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Broken Correlations

Tyler Durden's picture




With today's highly suspicious BLS job data (we are waiting to hear from TrimTabs' Charles Biderman for his take on this number) we would like to highlight some of the majorly broken correlations that are getting broken today and causing major pain for traders on the other side. And while any statistician will tell you correlation does not imply causation, in this market of low volume algo trading, correlation is likely the only thing that implies causation. The questions now: i) when does Bernanke succumb to the inflation hawks who will beat the drum on tightening even louder, and ii) will the fund flows out of bonds into futures be enough to offset the dollar surge, whose natural expression is to push stocks lower.

The chart below highlights how the dramatic move in futures is so out of sync with the core underlying move in the dollar (higher), and the corresponding move in gold (lower).

And here are some chart highlighting the recent correlations between key asset classes:

Dollar and S&P - linear:

Dollar and Oil - linear:

Dollar and Gold - parabolic - those caught on the other side of the dollar trade right now are hurting big:

As the charts indicate the excess liquidity which has pushed the dollar ever lower has been the sole reason for corresponding moves in correlation pairs. Today all these correlations are broken, which is why the closing print will be so critical: can flight from bonds take on the reverse carry trade?




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Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:24 | Link to Comment deadhead
deadhead's picture

it's one of 2 things.

1. DOL is completely incompetent and has made huge mistakes on data reporting.

2. it's the largest lie ever committed by DOL and the Obama.

take your pick. there is no in between.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:50 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:50 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 16:14 | Link to Comment Gordon_Gekko
Gordon_Gekko's picture

You are being too gentlemanly deadhead even mentioning the 1st option. There is absolutely NO doubt whatsoever that it is no.2. i.e. a blatant LIE.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:28 | Link to Comment Project Mayhem
Project Mayhem's picture

Someone got f*cked this AM.   Kids, just say no to 100:1 leverage .

 

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:35 | Link to Comment Cursive
Cursive's picture

Yeah.  I take this a bad news for dollar bears and equity/commodity bulls.  Gotta think some equity/commodity longs will take this opportunity to lighten up into the weekend.  Afterall, this is a major distribution effort on the party of the market generals.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:09 | Link to Comment Argonaught
Argonaught's picture

Uh yeah.  That was me.  You would think my tax $s could at least pay for the vaseline if not a reach around.  Ouch.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:30 | Link to Comment Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh's picture

Long gold & miners + short general equities = going to get killed on the open today.  Question is (as you note), how will the short dollar trade impact equities by the end of today.

Along with this gem from FINRA:

http://www.risk.net/structured-products/news/1564424/finra-hits-customers-increased-margins-leveraged-etfs

Let's encourage our TBTFs to keep on leveraging up, but God forbid individual investors are allowed to use any - they must be saved from themselves (there goes the efficient market for jumping on mispricing inefficiencies overnight)...

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:04 | Link to Comment mule65
mule65's picture

Good point, the -2X ETF crowd could see margin calls today on panic buying.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:25 | Link to Comment Green Sharts
Green Sharts's picture

If the SEC actually lived up to its alleged mission of protecting small investors, leveraged and/or inverse ETFs would never have been allowed.  Somebody the other day was talking about being long SRS, a 2X short real estate fund.  It is down 92% since March even as commercial real estate values collapse.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 12:01 | Link to Comment Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh's picture

Investors can decide for themselves what to buy and not buy.  You want to outlaw anything that can lose value because of decay?  There go options.  Probably should outlaw all equities, too, since look at what happened to many of them from May of last year to March of this year.

The pitfall to the rebalancing leveraged ETFs are clearly spelled out.  Unless you have some evidence that the fund is stealing from assets?

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 16:19 | Link to Comment Gordon_Gekko
Gordon_Gekko's picture

I wouldn't mind at all if equities were outlawed. The entire stock market is one big giant turd as far as I am concerned.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 13:08 | Link to Comment E Thomas St.
E Thomas St.'s picture

But the value of REITS is at 52 week highs. Get a clue.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:33 | Link to Comment Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh's picture

Oh yes, and here comes the rest of the short TLT / long TBT momo & TA players.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:36 | Link to Comment dot_bust
dot_bust's picture

This is a head-fake. I'm not saying certain folks aren't getting squeezed, but today's dynamics will change very quickly. Someone's trying awfully hard to make us believe that gold suddenly became a bad trade.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:40 | Link to Comment CharlesBronson
CharlesBronson's picture

Pump Gold, Dump Gold, Buy Dollar

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:29 | Link to Comment faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

...Collapse Dollar.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 16:20 | Link to Comment Gordon_Gekko
Gordon_Gekko's picture

...then kill it. Put it out of its misery.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:45 | Link to Comment AR
AR's picture

KEY:  In our opinion, the dollar really needs to trade in 77 area+ to solidly reverse this carry trade on an intermediate term basis. This however, is a start. Also, we are watching the lower trendline support in the EURO at 1.4860-80 area to break, which is taken off the 09/03 and 11/03 lows in the Euro. Good luck eveyone...

