2022-12-15 • Updated
Warren Buffett, the American businessman and philanthropist, has put most of Berkshire Hathaway’s cash in short-term United States Treasury bills since they offer as much as 3.43% in yields.
Another famous trader, Michael Burry, also bets against risk assets. His Scion Asset Management Fund has released transaction data for the Q2 of 2022. Burry sold all the securities in the portfolio and bought only shares of the real estate fund (REIT) Geo Group, which invests in private prisons worldwide.
This news signal the negative mood of major investors regarding risky assets. Moreover, based on their actions, we can assume that the worst for the stock market and cryptocurrencies is yet to come.
Treasury bills, or T-bills, are US government-backed securities that mature in less than a year. Investors prefer them over money-market funds and certificates of deposit because of their tax benefits.
Berkshire’s net cash was $105 billion as of June 30, out of which $75 billion, or 60%, was held in T-bills.
The move is likely a response to bond yields jumping massively since August 2021 in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s hawkish policies aimed at curbing inflation, which was running at 8.4% in July.
US 3-month bond yield versus BTCUSD weekly timeframe chart. Source: TradingView
Meanwhile, non-yielding assets like gold and Bitcoin have dropped roughly 5.3% and 63% since August 2021. S&P 500 (US500) declined by 12% in the same period.
Such a difference in performance presents T-bills as an ultra-safe alternative for investors compared with gold, Bitcoin, and stocks. Buffett’s T-bill strategy also suggests a bet on more downside for risk-on assets in the near term as the Fed promises more rate hikes in the near term.
The problem is that Michael Burry and Warren Buffet publish their traders, allowing their small traders to follow their decisions. This fact may indicate that retail investors might get rid of risky assets over the following months in favor of 3% in yields.
Moreover, in the current market sentiment, large investors who oppose risks, such as pension funds and hedge funds, will bypass risky assets and give preference to yield assets. It will continue to put significant pressure on the price of risky assets and force the most impatient investors to close positions at a loss.
This fact is confirmed by the performance of Bitcoin-focused investment funds in August, with capital outflows for three weeks, including a $15.3 million exit in the week ending August 19.
Unfortunately for crypto fans, Bitcoin won’t make any reverse until the Federal Reserve gives any hints regarding the monetary policy easing. At the Jackson Hole Symposium, Jerome Powell stated that the rates would go up until inflation hit the targeted 2%.
Moreover, in June, Powell stated a possible easing might start in 2024, which matches with Bitcoin halving, an event where mining rewards are cut in half. Usually, Bitcoin starts a new cycle of growth right after this event.
BTCUSD, daily chart
BTCUSD is trading between the historic support level of $19 000, a 2017 all-time high, and the 200-week moving average, which traders always treated as the main support. However, as we can notice, the price broke below the moving average, which now acts as a phycological resistance.
If buyers push the price above this line, they might pump it to 28 000 – 32 000 resistance level, which might be quite hard in the current market conditions.
The more realistic variant is the decline below 19 000 and further drop towards the range between 9000 and 13 000. In this case, the price will touch a global trendline and start a new growth cycle.
S&P500 (US500), monthly chart
As we can notice, US500 loves to flirt with the 50-week moving average. We can notice that both times, in 2001 and 2008, the US economy entered a significant financial crisis after the breakout of this support line. Therefore, there is no doubt that US500 will reach the range of 3500 – 3600, where the future of the whole US economy will be decided.
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The Crypto market usually also has a rough time in September. Bitcoin lost 12.7% in September 2021, 17.4% in 2020, 17.5% in 2018, 21.4% in 2017 and 45.4% in 2015. The main cryptocurrency increased by 13.3% and 3.95% in 2016 and 2019, respectively.
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The past several weeks have been a real triumph for the bulls in the oil market. The Brent spot price grew by 8.5% during the last month.
Gold prices are rising for three consecutive days ahead of the Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate decision, which is expected to remain unchanged due to declining inflation and a positive economic outlook. Investors are keen on the Fed's interest rate guidance, fearing a hawkish stance that could trigger market risk aversion.
Amid concerns of a Chinese economic slowdown, reports of declining investment often overlook China's efficient investment strategy in emerging sectors for long-term growth. China has taken measures to stabilize foreign and private sector investments, like reducing the reserve requirement ratio to boost investor confidence.
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