There is No Deal

Key Points

  • President Trump raised hopes that he is about to sign a deal with Iran that will allow shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Crude prices fell, along with long-term Treasury yields.
  • The US economy is slowing, with real GDP growth at an annualized rate of 1.6% in the first quarter.
  • Real personal income per capita declined for the third straight month.
  • Personal savings plunged, warning of a recession.

Brent crude is testing support at $90 per barrel on news of an “imminent deal” with Iran.

Brent Crude

Every time the 10-year Treasury yield reaches 4.5%, Axios runs a headline citing sources close to the President saying he is close to a deal. Crude oil futures plunge, but the deal never materializes.

WASHINGTON/CAIRO, May 28 (Reuters) – The United States and Iran reached ​an agreement on Thursday to extend their ceasefire and lift restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sources told Reuters, though U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to approve ‌it and Iranian state media said it had not been finalized.

According to four sources familiar with the matter, the agreement would extend the truce for another 60 days and allow traffic to flow through the strategic waterway while negotiators tackle difficult issues such as Iran’s nuclear program.

Trump has not yet approved the deal, the sources said. Iran has yet to comment on news of the proposed ​deal, which was first reported by Axios.

Ignore the BS and focus on the bottom line. There is no deal until an agreement is signed — and adhered to by all parties, including Bibi Netanyahu.

US Strategic Petroleum Reserves fell by another 9 million barrels in the week ending May 22.

EIA Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR)

If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed at the end of June, crude oil markets will panic over looming shortages.
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Bipolar Disorder

Key Points

  • The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index fell to a new record low since the series started in 1960.
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average broke through resistance at 50,000, confirming a fresh bull market advance.

The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index fell to a new low of 44.8.

University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment

A plot of the 3-month moving average since 1960, when the Consumer Sentiment series started, shows that consumer sentiment is at a record low.

University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment

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Bond Market Deja Vu from 2022

Key Points

  • Investors are dumping long-term government bonds, with the yield on 30-year Treasuries rising to 5.13%.
  • Sovereign bonds across the UK, the EU, and Japan are all affected by the sell-off.
  • The S&P 500 and the Dow retreated on Friday by 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively.
  • Gold and silver fell steeply.
  • Copper, Lithium, Critical Materials, and Uranium are also experiencing a sell-off.
  • President Trump hinted at another major strike on Iran, with his Sunday “The Clock is Ticking” post on Truth Social.
  • Brent futures jumped to above $111 per barrel early Monday.

Investors are dumping long-term government bonds. The 30-year Treasury yield broke resistance at 5.0%, rising to 5.13% on Friday before easing slightly to 5.12% early Monday.

30-Year Treasury Yield

High bond yields, above the rate of inflation, increase the risk of a solvency crisis where the borrower can’t meet its interest payments. Issuing new debt to cover interest payments accelerates debt growth, causing debt-to-GDP to spiral out of control.

UK Gilts 30-year yield jumped to 5.85%.

30-Year UK Gilts Yield

The French 30-year climbed to 4.67%.

30-Year UK Gilts Yield

Italian 30-year yields are at 4.75%.

30-Year UK Gilts Yield

France and Italy have higher debt-to-GDP ratios than the UK. The primary reason they enjoy lower yields is that their long-term yields are suppressed. The Bank of England, on the other hand, is shrinking its balance sheet to restore fiscal stability.

The yield on the 30-year German Bund is even lower because of Germany’s strong fiscal position, with much lower debt levels.

30-Year German Bund Yield

The Japanese 30-year yield is shooting upwards. JGB yields should be much higher because of Japan’s precarious debt-to-GDP ratio. However, the Bank of Japan buys government bonds (JGBs) to suppress the yield and avoid a solvency crisis.

Adding to the selloff on Monday was news that Japan’s government will likely issue fresh debt as part of funding for a planned extra budget to cushion the economic blow from the war, worsening already strained government finances. Yields on ​the 30-year Japanese government bond (JGB) jumped more than 10 bps to their highest on record at 4.200% while the 10-year yield touched its highest since October 1996 ​at 2.800%. (Reuters)

The yield on the 30-year JGB has since weakened slightly to 4.10%.

30-Year JGB Yield

The chart below, by Robin Brooks, compares long-term government bond yields (on the left axis) to countries’ debt-to-GDP ratios (on the bottom axis). Yields in Japan (JP), Greece (GR), and Italy (IT) are being suppressed, while yields in Australia (AU), New Zealand (NZ), and the UK (GB) are higher due to more conservative central bank policies.