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:50 | Link to Comment deadhead
deadhead's picture

thank you AR. Always appreciate your insights

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:47 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 12:03 | Link to Comment AR
AR's picture

DH / We also would like to see the Euro break below a huge band of highs & lows that have developed between the 1.4730/50 area and this 1.4850 area that date back to 09/22 showing roughly 18-20 points of reference. A Euro break under 1.4730/50 would in our opinion be the potential start of a correlated reversal between the Dollar and Euro. Good luck buddy. Hang in there. These are frustrating times. Stay positive.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 13:08 | Link to Comment deadhead
deadhead's picture

Thank you AR.

My broker and I (he's great, we've worked together and traded together for many  yrs) just continue to chuckle at the actions in this market.  obviously there is a very heavy hand and it ultimately spells disaster.  he and i are both very big on understanding history and it will utimately serve all of us well.

I appreciate you sharing your insights and your nice words.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 12:31 | Link to Comment AR
AR's picture

We're doing a little (partial) Euro risk reduction here at 1.4880 off that lower TL (mentioned) on our euro shorts (this is very ST). Also, NatGas seems like it's trying to forge a small ST bottom here also at this 4.50 area for a possible 10-15% retracement back to those breakdown highs at 5.20 on 11/28th-30th (just remember though, supply data and fundamentals in NatGas is a headwind).

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:57 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:45 | Link to Comment alexdg
alexdg's picture

09h45 : 

spx 1118, new intraday high for '09. 

eurusd at 1.495.

 

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:46 | Link to Comment LoneStarHog
LoneStarHog's picture

Gold "Dirtbag" Denninger posted. "Gold is also getting pounded...". Someone called him out on this, "Mr. Denninger, gold is down just a little over one percent (1%). I would think that a man with your intelligence would note that $30 at $300 and $30 at $1200 requires a look at percentages."

He will not respond to the lady, just ignores her.

Does anyone need further proof that he HATES gold and has about the same integrity as those he condemns?

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:05 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 16:31 | Link to Comment Gordon_Gekko
Gordon_Gekko's picture

That ain't much good. The reason someone does not understand Gold is because he does not understand (or isn't aware of) human history, does not know basic things about how humans think and operate and does not know anything about the very fundamentals of our economic, monetary and financial system.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:49 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:52 | Link to Comment Grand Supercycle
Grand Supercycle's picture

 

Another USD spike ... the dollar rally is getting closer.

http://www.zerohedge.com/forum/market-outlook-0

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:55 | Link to Comment lsbumblebee
lsbumblebee's picture

What's that little blip on the 30 day gold chart? Time to back up the truck again. Thanks Ben!

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:56 | Link to Comment Terminal Frost
Terminal Frost's picture

Welcome to Enron World.  Tickets can be purchased from you local primary dealer. 

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:57 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

I'm gonna make a gold prediction here. I'm a nobody so take it with a grain of salt. A lot of goldbugs have been saying there will be a pullback in price because of the dollar carry trade unwinding. They have been waiting for the "buy" opportunity. Gold could drop some more, but it won't stay under $1200 for long. Some looking for a dip will chicken out, but I think this will get run up again with a "thank you very much" to the sellers.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:08 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:10 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:43 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:58 | Link to Comment Fibozachi
Fibozachi's picture

Excellent piece TD, thank you for sharing it.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:37 | Link to Comment spekulatn
spekulatn's picture

+100

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:00 | Link to Comment Cursive
Cursive's picture

BAC needed a rally to sell into.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:04 | Link to Comment Overpowered By Funk
Overpowered By Funk's picture

LOL!

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 13:09 | Link to Comment deadhead
deadhead's picture

Agreed!!

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:06 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:09 | Link to Comment Commander Cody
Commander Cody's picture

Many objectives achieved by intended consequences of labor report: Gold slammed, equity pump, Christmas rally, year-end fund numbers, lure to the retail investor on the sidelines, etc.  Incredibly effective head fake.  I wish I'd thought of it.  Some short-term negatives perhaps in the bond arena.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:12 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:10 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:14 | Link to Comment I am a Man I am...
I am a Man I am Forty's picture

I'm one of the idiots with the 23 dollar December calls in UUP.  Need the dollar to jump!!  Come on boy, come on!

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:31 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:15 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:35 | Link to Comment john_connor
john_connor's picture

Of course Bernanke has no reason to raise rates because he is only concerned with "wage inflation."  God forbid people actually make more fiat dollars.  Plus his counterfeiting operation is effectively broken as banks aren't lending and consumers aren't borrowing.  The only reason he would raise rates is if he thought borrowers were a better risk moving forward.  AND he would kill his member banks, with the excpetion of the vampire squid, who just plays it either way based on an unlimited amount of free money and inside information.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:37 | Link to Comment CharlesBronson
CharlesBronson's picture

CNBC just posted a new lead article with this title...

