dollar devaluation

U.S Debt Downgraded By Chinese

Forex Kong 19 Comments

Finally we get a solid move on the fundamentals, as last nights downgrade of U.S debt from Chinese ratings agency “Dagong” sent the U.S Dollar spiralling down.

Now Dagong is no “Moody’s or Fitch” ( currently rating on “negative watch” ) but this in itself brings about a very interesting point.

A Chinese ratings agency having such a significant impact on the dollar? Wow.

You might expect this kind of move given that a “reputable” agency in the U.S gave the “thumbs down” on the debt ceiling debacle sure…but a Chinese ratings agency?

As the largest holder of U.S Debt / Treasury Securities on the planet it is now painfully clear how much influence China truly has. The agency suggested that, while a default has been averted by a last-minute agreement in Congress, the fundamental situation of debt growth outpacing fiscal income and GDP remains unchanged. “Hence the government is still approaching the verge of default crisis, a situation that cannot be substantially alleviated in the foreseeable future”.

Kicking the can a couple of months further down the road makes little difference when the U.S will just be back in the news then…..still unable to pay its bills.

The short USD trades obviously made big moves here overnight, but not exactly as expected. Great gains in EUR, GBP as well CHF but oddly the “commodity currencies” have shot higher. An interesting dynamic and certainly one to keep an eye on as NZD as well AUD approach overbought levels.

Gold up a wopping 34 bucks here this morning, so perhaps we’ve got the “risk off” flows on the move.

Forex Positions Update – USD Weak

Forex Kong 2 Comments

Short USD Trades – October 14 – 17th?

As per my posted “trade ideas” Friday, a couple of the “short USD” ideas have taken shape. In fact nearly everything is moving in said direction short of the pesky NZD. This damn currency has been bobbing around / consolidating for nearly a month and has proven to be a real stubborn pain in the ass.

https://forexkong.com/2013/10/11/my-trade-ideas-october-11-14-2013/

For the most part USD weakness “again” appears to be the move , although at this point nearly every single chart ( looking at nearly any time frame) could almost / just as easily go the other way.

The U.S Dollar is undoubtedly the “tough nut to crack” here, and “with it goes” the rest of it so…..

Here we sit. On the fence again.Kinda.

With risk events such as the U.S Gov Debacle only days away, it makes perfect sense that currency markets aren’t moving too much, as it also remains to be seen where equities, bonds and gold will find their direction.

I like where I’m positioned here but again, am trading with 1/2 to 2/3  smaller position size than when “out on the highway” so we keep things small while we come around the corners.

The Big Story Last Week – You Missed It

Forex Kong 9 Comments

Unlikely to have been mentioned on your local T.V last week, the “real big deal”  had little to do with the “circus in Washington” as, quietly behind the scenes The European Central Bank (ECB) and The Peoples Bank Of China (PBC) signed China’s second largest “currency swap agreement” for a wopping 350 billion Chinese Yuan.

In an unpresedented move The European Central Bank said: “The swap arrangement has been established in the context of rapidly growing bilateral trade and investment between the euro area and China, as well as the need to ensure the stability of financial markets.”

In doing so, the parties involved avoid swings in exchange rates. They can also be considerably less reliant on the U.S Dollar for bilateral trade and business deals.

China’s central bank has now signed currency swap deals amounting to some 2.2 trillion yuan with 22 countries and regions, with its continued efforts to internationalize the Yuan and rival the U.S Dollar as the world’s reserve currency.

What do “I” think this deal suggests with respect to the long-term future sustainability of USD, now with Janet Yellen a “shoe in” for continued money printing? Continued money printing???

What do “you think” I think?

Wow. Now EU Zone looking for options moving forward.

Safe Haven Trade – USD Or Gold?

Forex Kong 5 Comments

Something important came up in the comments area last night, and I thought it worth pointing out.

When we consider the impact of a “flight to safety” ie…….a move in markets where “true fear” pushes investors to dump risky assets ( and to literally….seek safety ) it’s impossible not to consider the U.S Dollar as being “top of the list” as the place to run and hide.

Now, this may seem “counter – intuitive” considering the recent ( and ongoing ) blunders within the Unites States but – that’s not even the point. Take a look at the chart below and note the total % of global currency trading for the top 10 most widely traded currencies in 2013.

