India threatens reversal

India’s Sensex is testing primary support at 26500. Breach would signal a primary down-trend, confirming the signals from 13-week Twiggs Momentum & Money Flow, both of which have crossed below zero. Twiggs Momentum has been warning of a reversal with a bearish divergence since late 2014, while Twiggs Money Flow chimed in from March 2015. Breach of support would offer a target of 23000. Recovery above the descending trendline is unlikely, but would suggest another rally.

Sensex

Sensex

* Target calculation: 26500 – ( 30000 – 26500 ) = 23000

The S&P/NSE Nifty index tells a similar story, testing primary support at 8000. Breach would offer a target of 7000*.

Nifty

* Target calculation: 8000 – ( 9000 – 8000 ) = 7000

Why Fixed Investment is Critical to the US Recovery

The financial sector normally acts as a conduit, channeling savings from private investors to the corporate sector. When the conduit works effectively, the injection of demand from corporate Investment is sufficient to offset the ‘leakage’ from demand caused by Savings. Savings patterns alter during a financial crisis, however, with concerned households cutting back on expenditure and using any surplus to pay down debt, rather than depositing with the bank or buying stocks. Household Savings rise but corporate Investment contracts. The resulting ‘leakage’ from demand causes GDP to spiral downward.

When Investment contracts, unemployment rises. The relationship is evident on the graph below, but it could also be said that Investment rises when employment grows — businesses invest in anticipation of rising demand. Either way, it is safe to conclude that rising investment and job growth go hand-in-hand.

Employment Growth and Private Nonresidential Fixed Investment

Fixed Investment and Corporate Profits

Rising corporate profits also lead to increased investment. The lag on the graph below — investment growth follows profit growth — clearly illustrates the causative relationship.

Employment Growth and Private Nonresidential Fixed Investment

This is an encouraging sign, as the current surge in corporate profits is likely to be followed by rising investment — and further job growth.

Weekly Earnings and GDP

Rising weekly earnings already point to improving aggregate demand and consequent investment growth.

Weekly Earnings Growth

All that is missing is for the federal government to increase investment in productive* infrastructure to further boost job growth.

*Infrastructure investment needs to generate a sufficient return to repay debt incurred to fund the spending. Something many politicians seem to forget when preoccupied with buying votes for the next election.

More….

The Long War [podcast]

The Impunity Trap by Jeffrey D. Sachs | Project Syndicate

RIP ZIRP | PIMCO

How much longer can the global trading system last? | Michael Pettis

Crude retraces

Gold breaks $1180 support

Itzhak Perlman: Schindler’s List (video)

There are two kinds of discontented in this world, the discontented that works and the discontented that wrings its hands. The first gets what it wants and the second loses what it has. There is no cure for the first but success and there is no cure at all for the second.

~ Og Mandino

Why Fixed Investment is Critical to the US Recovery

The financial sector normally acts as a conduit, channeling savings from private investors to the corporate sector. When the conduit works effectively, the injection of demand from corporate Investment is sufficient to offset the ‘leakage’ from demand caused by Savings. Savings patterns alter during a financial crisis, however, with concerned households cutting back on expenditure and using any surplus to pay down debt, rather than depositing with the bank or buying stocks. Household Savings rise but corporate Investment contracts. The resulting ‘leakage’ from demand causes GDP to spiral downward.

When Investment contracts, unemployment rises. The relationship is evident on the graph below, but it could also be said that Investment rises when employment grows — businesses invest in anticipation of rising demand. Either way, it is safe to conclude that rising investment and job growth go hand-in-hand.

Employment Growth and Private Nonresidential Fixed Investment

Fixed Investment and Corporate Profits

Rising corporate profits also lead to increased investment. The lag on the graph below — investment growth follows profit growth — clearly illustrates the causative relationship.

Employment Growth and Private Nonresidential Fixed Investment

This is an encouraging sign, as the current surge in corporate profits is likely to be followed by rising investment — and further job growth.

Weekly Earnings and GDP

Rising weekly earnings already point to improving aggregate demand and consequent investment growth.

Weekly Earnings Growth

All that is missing is for the federal government to increase investment in productive* infrastructure to further boost job growth.

