Good week for the S&P 500 but not the ASX

Summary:

  • A good week for US markets.
  • China continues to threaten further down-side.
  • The ASX 200, pulled in opposite directions, is range bound for the present.
  • Momentum strategies require persistence.

The S&P 500 broke through 1950 and is expected to test the next resistance level at 2000*. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow signals medium-term buying pressure. Reversal below 1925 is unlikely at present but would warn of a correction.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1900 + ( 1900 – 1800 ) = 2000

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) continues its downward path, indicating low risk typical of a bull market.

S&P 500 VIX

The Shanghai Composite Index rebounded Friday after a tough week and continues to test primary support at 1990/2000. Breach of support would signal a decline to 1850*. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow oscillating above zero indicates buying support; a fall below zero would suggest selling pressure. The primary trend is expected to continue its downward path, but this is a managed descent and an abrupt fall seems unlikely.

Shanghai Composite

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2150 – 2000 ) = 1850

After a strong surge on Thursday the ASX 200 retreated below 5450 on Friday, suggesting another test of support at 5400. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates medium-term selling pressure. Breach of support is likely and would indicate a correction to 5300. Recovery above 5500 is unlikely at present, but the long-term trend remains upward.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5400 + ( 5400 – 5000 ) = 5800

A good week for the S&P 500 but not the ASX

Summary:

  • Good week for US markets.
  • China continues to threaten further down-side.
  • The ASX 200, pulled in opposite directions, is range bound for the present.
  • Momentum strategies require persistence.

The S&P 500 broke through 1950 and is expected to test the next resistance level at 2000*. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow signals medium-term buying pressure. Reversal below 1925 is unlikely at present but would warn of a correction.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1900 + ( 1900 – 1800 ) = 2000

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) continues its downward path, indicating low risk typical of a bull market.

S&P 500 VIX

The Shanghai Composite Index rebounded Friday after a tough week and continues to test primary support at 1990/2000. Breach of support would signal a decline to 1850*. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow oscillating above zero indicates buying support; a fall below zero would suggest selling pressure. The primary trend is expected to continue its downward path, but this is a managed descent and an abrupt fall seems unlikely.

Shanghai Composite

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2150 – 2000 ) = 1850

After a strong surge on Thursday the ASX 200 retreated below 5450 on Friday, suggesting another test of support at 5400. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates medium-term selling pressure. Breach of support is likely and would indicate a correction to 5300. Recovery above 5500 is unlikely at present, but the long-term trend remains upward.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5400 + ( 5400 – 5000 ) = 5800

Resist the urge to avoid discomfort

Momentum stocks have suffered a fair degree of turbulence since April, after a strong first quarter. Investors unfortunately have to endure periods like this, when the market appears hesitant or lacks direction, in much the same the same way as travelers can expect turbulence during an air flight. It is important is to resist the urge to avoid discomfort by exiting positions. Enduring uncomfortable parts of the journey are necessary if you want to reach your intended destination. Our research on both the ASX and S&P 500 has shown that attempting to time secondary movements in the markets does not enhance but erodes performance: the average (re-)entry price is higher than the average exit price after accounting for brokerage.

A basic rule of thumb in investing is that investors need to endure higher volatility in order to achieve higher returns. If your investment time frame is long-term, it is important to focus on the end result and not be overly concerned by weekly fluctuations.

Robert Shiller: CAPE should not be used for market timing

From an interview with Robert Shiller in January 2013:

Blodget: ….one frustration a lot of people have with the cyclically adjusted P/E and others is that it’s not particularly helpful for the timing mechanism, do you think it’s good to use as a sort of projected 10-year return, where when P/Es are high the return tends to be low, and vice versa?

