This blog is published by Andy
Waldock. Andy Waldock is a trader, analyst, broker and asset manager.
Therefore, Andy Waldock may have positions for himself, his family, or, his
clients in any market discussed. The blog is meant for educational purposes and
to develop a dialogue among those with an interest in the commodity markets.
The commodity markets employ a high degree of leverage and may not be suitable
for all investors. There is substantial risk in investing in futures.
Today’s price action appears to have trumped the
deflation/reflation argument that has been building over the last month. Many
of the markets have been rallying on small speculative buying as seen in the portfolio
rebalancing by the major long only funds.
Looking at the Commitment of Traders reports over the last
few weeks, we can see an increase in the net long positions of small
speculators in the following markets:
Swiss Franc, Japanese Yen, Canadian Dollar, Unleaded Gas,
Wheat, Beans, Bean Oil and Meal, Corn, 10yr. Notes, Eurodollars, Live Cattle,
Hogs, Copper, Orange Juice, Coffee, Sugar and Dow Jones futures.
The commercial hedgers have gladly stepped in to take the
short side of these trades with their numbers building as we’ve neared the
October – November resistance in many of these markets. Obviously, the interest
rate sector is the exception, although, there is strong short hedging taking
place at these levels.
There are a few major reasons for the resistance at these
levels. First, the U.S. Dollar Index has a strong bias towards setting a high
or low for the coming year in the first two weeks of January. If the Dollar’s
trend is going to be higher, the global demand for American commodities will
decline. Secondly, portfolio rebalancing by the major index funds for 2009 is
going to balance smaller gold weighting against heavier crude oil weighting.
Today’s collapse in crude oil futures is an indication that they may have filled their
need for crude. This also helps explain Gold’s inability to rally through $900
even on weak U.S. Dollar days. Lastly, the economic numbers continue to get
worse with each release. Last week’s ISM numbers were the worst since 1980.
Unemployment this Friday should continue to rise and eventually head north of
8%.
This is a very brief outline of the weakness I’m expecting
in many markets in the near term. Please call with any questions.
