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Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac

By Colin Twiggs
July 10, 2008 4:00 a.m. ET (6:00 p.m. AET)

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Stocks

The S&P 500 respected the new resistance level at 1270, offering a target of 1100 [1270-(1430-1270)=1110]. Twiggs Money Flow below its January low signals strong selling pressure.

SPX

China: The Shanghai Composite Index retraced to test resistance at 3000, while Twiggs Money Flow (21-Day) broke out above its recent triangle to signal buying pressure. Confirmation by the 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow would be a bullish sign.

Shanghai Composite Index

Crude Oil

West Texas Intermediate Crude found short-term support at $135. Recovery above $140 would signal respect of the rising trendline, offering a target of $150. A fall below $130 would warn of a secondary correction. Primary support remains at $100.

West Texas Intermediate Crude

The Fear Index

The spread between the fed funds rate and 3-month T-bills remains in the green zone: below 0.5 percent. The gap widens when investors seek the safety of treasury-bills.

The Fear Index: fed funds rate minus 3-month treasury bills

Treasury Yields

Ten-year treasury yields broke through short-term support at 3.90 percent, warning of a test of primary support at 3.30 percent. A fall below 3.75 percent would confirm. The yield differential (with 13-week treasury bills) remains relatively healthy at above 2.0 percent.

10 year treasury yields and yield differential with 3 month treasury bills

Inflation

The spread between 10-year treasurys and the equivalent TIPS rate is testing 2.50 percent. Breakout would indicate that inflation expectations are rising.

10 year treasury yields minus 10 year TIPS

Financial Markets — Commercial Paper

Increasing spreads between commercial paper and the effective fed funds rate reflect investors concerns about financial markets — and pressure banks to reduce off-balance sheet funding.

commercial paper rates compared to federal funds rate and treasury bills

Commercial paper in issue is declining, maintaining the credit squeeze.

commercial paper total balances

Corporate Bonds

Corporate bond yields continue to rise, despite the fall in treasury yields, slowing new investment.

corporate bond spreads

Housing

Fixed mortgage rates eased slightly, in sympathy with falling treasury yields, but the trend remains upwards — placing downward pressure on the housing market.

30 Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Compared to Treasuries

With their shares falling, credit default swaps rising, and investors demanding higher spreads on new bond issues, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the latest threat to stability of the financial system. Former St. Louis Fed President William Poole says that Freddie Mac owes $5.2 billion more than the fair value of its assets — and Fannie Mae may be negative by next quarter. (Bloomberg).

Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac

Bank Credit

Credit growth continues to fall as banks shore up their balance sheets. This will in turn affect consumption and new investment, slowing the economy.

bank credit growth

Discount window credits are declining but Fed term auction credit remains at $150 billion — and it may be some time before these record levels of Fed funding are reduced.

reserves of depository institutions

Employment

Unemployment is trending upwards, but remains below its 2003 peak.

Employment and Jobless

The jobless rate, which includes those not actively seeking work, shows a disturbing long-term up-trend.

Employment and Jobless

Wright Model

Jonathan Wright's recession prediction model remains at zero. The model looks four quarters ahead and does not reflect that we are currently in (or about to enter) a recession.

wright's recession prediction model


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