Europe: DAX heads for 7500

Germany’s Dax rallied off support at 7000 and is headed for a test of resistance at 7500. Breakout would signal an advance to 8000*. Oscillation of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above zero indicates buying pressure. Reversal below 7000 is unlikely but would warn that a top is forming.

DAX Index

* Target calculation: 7500+ ( 7500 – 7000 ) = 8000

Dow Jones Europe Index is headed for another test of resistance at 265. Breakout would signal an advance to 285*. Reversal below 245 would warn of a correction to test primary support at 210. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would indicate buying pressure.

Dow Jones Europe Index

* Target calculation: 265 + ( 265 – 245 ) = 285

The FTSE 100 rallied off support at 5600 and is headed for another test of 6000. Breakout would signal an advance to 6400*. Reversal below 5600 is unlikely but would warn of a test of primary support at 5250. Narrowing 63-day Twiggs Momentum, however, warns of a ranging market.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 6000 + ( 6000 – 5600 ) = 6400

Canada: TSX Composite rallies

The TSX Composite is headed for another test of resistance at 12500. Breakout would signal an advance, offering a target of 13250*. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum suggests a primary up-trend. Reversal below 11750 is unlikely but would test primary support at 11200.

TSX Composite Index

* Target calculation: 12500 + ( 12500 – 11750 ) = 13250

US rally but signs of a top

The S&P 500 broke resistance at 1400 and the descending trendline on the daily chart, indicating that the correction is ending. Expect retracement to test support. A higher trough would be a bullish sign.

S&P 500 Index

The weekly chart still shows bearish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum and reversal below zero would warn of a primary down-trend. Breach of resistance at 1425 would signal another advance but expect resistance at 1475.

S&P 500 Index

The Nasdaq 100 is similarly headed for a test of 2800. Bearish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns that a top is forming. Respect of 2800 would strengthen the signal, indicating reversal to a primary down-trend.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2400 – ( 2800 – 2400 ) = 2000

The “Export Price Norm” saved Australia from the Great Recession « The Market Monetarist

The Market Monetarist writes how a combination of luck and good policy saved Australia from recession.

Milton Friedman once said never to underestimate the importance of luck of nations. I believe that is very true and I think the same goes for central banks. Some nations came through the shock in 2008-9 much better than other nations and obviously better policy and particularly better monetary policy played a key role. However, luck certainly also played a role…..

via The “Export Price Norm” saved Australia from the Great Recession « The Market Monetarist.

Australia: Housing affordability still poor

Interesting article by Leith van Onselen on Australian housing affordability.

Today it takes “380 weeks on the average wage (just over seven year’s income) to buy a typical house. This is down from around 430 weeks average wages (just over eight year’s income) required to buy a home in 2008 and 2010.”

Good news. But compare that to less than 250 weeks in 1995 — and less than 200 weeks in 1987.

In 1960, it took homebuyers just 7500 hours [188 weeks on the average wage] to pay off the average mortgage.

via Housing affordability improves but still poor | | MacroBusiness.

Sterling threatens euro support

Pound Sterling is headed for another test of support at €1.225/€1.230 on the weekly chart against the euro. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Breach of support and the rising trendline would confirm the signal. Respect of support is unlikely, but would test €1.260 in the medium-term.

Pound Sterling

South African Rand weakens on mining unrest

Continued clashes between rival mining unions fueled further weakening of the South African Rand against the greenback.

South African Rand

Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum reflects a strong primary up-trend. Breakout above R9.00 would offer a medium-term target of R9.50. In the long-term, the next major resistance level is the 2008 high of R11.00.

Nomura: China recovery unsustainable | | MacroBusiness

Interesting take by Nomura, reported by FT Alphaville.

Nomura thinks that after this year, China’s days of 8 per cent-plus growth are finished, and that stimulus efforts will run into problems with CPI inflation, not to mention its own credit system…..

via Nomura: China recovery unsustainable | | MacroBusiness.

Health Costs: How the U.S. Compares With Other Countries | PBS NewsHour

US health care costs are high relative to other OECD countries but average US life expectancy (78.7 years) in 2010 is below the OECD average of 79.8 years. These two OECD charts sum up the problem:

OECD health spending by country

Cost of medical procedures

Germany (DEU) is lowest for most procedures — in many cases less than half — and the quality of the treatment is excellent.

via Health Costs: How the U.S. Compares With Other Countries | PBS NewsHour.

Euro and Aussie Dollar long tails

The Euro reversed direction in response to the weakening dollar, breaking resistance at $1.28 to indicate another test of $1.31/$1.32. Respect of the new support level would confirm.

Euro/USD

The Aussie Dollar likewise displays evidence of buying pressure, with long tails below resistance at $1.04. Breakout would offer a target of $1.06*. Reversal of of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero, however, would warn of a primary down-trend.

Aussie Dollar/USD

* Target calculation: 1.04 + ( 1.04 – 1.02 ) = 1.06