Rio Tinto Vs. BHP Billiton: A Pairs Trade for the RBA’s Top In Iron Ore

On September 19th, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released the minutes from its last meeting on monetary policy (September 5, 2017). Iron ore was perhaps the biggest headline coming out of those minutes. Surprisingly, the RBA called a top in the price of iron ore (emphasis mine): “Iron ore prices had been supported at … Read more

Forex Critical – Key Trends Continuing for the Aussie, Loonie, and Yen

The latest CFTC data on the Commitments of Traders (CoT) showed some key trends continuing: new heights of bullishness on the Australian dollar (FXA) and the Canadian dollar (FXC), and on-going depths of bearishness for the Japanese yen (FXY). Speculators increased net longs on the Australian dollar for the 8th week in a row. Speculators … Read more

Above the 40 (July 26, 2017) – A Stock Market Floating Higher And Still On the Edge

AT40 = 63.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 60.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 9.6 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Commentary The stock market had a relatively bland day that matched a relatively bland statement on monetary policy from the … Read more

Forex Critical – Debelle of Clarity Pushes the Australian Dollar Off Its Perch

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on July 20, 2017. Click here to read the entire piece.) {snip} With THAT quote, Debelle rang loud and clear with a confirmation of my claims in my earlier post that the Bank would find a way to walk the market back … Read more

Forex Critical: The Australian Dollar – Too Much, Too Fast

Over two weeks ago I officially ended my bearishness on the Australian dollar (FXA). I made that call just in time. Source: FreeStockCharts.com The Australian dollar has powered higher against almost all major currencies and now threatens to retard the economy’s on-going adjustment away from mining investment. The Reserve Bank of Australia has consistently noted … Read more