Week Ahead
Market participants will get a respite from Fed speak this week as we are now in the blackout period ahead of the March 18 FOMC meeting. In only hours after the Fed's extraordinary inter-meeting 50 basis point rate cut last Tuesday, the market has aggressively brought forward the timeline for Fed easing and is pricing in by another 50-bps next Wednesday. Also, the majority of quality analysts are now projecting real GDP growth to be flat in the first half of the year — the slowest two-quarter growth rate since the crisis — with Q2 showing a contraction of 0.6% at an annualized rate.
I'm going to skip this week's economic data analysis as it relatively meaningless when global markets are in meltdown mode since the coronavirus crisis arrived in the US. I've never seen such a muted reaction to such a healthy payroll number. That's no great surprise; no one cared about payrolls with all eyes focused on the coronavirus, media reels.
Fixed income and equity markets are on the way to pricing in zero Fed rates and a recession. While how far are we from the bottom, and what would it take for sentiment to turn are the primary questions on every investor's minds. Those I can't answer, but I can tell you things are complicated to navigate.
Massive credit tail risk building
There's another significant risk-off move brewing, with funding concerns now clearly in focus. The sell-off in European banks is raising a few eyebrows, and market participants are now clearly considering the possibility of an all-out funding squeeze. Indeed, given the expected bankruptcies and massive demand for short-term credit, its no wonder EU bank stocks are tanking, and that basis is widening. Another spike on the basis may confirm the beginning of a more protracted equity market sell-off, and even if the ECB steps in with cheap loans, that will probably take time to filter.
It reminds me of 2008, where for a week or so, it is impossible to position for the endgame. The only trades that made sense were 'cheap options' like Gold and JPY, but even those are not so cheap and becoming expensive with USDJPY at 105 and gold closing in on $1700.
Playbooks?
I've been trying to drill home for weeks that there's no exact historical playbook that comfortably fits. But that there are parallels with past S&P 500 sell-offs
- Geopolitical risks that were characterized by potentially significant but complicated to quantify impacts on fundamentals (statistically these events usually trigger -6.5% down, but short duration impact three weeks to bottom and three weeks to recover)
- Vol events, which given the speed of the recent correction and the fact that the shock is still playing out due to algorithmic systems correlated to the Vix, that phase is almost played out, and the bottom is in (-15% down; 6-7 weeks to bottom).
- However, as we move into a growth slowdown but no recession narrative, which is the primary scenario my close quorum of season trader and most top tier analysts think (-15% to -20% down; 2½ months to bottom); and
- But it's hard not to price worst-case scenario of a recession (-30% down; 7 months to bottom)
Interesting take by Bloomberg's Gregor Stuart Hunter @gregorhunter sums up these scenarios much better than I can
No Endgame scenario?
With no endgame in sight scenario playing out in the market, the virus headcounts in the US will be of crucial importance, so there needs to be comprehensive testing to arrive at a credible tally of cases.
It sure seems inevitable that numbers will climb substantially higher from current levels, possibly in an explosive way once testing is rolled out on a large scale. Until then, markets will likely lack the confidence to fade the aggressive sell-off.
But the market response to the critical non-monetary policy measures will be essential. But only once investors think that a peak of new cases is in sight, and policies are convincing, may they start rebuying risk.
Oil markets
It was always going to be too little too late anyway.
The OPEC+ compliance deal came to a clumsy conclusion when Russia wouldn't commit their pro rata slice of the proposed Saudi Arabia production cut. But all week there was word on the street the sizeable reduction allocation to Russia would be a tough sell to Russian oil Barons. I think Russia went to "Plan B" fed up with losing market share and now want to constrain US supply by not committing to the deal at the moment, which may have sent WTI oil back to $50,
While Russia and Saudi Arabia fall out provides inferior optics, there is probably some logic to Moscow's decision. Their "Plan B" could be all about squeezing US oil after losing a considerable chunk of market share to the US industry. As WTI price nears $ 40, it's thought this will further constrain US supply, and this could act as a well-functioning automatic stabilizer for the oil market. It's been tried and failed, but with the growth phase of the shale boom grinding to a halt due to the lack of investment in the industry, so now US Shale oil could find itself running into a brick wall.