JGB Yield & Debt-to-GDP Ratio

Why are Long-term Yields Rising?

There are several overlapping reasons why long-term yields are rising:

Increased defense spending expands government deficits and raises debt-to-GDP ratios, increasing the risk of fiscal dominance.

Fiscal dominance is where the central bank prioritizes bond market stability over currency stability, lowering interest rates while tolerating higher inflation, to prevent a solvency crisis in the bond market.

The US-Iran conflict has caused oil shortages, driving crude oil prices higher. High oil prices are fueling a steep rise in inflation, increasing the risk of capital erosion for bond investors.

The US Fed has entered into a $100 billion currency swap agreement with the United Arab Emirates. The facility will help the UAE to survive the loss of oil revenues while the Strait of Hormuz is closed. Further currency swaps with other Gulf States will likely follow. The currency swaps are effectively a medium-term loan from the Fed, but risk becoming a standing facility if the conflict in the Gulf is not quickly resolved. Their primary purpose is to avoid the Gulf States selling reserves to make up for lost oil revenue. The sell-off of hundreds of billions of US Treasuries would flood the market and drive up yields.

The AI boom has driven a massive surge in capital spending by mega-cap technology companies as they vie for market share in a rapidly expanding market. Much of the capital spending is funded through long-term debt issuance, leading to a steep increase in the supply of high-quality long-term debt.

US-Iran Conflict

President Donald Trump on Sunday again threatened Iran:

“For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” (CNBC)

Trump’s post caused a sharp jump in Brent crude futures prices when the market opened on Monday.
Brent Crude Futures (ICE July'26)

Stocks & Financial Markets

The S&P 500 retreated below 7500, falling 1.2% on Friday.

S&P 500

The Dow similarly retreated below 50,000, falling 1.1%. A decline below support at 49,000 would signal a correction.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

Bitcoin1 retreated below support at 80,000, warning of further market risk aversion.

Bitcoin (BTC)

10-year Treasury yields jumped to 4.6%. The breakout above 4.5% offers a short-term target of 4.75%. Rising Trend Index troughs indicate strong upward pressure on long-term yields.

10-Year Treasury Yield

Dollar & Gold

A Dollar shortage is driving up the US Dollar Index as global markets struggle with crude oil shortages and rising prices, a fiscal crisis among Gulf States that have lost their primary source of revenue, and lower US trade deficits.

Dollar Index

The Dollar enjoyed similar strong demand after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, followed by a steep fall in November, when energy markets had stabilized.

Dollar Index

Gold is testing support at 4500. A breach of 4400 would signal a test of 4000, but respect of support remains more likely.

Spot Gold

In 2022, Gold initially shot up after Russia’s 24 February invasion of Ukraine, but then declined for 6 months until energy markets stabilized and the Dollar weakened.

Spot Gold

Silver fell steeply last week and is headed for a test of support at 71.

Spot Silver

Energy

Brent crude continues its uptrend, and another test of resistance at $120 per barrel is likely.

Brent Crude

The Dow Jones Global Oil & Gas Index respected support at 580, headed for a test of resistance at 620. Trend Index troughs above zero signal buying pressure.

Dow Jones Global Oil & Gas Index

Uranium

Uranium is taking a beating, with the Sprott Uranium Miners ETF2 (URNM) breaking secondary support at 64. A breach of support at 58 would signal a primary downtrend.

Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (URNM)

Lithium

All strategic materials are under pressure, even Lithium, which has enjoyed strong demand from booming EV sales. Sprott Lithium Miners ETF2 (LITP) broke its new support level at 16.50. Follow through below 15 would signal a correction.

Sprott Lithium Miners ETF (LITP)

Critical Minerals

Critical materials show similar selling pressure, with Sprott Critical Materials ETF2 (SETM) testing support at 35.50, while a lower Trend Index peak warns of selling pressure.

Sprott Critical Materials ETF (SETM)

Copper

Copper retreated below 14,000 after a strong run-up.

Copper

Sprott Copper Miners ETF2 (COPP) reflects similar selling pressure, breaking initial support at 42, while a lower Trend Index peak signals selling pressure.

Sprott Copper Miners ETF (COPP)

Conclusion

We expect a similar playbook to 2022, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine: rising energy prices, followed by rising long-term bond prices, and a stronger Dollar.

