Bitcoin & Macro Analysis fo 2025From previous analysis, BTC on target and Hit Fibonacci Extension 1.272 at $108.000
And rejected from this area
For now, BTC need pullback before continuing rally
You can see pullback area at :
- Fibonacci Retracement 0.236
- Fibonacci Retracement 0.386
- Fibonacci Retracement 0.5
Be cautious with your decisions, especially for 2025 , as the Dec 2024 Summary of Economic Projections release has impacted the market. Macro economic conditions are solid, but the Fed's decision left the market disappointed.
After release Summary of Economic Projections Dec 18 FOMC, market was disappointed since The Fed's forecast cut rates only 2x or maybe just 1x (3.9) instead of 4x as SEP projected in September (3.4).
Macroeconomics
4-Year Cycles [jpkxyz]Brief Introduction why Crypto moves in Cycles.
"Crypto is an expression of Macro."
The 2007-2008 global financial crisis was a pivotal moment that fundamentally transformed monetary policy, particularly in how central banks manage economic cycles through liquidity manipulation.
Before the crisis, central banks primarily used interest rates as a blunt instrument for economic management. The 2008 financial crisis exposed deep vulnerabilities in the global financial system, particularly the interconnectedness of financial institutions and the risks of unregulated credit markets.
In response, central banks, led by the Federal Reserve, developed a more sophisticated approach to economic management:
1. Quantitative Easing (QE)
The Federal Reserve introduced large-scale asset purchases, essentially creating money to buy government bonds and mortgage-backed securities. This unprecedented monetary intervention:
- Prevented a complete economic collapse
- Provided liquidity to frozen credit markets
- Kept interest rates artificially low
- Supported asset prices and prevented a deeper recession
2. Synchronized Global Monetary Policy
Central banks worldwide began coordinating their monetary policies more closely, creating a more interconnected approach to economic management:
- Coordinated interest rate decisions
- Shared information about economic interventions
- Created global liquidity pools
3. Cyclical Liquidity Management
The new approach involves deliberately creating and managing economic cycles through:
- Periodic liquidity injections
- Strategic interest rate adjustments
- Using monetary policy as a proactive economic tool rather than a reactive one
The 4-year cycle emerged as a pattern of:
- 2-3 years of expansionary policy
- Followed by a contraction or normalization period
This cycle typically involves:
- Expanding money supply
- Lowering interest rates
- Supporting asset prices
- Then gradually withdrawing support to prevent overheating
The 2007-2008 crisis essentially forced central banks to become more active economic managers, moving from a passive regulatory role to an interventionist approach that continuously adjusts monetary conditions.
This approach represents a significant departure from previous monetary policy, where central banks now see themselves as active economic architects rather than passive observers.
Macroeconomic analysis, positioning, technical analysis. Short GHello everyone, today I want to share a trading idea that recently triggered my short entry.
The GBP/AUD pair is hovering near period highs not seen since 2020.
I think in the short term we might witness some pullback. Let’s analyze the situation.
MACROECONOMIC ANALYSIS
- Data
The latest data reflects a marked improvement in the Australian labor market, with the unemployment rate beating expectations. A rise to 4.2% was forecasted, but the figure dropped to 3.9%. This comes after the RBA decided to keep the reference rate unchanged, adopting a dovish tone compared to recent statements. It remains to be seen if this data could shift the narrative once again.
- Economic growth
The positioning and momentum on the pound indicate confidence that the economy could grow by 2025 or that inflation will remain stickier than expected. This affects the BOE’s monetary policy decisions. Interest rates have risen more than in other economies and are now at their peaks. On the other hand, the BOE recently adopted a dovish tone, suggesting the possibility of four rate cuts in 2025.
In a recent article, Goldman Sachs highlighted that the UK’s growth might underperform expectations. UK GDP is expected to grow by 1.2% in 2025, slower than the Bank of England's 1.5% projection and slightly below Bloomberg's consensus estimate of 1.3%. The team predicts growth of 0.4% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the last quarter of 2024, with a slowdown to around 0.25–0.30% quarterly for the remainder of the year. They also foresee inflationary pressures easing through 2025, paving the way for deeper rate cuts than currently priced in by the market.
www.goldmansachs.com
- Interest rates
Interest rates in the UK have risen more than in other economies, reaching a peak of 4.6%, reflecting aggressive rate policies. Meanwhile, AUD/USD movements appear closely tied to Chinese rates, which are at historic lows, potentially priming for a rebound and, consequently, a recovery in the cross, due to potential stimulus measures for the Chinese economy.
