Category Archive: 4.) Marc to Market

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Emerging Markets: What has Changed

2016-01-22

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2016-01-22

In the EM equity space, Russia (+5.9%), Colombia (+2.0%), and Thailand (+1.8%) have outperformed this week, while Qatar (-6.8%), UAE (-5.1%), and the Philippines (-3.7%) have underperformed.  To put this in better context, MSCI EM rose 0.1% this week...

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Collective Sigh of Relief Ahead of the Weekend

2016-01-22

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2016-01-22

Like a car ignition that finally catches after several attempts, the global markets are building on the recovery seen in North America yesterday.   Asian stocks rallied, with the Nikkei leading the way with a 5.9% rally.  More modest 1.25% gain...

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Two Important Reforms

2016-01-21

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2016-01-21

There have been two important reforms announced, one in the EU and other in the IMF, that many investors may have missed due to the carnage in the markets.  While the economic challenges that Europe faces remain potent, the refugee problem appea...

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Draghi Drives Euro Lower

2016-01-21

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2016-01-21

Disclaime

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Fragile Calm Ahead of ECB Meeting

2016-01-21

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2016-01-21

The Asian equity markets failed to retain the early gains that had at least partially been fueled by the US equities recouping half of their losses.  The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index lost about 1.7% and finished at new 3.5 year lows.    European markets are posting minor gains, with the Dow Jones Stoxx 600 up about 0.25% … Continue reading »

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Cool Video: Canadian Dollar Discussion on BNN

2016-01-20

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2016-01-20

I had the privilege today to appear on Canada's Business News Network. It is a great source for information on the Canadian economy and markets.  I was interviewed by Michael Hainsworth. We discuss the Bank of Canada's decision not to cut rates...

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Great Graphic: Canadian Dollar Resilience in Face of 7% Drop in Oil

2016-01-20

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2016-01-20

This Great Graphic, composed on Bloomberg, shows two-time series.  The white line is the premium the US government pays to borrow over the Canadian government for two years.  The yellow line the US dollar against the Canadian dollar.   Even th...

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Is Atlas Shrugging in Davos?

2016-01-20

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2016-01-20

The World Economic Forum is underway in Davos.  The global capital markets are off to one of their worst years ever,  the threat of terrorism hangs over us, like the Sword of Damocles, GDP growth, except in a few countries, is not keeping pace with population growth.   As  2500 rich, powerful, and famous (mostly) … Continue reading...

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Markets Resume New Year Slide

2016-01-20

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2016-01-20

The market meltdown is extending into the third consecutive week.  Once again, the attempt to stabilize has failed, and bottom pickers have been punished. It is easy to line up poor news developments, including IMF cutting world growth on the same day that the IEA warns of an extended glut in the oil market, the … Continue reading »

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Tomorrow’s News Today

2016-01-19

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2016-01-19

There are three important economic events tomorrow.    The UK will release its December employment report and November weekly earnings data.  The US reports December CPI.  The Bank of Canada meets, and is widely expected to be the first centra...

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Central Bank’s Dovish Tilt Will Weigh on Brazilian Assets

2016-01-19

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2016-01-19

(from my colleague Dr. Win Thin) Brazilian central bank President Tombini said it will take into account the IMF’s revised forecasts for a deeper recession when it meets this week to decide on policy. Sorry, but we don’t buy it. No central bank should ever be affected by IMF forecasts. Yes, the IMF has great …

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AIIB Launched, but Threat to Dollar Exaggerated

2016-01-19

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2016-01-19

The China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was formally launched over the weekend.  Many observers have seen it as a rival to the World Bank.  Others saw in another vehicle that would be used to facilitate the internationalization of the Chinese yuan.  We have consistently argued that these ideas are a serious exaggeration. News that AIIB …

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Collective Sigh of Relief in Capital Markets or Turnaround Tuesday?

2016-01-19

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2016-01-19

The relentless pounding that investors suffered in the first two weeks of the year has subsided.  It is too early to have much confidence that a turn is at hand.  By various measures, the sell-off had stretched the technical condition.     I...

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Emerging Markets: Week Ahead Preview

2016-01-18

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2016-01-18

EM ended last week on a sour note. The most important factor for global risk appetite has become China, with the Fed tightening cycle now on the back burner.  Our base case remains that China muddles through, but policymakers there need to commu...

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Trying to Get One’s Bearings

2016-01-18

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2016-01-18

The market is trying to get its bearings today. The large decline in the US equities before the weekend has had modest spillover effects elsewhere.  Equity markets, barring the Shanghai and Shenzhen Composites, are mostly modestly lower.  The M...

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Week Ahead: What Will It Take to Stabilize the Capital Markets?

2016-01-17

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2016-01-17

Two weeks into the year and most investors are nursing sizable drawdowns.  The recovery in the US equities on January 14 looked like a potential turning point. However, the coattails proved non-existent, and the bull trap was sprung with new downside momentum established before the weekend. The obvious takeaway is that the current driver is not …

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Weekly Speculative Positions: Boosted Long Yen Positions, but Mostly Trimmed Exposures

2016-01-16

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2016-01-16

Speculative activity in the CME currency futures picked up in the latest reporting period. There were six significant gross position adjustments, which in our work is more than 10k contracts.   The gross short speculative euro position was reduced by 17.9k contracts, leaving 209.6k. Since early December, 53k gross short euro contracts were covered.  During the same …

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Outlook for the Dollar: Dissecting the Bull

2016-01-16

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2016-01-16

The US dollar remains strong against most currencies.  The exceptions are the Japanese yen, Swiss franc and euro though the franc and euro pulled back in the US afternoon before the weekend.  The greenback is still appreciating on a trade-weighted basis, which is the metric that counts in assessing its impact on the overall economy.   …

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Emerging Markets: What has Changed

2016-01-15

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2016-01-15

1) The Hong Kong dollar posted its biggest two-day decline since 1992 2) Bank Indonesia restarted its easing cycle, cutting rates for the first time since February 2015 3) Poland’s current Monetary Policy Council (RPP) held its last policy meeti...

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When it Rains, It Pours

2016-01-15

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2016-01-15

There are three developments today, which while not driving the market, are important for many investors.  The first are comments from German Finance Minister Schaeuble and EC President Juncker.  The second is an important development in Poland.   The third are growing problems in Greece. Schaeuble is formally acknowledging what investors have known for some time. The …

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