Archive for December, 2013

Mid Morning Miscellany

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013

The 5 year Starbucks deal  upon which I heaped contumely and scorn less than twenty four hours ago because of its pricing is even richer. I will confess I dont know the exact pricing level but it launched at 63 and I suspect it priced there and is trading 60/56 ...

Searching for a Canary in the Coal Mine

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013

There are several disparate factors at work currently in the markets that I think should give one pause regarding near term market movements. In my opinion there is a calm before the storm mentality which reminds me of last April before the hideous carnage which wrecked bonus pools in the ...

FX Thought

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013

Dollar yen traded to nearly 103.40 in overnight trading. That is a new level of weakness for the yen in this cycle. It has since retreated and now trades around 102.60. I am not a technician nor do I pretend to be but I was around enough of them for ...

December 03 2013 Opening

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013

Prices of Treasury coupon securities are registering small mixed changes in an especially quiet overnight session. Dealers report that volume in Treasury market was extremely light and cite the waiting for Godot experience of waiting for a labor report number on Friday that many deem more important than normal. I ...

Ryan/Murray Talks Said To Progress

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013

Politico.com reports that Congressman Ryan and Senator Murray are advancing towards a deal to avoid another government shutdown. The deal would cover two fiscal years and would set spending above levels GOP prefers and below levels Democrats would favor (infinity?) . The deal would also raise revenues via pension reform, ...

Volatilty and Credit Spreads

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

Here is an interesting( to me at least) piece from Bank America Merrill Lynch on volatility, the level of rates and credit spread. The analyst argues recent price action augurs wider spreads. Via the entity formerly known as Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner and Smith:   It MOVEs. In case you missed it we ...

Yield Compression

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

Corporate bond spreads remain very tight with the IG 21 sustaining trading between 68 and 70 for a week and a half now. My corporate bond source reports that in his eyes the main theme is spread compression and as a corollary it is very difficult to find value in ...

Swap Spreads

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

Swap spreads are contained today with mixed changes. One trader with whom I spoke thought that the next trade from here in swap spreads would be a directional trade and that higher rates would motivate paying and wider spreads. He believes that a strong side print on labor might provide ...

Error Message in Error

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

I found this via a right wing blogger name Jay Cost on Twitter and it is for those with a very dry sense of humor. The error message at healthcare.gov fails a grammar test. http://www.propublica.org/images/4-error-message.png

Treasury Market Update

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

The Treasury market remains under pressure as economic data prints modestly stronger than expected. In an early morning post I noted strength in European PMIs and the PMI in China. That strength continued stateside with a stronger than expected PMI here with key components of the index manifesting strength. The ...