Bond yields are surging again

The Daily Shot: 07-Jun-22
Equities
Credit
Rates
Commodities
Energy
Cryptocurrency
Emerging Markets
China
Asia – Pacific
The Eurozone
The United Kingdom
Canada
The United States
Food for Thought



 

Equities

1. Sentiment has shifted to “risk-off” this morning after global bond yields jumped. The RBA’s outsize hike added to concerns about rising rates (see the Asia-Pacific section). The 10-year Treasury yield is back above 3%.
 

 
2. Which sectors are most sensitive to interest rates?
 
Source: Simon White, Bloomberg Markets Live Blog  
 
3. Alpine Macro’s “froth” index is still elevated.
 
Source: Alpine Macro  
 
And so are US households’ equity allocations.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  

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4. Investors dumped cash-equivalent ETFs last week as some move back into risk assets.
 
Source: @daniburgz  
 
5. So far, the recent sell-off in the S&P 500 is on par with prior recession years.
 
Source: Numera Analytics  
 
6. Are earnings estimates too optimistic?
 
Source: Yardeni Research  
 
According to Alpine Macro’s model, earnings growth could grind to a halt.
 
Source: Alpine Macro  

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7. Next, we have some valuation-related trends.
 
This chart shows current valuations compared to long-term averages.
 
Source: Truist Advisory Services  
 
Valuations for software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies have returned to pre-pandemic levels.
 
Source: Wellington Management   Read full article  
 
Value/growth valuation ratio is nearing its long-term average.
 
Source: Truist Advisory Services  

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8. US small caps are seeing early signs of improving relative strength as valuations appear attractive on a relative basis (see chart).
 
Source: Aazan Habib; Paradigm Capital  
 
9. Global companies with substantial exposure to China sales have outperformed in recent days, …
 

 
… even as their sales in China have deteriorated recently. The market expects demand in China to rebound (see the China section).
 
Source: Evercore ISI Research  

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10. Here is an illustration of how stimulus checks pumped up the market in 2020.
 
Source: The Economist   Read full article  


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Credit

1. The US high-yield debt maturity wall has been pushed out significantly.
 
Source: @markets   Read full article  
 
2. The performance of US high-yield versus investment-grade bonds suggests few default fears, while the outperformance of defensive stocks suggests slower economic growth ahead.
 
Source: Gavekal Research  
 
By the way, other bond market indicators show little recession risks, for now.
 
Source: Gavekal Research  

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3. Increasing bank charge-off provisions …
 
Source: Jack Ablin, Cresset Wealth Advisors  
 
… point to rising risks for credit.
 
Source: Simon White, Bloomberg Markets Live Blog  


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Rates

1. US yields climbed across the curve in recent days, with the belly of the curve seeing the largest increases.
 

 
2. The 5-year TIPS yield (real rates) is once again testing resistance at zero. Stocks with high multiples are particularly vulnerable to higher real rates.
 

 
3. The Fed’s reverse repo program balances are near record highs due to tremendous demand for cash-equivalent products (such as money market funds).
 


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Commodities

1. Bloomberg’s broad commodity index hit a new high.
 

 
2. Lumber has been bucking the trend amid concerns about the US housing market.
 


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Energy

1. US natural gas futures hit the highest level since 2008 as the US prepares for a heatwave.
 

 
Source: NOAA  

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2. US crude oil inventories continue to shrink.
 
Source: Princeton Energy Advisors  
 
3. Below are the top suppliers and buyers of crude oil.
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
And here are the destinations of Russian oil exports.
 
Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices  

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4. Investment in oil and gas supply has declined even as demand from China is expected to grow substantially (2 charts).
 
Source: IEA; h/t SOM Macro Strategies  
 
Source: IEA; h/t SOM Macro Strategies  


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Cryptocurrency

1. Bitcoin hasn’t been able to sustain moves above $30k.
 

 
2. There was a slight uptick in short liquidations after BTC rose above $30K. Still, long liquidations have been more severe, reflecting an unwind of bullish positions on each successive price drop.
 
Source: Coinglass   Read full article  
 
3. Bitcoin’s implied volatility continues to fade, for now.
 
Source: Skew   Read full article  
 
4. The most active BTC strike price is at $30K, where puts outnumber calls.
 
Source: Skew   Read full article  
 
5. Crypto investment products saw inflows totaling $100 million last week.
 
Source: CoinShares   Read full article  
 
Source: CoinShares   Read full article  


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Emerging Markets

1. Let’s begin with Mexico.
 
Business investment continues to recover.
 

