IRON ORE: Tracking Lower Into Year End, But Dips Sub $100/ton Supported
Dec-24 03:36
The active iron ore contract in Singapore been supported so far sub $100/ton, but has spent the last few weeks tracking lower as we approach 2025. We were last $100.50/ton, down around 0.80% for the session.
- A clean break sub $100/ton could see mid Nov lows near $95/ton targeted, while on the topside, recent Dec highs were at $107/ton.
- Onshore steel prices are showing a little more resilience so far today. Hot rolled coil and steel rebar are still near recent lows though. Iron ore inventories at China ports sit off cycle highs, but a downtrend is proving elusive at this stage.
- Our onshore policy team noted late yesterday that China steel; demand is expected to fall next year, with the housing market still facing headwinds (see this link).
- China equities are up today, but the aggregate indices remain within recent ranges. Property sub indices continue to struggle though, the CSI 300 real estate index now back to late Sep levels.
- Iron ore weakness is in line with copper softness, with the base metal tracking lower in recent weeks well.
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AUSSIE 3-YEAR TECHS: (Z4) Bearish Backdrop Building
Nov-22 22:45
- RES 3: 96.380 - High Mar 21 2023
- RES 2: 97.190 - High May 5 2023
- RES 1: 96.730/932 - High Sep 17 / 76.4% of Mar-Nov ‘23 bear leg
- PRICE: 95.920 @ 16:46 GMT Nov 21
- SUP 1: 95.760 - Low Nov 13
- SUP 2: 95.750 - Low 27 Nov ‘23
- SUP 3: 95.480 - Low Jan 11 2023 and a major support
Prices hit a fresh pullback low at 95.760 across the global rates sell-off, extending losses on the break through 96.080 support. This confirms the downside bias, with support undercutting at 95.750 below ahead of major support of 95.480. For any corrective recovery to take hold, markets need to retake the 96.00 handle on a closing basis.
US TSYS: Underperforming Global Peers In Twist Flattening Move
Nov-22 20:10
Treasuries closed Friday little changed, underperforming global peers.
- Futures traded within Thursday's ranges, with data having little lasting impact: November flash services PMI was much stronger than expected and the highest since March 2022, though soft employment and output price inflation metrics softened the impact.
- Elevated final November UMichigan survey long-term inflation expectations saw Treasuries hit the worst levels of the day, but the move reversed.
- The limited move in yields stood in contrast to pronounced gains in Europe, where weaker-than-expected PMIs renewed concern over regional growth and boosted ECB rate cut pricing. That helped boost Treasuries in overnight trade, but as noted, the US rate move subsided.
- Futures volumes remained robust (2.4M TYZ4), though again it was largely quarterly roll-related.
- The curve twist flattened on the day, and Friday's moves left 10Y yields just 2bp lower on the week.
- Latest levels: The Dec 24 T-Note future is up 5/32 at 109-21, having traded in a range of 109-16.5 to 109-26.5. 2-Yr yield is up 1.8bps at 4.3665%, 5-Yr is down 0.9bps at 4.2948%, 10-Yr is down 1.8bps at 4.4041%, and 30-Yr is down 1.1bps at 4.5906%.
- MNI's weekly US macro wrap is here (PDF).
- Next week's schedule is condensed by the Thanksgiving holiday, with highlights including FOMC Minutes (MNI Preview here - PDF) and GDP/PCE data.
OPTIONS: US Options Summary
Nov-22 19:59
Friday's US rates/bond options flow included:
- SFRZ4 95.50/95.56/95.62c fly, bought for 0.75 in 5k total.
- SFRF5 95.75/95.62/95.50p fly, bought for 3 in 5k.
- SFRM5 96.50/97.00cs, sold at 5.25 in 8k.
- SFRM5 97.00/97.50c strip vs SFRZ5 97.50c, bought the strip for flat in 5k
- SFRZ5 96.125 ^ sold at 87.5 in 500
- 2QH5 97.25/97.50cs, bought for 1.5 in 5k
