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>Since 11/21/23 Compass we have discussed weekly that even a minor 2-5% pullback is far from a guarantee, considering "breakaway gaps" and what appeared to be an ongoing "lockout rally"</li>
<li>All we got was a 1% peak to trough decline in the S&amp;P 500, while the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) pulled back 2.9% (though left the 11/14/23 gap unfilled).</li>
<li>Now, SPX and QQQ are breaking out yet again after a multi-week consolidation period, including SPX breaking above 2-year resistance at 4600-4607. This is what a strong market looks like.</li>
</ul>


Since 11/21/23 Compass we have discussed weekly that even a minor 2-5% pullback is far from a guarantee, considering "breakaway gaps" and what appeared to be an ongoing "lockout rally"
All we got was a 1% peak to trough decline in the S&amp;P 500, while the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) pulled back 2.9% (though left the 11/14/23 gap unfilled).
Now, SPX and QQQ are breaking out yet again after a multi-week consolidation period, including SPX breaking above 2-year resistance at 4600-4607. This is what a strong market looks like.


Lockout Rally Continues; Breakouts Piling Up; SPX Breakout Above 2-Yr Resistance at 4600-4607

Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>In possibly the only Trump-Harris presidential debate, VP Kamala Harris clearly won, according to polls/focus groups conducted by FoxNews and CNN, as well as the vast majority of commentators. </li>
<li>Harris largely remained focused on centrist positions, and was able to bait Trump into angry outbursts and digressions away from his key talking points. The economy remained her Achilles Heel.  </li>
<li>Weakness on the economy, and the failure to highlight her "freedom" theme, meant that Harris didn't score a slam dunk. The race is a dead heat, Harris a nose ahead. </li>
</ul>


In possibly the only Trump-Harris presidential debate, VP Kamala Harris clearly won, according to polls/focus groups conducted by FoxNews and CNN, as well as the vast majority of commentators. 
Harris largely remained focused on centrist positions, and was able to bait Trump into angry outbursts and digressions away from his key talking points. The economy remained her Achilles Heel.  
Weakness on the economy, and the failure to highlight her "freedom" theme, meant that Harris didn't score a slam dunk. The race is a dead heat, Harris a nose ahead. 


US: Harris Wins the Presidential Debate Hands Down, but Impact on Race Still Mild

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The changes to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)</a>, S&amp;P400 Index and S&amp;P600 Index will be announced after market close on Friday.</li>
<li>The conclusions of the market consultation to change the index weighting methodology for the Select Sector Indices to reduce concentration and avoid reverse turnover should also be announced.</li>
<li>Changes in the index weighting methodology will result in a round-trip trade of US$35bn across the Select Sector indices. The largest turnover is in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/consumer-staples-select-sector-spdr-fund" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27536:1" rel="noopener">XLP</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/technology-select-sector-spdr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27543:1" rel="noopener">XLK</a>.</li>
</ul>


The changes to the S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX), S&amp;P400 Index and S&amp;P600 Index will be announced after market close on Friday.
The conclusions of the market consultation to change the index weighting methodology for the Select Sector Indices to reduce concentration and avoid reverse turnover should also be announced.
Changes in the index weighting methodology will result in a round-trip trade of US$35bn across the Select Sector indices. The largest turnover is in the XLP and XLK.


Select Sector Indices - Updated Flows as Round-Trip Trade Hits US$35bn

Asia L/S Equity PM/Macro/Thematic Idea Generation

Rikki Malik

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Are we witnessing a short-term carry-trade unwind or trend change?</li>
<li>JPY's strength and overall market weakness continue to go hand in hand.</li>
<li>Any near-term bounce  be used to reduce exposure in certain sectors</li>
</ul>


Are we witnessing a short-term carry-trade unwind or trend change?
JPY's strength and overall market weakness continue to go hand in hand.
Any near-term bounce  be used to reduce exposure in certain sectors


