Founder

Olivier Desbarres

Exacting. Excellent. Exceeding. Exemplary.

4X Global Research

4X Global Research was founded in 2017 to provide institutional and corporate clients with the substantive research, high-quality analysis and thoughtful insight on Emerging and G20 economies and financial markets they need to make informed and timely decisions and gain an edge in their investments.

FX & Rates

Market volatility has been reasonably subdued in recent weeks, despite acute event (and macro data) risk in the next four weeks, including of course US presidential elections on 3rd November, and a number of significant macro, policy and geopolitical developments.In the past month volatility in major developed and emerging market currencies versus the US Dollar has only risen materially in the high-yielding Turkish Lira and Mexican Peso and the low-yielding Polish Zloty, Korean Won and more surprisingly the Taiwan Dollar.However, this is not a case of more confident financial market participants finding their feet, in our view, but rather a reflexion of financial markets unable to see through the smoke and reluctant to pit themselves against their peers going into year-end and/or test monetary authorities’ resolve at time of acute uncertainty. S&amp;P 500 (realized) volatility has edged lower since its early September spike, with markets seemingly undecided whether a Trump or Biden victory will be a net positive for equities.For similar reasons the Dollar, Euro, Sterling, Yen and Swiss Franc have shown little directionality since late-July. Headwinds and tailwinds for these reserve currencies have either tended to cancel each other or simply fade, leaving market participants in two-minds and opting for the path of least regret. Back in November 2019 we correctly predicted that “global FX volatility would rise in coming weeks, with the potential for a volatility spike in mid-December”. We once again think the risk is biased towards FX volatility rising in coming weeks, particularly given the still very uncertain outcome of US elections to be held in just 26 days.We think the risk of higher volatility is most acute if US President Trump once again defies opinion polls to win or if a prolonged period of uncertainty ensues in the event of either candidate contesting the result of a very close election.Moreover, the odds Sterling volatility spiking higher in the next fortnight are high, in our view, whatever the outcome of UK-EU negotiations over a new trade deal which will likely reach a crescendo ahead of the European Council meeting on 15-16 October.

Market volatility has been reasonably subdued in recent weeks, despite acute event (and macro data) risk in the next four weeks, including of course US presidential elections on 3rd November, and a number of significant macro, policy and geopolitical developments.In the past month volatility in major developed and emerging market currencies versus the US Dollar has only risen materially in the high-yielding Turkish Lira and Mexican Peso and the low-yielding Polish Zloty, Korean Won and more surprisingly the Taiwan Dollar.However, this is not a case of more confident financial market participants finding their feet, in our view, but rather a reflexion of financial markets unable to see through the smoke and reluctant to pit themselves against their peers going into year-end and/or test monetary authorities’ resolve at time of acute uncertainty. S&amp;P 500 (realized) volatility has edged lower since its early September spike, with markets seemingly undecided whether a Trump or Biden victory will be a net positive for equities.For similar reasons the Dollar, Euro, Sterling, Yen and Swiss Franc have shown little directionality since late-July. Headwinds and tailwinds for these reserve currencies have either tended to cancel each other or simply fade, leaving market participants in two-minds and opting for the path of least regret. Back in November 2019 we correctly predicted that “global FX volatility would rise in coming weeks, with the potential for a volatility spike in mid-December”. We once again think the risk is biased towards FX volatility rising in coming weeks, particularly given the still very uncertain outcome of US elections to be held in just 26 days.We think the risk of higher volatility is most acute if US President Trump once again defies opinion polls to win or if a prolonged period of uncertainty ensues in the event of either candidate contesting the result of a very close election.Moreover, the odds Sterling volatility spiking higher in the next fortnight are high, in our view, whatever the outcome of UK-EU negotiations over a new trade deal which will likely reach a crescendo ahead of the European Council meeting on 15-16 October.

Event Risk and Market Volatility: Partners in Crime

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

Key $70 support on the MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US) held strong last week, and ACWI-US is now inflecting topside its bullish falling wedge pattern. This bullish price action combined with market dynamics which remain mostly healthy lead us to believe the lows of this recent correction are in. Consumer Discretionary and Manufacturing Sectors continue to be two attractive Sectors that are outperforming globally; we highlight numerous actionable names in today's report.

