Market Quick Take - December 20, 2021

Macro 6 minutes to read
Saxo Be Invested
Saxo Strategy Team

Summary:  US stocks trades near a two-week with Asian stocks and crude oil trading lower overnight as omicron-related lockdowns continue to spread. In addition, President Biden's $2 trillion tax-and-spending package was rejected raising the prospect of additional US growth downgrades. With flight to safety being the overriding concern, lower bond yields are questioning the FOMC's ability to act as hawkish as they signaled last week. Markets are being challenged by a range of uncertainties at a time where thinner trading volumes ahead of the holiday period can exacerbate price swings.


What is our trading focus?

Nasdaq 100 (USNAS100.I) and S&P 500 (US500.I) - equities are extending their weakness post FOMC with Nasdaq 100 futures trading around the 15,570 level this morning just above the 100-day moving average that back in October was a key area of support. Equities have not experienced their year-end rally and investors seems to be lowering their short-term growth expectations due to Omicron and lower profit margins due to inflation is a theme that will continue to be visible in the Q4 earnings season starting in mid-January.

The U.S. dollar trades firm after strengthened in late trading on Friday, as risk-off sentiment returned to the market amid concerns over the rapid spreading omicron variant, lifting appetite for the safe-haven currencies, such as the greenback and to a lesser extent USDJPY. The change in direction mostly hurt the euro as it tumbled straight back towards the lower end of its established December range between €1.1225 to €1.1375.

Crude oil (OILUKFEB22 & OILUSJAN22) trades near a two-week low after extending Friday’s weak session to tumble more than 3.5% during the Asian trading session. The market focuses squarely on the fast-spreading omicron variant, raising concerns about the short-term demand outlook. Brent has seen the front end of the curve briefly flip into a bearish contango pattern, a sign the market, just like the IEA warned last week, is becoming oversupplied as lockdowns and travel restrictions hurt demand. Thinner market conditions and continued selling from hedge funds risk exacerbating price swings in the remaining trading sessions before the holiday period. Focus on OPEC+ and whether the latest developments could force a change in their production agreement.

US Treasuries (SHY, IEF, TLT). This week it's all about personal consumption expenditures, the consumer confidence index, and the University of Michigan Survey. Although the long part of the yield curve is stuck by Covid and growth fears, the front part of the curve might resume soaring, contributing to its flattening trend. Yet, investors should tread carefully and monitor the divergence between market expectations and the Fed rate hike’s projections. We believe that long-term yields have upward potential as the market will need to accept the Fed’s tightening agenda. Yet, Treasury yields might not begin their rise until January, when bond issuance resumes. Ten-year yields broke below 1.40%, and if they do not rise back above this level, they will find support next at 1.26%

European sovereigns (IS0L, BTP10). The focus will be on the E.U. consumer confidence released tomorrow and the producer price index coming out from Italy. For the month of November, Italian PPI spiked to 9.4%. A sustained number contributes to higher inflation in Italy as well as Europe. Yet, following last week’s ECB meeting, it’s likely rates will trade rangebound until the end of the year. In 2022 we see scope for steeper EUR curves as the central bank’s total net bond purchases will be less than half than this year. However, the steepening might not begin until January, as the customary large bond issuance at the beginning of the year.

What is going on?

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat, on Sunday rejected Joe Biden's $1.75 trillion tax-and-spending package, potentially killing the president's effort to tackle health care, climate change and child welfare by raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy. His changing stance driven by worries about its inflationary impact, blindsided the White House and outraged fellow Democrats with the administration vowed to press on. Goldman cut its forecast for U.S. first-quarter GDP to 2% from 3% after the announcement.

GlaxoSmithKline to IPO consumer health care unit in 2022. Like so many other conglomerates GSK is following the trend of breaking up their business into smaller units. Often these large groups within the industrial or consumer sectors have business units that can attract a much higher equity valuation if valued on a standalone basis.

Chinese Estates plunges 35% on failed privatization. The Chinese real estate developer lost the support from shareholders to go private as a minority shareholders rejected the plan. This rejection as sparked renewed weakness among China’s real estate developers and at the same time the central bank and commercial banks are easing financial conditions to soften the blow from the housing weakness.

