Yuan Stumbles, ECB Surprises, and Commodities Fall

By Michael Lebowitz and Lance Roberts | July 22, 2022

Commodities were a sea of red yesterday as the Chinese Yuan stumbled, and the ECB raised rates by 50basis points. The Yuan/USD exchange rate correlates well with its economy. Given that China is the world’s largest user and importer of most commodities, economic weakness in China will hurt commodity demand. As such, many currency traders follow the Yuan as an indicator of China’s demand for commodities.

It wasn’t just the Yuan that weighed on commodity prices. The ECB raised interest rates by 50 basis points. The ECB’s unexpected rate increase to fight inflation will likely weaken economic activity across the euro region and temper demand for many commodities. More on the ECB’s first rate hike in over a decade and information on a hidden QE program within the announcement can be found below.

Yuan, Yuan Stumbles, ECB Surprises, and Commodities Fall
Yuan, Yuan Stumbles, ECB Surprises, and Commodities Fall

What To Watch Today

Economy

  • 9:45 a.m. ET: S&P Global U.S. Manufacturing PMI, July preliminary (51.8 expected, 52.7 prior)
  • 9:45 a.m. ET: S&P Global U.S. Global Services PMI, July preliminary (52.4 expected, 52.7 prior)
  • 9:45 a.m. ET: S&P Global U.S. Composite PMI, July preliminary (52.3 prior)

Earnings

Yuan, Yuan Stumbles, ECB Surprises, and Commodities Fall

Market Trading Update – Rally On Garth

The market rally continued on Thursday despite a sloppy start after the ECB hiked rates by 50 bps and the Yuan and Euro crashed. The good news is that the bulls are now in firm control of the market short-term, but the market is rapidly approaching overbought levels. As shown below, the market is forming a bullish rising trend channel with higher lows and clearing the 50-dma. Such allows the market to run to overhead resistance (dotted line). If the markets can make that trip and then correct but hold the 50-dma, we may see the beginning of a bottom forming in the market. For now, however, while the bullish trend is improving, this is still a tradeable rally to rebalance risk into.

Yuan, Yuan Stumbles, ECB Surprises, and Commodities Fall

VIX Parabola

Since the VIX (volatility index) exploded with covid in March 2020 and retreated in the following few months, a dependable parabola-shaped support pattern has been established. From May 2020 to July 2021, the arc was formed by a series of lower lows in the index. Since then, the arc started turning upward, resulting in higher lows. The recent stock market bounce is resulting in a lower VIX. VIX is now very close to touching the parabola.

If the pattern holds, a VIX bounce is likely. Remember that the VIX can bounce but not meaningfully, as it did in November. A minor bounce can be supportive of further stock gains. It is also worth noting the VIX is forming a wedge of sorts, as shown in blue. The four most recent highs starting in early 2022 have consecutively occurred at lower highs. A wedge pattern augurs for a breakout. The trillion dollar question is whether a breakout is higher or lower.

Yuan, Yuan Stumbles, ECB Surprises, and Commodities Fall

Tesla Dumps Bitcoin

Tesla’s earnings had a surprise for crypto investors. Per Tesla’s press release:

As of the end of Q2, we have converted approximately 75% of our Bitcoin purchases into fiat currency.

The sales added over $900 million in cash to Tesla’s balance sheet and made them cash flow positive for the quarter. While Tesla shareholders may applaud the action, crypto investors may feel duped. Elon Musk’s backing was significant and seemingly drove crypto prices higher in early 2021. In May of 2021, after suspending a program allowing customers to purchase cars with Bitcoin, Tesla said they would not sell any Bitcoin. Their tone changed quickly when Bitcoin fell rapidly this year.

Yuan, Yuan Stumbles, ECB Surprises, and Commodities Fall

ECB Gets More Serious About Inflation

The ECB surprised investors by hiking rates by 50 basis points. As shown below, the ECB Deposit Facility interest rate (similar to Fed Funds) is now up to 0%. This was the ECB’s first hike since 2010! It is also the first time rates have not been negative in a decade. The euro initially soared against the dollar as the aggressive action was finally a sign they might be getting serious about fighting inflation.

Gains were quickly surrendered as the ECB introduced a new monetary policy tool. The Transmission Protection Instrument (TPI) is a bond-buying program designed to ensure that bond yields of weaker European countries do not rise too much. The program is a version of QE. QE is inflationary; however, in this case, they claim they will not use it unless absolutely necessary. Further, they offer it will not affect its monetary policy. We presume they will sell other bonds in their portfolio to offset the bonds they buy. The program is an extension of Mario Draghi’s famous speech in which he said the ECB would do whatever it takes to support countries like Greece and Spain that faced double-digit yields. Based on the initial market reaction, investors question the ECB’s resolve.

For more on the ECB and its monetary quandary, we recommend our recent article, Japan and Europe, Part 2 of the Trolley Car Problem.

Yuan, Yuan Stumbles, ECB Surprises, and Commodities Fall

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