Muni Bombs

Regular readers should be comfortable knowing investment price patterns develop, repeat and understanding the reasons why. A great example of this can be seen in the US Muni bond ETF, MUB. Over the past 7 years, a head and shoulders topping pattern has formed 4 times. Of the first 3, only two actually played out to or beyond the pattern’s lower target. The middle one failed and reversed strongly higher (“from false breaks come big moves”) where it went on to make pattern #3. Interestingly, all of the first three formed their peak (head) when RSI momentum (the upper pane) entered and then exited the overbought region which is not the case in the current. Muni bond holders want to keep an eye on the present pattern and insure price holds at or above the neckline otherwise risk the possibility of much larger decline.

If you change the time frame on above chart to 5 years instead of 7 thereby removing the first pattern nearest the left edge of the chart and clean it up a bit something interesting appears … a  4+ year head and shoulders topping pattern.  

As you can see, it still has some room before it reaches its neckline and the pattern could trigger. Take a look at volume in the bottom pane. Notice how during the 2015 selloff from the head, you started to see big green bars as it broke below the neckline, an indication the big institutional buyers were stepping in. If I were a Muni bond holder right now I hope to see those big buyers step in once again as/if we approach those same levels. If not, I will be thanking the investment gods above I am not a holder of any Muni bonds as it could just be bombs away lower.

July 2018 Charts on the Move Video

US stock markets are leading the rest of the world higher.  The intermediate term rally in the dollar has either reversed or put the case for over-weighting foreign investments on hold. I think we muddle through the summer/autumn months and then rally into year-end.  Anyone thinking the same? 

July's Charts on the Move video can be viewed at the link below

https://youtu.be/lmdfJ5p16es

June 2018 Charts on the Move Video

Yawwwwwwwn.   Sideways chop within the Jan -Feb consolidation range until we see a catalyst. I thought maybe trade war fears would be enough to break the trend but apparently not.  Bulls are still in charge.  I don't expect to see a resolution for months so until then, sit back, enjoy the summer and check out this month's Charts on the Move video at the link below  ...

https://youtu.be/FLo_AyzWVeA

Inversion

When economist talk about the “yield curve” they are really just referring to a plot of yield versus varying bond maturities. An inverted curve is when the difference between the yields of long term bonds (usually 10 year) rates to short (usually 2 year) is negative (short term yields are higher than long). This is a very closely watched benchmark by knowledgeable investors because we know every recession that has occurred in the US over the past 60 years has been preceded by an inverted yield curve, according to research from the San Francisco Fed. Curve inversions have correctly signaled all nine recessions since 1955 and had only one false positive, in the mid-1960s, when an inversion was followed by an economic slowdown but not an official recession, according to the Fed’s data. 

While the US yield curve is still positive (NOT inverted) the global curve just recently inverted for the first time since 2007 where its inversion lasted briefly (less than 6 months).  I have not seen any studies that show if global yield curve inversion has the same strong correlation to economic slowdowns (recessions) as it has in the US, so the implications of the crossover may or may not be of significance.   

As a minimum though, it raises a warning flag for investors to take the portfolio off autopilot and have a plan. There is no question, a recession, if it were to ensue around the world would likely drag the US along. Economic slowdowns are rarely ever good for stock prices and when combined with us being in the latter stages of the 2009 economic recovery cycle while stock prices are at very extended valuations, next year looks like it could be shaping up to present challenges investors have not had to face in many years.

37 years later ….

US bond returns are now negative over the past 2 years. The last time that happened was 1981. While there will likely be bumps along the way, I don’t think it will take another 37 years before we see another negative rolling 2 year return, do you? If not, it’s a good time to be thinking about how to immunize your portfolio.