Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>Indexes and Sectors remain extremely mixed which we believe is likely to remain the case moving forward.</li>
<li>Attractive Sectors include Energy and Financials, (and to a lesser extent Staples and Utilities) and these areas remain our primary focus.</li>
<li>Financials (XLF) and Energy (XLE) are hitting new RS highs amid rising rates and new highs in WTI crude oil -- Remain overweight/add exposure on pullbacks.</li>
</ul>


Indexes and Sectors remain extremely mixed which we believe is likely to remain the case moving forward.
Attractive Sectors include Energy and Financials, (and to a lesser extent Staples and Utilities) and these areas remain our primary focus.
Financials (XLF) and Energy (XLE) are hitting new RS highs amid rising rates and new highs in WTI crude oil -- Remain overweight/add exposure on pullbacks.


GigaDevice Semiconductor  / Technical Analysis

Market dynamics remain largely positive which continues to support our constructive outlook, and we view recent weakness as a buying opportunity. Below we highlight notable recent developments and actionable stocks within the Technology, Financials, and Materials Sectors.

Market dynamics remain largely positive which continues to support our constructive outlook, and we view recent weakness as a buying opportunity. Below we highlight notable recent developments and actionable stocks within the Technology, Financials, and Materials Sectors.

China Technology Sector Improving -- Add Exposure

Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

Executive Summary: Issuance expectations are often a topic of anxiety for actively trading investors. The concern is that if issuance is expected to be large, then the value of the currently on-the-run security may fall as the market moves into the new security. Our experience is that timing matters. Any decline generally represents a buying opportunity in the older security; however, it can take a week or two for the security to regain lost value. As such, unexpected debt issuance just before quarter-end can be painful.With leverage ratios yet to be a requirement for Eurozone area banks, risk-weighted asset (RWA) capital ratios remain the constraining capital measure. By this standard, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bnp-paribas" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:525:1" rel="noopener">BNP Paribas (BNP FP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credit-agricole-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21373:1" rel="noopener">Credit Agricole Group (ACAFP)</a> remain underweight in Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond issuance.Amongst UK banks, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hsbc-holdings-plc-a723bd63-0890-486f-aaa0-3bb9ad2b95ce" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21976:1" rel="noopener">HSBC Holdings (HSBA LN)</a> looks to have a surplus of AT1 bonds from a RWA capital ratio perspective. However, we calculate a deficiency relative to its leverage capital ratio needs. Basel IV inflation may diminish the RWA-base surplus; but for now, HSBC’s leverage ratio is its AT1 governor.In terms of Tier 2 needs, Eurozone banks are largely where they need to be from an efficiency perspective with the main exception of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cooperatieve-rabobank-ua" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28085:1" rel="noopener">Cooperative Rabobank UA (RABO NA)</a>. Meanwhile, HSBC may be in a position to reduce its Common Equity Tier 1 levels by issuing Tier 2 bonds while remaining well above minimum capital requirements. Concurrently, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/standard-chartered-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:193:1" rel="noopener">Standard Chartered's (STAN LN)</a> Tier 2 levels are materially more than minimum regulatory requirements. These look better value than HSBC’s.

Executive Summary: Issuance expectations are often a topic of anxiety for actively trading investors. The concern is that if issuance is expected to be large, then the value of the currently on-the-run security may fall as the market moves into the new security. Our experience is that timing matters. Any decline generally represents a buying opportunity in the older security; however, it can take a week or two for the security to regain lost value. As such, unexpected debt issuance just before quarter-end can be painful.With leverage ratios yet to be a requirement for Eurozone area banks, risk-weighted asset (RWA) capital ratios remain the constraining capital measure. By this standard, BNP Paribas (BNP FP) and Credit Agricole Group (ACAFP) remain underweight in Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond issuance.Amongst UK banks, HSBC Holdings (HSBA LN) looks to have a surplus of AT1 bonds from a RWA capital ratio perspective. However, we calculate a deficiency relative to its leverage capital ratio needs. Basel IV inflation may diminish the RWA-base surplus; but for now, HSBC’s leverage ratio is its AT1 governor.In terms of Tier 2 needs, Eurozone banks are largely where they need to be from an efficiency perspective with the main exception of Cooperative Rabobank UA (RABO NA). Meanwhile, HSBC may be in a position to reduce its Common Equity Tier 1 levels by issuing Tier 2 bonds while remaining well above minimum capital requirements. Concurrently, Standard Chartered's (STAN LN) Tier 2 levels are materially more than minimum regulatory requirements. These look better value than HSBC’s. 

