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☆ Goldman recommends buying call options in these two tech titans before their earnings reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Goldman Sachs recommends clients buy call options on Apple and Microsoft ahead of each company's earnings reports in two weeks. For Apple, Goldman thinks the mobile app spending portion of the company will beat Wall Street expectations and service revenue will become the main force behind earnings growth. "While app spending growth has slowed, as we lap recent benefits from consumer stimulus and engagement benefits due to the pandemic he expects app spending to resume mid-teens growth in F2024." AAPL YTD mountain Apple could beat expectations in mobile app spending and boost shares as investors look toward earnings, according to Goldman Sachs. "AI-related 12 April 2023 3 Goldman Sachs Weekly Options Watch workloads can also provide a boost to Azure over time.

☆ Inflation slowed dramatically in March, but Evercore says it's not an all-clear for stocks. Here's how it says investors should position for upside while staying safe.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Marley Jay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Evercore says that concerns about inflation and financial stability will still drive stocks. Inflation continues to fade, which means it's much more likely that the Fed's rate hiking campaign is coming to an end. Emanuel says investors should apply that strategy using both the S&P 500 and QQQ, the popular ETF tracking the Nasdaq 100 index. So, in essence, his advice is that investors should position for the index to give up its gains, and buy support that would protect them at the 3,800 level. The idea is that investors can protect themselves against the S&P 500 falling through the 3,800 and 3,575 levels with puts.

The inflation data came on the heels of last Friday's employment report, which showed a solid pace of job growth in March and the unemployment rate falling back to 3.5%. In Europe, stock markets rose after the U.S. data and the broad STOXX 600 index was last up 0.5% (.STOXX) and holding near one-month highs. BONDS UP, DOLLAR DOWNU.S. bonds yields fell after the CPI numbers. Rate-sensitive two-year Treasury yields were last down 12 basis points at 3.93% , while U.S. 10-year yields fell 6 bps to 3.37%. The dollar fell with an index measuring the U.S. currency against six rivals down 0.4% at 101.72.

☆ US March CPI comes in on the cool side
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Year to date, the CPI increased 5.0%, the smallest 12-month gain since May 2021. "The data was a little bit better than what was expected, so that tells me that the bond market is saying that the probability of this next rate hike has decreased just a little bit." "The other number that's important is the PPI number that comes out this week. That will probably change a little bit today as people digest this data, maybe even within the next half an hour or so." It weakens the argument for a pause.”“Futures are going up based on the topline number, that’s what markets are focusing on.”“Inflation is cooling down.

☆ Goldman Sachs reshuffles equities unit executives after top trader Montesano's exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 12 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) on Wednesday announced a slew of changes to leadership in its equity trading division following the retirement of its top equity trader Joe Montesano last month, according to a memo seen by Reuters. Cyril Goddeeris will continue to lead global equity financing, which includes his responsibilities as co-head of global prime services and head of global securities lending and synthetic trading. Dimitrios Nikolakopoulos will lead global equity structured products. Dmitri Potishko and Erdit Hoxha will be co-heads of global flow derivatives and emerging markets trading. Travis Chmelka, who joined the firm in 2004 and was named managing director in 2013 and partner in 2020, will head Americas Flow Derivatives.

Hopes that the Fed will soon end its aggressive monetary policy tightening campaign spurred a rebound in the S&P 500 this month after the collapse of two U.S. mid-sized lenders sparked a selloff in March. Analysts expect first-quarter profits at S&P 500 companies to fall 5.2% year-on-year, the worst contraction since the third quarter of 2020 and a stark reversal from the 1.4% annual growth forecast at the beginning of the year, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Remarks later on Tuesday from voting members of the Fed's rate-setting committee will be parsed for more clues on the central bank's policy moves. Seven of the 11 major S&P sectors rose, with gains in material (.SPLRCM) and energy (.SPNY) shares offsetting losses in technology (.SPLRCT) stocks. The S&P index recorded six new 52-week highs and no new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 43 new highs and 72 new lows.

☆ India NSE's IPO plan stumbles at market watchdog's door - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Jayshree P Upadhyay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has formed an internal view that due to the pending cases it won't approve NSE's application made last year for an IPO, the sources said. “Till the legal and regulatory issues are cleared there is no chance that SEBI will approve NSE's IPO plans,” said one of the sources, who is a senior regulatory official. A delayed NSE IPO will test the patience of its core shareholders - banks, insurance companies and foreign funds - who have been waiting for an exit opportunity in rising markets. The regulator's reluctance to approve NSE's IPO has not been previously reported. These include whether certain brokers made unfair gains due to preferential access to NSE’s trading systems and another lapse in NSE’s trading architecture, the source said.