Trade_Currencies_Global_Forex_Kong

Trade_Currencies_Global_Forex_Kong

That’s 87% of transactions to include the U.S Dollar, compared to a piddly 33.4% for Euro and only 23% in JPY rounding out the top 3.

As a simple matter of “default” when risk comes off and investors get scared – there is absolutely no question that USD will take massive in flows, as risk is unwound and risky assets and investments in emerging markets are converted “back” to USD.

Now, we’ve still not seen a “true flight to safety” as global markets have so embraced the never-ending flow of “free money” coming out of both the U.S as well Japan – with the general investment climate being one of accommodation. This can’t last forever.

You’ll recall I had envisioned a time where “all things U.S would be sold” and to a certain degree I see that this has already happened. Starting with bonds ( as suggested ) then the currency, and lastly ( alllllways lastly ) stocks now starting to show their “true value”.

I’m not concerned with much further “downside” in USD at this point, as one has to keep a couple other “macro” things in mind.

How long do you think the Chinese and Japanese holders of American debt are looking to stand around and watch their U.S denominated assets decrease in value? How far do you “really” think that Ben and the printing presses can push before somebody “really” pushes back?

Food for thought no?

QE5 – Rain On My Parade

Forex Kong 19 Comments

It’s wet here today. Really wet.

Like there’s a two foot deep lake out front of my place…with cars stalled in it “type” wet.  Hurricane “Ingrid” blew thru early in the week, and a smaller tropical storm has now developed in her wake. As with the weather here in the Yucatan “so it goes” in financial markets as well. Having missed one of the largest one day moves in USD in the history of my career “sitting out” – I can honestly say ” I’ve had better days”.

So there it is. Rain on my parade.

Bernanke “toes the line” and doesn’t even blink with the smallest suggestion of tapering. Zip. Zero. Nada.

The U.S Dollar absolutely crushed with one of the largest one day moves lower I’ve ever seen ( all be it sitting here looking to smash my computer screens to bits). Epic dollar destruction. Continued printing. Ponzi scheme “on”.

You’d expect that anyone in there right mind would perceive this as “very , very , very bad news” as obviously, if the U.S cannot afford even the “tiniest of tapering” you’ve gotta know the trouble runs far deeper than most imagine. This is bad news. It’s bad, bad , bad news – but what’s a guy to do?

You’re supposed to go back to work , mind your own business, but stay tuned to that T.V for further updates on the destruction of your economy and currency.

If I was “modestly bearish” some time ago, I’m now OUTRIGHT growling now, as this has now passed “all levels of reason”.

Trade ideas to follow but as it stands….we’ll wait to see reaction to this over the next “day or two” and stay open to the idea of a solid dollar bounce.

 

Forex Turning Point – Today Is The Day

Forex Kong 12 Comments

Ok “mother market”…..I’m gonna give you exactly 24 hours before you’ve got a major decision to make.

I know, I know , I know…….you are the boss – and I’m just a boy trying to make a buck but seriously…you’ve gone a bit too far this time and I’m close to running out of patience.

This “pesky little thing” you call “the dollar” has just about done enough to frustrate me and my friends to the degree that we will soon be pulling out our hair – short of you making up your mind.

Are you going to let this thing get away on you? Or are you going to do “stick to the plan” and toast it like a marshmallow?

Yes , yes I understand – you can’t just make these decisions on the turn of a dime, so let’s do this……

If USD doesn’t poke its head back under 82.23 and turn red (really red) mighty quick…..then we’ll just let you have your way,  and start to consider the opposing view.

I will look to get “bullish USD” should you decide to make such a mistake right  here…right now.

Personally, I feel it’s a tad early – but if this is what you want…..so be it.

24 hours – and I won’t bother you again.

Eyes On U.S Unemployment Data At 8:30 A.M

Forex Kong 12 Comments

This morning’s unemployment data out of the U.S is always a real show stopper. Traders from around the globe sit patiently huddled around their stations waiting……..waiting.

