US economic data disappointed yesterday. The SPX remained largely unaffected as the dollar remained quiet. Does this remind you of anything?

When a market is in Goldilocks mode, the “data doesn’t matter”. However, is the current landscape very Goldilocks-like? There seems to be lingering uncertainty behind the curtain that would not lend itself well to such a scenario.

Yesterday’s US CB Consumer Confidence data showed some weakness, missing market expectations of a 119.2 print, and coming out at 117.2. It is not the worst miss in the world, and I don’t think it surprised many US-based market participants. This data release is a medium impact announcement historically and does not pack the punch of a Non-Farm Payroll number. But, it is still a weak print keeping in mind that the previous month’s release was revised downward, from 121.7 to 117.5. It seems that the shine from the US reopening trade may be fading.

Figure 1 - CB Consumer Confidence Monthly Releases March 2019 - May 2021. Source investing.com

No doubt rising inflation has US consumers a bit more cautious with their dollars these days.

On the same day, market participants heard from the Census Bureau with the latest new home sales data. Another bearish print here, with a print of 863K vs. market expectations of 950K. If you are in the US and live in a hot market, this data may come as a surprise. New Home Sales is also not the heaviest market impact release out there, but I have always paid attention to it. When New Home Sales slow, the trickle effects are real in several industries, including furniture, mortgages, and appliances. Some local real estate markets are so overheated, that one would think that reality has to set in at some point soon. Is this just a temporary blip?

Figure 2 - United States New Home Sales May 2020 - May 2021. Source tradingeconomics.com

Interestingly enough, these soft prints had little impact on the US Dollar. Usually (and I use the word usually in a liberal sense here), bearish US economic data will send the US dollar lower. The dollar actually bounced intraday off these data releases, which could be a clue that traders may be covering some hefty short dollar positions. The data releases create liquidity, and traders with large positions need liquidity to get out of the other side of such a trade. Just a theory, folks.

I suggest reviewing our publication from May 19th here, which outlines some key technical levels in the US Dollar Index that we are currently monitoring. The DXY is trading very close to a key level.

Figure 3 - US Dollar Index 15 Minute Candles May 25, 2021 - May 26, 2021. Source tradingview.com

As we can see above, the DXY did not get sold on the bearish data releases. The data came out at 10 AM ET yesterday. In fact, it popped intraday and then slid off its highs, rebounding as the European session approached on May 26th. Interesting, right?

When data releases are bearish, and the impacted markets do not necessarily trade in the consensus direction, it takes me back to a time in 2007 - 2008. Data seemed to pour in on the bearish side, yet the equity markets just went up, up, up. More on that soon.