Shiller: John Campbell, who’s now a professor at Harvard, and I presented our findings first to the Federal Reserve Board in 1996, and we had a regression, showing how the P/E ratio predicts returns. And we had scatter diagrams, showing 10-year subsequent returns against the CAPE, what we call the cyclically adjusted price earnings ratio. And that had a pretty good fit. So I think the bottom line that we were giving – and maybe we didn’t stress or emphasize it enough – was that it’s continual. It’s not a timing mechanism, it doesn’t tell you — and I had the same mistake in my mind, to some extent — Wait until it goes all the way down to a P/E of 7, or something.

Blodget: Right, perfectly safe, so then you can buy.

Shiller: But actually, the lesson there is that if you combine that with a good market diversification algorithm, the important thing is that you never get completely in or completely out of stocks. The lower CAPE is, as it gradually gets lower, you gradually move more and more in. So taking that lesson now, CAPE is high, but it’s not super high. I think it looks like stocks should be a substantial part of a portfolio.

Read more at Robert Shiller On Stocks – Business Insider.

European stocks’ strong Ichimoku trend

Weekly charts of Ichimoku Cloud show European stocks in an up-trend. Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 displays healthy separation above a green cloud. The signal is further strengthened by blue (Tenkan) holding above the red (Kijun) line for the last 6 months.

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50

* Target calculation: 3200 + ( 3200 – 3000 ) = 3400

The DAX is consolidating below the psychological barrier of 10000, while displaying healthy separation above a green Ichimoku cloud. Breakout would confirm the recent buy signal where blue (Tenkan) crossed above the red (Kijun) line. Target for an advance would be 10500*. Reversal below 9700 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction.

DAX

* Target calculation: 9750 + ( 9750 – 9000 ) = 10500

The Footsie is struggling to break resistance at 6850/6880 and getting squeezed against the rising green cloud. Ichimoku still signals an up-trend but this is markedly weaker than the other two indices. Breakout would signal an advance to 7200*, but reversal below 6800 warns of another correction — likely to find support at the upper border of the cloud.

FTSE 100

* Target calculation: 6800 + ( 6800 – 6400 ) = 7200

Asian stocks revive

India’s Sensex is retracing to test the new support level at 25000. Respect would confirm an advance to 26000*. The primary trend is up and rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow suggests buying pressure. Breach of 25000 is unlikely, but would warn of a test of 24000.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 21000 + ( 21000 – 16000 ) = 26000

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is headed for another test of 2150 after breaking resistance at 2050. A 21-day Twiggs Money Flow trough at zero signals medium-term buying pressure. Breakout above 2150 is unlikely, but would complete a triple-bottom reversal. Reversal below primary support at 1990/2000 also appears unlikely at present, but would signal a decline to 1850*.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2150 – 2000 ) = 1850

Japan’s Nikkei 225 found resistance at 15000/15200 on the weekly chart. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero signals long-term buying pressure. Breakout above 15200 would target 16000. Reversal below 14800 is unlikely, but would signal a test of primary support at 14000.

Nikkei 225

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is headed for a test of long-term resistance at 24000 on the monthly chart. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough at zero indicates long-term buying pressure. Breakout above 24000 would signal a primary advance to 27000*. Reversal below 21000 and the rising trendline is most unlikely, but would warn of reversal to a primary down-trend.

Hang Seng Index

* Long-term target calculation: 24000 + ( 24000 – 21000 ) = 27000

ASX 200 tests support

The ASX 200 is testing medium-term support at 5400. Long tails and recovery of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow above zero signal buying pressure. A close below 5400 would warn of a test of 5300, while recovery above 5460 would suggest another attempt at 5550.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5550 + ( 5550 – 5400 ) = 5700

While not as strong as North American markets, the weekly index has maintained a healthy distance above a green Ichimoku Cloud. There are no signs of a long-term trend reversal.

ASX 200

ASX 200 VIX is also holding at low levels indicative of a bull market.

ASX 200

Canada: TSX 60 Ichimoku trend

Canada’s TSX 60 again shows a strong trend, trading high above a strong green cloud, with no recent crosses of blue (Tenkan) below the red (Kijun) line. Expect a test of the 2008 high at 900. Reversal below support at 830 is unlikely.