Key $70 support on the MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US) held strong last week, and ACWI-US is now inflecting topside its bullish falling wedge pattern. This bullish price action combined with market dynamics which remain mostly healthy lead us to believe the lows of this recent correction are in. Consumer Discretionary and Manufacturing Sectors continue to be two attractive Sectors that are outperforming globally; we highlight numerous actionable names in today's report.

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

Cross Asset Strategy

The presidential debates are usually totems of democracy's best features--as two (occasionally three) candidates lay out their arguments cordially before a national audience. The first debate of the Fall 2020 campaign was anything but a talismanic symbol of American democracy, doing little to change voters' minds. But it greatly heightened the risks of a chaotic November in the US, possibly the most chaotic post-election scenario since 1860-61. The first inter-party presidential debate of the 2020 election cycle was an ugly tie: there was no clear winner in an incoherent and undignified brawl that hardly aired any of the election's key issues. Trump's abrasive style likely strengthened the degree of support from his base. Biden's uneven performance (a few good lines, drowned in bouts of incoherence) did not enhance his appeal to the wider electorate, but he held his own (thus refuting Trump's suggestions that he is senile), and made no significant gaffes (apart from one false claim about the US-China trade deficit, and a brief defense of the Green New Deal, which he was soon obliged to repudiate). President Trump appeared intent on questioning the legitimacy of the election process -- particularly mail-in ballots. Asked by moderator Chris Wallace (from the conservative Fox News channel) to reassure voters of the integrity of the voting process, Biden complied--and made a strong, direct pitch to voters to go out and vote. Trump said the voting process is "a disaster", a "fraud and a shame". When asked if each candidate would wait until a result/outcome had been certified before declaring victory, and would tell his supporters to stay calm in the intervening period, Trump declined to do so--especially if it was "a fraudulent process".At this stage, President Trump appears to have decided he will lose the election, and is hence preparing his supporters to question the legitimacy of the election -- a dangerous and unprecedented situation that has not occurred in any election since the 19th century.  November 2020 was already looking like a terrible month for the US, but it has just become much more dangerous, as the sitting president has begun questioning the legitimacy of the entire electoral process. In the 1860 election, the refusal of many states to accept the outcome (a victory for Lincoln) led to a Civil War, as southern states unhappy with the outcome chose to secede. November 2020 will not necessarily signal a Civil War, but is likely to result in an ugly and chaotic month or two in US politics -- uncertainty that will be very negative for global equities and risk assets. The US dollar is likely to gain strength this quarter, as will gold prices.

The presidential debates are usually totems of democracy's best features--as two (occasionally three) candidates lay out their arguments cordially before a national audience. The first debate of the Fall 2020 campaign was anything but a talismanic symbol of American democracy, doing little to change voters' minds. But it greatly heightened the risks of a chaotic November in the US, possibly the most chaotic post-election scenario since 1860-61. The first inter-party presidential debate of the 2020 election cycle was an ugly tie: there was no clear winner in an incoherent and undignified brawl that hardly aired any of the election's key issues. Trump's abrasive style likely strengthened the degree of support from his base. Biden's uneven performance (a few good lines, drowned in bouts of incoherence) did not enhance his appeal to the wider electorate, but he held his own (thus refuting Trump's suggestions that he is senile), and made no significant gaffes (apart from one false claim about the US-China trade deficit, and a brief defense of the Green New Deal, which he was soon obliged to repudiate). President Trump appeared intent on questioning the legitimacy of the election process -- particularly mail-in ballots. Asked by moderator Chris Wallace (from the conservative Fox News channel) to reassure voters of the integrity of the voting process, Biden complied--and made a strong, direct pitch to voters to go out and vote. Trump said the voting process is "a disaster", a "fraud and a shame". When asked if each candidate would wait until a result/outcome had been certified before declaring victory, and would tell his supporters to stay calm in the intervening period, Trump declined to do so--especially if it was "a fraudulent process".At this stage, President Trump appears to have decided he will lose the election, and is hence preparing his supporters to question the legitimacy of the election -- a dangerous and unprecedented situation that has not occurred in any election since the 19th century.  November 2020 was already looking like a terrible month for the US, but it has just become much more dangerous, as the sitting president has begun questioning the legitimacy of the entire electoral process. In the 1860 election, the refusal of many states to accept the outcome (a victory for Lincoln) led to a Civil War, as southern states unhappy with the outcome chose to secede. November 2020 will not necessarily signal a Civil War, but is likely to result in an ugly and chaotic month or two in US politics -- uncertainty that will be very negative for global equities and risk assets. The US dollar is likely to gain strength this quarter, as will gold prices.  

