Trade ideas, analysis and low risk set ups for commodities, Bitcoin, gold, silver, coffee, the indexes, options and your retirement. We'll help you keep your emotions out of your trading.
Crude futures dropped below $74 Wednesday, hitting five week lows as equities fell and data from an industry trade group showed large builds in already high U.S. oil inventories. Light, sweet crude for September delivery recently traded $1.61, or 2.1%, lower at $74.16 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange traded $1.29 lower at $75.64 a barrel.
Late Tuesday, the American Petroleum Institute, an industry trade group, said oil inventories rose by 5.8 million barrels last week, while stocks gasoline and distillates, which include heating oil and diesel fuel, rose by around 2 million barrels each. The unexpected rise in inventories combined with falling equities Wednesday morning to push crude to the lowest level since July 7. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was recently down 48 points to 10357.
Growing stockpiles suggest that demand for oil and oil products is having trouble keeping up with supply, a worrying prospect for a market already flush with crude. Stockpiles at the Cushing, Okla., delivery point for Nymex benchmark crude are inching closer to record levels set in May. And inventories of gasoline remain above five-year averages amid the important U.S. summer driving season.
The Department of Energy is set to report its own statistics on inventories at 10:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday. These more influential data are expected to show a 1.3-million-barrel decline in crude stocks, according to a Dow Jones Newswires survey of analysts. Gasoline stocks are seen falling by 500,000 barrels, while distillate inventories are expected to grow by 1.2 million barrels.....Read the entire article.
Crude oil was lower overnight as it extends this month's decline. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.
If September extends the aforementioned decline, the 75% retracement level of the May-August rally crossing at 72.96 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 78.74 would confirm that a short term low has been posted.
First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 77.94
Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 78.74
Crude oil pivot point for Wednesday is 75.80
First support is the overnight low crossing at 74.69
Second support is the 75% retracement level of the May-August rally crossing at 72.96
The early market action on Monday, August 16th, triggered a key weekly "Trade Triangle" to the downside. Our weekly "Trade Triangle" turned red, indicating that all trends are negative and now pointing lower.
In this new 90 second video we show you some of the scenarios we can see playing out for the S&P 500. I think you'll find this new video informative and educational. You will also come to understand the power of our "Trade Triangle" technology.
Please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts on this market. As always our videos are free to watch and there is no registration needed.
Oil fell after an industry funded report showed an increase in U.S. crude and gasoline stockpiles, signaling a recovery in fuel demand may falter. Oil declined for the sixth day in seven after an American Petroleum Institute report showed crude supplies increased 5.87 million barrels and gasoline inventories rose 2.03 million barrels last week. An Energy Department report today may show that crude stockpiles dropped 1 million barrels, according to a Bloomberg News survey.
“The fact that crude oil and gasoline is building, that’s definitely not good,” said Anthony Nunan, an assistant general manager for risk management at Mitsubishi Corp. in Tokyo. “We’ve got a ways to go before people are confident about the U.S. economy.” Crude oil for September delivery dropped as much as 34 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $75.43 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $75.62 at 12:10 p.m. Singapore time. Futures rose 0.7 percent yesterday to $75.77. Prices are up 9.2 percent from a year ago.
The Energy Department report may show U.S. gasoline supplies declined 375,000 barrels last week, according to the Bloomberg News survey. The report is scheduled to be released at 10:30 a.m. in Washington today. Work began on 546,000 houses at an annual rate last month, fewer than the 560,000 median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News and up 1.7 percent from June, Commerce Department figures showed yesterday in Washington.....Read the entire article.
We have had a number of folks on our blog asking us about upside targets in the gold market. Hopefully this short two minute video will answer those questions.
Our "Trade Triangle" technology flashed a buy signal on gold at $1,210.52 on August 12. Since that time the gold market has rallied some $15.
We think you'll find this video on one of the most emotional markets in the world to be right on the money.
Please feel free to add your insights on this market in the comments section. As always our videos are free to watch and there are no registration requirements.
Crude oil was higher due to short covering overnight and is consolidates some of this month's decline. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but remain bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.