S&P 500

The S&P 500 suffered a 26% drawdown in 2022, and stock prices will likely weaken, though partly cushioned by the AI boom. We also expect weakness in Gold, Silver, and strategic materials like Uranium, Lithium, Critical Minerals, and Copper — until energy markets stabilize.

Acknowledgments

Notes

  1. Cryptocurrencies are the highest-risk asset class, and we analyze Bitcoin (BTC) solely to identify risk sentiment in financial markets. Our analysis is not a recommendation to buy or sell BTC, nor is it a commentary on the merits of cryptocurrency.
  2. We analyze exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to determine market sentiment towards a specific sector, industry, or commodity. The analysis is not a recommendation to buy or sell, nor is it a commentary on the merits of the particular ETF.

Xi Has Trump Over a Barrel

Key Points

  • Producer prices jumped by 6.0% over the 12 months to April, warning of higher consumer prices ahead.
  • 10-year Treasury yields responded with a rise to 4.48%.
  • Xi Jinping has the upper hand in negotiations with Donald Trump because of China’s large strategic oil reserves, which they could use to keep prices in check.
  • The S&P 500 reached a new high at 7444, while the Dow is consolidating in a bullish narrow range below 50,000.
  • The Main Street US economy is under the pump, but Semiconductors, Construction, and Heavy Electrical industries are booming due to datacenter spending.
  • Lithium, Copper, and Critical Materials show signs of buying pressure, but Uranium is lagging.

Producer prices jumped by 6.0% for the 12 months to April 2026, driven by rising fuel prices and transportation costs. The cost of rising fuel prices is spreading through the economy, with the core index (excluding food and energy) leaping to 5.2%. The chart below shows the impact of energy shortages on producer prices after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. We expect the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure to be more severe.

Producer Price Index (PPI)

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Trump Talks “Peace Deal” But Nothing Stops This Train

Key Points

  • President Trump again baits financial markets with the prospect of a peace agreement.
  • Brent Crude (July’26 futures) is testing support at $100 per barrel.
  • However, the crude market faces critical shortages even if a peace deal is signed.
  • The S&P 500 rallied to a new high at 7365, while the Dow threatens a breakout above 50,000.
  • The ISM Services PMI warns that growth is slowing, while soaring prices signal inflationary pressures.
  • Lithium is in a strong uptrend, while Copper, Critical Materials, and Uranium show signs of a recovery.
  • The RBA hiked rates this week and would like to hold for a while, but rising prices may force further hikes.

ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON/TEL AVIV, May 7 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump predicted a swift end to the ​war with Iran as Tehran considered a U.S. peace proposal that sources said would formally end the conflict while leaving unresolved key U.S. demands that Iran suspend ‌its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson cited by Iran’s ISNA news agency said Tehran would convey its response, while Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesperson for parliament’s powerful foreign policy and national security committee, described the proposal as “more of an American wish-list than a reality.”

“They want to make a deal. We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make ​a deal,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, saying later “it’ll be over quickly.”

Trump has repeatedly played up the prospect of an agreement to end the war ​that started on February 28, so far without success. The two sides remain at odds over a variety of difficult issues, such as Iran’s nuclear ⁠ambitions and its control of the Strait of Hormuz, which before the war handled one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply.

A Pakistani source and another source briefed on the mediation ​said an agreement was close on a one-page memorandum that would formally end the conflict. That would kick off discussions to unblock shipping through the strait, lift U.S. sanctions on Iran and set ​curbs on Iran’s nuclear program, the sources said.

A separate senior Pakistani official involved in the talks told Reuters on Thursday that negotiators were hopeful of reaching a deal but noted gaps between the sides remained.

Brent Crude (July futures), buoyed by optimism over a prospective peace deal, is retracing to test support at $100 per barrel.

Brent Crude Futures (ICE July'26)

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S&P 500 Uptrend Against Gold

Key Points

  • The S&P 500 index made a new high at 7230, reversing its long-term downtrend against Gold.
  • However, the Dow is struggling to break resistance at 50,000.
  • The ISM Manufacturing PMI indicates the sector is expanding, but producer prices are soaring.
  • Lithium is in a strong uptrend, while Copper remains rangebound.
  • Japanese intervention to support the Yen underlines the long-term reason for buying Gold.