☆ Here's Goldman's winning options strategy heading into earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Goldman Sachs is looking at using stock options as a way to play the forthcoming earnings season. In a note last week, the firm recommended buying at-the-money straddles, which involve purchasing both a put and a call option. "One of our preferred options strategies ahead of earnings is buying straddles that are inexpensive relative to their typical one-day earnings move," Goldman Sachs derivatives specialists Sesha Phani wrote. Goldman posits that the options market hasn't yet fully priced in the volatility that some of the stocks on its list have shown in the past. NFLX YTD mountain Shares of Netflix have been higher from the start of the year, although shares remain vulnerable to volatility.

☆ Argentina's latest 'soy dollar' scheme sees few takers on first day
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Maximilian Heath | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Would-be participants in the "soy dollar" program need more details, several told Reuters. Spot market transactions under the latest version of the policy, which initially kicked off last year, showed no movements on Monday, according to traders. "It started quite calmly with few offers from factories in a very cautious market waiting for more information," said Eugenio Irazuegui, a researcher with brokerage Enrique Zeni y CIA. Only about 17.5% of the 2021/22 soybean crop of some 44 million tonnes remains in local storage, according to official data at the end of March. Meanwhile, about 5.5 million tonnes of soybeans from the current 2022/23 harvest, which has only just begun, have been sold, official data showed, compared to about 12 million tonnes at the same time during the year-ago period.

☆ Analysis: Gloomy U.S. bank sector could yield payoff for contrarian options bets
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Saqib Iqbal Ahmed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

While the S&P 500 index (.SPX) has advanced 6% since mid-March, when the failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) sparked tumult in the banking sector, investors have been more wary of financial stocks. The S&P 500 Banks Group (.SPXBK) is up just 3% from its March low and remains down 14% for the year. The pervasive gloom around financial stocks has increased the cost for investors betting on more downside while making it relatively inexpensive to bet on a rebound. For investors who believe financial earnings and guidance will come in better than expected, Elevation Securities recommended buying Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF.P) call options at the 33 strike. "Given how beaten up bank stocks are, buying calls into earnings can make sense," said Michael Purves, chief executive officer at Tallbacken Capital Advisors.

☆ A D.E. Shaw internship could land a dream gig at the secretive hedge fund. Here's what it takes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Michelle Abrego | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Shaw's recruiting head, took us inside the firm's process for finding talent. Shaw Group is one of the highest-grossing, and most secretive, hedge funds on Wall Street, with $60 billion under management. Launched by former Columbia University computer-science professor David Shaw above a small left-wing bookshop in lower Manhattan in 1988, D.E. The interview process includes an initial video interview, a case study or coding test (depending on the internship), a second round of video interviews, and a reference check. At any point in the process, candidates might even be steered toward an internship other than the one they applied to that could better align with the candidate's skills and interests.

☆ Saudi provides $240 mln for Pakistan hydro-power dam
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Asif Shahzad | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ISLAMABAD, April 7 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will provide a $240 million loan to co-finance Pakistan's multi-purpose Mohmand dam project, a major hydro-power complex being built in northwest of the country, statements from both sides said on Friday. The project will "contribute to Pakistan's energy security, increase sustainable water supply for agriculture and human consumption and improve resilience to floods," Pakistan's economic affairs ministry said in a statement. Saudi state news agency issued the same statement in Arabic. "The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has signed a $240 million loan agreement," the statements said. Reporting by Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Additional reporting by Claudia Tanios in Dubai; Editing by Jason Neely and Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ A summer internship at D.E. Shaw can pay up to $20,000 a month. Here's what it takes to land a coveted spot.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Michelle Abrego | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

ASIC on Thursday cancelled the Australian financial services licence of Oztures Trading Pty Ltd, trading as Binance Australia Derivatives (Binance), in response to a request from the company. “Our targeted review of these matters is ongoing, including focus on the extent of consumer harms.”The financial services licence authorised Binance to issue derivatives and foreign exchange contracts. Noting many cryptocurrency products and services are not regulated by ASIC, Longo said the regulator supported a "regulatory framework" for the asset class. Binance said in a statement it had decided to pursue a "more focused approach" in Australia after "recent engagement with ASIC". The world's largest cryptocurrency exchange is battling regulatory suits and probes around the world.

☆ Wu Silverman: Markets may be a near of an inflection point
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWu Silverman: Markets may be a near of an inflection pointAmy Wu Silverman, Head of Derivatives Strategy at RBC Capital Markets, breaks down the trading day ahead.

Binance's Australian derivatives license was canceled at the crypto exchange's own request, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission said Thursday, after the regulator had begun a "targeted review of Binance" in February. Binance's exchange token was down just under 0.5% Thursday morning. Binance's regulatory scrutiny has been mounting in recent weeks and months. An apparently inadvertent compliance issue led to the Australian regulatory probe. Australia's top securities regulator has had a challenging relationship with the crypto industry in recent months, pursuing enforcement actions against several firms which the regulator alleges have violated Australian law.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAustralia ends Binance derivatives license, and Ethereum preps next big upgrade: CNBC Crypto WorldCNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, Crypto World explores the next major upgrade for the Ethereum network.