POSITIONING
- COT (Commitment of Traders)
Let’s analyze the COT to check for extremes on either side.
www.tradingster.com .
Long positioning on the pound is at its highest since 2018, while for the Australian dollar, we are in negative territory after a decline. Momentum does not favor either currency, as traders are offloading or increasing short positions.
SEASONALITY
We are entering a period of strong negative seasonality for the pound, which typically tends to decline from the first week of December until the end of the month.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
From a chart perspective, the pair has just broken a dynamic trendline support on the 4H chart after a strong rally to period highs. The RSI clearly shows overbought conditions with bearish divergence.
Entry: Upon the break or retest of the trendline.
Stop Loss: Above the volume area signaling the break.
Take Profit: Near the volume area supporting the price.
Thanks for your attention!
GOLD BUY NOW! TA & FA confirmed!SAXO:XAUUSD Technical Analysis gives us clue for GOLD to move higher and higher. We can see in M30 chart that bullish pennant already made and GOLD continue to make a breakout movement. In H4 chart we can see a trendline resistance also already tested. Now GOLD just test a fibbo daily resistance at 2675-2677. Confirm BUY if it's body in H4 already break it.
As middle east war remain in uncertainty and Syria President's Assad knocked down, also Russia - Ukraine potentially cause more intentions, investors looking for safe haven assets like GOLD. We also must remember that Trump Supply Side Economic will take control again and it gives optimism in US macro-economic conditions. Inflation currently in path to go down 2.00% but Trump second era would potentially increase inflation for a longer projection. Although now investor and traders in CME bet 86% for FED Cut Rate this month and this is something that makes GOLD moves higher
Any idea? just leave your comment below. Thanks
Macroeconomic History Tells Us Rough Times Are AheadIn 2023, I did a write up on TradingView about how there is a positive correlation between interest rates and equities, meaning that equites tend to decrease when interest rates decrease. However, correlation does not equal causation. The real correlation is between poor economic data and the stock market, where the poor economic data spurs interest rate cuts and causes a fall in equities. The recent surprisingly bad July jobs report jolted the markets, and reasonably so. The Fed decided to hold interest rates steady in July, causing some to think that they may be behind the curve. Not to mention the Sahm Rule flashed positive; an economic observation that has never been wrong in being a precursor to a recession. fred.stlouisfed.org
I am of the party that the Fed is behind the curve
In the past, Jerome Powell has stated that he doesn't expect a "severe" recession, and that there could be a "softish" landing, hinting at the difficulties that the Fed faced in preventing a recession altogether. I believe that the stock market will continue to fall, mixed with large rallies (which will make buying the bottom difficult), and I think this will play out for many months.
So what's my plan?
I sold my LEAPS before the poor jobs market data was released, saving my bacon to be honest. I sold my HOOD profits as well, as I had made a 100% return. I then took both and dumped the funds into QQQ. I do not hold cash in case I am wrong. I would rather be wrong and invested than wrong and sitting on cash. I plan on waiting until the Q's drop another 20% or so before buying LEAPS. Typically, I advise only to put 10% into LEAPS, but this could be a rare opportunity where risk on could pay of in a big way. When I do decide to jump in, I will buy LEAPS with expirations two years out. I want to give them the longest time frame possible because I know I won't be able to time the bottom perfectly.
The real risk is waiting too long
Wait too long, and I miss a big opportunity. However, being exposed to equities, I'll still ride the wave up. If I'm wrong altogether, I'm still invested in equities and will ride the wave up. I will still be somewhat hesitant to invest into LEAPS through this rate cutting cycle considering history warns against leveraging into QE.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
InTheMoney
US Debt Exploding Relative To Real GDPUS debt has risen more than 90% since 2016, with no meaningful increase in economic growth inflation-adjusted (Real terms) meaning we pay more for goods and services showing a higher nominal GDP.
As you can see in the chart the economy used to grow faster than debt and even outpaced debt in 70s, 80s and 90's.
