No-good, terrible, bad news about the US labor market (coupled with a tumble in consumer confidence and uptick in inflation expectations) sparked chaos across multiple asset-classes today.
US Macro data has disappointed for 8 straight days, its biggest serial disappointment since June 2022…
Source: Bloomberg
The bad news sent the market’s expectations for Fed rate changes dramatically (dovishly) lower, erasing all of the post-Powell hawkish shift…
Source: Bloomberg
Stocks were already lifting at the cash open, then ripped higher after the dismal jobs data with long-duration equities outperforming…
The decline in real yields supported a higher valuation for stocks…
Source: Bloomberg
The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow all managed to close back above their 50DMAs…
‘Most Shorted’ stocks squeezed higher – the biggest surge in a month…
Source: Bloomberg
0-DTE traders faded the early gains (and covered) and then faded the rally in the S&P after Europe closed (and covered)…
NVDA did its thing, surging back above pre-earnings close highs (topping $490) before sliding back
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Bonds were aggressively bid with the short-end outperforming…
Source: Bloomberg
2Y Yields tumbled back below 5.00%…
Source: Bloomberg
…and the yield curve (2s30s) steepened significantly…
Source: Bloomberg
The dollar puked today, its biggest daily drop since mid-July…
Source: Bloomberg
Bitcoin started to rally when the dollar fell and then exploded higher (topping $28,000) on the SEC loss in court…
Source: Bloomberg
Spot Gold spiked around 1%, its best day since mid-July, nearing $1940…
Source: Bloomberg
Oil prices rallied ahead of tonight’s API data, with WTI back above $81 (after finding intraday support around $80)…
Finally, we note the market has swiftly gone from fear to greed as VIX, VVIX, and Skews are all tumbling. VVIX (vol of vol) is is its lowest since March…
Source: Bloomberg
After all, what is there to worry about? As SpotGamma notes, from today until the end of next week, there are a few data points (jobs, ISM) but, (based on IV’s) they are fairly low risk. Added into this window is the Labor Day holiday (next Monday).
Entering into the week of 9/11, there are a litany of catalysts including: CPI, large Sep OPEX, VIX Exp & FOMC. This suggests to us vol may be under pressure another ~2 weeks, and then risks pick up.
While there is no particular reason to be bearish, we note that a strong rally into OPEX/VIX Exp would certainly clear up the downside “padding” that we’ve been enjoying (and discussing) over the last few weeks. This could make downside into end of September/October “more available”.
Tyler Durden
Tue, 08/29/2023 – 16:00