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Ceasefire But No Long-term Peace in Sight

Key Points

  • President Trump announced he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran.
  • Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran will allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks.
  • Brent crude futures (Jun’26) plunged to $93.86 per barrel.
  • Gold climbed to $4,800 per ounce as the Dollar weakened.

President Trump has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

Truth Social Post

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Jobs Rise but Prices Soar, Growth Slows and Liquidity Tightens

Key Points

  • Non-farm employment jumped by 178,000 in March, well above the expected 60,000.
  • The unemployment rate declined to 4.3%.
  • Growth in aggregate hours worked, however, slowed to 0.4% over the past year.
  • The ISM Manufacturing Prices index jumped to 78.3%, warning of a price shock.
  • Aluminium prices soared to nearly $3,600/tonne due to supply shortages caused by the war in the Persian Gulf.
  • Brent crude closed the week at $109 per barrel, with no end to the Iran war in sight.

The BLS reported a 178,000 increase in non-farm payroll in March, well above the 60,000 forecast. Employment growth has been erratic, averaging less than 15,000 over the past 6 months.

Employment Growth

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No Quick Exit

Key Points

  • Brent crude futures (May’26) rose after President Trump paused his threatened attack on Iran’s energy facilities until April 6.
  • The S&P 500 broke primary support at 6550.
  • The Dollar strengthens with the prospect of higher interest rates.
  • Gold tests primary support at $4,400 per ounce.

Brent crude rallied to $109 per barrel on news that negotiations may take longer than initially indicated. Retracement will likely respect support at $105 per barrel, signaling another test of $114.

Brent Crude Futures (ICE May'26)

Markets continue to receive conflicting messages on the war with Iran.

President Trump said he would extend a pause to attack Iran’s energy facilities to April 6, a little over a week after the original deadline that was set to end Friday.

“As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” (CNBC)

Iran’s Foreign Minister ruled out direct talks with the US but says they are reviewing the US 15-point proposal submitted through Pakistani intermediaries.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that Operation Epic Fury is “almost done” and is “wrapping up.”

….Johnson said that the objectives of the operation “have been met,” but access to the Strait of Hormuz still needs to be “straightened out.” (CBS)

The military buildup continues:

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) – The Pentagon is expected to send ​thousands of soldiers from the U.S. Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, two people familiar with the ‌matter told Reuters on Tuesday, adding to a massive U.S. military buildup even as President Donald Trump talks about a possible deal with Tehran to end the war.

The New York Post:

The Pentagon is reportedly considering a plan to send an additional 10,000 troops to the Middle East amid the war with Iran.

The potential deployment would likely include infantry and armored vehicles and would be on top of the 5,000 Marines and sailors and roughly 2,000 members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division who have already been dispatched to the region, according to the Wall Street Journal.

When one party threatens the other, it is normally a sign that the negotiation is not going well:

President Trump is ready to “unleash hell” on Iran if Tehran does not accept a deal to end the war in the Middle East, the White House warned on Wednesday.

“If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a briefing.

“President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell.” (CBS)

Iran and Israel seem to have longer-term objectives, but President Trump is desperate for an off-ramp. Opinion polls show the war is unpopular in the US:

Reuters/Ipsos Opinion Poll

The Iranians know that the closer it gets to the US midterms in November, the greater their leverage.

Trump has few good options: escalate the conflict or settle on a potentially bad deal with a weakened yet defiant Iran that has choked off much of the world’s oil supply….

A clear and quick victory could pay dividends for Trump politically. But a settlement that credibly contains Iran appears to be far off….

The terms required to wind the war down may involve concessions to Tehran that do not satisfy Israel, which appears to want to press ahead. (Reuters)

Copper continues its downtrend, warning that the global economy is slowing.

Copper

Mega-cap technology stocks are dragging the major indices lower. The Roundhill Magnificent 7 ETF (MAGS) signals a strong bear trend after breaking primary support at 63 in early February.

Roundhill Magnificent 7 ETF (MAGS)

The S&P 500 has now followed with a breach of primary support at 6550, confirmed by the recent dead cat bounce.

S&P 500

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is testing the primary support band between 45,500 and 46,000. A breach would confirm the S&P 500 bear market signal.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

The S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Index ($IQX) shows that large caps are now outperforming mega caps, which had led the market for several years. It’s all relative, however. Declining Trend Index peaks below zero warn of selling pressure.

S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Index

Bitcoin1 continues to test the support band between 64,000 and 70,000, indicating that financial markets have become risk-averse.

