ColinTwiggs, Author at the patient investor

October 1, 2013

15 Biases That Make You Do Dumb Things With Your Money

You are your own worst enemy.

Those are the six most important words in investing. Shady financial advisors and incompetent CEOs don’t harm your returns a fraction of the amount your own behavior does.

Here are 15 cognitive biases that cause people to do dumb things with their money: 15 Biases That Make You Do Dumb Things With Your Money | Morgan Housel | Motley Fool. Hat tip to Barry Ritholz.

My favorite:

14. Restraint bias
Overestimating your ability to control impulses. Studies show smokers in the process of quitting overestimate their ability to say no to a cigarette when tempted. Investors do the same when thinking about the temptation to do something stupid during market bubbles and busts. Most investors I know consider themselves contrarians who want to buy when there’s blood in the streets. But when the blood arrives, they panic just like everyone else.

October 1, 2013

Japan & China steady, ASX threatens correction

Dow Jones Japan index chose to ignore the poker game on Capitol Hill in Washington today, following Friday’s sharp fall. Breach of the rising trendline, however, warns of a correction.

Dow Jones Japan index

A weekly chart of the Nikkei 225 shows short-term support at 14300, with resistance at 15000. Failure of support would test the primary level at 13200, while upward breakout remains as likely and would signal an advance to 17000*. Earlier bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of a reversal; decline below 15% would strengthen the signal. Failure of support at 13200 would confirm.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 15000 + ( 15000 – 13000 ) = 17000

China’s Shanghai Composite is testing short-term support at 2150. Failure of support would penetrate the rising trendline, warning of another correction. A sharp fall on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates short-term selling pressure. Respect of 2150, or even 2100, would signal another test of resistance at 2250. Follow-through above the descending trendline would suggest the primary down-trend is reversing. But breach of 2100 would indicate another test of primary support at 1950.

Shanghai Composite Index

India’s Sensex continues on a downward path toward primary support. Penetration of the former rising trendline would increase the likelihood of a test. Breakout below 18500 would signal a primary down-trend, while follow-through below 18000 would confirm. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero is unlikely, but would suggest continuation of the primary up-trend.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 18500 – ( 20500 – 18500 ) = 16500

The ASX 200 retreated below its May high of 5250 for a second time; a bearish sign. Penetration of the rising trendline also warns of a correction. Breach of short-term support at 5200 would confirm.

ASX 200

There appears little danger of a primary reversal at this stage, with primary support at 4650, but 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the warning. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow (not shown) also displays a bearish divergence, indicating selling pressure. Long-term target for an advance would be 5850*, but we are likely to see a correction first.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5250 + ( 5250 – 4650 ) = 5850

October 1, 2013

Crawling, not walking, to non-mining led growth | MacroBusiness

Leith van Onselen quotes the latest JP Morgan report on the Australian economy:

…risk of a recession is “inevitably higher now than usual; the economy has built up vulnerabilities over time that have been masked by the continued growth in output and national income… the downside of avoiding recession is that Australia has carried these excesses through a succession of growth cycles”.

Households are particularly at risk from expensive house prices and high levels of household debt. Which brings me back to the unnecessary risks bank regulators are taking by condoning low bank capital ratios of between 4.0% and 4.5% of total credit exposure. Risk-weighting of bank assets provided a smokescreen, inflating perceived ratios to around 10%, while encouraging over-exposure to (low risk-weighted) residential mortgages.

September 30, 2013

European markets retrace, but FTSE bearish

European markets are consolidating after recent gains with the exception of Italy, which is suffering from political instability, while the FTSE 100 displays persistent selling pressure.

The FTSE 100 is heading for a test of primary support at 6400, having broken medium-term support at 6500. Declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow after a lengthy period below zero indicates medium-term selling pressure; bearish divergence on the 13-week indicator also warns of strong selling pressure. Failure of support at 6400 would signal a primary down-trend; respect is unlikely, but would suggest another test of 6700.

FTSE 100

Germany’s DAX retraced to the new support level at 8500. Respect would offer a medium-term target of 9000* and a long-term target of 9400*. Reversal below 8000 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 7600.

DAX

* Target calculation: 8500 + ( 8500 – 8000 ) = 9000 ; 8500 + ( 8500 – 7600 ) = 9400

France’s CAC-40 is similarly testing support at 4100. Recovery above its 2011 high of 4200 would offer an immediate target of 4300* and a long-term target of 4500*. Reversal below 3900 is unlikely but would warn of a test of primary support at 3600.

CAC-40

* Target calculation: 4100 + ( 4100 – 3900 ) = 4300 ; 4050 + ( 4050 – 3600 ) = 4500

Spain’s Madrid General Index displays healthy buying pressure on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow. Retracement that respects support at 900 would confirm a long-term advance to 1050*. Reversal below 900 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction.

Madrid General Index

* Target calculation: 900 + ( 900 – 750 ) = 1050

Italy’s MIB Index is weaker, following a rift between Prime Minister Enrico Letta and his coalition partner, Silvio Berlusconi. Follow-through below the rising trendline would test support at 16500. Recovery above 18000, on the other hand, would signal a primary advance with a long-term target of 20000*.

MIB Index

* Target calculation: 17500 + ( 17500 – 15000 ) = 20000

September 30, 2013

TSX 60 bearish divergence

Canada’s TSX 60 index is testing long-term resistance at 740, but bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Reversal below 730 would indicate another test of primary support at 710. Failure of support would signal a primary down-trend.

TSX 60

The VIX below 15, however, continues to reflect low market risk.

TSX 60 VIX

September 30, 2013

Short-term support for S&P 500 but long-term bearish

The September quarter-end often heralds a correction as fund managers re-balance their portfolios and shed under-performing stocks.

