Stocks Not Out of the Woods as Rates, Oil Keep Surging

Stocks were in for a wild trading day, with the S&P 500 firmly in a negative gamma regime. It means that wild swings will persist as long as this case, and there was a pretty good example of that when the index erased a 70-bps loss and turned positive in about 30 minutes of trading yesterday afternoon.

S&P 500 Futures-5-Minute Chart

Still, the S&P 500 finished the day unchanged and seems to have found a level of some support at the moment. Ultimately, I think it has further to fall, but a brief pause or rebound doesn’t seem out of the question. A gap below 4,240, would be a negative, and suggest a move back to 4,200 is in the works.

SPX-Daily Chart

Oil Prices Surge Once Again

Much of this was also due to oil surging again, rising to almost $94. Oil has broken out again, and oil moving to a range of $97.50 to $98 doesn’t seem very far off at this point, with little resistance in the way.

WTI Crude Oil-Daily Chart

10-Year Yields Head Higher

Of course, that pushed yields higher, with the 10-year trading around 4.62% and closing in on 4.68%. After 4.68%, it is tough to find a level of strong resistance until you hit 5.25%.

US 10-Year Yield-Weekly Chart

10-2 Year Spread Indicates Bear Steepening

Given the fact the 2/10 spread appears to now be bear steepening, with the ten rising to the two, it seems possible that the 10-year could add on an additional 15 bps from here. That would only get the spread back -35 bps, or post SVB levels, assuming the 2-year remains roughly unchanged.

US10Y-US02Y-Daily Chart

High Yield Bonds at Key Support

Meanwhile, the HYG ETF is sitting on important support, which, once broken, could be a bad sign. It feels like the HYG has somehow managed to stay immune to the carnage in Bond land and hasn’t seen the same level of decline. Clearly, that can change if the HYG breaks support around $73.

HYG-Daily Chart

Micron

In the meantime, Micron (NASDAQ:MU) reported results that came in better than expected and even gave a better-than-expected revenue guide. But it was its earnings guidance that came in a range of loss per share of $1 to $1.14 versus estimates of $0.96 per share, which is ugly.

Then there was the gross margin guide that was even worse, at -2% to -6% versus estimates for 0.66%. Following those gross margins and earnings guides, I would be surprised to see the stock trade higher tomorrow. Micron has tended to be a gross margin story over the years, and that guidance won’t help. There is support around $64.5 and restiance around $72.

Micron Tech-Daily Chart

SK Hynix: Korean Chipmaker Breaks Lower

Following Micron, SK Hynix (KS:000660) could be one to watch tonight in South Korea. I think the chart below speaks for itself.

SK Hynix-Daily Chart

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