1)Portfolio Dec-end -

Long - $ADYEY $DLO $GLBE $LILM $LSPD $MELI $MQ $S $SE $SOFI $TOST $TWLO $TLT

Short - $ARKK, Russell 2000 futures #RTY_F

Return since 1 Sept '16 -

Portfolio +672.73% (46.76%pa)
$ACWI +80.02% (11.66%pa)
$SPX +119.60% (15.90%pa)

Contd...
2) YTD return (2021)-

Portfolio +21.81%
$ACWI +16.80%
$SPX +26.89%

Biggest positions -

1) $TLT 2) $SE 3) $MELI 4) $MQ 5) $SOFI

Contd....
3) Commentary -

December was a brutal month for growth stocks as the previous month's selling continued before a relief rally briefly reversed the downtrend.

At the beginning of the month, I sold out of all stocks and around mid-month, positioned my portfolio for the post-QE..
4)...contraction. Unfortunately (for me), high growth stocks put in a low just after mid-month and we had a sharp relief rally.

This hurt my short positions in $ARKK and #NQ_F and since my buy stops were hit, I covered the latter at a loss.

During the month, I also bought...
5)...shares of $TLT and the recent weakness in long-term US Treasuries also hurt my portfolio's performance in the second half of December.

Approximately 10 days ago, I started scaling into my preferred stocks and thus far, have re-invested ~45% of my capital in these...
6)...companies. However, since my trend following indicators recently flashed a short-term downtrend, my long exposure is currently hedged via a corresponding $ARKK short.

A few days ago, I also went short Russell 2000 futures #RTY_F , so my portfolio is now net short stocks..
7) $TLT is my biggest long position at the moment (approximately 50% of a/c equity), whereas I'm net short stocks (~40% of a/c equity).

Given that the Fed is draining liquidity and the global liquidity conditions are also tightening rapidly, am of the view that risk assets...
8)...are likely to come under pressure during Q1/Q2 '22.

China's credit tightening has already baked in a global economic deceleration and with the Fed now ending QE abruptly, near-term risks remain elevated.

If my assessment is correct, global stocks will probably take a...
9)...hit during Q1 or early Q2 '22 and if history is any guide, the major US indices will decline by ~18-20% from their ATHs. Since the Russell 2000 Index is high-beta, is is likely to decline 28-30% from its ATH.

When it comes to investing, monetary policy trumps everything...
10)...else and changes in liquidity become evident in the economy and financial markets with a lag.

The financial markets have already begun to discount tighter monetary conditions and I believe that the indices will crack over the following weeks.

A number of the leading...
11)...economic indicators are suggesting that the global economy will slow down sharply in H1 '22 and global PMIs will come down to around the 50 level by Q2' 22.

In this scenario, stocks will come under pressure, crypto will deflate, junk bonds should get hit, inflation...
12)...will roll over, commodities will deflate and long-term UST yields may decline, perhaps significantly.

Given this view, I've positioned my portfolio to benefit from the looming post-QE contraction.

Hope this is useful.

THE END.
This time is usually *not* different -

USTs likely to outperform stocks during H1 2022....
This is why I'm long USTs via $TLT -
The credit impulse leads global manufacturing cycle -

PMIs ⏬ = Stocks ↘️ and US Treasuries ↗️

Been this way for 30 years!
Following my month-end portfolio summary, a number of you asked why I'm long US Treasuries and short stocks?

In order to provide some perspective, I've posted the above charts which clearly show the impact of the credit impulse (cycle) on economic activity and various assets.

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More from @saxena_puru

29 Dec 21
Monetary policy is the horse, economy is the cart.

Liquidity moves the economy + financial markets in both directions. Monetary policy works with a lag and its effects become obvious several months later.

GDP and CPI are lagging indicators, they always look hot near the top.
The recent boom was created by the easiest liquidity conditions....ever!

The abrupt ending of QE and tightening by other central banks will bring about big economic slowdown in H1 '22.

