Trading The Week Ahead – Fed Speak Looms

The raft of geopolitical concerns out there ( in particular Ukraine ) are finally starting to influence markets. The largest “current concern” now being what effect Russia and it’s supply of natural gas ( or “lack there of” – should things continue down this road ) will have on The European Economy, which is in a sad enough state of affairs as it is.

This isn’t going away anytime soon, and will likely be the catalyst ( or at least via the main stream media ) where blame can simply be placed on Russia for all problems in Western Economies wherein these problems have just been papered over – having been there all along.

My original post back in February “U.S Wants Ukraine – No Matter What” on the subject.

Of particular interest as it pertains to our trading here, take note of any “1 Hour Chart” containing JPY ( AUD/JPY for example ) from Friday, and see the “blatant and obvious” currency move on news that Ukraine attacked a Russian military convoy.

Japanese Yen is going to absolutely “explode higher” given any type of “black swan event” aside from its continued strengthening on safe haven flows.

Trading The Week Ahead

Our charts for both The SP 500 as well Nikkei have played out almost literally “to the letter” – having taken the anticipated bounce and now looking like they are ready to roll back over.

For more detailed trading, real time trade alerts and daily commentary please consider the Members Area as September is setting up for some of the largest opportunities we’ll have seen over the past several months.

 

Curreny Wars Turn To Trade Wars – People Next

From a purely geopolitical point of view things just keep getting hotter.

An expected “bounce in risk” ( considering the oversold conditions ) not as forth coming here as Putin pushes back with sanctions of his own BANNING EUROPEAN FOOD IMPORTS ( something which will further push Europe into a triple-dip recession ).

“Take that” then Obama / EU cronies.

Apparently the big boys in Washington and The EU are both completely shocked and outraged ( yet imposing sanction of their own is always Ok – right? )

Putin will not be bullied, now with the “supposed recovery” in The EU ( ya right ) hanging in the balance. Like it has anything to do “what so ever” with Putin or Russia.

This is now coming to a head as the West continues to do anything possible to provoke the “calm cool and collected” Putin.

The U.S must make war in order to retain “reserve currency status” and continue with the Ponzi at whatever cost.

Putin’s latest action keeps the game in check, and provides hope for those of us ( most of the planets population ) who look forward to a day when The U.S looks to concentrate on its own “completely f#&ked up situation”, starts taking care of its “own people” and keeps its big fat “overly indebted nose” out of other people business.

You’d think the people of The Ukraine were “made of gold” considering the amount of interest from Washington! No wait…….gas/oil – that’s it.

Currency wars turn to trade wars…….

Trade wars turn to “people wars”.

Hey – what’s up fellow traders? I know the flow of “daily trading info” has dwindled to a certain degree here at the public blog as it’s now “hopping” in The Members Area!

Things are really looking to pick up here in coming days / weeks with “The Fed news” late August as well current weakness in global equities assuring fireworks to follow!

Come check it out at www.forexkong.net

 

 

 

Yellen Gonna Prick Yer Bubble – Aug 21st

I encourage investors and traders of all asset classes to just take a minute here  – and listen up.

As much as I understand you’ve likely got a BBQ to tend to or perhaps a Birthday party for your dog, this will only take a second.

The annual Jackson Hole economic symposium, a three-day conference in Wyoming begins on Aug. 21st where The Fed meets each year for the continued discussions of world domination,fashion tips for bankers,entertainment news, and of course – monetary policy.

This time it’s going to be different. You need to get this on your radar.

Risking complete and total repute ( if they’ve still got any left at all ) The Fed is finally going to “actually say something” with respect to letting some of the “hot air” out of this ridiculous stock bubble.

With the bond buying set to “end in October” Yes! END IN OCTOBER! This will only give investors a few short months ( more like 6 weeks ) to re-evaluate their current holdings / consider taking profits and head for the exits in an “orderly fashion” as interest rates are set to rise much sooner than most have been anticipating.

Now you ask me well……”How does this affect me Kong?” “I own Apple! One of the greatest companies on Earth…I can’t imagine anything The Fed says having much to do with them?

Listen.No stock survives on its own accord when “global risk for appetite” wanes. No stock.

