Author: Colin Twiggs

Colin Twiggs is a former investment banker with almost 40 years of experience in financial markets. He co-founded Incredible Charts and writes the popular Trading Diary and Patient Investor newsletters. Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis. Focusing on interest rates and financial market liquidity as primary drivers of the economic cycle, he warned of the 2008/2009 and 2020 bear markets well ahead of actual events. He founded PVT Capital (AFSL No. 546090) in May 2023, which offers investment strategy and advice to wholesale clients.
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Authority founded on injustice is never of long duration ~ Seneca

Authority founded on injustice is never of long duration.

~ Seneca the Younger (62 AD)

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Gold: Correction likely as Yuan finds support

The Yuan found short-term support at 0.1395/0.1400 against the US Dollar. Expect a rally over the next month, with “talks about talks” between US and Chinese trade representatives.

The Yuan is in a long-term down-trend against the Dollar that shows no signs of easing. Our view is that resolution of trade tensions is unlikely. Trade is merely the tip of the iceberg in a far wider clash between two global powers with conflicting ideologies, likely to continue for decades, if not longer.

CNYUSD

The Yuan rally has softened demand for Gold and breach of support at $1500, or penetration of the rising trendline, would warn of a correction. A correction may present a good entry point in an expected long-term up-trend. Our target is the 2012 high at $1800/ounce.

Spot Gold in USD

Last week’s gravestone candlestick on Silver also warns of a correction. Gold and Silver tend to move in tandem.

Spot Silver in USD

The All Ordinaries Gold Index is testing support at 7500. Breach would warn of another decline, with a target of 6000/6500. The primary trend is expected to remain upward, so again, this may present a good entry point.

All Ordinaries Gold Index

A long-term chart of the Australian Dollar against the greenback illustrates our long-term target of 60 cents (subtract 10 cents (80-70) from 70 cents). A weaker Aussie Dollar would support stronger prices for local gold miners.

Australian Dollar

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Time to be defensive

Bob Doll at Nuveen says he does not expect a recession (for the next few quarters) but remains neutral towards stocks:

“Although stock prices have advanced over the last couple of weeks, investors remain focused on downside economic and policy risks and are increasingly concerned about a possible recession. The latest manufacturing readings hurt economic sentiment, while trade issues, turmoil in Hong Kong, the increasing likelihood of a messy, no-deal Brexit and a downturn in European growth are increasing worries.”

The Institute for Supply Management August Report points to an economic slow-down, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) falling to 49.1 percent, from 51.2 percent in July. The New Orders Index also declined, to 47.2 percent from 50.8 percent in July. Readings below 50 indicate contraction.

“…The 2020 U.S. elections linger in the backdrop, offering potential to produce either a dramatic shift in economic policy should the Democrats retake the White House, or continued policy uncertainty should President Trump win reelection.

Against this backdrop, investors are struggling to position their portfolios. Consensus appears to say that it is time to turn more defensive, but U.S. Treasuries and other government bond yields appear to offer little if any value. Indeed, government bond markets are pricing in a high likelihood of a recession and a prolonged period of sluggish growth. At the same time, equity markets have been range bound over the last several months (and, by some measures, since the start of 2018) and are providing unclear signals.

In our view, the preponderance of the evidence suggests that growth will remain sluggish but a recession will be avoided, at least for the next few quarters. In other words, we think the signals coming from the equity markets are more accurate than those coming from government bond markets. Nevertheless, we continue to have a broadly neutral view toward stocks, and think investors should remain selective, focusing on such themes as companies that offer compelling value and those that have the ability to put relatively high levels of free cash flow to work.”

The wild card is the impact that high levels of uncertainty may have on business investment and employment.

Google Searches for Recession

This is a time to be defensive.

Bonds, traditional dividend-paying blue chips, and growth stocks all appear over-priced at current levels. Small caps are high risk in the current volatile environment and we are focused on large cap stocks with strong cash flows and defensible market position in non-cyclical industries. Some cyclical sectors may present value but investors need to be selective because of vulnerability to a potential down-turn.

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S&P 500 buying pressure but payrolls disappoint

August labor stats, released today, point to low real GDP growth for Q3. Growth in weekly hours worked came in at a low 1.09% and GDP is likely to follow.

Real GDP and Hours Worked

While inflation is not the primary concern at the Fed right now, rising annual hourly wage rate growth (3.46% for total private) flags an increase in underlying inflationary pressure. This may make the Fed more hesitant about cutting rates despite Donald Trump’s tweet storm.

Average Hourly Wage Rate

Most important is the continued decline in annual payroll growth. At 1.38% for August, further weakness is likely and a fall below 1.0% would warn of an economic slow-down.

Real GDP and Hours Worked

The S&P 500 is headed for another test of resistance at 3000. The Trend Index oscillating above zero for the last 9 months indicates buying pressure but I expect strong resistance at 3000. Upside is limited while downside risks are expanding.

