ColinTwiggs, Author at the patient investor

April 11, 2015

Footsie breaks 7000

London’s FTSE 100 broke long-term resistance at its 1999 high, closing the week above 7000 and signaling a primary advance. Expect retracement to test the new support level, but the long-term target is 8000*.

FTSE 100

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

Global stocks, generally, recovered from recent weakness and appear set for another advance.

The S&P 500 recovered above 2100, suggesting a fresh advance. Foolow-through above 2120 would confirm, offering a target of 2200*. A 21-day Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would reflect long-term buying pressure. Breach of support at 2040/2050 is unlikely, but would test primary support at 1980/2000.

S&P 500 Index

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

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

S&P 500 VIX

Bellwether transport stock Fedex rallied off primary support at 164. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough at zero suggests continuation of the primary up-trend; a good sign for the economy.

Fedex

Europe

Germany’s DAX followed through above 12200, offering a medium-term target of 12800*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates long-term buying pressure. Reversal below 12000 is unlikely.

DAX

* Target calculation: 12200 + ( 12200 – 11600 ) = 12800

The Footsie built a solid base of support, with two short corrections, for its breakout above 7000. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow high above zero indicates long-term buying pressure. Expect retracement to test the new support level, but reversal below 6950/7000 is unlikely.

FTSE 100

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

Asia

China’s Shanghai Composite Index continues its primary advance, breaking resistance at 4000. An up-turn in the Harpex container shipping index suggests an increase in international trade. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates long-term buying pressure.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 3400 + ( 3400 – 2400 ) = 4400

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index is testing resistance at 20000. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates long-term buying pressure. Breach of support at 19000 is unlikely. Breakout above 20000 would offer a long-term target of 22000*.

Nikkei 225 Index

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

India’s Sensex recovery above 28500 indicates the correction is over. Expect another test of resistance at 30000. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above zero suggests continuation of the up-trend. Breakout above 30000 would offer a target of 33000. Breach of primary support at 26500/27000 is now unlikely.

SENSEX

Australia

The ASX 200 is testing resistance at 6000, the upper border of a bullish ascending triangle. Breakout above 6000 would signal an advance to 6250*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates long-term buying pressure. Reversal below 5750 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction to 5500.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 6000 + ( 6000 – 5750 ) = 6250

More….

Light vehicle sales

Upsurge in global trade

Dollar double bottom — gold tests support

Jobs growth slows (slightly)

The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.

~ Leonardo da Vinci

April 9, 2015

Light vehicle sales

US light vehicles sales are back in the range of 16 to 18 million vehicles a year experienced during the (halcyon?) days of 1998 to 2007. An important indicator of consumer confidence.

US Light Vehicle Sales

April 9, 2015

Upsurge in global trade?

While commodity prices are tanking, with iron ore now trading below $50 per tonne, there are signs that international shipping of manufactured goods is on the increase. Shipbrokers Harper Petersen publish the Harpex, a weekly index of charter rates for container vessels. The recent up-turn reflects increased demand for container shipping — an important barometer of international trade.

Harpex Index

April 9, 2015

Dollar double bottom — gold tests support

Apologies for my recent absence. I seem to take longer to recover from a ‘flu virus than I used to. The Dollar Index, however, has made a robust recovery, breaking resistance at 98.50. Completion of a double-bottom suggests a new advance with a target of 104*.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 96 ) = 104

Gold retreated below its former primary support level of $1200/ounce as the dollar strengthened. Breach of the rising trendline suggests the bear rally is over; follow-through below $1180 would confirm, strengthening the long-term target of $1000/ounce*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

April 4, 2015

Gold tests resistance as the dollar falls

Ten-year Treasury Note yields are testing support at 1.85% after consolidating below 2.00% for 2 weeks. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to indicate a primary down-trend. Failure of support at 1.85% would test primary support at 1.65%.

10-Year Treasury Yields

Correction on the Dollar Index has lasted 3 weeks but continues to respect the first line of support at 95.50. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum also continues to indicate a strong (primary) up-trend. Recovery above 100 is likely and would offer a target of 110*.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 90 ) = 110

Gold is testing resistance at $1200/ounce on the back of softer interest rates and a weak dollar. Breakout above $1220/ounce would indicate a rally to $1300. But 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to indicate a primary down-trend. Respect of $1300, or reversal below $1180 would suggest another test of primary support at $1140/$1150.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

April 3, 2015

Jobs growth slows (slightly)

The Wall Street Journal reports:

U.S. employers sharply slowed their hiring in March…….. Nonfarm payrolls rose by a seasonally adjusted 126,000 jobs in March, the Labor Department said Friday. That was the smallest gain since December 2013.

