Market Update
Tsys higher, thou off highs from Asian session as US equity futures pare losses (S&P fut -8.25), 10Y 2.838% (-2bps) and the curve 2s/30s 3bps flatter. The 2Y getting hit after Fed Meister remarked that economic fundamentals are sound and that the latest mkt moves shouldn’t curb risk taking… Core EGBs mixed – gilts lower with yield curve flatter as UK inflation surprised to the upside for Jan, CPI 3.0% vs 2.6% exp, core 2.7% vs 2.5% in Dec – probability of May rate hike inching higher to 75% from 73% pre-release. Crude lower, back below $60, as IEA said the pickup in shale production in the US could offset a forecasted rise in demand. GOCs opening better bid, outperforming tsys in the short end. Provis opening unch, supply expected in the 10Y. The CAD is steady vs the USD , 1.2598, yet is off 0.53% vs the euro close to recent lows 64.35 on crude weakness. 10Y CMB and FRN expected to launch today – CMB 2.35/28 36/35.5 unch.
News headlines
Stock Recovery Falters; Yen Rallies With Havens: Markets Wrap (Bloomberg) European shares edged lower following a late downswing in Asia and haven assets rallied as last week’s surge in volatility continued to hang over markets. The dollar weakened against most major currencies. S&P 500 futures pointed to a retreat in U.S. stocks at the market open after two days of gains. The yen headed for the strongest close since Nov. 2016 and the Swiss franc gained with gold. Bonds climbed, with the 10-year Treasury yield falling back after touching 2.89 percent on Monday. Metals found support from the weaker dollar. The pound advanced as data showed U.K. inflation held at 3 percent in January.
Trump’s $4.4 Trillion Budget Boosts Defense With More Red Ink (Bloomberg) President Donald Trump proposed a $4.4 trillion federal budget on Monday for fiscal 2019, a plan Congress is expected to all but ignore that would slash entitlements and other domestic programs in favor of higher spending on the military and immigration enforcement.
VIX Manipulation Costs Investors Billions, Whistle-Blower Says (Bloomberg) A whistle-blower told U.S. regulators that a scheme to manipulate the VIX, the volatility gauge thrust into the spotlight last week during a wild trading session, costs investors hundreds of millions of dollars a month. A Washington-based lawyer told the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission — the nation’s top markets regulators — in a letter Monday that his client found a flaw that allows traders “with sophisticated algorithms to move the VIX up or down by simply posting quotes on S&P options and without needing to physically engage in any trading or deploying any capital.” Billions in purportedly ill-gotten profits have been scooped up by “unethical electronic option market makers,” according to the letter.
Zuma Defies ANC’s Call to Quit, Leaving South Africa in Limbo (Bloomberg) South Africans awoke to find their nation in limbo after President Jacob Zuma’s refusal to obey his ruling African National Congress’s request to resign voluntarily prompted its top leadership to order his removal from office. The ANC’s National Executive Committee decided to “recall” Zuma, 75, during a 13-hour meeting that ended early Tuesday, according to five people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the decision hasn’t been made public. It marked the failure of efforts to convince Zuma to agree to an amicable transfer of power from his scandal-ridden administration to one headed by party leader Cyril Ramaphosa.
Dalio Says ‘We’re Past the Top’ in Bonds, Sees Rising Risks of a U.S. Recession (Bloomberg) Billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio said the risks of a recession in the next 18 to 24 months are rising and bonds are past their peak. In a LinkedIn post on Monday, Dalio said the U.S. is further along in the business cycle than he thought and that it’s difficult to make a call on equities.
Stock futures little changed amid drop in oil prices (Reuters) Stock futures for Canada’s main stock index were little changed on Tuesday, as oil prices edged lower after the International Energy Agency estimated world crude supply could overtake demand this year.
TMX posts profit beat as lower expenses offset revenue fall (BNN) Toronto Stock Exchange operator TMX Group Ltd reported on Monday a higher-than-expected fourth-quarter profit as lower operating expenses before acquisition costs helped offset a fall in revenue. Total revenue fell 2 per cent to $170.9 million in the quarter ended Dec. 31 due to a 9 per cent decline in revenue from the global solutions, insights and analytics segment. Derivatives trading revenue also fell 3 per cent to $27.6 million in the period from a year earlier.
Sears pensioners try to recoup missing money by going after billions paid to shareholders (CBC) Sears Canada pensioners are heading to court to try to recoup close to $300 million they say is missing from their pension fund following the retailer’s demise. Representatives for Sears pensioners will ask Ontario Superior Court on Thursday to appoint a trustee to scrutinize nearly $3 billion paid in dividends to Sears shareholders — the biggest recipient of which was Eddie Lampert, CEO of U.S. hedge fund ESL Investments.
Overnight markets
Overview: US 10yr note futures are up 0.078% at 120-32, S&P 500 futures are down -0.4% at 2644.75, Crude oil futures are down -0.81% at $58.81, Gold futures are up 0.17% at $1328.7, DXY is down -0.47% at 89.783, CAD/USD is up 0.09% at 0.7944.
| Cda Benchmarks | Yield | Tsy Benchmarks | Yield |
| 2 Year | 1.78% | 2 Year | 2.086% |
| 5 Year | 2.06% | 5 Year | 2.545% |
| 10 Year | 2.331% | 10 Year | 2.84% |
| 30 Year | 2.481% | 30 Year | 3.132% |
US Economic Data
| 6:00 AM | NFIB Small Business Optimism, Jan 106.9 est 105.3 (104.9 prior) |
| 02/13 | Revisions: Producer Price Index |
Canadian Economic Data
There is no Canadian economic data for today.
Disclosure and Disclaimer
The following sources of information have been, or may have been, used partially or in their entirety to compile the herein provided CTI Capital Securities Inc. (“CTI Capital”) ‘Morning Comments.’ CTI Capital believes these sources to be generally reliable, however, as said sources are varied and from third parties, CTI Capital cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of said information: Canadian Press (CP); Bloomberg News (BN); Wall Street Journal (WSJ); Stone & McCarthy Research Associates (SMRA); New York Times (NYT); Financial Times (FT); Market News International (MNI); Globe and Mail; Associated Press (AP); CNW Group (CNW); Reuters; Business News Network (BNN); Market Watch; and others.
Ivan Greenstein, Stephan Buu, Hugues Savard
Institutional Bond and Equity Desk
CTI Capital Valeurs Mobilières Inc.
Tel : (514)-861-0240
Fax: (514)-861-3230