Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>The SPX, Nasdaq 100, and DJI breaking out to new all-time highs following 3-week consolidations. Russell 2000 (IWM), S&amp;P 400 (IJH), Vanguard ExtendedMarket (VXF), countless other Sectors/industries breaking out also.</li>
<li>This is classic bull market behavior. Considering market dynamics remain healthy, this is all evidence that supports our ongoing bullish outlook.</li>
<li>Software, Data Storage buys: NTAP, NTNX, DBX, VRNS, and CVLT. Investment Banking &amp; Brokerage, Mid-Cap buys: JEF, SF, EVR, MC, and LAZ</li>
</ul>


The SPX, Nasdaq 100, and DJI breaking out to new all-time highs following 3-week consolidations. Russell 2000 (IWM), S&amp;P 400 (IJH), Vanguard ExtendedMarket (VXF), countless other Sectors/industries breaking out also.
This is classic bull market behavior. Considering market dynamics remain healthy, this is all evidence that supports our ongoing bullish outlook.
Software, Data Storage buys: NTAP, NTNX, DBX, VRNS, and CVLT. Investment Banking &amp; Brokerage, Mid-Cap buys: JEF, SF, EVR, MC, and LAZ


Breakouts Proliferate; Bullish Outlook Intact; Small- And Mid-Caps to Lead?

<ul>
<li>We've discussed since late Sept increasing odds of a pullback to confluence of support at 4165-4200/the 200-day MA on SPX, and that if this support holds, it's a normal pullback</li>
<li>Ongoing market dynamics allow us to be even more confident in our unchanged outlook; 4216 was the low for this pullback, with 4200 getting hit overnight (early Wednesday last week).</li>
<li>The broad equity market is not yet out of the woods, but as long as the SPX is above 4165-4200 and the 200-day MA, we are bullish.</li>
</ul>


We've discussed since late Sept increasing odds of a pullback to confluence of support at 4165-4200/the 200-day MA on SPX, and that if this support holds, it's a normal pullback
Ongoing market dynamics allow us to be even more confident in our unchanged outlook; 4216 was the low for this pullback, with 4200 getting hit overnight (early Wednesday last week).
The broad equity market is not yet out of the woods, but as long as the SPX is above 4165-4200 and the 200-day MA, we are bullish.


Growing Confidence That the Lows Are In; 4165-4200/200-Day MA on SPX Remains Key; Buys in Financials

Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

Executive Summary: Issuance expectations are often a topic of anxiety for actively trading investors. The concern is that if issuance is expected to be large, then the value of the currently on-the-run security may fall as the market moves into the new security. Our experience is that timing matters. Any decline generally represents a buying opportunity in the older security; however, it can take a week or two for the security to regain lost value. As such, unexpected debt issuance just before quarter-end can be painful.With leverage ratios yet to be a requirement for Eurozone area banks, risk-weighted asset (RWA) capital ratios remain the constraining capital measure. By this standard, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bnp-paribas" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:525:1" rel="noopener">BNP Paribas (BNP FP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credit-agricole-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21373:1" rel="noopener">Credit Agricole Group (ACAFP)</a> remain underweight in Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond issuance.Amongst UK banks, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hsbc-holdings-plc-a723bd63-0890-486f-aaa0-3bb9ad2b95ce" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21976:1" rel="noopener">HSBC Holdings (HSBA LN)</a> looks to have a surplus of AT1 bonds from a RWA capital ratio perspective. However, we calculate a deficiency relative to its leverage capital ratio needs. Basel IV inflation may diminish the RWA-base surplus; but for now, HSBC’s leverage ratio is its AT1 governor.In terms of Tier 2 needs, Eurozone banks are largely where they need to be from an efficiency perspective with the main exception of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cooperatieve-rabobank-ua" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28085:1" rel="noopener">Cooperative Rabobank UA (RABO NA)</a>. Meanwhile, HSBC may be in a position to reduce its Common Equity Tier 1 levels by issuing Tier 2 bonds while remaining well above minimum capital requirements. Concurrently, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/standard-chartered-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:193:1" rel="noopener">Standard Chartered's (STAN LN)</a> Tier 2 levels are materially more than minimum regulatory requirements. These look better value than HSBC’s.

Executive Summary: Issuance expectations are often a topic of anxiety for actively trading investors. The concern is that if issuance is expected to be large, then the value of the currently on-the-run security may fall as the market moves into the new security. Our experience is that timing matters. Any decline generally represents a buying opportunity in the older security; however, it can take a week or two for the security to regain lost value. As such, unexpected debt issuance just before quarter-end can be painful.With leverage ratios yet to be a requirement for Eurozone area banks, risk-weighted asset (RWA) capital ratios remain the constraining capital measure. By this standard, BNP Paribas (BNP FP) and Credit Agricole Group (ACAFP) remain underweight in Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond issuance.Amongst UK banks, HSBC Holdings (HSBA LN) looks to have a surplus of AT1 bonds from a RWA capital ratio perspective. However, we calculate a deficiency relative to its leverage capital ratio needs. Basel IV inflation may diminish the RWA-base surplus; but for now, HSBC’s leverage ratio is its AT1 governor.In terms of Tier 2 needs, Eurozone banks are largely where they need to be from an efficiency perspective with the main exception of Cooperative Rabobank UA (RABO NA). Meanwhile, HSBC may be in a position to reduce its Common Equity Tier 1 levels by issuing Tier 2 bonds while remaining well above minimum capital requirements. Concurrently, Standard Chartered's (STAN LN) Tier 2 levels are materially more than minimum regulatory requirements. These look better value than HSBC’s. 