As I have shown before on tradingview, The annual US Gov't spending as a percentage of annual GDP is now 45% and it has been even higher.
My question to you is this. next recession when Real GDP falls and politicians tell you we have to increase deficits and spending to "stimulate" the economy. How much higher will the debt go relative to real GDP?
Light Crude Oil Futures: Bulls vs. Bears – Big Moves ComingAlright, trading fam, let me set the scene. We’re sitting at $69.40 right now, and the market is coiling like a wave that’s either going to barrel or wipe out everyone trying to ride it. This is one of those setups that makes you lean in because, whichever way it goes, it’s going to be a ride. You ready?
Bearish Path – Things Could Get Real Slippery
If the price slips below $62.30, it could open up a steep drop to as low as $17.12. Yeah, that’s a long way down. It’s like paddling into the wrong break and realizing there’s no way out without eating sand. If the bears manage to break that key support, all bets are off. Think demand drops, rising inventories, or a stronger dollar that sends oil spiraling lower. Traders who’ve been short are already eyeing this level—if it breaks, they’ll be riding that wave all the way down.
Bullish Path – Eyes on the Double Top
But here’s the flip side: if the bulls show up and break through $89.10, we’re talking about a potential double top formation. And if that double top gives way? It’s all gas, no brakes, with $129.25 in sight. It’ll take some momentum to push through—maybe supply cuts or geopolitical tensions—but if the bulls catch that wave, it could be a smooth ride to higher levels.
What’s the Move?
Right now, it’s all about staying patient and reading the flow. If $62.30 holds, you know the bulls still have some fight in them. But if they lose that level, the bears are going to have a field day. On the other hand, if the bulls break through $89.10, it’s game on to higher highs. This is one of those trades where the chart is giving us clear levels, and now it’s just a matter of who takes the wheel.
If this breakdown gave you some clarity, follow, share, and pass it along to anyone else riding these markets. Let’s keep an eye on these levels and catch the right wave when it comes.
Mindbloome Trader
Will the revealed labor data continue to support USDJPY?Macro theme:
- The latest Sep NFP, Unemployment Rate, and Average Hourly Earnings have all surpassed market expectations. As a result, the CME FedWatch Tool shows that the 32% probability of a 0.50% rate cut in November has been eliminated, shifting the odds toward a likely rate freeze instead.
- Japan's newly appointed economic minister expressed support for further interest rate hikes as long as they do not destabilize the economy or markets, signalling confidence in the BoJ's approach.
- The yen's outlook remains uncertain, influenced by the robust US labor market and ambiguity surrounding the BoJ's potential rate hikes.
Technical theme:
- USDJPY quickly recovered from the previous downtrend and closed above both EMAs, indicating a solid upward momentum.
- If USDJPY extends its gain to close above 149.25, USDJPY may retest the resistance around 152.00.
- On the contrary, a failure to close above 149.25 may prompt a temporary correction within 147.30-149.25 until an apparent breakout occurs.
Analysis by: Dat Tong, Senior Financial Markets Strategist at Exness
Global Liquidity Index Against BTCHeres the global liquidity index mapped against BTC and its past cycle data for reference.
Im sure you can spot the positive correlation it has.... When global liquidity increases, risk on assets such as BTC increase due to an influx of new liquidity in money markets.
We have been consolidating for 2 years in the global liquidity index in an ascending triangle. I am expecting it to push up, break out, retest similar to the prior cycle fractal and continue higher, in turn pushing money markets including BTC into ATHs
$EUIRYY -CPI (September/2024)ECONOMICS:EUIRYY (Eurozone Inflation Data; September/2024)
source: EUROSTAT
- Annual inflation rate in the Eurozone fell to 1.8% in September 2024, the lowest since April 2021, compared to 2.2% in August and forecasts of 1.9%, preliminary estimates showed.
Inflation is now below the ECB target of 2%.
Prices fell much more for energy (-6% vs -3%) and inflation slowed for services (4% vs 4.1%) while prices for food, alcohol and tobacco increased slightly more (2.4% vs 2.3%).
Meanwhile, core inflation rate also eased to 2.7% from 2.8%.
