US Futures Slide* On Lack Of New "Trade Deal Optimism"; Dollar Ramps Higher
*come on tyler's..just a little overboard with 'dis. -46 points on an index that is valued where?. You guys are better then that
The historic, post-Christmas rally struggled for a second day, with the S&P still unable to decisively cross the critical 2800 resistance level and sliding in a quiet overnight session, while European shares also faded after a mixed Asian session as investors await fresh catalysts on trade and monetary policy. Meanwhile, the dollar advanced for a sixth day as Treasuries edged higher.
Carmakers fell and miners rose, leaving the Stoxx Europe 600 Index little changed with the DAX underperforming peers as auto names weigh alongside banks and insurance names with markets shrugging off a downbeat global economic assessment from the OECD. European banks were again hit by the ever-widening money-laundering scandal which seems to add more names with every passing day. On Wednesday, RBS said it was looking into allegations of money laundering through certain Dutch banks and reports this may concern an ABN Amro business line acquired by RBS. Investors can now add regulatory penalties to the list of bank sector worries after bank were the second-worst Stoxx 600 performer in 2018, hit by political uncertainty, a flattening yield curve and low rates. That relative peformance has continued to send the price ratio vs the Stoxx 600 lower this year, with the earnings season disappointing and consensus 12-month forward EPS estimates falling almost 4%.
Unable to rise above 2,800 for two weeks in a row, S&P 500 futures had no other choice but to decline. Eminis have now been trading in a tight, 20 point range sine mid-February.
Earlier in Asia, a familiar pattern emerged as Chinese shares once again outperformed as the local stock bubble is rapidly scrambling to recreate its 2015 majesty while Japanese equities dropped. The Shanghai Composite surged another 1.6%, rising above 3,100 after a last hour ramp perhaps the result of China's National Team attempts to herd even more mom and pop investors into the rising momentum. Volumes were again massive, with over 1 trillion yuan trading on Wednesday.
Elsewhere in Asia, RBA Governor Lowe reiterated his neutral stance nothing that the RBA has flexibility to adjust monetary policy in either direction, probabilities of a rate hike or cut are evenly balanced. He also stated it is hard to imagine a rate hike this year, and it is unlikely inflation will be a problem anytime soon. Lowe added that he is confident inflation will get back to the middle of 2-3% target range, Q3 and Q4 GDP likely to be significantly below trend. The AUD was hit hard when the Australian Real GDP for Q4 printed at 0.2% vs. Exp. 0.3% (YY Q4 2.3% vs. Exp. 2.5%).
Investors remain jittery, looking for hints on what Trump will do next on negotiations with China as trade remains high on the agenda. Meanwhile, the bond market signals more caution and Morgan Stanley is now predicting Treasury yields will drop as low as 2.35% by the end of the year. Traders will also get a jolt from the ECB's policy decision today when Mario Draghi may announce the long overdue TLTRO.
In rates, traders saw a pop higher in German Bund futures, with 10y and 30y yields initially -3bps as the curve bull flattened, before gains were pared dragging USTs off the highs, while peripheral bonds tightened modestly to core. Gilt yields were ~2bps lower across the curve as Brexit anxiety remains elevated. The Bloomberg dollar index traded in the middle of its overnight range, stronger for the sixth day and defying Trump's latest dollar bashing.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-03-06/us-futures-slide-lack-new-trade-deal-optimism-dollar-ramps-higher
https://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks/futures
https://www.dailyfx.com/crude-oil