The charts that matter: rising bond yields send markets into a tizz

Welcome back.

In this week’s issue of the magazine, we look at the “Great Reset”, touted by the great and the good as a new beginning for the global economy – but, as Stuart Watkins argues, there is very little that is new about it and quite a lot to dislike. We also look at the vast potential of emerging Asia and the best ways to buy in. If you’re not already a subscriber, sign up now and get your first six mags free.

Our latest “Too Embarrassed To Ask” video looks at “technical analysis” as favoured by many investors who like to spot patterns in charts that, they say, give them an insight into where markets might go next. Find out more about it in our video here.

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As is now usual, we have a new podcast. This time John is in the chair, talking to Dr Paul Jourdan of Amati Global investors. Paul is launching a new fund investing in the “strategic metals” that are needed if we are to move away from fossil fuels. Have a listen to what he’s got to say here.

Here are the links for this week’s editions of Money Morning and other web stories you may have missed.

• Monday: Which assets do best when inflation is rising?
• Merryn’s blog: Neil Woodford’s back – but has he really learned anything?
• Tuesday: Why you should pay attention when investment trusts raise new money
• Wednesday: The days when you could get 7% from your bank are long gone – so what do you do?
• Thursday: Are we heading for another bond market tantrum?
• Friday: Expect more turbulence as the market calls central bankers’ bluff

Now for the charts of the week.

The charts that matter

Gold fell hard this week as rising bond yields stymied demand. Gold doesn’t like rising “real” yields (that is, interest rates adjusted for inflation). Hence the slide.

(Gold: three months)

The US dollar index (DXY – a measure of the strength of the dollar against a basket of the currencies of its major trading partners) rose a little over the week, but tailed off towards the end.

(DXY: three months)

The Chinese yuan (or renminbi) continues to trade in a range against the US dollar (when the red line is falling, the yuan is strengthening).

(Chinese yuan to the US dollar: since 25 Jun 2019)

The yield on the ten-year US government bond roared through 1.5% as investors grow increasingly convinced that inflation will force the Federal Reserve to raise rates earlier than expected.

(Ten-year US Treasury yield: three months)

Even the yield on the Japanese ten-year bond saw a steep jump, hitting 0.14% as it tracked other developed-world yields up to hit its highest level since late 2019.

(Ten-year Japanese government bond yield: three months)

The yield on the ten-year German Bund joined the party too, up to levels not seen since early 2020. Still negative, but hurtling towards zero at an astonishing rate.

(Ten-year Bund yield: three months)

Copper took another big leap. Find out why this metal is going to be in huge demand in the coming years in this week’s MoneyWeek Podcast.

(Copper: nine months)

The Aussie dollar stopped for a breather after another positive week, driven by commodities demand.

(Aussie dollar vs US dollar exchange rate: three months)

Cryptocurrency bitcoin suffered another of its big crashes after topping $57,000 last week. Loose cannon Elon Musk gave crypto-speculators a fright when he went on Twitter to suggest it was looking a little overvalued. His perhaps ill-judged pronouncement cost him some $15bn.

(By the way, keep an eye out next week for a comprehensive guide to bitcoin put together by our resident crypto-expert Dominic. That’ll be coming your way over the next week or so.)

(Bitcoin: three months)

US weekly jobless claims fell by 111,000 to 730,000, compared to 841,000 last week (revised down from 861,000). The four-week moving average fell to 807,750 from 828,250 (which was revised down from 833,250) the week before. It was a bigger fall than many had forecast, suggesting the jobs market could be picking up again.

(US jobless claims, four-week moving average: since Jan 2020)

The oil price (as measured by Brent crude) climbed higher still, hitting $66 a barrel. Bank of America is forecasting that oil prices will rise at the fastest rate since the 1970s over the next three years, and could even hit $100 a barrel.

(Brent crude oil: three months)

Amazon took a dive as equities and US tech stocks in particular, sold off heavily.

(Amazon: three months)

Tesla joined in the market plunge, not helped by its CEO’s social media activity.

(Tesla: three months)

Have a great weekend.