Jobs Report: 'Numbers Are Almost Too Good to Be True'

you can't make this stuff up....

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:48 | Link to Comment Commander Cody
Commander Cody's picture

Apparently, they are closer to the mark for a change.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:48 | Link to Comment ArkansasAngie
ArkansasAngie's picture

When will Bernanke let interest rates go up?

You assume Bernanke has control of this -- he makes the same assumption.

Interest rates go up when inflation happens.  People with money require a higher return to compensate them for the risk. 

The Fed can't remove the liquidity because the banks will go into default as a result. 

 

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:55 | Link to Comment john_connor
john_connor's picture

Bernanke can raise overnight lending rates, but he is simply following the 3 month Treasury.  I don't see the overnight rate going up unless 3 month Treasury goes up.  So no, he really doesn't control rates, only the degree or arbitrage that occurs within his counterfeiting operation.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:51 | Link to Comment Cursive
Cursive's picture

Airlines are the leading sector, and it's not even close, up 4.50%.  What does that tell you?  Yeah, this is a completely healthy and natural market.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 12:15 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 12:22 | Link to Comment Racer
Racer's picture

Will jobs number manipulation finally backfire on them today with a dollar surge and equity sell off?

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 12:25 | Link to Comment Ned Zeppelin
Ned Zeppelin's picture

American economy roused from sick bed, needs oil!

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 12:35 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 12:39 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 13:11 | Link to Comment alexdg
alexdg's picture

Not so broken after all... things are back to normal. Eurusd 1.489 and SPX at 1100.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 13:21 | Link to Comment Grand Supercycle
Grand Supercycle's picture

 

DOW / SP500 daily charts have turned bearish.

http://www.zerohedge.com/forum/market-outlook-0

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 13:48 | Link to Comment Racer
Racer's picture

Don't worry, the dollar knocking team has reported for duty and normal S&P buy progs will resume shortly

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:09 | Link to Comment statist shill
statist shill's picture

A few possibilities:

1) This is grandstanding for Bernanke now that his confirmation has been put on hold.  The banks certainly don't want to see an end to their cheap money so they will pump the dollar until he is confirmed

2) It is what it appears to be and the QE crack has officially run its course.....for now, because we all know it is coming back once the dip occurs (regardless of form, whether MBS purchases, a new New Deal, some other govt intervention bullshit)

3) Traders jumped the gun and assumed the Fed Funds rate will actually rise earlier than expected, which is probably not the case considering Bernanke is more liberal with rates than Greenspan was, not to mention these jobs numbers could be are cooked, and so we can call today a dip to go long Au, Ag, x/JPY, etc.

 

My bet is number 3

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:56 | Link to Comment faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

APMEX is doing its best to support gold:

Dear faustian bargain,

 

This week, the U.S. Mint did not release any 2009 Gold American Eagles or 2009 Silver American Eagles, and the 2009 Fractional Gold American Eagles as well as the 2009 Gold Buffalo Coins are in very limited supply and will likely sell out within days.

 

As a preferred APMEX customer, we want you to be the first to know about this breaking news so you don't miss your opportunity to purchase these high demand coins while we have them in stock. Our supply of these coins is extremely limited and there is no way for us to know when we may be able to secure these products again for the rest of the year. When our supply is gone, it's gone. Take advantage of the recent pullback in the market and secure yours today at www.APMEX.com.

 

*** Please note, if you have already purchased 2009 Fractional Gold American Eagle Coins from APMEX, be assured that these coins have already been allocated to you and will be delivered as promised. Our pre-orders will begin shipping on Friday, December 11th.

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 15:05 | Link to Comment E Thomas St.
E Thomas St.'s picture

No front page comment on Gold down almost 5%? Is there a pro gold bias holding such a thing back?

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 15:23 | Link to Comment Racer
Racer's picture

 

Looks like new programs loaded today....other than the usual dollar down markets up,

but new today ....dollar soars, computer buy progs just sit back and wait till it falls again

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 16:39 | Link to Comment nevket240
nevket240's picture

The best proxy for the next move in Gold prices is an Australian Co -SGX. Soon to 'merge' with El Dorado,

Sino's price has made a bungee dive the day before Gold gets whacked the last 3 corrections, at least. Someone , large, is playing funny buggers and making a killing.

Lot of big guys on the register.

regards

Fri, 12/04/2009 - 18:23 | Link to Comment Spitzer
Spitzer's picture

Gold on Monday, to buy, or not to buy, that is indeed the question....

Sat, 12/05/2009 - 21:20 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

Sorry but if you didn't buy friday. You'll be opening to 20 dollar higher gold before you even go to sleep sunday night.

Sat, 12/05/2009 - 10:53 | Link to Comment dnarby
dnarby's picture

I find it amazing that with no significant correction in equities, and no significant appreciation in the dollar, that everyone is assuming the correction in gold is over.

IMO given the relatively stable markets in the last 30 years using them to assess the current situation in the markets is asking to get killed.

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