The S&P 500 is testing support at the May high of 1675 on the daily chart. The long tail on Monday’s candle indicates short-term buying support, but bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warns of medium-term selling pressure. Breach of support and the (secondary) rising trendline would signal a test of primary support at 1625.

S&P 500

Selling pressure is also evident on the weekly chart, where a similar divergence warns of a primary reversal. This is a relatively weak signal, with 13-week Twiggs Money Flow elevated well above zero and primary support some way above the long-term rising trendline. Failure of support at 1625 would signal a reversal, but it would be prudent to wait for confirmation from the long-term trendline or other major indexes.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1700 + ( 1700 – 1550 ) = 1850

VIX crossed to above 15, but still indicates relatively low market risk.

VIX Index

Dow Jones Industrial Average broke its (secondary) rising trendline, signaling a test of primary support at 14800. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of a reversal and breach of 14800 would confirm. Recovery above 15660 is unlikely, but would indicate a fresh advance.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

September 26, 2013

Buy Yen on Debt Debacle? | WSJ

Ian Talley at WSJ reports:

In, “The Curious Case of the Yen: A Safe Haven Currency without Inflows” (see p.142) the IMF studied 11 shocks between the August 1990 U.S. savings and loan crisis and the August 2011 U.S. debt ceiling confrontation that pushed the volatility index 10 percentage points higher than its previous 60-day average. “The yen has tended to appreciate on average during these episodes, against the U.S. dollar, the euro and in nominal and real effective terms,” the IMF found.

September 26, 2013

Dollar and Treasuries likely to lift Gold

Spot gold continues to test support at $1300/ounce. Failure of support would visit the primary level at $1200/ounce, while respect would test $1440. Breach of the downward trend channel indicates the primary trend is slowing, but recovery above $1440, and a primary up-trend, seem some way off — as does recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero.

Spot Gold

The two-hourly chart shows breakout above resistance at $1330. Retracement that respects the new support level would signal a rally to test $1375, improving the chances of a bottom.

Spot Gold

Dollar Index

The Dollar Index broke primary support at 80.50, warning of a primary down-trend. Follow-through below 80 would confirm. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak at zero also suggests a down-trend. A falling dollar would boost gold prices. Recovery above 81 is unlikely, but would warn of a bear trap.

Dollar Index

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes broke support at 2.70 percent, warning of another test of 2.40 percent. Penetration of the rising trendline would strengthen the signal. Falling treasury yields are also likely to lift precious metal prices (because of the lower opportunity cost).

10-Year Treasury Yields

Crude Oil

Nymex light crude broke support at $103/barrel and its rising trendline, warning that the up-trend is slowing. A test of medium-term support at $98/barrel is now likely. The wider spread with Brent Crude is an indication of tensions over Syria which threaten supply.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

Commodities

Commodity prices continue to fall, with the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index headed for another test of 124 despite a resilient Shanghai Composite Index. Recovery above 130 is unlikely, but would confirm the earlier double-bottom reversal and a primary up-trend.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 130 + ( 130 – 125 ) = 135

September 25, 2013

Forex: Aussie and Euro breakout

The Euro broke through resistance at $1.34/$1.3450, offering a medium-term target of $1.37* and long-term target of $1.40*. A trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates a healthy up-trend.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.34 + ( 1.34 – 1.31 ) = 1.37; 1.34 + ( 1.34 – 1.28 ) = 1.40

The greenback is ranging aimlessly between ¥96 and ¥101 against the yen, indicating uncertainty. Breakout from the range will indicate future direction. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would suggest a primary down-trend.

USD/JPY

* Target calculation: 101 + ( 101 – 96 ) = 106

The Aussie Dollar retraced to test support at $0.93/$0.935 against the greenback after its recent breakout. Respect is likely and would suggest an advance to $0.97*. Follow-through above $0.95 would confirm.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculations: 0.95 + ( 0.95 – 0.93 ) = 0.97

The Aussie found support at $1.12 against its Kiwi neighbour. Recovery above $1.16 and the descending trendline would complete a double-bottom reversal, offering a target of $1.20*.

Kiwi Dollar

* Target calculations: 1.16 + ( 1.16 – 1.12 ) = 1.20

September 25, 2013

Asia recovery helps ASX 200

China’s Shanghai Composite Index ran into resistance at 2250 and is likely to retrace to support at 2100. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure. Respect of 2100 would be bullish, while recovery above 2250 would penetrate the descending trendline, suggesting that the primary down-trend is reversing. A primary up-trend would signal increased demand for resources and give a significant boost to the ASX. Failure of 2100 is unlikely, but would indicate a test of primary support at 1950.

Shanghai Composite Index

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is testing resistance at 15000. Breakout would signal an advance to 17500*. Earlier bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, however, warns of a reversal. Penetration of the rising trendline would also suggest the primary up-trend is losing momentum. Failure of support at 13200 remains unlikely, but would signal a reversal.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 15000 + ( 15000 – 12500 ) = 17500

India’s Sensex retreated below resistance at 20500. Tall shadows and long tails on the weekly chart indicate excessive volatility. Reversal below last week’s low at 19500 would warn of another down-swing. Breach of the rising trendline would strengthen the reversal warning. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero, however, would suggest continuation of the primary up-trend.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 18500 – ( 20500 – 18500 ) = 16500

ASX 200 recovery above the May high of 5250 indicates a primary advance. Follow-through above 5300 would confirm. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow suggests medium-term buying pressure. Long-term target for an advance would be 5850*.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5250 + ( 5250 – 4650 ) = 5850