & SHOULDERS IN RATES5 Year US Government Bonds demonstrate a classic H & S bottom.
They say equity market value is RELATIVE to bonds. That is very true. Sky high valuations in stock market are result of cheap money(ie, low rates).
End of cheap money?
If yes, it has serious implications for equity markets!
Follow us for more!
It's Different This Time... Right...📌 Endgame in the economic cycle and illustrating a painful recession
Yields had the opportunity to move and successfully played the 'elastic band' rejection from the inversion in 2019, which despite the length of the global CB combination, can be expressed in no other terms than reckless. FED was obviously aiming for the ideal position (the frontal defence from Fiscal this time around) which is a well known counter when the issue comes from private debt, however they were forced to 'bend the knee'.
Things proceed as follows:
1️⃣ Every other time this happened it ended badly for the global economy via recession. ✅
2️⃣ A Fed that lags and finances the Whitehouse will only add fuel to the flames... "it's different this time". ✅
3️⃣ The longer the delay in USD devaluation from Fed, the worst the blow is going to be in Equity markets. Assuming USD does not devalue materially into 2020 its repo will grow and continue expanding the balance sheet, one way or another eventually this is going to look like Fed has been financing the WhiteHouse and then the game is up. 👈 'we are currently here'
The Whitehouse has decided to follow hyperinflation, Dem voters were naive in this sense and thought they could hold rates lower forever without any consequences. Now we must waste more time pursuing their distant dream that taxation is a solution.
Wishful thinking if you ask me... the kind of overdrafts these governments have run up are several multiples beyond even Piketty's theoretical tax base. This ending of a cycle is a pragmatic demonstration of the lust to keep 'putting it on the card' and leaving private debt problems to future generations because of time being finite.
Finally a notion which carries its own duties:
In a debt crisis, as Japan have known for some 30 years a) you do not want an appreciating currency as the cost of servicing those debts will skyrocket in real terms and b) remain nimble...(get a peloton if necessary).
Thanks as usual for keeping the feedback coming 👍 or 👎
Bond notes / messenger that Gold collapse is nearDespite the rise on DX, Gold is extending it’s uptrend move / Buying pressure is evident, but still Gold is showcasing the strong underlying Bearish trend. What keeps Gold ranged is the Bond notes Trading near Resistance, and above almost an Yearly high on the Stock markets. Also, on the E.U. opening, I spotted also side Swing movements as I am only expecting Gold to Buy the every dip under these conditions. More specifically with #1,919.80 as the Hourly 4 Resistance (and with the Hourly 1 #1,895.80 well Supporting) if it breaks I am expecting an aggressive gap fill at towards #1,927.80 within #2 - #4 sessions, of course if Stimulus hopes arise. The Daily chart is slowly turning Bearish today and can support the downtrend (in my reports I have mentioned that the Daily chart Bearish confirmation is what I have been waiting for). This #2 - #4 session horizon coincides with today’s release of the U.S. Fundamental events, so all the parameters support a speculative downtrend on Gold amplified by a rise on the Bond notes. Keep in mind that Gold is surely Bearish on the Medium-term, what keeps it ranged is current events on the correlating assets (Stock markets especially). I am expecting decline on Bond notes which can postpone ultimate Gold meltdown aiming the last Yearly Low of this cycle (as current configuration is Bullish for Gold), but once Bond notes break the psychological barrier / Resistance (June #7 Top), it is a sign that Gold should be sold on Medium-term towards #1,800.80, and #1,750.80 extension.
Betting on Treasury spreads: long 5Y, short 30Y It's obvious that the Fed has to continue Treasury purchases to keep rates suppressed; the Federal debt is so huge at this point (and the fact that financial fallout from covid isn't even close to resolved) indicates to me that yield curve pinning is likely part of our future.
If the Fed pins yields, they're likely to start out towards the front end of the curve. That means we'd see shorter duration yields drop, e.g. they might decide to pin the 5Y to zero.
Everyone's talking about inflation these days, so it isn't beyond belief that 30Y bond yields might pop up. This is the leg of the trade I'm most uncertain about. It seems not unbelievable to me that 35 year bond bull market continues, and asset inflation keeps pumping 30Ys.
In any case, the trade here would be a duration-weighted, delta-neutral curve trade. You might buy 5Y treasury futures and sell 30Y futures at a 4:1 ration to account for differences in duration. As you can see on the chart here, there seems to be a cyclical pattern whenever the Fed starts to dramatically intervene in the rates market. It would fit historical patterns that the 5Y-30Y rate continues to head lower.
At least partial credit to this idea goes to Kevin Muir.