*Infrastructure investment needs to generate a sufficient return to repay debt incurred to fund the spending. Something many politicians seem to forget when preoccupied with buying votes for the next election.

The Long War [podcast]

Excellent insight into the long-term implications of conflict between Russia and the West. Hosted by Brian Whitmore (RFE/Power Vertical) and co-host Mark Galeotti, New York University professor and expert on Russia's security services, with guest James Sherr, an associate fellow with Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia program.

Podcast: The Long War

The Long War

It's going to be a protracted conflict and Ukraine is just the first major battle.

It's going to be fought in different ways and on multiple fronts: on NATO's eastern frontier; over the countries of former Soviet Union, in the energy market, over the airwaves, and in cyberspace.

We should have no illusions. The West's conflict with Russia is not going away anytime soon, regardless of how the current standoff in Ukraine is resolved.

And what is at stake is nothing short of the future of the international order.

This ain't no Cold War. Russia isn't strong enough for that.

But according to The Russia Challenge, a widely read and highly influential report issued by Chatham House last week, it is shaping up to be a Long War. A protracted looking-glass conflict with a weakening, but still very dangerous, Russia.

On the latest Power Vertical Podcast, we discuss the new Chatham House report and its recommendations.

Enjoy…

The panel make some important points:

  • The post-Soviet transition to a modern democracy was poorly handled by the West and left Russians with a deep distrust of their motives.
  • The most important response to asymmetric warfare is good governance. The last 15 years shows a series of unmitigated blunders that would leave an independent observer with serious questions as to the competence of Western democracies. The West, Ukraine and Baltic States all need to get their house in order.
  • Conventional weapons are important, but the primary response should focus on improved intelligence and policing.

Signs of recovery

A strong blue candle on the S&P 500 daily chart suggests that the latest correction is over. Penetration of the descending trendline would confirm. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow recovery above zero would strengthen the signal. Recovery above 2120 would signal an advance to 2200*. Look for confirmation from the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Transport sector.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 2120 + ( 2120 – 2040 ) = 2200

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) at 13 indicates low risk typical of a bull market.

S&P 500 VIX

Dow Jones Industrial Average also shows signs of a recovery. Reversal above 18000 would confirm the correction is over. Breakout above 18300 would offer a target of 19000*. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow holding above zero continues to signal a healthy primary up-trend. Breach of support at 17500 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction to test primary support (and trendline) at 17000.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 18300 + ( 18300 – 17600 ) = 19000

Bellwether transport stock, Fedex surged to test primary resistance at $184. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying pressure. Breakout would offer a target of 204* — a positive sign for the economy.

Fedex

* Target calculation: 184 + ( 184 – 164 ) = 204

A long tail on Canada’s TSX 60 suggests strong support at 855. Recovery above the descending trendline would indicate the correction is over. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would signal continuation of the primary up-trend, while breakout above 900 would offer a long-term target of 1000*.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 900 + ( 900 – 800 ) = 1000

Europe

Germany’s DAX is testing support at 11000. Recovery above the descending trendline would indicate the correction is over. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure, but penetration of the descending trendline would also suggest that buyers are back in control. Reversal below 11000 is unlikely, but would offer a target of 10000*.

DAX

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

The Footsie is testing support at 6700/6750. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure, but penetration of the descending trendline would suggest the return of buyers. Breakout above 7100 would confirm a primary advance with a long-term target of 8000*. Reversal below 6700 is unlikely, but would warn of a primary down-trend.

FTSE 100

* Target calculation: 7000 + ( 7000 – 6000 ) = 8000

Asia

The Shanghai Composite broke 5000. The situation appears artificial, considering current economic data, and I believe the accelerating up-trend will lead to a blow-off.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 3500 + ( 3500 – 2500 ) = 4500

Retracement on Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index respected support at 20000, suggesting an advance to 22000*. Oscillation high above zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum signals a strong primary up-trend.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 20000 + ( 20000 – 18000 ) = 22000

India’s Sensex is testing primary support at 26500. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure, however, and recovery above zero would strengthen the signal. Respect of support and penetration of the descending trendline would suggest another primary advance. Breach of primary support is less likely, but would warn of a primary down-trend with support at 23000*.

