Signs of stress in global markets

By Ritvik Carvalho

LONDON (Reuters) - Financial markets have been shaken this quarter by a raft of worries: the prospect of a global trade war, turmoil in the Trump Administration, signals by central banks of a shift towards monetary tightening and tensions between world powers.

These factors have weighed on sentiment following a burst of market volatility in February that wiped trillions of dollars from world stocks from which investors are yet to recover fully.

Here are 10 charts to watch for warning signs of increasing market turmoil, stress in the banking system and investor flight to safety:

U.S. YIELD CURVE

The gap between 10-year (US10YT=RR) and 2-year US Treasury yields (US2YT=RR). A 'flattening' curve is often considered a portent of slowing economic activity, an 'inverted' curve has been a reliable predictor of recession. The curve hit its flattest in a decade in January and has flattened further in recent days on demand for safe-haven, long-dated Treasuries.

(Graphic: U.S. yield curve - http://reut.rs/2HEPZlY)

DOLLAR/YEN

The Japanese yen's exchange rate against the U.S. dollar. In times of market stress or financial stress, the yen often strengthens, pushing dollar/yen lower. Earlier this month, dollar/yen hit its lowest level since November 2016.

(For a graphic of the Dollar vs yen click http://reut.rs/2HFkrg2)

VIX

The benchmark measure of U.S. stock market volatility, sometimes referred to as Wall Street's "fear gauge". Having posted its biggest one-day spike ever on February 5, the VIX (VIX) has since come down but investors don't see it revisiting the record lows of only a few months ago.

(Graphic: Volatility - http://reut.rs/2FFf4AH)

LIBOR/OIS SPREAD

The gap between short-term U.S. interbank lending rates and overnight money market rates , reflecting perceived stress in the banking system and the corporate world. The gap widened to 52 basis points this week, a level not seen since January 2012. At the end of 2017, it was 27 basis points.

(Graphic: LIBOR/OIS spreads - http://reut.rs/2HFae36)

TED SPREAD

The gap between short-term interbank lending rates and comparable "risk-free" U.S. Treasury rates , reflecting perceived stress in the banking system and the corporate world. (TED)

(Graphic: TED spread - http://reut.rs/2FMm6zO)

FINANCIALS CDS

An index of credit default swaps in the European financial sector, the cost of insuring against default on "junior" bank debt and effectively a measure of counterparty risk and stress in the banking system.

(Graphic: Financial CDS - http://reut.rs/2FIsPi7)

INVESTOR DEMAND FOR CASH

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A measure of cash holdings in U.S. retail investors’ portfolios, according to the American Association of Individual Investors monthly asset allocation surveys. High cash balances reflect investors’ preference for safety over risk.

(Graphic: Investor demand for cash - http://reut.rs/2FMxifG)

GLOBAL HIGH YIELD BONDS

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Merrill Lynch's global index of high-yield bonds .MERHW00 , reflecting credit risk in the so-called "junk" market, a sector that will attract huge inflows of cash in good times but often one of the first sectors investors will flee from in bad.

(Graphic: Global high yield bonds - http://reut.rs/2HDMQ5V)

ITRAXX CROSSOVER

An index of sub-investment grade – or "junk" rated - European credit default swaps, effectively a measure of investors’ perception of credit risk and corporate borrowing costs.

(Graphic: iTraxx Crossover Index - http://reut.rs/2FIZaVW)

ST. LOUIS FED FINANCIAL STRESS INDEX

The St. Louis Fed Financial Stress index measures the degree of financial stress in the markets. According to the St. Louis Fed, the average value of the index since its inception in 1993 is designed to be zero. Thus, zero is viewed as representing normal financial market conditions. Values below zero suggest below-average financial market stress, while values above zero suggest above-average financial market stress. Although still below zero, the index has risen considerably this year.

(Graphic: St. Louis Fed Financial Stress Index - http://reut.rs/2FDpfG9)