If September extends the aforementioned decline, the reaction low crossing at 74.70 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 78.83 would confirm that a short term low has been posted.
First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 78.72
Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 78.83
Crude oil pivot point for Tuesday morning is 75.35
First support is Monday's low crossing at 74.86
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 74.70
At Active Trading Partners, we take a different approach to trading than most online services in terms of advising our subscribers. Our methodology revolves around behavioral characteristics of the crowd, and taking advantage of the extremes in sentiment, whether bullish or bearish.
In the case of ETF trading, we often work with 3x Bull or Bear ETF’s like BGZ, ERY, ERX, TZA, TNA and so forth. Using a combination of Fibonacci re-tracements and Elliott Wave theory, we look for high probability set ups and extreme overbought or oversold situations to trigger a trade recommendation. A most recent example with ETF’s was a short position we took against the rising energy stock index, the XLE. This index had become incredibly overbought in just a few weeks, and looking at prior topping indicators and fibonacci trading day cycles, we felt it was a “Low Risk” bet to short the rally. We recommended ERY at $45.40 as the XLE headed over $56 and was becoming overbought. Within 7 days we had a 15% plus gain by going against the crowd. I saw a 13 fibonacci day trading rally at extremes, so we used the XLE chart below, to identify the timing to enter into ERY.
We use the same approach when it comes to trading individual stocks. We look for “Waterfall decline” reversal patterns, which are somewhat proprietary for ATP and our methodology. This method reduces our entry risk because we are buying stocks that have already taken a recent short term multi-day or even multi-week hit as investors have exited the stock. Recent examples include buying DCTH, a former high flier that fell from $16 down to $5.80 when ATP advised purchase. Within days the stock bottomed and ran to as high as $9 within a few weeks for a 50% move. Another example is OREX, who took a hit in concert with VVUS several weeks ago. We felt the sell-off was overdone and recommended the stock at $4.01, after it dropped from $6. The stock ran back to $5.30 within 10 days for a 30% plus gain.
Trading in a volatile market means you need to be patient, discerning, and wait sometimes for an oversold or overbought condition before you act. Sometimes acting early can cause you to get spooked out of positions that end up being profitable, but only after you panic sell out at a loss. At ATP, we use a “tranche buying” methodology which tries to help with the emotional side of entering or exiting a trade. We recommend 1/3 or 1/2 positions at a time, even if we are really confident in our entry point. This way just in case you mis-timed the bottom of your target by one or two days, which often happens, you reserve some powder to add additional capital into the trade to work your way in over several days. We also advise that our partners enter into these tranches over 24 hours of trading time, perhaps buying 3-4 times into our position especially on minor pullbacks. How many times have you bought into a trade entry at say $5.00 a share, and two days later the position bottomed at $4.50, you close it for a loss, and then it runs to $6? Using a tranche buying methodology keeps your emotions in check and you actually look for a bit further dip as a benefit, not a detriment to your trading.
We also adjust our stops as the stock or ETF moves after we have completed our entry. The main goal as a trader or investor is to book profits and limit losses when you are wrong. Since our ego is often our worst enemy, adjusting your stops as the trade moves in your favored direction keeps you from gettting too giddy and letting a profit slip away. In addition, a reasonable stop prevents you from being over-confident and letting a small loss turn into a larger one. Another recent sample at ATP was buying into VITA, which was very oversold at $1.76-$1.80 ranges. We also though advised our partners take profits at $1.92-$1.97, with a nice and tidy 6-10% gain over 7-8 days of hold period. The stock then fell hard just a few days later to $1.64. Not taking profits would have meant wiping out all of your hard work and watching your paper profits turn into a “hoping for a rebound” position.
In volatile markets, don’t get off your game plan and try to keep your ego in check. Enter into your trades no matter how confident you are, slowly and over 24-48 hours of trade time. Adjust your stops and prevent yourself from getting too greedy or giving away profits. Take your time, wait for set ups, and also take a break every now and then....nobody needs to trade everyday.
The U.S. stock indexes closed narrowly mixed today. As we are into the "dog days" of August, when trading volume typically declines, I do not look for strong trending price action in the stock indexes in the near term. Come early September, look for trading volumes and volatility to pick up significantly.
