Increased worries for US banks while VIX is at 12 months low

Over the past week, the Nasdaq has gained 1.4% from robust quarterly reports from some significant IT giants. The Nikkei gained about 2% last week. At the same time, the OMX30 continues to perform poorly. Swedish company reports from the engineering sector have been strong, including order intake. But cumulatively, since 21 March, only 63% of OMX companies have beaten earnings expectations in Q1 2023.

For Q1 2023 (with around 53% of the companies reporting), 79% of S&P companies have reported a positive EPS (Earnings per share) surprise, while 74% have reported a positive revenue surprise. That is a significant improvement on the revenue side compared to last week (21 April).

The top three sectors in earnings outcomes in Q1 2023 were Energy, Consumer Staples, and Materials, with 100%, 99% and 92% of results better than expected, respectively. Utilities, Financials and Real Estate are the worst performers, with 56%, 62% and 63% of Q1 2023 earnings better than anticipated.

As of 31 March 2023, analysts were forecasting a -6.7% decline in earnings for Q1 2023. This expected earnings decline has decreased to -3.7% as of 28 April 2023.

For Q2 2023, 28 S&P500 companies have issued negative EPS guidance, while 20 have issued positive EPS guidance.

This week, 162 S&P 500 companies will report their Q1 2023 results. Among the big caps, Qualcomm will release its Q1 report on Wednesday, 3 May, Apple, Anheuser Busch and Conoco Philips on Thursday, 4 May and Berkshire Hathaway on Friday, 5 May.

S&P 500 is trading below its short-term moving averages, EMA9 and MA20, under negative divergence to the MACD indicator. A break below the bottom of the bearish rising wedge formation and formation indicates a setback to levels around 3,800, where resistance is found. Note that important MA100 and MA200 need to be broken on the way down. If instead a break to the upside, above 4,200, the next level is around 4,300, where the index topped in August 2022. Thus, the risk/reward could be more attractive in the long case.

S&P 500 (in USD), two-year daily chart

In the weekly chart below, the short trend is still upward-sloping. However, a break below EMA9 is not good for the short-term rising trend.

S&P 500 (in USD), weekly five-year chart

Nasdaq 100 is trading close to its short-term moving averages, EMA9 and MA20. A break on the downside, and MA100, currently at 12,642, could be next. If this level also is broken, 11,000 is the next level, as the bearish rising wedge formation indicates. In a continued upwards movement, the next level is around 13,700.

Nasdaq 100 (in USD), two-year daily chart

Nasdaq 100 (in USD), weekly five-year chart

In Sweden, the same negative divergence exists between the index OMXS30 and MACD. OMXS30 closed yesterday’s trading close to MA20. A break on the downside and MA100 at 2,184 may be next. The next level after that is found around 2,135.

OMXS30 (in SEK), two-year daily chart

OMXS30 (in SEK), weekly five-year chart

Also, the German DAX closed near its short-term moving averages, EMA9 and MA20. Continued selling pressure and MA100, currently at 15,473, maybe subsequent. On the upside, the 16,000 level needs to be broken before the tops from November 2021 and January 2022, just below 16,300, can be tested. Note again the negative divergence between the index and MACD.

DAX (in EUR), one-year daily chart

In the weekly chart, momentum is fading, as illustrated by the MACD histogram.

DAX (in EUR), weekly five-year chart

VIX is trading near its 12 months low. See the chart below. If the equity markets turn south, there could be some potential upside in VIX.

VIX and S&P 500 (in USD), one-year daily chart

A part of the explanation for the low levels in VIX is the low realised volatility in S&P 500, which is also near its 12 months low.

Realised 20 day volatility in S&P 500 (%), one-year daily chart

VIX (in USD), five-year daily chart

The Swedish central bank raised its repo rate by 50 basis points to 3.5% on Wednesday, 26th April, taking borrowing costs to their highest level since December 2008.

Policy rates need to be raised to affect inflation, which is expected to fall, and the krona will strengthen. Following the announcement, the Swedish krona depreciated against the US dollar and the euro. This depreciation is likely because monetary policy has become tighter, and uncertainty has increased. Small economies such as Sweden tend to depreciate currencies in an environment of increased uncertainty.

However, the Swedish krona has depreciated over the last decade, even during economic boom periods. The need for more confidence that the Riksbank wants a stronger krona comes into play, as does the small size of the SEK in foreign exchange trading. Other reasons include the impact of continuously increased policy rates on the housing market in Sweden. This could cause more uncertainty among international investors as market price in the housing market has fallen, which may lead to considerably reduced exposure to the financial market in Sweden since the housing market is intertwined with the financial market.

Indeed, as an exporting country, Sweden has historically benefited from a relatively weak currency. Former Riksbank Governor Stefan Ingves said several times that the Riksbank did not dislike a weak SEK because it favoured Swedish exporters. Some currency traders still remember this. It has given the new Riksbank governor, Thedéen, an uphill struggle to strengthen the SEK.

In theory, there should be a positive correlation between the value of the Swedish krona and the central bank's policy rate. Other macroeconomic indicators, such as the current account and trade balance surpluses or the decline in the manufacturing PMI, should indicate the same trend. The continued depreciation tends to be attributed to explanations such as the floating exchange rate in Sweden, where the relationship between supply and demand determines the value. Market participants have continued to sell the krona for US dollars for long periods, the so-called “flight to quality”.

There have been discussions about central bank intervention. In other words, the central bank sells bonds, thereby taking money out of the money market and reducing the money supply, which should lead to an appreciation of the krona. However, according to the Swedish central bank, it is too early to use this instrument.

The scenario of an appreciating krona may be plausible. However, this depreciation pattern will likely continue until the end of 2023, when macroeconomic stability is achieved.

The underlying for the instruments below is SEK per 1 EUR

EUR/SEK, one-year daily chart

EUR/SEK, five-year weekly chart

EMA 9: 9-day exponential moving average

Fibonacci: There are several Fibonacci lines used in technical analysis. Fibonacci numbers are a sequence of numbers in which each successive number is the sum of the two previous numbers.

MA20: 20-day moving average

MA50: 50-day moving average

MA100: 100-day moving average

MA200: 200-day moving average

MACD: Moving average convergence divergence