S&P 500

Semiconductors are doing better than expected, despite the trade war, but I suspect will weaken when the surge in orders ahead of tariffs tails off.

Semiconductors

Retail has stalled since late 2018 and bearish divergence on the Trend Index suggests selling pressure.

Retail

Automobiles, in a decline since 2017, have rallied over the last 6 months. But, again, further weakness is expected.

Automobiles

On the global front, weak crude oil prices flag an anticipated slow-down in the global economy. Breach of support at $50/$51 per barrel would be a strong bear signal, warning of a decline to $40 per barrel.

Nymex Light Crude

We maintain our bearish outlook and have reduced equity exposure for international stocks to 40% of portfolio value.

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ASX: Expect stubborn resistance

Iron ore continues to edge downwards after a sharp fall. This is a continuation pattern and our short-term target is $80/tonne.

Iron Ore

The Materials index found support at 12500/12700 but the outlook is increasingly bearish. We need to be alert for a possible head and shoulders reversal with a break below 12500.

Materials

The ASX 200 is edging upwards, towards another test of resistance at its 2007 high at 6800. A Trend Index trough above zero signals buying pressure but hanging man candles for the last two weeks warn of reversal. Expect stubborn resistance at 6800.

ASX 200

We maintain a low exposure to Australian equities, at 20% of portfolio value, because of our bearish outlook.

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Australia: The elephant in the room

June quarter real GDP growth slowed to an annual 1.4%, the lowest since the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC). Major contributors to growth are household consumption, public demand and exports; while the biggest handbrake is investment.

Australia: GDP

A quick look at the RBA chart shows that consumption is slowing but at a slower rate than disposable income. Households are dipping into savings to support consumption, with the savings ratio (savings/disposable income) declining to near GFC lows.

Australia: Disposable Income, Consumption and Savings

Gerard Minack warned of the danger that households will dramatically increase savings, and cut consumption, if employment prospects grow cloudy.

That brings us back to investment. Low investment is a drag on employment growth.

Australia: Job Ads

Low interest rates, on the other hand, are a tailwind at present. They seem to have shored up housing prices,

Australia: Housing

And states are taking advantage of ultra-low interest rates to boost infrastructure spending.

But low interest rates are a double-edged sword. Bank net interest margins are under pressure.

Australia: Bank Net Interest Margins

And credit growth is plunging.

Australia: Credit Growth

The housing recovery will be short-lived if there is not a dramatic increase in loan approvals.

Australia: Housing Loans

AMP chief economist Shane Oliver believes that:

“growth will remain soft and that the RBA will have to provide more stimulus – by taking the cash rate to around 0.5% and possibly consider unconventional monetary policy like quantitative easing. Ideally the latter should be combined with fiscal stimulus which would be fairer and more effective. While Australian growth is going through a rough patch with likely further to go, recession remains unlikely barring a significant global downturn.”

But that ignores two factors:

  1. increased pressure on bank net interest margins from lower interest rates; and
  2. the elephant in the room: China.

China: Activity Levels

China’s economic model is built on a shaky foundation and trade war with the US is likely to expose the flaws.

Chinese leaders are growing increasingly worried about the economy. Premier Li Keqiang said at this week’s State Council meeting:

“The current external environment is increasingly complex and grim.
….Downward pressure on the domestic economy has increased.”
(Trivium)

Twitter: Simon Ting

BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) — Chinese and U.S. chief trade negotiators agreed on Thursday to jointly take concrete actions to create favorable conditions for further consultations in October.

The agreement was reached in a phone conversation Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, held upon invitation with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. (Xinhua)

…Extend and pretend. Neither side wants a full-blown trade war. But they are miles away from an agreement.

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Interest spreads hold sway over the global economy

An inverted yield curve is a reliable predictor of recessions but it also warns of falling bank profits. When the spread between long-term Treasury yields and short-term rates is  below zero, net interest margins are squeezed.

Yield Differential (10y - 3m)

In a normal market, with a steep yield curve, net interest margins are wide as bank’s funding maturity is a lot shorter than their loan book. In other words, they borrow short and lend long. Few bank deposits have maturities longer than 3 to 6 months, while loans and leases have much longer maturities and command higher interest rates.

When the yield curve inverts, however, the spread between long and short-term rates disappears and interest margins are squeezed. Not only is that bad for banks, it’s bad for the entire economy.

When their interest margins are squeezed, banks become risk averse and lending growth slows. That is understandable. When interest margins are barely covering operating expenses, banks cannot afford credit write-downs and become highly selective in their lending.

Slowing credit growth has a domino-effect on business investment and consumer spending on durables (mainly housing and automobiles). If there is a sharp fall in credit growth, a recession is normally not far behind1.

Bank Loans & Leases

Right now, the Fed is under pressure to cut interest rates to support the US economy. While this would lower short-term rates and and may flatten the yield curve, cutting interest rates off a low base opens a whole new world of pain.

