Archive - Jan 13, 2015

This wasn't how it was supposed to be? Collapsing crude oil prices - according to the mainstream (Fed-spoonfed) narrative means lower costs for business and 'massive' tax cuts for consumers enabling disposable income to surge. But, American Airlines just announced a 3.4 percentage point plunge in its load factor (ability to fill its planes) in December and while Southwest saw traffic rise, its load factor also fell as passenger revenue per seat tumbled 4-5%. So no extra spending... and now United reports it is looking to outsource 2,000 jobs in a cost-cutting effort (which seems odd given the total collapse of the fuel cost overhead?). Oh well, just keep repeating - crashing oil prices are unambiguously good.

Over the past 30 days sell side analysts that cover the Energy sector have been busy cutting their earnings estimates to reflect plummeting crude prices. They’ve snipped an average 3% from their Q4 2014 numbers for the 10 largest cap names, and slashed 19% off their 2015 whole-year estimates. Common wisdom has it that these reductions should shift over to the both Consumer sectors – Staples and Discretionary – driving estimated there higher. That isn’t happening. Over the same 30 day period, the analysts that follow the largest names in these groups haven’t moved their estimates for either Q4 or 2015 by even 1%.

Tesla shares are down over 5% after-hours - and back below $200 - after CEO Elon Musk, speaking before addressing a conference in Detroit, said China Q4 sales declined significantly. As Dow Jones reports, Musk believes the sales decline is linked to consumer misperceptions regarding charging...

For all those who have forgotten that the I in the GDP equation stands for Investment, here is a reminder courtesy of the latest crude collapse victim, Suncor, which moments ago announced it is not only cutting its 2015 CapEx by $1 billion (as in I, directly and adversely impacting US GDP by the same amount) but that it would also cut "operating expenses" by up to $800 million, and, drumroll, implementing "a series of workforce initiatives that will reduce total workforce numbers in 2015 by approximately 1000 people, primarily through its contract workforce, in addition to reducing employee positions. There will also be an overall hiring freeze for roles that are not critical to operations and safety." Or as Joe LaVorgna and all the other mainstay CNBC "analysts" would call it, "unambiguously good."

With Bill Gross still in cross-asset limbo, it appears the undisputed fixed income crown, for now, goes to DoubleLine's Jeffrey Gundlach who recently opined, "something is not right." Shortly, the monarch of money markets will be discussing the economy, the markets and his outlook 2015, in his latest webcast titled, rather ominously, "V". Given Gundlach's concerns about the "health of the economy and financial system," we suspect the V-for-Vendetta climax anology may well be more what he had in mind... Full presentation below

Just two days ago we detailed the possibility that Russia could accelerate debt repayment on a $3 billion loan it granted to Ukraine that has broken its covenants. While there is no word yet from Russia on a decision whether to demand the payment, it appears, as Reuters reports, the US taxpayer - just as we warned - is quite willing to step up (thanks to their leaders in Washington) and guarantee $2 billion in loans to the world's 2nd most credit risky nation (after Venezuela).

Presented with no comment...

Cyber Caliphate … Or Digital Diversion?

The U.S. Deep State is in favor of Saudi Arabia's strategy of forcing production cuts on its rivals and marginal producers for two profound reasons...

The Russian Ruble is re-crashing again today (higher by 3 handles and back above 66 RUB to the USD) as crude oil continues to plumb new depths. Having found some strength - via intervention amid 'stability' in crude prices in late December - the selloff since Christmas has been dramatic in both the Ruble and Crude. However, the contagious impact of this massive Ruble devaluation is, as Bloomberg reports, making life tougher for India's steelmakers. "In the past month or so, deals have been struck for steel imports from Russia," notes one steel industry executive, adding that such purchases "will only increase," as lower Russian prices "will be a threat to Indian steel mills."

Fort Hood officials and Hazmat crews are on site in Killeen after a US soldier, who recently returned from West Africa, was found dead outside his home. So far there are no answers as to why the soldier was not in quarantine and no known cause of death... (for now there are no indications the soldier had Ebola)

The touts have it backwards. This isn’t about greeters at Wal-Mart handing out tax cuts to hard-pressed American consumers. Its about the coming liquidation of the massive malinvestments and bloated economies that have been enabled by rampant central bank money printing and the resulting madcap expansion of unrepayable debt. Buying-the-dip was always a strategy that would work until it didn’t. The “oil tax cut” tale is designed to ensure that Wall Street’s Muppets will be the last to get the word.

Who could have seen that coming?

Having unveiled his non-boots-on-the-ground strategy in September, President Obama's "promise" was quickly proved fragile when General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, indicated to the House of Representatives armed services committee that the strength of ISIS relative to the Iraqi army may be such that he would recommend abandoning Obama’s oft-repeated pledge against returning US ground troops to combat in Iraq. It seems another promise is about to be broken as Bloomberg reports Senator John Cornyn said President Obama told congressional leaders during meeting today at White House he would seek authorization for military force on Islamic State. Boehner’s office, in separate statement after meeting, said Republicans would work with him to build support.

Following the adoption of its new military doctrine signed by President Vladimir Putin in December which identifies NATO expansion as an external risk, it is perhaps hardly surprising that, as Reuters reports, Russia's top general, Valery Garesimov stated that the "Defence Ministry will focus its efforts on increasing the combat capabilities of its units and increasing combat strength.. with special attention will be given to the groups in Crimea." Amid renewed heavy shelling in Donetsk, NATO's top military commander noted they will be stepping up exercises in the Baltic Sea region as Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin warns, "the situation in eastern Ukraine is deteriorating."