Crude oil closed down $0.19 at $75.20 a barrel today. Prices again closed nearer the session low today and hit a fresh five week low. Bulls have faded badly to suggest a near term market top is in place. The next near term upside price objective for the bulls is producing a close above psychological resistance at $80.00 a barrel.
Natural gas closed down 10.1 cents at $4.227 today. Prices closed nearer the session low today and hit a fresh 11 week low. The bears have the solid overall near term technical advantage. A two month old downtrend is in place on the daily bar chart. The next upside price objective for the bulls is closing prices above solid technical resistance at $4.70.
Gold futures closed up $9.60 at $1,226.20 today. Prices closed nearer the session high and hit a fresh six week high today. Bulls have gained upside near term technical momentum recently, including more today. The gold market has seen safe haven buying interest recently as investor risk appetite has shrunk. The U.S. dollar index was lower today, which also helped out the gold market bulls. Gold prices are in a three week old uptrend on the daily bar chart.
The U.S. dollar index closed down 44 points at 82.59 today. Prices closed nearer the session low today and saw a corrective pullback from recent gains. Bears still have the overall near term technical advantage. Bulls' next upside price objective is to close prices above solid technical resistance at 84.00.
As oil prices hit the lowest levels since July 19th people are starting to realize something I have been saying for a very long time and that is, the price of oil is not acting on its own but is being driven by outside macro economic forces. I have said time and time again that the price of oil really has been acting as a pawn in the economic recovery and is being driven in large part by economic forces. When the Fed prints more money and the dollar falls and the stock market rises then oil rallies. As the outlook for the economy gets gloomy, like after the Fed meeting last week, stocks fall, then oil gets hit and goes lower. In other words, the fundamentals of supply and demand for oil are dependant totally on the Fed and the prospects for the economy.
Of course when I first started to write about these phenomena, it was met by skepticism by a great many people. Some felt that it was a case of the oil market changing because we hit peak oil or was the byproduct of evil speculators. Yet in today's Wall Street Journal, they are writing about what has become so clear to many. The Journal says, “From Houston to New York, energy traders and commodity investors are watching a new and unusual market phenomenon: a persistently high correlation between oil and stocks. Crude oil is now influenced more by the stock market than by its own inventory levels or demand patterns.....Read the entire article
Last week was exciting as investments rocketed higher or tank… We saw Gold and the US Dollar pop while oil and equities dropped sharply with heavy volume.
Just to recap, Wednesday the market went into free fall mode sending traders and investors running for the door. This was obvious from looking at the large percent drop coupled with heavy selling. That day the NYSE showed panic selling with 37 shares sold for every 1 share purchased meaning pure panic. In my Wednesday night report “How to Take Advantage of Panic Selling for SP500 and Gold ” I explained how to read these extreme market conditions and what to expect the following sessions.
Currently the price of gold, oil, spx are trading somewhat at the opposite extremes seen last week. Below are a few charts explaining the situations:
GLD – Gold ETF Trading Signals
This 60 minute chart shows gold getting hit hard on Wednesday morning. Investors and traders around the globe were closing out positions and moving to cash. This high volume dumping of positions pulled virtually all investments lower and was the first tip-off that the market was in panic mode.
One the dust settled and investor’s regrouped we saw money surge back into gold creating a nice pop the following day. Problem I see is that gold is now trading at a key resistance level when reviewing the daily chart. And if you take a look at the 60 minute chart below you can see the price of gold sold down in the morning on August 13th and drifted up into the close on Friday forming a bearish wedge. Also there was some very strong selling just before the market closed which is also a concern.
USO – Oil Traded Fund
Both times oil has fallen we have seen the price pierce key support levels where the bulls would have the majority of their stops placed. The intraday pierce causes the stops to be triggered washing the market of long positions while the smart money loads up accumulating everyone’s sell orders . This is something which happens with virtually every type of investment and the main reason traders get shaken out just before the market goes in their direction. Anyways, running of the stops is something I will cover in a future report.