Quartz this week published a revealing commentary on the damage that negative interest rates in developed economies are doing to bank net interest margins :

The problem for commercial banks is that government bond and mortgage interest rates keep going lower, but it isn’t as easy to cut deposit rates — the rate at which banks themselves borrow from customers — at the same pace. After all, it’s tough to convince people to keep deposits in an account that returns less than they put in (even though this already happens, invisibly, through inflation).

Bank Net Interest Margins in Developed Countries

Ultra-low interest rates are likely to squeeze bank margins in a similar way to the inverted yield curve. And with a similar impact on credit growth and the economy.

If I was Trump I would be pleading with the Fed not to cut interest rates.

Footnote:
1. The NBER declared a recession in 1966 when the S&P 500 fell 22% but later changed their mind and airbrushed it out of history.

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A sobering assessment of the global economy

Donald Amstad from Aberdeen Standard Investments: “the developed world is verging on catastrophe…. we are facing an unprecedented bust in risk-free (bond) markets.”

Hat tip to Marcus Padley

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S&P 500: Donald Trump and the next recession

Treasury yields continue to fall, with the 10-Year testing long-term lows at 1.50%. A sign that investors are growing increasingly risk averse.

10-Year Treasury Yields

Crude oil prices remain weak; a bearish signal for the global economy. Breach of support at $50/$51 per barrel would warn of a decline to $40.

Nymex Light Crude

Volatility (21-Day) above 1.0% on the S&P 500 is flashing an amber warning. Breakout above 2940 is likely and would signal another test of 3000. But expect stubborn resistance at our 3000 target level.

S&P 500 Volatility

Bearish divergence (13-Trend Index) on the Nasdaq 100 warns of secondary selling pressure. Breach of 7400 would warn of a test of primary support at 7000.

Nasdaq 100

Robert Shiller maintains that Donald Trump is unlikely to survive a recession:

“So far, with his flashy lifestyle, the US president has been a resounding inspiration to many consumers and investors. But his personal narrative is unlikely to survive an economic downturn….the end of confidence in Trump’s narrative is likely to be associated with a recession.

During a recession, people pull back and reassess their views. Consumers spend less, avoiding purchases that can be postponed: a new car, home renovations, and expensive vacations. Businesses spend less on new factories and equipment, and put off hiring. They don’t have to explain their ultimate reasons for doing this. Their gut feelings and emotions can be enough.”

I would go further and argue that Trump’s management style is likely to cause a recession.

Some of the aims the President is attempting, like addressing China’s unfair trade practices, are vitally important to long-term US interests and he should be given credit for tackling them. But his constant hyperbole, erratic behavior, with a constant mix of bouquets and brickbats, and on-again-off-again tactics, has elevated global uncertainty. Consumers are likely to increase savings and cut back on expenditure, while corporations may cut back on hiring and new investment, which could tip the economy into recession.

GDP growth contracted to 2.3% in the second quarter, while growth in hours worked contracted to 0.92% for the year ended July 2019, pointing to further falls in GDP growth for the third quarter.

Real GDP and Hours Worked

August employment figures are due for release next week and will either confirm or allay our fears.

We maintain our bearish outlook and have reduced equity exposure for international stocks to 40% of portfolio value.

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ASX: Falling approvals and construction warn of a slow-down

Australian building approvals for July 2019 show a sharply contracting economy. Housing approvals fell by 16.6% on a year-on-year basis and are approaching the 8000 level breached in earlier crashes.

ABS: Australian Building Approvals: Houses (SA)

Approvals for apartments (dwellings excluding houses) plunged by a massive 44.2% year-on-year.

ABS: Australian Building Approvals: Dwellings Excluding Houses (SA)

The massive contraction in approvals is likely to impact on construction work in the months ahead. Unless we see a similar spike in public sector spending to the 2008/2009 global financial crisis, we are likely to experience a similar contraction to 1988-1990 or 2000-2001. Cutting interest rates, as RBA governor Phil Lowe has repeatedly warned, is not enough.

ABS: Australian Construction Work Done - Chain Values (SA)

Unfortunately infrastructure spending in 2008/2009 was not particularly well-directed, increasing public debt without corresponding productive assets to show for it. The NBN has had a few teething problems but made a lot more sense than the school halls and pink batts programs: it produces income (or can be sold) to offset the impact of the debt.

Construction contributes about 15% of national GDP and a sharp downturn could bring us precariously close to negative GDP growth.

The boost from bulk commodity prices is fading, with iron ore edging downwards after a sharp fall. This is a continuation pattern and we expect the decline to continue, with a short-term target of $80/tonne.

Iron Ore

We also retain our bearish outlook for the financial sector. Banks face headwinds from falling new housing starts as well as from narrow margins as the RBA cuts interest rates in an effort to stimulate the economy. Expect another test of primary support at 5400.

Financials

The ASX 200 is testing resistance at its 2007 high of 6800. A rising Trend Index signals buying pressure but we remain cautious because of the headwinds facing the domestic and global economies.

ASX 200

We maintain a low exposure to Australian equities, at 20% of portfolio value, because of our bearish outlook.

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