US equity markets traded in a narrow range ahead of tomorrow's Yellen testimony with Trannies underperforming and Nasdaq outperforming. Cross-asset-class correlations picked up from their negligible levels on Friday as JPY (and increasingly 5Y bonds) are linked at the hip with stocks. The S&P cash tested almost up to 1,800 (but failed at 1799.94) then faded. Notably from the European close, equity handily outperformed credit markets – which ended closing near their wides of the day. Treasuries ended the day modestly bid (30y -2bps) but T-Bill yields are starting to reflect debt-ceiling concerns. The USD closed unch – drifting lower from overnight strength – but gold and silver rallied on the day (though faded of early highs). Late-day ramp efforts got the S&P green but failed to cross 1,800… and VIX decoupled on the ramp.
The magical 1,800 line for S&P 500 cash was tried and failed twice…
Trannies underperformed and Nasdaq won as the Dow, S&P and Russell closed practically unchanged
USDJPY 102 saved the day once again
Stocks stuck close to bonds today too…
Treasury Bill markets are starting to reflect a growing fear of the debt-ceiling shenanigans… 2/20 T-Bills closed at -2bp!!
Credit decoupled from stocks after the European close…
And VIX did not play along with the late-day JPY-based surge in stocks…
On the day, gold and silver rallied early and faded…
Treasuries staged 3 rallies off unchanged…
Charts: Bloomberg
Bonus Chart: Cross-asset-class correlation (lower pane) picked up but as is clear there is a lot of volatility in the relationships – especially from the US open…
via Zero Hedge http://ift.tt/1ejcshR Tyler Durden