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3/27/24
#Stocks –
#Macro – $SPX, $CHF, #Rates
Mike’s Reading The Markets Macro Subscription Service on Seeking Alpha
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The stock market had a wild ride today. It traded sharply higher in the morning, gave it all back, and ripped into the close. The on-closing imbalances have played a role in the last two days of trading, but today, the imbalance was just $650 million on the buy side and certainly didn’t contribute to moving higher.
I think the most likely answer is that the 5,215 puts for expiration today were among the most actively traded options and likely served as a “put wall” for 0DTE. Heading into the days end, traders likely started to sell their puts to take their gains. It is easy to see the spike in the volume after 15:00.
Notably, the massive spike in volume started at around 15:30 in the S&P 500, with 5235 calls for March 27 expiration. The value of the calls ran up from near zero to around $13 in the 30 minutes of trading.
While we can’t be sure if this 0DTE trading activity was the sole driver of the move higher, it certainly looks like it could have been. If it were just because of option flows for today’s expiration, then it certainly would not be surprising if the gains we witnessed today were erased tomorrow.
Today, the 10-year rate fell back to around 4.18% after three days of solid treasury auctions on the 2, 5, and 7-year Treasury notes. So the bigger question is whether the 10-year rate will increase from here. One would think that it would move higher, given the more dovish stance of the Fed, the more robust economic data, and rising inflation expectations. But to this point, that just happened yet. The 10-year may be just consolidating or waiting for another piece of data; perhaps that data comes Friday with the PCE? For now, though, the trend is still higher.
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Meanwhile, the US dollar continues to strengthen versus the Swiss franc, rising to around 0.90. This is an interesting FX pair because of its historical relationship with the S&P 500 over the longer term. It has an inverse correlation of around -0.71 and R^2 of 0.51, suggesting a solid inverse relationship. However, since the beginning of January, they have both been trending higher, which is not usual when going back to 2019. This oddity can undoubtedly last longer, but it is a sign that something is missing and something to pay attention to.
As a final note, tomorrow will be the last trading day of the week, and things may be quirky. The JPMorgan collar will likely cause some disruptions, but we also know that Jay Powell will speak on Friday, and the PCE report will come on Friday morning. So, we could quickly do some hedging activity heading into the weekend, and that would be noted by watching the VIX 1-day. If it rises, it likely means that hedging is being put in place.
-Mike
Charts used with the permission of Bloomberg Finance L.P. This report contains independent commentary to be used for informational and educational purposes only. Michael Kramer is a member and investment adviser representative with Mott Capital Management. Mr. Kramer is not affiliated with this company and does not serve on the board of any related company that issued this stock. All opinions and analyses presented by Michael Kramer in this analysis or market report are solely Michael Kramer’s views. Readers should not treat any opinion, viewpoint, or prediction expressed by Michael Kramer as a specific solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell a particular security or follow a particular strategy. Michael Kramer’s analyses are based upon information and independent research that he considers reliable, but neither Michael Kramer nor Mott Capital Management guarantees its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. Michael Kramer is not under any obligation to update or correct any information presented in his analyses. Mr. Kramer’s statements, guidance, and opinions are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Neither Michael Kramer nor Mott Capital Management guarantees any specific outcome or profit. You should be aware of the real risk of loss in following any strategy or investment commentary presented in this analysis. Strategies or investments discussed may fluctuate in price or value. Investments or strategies mentioned in this analysis may not be suitable for you. This material does not consider your particular investment objectives, financial situation, or needs and is not intended as a recommendation appropriate for you. You must make an independent decision regarding investments or strategies in this analysis. Upon request, the advisor will provide a list of all recommendations made during the past twelve months. Before acting on information in this analysis, you should consider whether it is suitable for your circumstances and strongly consider seeking advice from your own financial or investment adviser to determine the suitability of any investment.Â