Ugly, Disorderly Debate Raises the Spectre of 1824, if Not 1860

mportant price support levels previously highlighted have held strong, including the 3200-3230 level on the S&amp;P 500, 10,855 on the Nasdaq 100, and $145/the 200-day MA on the Russell 2000 (IWM). Additionally, both the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 are breaking out from their bullish falling wedge patterns that have been taking shape since the early-September highs. These bullish inflections are encouraging and, combined with market dynamics which remain mostly healthy, lead us to believe the lows of this recent correction are likely in.  In today’s report we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Consumer Discretionary &amp; Technology: Casinos &amp; Gaming, Small-Cap, Solar Energy, Fuel Cells/Lithium Batteries, and Software, Customer Relationship Mgt.

mportant price support levels previously highlighted have held strong, including the 3200-3230 level on the S&amp;P 500, 10,855 on the Nasdaq 100, and $145/the 200-day MA on the Russell 2000 (IWM). Additionally, both the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 are breaking out from their bullish falling wedge patterns that have been taking shape since the early-September highs. These bullish inflections are encouraging and, combined with market dynamics which remain mostly healthy, lead us to believe the lows of this recent correction are likely in.  In today’s report we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Consumer Discretionary &amp; Technology: Casinos &amp; Gaming, Small-Cap, Solar Energy, Fuel Cells/Lithium Batteries, and Software, Customer Relationship Mgt.

Managing Director

Elan Gore

TMI Data Science

TMI Data Science utilizes Natural Language Processing to build custom leading indicators using unstructured data sourced from the global financial, trade & traditional media.  Our proprietary software, TMI Machine, is a text-mining platform designed with the buy-side & capital markets professional in mind, text-mining the global media to discern and quantify nuanced qualitative shifts in press coverage as they apply to macroeconomics, equity indexes/ETFs, commodities, currencies, fixed income & individual equities.  TMI provides custom leading indicators and systematic trading strategies, operating at the nexus of linguistics & statistics drawing on vast experience in investment banking and hedge fund settings in senior quantitative and fundamental roles.  

TMI Data Science was founded by Elan Gore, an award-winning Senior Global Basic Materials Equity Analyst & China Economist with 15 years of experience in North American hedge funds & institutional managers; and Alessandro Porrino, Ph.D., an Algorithmic Trading Analyst and Programmer with 10 years of front-office experience ranging from complex FX option pricing to auto-hedging strategies at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Standard Chartered.  Mr. Gore holds an MBA in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business, and Mr. Porrino holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Brunel University London.

<ul>
<li>Last week we highlighted a downward shift in US inflation expectations, and our diffusion index of inflationary vs. deflationary expressions continues to soften (see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/tmi-snapshot-cross-currents-in-the-us-rental-market-hint-at-pausing-inflation-expectations" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43259" rel="noopener">TMI Snapshot:  Cross-Currents In The US Rental Market Hint At Pausing Inflation Expectations)</a>
</li>
<li>We believe this shift is largely responsible for unwelcome USD strength and recent pressures on precious metals as well as the overall commodity complex (as noted in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/tmi-indicators-gold-sentiment-seeking-catalysts-following-latest-leg-up-on-us-benefit-expiration" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43356" rel="noopener">TMI Indicators: Gold Sentiment Seeking Catalysts Following Latest Leg Up On US Benefit Expiration</a>)</li>
<li>While our inflation expectations note focused on emerging pressures in the US rental market and their impact on TIPS inflation breakevens, we must acknowledge that the psychology behind the emerging consensus inflationary mindset went into overdrive when extraordinary open-ended QE was perceived to be augmented by continued massive fiscal support and accelerated COVID-19 vaccine news flow</li>
<li>Our text mining sees an unprecedented spike in US political divisions coinciding with a sharp step down in fiscal stimulus expectations, as well as lowered expectations on the near-term availability of a COVID-19 vaccine</li>
<li>With two pillars of the emerging inflationary mindset now broken, the underlying narrative is seeing significant near-term challenges</li>
<li>As a potential post-election silver lining, our text mining sees a shift in perceptions of a Biden win from potentially disinflationary to inflationary (as Biden tax implications are now seen as less onerous and infrastructure investment potentially larger)</li>
<li>As long as uncertainty on post-election outcomes lingers, we suspect disinflationary pressures drive elevated vol, a stronger USD, continued pullback in precious metals &amp; the broader commodities complex, and a near-term shift away from the incipient cyclical/value rotations</li>
</ul><div class="content-highlight">TMI Data Science utilizes Natural Language Processing to build custom leading indicators using unstructured data sourced from the global financial, trade &amp; traditional media. Our proprietary software text-mines the global media to discern and quantify nuanced qualitative shifts in press coverage as they apply to macroeconomics, equity indexes/ETFs, commodities, currencies, fixed income &amp; individual equities. </div>


