The Most Compelling Argument for Equities | Pragmatic Capitalism

Cullen Roche quotes David Rosenberg:

The Fed has also completely altered the relationship between stocks and bonds by nurturing an environment of ever deeper negative real interest rates. Therein lies the rub. The economy and earnings are weak, and getting weaker, but the interest rate used to discount the future earnings stream keeps getting more and more negative, and that in turn raises future profit expectations.

Cullen also refers to the spread between the S&P 500 dividend yield and the 5-year Treasury Note yield which has widened to 170 basis points (1.70%). What he has not considered is the upsurge in share buybacks over the last decade as a tax efficient alternative to dividends — which means the dividend yield is understated. The spread should be even wider.

via PRAGMATIC CAPITALISM – David Rosenberg: The Most Compelling Argument for Equities.

Treasury yields rising — good for stocks

10-Year Treasury yields are headed for a test of resistance at 1.70 percent after recovery above the descending trendline warned of a “bear trap” — actually a bull trap because yields are the inverse of price. Follow-through above 1.60 percent has confirmed, and breakout above 1.70 would signal an advance to 2.0 percent* — a bullish sign for stocks.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 1.70 + ( 1.70 – 1.40 ) = 2.00

Treasury yields: What a difference a day makes

10-Year Treasury yields gapped above resistance at 1.45 percent and the descending trendline, signaling an outflow from Treasuries and into stocks. Breakout above 1.70 percent would suggest a primary down-trend for bonds (price is the inverse of yield) and an up-trend for stocks.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 1.45 – ( 1.70 – 1.45 ) = 1.20

Falling Treasury yields: Money is flowing out of stocks

Retracement of 10-Year Treasury yields respected the new resistance level after breaking support at 1.45 percent, signaling a decline to 1.20 percent*. There has been little change in Fed holdings over the past week that could distort bond flows. Declining yields reflect investors leaving stocks for the safety of bonds and warn of a stock market correction. Recovery above 1.70 percent is most unlikely– without QE3 — but would suggest another stock market rally.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 1.45 – ( 1.70 – 1.45 ) = 1.20

Treasury yields continue to fall

10-Year Treasury yields are testing support at 1.45 percent. Breach would offer a target of 1.20 percent*. Declining yields suggest that money is flowing out of stocks and into bonds. Recovery above 1.70 percent is unlikely but would suggest another stock market rally.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 1.45 – ( 1.70 – 1.45 ) = 1.20

Latest stats from the Fed show holdings of Treasury notes and bonds increased by $3.9 billion over the last week, which may have contributed to the decline. Holdings of (short-term) Treasury bills fell to $14.6 billion, leaving little room for further “Twist” operations — where the Fed swaps short-term holdings for long-term Treasuries.

Falling Treasury yields: Money is flowing out of stocks

10-Year Treasury yields broke medium-term support at 1.55 percent, indicating another decline. Breach of support at 1.45 percent would confirm, offering a target of 1.20 percent*. Latest stats from the Fed show holdings of Treasury notes and bonds fell over the last week, so the fall is not due to “Operation Twist”. Declining yields suggest that the current stock market rally is likely to fail: money is flowing out of stocks and into bonds. Recovery above 1.70 percent is unlikely but would suggest another stock market rally.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 1.45 – ( 1.70 – 1.45 ) = 1.20

Treasury yields fall

10-Year Treasury yields are testing support at 1.55 percent. Falling yields suggest that the current stock market rally is likely to fail: money is flowing into bonds — not stocks. Failure of support would strengthen the warning. Recovery above 1.70 percent is less likely but would bolster the stock market rally.

Index

Treasury yields fall as investors flee stocks

Treasury yields fell through the key support level of 1.70 percent as investors, seeking a safe haven, flowed into bonds. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns of further easing.

10-Year US Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 1.70 – ( 2.40 – 1.70 ) = 1.0