The Bond Bulletin by Carley Garner

carleygarner

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January 8th, 2009

We've remodeled, check out www.CommodityOptionstheBook.com !


Much ado about nothing


Traders spent all week analyzing and anticipating one of the most significant employment reports of the season, but it was a complete non-event. Accordingly, Treasuries traded near unchanged for most of the session on anemic afternoon volume.

The unemployment rate was reported identical to last month and in-line with expectations at 10%. This is a bit of a psychological defeat but wasn't too surprising so received little reaction. The non-farm payrolls numbers were a bit worse than expected, about 50,000 to be precise, and came with downward revisions in the previous month. A few years ago, this would have been a significant miscalculation and likely would have garnered some volatility...but today it was just another sign that things are improving but still horrible and definitely not fool proof. In other news, hourly pay rates ticked higher, the average work week stood still and consumer credit tapered off.

The recent lack of volatility appears to be the calm before the storm; choppy but quiet trade is often the precursor to a large move. The large sell-off and subsequent bearish chatter in popular chat rooms and on television leads me to believe that the Treasury market will be finding a firm bottom in the coming sessions. However, today's lack of follow through buying on moderately bullish news leaves the market vulnerable to at least one more flushing move to elect the remaining sell stops.

We favor the upside but recommend a small position as there will likely be opportunities to get in at better prices. If not...at least you are in. Support in the 30-year bond is just below 114 and it lies in the mid 114's for the T-note.


* Due to time constraints and our fiduciary duty to put clients first, the charts provided in this newsletter may not reflect the current session data. However, market analysis and commentary does. Charts provided by Track 'n Trade, Gecko software.

**Seasonality is already be factored into current prices, any references to such does not indicate future market action.



Treasury Bond and Note Option Trading Recommendations
**There is unlimited risk in naked option selling.

December 28 - Our clients were recommended to sell the March Bond 110 puts for 23 or better.

December 10 - Our clients were recommended to sell the Feb bond 113 puts for 24.
• December 11 - Clients with available margin and willingness to accept more risk were advised to add on to this position by selling the Feb 113 puts at 34 or better. A handful were filled at this price, many went unable.
• December 17 - Our clients were advised to take profits today on the rally. Fills were coming back at 9 and 10 ticks, so assuming an entry price of 24 and exit of 9 the trade was profitable by about $235 per contract before commissions and fees.

Treasury Bond and Note Futures Trading Recommendations
**There is unlimited risk in trading futures.

Flat


Carley Garner
Senior Analyst / Commodity Broker
DeCarley Trading
[email protected]
1-866-790-TRADE
Local : 702-947-0701

www.DeCarleyTrading.com
www.CommodityOptionstheBook.com



*Due to the volatile nature of the futures markets some information and charts in this report may not be timely.

There is substantial risk of loss in trading futures and options.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. The information and data in this report were obtained from sources considered reliable. Their accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed and the giving of the same is not to be deemed as an offer or solicitation on our part with respect to the sale or purchase of any securities or commodities. Any decision to purchase or sell as a result of the opinions expressed in this report will be the full responsibility of the person authorizing such transaction.
 
January 12th, 2009

Register for Carley's online class through the New York Institute of Finance discussing option selling at www.DeCarleyTrading.com!!


Traders cover short bonds


Treasury trade has finally moved from lethargic to exciting. After weeks of consolidation, a break out was well overdue and the move didn't disappoint...except for those on the wrong side of the move.

The initial move upward was triggered by a humble beginning to the equities earnings season and concern over higher Chinese interest rates. Tighter credit in China put pressure on stocks and commodities as well as lured safety bids into bonds and notes.

The higher dollar seems to be a positive for U.S. fixed income products as well. Stability in the domestic currency should help to keep foreign investors holding onto Treasuries. While too much of a good thing could work against Treasuries, the dollar is still relatively cheap and the currency conversion shouldn't deter fresh longs in bonds and notes.