TSX 60

S&P 500: Strong Ichimoku trend

Today we take a look at long-term trend strength in North American markets using a great trend tool, Ichimoku Cloud, with weekly charts. Ichimoku is only available on the latest beta version of Incredible Charts (Help >> Upgrade To Latest Beta Version), but will soon be released with Incredible Charts 7.0.

Ichimoku offers a number of trend signals:

  • The trend is upward when price is above the Cloud (and downward when price is below).
  • A green cloud indicates an up-trend, while a red cloud indicates a down-trend.
  • Long trades are taken when the blue line crosses above the red. In strong trends, blue may hold above red for extended periods.

The S&P 500 encountered resistance and is consolidating below its target of 1950*. The trend above a green cloud is further strengthened by the blue (Tenkan) holding above the red (Kijun) for an extended period. Continuation of the up-trend is likely and breakout above 1950 would signal an advance to 2000.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1750 ) = 1950

Dow Jones Industrial Average displays a similar strong trend with few blue (Tenkan) dips below the red (Kijun) line. Breakout above resistance at 17000 would signal an advance to 17500*. Reversal below 16500 is unlikely, but would warn of another correction.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 16500 + ( 16500 – 15500 ) = 17500

The Nasdaq 100 recovery of blue (Tenkan) above the red (Kijun) line offers a fresh entry signal. Resistance at 3800 is unlikely to hold and follow-through would confirm the target of 4000* for the advance. Reversal below 3700 is unlikely, but would warn of another correction.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 3700 + ( 3700 – 3400 ) = 4000

Another indication of trend strength is the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), currently trading at levels last seen in 2005/2006, which indicates low risk typical of a bull market.

VIX Index

ASX 200 weakens but Aussie dollar strengthens

  • Aussie dollar strengthens.
  • Stocks weaken.
  • But ASX 200 VIX continues to indicate a bull market.

The Aussie Dollar is testing resistance at $0.94. Consolidation in a narrow band suggests continuation of the rally towards $0.97/$0.98. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests a primary up-trend, but we may see the RBA intervene to prevent this. They may need to follow the RBNZ, introducing macro-prudential controls (e.g. setting a maximum 80% LVR percentage), to take the steam out of the housing market while lowering interest rates to weaken the currency.

Aussie Dollar

The ASX 200 respected resistance at 5500 and is headed for a test of medium-term support at 5400. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of medium-term selling pressure and a correction. Breach of 5400 is likely and would test support at 5300 and the rising trendline. Respect of 5400 is unlikely, but would suggest another rally to 5550.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5550 + ( 5550 – 5400 ) = 5700

ASX 200 VIX below 12, however, continues to indicate low risk typical of a bull market.

ASX 200

Europe: DAX and Footsie test resistance

  • Euro weakens.
  • Stocks in a strong up-trend.

The Euro is testing primary support and the rising trendline at $1.35 on the weekly chart. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum, followed by a cross below zero, warns of a trend reversal. Breach of support would strengthen the signal. Recovery above $1.37, however, would suggest another test of $1.40.

Euro

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 is trending strongly on the monthly chart. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above 10% would complete another trough above zero, further strengthening the trend. Reversal below 3000 and the primary trendline is most unlikely, but would warn of a reversal.

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50

* Target calculation: 3200 + ( 3200 – 3000 ) = 3400

The Footsie is again testing resistance at 6850. Follow-through above 6900 would signal an advance to 7200*. Falling 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates short-term selling pressure, but long-term oscillations above zero reflect strong buying pressure. Reversal below 6800 is less likely, but would warn of another correction.

FTSE 100

* Target calculation: 6800 + ( 6800 – 6400 ) = 7200

The DAX is sitting at the psychological barrier of 10000. Expect retracement to test support at 9800. Respect is likely and follow-through above 10000 would signal an advance to 10500* Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above the declining trendline suggests that selling pressure is easing. Reversal below 9750/9800 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction to the rising trendline.

DAX

* Target calculation: 9750 + ( 9750 – 9000 ) = 10500