In Turkey the Lira hit a fresh low as President Erdogan hapless mismanagement of the country’s currency continued after he pledged to extend Turkey’s rate cuts. The EURTRY surged towards 20 after starting the year below 10, and it is by far the world's worst performing currency. The market was blindsided by the President after the central bank committee last week said the latest cut would be the final cut for now.

The EU gas and power crisis continues with Europe bracing for energy shortages as freezing weather drains stock as supplies can’t keep up. As a result, the Dutch TTF first month gas contract (TTFMF2) has opened 5% higher this Monday at €144/MWh or $47.5/MMBtu while day ahead power prices across the region are hitting fresh records.

What are we watching next?

Equity weakness in December as liquidity dries up. Are we going to see a repeat of equity weakness like in 2018 where the post FOMC narrative was that of a policy mistake. This time around it does not smell of policy mistake as the Fed changed its outlook to match that of the market, but the Omicron and fiscal drag next year are both adding to growth concerns in the short-term and with liquidity drying up as trading books are closed, we could see more weakness.

Chinese housing crisis and monetary easing. The prime lending rate was lowered in China for the first time in 20 months and commercial banks have recently been instructed to lower loan rates to ease financial conditions. These steps coupled with recent liquidity injections are signs that China is moving in easing direction while the rest of the world is tightening. China is doing this of course to offset the weakness on demand coming from lower new home prices and Chinese real estate developers under pressure to reassure their financials. If China goes into more aggressive stimulus mode in early 2022 it could be major positive for emerging market assets as it will drive demand for commodities and could lower the value of the USD.

Earnings Watch – no earnings this week and will stay light until the Q4 earnings season starts in mid-January.

Economic calendar highlights for today (times GMT)

1500 – US Nov Leading Index

1800 – Brazil Trade Balance Weekly Dec 19

2100 – South Korea PPI Nov

 

Follow SaxoStrats on the daily Saxo Markets Call on your favorite podcast app:

Apple Sportify Soundcloud Stitcher

Quarterly Outlook 2024 Q4

01 /

  • Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    The Fed started the US rate cut cycle in Q3 and in this macro outlook we will explore how the rate c...
  • Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Quarterly Outlook

    Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

  • Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    After a period of historically high equity index concentration driven by the 'Magnificent Seven' sto...
  • FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Charu Chanana

    Head of FX Strategy

    As we enter the final quarter of 2024, currency markets are set for heightened turbulence due to US ...
  • Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Charu Chanana

    Head of FX Strategy

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperfo...
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynami...
  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore the "two-lane economy," European equities, energy commodities, and the impact of US fiscal p...
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Quarterly Outlook

    Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain ...
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities i...

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 Inspiration Disclaimer and (v) Notices applying to Trade Inspiration, 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.

Trading in financial instruments carries risk, and may not be suitable for you. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Please read our disclaimers:
Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-sg/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 Markets 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 Markets or its affiliates.

Saxo Markets
88 Market Street
CapitaSpring #31-01
Singapore 048948

Contact Saxo

Select region

Singapore
Singapore

Saxo Capital Markets Pte Ltd ('Saxo Markets') is a company authorised and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) [Co. Reg. No.: 200601141M ] and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saxo Bank A/S, headquartered in Denmark. Please refer to our General Business Terms & Risk Warning to consider whether acquiring or continuing to hold financial products is suitable for you, prior to opening an account and investing in a financial product.

Trading in financial instruments carries various risks, and is not suitable for all investors. Please seek expert advice, and always ensure that you fully understand these risks before trading. Trading in leveraged products such as Margin FX products may result in your losses exceeding your initial deposits. Saxo Markets does not provide financial advice, any information available on this website is ‘general’ in nature and for informational purposes only. Saxo Markets does not take into account an individual’s needs, objectives or financial situation.

The Saxo trading platform has received numerous awards and recognition. For details of these awards and information on awards visit www.home.saxo/en-sg/about-us/awards.

The information or the products and services referred to on this website may be accessed worldwide, however is only intended for distribution to and use by recipients located in countries where such use does not constitute a violation of applicable legislation or regulations. Products and Services offered on this website are not intended for residents of the United States, Malaysia and Japan. Please click here to view our full disclaimer.

This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.