A solid note auction was just want the complex needed to start the short squeeze. $40 billion in 3 year notes went off at 1.49% and a bid to cover of 2.98 while $26 billion of the 1-years drew .335% and a bid to cover of 3.63. Investors seem to be willing to pay up for short maturities; likely out of fear of higher long-term rates and a questionable recovery. Don't forget, for those that can hold to maturity risk in fixed income is mild, for those that might be looking for liquidity (the ability to trade in and out throughout the bond life) are facing considerably higher risks.

We have been looking for this rally for quite some time, and true to form the market finally made its moved once most had given up on the idea. It seems likely that a majority of today's buying was at the hands of buy stop running and panicked shorts. Therefore, a moderate pullback might be seen in tomorrow's session; however we feel as though the long bond will soon see the mid-118's. New support is 116'08.

If you are trading the 10-year note, look for support at 116'10 with a target near 117'25ish.

* Due to time constraints and our fiduciary duty to put clients first, the charts provided in this newsletter may not reflect the current session data. However, market analysis and commentary does. Charts provided by Track 'n Trade, Gecko software.

**Seasonality is already be factored into current prices, any references to such does not indicate future market action.



Treasury Bond and Note Option Trading Recommendations
**There is unlimited risk in naked option selling.

December 28 - Our clients were recommended to sell the March Bond 110 puts for 23 or better.

Treasury Bond and Note Futures Trading Recommendations
**There is unlimited risk in trading futures.

Flat


Carley Garner
Senior Analyst / Commodity Broker
DeCarley Trading
[email protected]
1-866-790-TRADE
Local : 702-947-0701

www.DeCarleyTrading.com
www.CommodityOptionstheBook.com



*Due to the volatile nature of the futures markets some information and charts in this report may not be timely.


There is substantial risk of loss in trading futures and options.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. The information and data in this report were obtained from sources considered reliable. Their accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed and the giving of the same is not to be deemed as an offer or solicitation on our part with respect to the sale or purchase of any securities or commodities. Any decision to purchase or sell as a result of the opinions expressed in this report will be the full responsibility of the person authorizing such transaction.
 
January 20th, 2009

Register for Carley's online class through the New York Institute of Finance discussing option selling at www.DeCarleyTrading.com!!


Higher dollar and lower stocks favor Treasury rally


It was the perfect environment for a Treasury rally, and they did.
Bonds and notes moved higher on Tuesday as equities gave back yesterday's gains and the U.S. dollar surged higher.

Additionally, the days economic data was overall supportive for fixed income products. The December housing starts were a minor miss, leaving the housing market on a virtual teeter totter as the data seems to be good one month and dire the next.

The Producer Price Index was slightly hotter than expected, but much cooler than the previous readings and this allowed the inflation worries to be put aside in the near-term.

Tomorrow's calendar should be action packed, we will hear about the weekly jobless claims, leading indicators and the Philly Fed index. However, there are no economic releases scheduled on Friday. This leaves the market vulnerable to counter-trend Friday trade which seems to be in favor of a sell-off.

In yesterday's newsletter, we were calling for the mid 118's in the bond and just under 118 in the 10-year note. We still feel that these prices are possible, but prefer the short side from such levels. Our clients were recommended to sell call options this morning against the rally. Specifically, we like the idea of being short the March 30-year bond 121 calls. Fills were being reported anywhere from 23 to 26 ticks or $395 - $406. The longer-term seems to point higher but the 10-year notes are overextended and they have been the leader. Should the market correct in the coming sessions, we like the idea of being quick to exit this trade at a profit. Stay tuned.


* Due to time constraints and our fiduciary duty to put clients first, the charts provided in this newsletter may not reflect the current session data. However, market analysis and commentary does. Charts provided by Track 'n Trade, Gecko software.

**Seasonality is already be factored into current prices, any references to such does not indicate future market action.



Treasury Bond and Note Option Trading Recommendations
**There is unlimited risk in naked option selling.

January 20 - Our clients were recommended to sell call options this morning against the rally. Specifically, we like the idea of being short the March 30-year bond 121 calls. Fills were being reported anywhere from 23 to 26 ticks or $395 - $406.