SENSEX

* Target calculation: 26500 – ( 30000 – 26500 ) = 23000

Australia

“Unemployment has fallen to a one-year low of 6 per cent in May as an estimated 42,000 jobs were added to the economy last month.” ~ ABC News

The ASX 200 found support at 5500 after solid employment numbers and a rally in US markets. Recovery above 5650 and the descending trendline would indicate the correction is over, suggesting a fresh advance. Breakout above 6000 is still some way off but would offer a target of 6500*. Reversal below 5450 remains as likely, however, and would warn of a test of primary support at 5120/5150.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 6000 + ( 6000 – 5500 ) = 6500

Moderate decline of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure, typical of a secondary correction not a reversal.

The Banking sector [XBAK] dragged the index lower over the last two months, but now faces solid support at its two-year low of 83. Twiggs Momentum (13-week) bearish divergence warns of a down-trend, but recovery above zero would suggest otherwise.

ASX 300 Banks


More….

The Impunity Trap by Jeffrey D. Sachs | Project Syndicate

RIP ZIRP | PIMCO

How much longer can the global trading system last? | Michael Pettis

Crude retraces

Gold breaks $1180 support

Australian exports hammered

Itzhak Perlman: Schindler’s List

Mike Batt: Caravans (on the move)

The law locks up the man or woman
Who steals the goose off the common
But leaves the greater villain loose
Who steals the common from the goose.

~ Medieval English ditty from Jeffrey Sachs The Impunity Trap

The Impunity Trap by Jeffrey D. Sachs | Project Syndicate

Jeffrey D. Sachs, Professor of Sustainable Development, Professor of Health Policy and Management, and Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, highlights one of the great challenges to modern society: public indifference to dishonest and unethical behavior.

The ability of those who wield great public and private power to flout the law and ethical norms for personal gain is one of the more glaring manifestations of inequality. The poor get life sentences for petty crimes, while bankers who fleece the public of billions get invitations to White House state dinners…..

In some societies and economic sectors, impunity is now so pervasive that it is viewed as inevitable. When unethical behavior by political and business leaders becomes widely viewed as “normal,” it then goes unpunished by public opinion, and is reinforced as normal – creating an “impunity trap.” For example, with politicians in the United States now so flagrantly and relentlessly on the take from wealthy donors, much of the public accepts new revelations of financial impropriety (such as the Clinton Foundation’s morally dubious financial dealings) with a cynical yawn.

The situation in the global banking sector is especially alarming. A recent careful study of ethical attitudes in the financial-services industry in the US and the United Kingdom showed that unethical and illegal behavior is indeed now viewed as pervasive…..

Yet not all societies or sectors are caught in an impunity trap. Some societies, most notably in Scandinavia, maintain the expectation that their public officials and business leaders should and will act ethically and honestly. In these countries, ministers are forced to resign for petty infractions that would seem trivial in other countries.

What is needed is a two-pronged approach. Firstly, a “broken window pane” strategy, where strict enforcement against minor infringements will reduce the occurrence of major violations. Second, ensure that penalties imposed on major transgressors in the banking industry, politics, sports administration (FIFA), and other public areas are sufficient to act as a visible deterrent to others.

Imposing a billion dollar fine on a bank for illegal behavior penalizes shareholders not the perpetrators who generally get away scot-free. A two-year jail sentence for senior executives involved would be a far more effective deterrent.

Read more at The Impunity Trap by Jeffrey D. Sachs – Project Syndicate.

RIP ZIRP | PIMCO

From Marc Seidner:

At this point, the evidence is close to overwhelming that the Federal Reserve will embark on a tightening cycle this year. The base case for markets should be a move in September. While the pace of tightening should be very shallow and the ultimate destination for interest rates considerably lower than historical experience, investors should not underestimate the potential volatility emanating from the first interest rate increase in nine years and the first move off of the zero bound in six years….

Read more at RIP ZIRP | PIMCO Blog.

Crude retraces

Nymex Light Crude encountered solid resistance at $60/$61 per barrel. Reversal below $58 would signal retracement to test the new support level at $54. Respect would indicate an up-trend, while failure of $54 would test primary support at $44. Brent Crude [green] is already retracing and likely to test support at $54.

Nymex WTI Light Crude and Brent Crude