Jackson Hole might disappoint bond bears Jackson Hole might disappoint bond bears Jackson Hole might disappoint bond bears

Jackson Hole might disappoint bond bears

Bonds
Althea Spinozzi

Senior Fixed Income Strategist

Summary:  There is potential for rates to fall before they resume their rise later in autumn. Ten-year yields rose this week in the wake of the Jackson Hole Symposium, but a death cross is about to form. In technical analysis, a death cross sends a strong bearish message which could anticipate rates falling; thus US Treasuries rising. If that were the case, the bond bull market has the potential to continue until September's FOMC meeting. However, in autumn, we'll see a strong reversal as tapering becomes necessarily more aggressive.


The Bond market is signalling that Jackson Hole may be a  "buy the rumour, sell the fact" kind of event. Indeed 10-year, US Treasury yields rose roughly 9bps since the beginning of the week. Still, we see a death cross forming with the 50 days Moving Average (MA) about to fall below the 200 days MA.

A death cross is usually a strong bearish sign, which in this case could drive yields lower, thus the value of US Treasuries higher. It goes hand in hand with what we have identified earlier this week in our "Fixed income market: the week ahead": the massive liquidity in money markets can still compress rates in the short term. Indeed, the Reverse Repurchase (RRP) facility continues to receive record-high volumes in demand daily, showing there is too much cash chasing fewer assets.

We believe that before 10-year yields resume their rise in the fall, they can test support again at 1.12%. In the most bearish scenario, yields could fall as low as 1%. However, the bond bear market will be back in October/November when it becomes evident that inflation remains high and a more aggressive tapering is needed.

Therefore, it may be too early to short TLT and IEF.  We need a strong hawkish surprise at today’s Powell’s speech and Jackson Hole symposium to see rate resume their rise. However, that hawkish sign that bears (including myself) are expecting might not arrive until the September FOMC meeting.

Suppose you are looking to trade the Jackson Hole event today. In that case, it may be useful to know that the monthly standard deviation for 10-year yields is 6bps. However, yields have been quite volatile this year. There have been instances where we have seen the 10-year rise as much as 15bps at the end of February as the reflation trade unfolded. Therefore, it can be safe to say that a strong market reaction would see yields moving 5bps upwards or downwards, but we need a surprise to see yields moving more than that.

We remain of the opinion that there is a low probability for a hawkish Powell today as there is still a lot of focus on Delta (the conference is going to be held online), and labor market is not where the Fed wants it to be.

Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group.
Disclaimer

The Saxo Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website is not intended to and does not change or expand on this. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-hk/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

None of the information contained here constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument, or to make any investments. Saxo does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information nor for any loss arising from any investment made in reliance of this presentation. Any opinions made are subject to change and may be personal to the author. These may not necessarily reflect the opinion of Saxo or its affiliates.

Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited
19th Floor
Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower
12 Queen’s Road Central
Hong Kong

Contact Saxo

Select region

Hong Kong S.A.R
Hong Kong S.A.R

Saxo Capital Markets HK is a company authorised and regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited holds a Type 1 Regulated Activity (Dealing in securities); Type 2 Regulated Activity (Dealing in Futures Contract); Type 3 Regulated Activity (Leveraged foreign exchange trading); Type 4 Regulated Activity (Advising on securities) and Type 9 Regulated Activity (Asset Management) licenses (CE No. AVD061). Registered address: 19th Floor, Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower, 12 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong

By clicking on certain links on this site, you are aware and agree to leave the website of Saxo Capital Markets, proceed on to the linked site managed by Saxo Group and where you will be subject to the terms of that linked site.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. AppStore is a service mark of Apple Inc.

Please note that the information on this site and any product and services we offer are not targeted at investors residing in the United States and Japan, and are not intended for distribution to, or use by any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation. Please click here to view our full disclaimer.