Debt Capital Surplus (Shortfall) And Trading Opportunities in European Banks

Executive Summary: Friday’s jobs report shocker capped off a week which included US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen needing to be Mirandized. This was followed by the Fed stating the obvious in its financial stability report. Unmentioned in this report is that the role of this Fed is no longer to take away the punchbowl, but instead it is the bartender. The week ended with a jobs report that was the biggest miss in nominal terms, ever.The report was at odds with recent PMI surveys in which respondents stated that it was difficult to hire. This may be the result of frictions in hiring as unemployment benefits as well as child-care needs and postponed school re-openings delay employee re-entry. The truth serum for the US economy may occur around September when extended unemployment payments expire.The market impact was an immediate 10 basis point (bp) drop in the 10-year Treasury while the 2-year note even fell 1bp. Prices on the 10-year gave up these gains as the day progressed, but the smart money, that is the bond market, may be correct with the recent dampening of interest rates suggesting a longer time period to a less accommodative Fed.  The US Treasury bond curve ended the week flatter with short-end yields falling by much less than the longer part of the curve.With rates continuing to push credit spreads, Asia- and European-headquartered banks generated negative total returns in all but the lowest duration notes. There was a clear preference for Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond issuance over the past week while over US$11 billion equivalent was raised by financial institutions globally in USD and Euros. In what may have been the busiest AT1 bond issuance weeks of the year, five institutions brought over US$6.5 billion in six securities.Nonetheless, this is a great credit environment and spreads which could go even tighter into year-end. A single piece of data, such as April’s non-farm payroll figure, is unlikely to change investor positioning. It may be a little too early to fade the market as fundamentals catch-up.Next week we will get a record-matching $126 billion slate of Treasury auctions. We may also see a robust serving of corporate and financials debt issuance. US consumer-price data is set to be published on Tuesday, 12 May. A sharp annual acceleration is forecast, although the market is likely to dismiss the figure as resulting from a comparison to depressed levels of a year earlier.With peak Q1 earnings season now behind us, Japanese banks will deliver their year-end results over the next week while several other stragglers pepper the remainder of the month. US banks signaled that they anticipate significantly higher interest rates by raising record breaking amounts in the debt capital markets following their Q1 earnings announcements. Other banks may follow with material debt issuance over the next few weeks after reporting earnings.Market Outlook: The question is whether the over-heating narrative will make a comeback and bring rate and tapering expectations closer. Financial stability risks appear binary from here. Either the Fed is over-accommodative, and it sits on its hands too long while asset bubbles over-inflate so that it gets nasty when it moves, or the Fed gets impatient, and it lowers accommodation unexpectedly which creates a risk off reaction. In both cases, curves flatten in a risk-off environment. We suspect the former is more likely, and for now, the Fed remains the bartender.

Executive Summary: Friday’s jobs report shocker capped off a week which included US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen needing to be Mirandized. This was followed by the Fed stating the obvious in its financial stability report. Unmentioned in this report is that the role of this Fed is no longer to take away the punchbowl, but instead it is the bartender. The week ended with a jobs report that was the biggest miss in nominal terms, ever.The report was at odds with recent PMI surveys in which respondents stated that it was difficult to hire. This may be the result of frictions in hiring as unemployment benefits as well as child-care needs and postponed school re-openings delay employee re-entry. The truth serum for the US economy may occur around September when extended unemployment payments expire.The market impact was an immediate 10 basis point (bp) drop in the 10-year Treasury while the 2-year note even fell 1bp. Prices on the 10-year gave up these gains as the day progressed, but the smart money, that is the bond market, may be correct with the recent dampening of interest rates suggesting a longer time period to a less accommodative Fed.  The US Treasury bond curve ended the week flatter with short-end yields falling by much less than the longer part of the curve.With rates continuing to push credit spreads, Asia- and European-headquartered banks generated negative total returns in all but the lowest duration notes. There was a clear preference for Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond issuance over the past week while over US$11 billion equivalent was raised by financial institutions globally in USD and Euros. In what may have been the busiest AT1 bond issuance weeks of the year, five institutions brought over US$6.5 billion in six securities.Nonetheless, this is a great credit environment and spreads which could go even tighter into year-end. A single piece of data, such as April’s non-farm payroll figure, is unlikely to change investor positioning. It may be a little too early to fade the market as fundamentals catch-up.Next week we will get a record-matching $126 billion slate of Treasury auctions. We may also see a robust serving of corporate and financials debt issuance. US consumer-price data is set to be published on Tuesday, 12 May. A sharp annual acceleration is forecast, although the market is likely to dismiss the figure as resulting from a comparison to depressed levels of a year earlier.With peak Q1 earnings season now behind us, Japanese banks will deliver their year-end results over the next week while several other stragglers pepper the remainder of the month. US banks signaled that they anticipate significantly higher interest rates by raising record breaking amounts in the debt capital markets following their Q1 earnings announcements. Other banks may follow with material debt issuance over the next few weeks after reporting earnings.Market Outlook: The question is whether the over-heating narrative will make a comeback and bring rate and tapering expectations closer. Financial stability risks appear binary from here. Either the Fed is over-accommodative, and it sits on its hands too long while asset bubbles over-inflate so that it gets nasty when it moves, or the Fed gets impatient, and it lowers accommodation unexpectedly which creates a risk off reaction. In both cases, curves flatten in a risk-off environment. We suspect the former is more likely, and for now, the Fed remains the bartender.