When large institutional investors ( those that dwarf your portfolio by 10,000x plus ) start looking at investments where “higher interest rates” come at them like a dull knifes in the kidneys – trust me.

They sell.

You can’t boil this down to single days trading, or even a single week or month when you are staring dead into the eyes of such a “fundamental shift in monetary policy” and it’s far-reaching effects.

Housing, equities, credit / loans, dog food, birthday presents, beer, Apple and “everything else on this planet” that has been pushed along by way of “massive injections of liquidity by Central Banks” will very soon feel the effect of having that taken away.

The Fed hopes the exit will be in an “orderly fashion” but you know yourself best. You’ll hang on “just like the guy next door” thinking you’ve got this figured out and that “just one more day er two” and then I’ll cash out – that’s what I’ll do. Smart.

Doesn’t sound “too orderly” if you and the guy next door, and of course every investor on your block are thinking the same way now does it?

Everybody always runs for the exits all at once…..and everyone is always, always too late.

Watch for news surrounding the Jackson Hole Meeting around August 21st. You won’t want to miss it.

 

 

 

Equities Exhausted – USD Double Top

It’s been a tough grind here as of late, with such low volume trading leaving so many asset correlations stuck in the mud. Traders looking for the usual “signals” in one asset class with hopes of “putting it all together” have been pushed around and pulled back and forth – left struggling to “find an answer” within the continued “day-to-day chop”.

A tough market to navigate with Central Bankers hiding behind every corner, and with such low volume it would appear that on many days…..the market just seems to be sitting there – doing nothing.

Oil looks to be heading lower here and USD appears tired now sitting at its near term “double top” ( as seen via $dxy ).

Gold’s pullback appears to be resolving itself – sputtering out at a pretty solid area of support around 1292.00, while U.S Equities ( as well EU equities and Japan ) look weak, tired and exhausted.

Does anyone else expect that next weeks “U.S GDP report” will disappoint? And that perhaps markets are “finally considering” things aren’t nearly as rosy as the U.S Media continues to suggest?

It would have to have been “some kind of amazing quarter” ( the past 90 days only ) for the report to make up for the incredible ” -2.9 % loss in growth”  reported in the first quarter now wouldn’t it?

Stars would clearly align with USD moving lower, gold moving higher and “global equities” finally taking a break after the SP 500 has made it nearly 800 days straight without a meaningful correction.

Food for thought moving into next week. Perhaps you’ll want to take a peak at your computer / trade account a little more regularly.

Have a good weekend everyone. Enjoy the sun!

 

 

Forex, Stocks And Gold – Trading The Week Ahead

The updates trade table offers little in the way of “new trades” here as of this morning, as last Thursday’s “drop” and in turn Friday’s “pop” has left the higher time frames unchanged, and more or less “yellowed the waters” shorter term.

Weekly_Forex_Overview_Sunday_July_20_2014

Weekly_Forex_Overview_Sunday_July_20_2014

 

What may be of particular interest to you this week will be USD, and “yes once again” the debate as to which way she’ll go ( with conviction and follow through ) should we see this distribution environment “flip” to something with a little more trend / conviction either way.

We’ve got JPY and its related pairs under the thumb, with eyes on Nikkei if considering to “beef up / add ” to any positions under our current framework. Ideally we’ll want to see JPY “breakout” from it’s ascending triangle moving higher…as “appetite for risk” moves inversely lower.

NZD in particular remains weak here this morning, but Thursday brings with it “another possible rate hike” out of New Zealand. It’s my thinking perhaps they “hold off” on an additional hike here and perhaps markets have already suspected as much but….that’s just speculation.

Still no aggressive trades in EUR, GBP vs USD as I want to give it another day or so to see if  USD turns lower here as I expect it to.

A weak open here as Japan was weak overnight as well EU stocks so…..it remains to be seen of “the machine’s that be” will again step in at the U.S open and work their “usual magic” to keep this thing flying a little longer.

Comments from both The BIS ( Bank of International Settlements) as well the IMF “AND” even The Fed suggesting that it’s getting a little out of hand here – with public perception and the underlying fundamentals now clearly out of touch with reality.

Gold miners entries as of a few days ago remain strong, and the final “short SP 500” added at 1956.00 ( via Sept 191 puts ) appears to be holding its own.

