Yen Is Weakning Against The US Dollar

Yen is trading at 117.20 against the US dollar after showing considerable strength in the month of August when subprime mortgage mess unfolded in the US and yen carry trade unwinding started. It seems at around 113 levels, lot of carry trade happened as japanese central bank doesn't increased it's benchmark interest rate and japanese as well as oversees investors/hedge funds/PE funds still wanting to have a pie of cheap funds available in yen currency, have them invested in riskier yet high yield assets of emerging economies lke India, China, HongKong, Taiwan, Russia. This is causing tremendous price rises in these assets and thus is a cause of concern in the short term.

US Job Data

US job data released by labour department beat earlier forecast by experts of 60,000 jobs being added versus fresh data depicting that jobs that added infact are 90,000. This data can make US federal reserve pause in it's rate cut spree. It's very essential for US central banker to hold it's rates so that dollar can be hold steady against Euro, Yen, Canadian Dollar. If he cuts the rates then it might again unleash huge liquidity to riskier assets, which alredy are extreme inflated levels. Also central banks of US and European countries should slow down the level of printing their currency if they want to have financial markets in healthy shape and avoid bursting of equity and commodity bubble in an abrupt manner.

Dow Jones Erupts Again

Dow Jones staged a remarkable 200 point rally yesterday with a strong belief that US fed will again cut the interest rates by 50 basis points in October. Dollar also got support from stock rally. Crude oil also cools down a bit but still hovering around US$80/Barrel. US economy is still not out of deep problems and hence dollar investors are rushing to buy into riskier assets of emerging markets like India, Taiwan, Singapore, HongKong, driving valuations of assets(stocks) in these markets to absurd levels. Well so far so good, if US fed listens to market participants and don't follow economics rationale, then we may be heading for another rate cut and further inflated asset prices.

Will He Or Won't He

I believe this time US federal reserve will not cut interest rates as turmoil in financial markets from US subprime mess has been contained well and all the stock markets are either re-claiming their old heighs or making new heighs. If he does cut the rates then it will pump more dollars into the riskier assets like stocks and commodities, with more weakness in dollar. This will further create inflation among already hyper inflated riskier assets and make them more vulnerable to sudden shocks resulting in huge instability in the credit and financial markets. Thus for the sake of overall health of financial markets, US fed must not cut rates this time around, we already have enough of cheap money roaming around.

Inflated Equities

Falling dollar is inflating riskier assets like stocks and commodities. Emerging market stocks especially in china, India, Taiwan, Singapore are amid tremendous upward momentum due to huge flow of dollars from dollar investors and this has created extremely expensive equity valuations in some of these markets, especially in India and China. Crude oil too is continously trading above US$80/Barrel and stock markets are ignoring this important commodity price completely. History is evident that whenever crude oil has skaled a new peak, equity too has formed new high! As long as financial markets expect US federal reserve to cut interest rates, equity valuations will continue to be very expensive.

Will Fed Cut The Rates Again?

Financial markets seems to believe that US fed will again cut the interest rates in order to stop a housing slowdown led recession in that country. And hence dollar is seeing continous selling pressure against major currencies, and stocks along with commodities are seeing a major sharp upmove. But US fed might not go all out on rate cut spree as inflationary fears in US are still present. Therefore over exhuberance of stocks of emerging economies will have to be taken with caution, they say:- better late than never!

Case For Renewed Yen Carry Trade To Resume

After japanese central bank refused to increase the interest rates and with yen strenghtening against the dollar and risk perception of japanese investor/saver on an increase due to lack of investment oppurtunities in their own country, yen carry trade will begin to find favour among large investment banks and hedge funds. This will further give a boost to already over heated stock markets like India and other fast growing asian economies.

Falling Dollar Is Creating Asset Inflation

After US Fed had cut interest rates by 50 basis points, dollar has been falling steadly against major currencies. This will further lead to rise in other assets like commodities, stocks. Again for the past few trading sessions, gold, copper, zinc, lead, agri commodities and crude oil are rising and are at their all time highs. Stocks across the globe are rallying for the past few days. Dollar investors are pulling their money and pouring it into these assets. This is creating inflation in stocks, commodities and thus central bankers job is now much more difficult to manage inflation. This hightened levels of asset inflation does not agour well for growth and interest rates. Investors have a tough time managing their portfolio as volatility will rise along with hightened greed of market participants.

Markets Cheer Rate Cut!

Stock markets are cheering 0.5% rate cut by US federal reserve but i believe Fed must have punished defaulters of subprime mortgage borrowers and lending institutions by raising interest rates rather than cutting them. Instead Fed has revisiting same starting point which started this whole cheap credit phenomenon across all asset classes. By printing more and more dollars, Fed is again pumping more cheap money into the financial system and re-assuring the market participants that in any adverse event like default mess the fed will bail them out by printing more money, thus inviting more defaulters to do default at will and get away! That's the way systemic problems linger on and system makers continue to drag them for their pity interests like to help very large lending and investment banking institutions.

Real Estate

Almost every asset class has seen sharp correction over the past few weeks, be it stocks, commodities, currency like the dollar, even Art has seen some softening in resale prices, but real estate prices have so far remained over heated in most commercial parts of the world. Even residential property rates in the emerging markets like India, China, Taiwan are over heated. Continued over heated prices is a cause of concern for business as well as genuine home seekers.
Huge money flows have gone into real estate segment, be it PE funds, massive loans from financial institutions and banks to builders and home buyers, black money has also flown with great intensity in to this area. Rentals are also ruling high making the business operations and other commercial activity less profitable or even viable to run. This has caused inflationary pressures in the final product prices. This real estate segment has to undergo a major price correction in order to restore affordability and investment viable proposition.