Among the bloc's largest economies, inflation slowed in Germany (1.8% vs 2%), France (1.5% vs 2.2%), Italy (0.8% vs 1.2%), Spain (1.7% vs 2.4%).
The ECB expects inflation to rise again in the latter part of 2024, partly because previous sharp falls in energy prices will drop out of the annual rates.
Inflation should then decline towards 2% over the second half of 2025.
IMPORTANT Macroeconomics: What is the trade balance?IMPORTANT Macroeconomics: What is the trade balance?
The trade balance is an important economic indicator that can have a significant influence on the stock markets.
Here is a simple explanation of this concept and its potential impact:
What is the trade balance?
The trade balance represents the difference between the value of a country's exports and imports over a given period.
In other words:
- If a country exports more than it imports, its trade balance is in surplus (positive).
- If a country imports more than it exports, its trade balance is in deficit (negative).
Impact on the stock markets
The influence of the trade balance on the stock markets can vary depending on whether it is in surplus or deficit:
Trade balance surplus
A trade surplus can generally have a positive impact on the stock markets:
- It indicates strong competitiveness of domestic companies in international markets.
- It can strengthen the value of the national currency, which can attract foreign investors.
-Exporting companies may see their shares increase in value.
Trade deficit
A trade deficit can have a negative impact on stock markets:
-It can indicate a weakness in the domestic economy or a loss of competitiveness.
-It can weaken the domestic currency, which can discourage foreign investors.
-The shares of companies dependent on imports may be negatively affected.
Important nuances
It is crucial to note that the impact of the trade balance on stock markets is not always direct or predictable:
-Overall economic context: Other economic factors can attenuate or amplify the effect of the trade balance.
-Investor perception: The reaction of the markets often depends on how investors interpret the trade balance figures in relation to their expectations.
-Specific sectors: Some sectors may be more affected than others by changes in the trade balance.
In conclusion, although the trade balance is an important indicator, its influence on stock markets must be seen in the broader context of the economy and investor sentiment.
Will the escalation of the Middle East tension boost the dollar Macro theme:
- The dollar strengthened after Fed Chair Jerome Powell struck a more hawkish tone last week, scaling back traders' expectations of another 0.50% rate cut at the next meeting.
- The safe-haven demand following the possibility of Middle East escalation boosted the dollar.
- The US Aug JOLTS data showed 329,000 more jobs, indicating a more robust labor market than anticipated.
Technical theme:
- From the 4-hour chart, DXY broke its Wedge pattern and closed above both EMAs with the golden cross. This indicates a potential recovery from its previous sideways-down trend.
- If DXY breaks above 101.33, the index may strengthen to retest 101.80 resistance confluences with its descending trendline.
- On the contrary, DXY may retest 100.90-101.00 before upward movement.
Analysis by: Dat Tong, Senior Financial Markets Strategist at Exness
Nvidia Go Bye Bye | Short or Take Profits Whenever news commentators feel the need to interview a CEO, and hail the CEO as some kind of benevolent "hero of the people", that is a pretty good indicator that something is awry.
The same applies for rampant social media hype.
At the end of the day, the chart & the macro backdrop tell the real story.
NASDAQ:NVDA will collapse from here. Don't bother trying to buy any time soon, you will only be hurting yourself; this thing, along with the broader market has some significant adjusting (downward) to work through.
Watch out as EURGBP net short positioning is reversing quicklyLeveraged money net positioning is reversing from extreme short levels in EURGBP futures.
We do acknowledge the UK's recent positive political momentum amid political turbulence in the EU, however we believe the effect is in the price.
On top of that, our fundamental macro model is slightly bullish EURGBP, certainly not indicating a further drop from these levels.
This might indicate a rally in EURGBP towards 0.86 after a recent 2 standard deviation selloff.
Will the theme of weak demand and oversupply dampen oil prospectMacro theme:
- Oil prices have declined since last week as investors expect an OPEC+ supply increase in Oct and a potential deal in Libya to resume production, possibly adding over 500,000 barrels per day.
- Weak economic data from China, including Tue's ISM Manufacturing PMI, highlighted the country's sluggish recovery, fuelling calls for more stimulus.
- Concerns over China's weak demand and the prospect of increased supply are likely to keep oil prices under pressure in the short term.