If we take a step back and look at US non-farm payrolls over the last 12 months, growth remains surprisingly strong. The economy added 2.9 million jobs in the year ending 31st March; down from 3.2 at the end of February, but still a robust recovery.

US non-farm payrolls

We haven’t seen this level of job growth since the Dotcom era.

US non-farm payrolls

April 3, 2015

The state of crude

Crude is consolidating in a narrow band between $44 and $55/barrel. Supply continues to exceed demand and storage facilities are approaching capacity. The bear trend is expected to continue. Failure of support at $44/barrel would confirm.

Brent Crude and Nymex WTI Light Crude

March 28, 2015

Stocks hesitant

The S&P 500 found short-term support at 2050, but declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure. Breach of support would signal a correction to test the band of primary support between 1970 and 2000. Recovery above 2080 is less likely at present, but would indicate another test of 2120.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 2100 + ( 2100 – 2000 ) = 2200

Long-term, the S&P 500 remains bullish and CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) continues to indicate low risk typical of a bull market.

S&P 500 VIX

Dow Jones Industrial Average also retreated and is testing medium-term support at 17500/17600 on the weekly chart. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates moderate selling pressure. Breach of 17500 would test primary support at 17000, while recovery above 18000 would signal another primary advance — confirmed if there is follow-through above 18300.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 18000 + ( 18000 – 17000 ) = 19000

Europe

Germany’s DAX encountered resistance at 12000, but selling pressure looks weak. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates long-term buying pressure. Expect support at 11500. Recovery above 12000 would suggest an advance to 12500*.

DAX

* Target calculation: 10000 + ( 10000 – 7500 ) = 12500

The Footsie retreated from 7000. Declining 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure. Breach of support at 6700 would warn of a correction to test primary support at 6150/6200, while respect of support at 6700 would be a bullish sign. Breakout above 7000 would offer a long-term target of 8000*.

FTSE 100

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

Asia

China’s Shanghai Composite Index continues its primary advance. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above its descending trendline strengthens the signal. Retracement to test the new support level at 3400 remains likely, but expected to be weak.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 3400 + ( 3400 – 2400 ) = 4400

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index is retracing. Breach of support at 19000 would signal a correction to test 18000, but respect is more likely and recovery above 19500 would indicate another attempt at the long-term target of 20000*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates long-term buying pressure.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 18000 + ( 18000 – 16000 ) = 20000

India’s Sensex is faltering at resistance at 30000. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of strong selling pressure. Breach of primary support at 26500/27000 would signal a reversal. Respect of the primary trendline, however, would establish a sound base for further advances.

SENSEX

Australia

The ASX 200 continues to hesitate at 6000. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates moderate (medium-term) selling pressure. Reversal below 5750 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction to 5500. Breakout above 6000 would offer a (medium-term) target of 6250*.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 6000 + ( 6000 – 5750 ) = 6250

More….

Gold hesitant response to weak Dollar

Crude consolidates

Footsie breaks 15-year high

The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.

~ Vince Lombardi

March 27, 2015

Gold hesitant response to weak Dollar

Ten-year Treasury Note yields are re-testing resistance at 2.00%. Recovery above 2.25% would indicate the correction is over and a rally to test the key resistance level of 3.00%. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero, however, continues to indicate a primary down-trend. Failure of support at 1.85% would signal a test of 1.65%.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The Dollar retreated from long-term resistance at 100 as expectations of higher interest rates eased. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum signals a strong (primary) up-trend. Respect of support at 95.5 would confirm.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 90 ) = 110

Gold rallied on the back of a soft dollar and weak interest rate outlook, but failed to hold above $1200/ounce. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to indicate a primary down-trend. Follow-through below $1180 would warn of another test of support at $1140/$1150, while a rise above $1220 would test $1300.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

March 26, 2015

Crude consolidates

Saudi Arabia bombs its neighbor Yemen. Another war in the Middle East and crude prices rally. Nymex Light Crude retreated above support at $45/barrel, testing $50, while Brent Crude found support at $54. The Saudis are obviously concerned about the success of Iranian-backed rebels in their close neighbor and are prepared to intervene militarily (Putin will probably send a telegram of support, attempting to draw a parallel although the situation in Ukraine is vastly different). Expect further consolidation between $45 and $55 for Nymex Light Crude. Supply continues to exceed demand and storage facilities are approaching capacity. The bear trend is likely to continue despite the current interruption.

Brent Crude and Nymex WTI Light Crude