Debt Capital Surplus (Shortfall) And Trading Opportunities in European Banks

Executive Summary: Friday’s jobs report shocker capped off a week which included US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen needing to be Mirandized. This was followed by the Fed stating the obvious in its financial stability report. Unmentioned in this report is that the role of this Fed is no longer to take away the punchbowl, but instead it is the bartender. The week ended with a jobs report that was the biggest miss in nominal terms, ever.The report was at odds with recent PMI surveys in which respondents stated that it was difficult to hire. This may be the result of frictions in hiring as unemployment benefits as well as child-care needs and postponed school re-openings delay employee re-entry. The truth serum for the US economy may occur around September when extended unemployment payments expire.The market impact was an immediate 10 basis point (bp) drop in the 10-year Treasury while the 2-year note even fell 1bp. Prices on the 10-year gave up these gains as the day progressed, but the smart money, that is the bond market, may be correct with the recent dampening of interest rates suggesting a longer time period to a less accommodative Fed.  The US Treasury bond curve ended the week flatter with short-end yields falling by much less than the longer part of the curve.With rates continuing to push credit spreads, Asia- and European-headquartered banks generated negative total returns in all but the lowest duration notes. There was a clear preference for Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond issuance over the past week while over US$11 billion equivalent was raised by financial institutions globally in USD and Euros. In what may have been the busiest AT1 bond issuance weeks of the year, five institutions brought over US$6.5 billion in six securities.Nonetheless, this is a great credit environment and spreads which could go even tighter into year-end. A single piece of data, such as April’s non-farm payroll figure, is unlikely to change investor positioning. It may be a little too early to fade the market as fundamentals catch-up.Next week we will get a record-matching $126 billion slate of Treasury auctions. We may also see a robust serving of corporate and financials debt issuance. US consumer-price data is set to be published on Tuesday, 12 May. A sharp annual acceleration is forecast, although the market is likely to dismiss the figure as resulting from a comparison to depressed levels of a year earlier.With peak Q1 earnings season now behind us, Japanese banks will deliver their year-end results over the next week while several other stragglers pepper the remainder of the month. US banks signaled that they anticipate significantly higher interest rates by raising record breaking amounts in the debt capital markets following their Q1 earnings announcements. Other banks may follow with material debt issuance over the next few weeks after reporting earnings.Market Outlook: The question is whether the over-heating narrative will make a comeback and bring rate and tapering expectations closer. Financial stability risks appear binary from here. Either the Fed is over-accommodative, and it sits on its hands too long while asset bubbles over-inflate so that it gets nasty when it moves, or the Fed gets impatient, and it lowers accommodation unexpectedly which creates a risk off reaction. In both cases, curves flatten in a risk-off environment. We suspect the former is more likely, and for now, the Fed remains the bartender.

Executive Summary: Friday’s jobs report shocker capped off a week which included US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen needing to be Mirandized. This was followed by the Fed stating the obvious in its financial stability report. Unmentioned in this report is that the role of this Fed is no longer to take away the punchbowl, but instead it is the bartender. The week ended with a jobs report that was the biggest miss in nominal terms, ever.The report was at odds with recent PMI surveys in which respondents stated that it was difficult to hire. This may be the result of frictions in hiring as unemployment benefits as well as child-care needs and postponed school re-openings delay employee re-entry. The truth serum for the US economy may occur around September when extended unemployment payments expire.The market impact was an immediate 10 basis point (bp) drop in the 10-year Treasury while the 2-year note even fell 1bp. Prices on the 10-year gave up these gains as the day progressed, but the smart money, that is the bond market, may be correct with the recent dampening of interest rates suggesting a longer time period to a less accommodative Fed.  The US Treasury bond curve ended the week flatter with short-end yields falling by much less than the longer part of the curve.With rates continuing to push credit spreads, Asia- and European-headquartered banks generated negative total returns in all but the lowest duration notes. There was a clear preference for Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond issuance over the past week while over US$11 billion equivalent was raised by financial institutions globally in USD and Euros. In what may have been the busiest AT1 bond issuance weeks of the year, five institutions brought over US$6.5 billion in six securities.Nonetheless, this is a great credit environment and spreads which could go even tighter into year-end. A single piece of data, such as April’s non-farm payroll figure, is unlikely to change investor positioning. It may be a little too early to fade the market as fundamentals catch-up.Next week we will get a record-matching $126 billion slate of Treasury auctions. We may also see a robust serving of corporate and financials debt issuance. US consumer-price data is set to be published on Tuesday, 12 May. A sharp annual acceleration is forecast, although the market is likely to dismiss the figure as resulting from a comparison to depressed levels of a year earlier.With peak Q1 earnings season now behind us, Japanese banks will deliver their year-end results over the next week while several other stragglers pepper the remainder of the month. US banks signaled that they anticipate significantly higher interest rates by raising record breaking amounts in the debt capital markets following their Q1 earnings announcements. Other banks may follow with material debt issuance over the next few weeks after reporting earnings.Market Outlook: The question is whether the over-heating narrative will make a comeback and bring rate and tapering expectations closer. Financial stability risks appear binary from here. Either the Fed is over-accommodative, and it sits on its hands too long while asset bubbles over-inflate so that it gets nasty when it moves, or the Fed gets impatient, and it lowers accommodation unexpectedly which creates a risk off reaction. In both cases, curves flatten in a risk-off environment. We suspect the former is more likely, and for now, the Fed remains the bartender.

