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JP MORGAN: THE FISCAL THREAT IS OVERBLOWN

1 March 2010 by Cullen Roche 4 Comments

Of all the big banks no one has nailed the reflation and recovery trade as well as JP Morgan.  Of course, as we noted last week, they are one of several large banks that have been driving equity prices over the last year so ignore them at your own peril.

JP Morgan is shifting back to a fully bullish posture here. Three weeks ago they shifted to a more cautious position (see here), but have removed the hedges as equity fund flows begin to support the market and fears of fiscal tightening, regulation, and sovereign debt appear overblown.

Based on this change in outlook they are moving back into the recovery trade.  They are now net long equities, credit, commodities with a long dollar hedge and a short bond position:

  • Fixed income: Take profit on the short position in US 2s, but add a short in 10-year UK.
  • Equities: Current regulatory proposals would hurt bank profitability, offsetting the positive impact from reduced credit losses. UK banks will be the most impacted, followed by the Europeans and then the US banks.
  • Credit: Close tactical short and resume overweight in US HG bonds.
  • FX: We add USD/EUR to our basket of dollar longs.
  • Commodities: Stay long on strong manufacturing growth.

Source: JP Morgan

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Comments
  • MS

    “Equities: Current regulatory proposals would hurt bank profitability”. It did not mention they are net long equities.

  • jt26

    “Credit: Close tactical short and resume overweight in US HG bonds.”

    must explain the action in LQD and HYG the last 2 weeks … I guess that’s when their client huddle must have taken place …

  • SteveS

    Hmmm! According to my charts, 3 weeks ago the SPX was at 1050 after being at 1150 a month earlier than that. Now over 1100 they go bullish again. Sounds to me like you should be a contrarian to their position.