Looking at the chart below you can see oil trading at trendline support. Each time the key support levels (blue arrows) have been pierced the market has rocketed higher. Just from looking at the chart from August 9th forward you can see that this move down is overextended and visually looks ready for a pause or bounce in the coming days.
*Trading Tidbit - When trading trendlines it is important to try and play the third test. Reason being is that the first two pullbacks create the trendline and the third test is when active traders generally jump on board causing a sizable bounce. Each test of a trendline it becomes weaker and the probability of a breakdown is more likely.*
SPY – SP500 ETF Trading Fund
The SP500 chart shows last week’s breakdown on the 5th test of the trendline. The market is oversold here and ready for a bounce which I hope we get this week. My concern is that the downward momentum is to strong and a bounce will be negated.
US Dollar Index
US dollar put in a huge bounce last week after testing is 61.8% Fib retracement level from the 2009 December low. The strong bounce has pushed the dollar up to a key resistance level which happens to be 38.2% Fib retracement level from both the December up trend and the recent sell off. I figure this will hold the dollar down for a few days easing the pressure on oil and equities.
Gold, Oil, SPX and Dollar Trading Conclusion
In short, I feel there will be a relief bounce in oil and equities while the dollar and gold will have some profit taking and trade sideways or down at the beginning of the week. After that it looks as though stocks and oil will head lower while the dollar and gold rally.
Crude oil was slightly higher due to short covering overnight and is consolidates some of this month's decline. Stochastics and the RSI are becoming oversold but remain bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.
If September extends the aforementioned decline, the reaction low crossing at 74.70 is the next downside target. Closes above the 10 day moving average crossing at 79.42 would confirm that a short term low has been posted.
First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 78.93
Second resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 79.42
Crude oil pivot point for Monday morning is 75.71
First support is last Friday's low crossing at 75.01
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 74.70
Crude oil's fall from 82.97 extended further last week and the break of 75.9 support, as well as the close below near term rising trend line, serve as an important alert that whole rebound from 64.23 is completed at 82.97 already. Initial bias will remain on the downside this week and deeper fall should be seen to 71.09 support next. On the upside, above 77.40 minor resistance will turn intraday bias neutral and bring recovery. But risk will now remain on the downside as long as 82.97 resistance holds.
In the bigger picture, choppy rebound from 64.23 is treated as a correction to fall from 87.15 only and has possibly finished at 82.97 already. Break of 71.09 will affirm this case and indicate that whole fall from 87.15 is resuming for 60 psychological level, (50% retracement of 33.2 to 87.15 at 60.18, 100% projection of 87.15 to 64.23 from 82.97 at 60.05). Decisive break there will indicate that fall from 87.15 is developing into a powerful impulsive wave and would target 33.2 low. On the upside, even in case of another rise, focus will remain on reversal signal as crude oil enters into resistance zone of 82.97/87.15.
In the long term picture, current development suggests that rebound from 33.2 is finished at 87.15, inside 76.77/90.24 fibo resistance zone as expected. Our view is that fall from 87.15 would develop into the third falling leg of the whole correction from 147.27 and hence, we'd anticipate an eventual break of 33.2 low in the long term as such correction extends.
Ben’s the kind of person you meet at certain dismal, dull affairs, center of the crowd, talking much too, stirring' up the bulls and the bears. Well it seems to me that you have seen too much in too few years and though you try you just can't hide your eyes are edged with fears, you better stop and look around, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, here comes your 19th market breakdown. Oh, who's to blame, that market's just insane? Well nothing Ben does don't seem to work It only seems to make matters worse. Oh, please.
You better stop and look around, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, and here it comes here comes your 19th market breakdown. While the oil market tried to find solace in some strong data out of Germany as its GDP jumped 2.2 in the second quarter, the fastest pace for at least two decades the market is still reeling from a dismal week and dismal initial jobless claims report that increased 2,000 to 484,000 in the week ended Aug 7, the highest level since mid-February.....Read the entire article.
Crude oil fluctuated after sales at U.S. retailers rose less than forecast in July and the cost of living climbed for the first time in four months. Oil traded at its lowest level in four weeks as a lack of jobs prompted Americans to hold back on spending, according to figures from the Commerce Department. The increase in the consumer price index points to a stabilization that may ease concern that a slowdown in growth will spur deflation.
