Today's Ordinaries Index curve is seen at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in central Sydney August 23, 2010. Australian financial markets bet on Monday that inconclusive weekend elections would deliver a change of government, ushering in a new mi
IN PHOTO: Today's Ordinaries Index curve is seen at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in central Sydney August 23, 2010. Australian financial markets bet on Monday that inconclusive weekend elections would deliver a change of government, ushering in a new minority conservative administration that would scrap a planned mining tax. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz

Clear break in the ASX

The breakdown in the ASX yesterday was a clear technical break – something I had been waiting for a month.

I had argued over the past few weeks that, if the ASX was to break 6000 points, it needed three things to happen. They were:

1. A rate cut – tick

2. A growth Federal budget – not likely

3. Stellar banking numbers – fail

The final point is a very telling stat considering the banks make up over a third of the ASX.

The largest two firms in this space have completely broken down on fundamentals, having seen lacklustre first-year numbers and a disappointing quarterly update. The slow moving ship that is fundamentals looks to have finally caught up with the market pricing in this space and it’s quickly revaluating its outlook. Capital at the banks is getting squeezed, as are margins, and more and more are reporting negative Jaws (revenue versus cost).

The other major pricing issue for the banks is that the ‘yield trade’ is now under immense pressure on the change market dynamics.

First the banks no longer have the scope to really expand dividends – WBC has broken from its previous guidance of increasing its dividend by two cents a half. Both ANZ and WBC are discounting their dividend reinvestment plans to help their capital positions. CBA looks unlikely to report a stronger dividend at its final numbers in August.

Second, and more importantly, bond yields are picking up at the back end of the yield curve. The biggest trade over the past 24 months has been shorting the currency with a stimulating central bank, while long the country’s (or zone’s) equity market and long debt of the same county or zone.

Last week, Europe showed that this is not a one-way trade and that it does have an exhaustion point. Some will ask why, what has changed? Why should it not continue as before as the ECB is still injecting €65 billion a month?

The issue here is that QE from the US was part of what drove the European three-way trade - the carry trade into Europe is gone and negative yields on assets like German bunds are driving US investors to repatriate funds after four years of returns that are now losing hand-over-fist. The bond rout looks to be on.

The increase in the ten-year yield will drive profit taking in the banks and the funds back to the bond market. The breakdown in the ASX is clear and I think we’re going to find a reasonable run over the coming month – volatility is coming.

Compounding the issue is the risk events that are coming over the next few weeks, including:

· Grexit – the Greece situation is coming to a head very quickly

· US GDP – the trade balance yesterday actually suggests that Q1 GDP could be downgraded and the lofty Q2 GDP estimates are unachievable

· Non-farm payrolls on Friday – the ADP read overnight was weak

· European growth – looking rocky

· China – positive risk on moves as macro leavers are pulled?

· The UK elections – a hung parliament looks certain; Ed Miliband look like he is inching towards living in Number 10

Ahead of Australian open

The carnage from yesterday looks unlikely to abate today and we’re currently calling the ASX down 42 points to 5650. Iron ore jumped above $60 a tonne for the first time since March but this is unlikely to stop the rout on the ASX.

The unemployment figures today are also going to be interesting as debate still rages about their reliability. However, there could be a growing disconnect between estimates from the RBA and the actuals. If the unemployment rate remains in the low 6% range while expectations are for it to be heading to the mid-6% level, the concern there will be no more easing basis from the RBA and that will only add to and AUD increase – AUD remains a tough trade.

EVAN LUCAS Market Strategist

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