Technical theme:
- USOIL tested EMAs' area confluence with 77.00 resistance before breaking below 71.50 support to maintain a bearish structure.
- If USOIL maintains below the 71.50 level, the price may continue to decline to test 67.80 support.
- On the contrary, if USOIL can close above 71.50, the price may retrace to retest its EMA21 along with the upper bound of its descending channel.
Possible forecast for BTC (Long-Term Movement)Just simply using fractals of BTC's own movements to map out what looks like a good chance of happening over the next 6 years. Crash in 2030 allowing for a new cycle of investors to jump in? Teasing between 87K and 13K allowing for high volatility and short/long sweeps. Provides room and time for the web3 and alt-coin market to gain momentum, usage, and volume. We will see!
*NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE | FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY
The market is impossible to predict. Anything can happen in the next 5 - 6 years. This is the most level-headed and realistic forecast IMO.
What do y'all think? :)
Comment your thoughts!
The case for investing in ChinaThe case for investing in China
I have had discussions on this platform about my investments in China, the overwhelming response I get is negative. In this article I would like to try and provide an objective, data focused case to invest in China. In a soon coming article I will look at the opposite position and the potential risks of investing in China.
Less competition
The first reason to consider investments in China is that there are less people searching there, and as a result more opportunities. Approximately 10%-15% of Chinese citizens own or invest in stocks. With so few people even looking at the Chinese market the amount of stocks trading below fair value is greater than that in my home country of the United States.
Valuations
The idea that there are more opportunities is reflected in the average valuation of Chinese equities. A metric I like to use for broad valuations is the CAPE ratio. It can be understood as the P/E ratio using 10 years of earnings. This ratio is used in an attempt to disregard cyclical earnings changes.
worldpopulationreview.com
The above link is the current CAPE ratios of countries around the world based on the most recent available data. At the current date 08/23/2024 China has a CAPE ratio of 13. This is compared with a CAPE ratio of 28 in the United States. In the following article I often refer to is data showing the average returns when investing at different CAPE ratios. In short the data shows that there is a substantial correlation between valuations and subsequent investment returns.
www.lynalden.com
Economic Data
Now there are many things to discuss in this section so I will do my best to keep it brief and to the main points on why I invest in China.
Personal Savings Rate : China's personal savings rate averages around 40%. This is in contrast to the United States at 3.5% consistently.
Balance of Trade: Since the year 2000 China has maintained large trade surpluses as a result of their massive manufacturing output (30% of global manufacturing capacity). This is a result of their hybrid state and market run economy. China's protectionist industrial policy allowed them to develop their own local industry offering the only real competitors to Silicon Valley tech firms.
In contrast the United States has had a trade deficit since the 1980's forcing us to de-industrialize and in return create a fictionalized economy based on debt and speculation. The US system requires constant inflows of capital to maintain it's currency and economic supremacy.
These are the two data points I would point to to get an idea of why China has overtaken the US as the worlds largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity (their local currency) as well as the two points I bring up the most. I hope I have given a different perspective of the Chinese economy.
Stay tuned for the bearish case of investing in China, and have a great day!
ETH - Macro Overview WATHOUT !!!Macro outlook remains BULLISH
Previous report we mentioned RSI which broke bearish… It has now reached the 50 retrace which should act as support. Of course it could go lower but as long as we maintain RSI above 50 it's all good.
For now, the price broke bearishly. It is crucial to reclaim back above $2,800 for further upside. If $2,800 acts as resistance then we could easily create a trading range from $2,800-$2,000 and dip as low as $1,600 and still be completely bullish (this will be the ONCE IN A LIFETIME LONG opportunity).
Any trades to be made right now? NO, price looks like it wants to revisit $2,000 again. There are no clear trading setups right now. We’ll rather stay on the sidelines for now and jump in once we see more confluence.
Is This the Start of a Recession? Why You Shouldn’t PanicMarkets have been selling off amid the latest fears of a recession, with the NASDAQ dropping over 10% and Bitcoin dropping over 20% in just a matter of days. Last Friday’s unemployment report further affirmed investors’ sentiment, exceeding expectations by 0.2% and sparking one of the biggest rotations of capital since the COVID crash. Investors are gearing up for tough times by flocking to bonds and panic-selling risky assets, but has a recession really begun? Should you panic?
