week-of-november-28-2010

Is it time to panic yet?--Brian Dolan, Chief Currency Strategist

North Korea is firing artillery shells at South Korea, the Irish banking system is on the verge of collapse, with fears of broader contagion steadily increasing, China is pursuing additional credit restraint, and the Fed is undertaking QE2 in last ditch effort to salvage the US recovery. If ever there were a time to hit the panic button, now would seem to be it. While we certainly think the environment is ripe for a major risk sell-off (USD, CHF, JPY, gold higher/EUR, GBP, AUD, stocks, commodities lower), we think it's going to be more of a slow motion train wreck rather than a sudden bus plunge.

The risk to this view is that we do have a more sudden risk relapse, and we would note in particular the time of year (end of year profit-taking/positioning reduction around the corner) and the US Thanksgiving holiday week (where lower liquidity can trigger exaggerated movements), as increasing that potential. But our primary scenario is a gradual decline in the beginning, likely followed by an accelerating cascade of risk selling over the next few weeks and months. From a strategic point, this suggests looking for opportunities to get short of risk. From a tactical point, it suggests there is still time, and likely multiple opportunities, to get short risk in the weeks ahead.

In broad brush strokes, our thinking on the crisis topics above, which we look at in greater detail below, is as follows. The North Korean provocation should be a flash in the pan, as neither side wants to risk a full-out military conflict. We expect China to work behind the scenes to rein in its psychopathic ward and that crisis tensions should fade relatively quickly as in past.

The Eurozone debt crisis is far more troubling and there's clearly a growing sense of inevitability of sovereign defaults in the Eurozone, though it's likely to drag out over years. In the shorter term, a two-tiered European debt market is in the process of becoming entrenched, and we think there is more potential of the core being dragged down with the peripherals when investors suffer the expected crisis of confidence in the EUR and Eurozone debt as a whole. We would note a chart of Periphery-German bond spreads shows an ascending triangle, suggesting that yield spreads may blow-out sharply within the next couple of months. EUR/USD has also closed (slightly) below the 1.3374 bottom of its daily Ichimoku cloud.

China's efforts to rein in inflation may temporarily upset the growth/commodity demand apple-cart in the short-run, but Chinese demand is a fierce beast and should prevent a sudden collapse in commodity prices or commodity currencies. A greater Euro-zone financial crisis is also a risk for a sudden collapse in commodities, but our preferred view is that ongoing US weakness and weakening European demand will gradually impact China's growth, and that's what will send commodities lower. On the charts, we would note what looks to be a 'head and shoulders' topping formation on the CRB, AUD/USD, gold, and WTI crude oil. At the minimum, the symmetry among these suggests a continued correlation-based approach to FX and commodities. At the extreme, if the right shoulder equals the left shoulder in duration, a break lower could occur within the next 1-3 weeks.

For the Fed's QE2, the flood of dollars that many feared is instead staying on banks' balance sheets. At the same time, US data have shown some encouraging signs, suggesting the Fed may not need to do the full QE2. We think there is still a more significant round of USD short-covering to come as worst-case fears of QE2 are priced back out. For the USD index, we would note the Fibonacci significance of the 80.00/10 level, with a break above it suggesting a higher USD ahead. The 1.3330/40 level is the equivalent support in EUR/USD.



Eurozone crisis is only just beginning--Kathleen Brooks, Research Director UK/EMEA

Those who thought a bailout of Ireland by the EU and the International Monetary Fund would calm the markets and ease pressure on Portugal and Spain were sorely disappointed. Irish bond yields have risen more than 80 basis points since the start of this week. Spain is arguably the bigger problem for the Eurozone and its 10-yr bond yield is now nearly double that of Germany’s at more than 5 per cent, pushing the Spanish/German bond spread to record highs.

Spain’s precarious financial position is extremely worrying for the markets. It is the fourth largest economic force in the Eurozone and has a EUR1trilion economy. Its budget deficit is projected to be 9.5 per cent of GDP for this year, and, like Ireland, it has a weak banking sector, hobbled by the bursting of a giant real estate bubble that caused the unemployment rate to surge to more than 20 per cent. Ireland’s bailout will amount to EUR85bn Dublin announced this week, this is small change compared to Spain where estimates for the cost of financing a Spanish bailout top EUR450bn. Investors are now concerned that the EU/IMF stabilization fund, which totals EUR440bn, would be inadequate and Spain may be too big to bail.