 
Vehicle exports are holding near last year’s levels.
 

 
Job creation has been soft relative to last year.
 

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2. Brazil’s formal job creation was well above last year’s levels in April.
 

 
3. The value of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund has rebounded to pre-war levels as “petro-cash” flows in.
 

 
Russia’s vehicle sales have collapsed.
 

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4. EM trade surpluses have been moderating.
 
Source: TS Lombard  


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China

1. The Shanghai lockdown has been a massive economic shock.
 
Source: Gavekal Research  
 
But the virus appears to be under control.
 
Source: @GregDaco, Bloomberg   Read full article  
 
Here is the story count for “Shanghai reopening.”
 
Source: Evercore ISI Research  

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2. The supply chain recovery is taking longer than in 2020.
 
Source: Gavekal Research  
 
3. The authorities have been shifting from tougher regulation to more stimulus as the economy slumps.
 
Source: Piper Sandler   
 
4. The renminbi has weakened substantially in trade-weighted terms.
 
Source: Capital Economics  
 
Capital Economics expects further renminbi weakness, partly driven by interest rate differentials.
 
Source: Capital Economics  

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5. Most of the recent foreign outflows from Chinese equities occurred in March, following the onset of the Russia/Ukraine war. Were investors concerned about Western sanctions?
 
Source: Capital Economics  


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Asia – Pacific

1. The RBA delivered a 50 bps rate hike, spooking the markets.
 

 
Source: Bloomberg   Read full article  
 
The Aussie dollar and bond yields jumped.
 

 

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2. The yen hit a two-decade low against the dollar.
 

 
Source: Bloomberg   Read full article  


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The Eurozone

1. The market now expects the ECB to lift rates by 1.26% this year.
 

 
2. Recession risks in the Eurozone are real.
 
Source: Simon White, Bloomberg Markets Live Blog  
 
But equity valuations have not fully priced in a recession, pointing to downside risks for stocks.
 
Source: Gavekal Research  

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3. German households are cutting spending.
 
Source: BCA Research  


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The United Kingdom

1. Gilt yields are surging.
 

 
2. Car registrations remain soft.
 

 
3. New fiscal support should boost growth in the second half of the year, according to Pantheon Macroeconomics.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  
 
Could it also boost inflation?
 
Source: Bloomberg   Read full article  


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Canada

1. Bond yields keep climbing.
 

 
2. Three more 50 bps rate hikes ahead? Here is a forecast from Wells Fargo.
 
Source: Wells Fargo Securities  
 
3. Consumer confidence is now well below pre-COVID levels.
 


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The United States

1. Let’s begin with the housing market.
 
Housing demand continues to ease.
 
Source: Redfin  
 
Google search activity for “homes for sale” has been slowing.
 

 
Real estate showings across North America are well below last year’s levels.
 
Source: ShowingTime  
 
Homebuilder sales are eroding quickly, according to a survey from Evercore ISI.
 
Source: Evercore ISI Research  
 
A higher percentage of sellers have been dropping prices.
 
Source: @mikesimonsen, @AltosResearch  
 
Have mortgage rates peaked?
 
Source: BCA Research  
 
Apartment traffic is softer than last year’s levels.
 
Source: Evercore ISI Research  

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2. Economic growth is expected to slow substantially.
 
Source: Numera Analytics  
 
Will we see a recession?
 
Source: Alpine Macro  

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3. The recent surge in income tax receipts surprised economists.
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
This chart shows state and local governments’ tax receipts and interest payments.
 
Source: PGM Global  

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4. US semiconductor (real) imports have been surging.
 
Source: Piper Sandler   
 
5. Mobility indicators continue to show improvements.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  


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Food for Thought

1. Seeking remote work:
 
Source: Bloomberg   Read full article  
 
2. Average weekly hours worked (globally):
 
Source: ILO   Read full article  
 
3. Prevalence of videoconferencing:
 
Source: Pew Research Center   Read full article  
 
4. Types of internet crime:
 
Source: Statista  
 
5. Support for nuclear energy in the US:
 
Source: Gallup   Read full article  
 
6. Views on gun control over time:
 
Source: The Economist   Read full article  
 
7. NYPD crime stats (2021 and 2022):
 
Source: OpenAxis  
 
8. US legal immigration:
 
Source: @GregDaco, @pewresearch   Read full article  
 
9. Brain imaging:
 
Source: Slava Bobrov   Read full article  

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