 

Want to see what other irons we’ve got in the fire? Come join us in the members area for weekly reports, daily strategies, real-time chat and trading of “anything and everything under the sun” at: www.forexkong.net

U.S Interests In Ukraine – A Brilliant Synopsis

Cut and past from a fellow named Mike Whitney ( thank you very much Mike ) who can be reached at: [email protected] as I could not have possibly explained it better myself.

In Ukraine, the US is using a divide and conquer strategy to pit the EU against trading partner Moscow.

The State Department and CIA helped to topple Ukraine’s elected President Viktor Yanukovych and install a US stooge in Kiev who was ordered to cut off the flow of Russian gas to the EU and lure Putin into a protracted guerilla war in Ukraine.

The bigwigs in Washington figured that, with some provocation, Putin would react the same way he did when Georgia invaded South Ossetia in 2006. But, so far, Putin has resisted the temptation to get involved which is why new puppet president Petro Poroshenko has gone all “Jackie Chan” and stepped up the provocations by pummeling east Ukraine mercilessly. It’s just a way of goading Putin into sending in the tanks.

But here’s the odd part: Washington doesn’t have a back-up plan. It’s obvious by the way Poroshenko keeps doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. That demonstrates that there’s no Plan B. Either Poroshenko lures Putin across the border and into the conflict, or the neocon plan falls apart, which it will if they can’t demonize Putin as a “dangerous aggressor” who can’t be trusted as a business partner.

So all Putin has to do is sit-tight and he wins, mainly because the EU needs Moscow’s gas. If energy supplies are terminated or drastically reduced, prices will rise, the EU will slide back into recession, and Washington will take the blame. So Washington has a very small window to draw Putin into the fray, which is why we should expect another false flag incident on a much larger scale than the fire in Odessa. Washington is going to have to do something really big and make it look like it was Moscow’s doing. Otherwise, their pivot plan is going to hit a brick wall.

“Ukraine’s Parliament adopted .. a bill under which up to 49% of the country’s gas pipeline network could be sold to foreign investors. This could pave the way for US or EU companies, which have eyed Ukrainian gas transportation system over the last months.

Boy, you got to hand it to the Obama throng. They really know how to pick their coup-leaders, don’t they? These puppets have only been in office for a couple months and they’re already giving away the farm.

And, such a deal! US corporations will be able to buy up nearly half of a pipeline that moves 60 percent of the gas that flows from Russia to Europe. That’s what you call a tollbooth, my friend; and US companies will be in just the right spot to gouge Moscow for every drop of natural gas that transits those pipelines. And gouge they will too, you can bet on it.

Is that why the State Department cooked up this loony putsch, so their fatcat, freeloading friends could rake in more dough?

This also explains why the Obama crowd is trying to torpedo Russia’s other big pipeline project called Southstream. Southstream is a good deal for Europe and Russia.

On the one hand, it would greatly enhance the EU’s energy security, and on the other, it will provide needed revenues for Russia so they can continue to modernize, upgrade their dilapidated infrastructure, and improve standards of living. But “the proposed pipeline (which) would snake about 2,400 kilometers, or roughly 1,500 miles, from southern Russia via the Black Sea to Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and ultimately Austria. (and) could handle about 60 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year, enough to allow Russian exports to Europe to largely bypass Ukraine” (New York Times) The proposed pipeline further undermines Washington’s pivot strategy, so Obama, the State Department and powerful US senators (Ron Johnson, John McCain, and Chris Murphy) are doing everything in their power to torpedo the project.

“What gives Vladimir Putin his power and control is his oil and gas reserves and West and Eastern Europe’s dependence on them,” Senator Johnson said in an interview. “We need to break up his stranglehold on energy supplies. We need to bust up that monopoly.” (New York Times)

What a bunch of baloney. Putin doesn’t have a monopoly on gas. Russia only provides 30 percent of the gas the EU uses every year. And Putin isn’t blackmailing anyone either. Countries in the EU can either buy Russian gas or not buy it. It’s up to them. No one has a gun to their heads. And Gazprom’s prices are competitive too, sometimes well-below market rates which has been the case for Ukraine for years, until crackpot politicians started sticking their thumb in Putin’s eye at every opportunity; until they decided that that they didn’t have to pay their bills anymore because, well, because Washington told them not to pay their bills. That’s why.