Waiting to hear how many 100’s of thousands of Americans have filed for unemployment insurance for the first time during the past week. Will it be more than the 329,000 projected new unemployment claims? How much more? Ooooooooh! Will it be less than the 329,000 American citizens projected to have filed for unemployment insurance just last week? Last week? In just a single week? Are you kidding me?

What possible difference could it make if the number was even 20k more than projected? or 20k less in a single week, when we are talking about 100’s of thousands of NEW CLAIMS!

No question that the endless printing on money has equated to “spurred job growth” eh?

Ridiculous.

I’ll wait for the numbers to consider adding to my current ´positions “short USD” or take a decent one on the chin “if” USD takes off higher here. It’s getting closer and closer to the time ( Sept) I had originally considered looking “Long USD” so I’m careful here.

I feel it’s still too early for Ben to just let this thing get out of control and see USD skyrocket so I’m going to sit tight another round here and see how this plays out.

 

USD Set For Short Term Move – Higher

Forex Kong 6 Comments

The USD is long overdue for a counter trend move higher, which is likely to start – literally this minute.

As usual ” they never make this easy” as “of course” you’ve got FOMC / Bernanke talking AGAIN here early this week.

At times I do marvel at the manipulation as even just this morning I’ve read a couple of headlines where “The IMF ( International Monetary Fund) Suggests Tapering A Bad Idea” coupled with usual market chatter leaking out (via U.S Media) that “Tapering To Start As Early As Sept”.

It’s pretty impossible for the IMF and the U.S Federal Reserve to even have opposing views – as the  IMF’s largest contributing and “influential” member country / representative IS the U.S and Ben Bernanke so……here we see it again – complete and total nonsense keeping things as confusing as possible.

Any move higher in USD will likely be fast n furious ( as to wipe out short termers ) and likely short-lived so I would advise caution here. Catching a counter trend move is always risky, and it’s clear that USD is in a well-defined downtrend.

I’m playing it across the board, as well remaining LONG JPY as these trades are well in profit now.

 

Canada Continues To Pull Ahead – Short USD/CAD

Forex Kong 2 Comments

More good numbers out of Canada today as the economy appears to be firing on all cylinders.

Firms in Canada may look to raise consumer prices amid the underlying strength in job growth along with the expansion in private sector credit, and a positive development may heighten the appeal of the Canadian dollar should the data spark bets for a rate hike.

Meanwhile south of the border:

The city of Detroit filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection in federal court Thursday, laying the groundwork for a historic effort to bail out a city that is sinking under billions of dollars in debt and decades of mismanagement, population flight and loss of tax revenue.

The bankruptcy filing makes Detroit the largest city “so far” in U.S. history to do so.

Obviously I’m suggesting short USD/CAD sets up quite well at these levels. I’ve booked 2% on the trade and will look to reload on any further “pop” in USD which gets less and less likely by the day.

Taper Talk – Believe It Or Not

Forex Kong 1 Comment

Doesn’t it always seem to go like this.

Just when you feel you’ve got things ironed out, and have put some larger plans in motion – sure enough (it never fails) something pops up that starts to get you thinking again – wait a minute….have I got this right?”

The Fed’s “taper talks” have certainly been working their magic in that regard, as the Internet now buzzes with new analysis on the U.S Dollar, fancy charts with arrow pointing up , up , up and suddenly (practically overnight) the U.S data is “all positive” and most certainly the Fed will begin “making its exit” in September. Done deal. As simple as that.

Ok – well…….what does that mean to the average investor?  Wasn’t it just last week that “more QE” is what the street was looking for? This being a “fed sponsored rally” does that mean the rally is ending? Or is “tapering” a good thing for markets?

The orchestration is truly brilliant in its design, and if you stopped to ask 10 different people on the street what it actually means to them – I’m sure the answers would be a resounding “I have no frickin idea” right across the board. Keep people confused. Keep things cloudy, and let the market do what it’s designed to do.

At this point it’s really a matter of “if you actually believe the talk or not” and how you would then go about positioning yourself. I for one am quite confident that it’s actually the opposite which is soon to take place – and the Fed will be introducing additional measures to keep interest rates from rising, and to keep the dollar tamed.

“QE 5” I’m calling it.

Either way you cut it – “Taper talk” is the current riddle to decode.

I wonder what’s next?