Climbing a Wall of Worry; Risk Assets Remain Higher for the Year..

by John Knobel

Buy into the fear or sell into the strength? 

  • Stock markets remain positive year to date; despite the recent sell-off; Dow Jones remains +13% higher last 9 months;
  • Crude Oil (CL) price remain +15% higher since start of 2019;
  • US Dollar gains +4.2% since January;

Market Themes

  • US Dollar Remains Strong despite the fact that the US Fed is entering lower rate cycle;
  • Soft commodities prices such as Coffee, Corn, Soybean, have been hardest hit on the strong USD
  • Precious metals prices hold gains as the US dollar strengthens in a sign that safe haven assets remain strong as the US – China trade war continues, Brexit risk remain and no clear signals on how far interest rates will move

US Dollar Index gains +4% since the start of 2019;   

 

Source: FXGM / Bloomberg