copper

Into The ‘Dollar’ Run Now More Than Illiquidity?

By |2015-08-24T12:17:39-04:00August 24th, 2015|Bonds, Commodities, Currencies, Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets, Stocks|

We have been talking about a global “dollar” run for the better part of two weeks, and at least a major “dollar” disruption looming going back three months. To say that any of the latest chaos is “unexpected” is intentionally obtuse, but it has already happened. As it is, I think we can expect FRBNY and the Treasury to issue [...]

History Repeats; China as Japan

By |2015-08-20T12:10:20-04:00August 20th, 2015|Currencies, Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

It was another very heavy intervention in yuan last night for the PBOC, making that twice in just one week. The activity is so fierce as to be of similar proportions to the very tight Chinese New Year period, meaning that it is an understatement to say that the PBOC is under great strain. What is less defined, especially in [...]

It’s Small, But Gold Sticks Out

By |2015-08-19T15:23:34-04:00August 19th, 2015|Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

It was, apparently, just a one-day “dollar” reprieve for the crude complex as oil prices are pounded today across the board even after the FOMC statement (leak) release. Unsurprisingly, copper joined the depression as the September futures price traded as low as $2.2605 this morning ($2.273 as of this writing). That is, of course, a new cycle low in copper [...]

Still The Run

By |2015-08-18T14:44:32-04:00August 18th, 2015|Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

To start this week, Ma Jun, chief economist for the PBOC, gave an email interview where he expressed his belief that the yuan will be more volatile but in either direction. Many still took those comments as if it were a veiled prescription toward devaluation. In the near term, it is more likely there will be "two way volatility," or [...]

Corporate Bubble Pricing Revised, Effect Is The Same

By |2015-08-17T16:16:39-04:00August 17th, 2015|Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

The S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan 100 was updated this weekend through August 13, confirming that market values in those “liquid” names fell below the December 16 levels for the worst prices since before QE3. There isn’t any further information on the reasons for the delay, though revisions to the BofAML High Yield indices suggest an answer. On Friday, the CCC and [...]

So Far, Inevitable ‘Dollar’

By |2015-08-11T13:06:28-04:00August 11th, 2015|Bonds, Commodities, Currencies, Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

Everything in dollar-denomination yesterday was lifted by the usual M&A debasement and quite sour data from China. The latter was taken as if there would be renewed “stimulus” in the near term. The “dollar” took a break from its recent destructive nature, as commodities rebounded as did currency proxies and even gold. Stocks in the US and elsewhere jumped and [...]

‘Dollar’ Continues; Future Growth Implications

By |2015-08-03T14:15:28-04:00August 3rd, 2015|Bonds, Commodities, Currencies, Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

Repo rates absolutely surged at month-end, LIBOR jumped a few more basis points and the eurodollar curve is bid almost everywhere in large chunks. Commodities continue to get smashed, especially crude oil, and currencies are devaluing in almost equally large portions. Even the treasury market is somewhat sporting the tell-tale collateral calls. In short, the “dollar” problems continue into this [...]

At This Point, What Difference Does ‘Some’ Make

By |2015-07-29T15:07:05-04:00July 29th, 2015|Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

Despite being the last FOMC meeting before the ever-expected rate hike in September , there was a whole bunch of nothing in markets before and even after the policy statement. Even the typical knee-jerk was less than on prior meetings. Maybe traders have come to expect so very little from the policy statement, focusing more on the inanities and silliness [...]

New ‘Dollar’ Proxy Lows

By |2015-07-27T16:54:36-04:00July 27th, 2015|Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

The “dollar” problems continued this morning as several proxies continued toward new lows. Copper fell to as low as $2.342 (July contract still) while crude is down close to $47 in the front months. The back end of the WTI curve, perhaps more importantly with respect to growth and fundamentals tied to the “dollar”, fell to new lows. The Brazilian [...]

Late 2014 ‘Dollar’ Is Back

By |2015-07-23T11:09:02-04:00July 23rd, 2015|Bonds, Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

If there is something different about the “dollar” in July it is that it has been in widespread pressure on funding. From early May to the beginning of July, the “dollar” was more hit and miss with only regional or limited disruption. Crude prices, for example, rising since the March FOMC, stopped but then traded sideways rather than appreciably lower. [...]

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