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Newsletter
13 February 2025
· Jon Webb
Our FX systems started the year with ashort USD bias (against the general consensus for a stronger USD). For the first three weeks this bias worked well as fears of blanket US tariffs did not materialize, however, in the final week of January, tariffs were announced on Mexico, Canada and China leading to some renewed USD strength. Nevertheless, so far, the measures that have been taken (with some already suspended for now) have not been as bad as feared. Looking forward to this month, we note the signals are more mixed for the USD though our hedge ratios remain negative USD for the largest currencies: EUR, GBP and JPY.
Insight
7 February 2025
· Jon Webb
Another week into Trump 2.0 and you’d be forgiven for starting to tune out some of the news around the administration. After all, nothing screams kabuki more than touting “yuge” concessions from the Canadian and Mexican governments that were already in the works… Admittedly it’s two birds with one stone (that was going to be thrown anyway) for the US’s neighbors, but it does make it hard to take the threat of tariffs seriously. That being said, while some of the spectacle is certainly theater, like a bullfight it does come with horns as markets and political actors react to the latest news.
Insight
31 January 2025
· Jon Webb
If you’re wondering what the crashing sound is in the background, it’s the bull in the China shop discussed last week as the Trump Administration works up a full head of steam. Will it go through with 25% tariffs on the US’s neighbors? Is there going to be a giant sucking sound in some parts of the economy courtesy of a potential funding freeze on federal grants and loans? Will there be a squeeze in citrus prices due to missing workers in California? The age-old shoulder shrug of “time will tell” certainly applies, but some people aren’t taking the uncertainty sitting down.
Insight
24 January 2025
· Jon Webb
Trying to understand the Global Economic Impacts of Trump’s Second Term. So far, he has signed more executive orders on his first day than the last ten presidents combined. As of this writing in the middle of the Friday trading day, US markets initially seem impressed, with the S&P reaching an all-time high earlier this week and the Nasdaq 100 and Solactive 200 both higher. There is a bit of pullback today, but we are higher for the week overall. And US markets aren’t alone, Japanese and European equities have had their best performance this year. Maybe Japan and Europe aren’t going to be affected by the Trump tariffs? Last time we looked, they made a whole lot of automobiles, but what do we know?
Newsletter
17 January 2025
· Jon Webb
Our FX models for USD against EUR, GBP, AUD, NZD and NOK, which were largely USD positive last year, reversed in January. In particular, our reversion models are suggesting some strength in these currencies against USD in the near term. Nevertheless, the continued outperformance of the US economy, alongside sluggish growth in Europe, suggests that any USD reversal will not be sustained.
Newsletter
4 November 2024
· Jon Webb
The strong USD bias worked well for our FX models last month, with our dynamic hedge adding over 1% outperformance for EURUSD and GBPUSD, and over 3% for USDJPY. We note, however, that our models have now moved to neutral for the USD against the EUR and GBP, though still look for higher USDJPY. Reducing FX risk may well be sensible given the closeness of the US Presidential election, and doubts about the accuracy of polls. Though, as we note overleaf, late momentum now marginally favours Harris.
Insight
5 September 2024
· Jon Webb
As USDJPY probes back towards the lows of its “liftshaft” experience in early August, longer dated implied volatility is on the rise and skew favours puts over calls even more than before.
Insight
9 August 2024
· Jon Webb
It’s possible to read too much into things. Consider it a flaw in our nature. But when we are told the “Worst of market sell-off might be over but hold on tight”, we can’t help but wonder about the hedged language. After all, if Goldman sees recent price action as prompted by a “giant global margin call”, surely the sell-off is an opportunity? Apparently not, as the GS note in question suggested that the flows they have seen were not consistent with “a ton of selling”. Is this diagnostically useful, and if so, in what way? If forced to offer an opinion (and we are), we would agree with GS that volumes have certainly not been indicative of capitulation. In fact, recent volatility might be better thought of as evidence of preternaturally low levels of liquidity. That in itself begs the question of why liquidity is so poor. August doldrums, or evidence of a Potemkin market?
Insight
12 July 2024
· Jon Webb
While the Whitehouse may have successfully avoided putting its foot in its mouth on inflation this year (We hope everyone stateside had a good Independence day), the topic remains at top of mind for more than just the bean counters, as policymakers and consumers alike grapple with a new version of Whitney Houston’s question, “How will I know if inflation is over?”. The last few weeks haven’t offered very clear guidance. CPI was cooler than expected, but PPI was above expectations. Both the ISM Manufacturing and Services reports saw strong price readings, but there were other signs of a retreat in demand.