Category: US & Canada

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S&P 500 and Nasdaq

An Hourly chart shows the S&P 500 Index consolidating below 1400. Breakout above the narrow flag would signal an advance to 1450*. Reversal below the trend channel is unlikely but would warn of retracement to 1340.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1150 ) = 1450

The Nasdaq 100 exceeded its initial target of 2650, now revised to 2750, and is due for a correction. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure. Expect a test of support at 2400.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2400 + ( 2400 – 2050 ) = 2750

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Canada TSX: Momentum trades

Bullish

  • New Zealand Energy [NZ] ~ respected support at $3.00; breakout above $3.80 would confirm another primary advance.
  • Rio Alto Mining [RIO] ~ narrow consolidation favors breakout above $4.70, signaling a new advance; support at $4.30.
  • Roxgold [ROG] ~ good support at $1.90, breakout above $2.15 would signal a new advance.

Watch for breakout

  • Tri-Oil Resources A [TOL] ~ narrow consolidation between $3.50 and $3.80 but strong bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow
  • Argonaut Gold [AR] ~ strong resistance at $10.00, support at $9.00
  • Atna Resources [ATN] ~ support at $1.25, resistance at $1.50.
  • Northern Graphite [NGC] ~ 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero is bearish but ascending triangle below $2.20, breakout would signal a fresh advance.
  • Pretium Resources [PVG] ~ breakout above $18.00 would signal continuation
  • TAG Oil [TAO] ~ testing resistance at $10.00
  • Americas Petrogas [BOE] ~ testing support at $4.00, respect would favor breakout above $4.50 and a fresh advance.

Americas Petrogas [BOE]

  • Coastal Energy [CEN] ~ recovered above $20.00, follow-through above $21.00 would confirm a fresh advance.

Americas Petrogas [BOE]

Negative Watch

  • Silvercrest Mines [SVL] ~ strong bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow followed by sharp drop to test support at $2.50.
  • Madalena Ventures [MVN] ~ long correction, headed for test of $1.00.
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Carmen Reinhart: Financial Repression – WSJ

Carmen Reinhart marks the rise of financial repression. “Faced with a private and public domestic debt overhang of historic proportions, policy makers will be preoccupied with debt reduction, debt management, and, in general, efforts to keep debt-servicing costs manageable. In this setting, financial repression in its many guises with its dual aims of keeping interest rates low and creating or maintaining captive domestic audiences will probably find renewed favor and will likely be with us for a long time.”

via Secondary Sources: Financial Repression, Jobs and Growth, Daylight Saving Scam – Real Time Economics – WSJ.

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Canada: TSX 60

Canada’s TSX 60 index found support at 700. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow, holding above zero, continues to indicate buying pressure. Recovery above 720 would signal a primary advance to 790*.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 720 + ( 720 – 650 ) = 790

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US markets pause in anticipation of March sell-off

US markets are anticipating a quarter-end sell-off in the second half of March, driven by the tax season and Spring-cleaning of fund balance sheets. The S&P 500 Index continues to test resistance at 1370. Breakout would signal the start of another primary advance, with a target of 1450*. Reversal below 1350, however, would warn of a correction, testing support at 1300 and possibly 1250.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1150 ) = 1450

The Nasdaq 100 reached its initial target of 2650 and is due for a correction. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure. Expect retracement to test support at 2400.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2400 + ( 2400 – 2150 ) = 2650

Dow Jones Transport Index has retraced over several weeks to test support at 5000. Respect would signal another attempt at 5600, while failure would indicate that momentum is slowing.

Dow Jones Transport Index

* Target calculation: 5000 + ( 6000 – 4500 ) = 5500

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Aussie Dollar, Canadian Loonie and commodities

The CRB Commodities Index retreated from resistance at 325. Failure of medium-term support at 310 would signal a test of primary support at 295. Respect of the zero line (from below) by 63-day Twiggs Momentum indicates continuation of the primary down-trend.

CRB Commodities Index

Lower commodity prices weakened the Aussie Dollar, with a fall below $1.06 warning of a correction to the long-term (green) rising trendline. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum remains strong, however, and recovery above $1.08 would confirm a primary up-trend.

Aussie Dollar

Canada’s Loonie was helped by rising crude prices and recovery above $1.01 would confirm the primary advance to $1.06*.

Canadian Loonie

* Target calculation: 1.01 + ( 1.01 – 0.96 ) = 1.06

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Fed Weighs ‘Sterilized’ Bond Buying if It Acts – WSJ.com

JON HILSENRATH: Federal Reserve officials are considering a new type of bond-buying program designed to subdue worries about future inflation if they decide to take new steps to boost the economy in the months ahead. Under the new approach, the Fed would print new money to buy long-term mortgage or Treasury bonds but effectively tie up that money by borrowing it back for short periods at low rates. The aim of such an approach would be to relieve anxieties that money printing could fuel inflation later, a fear widely expressed by critics of the Fed’s previous efforts to aid the recovery.

Transactions like those under the third scenario are called “reverse repos.” A related program called “term deposits” also ties up short-term money held by banks. The effect of this approach is the same as Operation Twist: The Fed would hold more long-term bonds and investors and banks would get more short-term holdings in exchange.

via Fed Weighs ‘Sterilized’ Bond Buying if It Acts – WSJ.com.

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US Momentum stocks to watch

I set up a stock screen for strong Momentum stocks on Incredible Charts Shared tab (#49419) to run every weekend. Here is a list of the most promising:

  • Arctic Cat [ACAT]

Arctic Cat [ACAT]

  • Cheniere Energy [LNG]
  • DXP Enterprises [DXPE]

DXP Enterprises [DXPE]

  • Healthstream [HSTM]

Healthstream [HSTM]

  • Lion’s Gate Entertainment [LGF]
  • Liz Claiborne [LIZ]
  • Pharmacyclics [PCYC]
  • Regeneron Pharm [REGN]
  • Select Comfort [SCSS]
  • Sourcefire [FIRE]
  • United Rentals [URI]
  • Vocaltec Comm [CALL]

Bear in mind that the market is starting a correction and suitable entry opportunities may only present themselves in 3 to 6 weeks, but I have added them to my watchlist and will re-visit weekly.

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S&P 500 retreats

Jeffrey Hirsch of the Stock Trader’s Almanac predicted that we would see an adjustment in the second half of the month. It looks like it may have started a few days early.

Failure of short-term support at 1350 on the S&P 500 index indicates retracement to test medium-term support at 1300. Declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure but this is not mirrored on the long-term (13-week) indicator. Respect of support at 1300 would confirm the primary up-trend — presenting a buying opportunity. Target for the advance is 1450*.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1150 ) = 1450

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Canada: TSX 60

Canada’s TSX60 index is headed for another test of support at 700. Respect of support would present a buying opportunity, with confirmation from recovery above 720.

TSX60 Index

* Target calculation: 720 + ( 720 – 650 ) = 790

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