Last week we highlighted a downward shift in US inflation expectations, and our diffusion index of inflationary vs. deflationary expressions continues to soften (see TMI Snapshot:  Cross-Currents In The US Rental Market Hint At Pausing Inflation Expectations)

We believe this shift is largely responsible for unwelcome USD strength and recent pressures on precious metals as well as the overall commodity complex (as noted in TMI Indicators: Gold Sentiment Seeking Catalysts Following Latest Leg Up On US Benefit Expiration)
While our inflation expectations note focused on emerging pressures in the US rental market and their impact on TIPS inflation breakevens, we must acknowledge that the psychology behind the emerging consensus inflationary mindset went into overdrive when extraordinary open-ended QE was perceived to be augmented by continued massive fiscal support and accelerated COVID-19 vaccine news flow
Our text mining sees an unprecedented spike in US political divisions coinciding with a sharp step down in fiscal stimulus expectations, as well as lowered expectations on the near-term availability of a COVID-19 vaccine
With two pillars of the emerging inflationary mindset now broken, the underlying narrative is seeing significant near-term challenges
As a potential post-election silver lining, our text mining sees a shift in perceptions of a Biden win from potentially disinflationary to inflationary (as Biden tax implications are now seen as less onerous and infrastructure investment potentially larger)
As long as uncertainty on post-election outcomes lingers, we suspect disinflationary pressures drive elevated vol, a stronger USD, continued pullback in precious metals &amp; the broader commodities complex, and a near-term shift away from the incipient cyclical/value rotations
TMI Data Science utilizes Natural Language Processing to build custom leading indicators using unstructured data sourced from the global financial, trade &amp; traditional media. Our proprietary software text-mines the global media to discern and quantify nuanced qualitative shifts in press coverage as they apply to macroeconomics, equity indexes/ETFs, commodities, currencies, fixed income &amp; individual equities. 

TMI Snapshots:  More Signs Of Pressure on Inflation Expectations, USD Upside, And A Silver Lining

United States

The U.S. Dollar Index(USDX) indicates the general int'l value of the USD. The USDX does this by averaging the exchange rates between the USD and major world currencies. The ICE US computes this by using the rates supplied by some 500 banks. FOR REAL TIME SEE EIS ICEA<GO>.

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Dollar Index (DXY CURNCY)

Event Risk and Market Volatility: Partners in Crime

Market volatility has been reasonably subdued in recent weeks, despite acute event (and macro data) risk in the next four weeks, including of...

Olivier Desbarres

Global Equity Strategy:

Key $70 support on the MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US) held strong last week, and ACWI-US is now inflecting topside its bullish falling wedge pattern. This...

Vermilion Research

Ugly, Disorderly Debate Raises the Spectre of 1824, if Not 1860

The first president

Prasenjit K. Basu

U.S. Equity Strategy: Correction Over?

In today’s report we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Consumer Discretionary & Technology: CD-24 Casinos & Gaming, Small-Cap,...

Vermilion Research

TMI Snapshots: More Signs Of Pressure on Inflation Expectations, USD Upside, And A Silver Lining

Last week we highlighted

Elan Gore

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