Right now, the small risk that Spain may need a bailout is the biggest threat to the Eurozone project. Without a permanent mechanism to deal with the troubled economies it appears that the markets will continue to target Europe’s weakest economies.

European authorities need to address both sovereign and banking sector issues. Germany is leading these preliminary discussions and it wants all bonds issued by the Eurozone nations to include standardized “collective action” clauses, which would be the first step to private investors sharing the burden in case of a default. Germany wants this clause to be included from next year, two years before the automatic default mechanism will be implemented. The European Central Bank also wants the troubled financial sectors of Europe’s periphery to be fully recapitalized. Irish banks alone have sucked in more than EUR130bn of special ECB loans, if they can be recapitalized and weaned off ECB funds then the central bank can concentrate on its aim to normalize monetary conditions by removing these special liquidity facilities.

Eurozone officials need to agree on these measures and implement them quickly and efficiently to bring some certainty to the markets and help ease pressure on the peripheral economies. Right now there is a cacophony of voices talking at odds to each other. To settle the markets, Eurozone officials need to stand firm and start singing from the same hymn sheet.



Fears of China tightening have become a reality--Dan Hwang, Senior Market Strategist

Fears of further monetary tightening out of China have become a reality undermining global equity and commodity prices. The PBOC has taken a myriad of measures in the past months to rein in lending and curb growth and inflation. Last Friday’s announcement of an additional 50bp hike to the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) was the 5th increase this year and brings up the average RRR across Chinese banks to 17.5%. In monetary terms, the hike is equivalent to the removal of approximately 350bln Yuan in banks’ lending capacity and is in direct response to elevated loan levels despite past attempts to depress lending (latest Net Yuan Loans release was 588bln Yuan vs. expected 450bln). Furthermore, on October 19th the PBOC raised the benchmark interest rate by 25bps to 5.56, the first hike since 2007. Despite the historic hike, the higher than expected October CPI release (4.4% vs. expectations of 4.0% YoY) reflects continued upside pressures on inflation and suggests further tightening measures may be necessary. We believe the PBOC will continue its gradual tightening cycle and expect another hike to the benchmark interest rate by early to mid-December.

The impact of Chinese tightening measures on commodities has been loud and clear - gold prices have declined about 7% from recent highs to lows, oil prices have seen a greater than 9% move, and silver has witnessed a 14% high to low range. Declining commodity demand as a direct result of China’s policy direction has translated into the currency markets with commodity currencies (AUD, NZD, CAD) seeing significant declines of late. AUD/USD tested highs around 1.0180 in early November but fell precipitously to test the key 55-day SMA (support on recent uptrend) around 0.9750. The kiwi traded close to the 0.8000 level against the dollar but stalled just ahead of it and saw a subsequent 3 big figure decline to current levels around 0.7630. The loonie was not spared in the China-induced commodity currency selloff - USD/CAD traded under parity in early November but has since seen a test just short of the 1.0300 level. Wednesday’s Thanksgiving eve risk rally has seen commodity currencies recover some of their recent losses, but we believe further strength may be used as an opportunity to sell at more attractive price points. The impending reality of a hike to China’s benchmark interest rate in December, along with persistent euro-zone periphery woes, will likely cap commodity and commodity currency upside in the weeks ahead.



Post QE2 – Has the Fed got it all wrong?--Chris Tevere, CMT, Senior Currency Strategist

Yesterday the Fed released the minutes of the November FOMC policy meeting. Traders wanted to see if the decision to provide another $600 billion in additional asset purchases was as contentious in the Fed, as it was in Congress and the media. As it turns out, “nearly all members” backed QE2, however they differed over the costs and benefits associated with the program. Overall, “most” participants judged that additional quantitative easing would put “downward pressure on longer-term interest rates and boost asset prices”; meanwhile “some” noted concerns that the expansion of the Fed’s balance sheet may lead to a “reduction in value” of the U.S. Dollar and “several” suggested it may cause an “undesirably large increase in inflation”.

In the early aftermath, it appears the Fed may have gotten it wrong in their assessment of the effects of additional QE. Treasury yields have risen (especially in the long end of the curve), asset prices have fallen, the USD has rallied and today’s October PCE – one of the Fed’s primary tools to measure inflation – came in line with consensus expectations. Additionally, the newly elected House members are keen to keep the seemingly ever rising costs of government at bay. Taken together, this suggests mounting inflationary fears are largely unfounded at the moment. In fairness, a majority of the USD strength can be attributed to European peripheral sovereign debt concerns, as well as the unwinding of extreme short-positioning in the dollar; however the back up in 10-year treasury yields may continue to unpin the USD in the weeks to come. From a technical perspective, 10-year yields look to have stabilized between 2.72% and 2.96%. Should a breakout occur, we believe it will be rebuffed on either side as there is strong resistance from 3.06-3.13% – a series of horizontal pivots and the 200-day SMA – and support around 2.60%, followed by 2.45%. USD/JPY will likely see a similar pattern as it has traded between 82.80 – 83.90 of late, with further support seen into 81.50/82.00 and resistance near 84.50/85.00.



