US Gas Market Poised for Supercycle: Bernstein Analysts 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Global Markets React to Strong U.S. Jobs Data and Rising Yields 
Goldman Predicts 50% Odds of 10% U.S. Tariff on Copper by Q1 Close 
Stock Futures Dip as Investors Await Key Payrolls Data 
European Stocks Rally on Chinese Growth and Mining Merger Speculation 
MAS Holds Monetary Policy Steady as Strong Growth Raises Inflation Risks 
Moldova Criticizes Russia Amid Transdniestria Energy Crisis 
Indonesia Surprises Markets with Interest Rate Cut Amid Currency Pressure 
Gold Prices Slide as Rate Cut Prospects Diminish; Copper Gains on China Stimulus Hopes 
UBS Projects Mixed Market Outlook for 2025 Amid Trump Policy Uncertainty 
Federal Reserve Faces Subpoena Delay Amid Investigation Into Chair Jerome Powell 
RBA Expected to Raise Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points in February, ANZ Forecast Says 
We are starting to see signs of pushback on overly dovish central bank expectations after global bond yields hit record lows in early September. While US-China trade tensions continue to wax and wane, with the latest headlines suggesting that China may be willing to buy more US agricultural goods ahead of the upcoming trade walks in Washington, and Brexit uncertainties continue to wreak havoc in the UK Parliament, nevertheless, market players have been paring back expectations for the upcoming ECB and FOMC meetings on 12 and 19 September respectively.
The latest escalation in US-China retaliatory tariffs on 1 September suggests the negotiation road ahead remains fraught with challenges. While the Fed is likely to deliver more rate cuts, it will increasingly fade as a salve for nervous financial markets. We could foresee a 25bps rate cut in September, one more 25bp cut by December and another cut in 1Q’20.
Well, with downside risks elevated, the premium-priced into US Treasuries is unlikely to abate quickly, though intermediate yields are 24bp too low, and a deterioration in market liquidity has likely contributed to the move: stay neutral on duration.
The curve appears flat even after adjusting for the rise in negative-yielding sovereign debt.
We discuss the June TIC data. Unwind longs in 5yx5y inflation swaps and turn neutral on inflation. Lognormality is imminent in a further rally. Sell delta-neutral strangles in 1Yx1Y and buy 1Yx1Y vs 6Mx30Y 25-delta receivers.
Convexity hedging continues spread directionality and has perhaps influenced the curve.
Trade tips:
Sell 25-delta strangles in 1Yx1Y
Positive vol/rate directionality is likely to emerge as lognormality re-asserts itself, most acutely at shorter rates.
Sell $500mn notional 1Yx1Y 25-delta swaption strangles (notification 8/17/20, maturity 8/19/21, strikes receiver @ 0.775% and payer @ 1.785%, premium 23.3bp). This trade requires frequent delta hedging.
Sell 25-delta 1Yx1Y vs 6Mx30Y receivers, duration weighted.
As a means of positioning for log-normality we also like conditional bull flatteners
constructed with mismatched expiries.
Sell $500mn notional 1Yx1Y 25-delta receiver swaptions (notification 8/17/20, maturity 8/19/21, strike @ 0.775% premium 13.6bp) versus $20mn notional 6Mx30Y 25-delta receiver swaptions (notification 2/18/20, maturity 2/20/50, strike @ 1.23%, premium 205.9c). Courtesy: JPM & OCBC