Lots of carnage under the hood, many stocks weak...the indices are skating on thin ice.
Based on liquidity conditions and several leading economic indicators, it appears both economic activity and inflation will peak soon...

Thereafter, we are likely to get a swift contraction in risk assets and flight to safety (US$ and USTs).
Read 4 tweets
27 Dec 21
Fed announced QE "taper" in Nov and accelerated it in Dec....but data shows that over past 4 weeks, its balance-sheet still grew by ~$120b!

In anticipation of the end of QE, hedge funds dumped tech stocks in Nov/Dec. With Fed still pumping $120b/month, will HFs now ↗️ exposure?
After realising that despite QE "taper" announcements, the Federal Reserve's balance-sheet still grew by $120 billion over the past four weeks, I covered my #NQ_F short at a loss, also my long $ futures position and $TLT

I've also increased exposure to growth stocks.
In November, the Fed announced it would reduce QE by $15 billion per month and in December, it announced it would reduce it by $30 billion per month (with view to ending it in March).

Despite these 'hawkish' declarations, its balance-sheet still grew by ~$120b over past 4 weeks!
Read 4 tweets
25 Dec 21
Current cycle -

The current QE-cycle has been unprecedented!

Between March '20 and Feb '21 (11 months!), most high flying stocks quadrupled, quintupled or more and over the past 2 months, they have declined by 40-70%!

During the upswing, years of gains were compressed,,,
...into just 11 months (stocks usually quadruple, quintuple or more over many years!) and this contraction over past few weeks (40-70% declines) has also been very abrupt!

Due to the size of QE, fiscal stimulus + animal spirits, the moves were exaggerated in both directions...
...After the high flying stocks had run up so much so quickly and their valuations had become super stretched, it was obvious to me that future returns were going to disappoint. I shared this sentiment several times in my posts in late '20 and early '21.

This is why, instead...
Read 6 tweets
23 Dec 21
Portfolio positioning -

Long - US$ futures, $TLT + some growth stocks, $ cash
Short - NASDAQ futures #NQ_F

Portfolio is net short stocks
We are dealing with a QE cycle (not rate hike cycle) -

That'll come later...

In the past, each QE-end was followed by ~20% decline in the indices from ATHs...back then, valuations were way lower too.
Word of caution -

No crystal ball here, so anything can happen....

However, am familiar with stock market cycles and Fed's QE cycles....both suggest caution during H1 '22.

This is not a recommendation, please do own DD and I reserve the right to be wrong.
Read 5 tweets
16 Dec 21
Update -

With central bank intervention/QE, asset markets have become prone to massive booms and busts.

Algos + online trading have made the markets super fast and now, big moves happen very quickly.

10 or 20 years ago, stocks used to decline 40-50% in a year or two and....
....now, they go down this much (and more) within weeks! In Nov '21, when Fed announced QE taper, many high growth stocks tanked by 40-70% within 6 weeks and during this period, my hedging strategy did not offer me full protection.

My high growth stocks declined more than the...
...ARK ETFs and in order to protect my capital, I sold all my stocks and to profit from the intense selling, also went net short.

Going forwards, when the tide of liquidity goes out again, instead of remaining invested and hedging, I may (once again) sell all stocks and...
Read 4 tweets
15 Dec 21
Impressive rally in stocks following hawkish Fed!

Given FOMC stance, was expecting more selling - market proved me wrong today.

A number of the growth stocks which were down by 50-70% over past month rallied hard...has market discounted the worst?

On watch for base building.
Still of the view that before this cycle ends, we will see 15-20% pullback in the indices from their ATHs....

However, with most growth stocks already bombed out (down 50-70%) from their ATHs, perhaps they will now base out as indices roll over?

This game isn't easy!
Intellectual honesty more important to me than ego.

Today's price action (especially in growth stocks) was impressive! During '00-'03 bust, TMT stocks declined by 50-80% in 3 years, in this cycle many declined by 40-70% in a few months!

On watch to see if they build bases now..
Read 4 tweets

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