“The economic picture is unsettled,” said Gene McGillian, an analyst and broker at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. “The fundamentals are weak, with high inventories and weak demand, so the market has a hard time holding above $80.” Oil for September delivery fell 7 cents to $75.67 a barrel at 10:24 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier, it touched $75.32, the lowest price since July 16. Futures have fallen 6.2 percent this week, the most since the week ended July 2.
Retail sales increased 0.4 percent last month, following a revised 0.3 percent drop in June. Economists projected a 0.5 percent gain, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey. “The retail sales numbers were a little disappointing, which moved the market lower for a bit, but we’re holding on here,” said Tom Bentz, a broker with BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Inc. in New York.
The consumer price index increased 0.3 percent, the most in a year and exceeding the 0.2 percent gain projected by the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News, figures from the Labor Department showed today in Washington.....Read the entire article.
The current price in natural gas has a lot of traders taking positions. So is it time to buy natural gas? Let's take a look at our Smart Scan Chart Analysis. It confirms that a strong downtrend is in place and that the market remains negative longer term. Strong Downtrend with money management stops. A triangle indicates the presence of a very strong trend that is being driven by strong forces and insiders. Based on a pre-defined weighted trend formula for chart analysis, UNG scored -100 on a scale from -100 (strong downtrend) to +100 (strong uptrend).
-10......Last Hour Close Below 5 hour Moving Average
-15......New 3 Day Low on Thursday
-20......Last Price Below 20 Day Moving Average
-25......New 3 Week Low, Week Ending August 14th
-30......New 3 Month Low in May -100.....Total Score
Crude oil was slightly higher due to short covering overnight and is consolidates some of the decline off last week's high. Stochastics and the RSI remain bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.
If September extends the aforementioned decline, the reaction low crossing at 74.70 is the next downside target. Closes above the 10 day moving average crossing at 80.04 would confirm that a short term low has been posted.
First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 79.02
Second resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 80.04
Crude oil's pivot point for Friday morning is 76.41
First support is Thursday's low crossing at 75.52
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 74.70
Gold was lower due to profit taking overnight as it consolidates some of Thursday's rally. Stochastics and the RSI remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.
If October extends the rally off July's low, the reaction high crossing at 1220.80 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 1190.40 would temper the friendly outlook.
First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 1218.60
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 1220.80
Gold pivot point for Friday morning is1211.0
First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 1199.20
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 1190.40
Natural gas was slightly higher overnight as it extends this week's trading range. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.
If September renews last week's decline, May's low crossing at 4.140 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.557 confirm that a short term low has been posted.
First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.467
Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.557
Natural gas pivot point for Friday morning is 4.308
First support is Wednesday's low crossing at 4.257
Second support is May's low crossing at 4.140
Dan Dicker, senior TSC contributor, doesn't like the stock market right now but reveals the two stocks he's watching as indices correct. Follow Dan on Twitter @Dan_Dicker.
Crude oil closed lower on Thursday as it extends yesterday's breakout below the 20 day moving average crossing at 79.05. Renewed concerns over both the domestic and world economy and the negative ramifications of potential lower world demand continues to weigh on the energy complex.
The low range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Friday. Stochastics and the RSI are bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term. If September extends this week's decline, the reaction low crossing at 74.70 is the next downside target. Closes above the 10 day moving average crossing at 80.36 would confirm that a short term low has been posted.
First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 79.05
Second resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 80.36
First support is today's low crossing at 75.52
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 74.70
Did you close out any long positions today? Well if not then you are one of a few!
Today (Wednesday) the market gapped down 1.5% at the opening bell which set a very negative tone for the session. Volume was screaming as protective stops triggered and traders close out positions before prices fell much further. This gap seemed to have caught several traders off guard but those of you who follow my newsletter knew something big was brewing and to keep positions very small.
