Bonds Soar off the Russia/Ukraine ConflictBonds have soared as risk off sentiment prevails as the Ukraine conflict intensifies. Russian forces are bearing down on Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine and civilian casualties are mounting. ZN has blasted off from highs at 127'08, through 127'22, and well into the 128 handle. We have cleared 128'01, the first level in the 128's, and have just broken through 128'10. With such a strong bull impulse, it is difficult not to anticipate a pullback or sideways currection at this point. We are likely to at least range at current levels, between 128'01 and 128'11, with a ceiling at 128'24. If not, expect a retracement to 127'22. Worst case, it is certainly possible that we will retrace the entire move to 127'08 (recall that gold did this just last week).
ZN1!
Bonds Retest LowsBonds tested relative highs with increased risk off sentiment due to Russia's attack on the Ukraine. However, after a day of stock selloff and safehaven inflows, we quickly retraced back to support at 126'11. The Kovach OBV barely budged off the rally to 127'08, where a red triangle on the KRI confirmed resistance. It has since bottomed out, confirming support at 126'11, but if we break down from here, then there is a vacuum zone down to lows at 125'17.
Bonds Attempt to Establish Value Near LowsBonds have picked up from lows, retracing the vacuum zone back to resistance at 126'19, exactly as we had predicted yesterday. The Kovach OBV picked up very slightly, but nowhere near enough to suggest any serious buying momentum. We are seeing resistance from these levels, as anticipated, confirmed by a red triangle on the KRI. It seems likely that ZN may retrace the range again, and find support at 125'17, but if we continue to test higher levels, then 126'18 and 127'01 are the next targets.
Bonds Smash Lows After Inflation DataBonds took a sharp nose dive off increased Fed rate hike expectations and inflation. We smashed through our lowest levels of support and drove deeper into the 126 handle, before finally bottoming out at 125'17, a support level extrapolated from inverse Fibonacci levels, a tool we are relying on more and more, now that we have exhausted all of our lower technical levels. We are seeing a brief pivot off this level, and appear to be making a run for the 126's again. Currently we are meeting resistance at the psychological level of 126'00, with 126'02 providing resistance as confirmed by a red triangle on the KRI. The Kovach OBV has turned even more bearish with the massive selloff yesterday, but does appear to be leveling off with the support. If we are able to break into the 126's again, then 126'11 is sure to provide resistance. Our next target below is 125'07 if we selloff further.
Bonds Test Lower LevelsBonds appeared to be making an effort to attempt higher levels, with a bull wedge pattern forming with an upper bound at 128'10. However, we broke down from this pattern, smashing through the 128 handle into the 127's and then some. The next level of support at 127'22 did little to provide support, though we finally bottomed out for now just above 127'08. Currently, we are seeing a brief pivot with an attempt to break 127'22 from below which is meeting resistance confirmed by two red triangles on the KRI. If we are able to break this level, the next target is 128'01. The Kovach OBV has flattened out suggesting we won't expect much in the way of momentum for now. If we fall further, 127'08 should provide support, then 127'01.
Head and Shoulders Breakdown in BondsAfter breaking down from our head and shoulders pattern, bonds have found support at lower levels and have attempted a rebound. The level 127'08 provided good support confirmed by a green triangle on the KRI, and we saw a nice pivot there. We were able to break above 127'22, the next level above before retracing and stabilizing above 127'08 again. It appears that ZN is attempting to stabilize in this area, as we mentioned in the reports. The Kovach OBV has leveled off, so we anticipate the price action to be range bound between these levels.
Bonds Rally with the Stock SelloffBonds have gotten a lift off the selloff in stocks. An influx of risk off sentiment gave ZN a much needed lift back to the 128 handle. We had dipped in the very lows of the 127 handle, and were appearing to get ready to break into the 126's, when the fallout from stocks caused a notable risk off shift. We have broken through our level at 127'22. As predicted yesterday, we crossed the vacuum zone and touched 128'10, the first level in the 128 handle, before retracing slightly. At the time of this writing, we are hovering just under this level. We will see if the fallout in stocks continues today, in which case, we can expect higher levels, the next target being 128'24. The Kovach OBV has turned solidly bullish, likely a bit more than it would if this were just a simple relief rally. But if the selloff continues, 127'22 and 127'08 are the next targets to the down side.