Political Risk Takes Down the Bull in Early Trade

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A weekend filled with HIGH drama in Asia and Washington has S&P 500 futures off 10 handles in the first few hours of this week’s trading session.   We essentially have civil war breaking out inside the Executive Branch of the United States government.

“A phrase I keep hearing from Trump ally after Trump ally: “deep state.” Growing belief inside White House that elements of their own Intelligence Community are aligned against them.”

Robert Costa, Washington Post

Headlines Over the Weekend

FBI asked Justice Department to refute Trump’s wiretapping claim – CNN / NYT

Mark Levin on Trump Wiretapping Claims on Obama: ‘The Evidence Is Overwhelming’ – Brietbart

Trump angry and frustrated at staff over DOJ Head Sessions fallout – CNN

Obama faces Congressional Inquiry. Congress to probe Donald Trump’s explosive claims Barack Obama wiretapped him – Drudge

Geraldo: Obama operatives planted landmines for Trump – FOX

S&P 500 Futures – ES1

SPX 30 Min

After the weekend punches thrown in Washington, the S&P has violated its one month trend line.  Today, our friend Niall Ferguson noted in The Sunday Times:

“The House Republicans have a 200-day plan as follows.  First, regulatory reform, including repeal of the Dodd-Frank banking act and deregulation of the energy sector. Second, the repeal of Obamacare and its replacement with a more competitive market-based system. Third, comprehensive tax reform, including lower rates on personal and corporate income tax, a new border adjustment tax (BAT) and abolition of the inheritance tax.”

U.S. equities are up on a ledge on hopes of an aggressive 200 day agenda, this weekend’s ugliness in Washington throws a money wrench into those plans.  Distractions are high, toxic relations between Dems and Rs higher.

Join our Larry McDonald on CNBC’s Trading Nation, this Wednesday at 2:20pm

Don’t miss our next trade idea. Get on the Bear Traps Report Today, click here

Asia Risk Off

Stocks in Tokyo and Seoul fell and the yen strengthened after a North Korea missile launch, while investors also weighed messages from China’s National People’s Congress and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.

Dollar Yen, Risk On Takes a Break

Dollar Yen 3Many market participants look at dollar yen as the ultimate expression of a “risk on” or “off” mood.  A stronger yen has a lot to do with the current flight to quality and political risks on the rise.

U.S. stock futures were also lower on geopolitical risk surging in Asia.  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government will hold a National Security Council meeting today after North Korea fired four ballistic missiles. The move comes as South Korea and the U.S. undertake annual military drills that Pyongyang has called a prelude to an invasion. Tensions have been rising over North Korea, which also conducted a missile test during Abe’s state visit to the U.S. last month and is suspected of being behind the assassination of its leader’s half brother in Malaysia. – Bloomberg

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What are the Fed and Gold Telling us about Inflation?

Join our Larry McDonald on CNBC’s Trading Nation, this Wednesday at 2:20pm

Don’t miss our next trade idea. Get on the Bear Traps Report Today, click here

“There’s nothing in this world, which will so violently distort a man’s judgement more than a sight of his neighbor getting rich. ”

J.P. Morgan, 1907

Important Headlines Last Week
*YELLEN: MARCH HIKE APPROPRIATE IF ECONOMY EVOLVES AS EXPECTED

*DUDLEY: CASE FOR TIGHTENING HAS BECOME A LOT MORE
COMPELLING

Gold Miners, a Rates Trade

In recent years, many gold bugs still haven’t figured out trading gold and the miners has become far more of an (interest) rates rather than a inflation trade.

Let Us Explain

Heading into the last two Federal Reserve rate hikes (December 2015 and 2016), each time the gold miners $GDX lost 43% in the six months preceding the rare FOMC action.  Many of gold’s loyalists have been sucked into losing investments by focusing on deficits and money printing as gold’s chief price influencer.   They didn’t get the joke.  It’s been all about interest rates and negative yielding bonds, but is this all about to change?

Global Government Bonds with Negative Yields vs. Gold

2017 March:  $9.3T vs. $1234
2016 December: $7.8T vs. $1125
2016 October: $9.6T vs. $1265
2016 September: $12.4T vs. $1350
2016 July: $13.8T vs. $1375
2015: $1.4T
2014: $175B
2013: $0
2012: $0
2011: $0
2010: $0

Bear Traps Report and Bloomberg data

If we gave you one billion dollars would you put it in a negative yielding German government bond or 0% gold, both offer similar liquidly.   Bottom Line: as you can see above, the amount of negative yielding bonds on earth has been the KEY driver of gold prices in recent years.  So much of gold’s price action has been tied to interest rates and anticipating Fed policy from Janet Yellen and Company.

Our Sell Call to Clients from Early February:

“Last week, the Fed statement was very dovish relative to expectations, now it’s likely the governors on the Fedspeaking (coming speeches from Fed) tour will come out on the hawkish (point to a March rate hike) side in the near term.  Positioning the gold miners is a rates trade, very similar to Eurodollars.  As we’ve stressed in recent years, the Fed “shows it to you and then they take it away.”  This is classic Lucy and the football behavior from the FOMC, we’ve seen this show so many times. Likewise, as we move through the middle innings of the Trump reflation trade unwind, the risk – reward in owning the gold miners has become less attractive, it’s time to SELL our Gold Miners $GDX.”

The Bear Traps Report, February 7, 2017

Where’s the Trade?  Join us here:

Don’t miss our next trade idea. Get on the Bear Traps Report Today, click here

The Federal Reserve has been Gold’s Biggest Driver, NOT Deficits

GDX vs Fed FundsGold is off 2.4% its recent highs, while the miners ($GDX) are 15% lower since their February 8th high, that’s a profound underperformance.  As you can see above, in the months and weeks before that only two rate hikes in the last 11 years, the gold miners $GDX plunged an average of 43% each time.  Now, what about the next rate hike from the FOMC?

Fed Fund Furfures for a March 2017 Rate Hike vs. the Gold Miners $GDX

Today: 94% vs. $22.20
One Week Ago: 40% vs. $23.17
Three Weeks Ago: 26% vs. $25.71

Bloomberg data

Recent speeches from Fed governors have driven rate hike expectations MUCH higher for a hike this month, but this time the gold miners are only off 15%, not 40% +?

What’s Going on Here?

There’s no question in mind, gold’s price driver eventually will shift from FOMC interest rates policy and negative yielding bonds globally back over to inflation expectations.  Getting the timing right on this future development will present us with a colossal trading opportunity.  Click on the link below and join us. 

Where’s the Trade?  Join us here:

Don’t miss our next trade idea. Get on the Bear Traps Report Today, click here

The Fed Funds Rate and Financial Crisis’ Evolution

FOMC Policy 1970-2017

Fed Funds Long TermAs you can see above, since 1970 Federal Reserve accommodation has grown both in scale and duration ahead of each financial crisis.  More disturbing facts lie in the explosion of destructive power found in the last three global wrecking balls, as the financial panics have become far more deadly.  As the next Lehman moment comes at us, the opportunity will be found in gold and the miners.

Where’s the Trade?  Join us here:

Don’t miss our next trade idea. Get on the Bear Traps Report Today, click here
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