Bank Credit Weekly: Jobs Report Shocker Flattens Curves

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Independent Insight Provider

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Equity Bottom-Up

Sberbank of Russia PJSC / Equity Bottom-Up

*Russia Military Raises Threat Level: After years of an uneasy stalemate, Russia’s Southern Military Theater recently concluded major exercises in March. Despite their conclusion, 3-4 thousand Russian troops allegedly remain just 30 miles from Ukraine's southern border. On March 27th, Russia indicated its displeasure with the lack of progress on ceasefire negotiations while the Ukrainian Parliament announced that the July ceasefire had broken down with continued skirmishes and border incursions;  *Ukranian Bank Already Under Pressure: SberBank of Russia PJSC (SBER.RM) [Sberbank] has been operating its wholly-owned Ukraine subsidiary, AO Sberbank (AO), since 2007. AO has been operating profitably following improved cost efficiencies and lowered loss provisions despite being constrained by a high level of problem loans and exposure to COVID-19 affected sectors. Further, AO, along with most other Ukranian banks, has substantial government bond holdings whose ratings are already challenged; and   * New Sanctions Likely Coming: We would any new additional sanctions to include: the Nord Stream II Pipeline, which is close to allowing the transshipment of natural gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany (bypassing Ukraine); further sanctions on the Russian financial sector which could exacerbate problems for the already challenged AO; and a ban on Russian sovereign debt as an investment.

*Russia Military Raises Threat Level: After years of an uneasy stalemate, Russia’s Southern Military Theater recently concluded major exercises in March. Despite their conclusion, 3-4 thousand Russian troops allegedly remain just 30 miles from Ukraine's southern border. On March 27th, Russia indicated its displeasure with the lack of progress on ceasefire negotiations while the Ukrainian Parliament announced that the July ceasefire had broken down with continued skirmishes and border incursions;  *Ukranian Bank Already Under Pressure: SberBank of Russia PJSC (SBER.RM) [Sberbank] has been operating its wholly-owned Ukraine subsidiary, AO Sberbank (AO), since 2007. AO has been operating profitably following improved cost efficiencies and lowered loss provisions despite being constrained by a high level of problem loans and exposure to COVID-19 affected sectors. Further, AO, along with most other Ukranian banks, has substantial government bond holdings whose ratings are already challenged; and   * New Sanctions Likely Coming: We would any new additional sanctions to include: the Nord Stream II Pipeline, which is close to allowing the transshipment of natural gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany (bypassing Ukraine); further sanctions on the Russian financial sector which could exacerbate problems for the already challenged AO; and a ban on Russian sovereign debt as an investment.  

Sberbank of Russia – Ukraine Risks Rising

Netherlands

ING Groep N.V. (ING) is a global financial institution. The Company provides retail and wholesale banking services to private clients, small businesses, large corporations, financial institutions, and governments. ING Groep operates worldwide.

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ING Groep NV (ING VX)

Breakouts Proliferate; Bullish Outlook Intact; Small- And Mid-Caps to Lead?

Breakouts Proliferate; Bullish Outlook Intact; Small- and Mid-Caps to Outperform? $SPX $QQQ $DJI breakout to all-time highs, $IWM $IJH $VXF,...

Vermilion Research

Growing Confidence That the Lows Are In; 4165-4200/200-Day MA on SPX Remains Key; Buys in Financials

Our confidence in our outlook is growing: as long as the $SPX is above 4165-4200 and the 200-day MA, most signs point to this being a normal...

Vermilion Research

Debt Capital Surplus (Shortfall) And Trading Opportunities in European Banks

Timing matters. A price decline in an on-the-run bond due to issuance represents a buying opportunity; however, it can take time to regain value....

Hank Calenti, CFA

Bank Credit Weekly: Jobs Report Shocker Flattens Curves

Job data raises uncertainty as the Fed continues to act as bartender. Financial stability risks appear binary while rates push credit spreads. Can...

Hank Calenti, CFA

Sberbank of Russia – Ukraine Risks Rising

SBERBANK: After an uneasy stalemate, Russia recently concluded major exercises. Ceasefire negotiations have broken down. SberBank's Ukraine...

Thomas J. Monaco

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