Ukraine is in the mess it’s in today for one reason, because they decided to follow Washington’s advice and shoot themselves in both feet. Their leaders thought that was a good idea. So now the country is broken, penniless and riven by social unrest. Regrettably, there’s no cure for stupidity.

The neocon geniuses apparently believe that if they sabotage Southstream and nail down 49 percent ownership of Ukraine’s pipeline infrastructure, then the vast majority of Russian gas will have to flow through Ukrainian pipelines. They think that this will give them greater control over Moscow. But there’s a glitch to this plan which analyst Jeffrey Mankoff pointed out in an article titled “Can Ukraine Use Its Gas Pipelines to Threaten Russia?”. Here’s what he said:

“The biggest problem with this approach is a cut in gas supplies creates real risks for the European economy… In fact, Kyiv’s efforts to siphon off Russian gas destined to Europe to offset the impact of a Russian cutoff in January 2009 provide a window onto why manipulating gas supplies is a risky strategy for Ukraine. Moscow responded to the siphoning by halting all gas sales through Ukraine for a couple of weeks, leaving much of eastern and southern Europe literally out in the cold. European leaders reacted angrily, blaming both Moscow and Kyiv for the disruption and demanding that they sort out their problems. While the EU response would likely be somewhat more sympathetic to Ukraine today, Kyiv’s very vulnerability and need for outside financial support makes incurring European anger by manipulating gas supplies very risky.

The funny thing about gas is that, when you stop paying the bills, they turn the heat off. Is that hard to understand?

So, yes, the State Department crystal-gazers and their corporate-racketeer friends might think they have Putin by the shorthairs by buying up Ukraine’s pipelines, but the guy who owns the gas (Gazprom) is still in the drivers seat. And he’s going to do what’s in the best interests of himself and his shareholders. Someone should explain to John Kerry that that’s just how capitalism works.

Washington’s policy in Ukraine is such a mess, it really makes one wonder about the competence of the people who come up with these wacko ideas. Did the brainiacs who concocted this plan really think they’d be able to set up camp between two major trading partners, turn off the gas, reduce a vital transit country into an Iraq-type basketcase, and start calling the shots for everyone in the region?

It’s crazy.

Europe and Russia are a perfect fit. Europe needs gas to heat its homes and run its machinery. Russia has gas to sell and needs the money to strengthen its economy. It’s a win-win situation. What Europe and Russia don’t need is the United States. In fact, the US is the problem. As long as US meddling persists, there’s going to be social unrest, division, and war. It’s that simple. So the goal should be to undermine Washington’s ability to conduct these destabilizing operations and force US policymakers to mind their own freaking business. That means there should be a concerted effort to abandon the dollar, ditch US Treasuries, jettison the petrodollar system, and force the US to become a responsible citizen that complies with International law.

This in an absolutely “perfect synopsis” of events currently unfolding in Ukraine….and you’ll have to appreciate the irony with respect to the “false flag” and the mysterious “Malaysian Jetliner now “downed” in Eastern Ukraine”…….a coincidence? A chance event?

I hardly think so.

Go Obama go – you moron!

Yellen Must Get Hawkish – Doves Will Cry

To garner even the tiniest amount of respect over the next few days….Janey Yellen “must” do something to forewarn markets / prepare investors for the inevitable “unwinding” – coming soon to a theatre near you.

It would be completely irresponsible for Yellen ( at this point ) to continue looking into the camera with those “beady little eyes”, suggesting that interest rates aren’t going up ( much sooner than markets are currently pricing in ) with the continued stance that “no bubbles are seen” and that all is going according to plan.

I believe it’s come to the point now…..where even the “just shut up and buy the dip / The Fed’s got your back crowd” would just as well get the signal here soon…….as they’ve pushed this about as far as “even they” think is possible.

Interest rates are on the rise much faster The Fed cares to make mention of, and this “playing dumb” act has about run it’s course.

I encourage everyone to take “extra special notice” over the next few days as to “what Yellen says” and more importantly “how markets interpret / react” as…..

If The U.S Fed had even the smallest shred of human decency ( which we already know it doesn’t ) now would be the time to “give the market a little heads up”.