Understanding the Economic Data
Recent unemployment numbers have triggered the Sahm Rule Recession Indicator, created by Claudia Sahm in 2019 to identify recessions as they start. This indicator is triggered when the three-month simple moving average (SMA) of the US unemployment rate rises by 0.5% above the lowest rate observed over the past year. Despite its growing popularity, it’s important to note that this tool has never actually identified any recessions in real time, except for the 2020 recession.
In contrast, more established indicators like the Smoothed U.S. Recession Probabilities, developed by Marcelle Chauvet and James Hamilton in 1998, have not indicated that the economy is currently in a recession. Unlike the Sahm Rule, this nearly 26-year-old tool, which relies on complex calculations and various datasets, accurately identified the 2001 and 2008 recessions in real time.
Moreover, recessions in the US typically occur when the US Composite Leading Indicator (CLI) is on a downward trend, which hasn’t happened yet. This further suggests that other indicators besides the unemployment rate aren’t currently showing signs of concern.
Even though the unemployment rate has risen sharply, other leading unemployment indicators, such as initial claims and continued claims, remain at historically low levels. Typically, these leading indicators rise sharply before a substantial increase in the unemployment rate, not the other way around.
With the market pricing in substantial rate cuts following the unemployment numbers, yields have dropped, increasing the spread between the short and long ends of the yield curve. Historically, recessions haven’t usually unfolded during inverted yield curves.
Additionally, expected looser monetary policy from the Fed combined with surprisingly tighter monetary policy from the BOJ pushed the DXY substantially lower. This resulted in a breakout in global liquidity, which is inversely correlated with the DXY and serves as a helpful indicator of future trends in risk assets.
Understanding the Market Trends
While the real economy hints that we are likely not currently in a recession, it’s crucial to examine the charts to better understand the downside risks and how to position oneself in order to stay on the right side of market risk. The spike in the VIX and the put-to-call ratio on Monday indicated extremely fearful sentiment, which historically suggests limited downside risk and the potential for a short-term rebound.
The sudden surge in fear was reflected in the sharp increase in bond prices as investors shifted from high-risk to low-risk assets. With bullish short-term and long-term trends since early June, bond prices have reached overbought conditions, suggesting they are likely to slow down in the short term but continue outperforming in the long term, aligning with market expectations of future rate cuts.
The inverse can be observed in the equity markets, with US indices in oversold conditions and exhibiting recent bearish short-term and long-term trends. This suggests that equities are likely to experience a short-term bounce but will continue to decline in the long term, providing a potential opportunity to sell.
The cryptocurrency market tells a similar but much more pronounced story, with bearish short-term and long-term trends evident since late June. Despite being oversold, the future outlook for the cryptomarket remains pessimistic and is likely to underperform equities, especially if investors continue to reduce risk.
This flight to the relative safety of mega caps has been a recurring theme since March 2021, when both the small cap and mid cap to mega cap ratios turned bearish, a trend that remains unbroken and is likely to continue unless a recession materializes and forces a shift to looser monetary policy.
Similar trends are likely to continue in the cryptocurrency markets, as evidenced by the breakout in Bitcoin dominance, which currently positions Bitcoin’s market cap at 62% of the entire cryptocurrency market when stable coins are excluded from the calculation.
Concluding Thoughts
While the market is starting to panic amid recessionary fears, the data does not yet confirm that the economy is currently entering a recession. Investors should avoid panic selling, as a rebound is likely to occur in the short term given the current overextended conditions. For the mid to long term, the situation calls for a cautious approach, focusing on managing risk and gradually shifting from riskier to less risky assets, as indicated by longer-term trends in asset markets.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice.
A Recession Is Coming - Brace for Impact First things first
What is a Recession?
A recession is a period when the economy isn't doing well. It means businesses are selling less, people are losing jobs or not getting raises, and overall, there's less money being spent. It's like a slowdown in the economy where things are not growing, and sometimes they shrink. This period of economic decline usually lasts for a few months or longer. Usually, when we have two consecutive quarters of negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) we say that we are in a recession.
Now, let's look at previous recessions to see if we can find some patterns that help us predict the coming one. 😊
This is how you can navigate through the chart:
- past recessions are highlighted with orange colored boxes based on the data from "FRED economic data".