Key data and events to watch next week-- Eric Viloria, CMT, Senior Currency Strategist

Unites States:

Monday – Nov. Dallas Fed manufacturing activity

Tuesday – Sept. and 3Q S&P/Case Shiller Home Price Index, Nov. Chicago PMI, Nov. Conference Board Consumer Confidence, Nov. NAPM-Milwaukee, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks in Ohio

Wednesday – Nov. ADP employment change, 3Q final nonfarm productivity, 3Q unit labor costs, Nov. ISM manufacturing and prices paid, Oct. construction spending, Fed’s Beige Book, speeches by the Fed Vice Chairman Janet Yellen and Dallas Fed Preside Richard Fisher

Thursday – Weekly jobless claims, Oct. pending home sales, speeches by Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser and St. Louis Fed Preside James Bullard

Friday – Nov. employment report, Nov. ISM non-manufacturing index, Oct. factory orders



Euro-zone:

Monday – EZ consumer, economic, industrial, and services confidence indicators for Nov.

Tuesday – German Nov. unemployment data, French Oct. producer prices, EZ CPI estimate for Nov., EU’s Olli Rehn will speak on securing financial stability

Wednesday – Nov. final German, French, and EZ manufacturing PMI

Thursday – French 3Q employment data, 3Q preliminary EZ GDP figures, Oct. EZ PPI, ECB interest rate announcement

Friday – Nov. final German, French, and EZ services PMI, Oct. EZ retail sales



United Kingdom:

Monday – Nov. Hometrack Housing survey, Oct. net consumer credit and net lending secured on dwellings, Oct. mortgage approvals

Tuesday – Nov. GfK Consumer Confidence survey

Wednesday – Nov. Nationwide House prices, Nov. manufacturing PMI

Thursday – Nov. construction PMI

Friday – Nov. services PMI



Japan:

Monday – Oct. retail trade, Nov. small business confidence, BOJ Governor Masaaki Shirakawa and Deputy Governor Nishimura are set to speak

Tuesday – Oct. household spending, Oct. employment data, Oct. preliminary industrial production, Oct housing starts and construction orders

Thursday – 3Q capital spending, BOJ Deputy Governor Nishimura speaks



Canada:

Monday – 3Q current account, Oct. industrial product price and raw materials price index

Tuesday – Sept. and 3Q GDP numbers

Friday – Nov. employment report



Australia & New Zealand:

Monday – Australia Oct. HIA new home sales, Australia 3Q company operating profit & inventories, New Zealand Oct. trade balance data, Nov. NBNZ Activity Outlook and Business Confidence, speech by RBA Governor Glenn Stevens

Tuesday – Australia Oct. building approvals, 3Q current account balance, Oct. private sector credit, NZ Oct. building permits

Wednesday – Australia Nov. AiG Performance of Manufacturing index, Australia 3Q GDP figures, Nov. RBA commodity price index, New Zealand Nov. ANZ commodity price

Thursday – Australia Oct. trade balance, Oct retail sales

Friday – Australia Nov. AiG Performance of Service index



China:

Wednesday – Nov. China manufacturing PMI and HSBC manufacturing PMI

Friday – Nov. China non-manufacturing PMI and HSBC services PMI

“WSD NZ Offers Middle Eastern Investors a Slice of World’s Financial Markets at the 3rd ME Forex Expo”

“WSD NZ Offers Middle Eastern Investors a Slice of World’s Financial Markets at the 3rd ME Forex Expo”


WSD Financial (NZ) Ltd, a leading International brokerage house that specializes in Foreign Exchange, Precious Metals, Futures, Options, and CFD’s, will be one of the exhibitors at the 3rd Middle East Forex Expo in Bahrain on April 23-24 2008.

