• 287 days Will The ECB Continue To Hike Rates?
  • 288 days Forbes: Aramco Remains Largest Company In The Middle East
  • 289 days Caltech Scientists Succesfully Beam Back Solar Power From Space
  • 689 days Could Crypto Overtake Traditional Investment?
  • 694 days Americans Still Quitting Jobs At Record Pace
  • 696 days FinTech Startups Tapping VC Money for ‘Immigrant Banking’
  • 699 days Is The Dollar Too Strong?
  • 699 days Big Tech Disappoints Investors on Earnings Calls
  • 700 days Fear And Celebration On Twitter as Musk Takes The Reins
  • 702 days China Is Quietly Trying To Distance Itself From Russia
  • 702 days Tech and Internet Giants’ Earnings In Focus After Netflix’s Stinker
  • 706 days Crypto Investors Won Big In 2021
  • 706 days The ‘Metaverse’ Economy Could be Worth $13 Trillion By 2030
  • 707 days Food Prices Are Skyrocketing As Putin’s War Persists
  • 709 days Pentagon Resignations Illustrate Our ‘Commercial’ Defense Dilemma
  • 710 days US Banks Shrug off Nearly $15 Billion In Russian Write-Offs
  • 713 days Cannabis Stocks in Holding Pattern Despite Positive Momentum
  • 714 days Is Musk A Bastion Of Free Speech Or Will His Absolutist Stance Backfire?
  • 714 days Two ETFs That Could Hedge Against Extreme Market Volatility
  • 716 days Are NFTs About To Take Over Gaming?
  1. Home
  2. Markets
  3. Other

QE2 Winners Not Forecasting QE3 Jackson Hole Miracle

In 2009 and 2010, the Federal Reserve was able to reverse sharp declines in asset prices by pumping large amounts of printed money into the global financial system via quantitative easing. With the Fed's 2011 Jackson Hole speech set to take place on August 26, we recently reviewed the ETF winners from QE2 looking to see if the market is anticipating the launch of QE3. Like the bearish similarities to 2008, our findings below are not encouraging for the stock market bulls. A recent review of QE2 winners indicates one of two things:

  1. The market does not believe the Fed will announce QE3 in the coming weeks or
  2. The market believes the deflationary forces in the economy are so great that QE3 would have little impact on asset prices.

The Fed clearly telegraphed their intention to implement QE2 during Ben Bernanke's remarks at Jackson Hole on August 27, 2010. Our March 2011 analysis of QE2 winners showed that silver (SLV) prices responded by gaining almost 90% from August 2010 to March 2011. The table below was originally presented in March 2011.

Top Performers 2010-2011

The 2011 Jackson Hole remarks from the Fed are scheduled for August 26; last year they were given on August 27. This year the financial markets peaked in early May; last year markets were also topping out in May, which means we have similar conditions coming into this year's Jackson Hole remarks as we did in 2010.

The chart below shows silver (SLV) nine calendar days before the Fed's 2010 Jackson Hole remarks. Notice how the markets were anticipating market-friendly news, indicated by silver's higher low made prior to Jackson Hole 2010.

Silver 2010

The chart below shows silver ten calendar days before Jackson Hole 2011. The chart of silver looks better today than it did last year. You might be tempted to say the markets are front-running the Fed anticipating another Jackson Hole miracle for asset prices. Unfortunately for the bulls and the global economy, the rest of the QE2 investment winners do not support another QE miracle save from the Fed.

Silver 2011

The price of oil is obviously economically sensitive. In a world where central banks have their printing presses working overtime churning out paper currencies, oil also serves as a de facto currency (similar to gold). Last year, nine calendar days before Jackson Hole, with the financial markets teetering on a fine bull/bear line, oil equipment & services stocks (below) were showing some signs of life, which indicated hope for better economic outcomes and an anticipation of QE2.

Oil Equipment & Services 2010

In 2011, ten calendar days before Jackson Hole, oil equipment and services stocks look significantly weaker sending concerning signals about the economy and the possible effectiveness of any further quantitative easing (QE3).

Oil Equipment & Services 2011

The entire energy sector (XLE) had clearly made a higher low and higher high prior to Jackson Hole 2010, which aligned with a more optimistic outlook for asset prices and the economy.

Energy Stocks

Heading into Jackson Hole 2011, energy stocks seem to be favoring weak economic outcomes, which is another reason to have cash, precious metals (GLD), and bonds (TLT) on hand.

Energy Stocks 2011

Coal stocks (KOL) were firming up in 2010 as the Fed put its finishing touches on their planned Jackson Hole remarks.

Coal Stocks 2010

At a similar point in 2011, coal stocks, a big QE2 winner, look decidedly weak.

Coal Stocks 2011

Traders, anticipating the possible impact of QE2, piled into metals and mining stocks (XME) nine days before Jackson Hole 2010.

Metal & Mining Stocks 2010

In 2011, traders seem to be avoiding metals and mining stocks, suggesting they do not anticipate a lasting impact from any Jackson Hole remarks.

Metals & Mining Stocks 2011

Natural gas stocks (FCG) gained almost 50% after Jackson Hole 2010. Nine days before the 2010 conference, signs of a new uptrend were appearing in the sector.

Natural Gas Stocks 2010

Today, a firm downtrend remains in place in natural gas-related stocks, which seems to question favorable economic forecasts.

Natural Gas Stocks 2011

Some Fed front running in natural resource stocks (IGE) appeared to take place in August of 2010.

Natural Resources 2010

Few signs of front running appear on the current chart of natural resource stocks.

Natural Resources 2011

Agricultural commodities (RJA) were anticipating future inflation in 2010, which indicates traders had faith the Fed's printing press could reverse deflationary trends.

Agriculture 2010

The prices for agricultural commodities look very deflationary today; they show little faith in the Fed's ability to re-inflate in the second half of 2011.

Agriculture 2011

The Russell 2000 Growth Shares ETF (IWO) gained over 40% after Chairman Ben Bernanke's 2010 Jackson Hole speech. Traders began building positions ten days prior to Ben's remarks.

Small Cap Stocks 2010

Whatever the Russell 2000 is currently anticipating, it does not appear to be bullish or asset-price friendly.

Small Cap Stocks 2011

The ever-volatile semiconductor sector (SMH) also painted a picture of some hope heading into Jackson Hole 2010.

semiconductor Stocks 2010

Ten days before Jackson Hole 2010, semiconductor stocks seemed concerned about consumers opening their wallets in the coming months.

semiconductor Stocks 2011

Like the vast majority of QE2 beneficiaries, the private equity ETF (PSP) was firming up nicely in the summer of 2010.

Private Equipty 2010

Today, private equity's chart has that decidedly waterfall-like look of so many charts.

Private Equity 2011

In the summer of 2010, global financial markets were sitting on a fine bull/bear demarcation line as we outlined in this August 15 video. The Fed's August 2010 Jackson Hole speech telegraphed the central bank's intention of launching QE2. The impact on asset prices was dramatic in 2010. Even if QE3 is announced, the impact may be much more muted in 2011. Our 2011 Jackson Hole strategy is to review the Fed's remarks with an open mind. We will also review the market's response with an open mind, but as of this writing, our bias heading into the Fed's annual summer conference will remain defensive and bearish.

 

Back to homepage

Leave a comment

Leave a comment