Fed Funds: Rate Hikes

The fed funds futures have now indicated that December is the first month with a 100% chance of a fed funds rate hike, to only 0.25% at that. Until very recently, October was the bogey — and some are still talking about rate hikes starting as soon as September.

The Fear Index: The VIX

The volatility or fear index, the CBOE Volatility Index for the S&P 500, was indicated up at 22, after having closed at 19.14 on Thursday.

China and Shanghai

Shanghai needs to be put in perspective here, even as PMI hit a 77-month low. This is perhaps the biggest volatility cause for the markets this year. The SSE peaked at 5,166 and closed down over 4% at 3,507 on Friday. That market could even have further to go based on its history and if you compare to the Nasdaq tech bubble of 2000. Either way, Shanghai is down 32% from its peak in 2015, but it is still up 8% so far year to date. ETF notes:

The ETF for most of China is the iShares China Large-Cap (NYSEMKT: FXI), and it was down 9.5% so far year to date in 2015, but is down 29% from its 52-week high in 2015. The Deutsche X-trackers Harvest CSI300 CHN A (NYSEMKT: ASHR), which tracks the A-Shares in Shanghai, is down 35% from its peak in 2015 but is down only 4% year-to-date.

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Gold and Oil

Gold may be back up at $1,150 or so on this latest uncertainty, but gold is now down only 2.5% so far from the end of 2014. This was measured by the performance of the SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEMKT: GLD). Outflows from the ETF market in gold have stalled. Oil remains in the tank, and every attempt to bottom-fish has been met with disappointment. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was last seen down over 2% at $40.40, but so far $40 has held — so far. The market just feels like it wants to break under $40.

Emerging Markets

The emerging markets have been pounded as well. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (NYSEMKT: EEM) is now down 27% from its 52-week high and down just over 14% year to date. Investors just need to consider that this ETF is dominated by China and Asia.

Greece

Greece remains a market that cannot seem to find itself. The bailouts had been approved, but now Tsipras has called a snap election to solidify his power, even after having to have backed down from his original demands to stay in the euro. The Global X FTSE Greece 20 ETF (NYSEMKT: GREK) is down over 55% from its 52-week high, and it is down by about 29% year to date.

U.S. Dollar Strength

The U.S. dollar was last seen around $1.13 per euro, and the 52-week range is $1.0458 to $1.3297. China has taken further steps to remove its dollar peg, yet the dollar’s strength has been a continued source of profit and revenue eating against the part of corporate America that relies on exports. What if China’s move here ends up being good long term?

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Again, there is no serious effort here trying to peg a bottom. It is August and the end of the summer doldrums. This is far from a full spectrum review for the global markets, and much has been skipped over that may have been important. Even Jeff Hirsch of the Stock Trader’s Almanac has warned that the dog days of summer might not be over yet.

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