Bank Credit Weekly: Jobs Report Shocker Flattens Curves

Executive Summary: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-santander-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21296:1" rel="noopener">Banco Santander (SAN SM)</a> is one of the few institutions which did not engage in loan loss reserve releases this quarter. It did not even release reserves for the sake of appearance, as occurred at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hsbc-holdings-plc-a723bd63-0890-486f-aaa0-3bb9ad2b95ce" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21976:1" rel="noopener">HSBC Holdings (HSBA LN)</a>. As regards credit quality, unfortunately, there is more than meets the eye and it is not spectacular. However, we believe that this is priced into the bank’s Additional Tier 1 (AT1) notes.The big issue for Santander is Brazil. Santander is essentially a Brazilian bank, headquartered in Madrid. Brazil contributes the largest amount of pre-provision profits amongst the bank’s well diversified franchise. Notably, the bank effectively managed to achieve an overall similar revenue result in the first quarter of this year as in last year, despite Brazil’s contribution declining by 16% year-on-year. This speaks to the diversification benefits inherent in the firm’s franchise. We believe this is undervalued by the market.Santander may face continuing revenue challenges in Brazil this year if the country is unable to tame its Coronavirus outbreaks. However, this appears to already be priced into Santander’s AT1 bonds.Santander’s longest dated AT1 bond trades 30 bps higher than the spread on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credit-suisse-group-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22253:1" rel="noopener">Credit Suisse Group's (CSGN VX)</a> similar first call note, despite being higher rated and having an effective capital buffer which is greater than 200bps higher, relative to their respective risk-weighted assets. Santander’s longest-dated AT1 note also trades almost 100bps higher than <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/standard-chartered-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:193:1" rel="noopener">Standard Chartered's (STAN LN)</a> similar first call bond. Again, this is despite being higher rated and having a similar capital buffer. As such, we see more upside and recommend that investors overweight Santander’s AT1 notes.

Executive Summary: Banco Santander (SAN SM) is one of the few institutions which did not engage in loan loss reserve releases this quarter. It did not even release reserves for the sake of appearance, as occurred at HSBC Holdings (HSBA LN). As regards credit quality, unfortunately, there is more than meets the eye and it is not spectacular. However, we believe that this is priced into the bank’s Additional Tier 1 (AT1) notes.The big issue for Santander is Brazil. Santander is essentially a Brazilian bank, headquartered in Madrid. Brazil contributes the largest amount of pre-provision profits amongst the bank’s well diversified franchise. Notably, the bank effectively managed to achieve an overall similar revenue result in the first quarter of this year as in last year, despite Brazil’s contribution declining by 16% year-on-year. This speaks to the diversification benefits inherent in the firm’s franchise. We believe this is undervalued by the market.Santander may face continuing revenue challenges in Brazil this year if the country is unable to tame its Coronavirus outbreaks. However, this appears to already be priced into Santander’s AT1 bonds.Santander’s longest dated AT1 bond trades 30 bps higher than the spread on Credit Suisse Group's (CSGN VX) similar first call note, despite being higher rated and having an effective capital buffer which is greater than 200bps higher, relative to their respective risk-weighted assets. Santander’s longest-dated AT1 note also trades almost 100bps higher than Standard Chartered's (STAN LN) similar first call bond. Again, this is despite being higher rated and having a similar capital buffer. As such, we see more upside and recommend that investors overweight Santander’s AT1 notes.

Spain

Banco Santander S.A. attracts deposits and offers retail, commercial and private banking, and asset management services. The Bank offers consumer credit, mortgage loans, lease financing, factoring, mutual funds, pension funds, insurance, commercial credit, investment banking services, structured finance, and advice on mergers and acquisitions.

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Banco Santander (SAN US)

Stick With Energy and Financials

Indexes and Sectors remain extremely mixed which we believe is likely to remain the case moving forward. Attractive Sectors include Energy and...

Vermilion Research

China Technology Sector Improving -- Add Exposure

Market dynamics remain largely positive which continues to support our constructive outlook, and we view recent weakness as a buying opportunity....

Vermilion Research

Debt Capital Surplus (Shortfall) And Trading Opportunities in European Banks

Timing matters. A price decline in an on-the-run bond due to issuance represents a buying opportunity; however, it can take time to regain value....

Hank Calenti, CFA

Bank Credit Weekly: Jobs Report Shocker Flattens Curves

Job data raises uncertainty as the Fed continues to act as bartender. Financial stability risks appear binary while rates push credit spreads. Can...

Hank Calenti, CFA

Banco Santander: Undervalued AT1

Santander’s AT1 is undervalued. There is considerably more upside from these securities than at other globally diversified, and EM-centric,...

Hank Calenti, CFA

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