Posted June 01, 2022
By Sean Ring
Monthly Asset Class Report
- Commodities were up again, to no ones surprise.
- The SPX was pancake-flat, but the Nasdaq took another cross to the face.
- Despite the inflation story, the real estate chart looks bearish.
S&P 500
The last full week of May featured a huge rally going into Memorial Day weekend.(That last little red candle is this weeks, which wont be fully formed until Fridays close.)I was unimpressed with Tuesdays market followthrough. Not much of a response.That doesnt mean we wont rally a bit from here. But I still hold to my call that well head down to 3,213 or thereabouts.Nasdaq Composite
Still ugly.Even AAPLs chart has turned ugly.Id still stay out of tech.This is the proverbial falling knife.Russell 2000 (Small caps)
 From two months ago:The Russell has held steady to its great credit, but I stick to my $160 call.
Ill hold to that call.The US 10-Year Yield
 After breaking the 3% level, were taking a respite.As I wrote in yesterdays Rude, the danger here is Powell doesnt hike rates enough for the plutocrats to feel pain.But if Im forced to bet, I reckon the 10-year heads well north of 3%.Why?Because Im not convinced the Fed has inflation anywhere near under control.Dollar Index
Not only did we break through the psychological barrier of 100.We rocketed up to 105 at the end of April.Then May came. And the USD has been getting pancaked ever since.My guess is the USD will hover between 98 and 104 until Powell convinces the market hes going to squash the inflation threat.Fed Board member Waller wants hikes until rates hit at least 2.5%, but is happy to go higher.If the rest of the Fed Board feels that way, the USD will retest 105 and break through.USG Bonds
From two months ago:I said wed hit 132, and so we have.
We got all the way down to 128, but then another bear market rally happened.
Fair enough. Now Im looking at the 127 level, then 117 after that.
We got all the way down to 114 before the market stabilized around the 116.5 level.I can still see 105 as the next target. But thats up to the Fed.Investment Grade Bonds
Weve had a two-week rally to end the month.Im still not a fan and think well head to 106 next. Then 100.High Yield Bonds
From two months ago:We got down below 80, but bounced off there. Im still looking at that 77 level first.
Theres nothing I like about junk right now.
Well, we hit that level and then had a massive bounce.
This isnt surprising in light of the equities markets rally.
Junk acts like equity, as its more dependent on its underlying quality of earnings and credit rating than interest rates.
Real Estate
Im starting to think were at the end of a distribution area, rather than just being rangebound with false breakouts.
That is, I think a whole bunch of investors got out of the ETF in the past few months.
In fact, this chart looks eerily similar to the SPX chart above.
Im puzzled, as real estate usually likes inflation.
But the chart doesnt lie. Its bearish.
Base Metals: Copper
Again, we were sitting rangebound in copper for ages.
Now Im beginning to think stupid economic policy is finally weighing on this leading indicator.
Were right about at a death cross (when the 50-day moving average cross below the 200-day).
This could be bearish for the economy.
Precious Metals: Gold
Yawn.
Thats all I have to say about gold.
Precious Metals: Silver
From last month:
Like Gold, its another yawnfest.
We should start calling silver Yawny McYawnface.
Cryptos: Bitcoin
That last up candle is actually June 1sts, so far.
May was a disaster.
The downside risk for Bitcoin is enormous.
If we break below $30,000 for a decent interval, theres nothing between there and $10,000 to support it.
And really, theres not much of a bull case here.
Cryptos: Ether
Following on from Bitcoin, Ether looks ugly, as well.
If it breaks below $1,800, Ether will probably trade down to $600, if not $400.
Its an important time for crypto.
Altcoins are practically worthless. And the big coins are performing terribly.
Trad Asset Class Summary
Commodities were the months top performer, again.
But in contrast to last month, the USD was down over 1%.
The SPX was pancake-flat, barely registering a positive return.
And despite the drop in bond yields toward the end of the month, the 30-year finished down.
Crypto Class Summary
Monero, the most secretive coin, was the best performer in a terrible ensemble.
Everything else was crushed.
ETH, my favorite coin, got smashed. And Elons favorite scam, DOGE, was punked.
Wrap Up
Other than commodities ticking up again, it was a pretty awful month.
Stocks, bonds, real estate, and crypto all fell to varying degrees.
Even the USD had a rough month, though I suspect this is temporary.
The important thing is to get a feel for the market and act accordingly.
Heres some gallows humor for you:
Have a great week ahead.
All the best,
Sean
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