Treasury Bond and Note Futures Trading Recommendations
**There is unlimited risk in trading futures.

Flat


Carley Garner
Senior Analyst / Commodity Broker
DeCarley Trading
[email protected]
1-866-790-TRADE
Local : 702-947-0701

www.DeCarleyTrading.com
www.CommodityOptionstheBook.com



*Due to the volatile nature of the futures markets some information and charts in this report may not be timely.

There is substantial risk of loss in trading futures and options.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. The information and data in this report were obtained from sources considered reliable. Their accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed and the giving of the same is not to be deemed as an offer or solicitation on our part with respect to the sale or purchase of any securities or commodities. Any decision to purchase or sell as a result of the opinions expressed in this report will be the full responsibility of the person authorizing such transaction.
 
Another Non-Event

January 27th, 2010

Carley's new book, "A Trader's First Book on Commodities" is now available at all major book outlets!


Another Non-Event


The Fed day just isn't what it used to be; in the not too distant past the FOMC policy statement encouraged high trading volume and impressive volatility. However, it seems as though those days are gone. Instead, today (and most in recent history) was a relatively mundane trading session. The March T-bond futures rallied early on what was likely position squaring ahead of the event risk but after all was said and done it ended the day near unchanged.

The Treasury market has been flooded with semi-bullish news, but it just can't seem to make progress on the upside. Accordingly, although we think that there could be much more room for this rally to run in the next month or two we also feel like the bulls are running out of "bull"ets (sorry, that was lame...it has been a long week).

The Treasury auctioned $42 billion in 5-year notes at a rate of 2.37% and a bid-to-cover of 2.80. The strong showing likely prevented some Treasury selling but wasn't enough to rekindle buying interest. Additionally, new home sales were reported to be worse than expected and failed to ignite much of a bullish response from the bond pit.

The FOMC policy statement was a virtual non-event. The Fed maintained their "extended period" stance when it comes to maintaining low interest rates. However, this time there was one dissenting vote on this. They also confirmed that their mortgage backed securities purchases program will end in march as scheduled and of course the Fed Funds target rate remains near zero percent.

Our figures from yesterday are still valid:

We were right about our assumption of another retest of the highs in the March T-Bond futures, but tomorrow's call is a bit tougher. Our resistance area near 119'09 seems to continue to be valid, along with our mid-to-low 118 resistance in the note.

Support in the long bond comes in near 117'18 and then again near 116'011ish. If you are trading the note, look for support near 117'06 and then again in the mid-116's.

We also like the downside prospects in the 5-year note. Look for a pullback to the mid 115's.

* Due to time constraints and our fiduciary duty to put clients first, the charts provided in this newsletter may not reflect the current session data. However, market analysis and commentary does. Charts provided by Track 'n Trade, Gecko software.

**Seasonality is already be factored into current prices, any references to such does not indicate future market action.



Treasury Bond and Note Option Trading Recommendations
**There is unlimited risk in naked option selling.

January 20 - Our clients were recommended to sell call options this morning against the rally. Specifically, we like the idea of being short the March 30-year bond 121 calls. Fills were being reported anywhere from 23 to 26 ticks or $395 - $406.

Treasury Bond and Note Futures Trading Recommendations
**There is unlimited risk in trading futures.

Flat



Carley Garner
Senior Analyst / Commodity Broker
DeCarley Trading
[email protected]
1-866-790-TRADE
Local : 702-947-0701

www.DeCarleyTrading.com
www.CommodityOptionstheBook.com



*Due to the volatile nature of the futures markets some information and charts in this report may not be timely.


There is substantial risk of loss in trading futures and options.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. The information and data in this report were obtained from sources considered reliable. Their accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed and the giving of the same is not to be deemed as an offer or solicitation on our part with respect to the sale or purchase of any securities or commodities. Any decision to purchase or sell as a result of the opinions expressed in this report will be the full responsibility of the person authorizing such transaction.
 
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