“This event is a perfect platform to showcase WSD’s products and to offer the local market an alternative brokerage where client fund safety is paramount and is also backed by New Zealand’s strong client fund segregation laws," says Dean Crowle-CEO

WSD Financial (NZ) Ltd. is a premier investment house headquartered in Auckland that caters to retail investors across various countries. “Today, more than anything clients need personal attention without preferences of whether the client is high net worth or just investing his savings for a better tomorrow. WSD Financial understands this very well, and provides each client with personalized attention and customized solutions. Being a "retail investment house", WSD is able to provide a varied range of services and personalized service to its clients using global standard procedures and a 24/7 help desk," says, Savas Macun- Director- Middle East Region.

WSD overtime has reinvented itself as a client oriented service provider. With flexibility and dedicated account managers, WSD has been able to expand its services in various regions. It is not only personalized service that is important, but the technology and ease of use like unrivalled trading tools and state-of-the-art trading software which has given WSD’s clients a winning edge.

WSD is the clear choice for the beginner or experienced individual investor, introducing broker, CTA, institutional investor, fund manager or corporate institution looking to safely and securely invest, hedge or speculate in Foreign Exchange, Precious Metals, Futures, Options, CFD’s and virtually every other financial instrument.

Client Safety has always been a primary concern for investors. WSD being regulated in New Zealand has a strong regulatory framework that offers investors the peace of mind that their investment assets are well protected in segregated accounts with regulated, licensed companies like WSD. New Zealand’s Futures Industry strictly enforces “Segregation" regulations where client funds and investments are deposited in segregated bank accounts, often in prime banks.

This ensures that client assets are never co-mingled. Further asset protection is enforced in New Zealand by requiring regulated, licensed companies like WSD to provide professional indemnity insurance coverage for the protection of client and company assets against unforeseeable events that if left uninsured, may result in the loss of client funds. Under this system, clients are secured to the extent that WSD is regulated under NZ and licensed under both NZ and U.S. laws. WSD owns WSD USA which is a registered Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) with the CFTC and a good standing member of National Futures Association (NFA). The professional indemnity insurance policy is an added layer of protection for client assets and is another important reason why New Zealand favors investors and investors favor WSD.

Personalized Services: WSD’s team of account managers is well respected and experienced in the industry. With Senior Dealers offering clients unparalleled trading expertise and service that is unquestionably second to none. Multi-lingual customer service technicians are trained to enhance your trading experience, offering a wide array of hands-on assistance via on-line chat or over the telephone.

Products and Services: WSD’s Online trading brand WSD DIRECT provides execution of trades on all principal exchanges and markets 24 hours a day with access to all global exchanges through key market-making relationships in major financial centers including New York, Chicago, London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai. Products offered include foreign exchange, futures, options, and CFD’s, but can vary according to local regulatory requirements. WSD provides 24-hour dealing and a choice of telephone or online trading via desktop, laptop or PDA. Clients can access live prices through WSD’s 24 hour desk in Auckland via telephone, email or several chat services.

WSD Global Markets Ltd in Need of Fresh Talent to Push Its Development in 2009

Auckland, New Zealand, January 24th, 2009 - (Business Wire) - “While the rest of the global financial sector is firing – WSD Global Markets is hiring!” Despite the global economic crisis and the rather disheartening situation of the financial sector, WSD Global Markets can proudly announce a positive balance for the past year. Not only is WSD Global Markets still among the global financial players but also still growing!

With regards to the growing demand for a reliable and safe trading service provider many brokers as well as private investors have discovered the outstanding services of WSD Global Markets. Offering latest standard in trading technology paired with a high regard for personal service WSD Global Markets emerged out of the global financial crisis as one of the winners.

Today WSD Global Markets can proudly publish positive numbers for the months that have passed despite all difficulties and a more so a positive outlook for the new business year 2009.

Why is WSD Global Markets so popular? The management has a simple answer: “Because we care.” It is a quite simple Motto but according to WSD Global Markets that is the big difference between those who can announce growth today and those who have disregarded the trust put in them and had to close their doors. WSD Global Markets’ success recipe is based on the outstanding mixture of favorable circumstances as the legal and geographical location of its Headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand and the solid base of state of the art software combined with excellent client service.

In order to understand the unique combination one must know the legal framework of the New Zealand financial market which is focused on a successful and thriving economic outcome of course but not disregarding ethical and moral standards which assure the protection of the invested capital from private individuals. The system how the client funds are being managed is highly transparent, which does empower the client instead of distancing him from decision making about an investment in such a company.

WSD Global Markets is built on client cooperation and the commitment to serve in order to generate profit which as today’s numbers have shown us, has obviously been the right choice.