Long dated bonds: are investors in denial?
As $TLT and $ZROZ duration bond funds fell in price, their assets under management kept increasing as investors just kept pouring their funds in. Source: Lyn Alden
Plunging US Supply sends oil prices around the world soaring
>>> In recent months, the US had helped fill a void left in the market, routinely sending more than 4 million barrels every day to sate global appetite. Between overseas shipments and strong domestic demand, stockpiles quickly declined in the US. As oil stockpiles are running out in the US, they’re also running out in Europe, because it relies on US exports. As supplies collapse, cargoes of WTI Midland crude for January delivery to Asia are being offered for sale at premiums of $9 a barrel above benchmark Dubai oil, the highest premium seen this year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. In the futures market, the tightness in US supplies narrowed the gap between US crude and international benchmark Brent to under $3 a barrel, the smallest since May last year. Meanwhile, the spread between Brent and Middle East’s Dubai marker — also known as Brent-Dubai EFS — has skyrocketed (See below). Source: www.zerohedge.com
MicroStrategy has been able to outperform the underlying Bitcoin price mostly because of its use of leverage
Specifically, $MSTR took on a total of $2.2 billion in debt to purchase its BTC, the earliest of which matures at the end of 2025. This debt has a blended interest rate of only 1.6%. The markets in 2021 were distorted, and $MSTR capitalized by offering $1.05 billion in convertible debt with a 2027 maturity at 0%, which it used to buy $BTC. In other words, MSTR was able to borrow $1.05 billion until 2027 at 0% interest! This $2.2 billion of debt finances a $BTC position with a current market value of $4.3 billion. Source: Mark Harvey
Last time global stocks had a longest streak of losses than the one we're in currently was 12 years ago
Source: Bloomberg, David Ingles
0DTE trading in $SPX options accounts for a record 49% of total trading volume
Source: Markets & Mayhem
Orange juice futures are trading like a meme stock! The surge is mainly driven by #supply driven (exarcebated by speculators positioning). The 2 supply issues are the following:
1/ Extreme weather intensified by global heating ravaged this season’s crop of the citrus fruit: last year Florida, which produces more than 90% of the US’s orange juice supply, was hit by Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Nicole and freezing conditions in quick succession, devastating orange producers in the Sunshine State. 2/ A bacterial disease -> Florida Producers battled an incurable citrus greening disease that is spread by an invasive insect, rendering fruit unusable. Most infected trees die within a few years, and some producers said they were giving up farming and selling their land. Industry figures said US orange production would reach its lowest level for more than a century. Source: The Guardian, Longview Economics
At least a positive (contrarian) news
The SPX Put to call ratio is at its highest since the SVB banking crisis. In a short term view, the 'PUT BUS' is getting crowded and a crowded trade is usually not a good trade. Source: JC Investment
Many analysts point their fingers towards the options market for signs of stock market trouble. Goldman says dealers in ‘short gamma’ for first time this year
Meanwhile, we have a new 0DTE* options volume record. *Zero days to expiration options, or 0DTE options for short, are options contracts that expire and become void the same day that they’re traded. When an option reaches this stage, there’s not much more time left to act on the right to buy or sell the underlying asset. The window is small, and the move that the trader is plotting needs to happen fast. 0DTE options trading has entered the mainstream in recent years and is a popular premium collecting strategy. Source: www.zerohedge,com, Bloomberg, investopedia
