Archive - Dec 2014 - Story

In 1943, it appears, saving was not banned and deflation was not an ogre...

While the clear narrative forced upon the investing (and consuming) public is that lower oil prices are great for the economy - which is utter crap (as we have explained here and here) - the fact of the matter both primary and secondary effects are extremely significant... and already occurring. As Reuters reports, global oil and gas exploration projects worth more than $150 billion are likely to be put on hold next year as plunging oil prices render them uneconomic as the cost of production has risen sharply given the rising cost of raw materials and the need for expensive new technology to reach the oil. As one analyst notes, "at $70 a barrel, half of the overall volumes are at risk."

When no lesser establishmentarian than Obama's former chief economist Jared Bernstein called for an end to the US Dollar's reserve status, it raised a few eyebrows, but as the WSJ recently noted, the voices discussing how the burden of being the world's reserve currency harms America, more than just Vladimir Putin is paying attention. While some argue that “no other global currency is ready to replace the U.S. dollar.” That is true of other paper and credit currencies, but the world’s monetary authorities still hold nearly 900 million ounces of gold, which is enough to restore, at the appropriate parity, the classical gold standard: the least imperfect monetary system of history.

"The nation was leery of a national bank with seemingly endless power to manipulate the money supply and the Second National Bank of the United States was attacked by both the expansionists and the sound money opponents. It was during this period that future President Andrew Jackson shaped his anti-Bank views in Tennessee while his future hard-money arm in the Senate, Thomas Hart Benton (Old Bullion), shaped his views in Missouri, two of the hardest-hit states. The debate over central banking, and the concern over deflation and inflation, continue two hundred years later."

Having opened more than a few eyes to the rise of extreme wealth among Chinese billionaire's children in America, particularly Southern California, we thought the following brief clip would provide some more color on the the so-called "Chinese Beverly Hills". Welcome to Arcadia - also known as "Mistress City" - where uber-wealthy Chinese hide their money, kids, and dalliances overseas to escape the corruption probes and controls of their home nations...

When we first explained to the public here, that the excessive leverage and currently squeezed cashflow of many US oil producers could "trigger a broader high-yield market default cycle," the world's smartest TV-anchors shrugged off lower oil prices as 'unequivocally good' for all. Now, as a 40% collapse in new well permits and liquidations occurring at the well-head, the world outside of credit markets is starting to comprehend the seriousness of the crash of a sector that was responsible for 93% of jobs created in this 'recovery'. The credit risk of HY energy corporates has more than doubled to a record 815bps (over risk-free-rates) crushing any hopes of cheap funding/rolling debt loads. Suddenly expectations of 1/3rd of energy firms restructuring is not so crazy...

Investors have been lulled into a state of complacency due to a seemingly "unstoppable" rise in the financial markets. Bad news remains good news, and even small drawdowns are quickly reversed sending stocks surging higher. Eventually, the paradox of what happens when a seemingly unstoppable force collides with an immovable will be answered. Historically, such realizations have not been kind to investors. This weekend's reading list takes a look at the reasons why stocks could rise higher, and the potential they won't. The question to be answered is "What will you do when the immovable object is met."

High-yield credit markets saw spreads widen 12bps on the week and high-yield bond prices fell notably as energy stocks faded after Monday's exuberant dead-cat-bounce. Trannies tumbled today off early exuberance gains, ending the week the biggest loser despite lower oil prices. Today's jobs data sparked initial "good news is bad news" weakness, was ramped to Europe's close then faded with Nasdaq and S&P red post-Payrolls. Treasury yields rose on the day (and week) with dramatic flattening as 2Y-7Y maturities up 17-20bps on the week and 30Y only 7bps higher. 2Y yields exploded 17bps for the worst week since Feb 2011 to Apr 2011 highs. The USDollar closed higher today (up 1.25% on the week) led by dramatic JPY weakness (and EUR fading). Despite USD strength, gold gained 2% on the week and silver +5.4% (best week in 6mo) even as oil lost 0.75% for its lowest close since July 2009. VIX tested down to an 11 handle but closed peeking back into a 12 handle, lower on the week. For the 3rd day of the last 4, internals created a Hindenburg Omen cluster.

... higher oil prices!  Because when it comes to propaganda, a year certainly makes all the difference.

For the 3rd month in a row, Consumer Credit growth rose less than expected. At $13.226 billion (against expectations of a $16.5bn gain), this is the smallest growth since Nov 2013. This is the first 3-month miss since June 2009. Once again, as expected, the rise is all student and auto loans (which now face 27% delinquency for the subprime borrowers). However, perhaps the most notable facet is a 66% collapse in revolving credit growth from a year ago.

'We' are all individuals...

It appears the growth-is-back-just-look-at-the-jobs-number meme is not flowing through to the oil complex. WTI just broke below $66.00 (having earlier broken below and bounced back above) and is now down almost 1% on the week having retraced most of Monday's kneejerk dead-cat-bounce. This will be the lowest weekly close since July 2009 and down 9 of the last 10 weeks.

One of the great myths about investing that we’re told by the mainstream investment education is that we should “buy and hold” for the long term. Let's look at the numbers...

Over two years later, it is good to see our old friend is still right there and that SkyNet still reigns supreme, because as the following chart of CTRP, courtesy of Nanex, shows "new normal" algo-controlled stocks appears to have just two default modes: a relentless ramp higher (courtesy of a VWAP buyback programs or just momentum ignition), or a far more "nuanced" sinewave oscillation up and down in what only a Princeon economist could call "price discovery."

Things for Ukraine are going from bad to worse. As the central bank reported overnight, the country's foreign-currency (and gold reserves) dropped by over 21% in one month, to under $10 billion in November for the first time in nearly a decade due to large payments for debt and gas, from $12.6 billion to $9.966 billion.