☆ Key inflation data and earnings reports loom as labor market signals a slowing U.S. economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Fed officials have been pointing to the tight labor market as an area of concern for inflation, using it as evidence that it hasn't tightened rates enough. After months of strategists and investors complaining that earnings estimates are too high, they've started to fall — but with a catch. If the trough in earnings is close, then the stock market could be in for a big year. ET - Producer price index Friday: Earnings: UnitedHealth, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, BlackRock, Citigroup, PNC Financial 8:30 a.m. ET - Fed H.8 data on assets and liabilities of U.S. commercial banks

By offloading some of the risk on their loans, the banks can significantly reduce how much capital they need to set aside to cover potential losses, according to law firm Clifford Chance. A bank can normally transfer risks of losses equivalent to around 7% to 12% of a loan portfolio, two market sources said. With synthetic structures, a bank transfers the risk via credit derivatives or guarantees but keeps holding the underlying exposures. The IFC sold BNP a $50 million guarantee on $1 billion of loans to emerging markets, they said, without disclosing terms. While Europe has been at the forefront for risk transfers, the stock of loans covered by SRTs is small relative to European banks' balance sheets.

☆ UK watchdog sets out plans to keep London a 'preeminent' financial centre
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

As global competition to attract listings becomes tougher, and London competes with European Union centres like Amsterdam in share trading since Brexit, regulators face pressure to speed up financial reforms. Such reforms "will help ensure that the UK maintains its position as a preeminent financial centre". The FCA announced last month it was investigating competition in UK financial data, whose findings will shape how consolidated tapes are constructed. The FCA said last week that UK listings rules were facing a shake-up, as the City worries about listings shifting to New York. It is taking on new responsibilities, such as crypto markets, speeding up authorisations, and stepping up enforcement against scams.

April 4 (Reuters) - Even as bitcoin flies high, investors are keeping their options open, judging by a record race to derivatives. Most options traders are betting on bitcoin prices jumping higher, with open interest in call options at 206,979 contracts on Deribit, more than double the bearish put options of 93,857. "We have reached the same levels of open interest as 2021 at half the prices, which means we have doubled." Options contracts give their buyers the right, but not an obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a fixed price in the future. Open interest in ether on Deribit features 1.7 million call options versus 656,158 puts.

☆ March's bank failures show options can be tricky even when retail traders pick big winners
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

This halt, and how regulators and brokerage firms handled the outstanding options contracts, turned simple trades into a big headache for retail investors. Davies said that usually he would sell his winning options trades before expiration, so he does not have to deal with the settlement process. Robinhood later allowed Davies to create the naked short position and therefore to exercise his option. The naked short positions showed an on-paper loss in his account until the stock began trading over the counter on March 28. Another wrinkle is that some types of accounts, including retirement accounts, are not allowed to hold short positions, which created additional steps for traders and brokers to close out the trade.

☆ Cramer: Here's why I plan to trim some stocks at this stage of the bull market
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +17 min

Back when bulls were everywhere From the time the great bull market began in 1982 until the financial collapse of 2007, we pretty much assumed stocks would always go higher. We often forget what the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009 was all about. A runaway bull market in all but banks — which are actually fueling the rally with their own ineptitude. My closing take, though, is that we have at last shaken off the ghosts of the Great Recession. But accept we are in a bull market and recognize that those who don't know it yet never will.

☆ CME debuts offshore yuan options to tap rising trading demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Georgina Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, April 3 (Reuters) - Chicago's CME Group (CME.O) opened options trading for Chinese yuan futures on Monday, as it looks to deepen a market that investors use for betting or hedging against moves in China's currency. Hong Kong has offered similar exchange-traded options since 2017, though bringing the product to CME - the world's biggest derivatives exchange - may be a step toward competing with the banks that dominate options by selling directly to customers. "We hope to see liquidity develop there that's comparable to the over-the-counter market," said Tim Brooks, London-based head of FX options at Optiver, which will deal in the new CME derivatives. The CME options have a range of expiry dates from weekly, to monthly or a year and are based on futures contracts with a notional amount of $100,000. CME is a much smaller yuan-trading hub than Hong Kong.

☆ EU extends gas price cap system to all EU hubs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, March 31 (Reuters) - The European Commission will extend its gas price cap system to all trading hubs in the European Union from May to prevent potential distortions to Europe's energy markets, it said on Friday. EU countries agreed the cap in December after drawn-out talks over taming gas prices that hit record levels after Russia cut gas deliveries to Europe following its invasion of Ukraine. For now, the cap is triggered if prices exceed 180 euros ($196) per megawatt hour for three days on the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) gas hub's front-month contract. The TTF price must also be 35 euros/MWh higher than a reference price based on existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) price assessments for three days. This caps the price at which gas can be traded, but the cap can fluctuate alongside global LNG prices - a system designed to ensure EU countries can still bid for gas in global markets.

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