Just before the close on Tuesday I had a buy signal for the SP500 which was generated from the extreme readings on the market internals. After watching the market chop around and get squeezed into the apex of the rising wedge the past 3 weeks I knew something big was about to happen and I did not want to get everyone involved because I felt a large gap was about to happen and the odds were 50/50. Instead we passed on the technical buy signal and waited to see what would happen Wednesday.
Below are a few charts showing one of my extreme reading indicators I use which helps me to identify possible short term bottoms.
SP500 – SPY Exchange Traded Fund
This daily chart of the SPY etf clearly shows that when we see panic selling in the NYSE which I consider 15+ sell orders to each buy order to be PANIC SELLING. This is shown using the purple indicator at the bottom of the chart. Today there was an average of 37 sell orders to every buy order which tells me the majority of traders are closing out all their long positions.
In an uptrend this indicator works very well and can help time a bottom within 1-4 days. As you can see on the chart below we just had a huge sell off and everyone seemed to be exiting their positions. This panic selling tends to carry over for a couple sessions until the majority of traders around the globe are finished selling.
The problem with this indicator is that in a down trend we tend to get these panic selling spikes regularly which means this time it may not work out because of the trendline break today which I think has officially changed the trend from up to down. Because of this possible down trend starting I feel its best to wait and see if it’s a dead cat bounce or if there are real buyers behind it, then we will take action to go long or short the market.
Market Internals – Put/Call Ratio & NYSE Advance/Decline Line – 60 Min Charts
Here are two charts which are currently at extreme levels. This typically means we a bounce should occur the following day or a gap higher. If you did not know there was a strong trendline breakdown today you most likely would have taking a small long position into the close.
The Put/Call ratio when above 1.00 means more people are buying put options, meaning they are leveraging themselves to make money if the market drops. As a contrarian indicator, if everyone is buying leverage to the down side then they should have sold their long positions already. That would mean most of the selling has already taken place in the market thus it should have some upward bias in the near term.
On the other side you can see the NYSE A/D line which shows how many stocks on the NYSE are advancing and how many have moved lower. When this indicator is below -1750 then we know the market is oversold on a short term basis and there should be some upward bias in the near future.
Now Lets Take A Look At Gold
Gold was left on the side of the road today as traders and investors focused on the equities market. I was actually a little surprised that it didn’t make a big move today because the US Dollar rocketed higher for the entire session. Anyone who has been watching gold closely already knows that gold is doing its own thing now… Some days it moves with the dollar, other days it does not… its become much more random than it used to be.
Anyways it looks to be forming two patterns… first one is a bull flag. If a breakout to the upside occurs that would send gold to the $1230-40 level.
The second pattern is a mini head and shoulders pattern which would send gold down to the $1180 area if the neck line is violated. It is a very tough call for gold.
Mid-Week Technical Traders Update:
In short, it’s going to take a day or two before we get a feel for the SP500 as we wait to see if it bounces with volume behind it. I personally would like a bounce so we can short it. It is unfortunate how the market broke down today. We were so close to getting a really good setup in either direction but the FOMC meeting shook things up and caused the large gap which in turn made a large group of traders miss that beautiful drop… It’s frustrating when you wait for something only to have a piece of news mess things up. That’s just part of trading though.
As for gold, I feel it’s a 50/50 trade and could go either way so I am not going to take a position right now. I’m just going to wait for the market to tip its hand a little more before I jump.
The Chinese central bank worried about a sharp slowdown as the country took steps to reignite their softening export market. The Peoples Bank of China, according to the Wall Street Journal, set the dollar/yuan central parity rate at a seven week high following the U.S. dollar's broad strength against most major currencies overnight amid concerns about a weakening global economic recovery. The move had the yuan drop sharply against other major currencies and may draw attention from China’s critics that the move will give China a continued unfair trade advantage.
This is especially true after the US trade deficit jumped by a whopping 18.8 percent hitting to $49.9 billion dollars, highest level since 2008. Yet at the same time, China, the great hope for commodity bulls, has some major economic problems on their own. China's growth was at 11.9% and has fallen abruptly to 10.2% in the second quarter. Recent data on Chinese Industrial output reports it fell to 13.4%. China’s real estate bubble is alarming. China has raised interest rates to try to reign in property speculation.....Read the entire article.
