FlashNotes

  • Yen-Splosion Pt. 2?

    Remember the yen-splosion in early August? Of course, you do. Just over a month later, the Japanese Yen is now stronger than it was back then. Given the context— the Fed’s first rate cut scheduled for next week, weakening the USD, and the BoJ raising Japanese rates, strengthening the Yen— the steady rise in the…

  • Reactions to CPI: Fed Implications and Semiconductor Outperformance

    The market responded to this morning’s largely in-line CPI with a sell-off. It seems the market is unhappy with the reduced likelihood of a 50 bps cut, which dropped to 17% after starting the month as a slight 51% favorite. Personally, I find the 25 vs. 50 debate myopic. Focus on the idea the Fed is…

  • Nvidia: The Rare DOJ Bottom

    Nvidia opened lower as the DOJ issued subpoenas. The market seems to have forgotten that this is standard procedure for the DOJ. Mr. DOJ doesn’t just casually call Mr. Nvidia to ask for information. In my view, if Nvidia manages to close in the green after a red open, it would check the “stock rising…

  • The options market was pricing in a 10% move on Nvidia’s (NVDA) earnings. It is early, but with NVDA down just 2-3%, this relatively muted reaction suggests the results were largely as expected. The rest of the market is either slightly higher or sideways. Looks like rotations: money leaving Nvidia for other opportunities in an…

  • Powell delivered a Jackson Hole classic. You can find a transcript here, but here are some key quotes that stood out to me: On Inflation “My confidence has grown that inflation is on a sustainable path back to 2 percent.” The risks associated with inflation are no longer the primary focus. On Employment “It seems…

  • Uber (UBER) Q2: Defying Recession Predictions

    The economy is crumbling! So… how did Uber (UBER) report a beat on both the top and bottom lines? A 23% increase in mobility unit gross bookings and a 3Q estimate in line with consensus… 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 One company doesn’t define the economy… but if the U.S. were truly heading towards an imminent recession, Uber couldn’t…

  • Defensive Sectors and Gold Rise Amid Weakening July Payrolls

    This morning’s weak BLS payrolls survey reinforced the notion that the Fed may already be too late in cutting rates. Is it possible to act in a timely manner when relying on lagging data? Once this economic cycle is behind us, especially with the advent of real-time/alternative indicators developed during the COVID-era, the Fed will…

  • Damper Market Forecast: Impact of Unemployment, Fed Chair’s Remarks, and Q2 GDP

    The U.S. 10-year yield is on track to close with a 3-handle for the first time since February. Throughout 2024, the US10Y has served as a proxy for growth expectations. Its decline suggests that the bond market is forecasting weaker economic growth ahead. What’s behind this damper forecast? Three factors come to mind: 1) Today,…

  • Crowdstrike: Down and Outage

    A massive outage sent cybersecurity leader CrowdStrike (CRWD) back six months in just a few days. The multi-day disruption erased $29.5 billion in market cap as the stock dropped more than 30% following the disaster. Is it warranted? Depends on your time horizon. Fair or not, this outage has eroded years of credibility and momentum…

  • Another Reason to Stay Long

    June’s FOMC Meeting was a non-event. The data suggests the FOMC Meeting hasn’t been an event for a while. This is bullish. Some Statistical Context In 2022, the FOMC Meeting held the market hostage. Without accounting for the absolute intraday insanity during Powell’s conference, in the two sessions following the meeting, the S&P 500 moved…