Consolidation

Equity markets across the world are consolidating gains they have made in the past few trading sessions with european,U.S.,asian markets displaying subdued trading sessions.
Market players will also be keenly waiting for U.S.Fed decision on rate cuts this september. Any rate cut will give further boost to emerging markets. Dollar has been under pressure against the yen and euro for the past few days with market players now wanting to buy riskier assets like stocks and dump dollar. Noise levels from U.S. sub-prime mortgage markets has been waining and is a welcome sign.

Japanese Central Bank Keeps Rates Unchanged

Today japanese central bank kept the interest rate unchanged at 0.5%. That's good news from yen carry trade perspective. Yen is trading at 116.27 against the U.S.Dollar and thus fear of dollar falling further against the yen is well contained at the moment. Equities are consolidating across the world after sharp sell off, commodities like copper, alumunium, lead, nickel, zinc, crude oil are also cooling. This is good news from inflation perspective but also raises the concerns about slowing economic growth in the developed world.

Much Needed Bounce Back In Markets

Today stock markets bounced back after several days of sharp falls and closed pretty smartly anywhere between 3 to 5% up. Yen also is trading close to 115 levels against the U.S.Dollar. It's very difficult to ascertain the exact extent to which credit markets have been affected due to sub-prime mortgage mess and subsuquent defaults and several funds going burst due to this, one thing is sure that risk appetite of investors/traders has taken a severe beating and it will take a while before they can regain their confidence. It will be worthwhile to watch how markets do for the next few days before making a big financial commitment in the markets.

Some Stability In The Dow Jones Is Good News

Dow Jones closed 233 points higher on the back of some bottom fishing by market players. Dollar also climbed to 114.20 against the Yen, after falling continously for the past few trading sessions amid yen carry trade un-winding. History is evident that volatile currency movements can play havoc with stock and commodity markets, as seen this time as well. So keeping a very close watch on important currencies is very much desired if one wants to succeed in financial markets.

Manic Selling In The Markets

Markets today fell very sharply fearing more bad news from the cracks in the credit markets and yen carry trade un-winding. Yen got further strength and breached 112 mark against the dollar, creating more panic among investors and that caused japanese stocks to drop very sharply by 850 points. All other asian markets traded extremely weak and later in the trading session got some respite because of lowering of discount rate by U.S.federal reserve and some short covering. European markets opened in the positive territory and this will have good sentimental impact when U.S. markets opens later today.
Keeping extremely close eye and ear on credit markets will be they key going forward. Any bad news from this front in future will significantly damage already brittle investor/trader confidance.

Gold Is Stable Amid This Stock Carnage

There is a old saying that in troubled times rely on Gold, well, that's seems to be the choice investors are choosing amid sell off's in stocks across the world. Gold is trading stable at U.S.$660 per ounce and so far escaped the carnage from stocks melt down. This precious commodity will continue to out-perform stocks in the short term as investors will consider it as a safe investment bet in these nervous and volatile times. As their is a serious erosion in the risk appetite of investors/traders, safer investment avenues like Gold and currency like Dollar will find favour. For the few weeks, stocks will bear the brunt of this yen carry trade un-winding currently under way. However, some very selective buying can be made in extremely resilient business fundamentals, but in very small quantities.It's however an individual choice and decision.

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.

Will The U.S. Fed Cut The Rates?

Market players are placing huge bets on a possible Interest Rate cut by U.S.Fed in it's next speech in September following the liquidity crunch in the financial system due to huge losses suffered by large players in the U.S. sub-prime mortgage paper. They also believe that to give a push to U.S. economy and to stabalise slump in the U.S. housing market, Fed will cut the rates.
However their bets can go wrong due to many reasons, one of them is since Inflation in the U.S. is still a cause of concern as Fed himself pointed out in his many speeches, also due to recent pumping of dollars in the system Inflation has the chances of getting a head up. Crude Oil is still above U.S.$70.
So markets will be watching Fed speech very eagerly and any dissapointment on rate cut can induce volatility and more nervousness among investor/trader fraternity.

Markets Are Down Again

Dow Jones fell again by 200 points yesterday and asian markets are follwing the downward trend early this morning.
Yen is trading at 117.20 against the U.S.dollar as of now, this is also a cause of concern as this will further increase the yen carry trade unwinding by levearaged players and insitutions and hence pulling out of funds from riskier assets like stocks and commodities.
Volatility is back again in the markets and is a cause of concern for those who are planning to invest. Investors hate huge uncertainity surrounding the markets and thus postpone their buying decision and prefer to park their money in safe assets like U.S.dollar and Goverment securities thus making stock markets deprieve of much required funds.
Unless and untill this nervousness fades away, investors will not be in a rush to buy riskier assets like stocks.

Central Banks Pour The Money

Seeing liquidity crunch because of sub-prime mess in the U.S., central banks of major economies are pouring huge money in the financial system.
Several leading funds of major investment banks and institutions have been closed due to losses that they have incured in sub-prime investments in the U.S.
Yen has been strengthning for the past few days and this is also a cause of concern, critical level to watch out for yen against dollar is 115. This is very important from the yen carry trade point of view as it has in the past and in present providing huge liquidity to the financial markets.
It will also be very interesting to see if Japanese central bank raises the interest rates this time or not, again very important for yen carry trade to keep going.