- The purple line chart shows the US inflation rate.
- The US GDP is shown in a green step-line chart.
- The US interest rate is shown with an orange line.
- The Yellow line chart shows the unemployment rate in the US.
- The most important line chart here is the blue one that shows the spread between the 10-year bond yield and the 3-month bond yield (Yes we could also use 2-year instead of 3-month).
This blue line, the yield curve, is important to us because it's a reliable indicator that almost every time gave us a heads up for a recession (if you were looking at it of course 😁). When it falls below zero, we call it the inverted yield curve and we hit a recession almost every time it gets back up after spending some time below zero.
An inverted yield curve tells us that the market participants are concerned about future economic growth It can lead to tighter financial conditions, reduced lending, and lower consumer and business spending, which can contribute to a downturn in the economy.
With that said, take a look at the chart and you can easily spot the repetitive pattern of interest rate hikes/cuts, unemployment rate, and the inverted yield curve just before each recession.
With the strong possibility of having the first rate cut in September, and the patterns you see on the chart, can you say that we are going to have a hard landing and a recession? I would say yes.
If you say we are not going into a recession and your counter argument is backed by a low unemployment rate and a positive GDP and a declining inflation rate, this chart does not support the idea.
I know there are other factors that might support the soft landing scenario, and I would like to have your point of view on this. So, please share your thoughts in comments section if you are reading this post through Tradingview. 😊
For further research, you can pull up the charts of indices like S&P500 or commodities of your choice to see how they moved during each recession. This will help you find some patterns that might assist you in your future investments.
UNEMPLOYMENT / FED FUNDS RATE - PLAY BOOKUNEMPLOYMENT / FED FUNDS RATE - PLAY BOOK
This post I intend to explore with you the cyclic relationship we can observer between:
1) US Unemployment Rate (BLUE),
2) 21D SMA (Orange) based in unemployment data, and
3) Resultant Recessions (Gray Bars)
Historically, the general play book / sequence of events suggest once we break the 21 Day SMA (orange line), it is the start of unemployment unwinding and we lead into a recession.
As the 'FED FUNDs RATE' is the artificial tool used to 'Guide' the credit market (politically correct explination), the obvious question then is;
"What is the relationship / behavior of interest rates historically with this trend? Are we experiencing similar behaviour to the last 30 - 40 years?"
The Red line show the FED funds rate on the chart. The below sequence of events show how these variable play with each other:
The story goes: the FED increases the 'FED FUNDS RATE' (aka interest rates) because low periods of interest rates is resulting in a 'HOT' economy and causing inflation (i.e. market forces the FEDs hand to raise interest rates as the return for lending money to credit markets does not match the current risks).
At some point during interest rate rises:
1) FED rise in interest rates is held constant (the lagging effect of higher rates start to hit the economy resulting in slowing down economic activity - i.e. spending)
2) Record low unemployment starts to rise (Cross of 21D SMA historically has signaled a point of no return)
3) Fed start to drop rates due to employment increase, deflationary market disruption
4) Unemployment begins to rapidly increase
5) Recession
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
According to this play book, we are in currently in step 2 and approaching point 3 .
If you find this post interesting, you may find my discussion around the 2 Year Treasury Bond Yield vs FED Funds Rate interesting.
This relationship is what I was using to speculate interest rate rises before they happened, and that they would be higher than people were expecting when there was talk of rates rising...
The Market in all cases will eventually win...
$EUIRYY -EU YoY (CPI) source: EUROSTAT
The inflation rate in the Euro Area declined to 2.9% year-on-year in October 2023,
reaching its lowest level since July 2021 and falling slightly below the market consensus of 3.1% .
Meanwhile,
The Core Rate, which filters out volatile food and energy prices,
also cooled to 4.2% in October;
marking its lowest point since July 2022.
However, both rates remained above the European Central Bank's target of 2%.
The energy cost tumbled by 11.1% (compared to -4.6% in September), and the rates of inflation eased for both food, alcohol, and tobacco (7.5% compared to 8.8%) and non-energy industrial goods (3.5% compared to 4.1%).
Services inflation remained relatively stable at 4.6%, compared to 4.7% in the previous month. On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up 0.1% in October, after a 0.3% gain in September.