Bitcoin is being left behind as correlation with shares widens

Bitcoin is being left behind as correlation with shares widens
Cryptocurrency selloff is at odds with gains for equities.
NOV 15, 2023

The buy-everything wave that just swept across global markets has bypassed Bitcoin, which is down about 3% since a soft US inflation print rolled across trading screens and stirred a bout of wider risk taking.

The drop since the US data were published on Tuesday morning compares with a 2% jump in an index of global shares on bets that the Federal Reserve is done with interest-rate hikes and will pivot to cuts next year.

A 30-day correlation coefficient for Bitcoin and MSCI Inc.’s gauge of world stocks now sits at minus 0.23, the most negative since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020. A reading of 1 indicates assets are moving in lockstep, while minus-1 would show they’re moving in opposite directions. 

Ordinarily, tumbling bond yields, surging equities and expectations of a Fed reversal would be viewed as the kind of backdrop that augurs well for crypto too, given that digital tokens are emblematic of speculative zeal.

But Bitcoin had already doubled in 2023 partly on optimism that regulators will allow the first US exchange-traded funds investing directly in the token. Those gains stoked some caution about how much further Bitcoin can advance.

“Ahead of the expected ETF announcement, the market has had a good rally, and perhaps last night’s selloff was weak hands folding given a lack of continued upside progress over the past week,” said Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG Australia Pty.

Sycamore also said that the closer Bitcoin is to the $38,000-$40,000 level, the bigger the chance of a “‘buy-the-rumor-sell-the-fact-type’ reaction” as and when the ETFs get the green light.

Bitcoin, which hit a record high of almost $69,000 in late 2021, was trading at about $35,606 as of 2:41 p.m. in Singapore on Wednesday. Second-ranked token Ether held just below $2,000.

Latest News

RIA dealmaking accelerates as three firms hit AUM milestones
RIA dealmaking accelerates as three firms hit AUM milestones

Wealth Consulting Group, Coastline and Maridea report fresh capital, acquisitions and asset growth as advisor M&A keeps climbing

VastAdvisor closes $1 million SAFE round from advisor-side backers
VastAdvisor closes $1 million SAFE round from advisor-side backers

Carson Group's Dani Fava, Jason Pereira of Woodgate Financial, and Sally George of Convergency Partners led the raise as the growth-tech startup builds out its AI platform and leadership bench.

Wells Fargo adds three advisor practices as recruiting rebound continues
Wells Fargo adds three advisor practices as recruiting rebound continues

New teams from William Blair, Ameriprise and UBS bring more than $560 million in combined client assets to the firm's employee and independent channels.

UBS will pay advisors 'handsomely' for banking starting next year
UBS will pay advisors 'handsomely' for banking starting next year

Regulators this year approved UBS Bank USA’s conversion to a nationally chartered bank.

SEC accuses Tricolor executives of hiding $800 million collateral hole
SEC accuses Tricolor executives of hiding $800 million collateral hole

How a subprime lender’s car-loan bonds allegedly unraveled before bankruptcy.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income