Markets:
- S&P 500 down 0.6%
- Nasdaq down 1.1%
- WTI crude oil down $4.12 to $76.63
- US 10-year yields down 3 bps to 4.44%
- EUR leads, CHF lags
- Gold up $26 to $4333
Oil continued to plummet on Tuesday as it fell another $4. After the bell, the API private inventory numbers showed another huge drawdown in oil supplies and that’s likely to continue for at least another week with the deal not set to be signed until Friday. In any case, the oil market is looking forward and sees the resumption of flows. Either that, or the oil longs are capitulating.
What’s notable is that the cross-asset reaction isn’t as big as you’d expect for a 4.5% decline in crude. US Treasury yields fell 2-3 bps and the FX market was largely unmoved on the day. Even oil equities had a skeptical look with the XLE ETF down just 0.3%.
In the broader equity markets, there was some profit taking in the Nasdaq to lead stocks lower. High flying Intel was knocked down 8% and looks like it could be forming a double top. Micron also formed and outside day and was down 6%. Broadcom and Nvidia were also lower but eyes were on SpaceX, which squeezed as much as 20% higher before finishing up just 4.8%.
Overall volatility was likely cooled by the Fed decision on Wednesday, which will be the first one from Kevin Warsh.
