Footsie and DAX test support

The FTSE 100 is testing support at 5000. Failure would warn of a down-swing to 4400*, but long tails and rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicate medium-term buying pressure. Respect of support is likely and would continue the line between 5000 and 5450.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 5000 – ( 5600 – 5000 ) = 4400

Germany’s DAX index displays similar medium-term buying pressure on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow. Respect of support at 5000 is likely and recovery above 5700 would indicate another bear rally.

DAX Index

* Target calculation: 5000 – ( 6000 – 5000 ) = 4000

Fedex heads South

Transport bellwether Fedex respected resistance at $70, signaling a down-swing to $55*. 13-week Twiggs Money Flow declining below zero indicates a strong primary down-trend. UPS (lime green) is also in a primary down-trend; reversal below its August low would confirm the Fedex bear signal. Declining transport stocks warn of shrinking activity levels in the overall economy.

Fedex and UPS

* Target calculation: 70 – ( 85 – 70 ) = 55

Dow threatens decline to 10000

Dow Jones Industrial Average is testing the band of support between 10600 and 10800. An up-tick in volume indicates some buying support but this appears insufficient to withstand downward pressure. Failure of support at 10600 is likely and would signal a primary decline to 10000*.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 11000 – (12000 – 11000 ) = 10000

The S&P 500 index is similarly testing support at 1100, while 21-day Twiggs Money Flow declining below zero warns of selling pressure. Breach of 1100 would signal a primary decline to 950*.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1100 – ( 1250 – 1100 ) = 950

The NASDAQ 100 is headed for a test of support at 2040. Reversal  of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Breach of support would signal another decline with a target of 1700*.

NASDAQ 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2300 – 2000 ) = 1700

NEIN, NEIN, NEIN, and the death of EU Fiscal Union – Telegraph Blogs

Bundestag president Norbert Lammert said yesterday, lawmakers had a nasty feeling that they had been “bounced” into backing far-reaching demands. This can never be allowed to happen again. He warned too that Germany’s legislature would not give up its fiscal sovereignty to any EU body.

…..Something profound has changed. Germans have begun to sense that the preservation of their own democracy and rule of law is in conflict with demands from Europe. They must choose one or the other.

via NEIN, NEIN, NEIN, and the death of EU Fiscal Union – Telegraph Blogs.

The “Muddle Through” Has Failed: BCG Says “There May Be Only Painful Ways Out Of The Crisis” | ZeroHedge

According to [Boston Consulting Group], the amount of developed world debt between household, corporate and government that needs to be eliminated is just over $21 trillion. Which unfortunately means that there is an equity shortfall that will have to be funded with incremental cash which will have to come from somewhere.

via The “Muddle Through” Has Failed: BCG Says “There May Be Only Painful Ways Out Of The Crisis” | ZeroHedge.

German Parliament Approves EFSF’s Expansion – WSJ.com

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s fractious coalition won a brief reprieve on Thursday, as lawmakers from the center-right ruling parties closed ranks and passed legislation to expand the euro-zone’s bailout fund.

……A total of 523 lawmakers voted in favor of the EFSF reform bill; 85 voted against, with three abstentions. The overall result includes the votes of the opposition Social Democrats and the environmentalist Greens, who unanimously backed the bill in stark contrast to Ms. Merkel’s unruly coalition.

……The 17 euro-zone governments agreed in March and July to expand and reform the EFSF, boosting the lending capacity of the fund to €440 billion ($596 billion) from €250 billion. The fund also will receive additional powers, such as the ability to extend credit lines to banks and buy bonds on the secondary market.

…….The temporary EFSF is set to expire in 2013 and to be replaced by a permanent European Stability Mechanism.

via German Parliament Approves EFSF’s Expansion – WSJ.com.

China’s African Mischief – Yuriko Koike – Project Syndicate

Since 2000, China has actively courted Africa’s unstable and dictatorial countries with offers of aid and a refusal to back United Nations sanctions against them. Indeed, China has blithely entered into business with African countries that Europe and America refuse to engage with, owing to sanctions.

…..China has chosen a high-risk path – ignoring human rights and violating UN sanctions – to secure the energy and other resources needed to sustain its economy’s rapid growth. It is a choice that neither befits one of the permanent members of the Security Council, nor demonstrates China’s readiness to be a responsible stakeholder in the international community.

China’s willingness to arm and defend African dictators, even in the teeth of UN sanctions, as in Libya, undermines its claim to a “peaceful rise.” Given China’s Libyan duplicity, the world should now determine whether it is a country that obeys international rules only when doing so suits its interests.

via China’s African Mischief – Yuriko Koike – Project Syndicate.

South African Rand: weakness continues

The greenback found support at its secondary rising trendline, with a long tail at R7.70/dollar indicating buying pressure. Respect of the secondary trendline would indicate an advance to $9.00*, while failure would test the primary trendline at R7.35.

USDZAR

* Target calculation: 8.40 + ( 8.40 – 7.80 ) = 9.00