Nowhere to Run to Baby, Nowhere to Hide! Part 1

<ul>
<li>FOMC held rates steady at 5.25-5.5%, but emphasized that "a reduction could be on the table...in September". From inflation risks alone, the FOMC statement shifted focus to its dual mandate.  </li>
<li>0.9%YoY M2 growth (Jun'24) evidences restrictive monetary conditions. Withdrawing QT after Aug'23 led to Jan-Apr'24 shocks in MoM core PCE, but latter now reined-in by resumed QT since Mar'24.</li>
<li>Core PCE inflation likely to wane to 2.3%YoY by Sep'24, enabling rates to decline 25bp at each of the next 3 FOMC meetings, ignoring political threats regarding the Sep'24 cut.</li>
</ul>


FOMC held rates steady at 5.25-5.5%, but emphasized that "a reduction could be on the table...in September". From inflation risks alone, the FOMC statement shifted focus to its dual mandate.  
0.9%YoY M2 growth (Jun'24) evidences restrictive monetary conditions. Withdrawing QT after Aug'23 led to Jan-Apr'24 shocks in MoM core PCE, but latter now reined-in by resumed QT since Mar'24.
Core PCE inflation likely to wane to 2.3%YoY by Sep'24, enabling rates to decline 25bp at each of the next 3 FOMC meetings, ignoring political threats regarding the Sep'24 cut.


FOMC Waits; Despite Politics, 3 Rate Cuts Are Likely This Year as Inflation Abates

United States

The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities and serves as the foundation for a wide range of investment products. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.

S&P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)

Lockout Rally Continues; Breakouts Piling Up; SPX Breakout Above 2-Yr Resistance at 4600-4607

Lockout Rally Continues; Breakouts Piling Up; $SPX Breakout Above 2-Yr Resistance at 4600-4607, $COMP Breakout Above 14,400. This is what a strong...

Vermilion Research

US: Harris Wins the Presidential Debate Hands Down, but Impact on Race Still Mild

VP Kamala Harris was the debate winner, focusing on centrist positions and baiting Trump into angry outbursts. But her weakness on the economy,...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Select Sector Indices - Updated Flows as Round-Trip Trade Hits US$35bn

US$300bn tracks the Select Sector Indices. Implementation of proposed changes will set off a US$35bn trade. Apple could be bought by multiple...

Brian Freitas

Nowhere to Run to Baby, Nowhere to Hide! Part 1

Given the short-term oversold conditions in the Nikkei and Topix, we would take some profits on any shorts in anticipation of a bounce and get...

Rikki Malik

FOMC Waits; Despite Politics, 3 Rate Cuts Are Likely This Year as Inflation Abates

FF rate at a 23-year (real policy rate at 18yr high), M2 growth at 0.9%YoY in Jun'24, create conditions for steady decline in core PCE inflation to...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Lockout Rally Continues; Breakouts Piling Up; SPX Breakout Above 2-Yr Resistance at 4600-4607

Lockout Rally Continues; Breakouts Piling Up; $SPX Breakout Above 2-Yr Resistance at 4600-4607, $COMP Breakout Above 14,400. This is what a strong...

Vermilion Research

US: Harris Wins the Presidential Debate Hands Down, but Impact on Race Still Mild

​VP Kamala Harris was the debate winner, focusing on centrist positions and baiting Trump into angry outbursts. But her weakness on the economy,...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Select Sector Indices - Updated Flows as Round-Trip Trade Hits US$35bn

US$300bn tracks the Select Sector Indices. Implementation of proposed changes will set off a US$35bn trade. Apple could be bought by multiple...

Brian Freitas

Nowhere to Run to Baby, Nowhere to Hide! Part 1

Given the short-term oversold conditions in the Nikkei and Topix, we would take some profits on any shorts in anticipation of a bounce and get...

Rikki Malik

FOMC Waits; Despite Politics, 3 Rate Cuts Are Likely This Year as Inflation Abates

FF rate at a 23-year (real policy rate at 18yr high), M2 growth at 0.9%YoY in Jun'24, create conditions for steady decline in core PCE inflation to...

Prasenjit K. Basu

VP Kamala Harris was the debate winner, focusing on centrist positions and baiting Trump into angry outbursts. But her weakness on the economy,...