Bitcoin (BTC)

10-year Treasury yields respected support at 4.3%, offering a short-term target of 4.65% as the prospect of further rate cuts fades.

10-Year Treasury Yield

The US Dollar Index is testing resistance at 100, driven by the prospect of higher interest rates.

Dollar Index

Gold is testing primary support at $4,400 per ounce. Respect, indicated by recovery above $4,600, would indicate another test of $5,000, while a breach would offer a target of $4,000.

Spot Gold

Conclusion

Mixed messaging over negotiations with Iran indicates that progress is slow. Conflicting objectives between the US and Israel may also prevent a quick resolution to the war against Iran. A quick exit is unlikely.

A downtrend in copper prices warns that the global economy is slowing.

The S&P 500 broke support at 6550, signaling a primary downtrend. A Dow Jones Industrial Average breach of primary support at 45,500 would confirm a bear market.

The prospect of higher interest rates, with the market pricing out further rate cuts, has strengthened the Dollar, triggering a selloff in gold. A breach of primary support at $4,400 per ounce would offer a target of $4,000, while respect of support would signal another test of $5,000.

Acknowledgments

Notes

  1. Cryptocurrencies are the highest-risk asset class, and we analyze Bitcoin (BTC) solely to identify risk sentiment in financial markets. Our analysis is not a recommendation to buy or sell BTC, nor is it a commentary on the merits of cryptocurrency.

S&P 500 Bear Market Warning

Key Points

  • Brent crude futures (May’26) rose to $112 per barrel.
  • 10-year Treasury yields jumped to 4.39%.
  • The S&P 500 broke primary support at 6550.

The war in Iran is in danger of escalating, sending the global economy into recession.

WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s administration is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to reinforce its operation in the Middle East, as the U.S. military prepares for possible next steps in its campaign against ​Iran, said a U.S. official and three people familiar with the matter.

The deployments could help provide Trump with additional options as he weighs expanding U.S. operations, with the Iran war well into ‌its third week.

Those options include securing safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a mission that would be accomplished primarily through air and naval forces, the sources said. But securing the Strait could also mean deploying U.S. troops to Iran’s shoreline, said four sources, including two U.S. officials.

Reuters granted the sources anonymity to speak about military planning.

The Trump administration has also discussed options to send ground forces to Iran’s Kharg Island, the hub for 90% of Iran’s oil exports, the three people familiar with the matter and three U.S. ​officials said. One of the officials said such an operation would be very risky. Iran has the ability to reach the island with missiles and drones.

News of preparations for a ground war spooked financial markets.

CBS News said “heavy preparations” were being made for sending ground troops to Iran, citing multiple sources….

“If this is an escalation involving troops on the ground, then we’re probably in for at least a couple more weeks of this sort of market of higher oil prices, high gas prices; you’re hanging on every headline about energy infrastructure in the region,” Baird investment strategist Ross Mayfield said to CNBC. “Quite frankly, equity markets haven’t sold off in a way that would reflect this sort of event yet, so there could still be some some downside ahead.” (CNBC)

Brent crude futures (ICE May’26) climbed above $112 per barrel by the close of the week.

Brent Crude

Ten-year Treasury yields spiked up 4.39%. The breakout above the 4.3% resistance level indicates another test of the 2023 high at 5.0%.

10-Year Treasury Yield

The S&P 500 broke primary support at 6550, warning of a bear market.

S&P 500

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is testing primary support at 45,500. A breach of the support level would confirm the S&P 500 bear market signal.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

The Roundhill Magnificent 7 ETF (MAGS) has already broken support at 60, confirming a primary downtrend in the seven mega-cap technology stocks that led the bull market advance.

Roundhill Magnificent 7 ETF (MAGS)

The Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index jumped to -0.486, the uptick above its preceding peak warning of a contraction in financial market liquidity.

Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index

The downtrend in Bitcoin1 has warned of a financial market contraction since late last year.

Bitcoin (BTC)

Conclusion

Prepare for a bear market. The Dow will likely break support at 45,500 next week, confirming the S&P 500 bear signal.

Acknowledgments

Notes

  1. Cryptocurrencies are the highest-risk asset class, and we analyze Bitcoin (BTC) solely to identify risk sentiment in financial markets. Our analysis is not a recommendation to buy or sell BTC, nor is it a commentary on the merits of cryptocurrency.