DJ Debt Futures Review: Rises As Other Markets Reverse Course
By Allen Sykora
BEND, Ore. (Dow Jones)--Interest-rate futures in Chicago reversed course
Wednesday largely in reaction to developments in other markets, analysts and
traders reported.
Debt products started the session weaker in response to softer oil
prices but stronger equities. Since, however, oil has rallied while equities
tumbled. As a result, interest-rate futures gradually ticked higher as the
day wore on, most contacts said.
The charts are looking constructive, particularly in the long end of the
yield curve, after an outside reversal, traders said.
Dec 10-year notes settled up 8.5 ticks to 113-03 after earlier trading
as low as 112-17. Dec Treasury bonds rose 8 ticks to 112-23 after having been
as soft as 112-01. Mar Eurodollars climbed 3.5 basis points to settle at
97.555, compared to an earlier low of 97.485.
"It's a pretty remarkable day," said Alex Manzara, vice president with
Refco. "A lot of things have reversed today. Oil had a pretty good sell-off
yesterday and was lower again this morning, but now it's up. That may have
been the main driver on the day."
Nov crude settled with a gain of $1.13 to $53.64 a barrel after having
been as soft as $51.49. Higher oil prices have been supporting fixed-income
products lately on ideas that it will slow economic momentum, most analysts
have said.
The turnaround in bonds, notes and Eurodollars also can be tied to the
reversal in stocks, which opened higher after strong earnings from Yahoo and
upward guidance from McDonald's, but later turned south, said Manzara.
"Stock indices have traded almost straight down on the day, and that's
another thing that has supported fixed-income," said Manzara. As the interest-
rate pits were closing, the Dow industrials were down between 85 and 90
points for the day.
Mark Ungewitter, portfolio manager in Boston with Investors Bank &
Trust, also cited the slide in stocks as constructive for bonds. Unlike the
majority of market participants, however, Ungewitter said he is less inclined
to link rising bond prices to rising oil costs. However, he did point to
Wednesday morning's weekly mortgage-applications report as a supportive
influence for the fixed-income market.
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its market index fell 9.2%
to 658.2.
"Softness in real estate could potentially be bullish for bonds,"
Ungewitter said.
While Ungewitter said he is longer-term bearish on the bond market, he
also is of the view the market could retest its recent highs before turning
lower again, particularly based on the options activity after Friday's soft
employment report. The yield on cash 10-year notes, which moves inversely to
the price and is currently around 4.08%, could retest last month's lows
around 3.96%, said Ungewitter.
"So to me, Friday's rally does not feel exhausted," he said.
The bonds and 10-year notes have posted constructive outside days on the
charts, analysts pointed out.
At their low of 112-17, Dec 10-year notes were a half tick below
Tuesday's bottom. They eventually settled above Tuesday's high of 112-31.5,
however, peaking at 113-05.
"It looks technically like we rejecting the downside and building on the
gains made from unemployment (Friday's soft jobs report)," said Manzara.
At their low of 112-01, Dec bonds were a tick below Tuesday's weakest
level. Yet, they came back to close right at Tuesday's 112-23 high and peaked
at 112-28.
Meanwhile, the narrowing in the calendar spreads for the Eurodollar
futures could be considered bullish, pointed out Manzara.
After Tuesday's close, the spread between the Dec 2004 and the Dec 2005
Eurodollar futures was 87 basis points, said Manzara. At Wednesday's
settlement, the spread was 83 points.
"If you look at a one-year spread, and think the Fed would tighten by 1%
within a year, you would think that spread should be over 100 basis points,"
said Manzara. Thus a spread in the 83 area "is quite low," he said.
"All these one-year spreads have been compressing, and it's overall kind
of bullish," added Manzara.
No major economic releases occurred Wednesday, but several economic
reports are due out Thursday at 0730 CT (1230 GMT). They include:
-- first-time weekly jobless claims, forecast to rise to around 340,000
from 335,000 in the previous reporting period;
-- the trade balance, with the deficit expected to widen to $52 billion
in August from $50.1 billion in July; and
-- the import-price index, expected to be up 0.6% in September.
-By Allen Sykora; Dow Jones Newswires; 541-318-8765;
[email protected]
(END) Dow Jones Newswires