The Russell 2000 made a new all-time record high and the S&P 500 gets close as rumor turned into almost news and expectations of a done deal by 11pm tonight. The rumor was bought on the back of JPY-carry surging once again, the "news" was sold - smacking the S&P down around 8 points to VWAP, and then the ubiquitous closing ramp lifted stock back near their highs. The kicking the can left USA CDS wider on the day, put a bid under T-Bills (though the Feb Bills underperformed), lifted gold and silver off their lows, and while the USD was sent scurrying lower (after an early surge), Treasury Bonds ripped lower in yield (10Y _8bps from its highs early on). Spot VIX was crushed back below 15% (down 20% - the most in 2013) and while the rest of the VIX term structure was bid, the Feb/Mar maturities were less exuberant.
S&P is dumping after hours as soon as cash closed at its highs...
VIX fell over 20% dropping back below 15% - its biggest drop of the year...
One way street...
Equities ripped, dipped, and then ripped into the close as AUDJPY drove the car all day...
Treasuries soared when the "deal" was rumored...
Gold and Silver surrged on the "deal" news...

How markets reacted to the news...
Summed up in one chart - risk-assets in general were not buying the equity hopium again today... as cross-asset-class correlation goes negative...
T-Bills were well bid today but some context is useful for where they ended up... this is the curve today compared to the curve when the government shutdown began...

Charts: Bloomberg








