Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75.1% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Pepperstone logo
Pepperstone logo
USDGoldCrypto

Inflation trade roars to life, but it's make or break for Crypto

Chris Weston
Head of Research
22 Jun 2021
Before I move onto what's been a big day for the inflationist camp in the markets, I'm just letting you know that we'll be putting on a live trading event tomorrow and Thursday on our YouTube channel.

Details can be found here and you can subscribe to our YouTube channel here. Our panel of professional traders all have different trading styles and strategies, and their process that may resonate with what you’re currently doing or currently finessing. 

We’ll be going through their journey's, their process, then diving into the charts looking for trades and importantly talking about how they would manage risk and achieve correct position sizing. Of course, also how they cut losses and extract the most out of a winning trade. It should be a great series, with some excellent colour, so do be sure to tune in and subscribe to our YouTube channel. It would be great to get your involvement and it’s your chance to ask questions directly to the traders. See you there.

The bulls have ripped risk higher 

Implied levels of volatility has fallen fairly sharply (the VIX is -2.8 vols to 17.9%) – there's been no obvious triggers, but it does suggest the recent Fed-induced vol pickup may have been more about positioning than anything else. More evidence is needed in the period ahead, but as was seen in the positioning from clients yesterday you could see that USD pairs had become grossly overbought and traders were anticipating a snapback.

As it is, we’ve seen solid selling in nominal Treasuries (the 10yr is +5bp, 30yr +10bp), and Treasury curves have steepened – great for the inflation trade and banks. Inflation expectations have risen, with 10yr breakeven rates +4bp, so this too has underpinned the reflation trade, where value and cyclicals have absolutely gone for it. The Russell 2000 closed +2.2%, and within the S&P 500 sectors, energy has closed up 4.3% while financials are +2.4%. Taking a more holistic setting, 96% of stocks were higher on the day, amid volumes that were a touch on the light side. Crude gained another 3% and looks red hot, although hasn’t offered a mean reversion sell yet.

Amid a deafening wall of Fed speakers overnight, the USD was -0.4% with the snapback most pronounced in the NOK, GBP and ZAR. AUDUSD has pushed back to the 200-day MA and the former breakout zone of 0.7550 - so the question for today is whether this was the short covering that needed to play out (from grossly oversold levels), or is this the start of a more pronounced bullish run? Price, as always, will reveal all.

22_06_2021_D1.png

(Source: Tradingview)

Crypto has been carved up, but we’ve come to test recent range lows. If we’ve seen the technical sell-off in the USD, we’re yet to see a bid in Crypto. Conditions are grossly oversold though, certainly in the likes of XRPUSD (Ripple), which has a 5-day RSI of 6 and where price is well outside the Keltner bands. The set-up on XRPUSD is huge and one questions if we’re due to see more pain as price is creeping through the 23 May swing low – one to watch, but the tides of FONGO (Fear of Not Getting Out) are creeping in.

22_06_2021_D2.png

(Source: Tradingview)

Bitcoin is also at a make or break point, with price into the range low it's held since mid-May. Ethereum looks plain ugly and if Crypto is an emotive asset, then one would have to be the staunchest of HODLers to be holding this and not look for some sort of hedge – maybe the 200-day MA can save the bulls?

Ready to trade?

It's quick and easy to get started. Apply in minutes with our simple application process.

The material provided here has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Whilst it is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research we will not seek to take any advantage before providing it to our clients.

Pepperstone doesn’t represent that the material provided here is accurate, current or complete, and therefore shouldn’t be relied upon as such. The information, whether from a third party or not, isn’t to be considered as a recommendation; or an offer to buy or sell; or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security, financial product or instrument; or to participate in any particular trading strategy. It does not take into account readers’ financial situation or investment objectives. We advise any readers of this content to seek their own advice. Without the approval of Pepperstone, reproduction or redistribution of this information isn’t permitted.