But the main reason I think Putin balked at the deal is that he's fuming about the US sanctions on Rosneft for marketing Venezuela's oil and now want to hit back at US shale. This could serve as a reason why Russia may have preferred to delay action. I think the situation, however, remains fluid. But of great interest now is how activity in the US shale sector might adjust to this latest oil beat down.
The lone positive comment from delegates in Vienna was that OPEC members would continue informal talks and be ready to meet with Russia at any time, with such comments, however likely reflecting hope for a Russia response at sharply lower prices.
For this week's trading outlook buying the dips is like playing with fire, especially with the possibility of undetected cases in the US could already be in the thousands. Not the mention that once large-scale testing is rolled out, numbers will likely explode. My view is we're but one US super spreader headline away from sending oil crashing. But if you're so inclined to buy the dip, do keep stops tight.
Currency markets
EUR/USD
The Euro is in play as US exceptionalism is wilting on all fronts with money fleeing US tech and US yields in freefall.
The EUR/USD is racking higher, most probably driven by a realization that the crisis has arrived in the US with a very foggy picture when it comes to credible case count and a less than convincing White House response.
Fed rate expectations are rapidly going towards zero, so I see EUR/USD reaching 1.15 possibly this week but admit that investors will need some persuasion that the European containment response will be better than the US.
On that more practical buy EUR/USD signal, when it comes to dealing with the virus, Europe has the fortified social safety net. In contrast, the USA lacks the necessary health care stabilizers to deal with an epidemic of massive proportions. Hence the reason they are behind the curve on testing.
As the Treasuries rally continues, the sell-off in the greenback continues. According to positioning, EUR/USD is the most vulnerable pair as investors built significant bearish positions earlier in the year. CFTC data shows leverage accounts were most bearish since 2016. Which suggests we are witnessing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the discretionary trader short positioning unwind
Asia FX
Usually, both Asia FX and G-10 move in the same direction, but with local central banks having more policy wiggle room and the zeal to use it, so I'm probably more defensive on Asia FX than most from that policy transmission perspective. But China rebound is more critical for local currencies than the global rebound; however, having both would be the icing on the cake.
But what makes USD/Asia incredibly more difficult to analyze and trade is that we have gone from one skew or beta, which was USD/CNH, then to two, which growth vs. tourism and now to five.
- basket (SGD).
- policy control (RMB)
- sensitivity to the current account (PHP, THB, TWD)
- sensitivity to equity flows (KRW, INR MYR)
- liquidity air pockets (IDR).
I don't have a salient comment to make on any of my favorite local currencies, MYR, RMB, and KRW, so I'll defer until next week.
Gold market
Besides the Fed 0 % interest rate endgame, over the past 48 hours, gold has received support, in line with the decline in long-term bond yields, which has contributed to a surge in 'fear-driven' investment demand for gold. And which was likely nudged along by the Gundlach factor. as the Bond King still likes gold.
"Bullion is one of the standout winners from the outbreak, with Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS). saying the commodity "has immunity to the virus." Money manager Jeffrey Gundlach told CNBC that gold is the best thing to own now and is headed to new highs."
But the yellow metal also received a boost on Friday as gold vaults in Europe and Switzerland that were reportedly building inventories buying bars.
Gold speculators were also encouraged that the XAU and JPY correlation is re-established, which could signal healthier gold prices going forward, especially if risk sentiment continues to wobble and especially if the USD as expected continues to sink.
One thing to keep a note on the supply side is the word in the gold market on Friday was that a massive producer was hedging gold against South African rand, which likely capped the market rally on Friday