Bonds are rallying

U.S. bonds for the past two weeks are rallying due to carnage in the stocks, as investors/traders flock to safer money avenues in these highly uncertain and volatile times in order to protect their capital from any sharp drop in stocks.

They are not bothered at the moment about low returns from bonds but rather concerned about capital erosion from risky assets like stocks. They are right in their approach as sometimes remaining in cash can give excellent buying opportunities in blue chip stocks in case they fall sharply because of some external reasons not related to their business performance.

Derivatives And Risk

In extremely volatile times like we have presently, it's very prudent NOT to have leveraged positions through stock futures and options. Controlling risk should be the prime motive behind any move in these volatile markets, also remaining in cash in times like this gives better buying oppurtunities as and when markets take a sharp drop. Playing stock or commodity markets on borrowed money should also be avoided. After all it's not only about making profits, it's also extremely important to protect the capital.

Yen Carry Trade Unwinding

For two days running, stocks across the world are bearing the brunt of a credit crack that first started in U.S. sub-prime market and now has spread to other credit instruments. This collateral damage has prompted hedge funds, PE funds, large financial institutions to pay back the capital that they have borrowed from Japan very cheaply. With the losses mounting on their mortgage books, they will now have to withdraw from risky assets like stocks and return the borrowed money and this is causing Yen to strenghten against the Dollar, now trading at 114.32 after touching a high of 113.55 against the Dollar. Serious downward stock price adjustments had happened in the last few days, dow jones has re-traced all the gains it had made during this fiscal year and all other emerging markets are also follwoing the suit. For the first time in the last four years, serious credit squeeze is happening and this is not good for assets like stocks. Only selective buying can be made in stocks which are having the strongest of fundamentals and business momentum. Commodities are also correcting and this is good news for commodity user industry and hence to some extent for Inflation.