The massive positions / time it takes to unwind has this so  ridiculously”one-sided” that without an appropraite amount of time…..you may just see everyone run for the exits all at once.

It’s 100% up to Yellen.

She can make this “somewhat orderly” or she can roll the dice another turn, and have this thing tank later.

That’s what I call a free market baby. That what I call – America!

 

 

 

Second Quarter GDP – Reality Check Anyone?

The “advanced estimates” for U.S GDP ( gross domestic product ) are to be released on July 30th, and promise to bring with them a “flurry of market activity”, with traders, economists, analysts and speculators alike clambering to find an edge, and get positioned for the news.

I pose a simple question.

With first quarter GDP coming in with  a devastating contraction of  – 2.9% growth ( consider for a moment that is the worst quarterly GDP report in 5 years….those last 5 years with the Fed printing billions per month ) what on Earth could possibly have occurred in the past 3 months ( the second quarter of 2014 ) to not only make up for the massive loss, but to suggest anything close to “positive growth”?

You’d need to see a headline like ” Second Quarter Growth Sky Rockets! ” a whopping 4% to even consider the United States is “not” heading straight back into recession ( never left actually ).

Impossible.

What “magical changes” could possibly have taken place in the past 90 days to produce a second quarter GDP number that “doesn’t signify recession”?

Answer: None.

With “consumer spending” accounting for more than two-thirds of economic output, how can people making $7.25 per hour ( minimum wage ) or just under 1200.00 per month pre tax  be expected to buy anything other than beans / rice and “hopefully” keep a roof over their heads?

The false sense of wealth created by The Fed and its ponzi / racket in U.S Equities has done absolutely nothing to bolster further growth of the American economy, and soon…..yes soon……..chickens will be coming home to roost.

2nd Quarter GDP disappoints, and “maybe” it’s reality check time.

 

 

 

Swing High – On The Old Nikkei

Most of you know that I follow Japan as a leading indicator right?

It’s not at all uncommon to pull prophecy from “Krystal Kong Balls” seeing what happens in Japan overnight spill into U.S equities the following morning.

Would I have told any day trader in U.E Equities that “today” would open lower? Absolutely.

Would I suggest that 15,000 in Nikkei and it’s clear rejection at that level will usher in the coming correction? Absolutely.

Will you take any interest in this, and possibly “learn something” or perhaps consider this in your trading / investing moving forward?

Absolutely not. I highly HIGHLY doubt, that the ramblings of some gorilla as to the peaks and valley’s in “some stock market” far,far away will have any impact on you and your trading what so ever.

Why?

Because you won’t open yourself to change. You “can’t believe” anything like this is relevant, let alone “possible” as you continue to view the world via CNBC and the hordes of “financial bloggers” regurgitating the same nonsense and “predictions” day after day.

I’m buying a bunch of EURO here today and am selling a whole bunch of USD too but I’m sure “that” makes no sense to you either right?

Here’s the symbol for The Nikkei should you crawl decide to crawl outside your hole: $nikk

 

 

 

Forex Market Solved – Here's What's Next

It’s unfortunate that we’ve been so patient these days, only to now find the odd “profitable trade” finding itself slightly “back in the red” – with the huge ramp up in both The Nikkei as well SP 500 ( our risk barometers ) on absolutely no news “if not” bad news.

So is forex.

The great news however is…..we’ve “still” not missed a thing! and for those who’ve been slightly “wary” of the current trade environment ( wonderful…as you well should be ) a number of trade opportunities are not only “very much in play” but perhaps even “better looking” than some days or even weeks ago.

Let’s take a quick recap.

Short AUD/JPY here “again” at 95.00 or ( as I often suggest ) several pips lower and allow the market “momentum” come to you.

Aud_JPY_June_03_2014

Aud_JPY_June_03_2014

Re short GBP/JPY here at 171.80 area is the exact same entry we took some days ago then banked 200 pips on it! Exact same thing – right here right now.

With over 900 pips banked in the last 30 days, this is setting up pretty sweet for a complete and total “re run” as markets continue to hang at all time highs.

We’ve got piles of trades in the works now, with the “near to medium term analysis” in the bag.

Come trade with us at www.forexkong.net and get the full run down, weekly reports, daily commentary and real time trade alerts.