Author: Colin Twiggs

Colin Twiggs is a former investment banker with almost 40 years of experience in financial markets. He founded PVT Capital (AFSL number 546090), which provides income and growth strategies to wholesale clients. Colin also co-founded Incredible Charts and writes the popular Patient Investor newsletter. Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies macro trends in the global economy and then combines fundamental and technical analysis to evaluate opportunities in sectors that stand to benefit. Focusing on interest rates and financial market liquidity as primary drivers of the economic cycle, he warned of the 2008/2009 and 2020 bear markets well ahead of actual events.
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Europe: Still positive

Germany’s DAX found support at 7200. Respect would indicate another attempt at long-term resistance at 7500/7600. Rising troughs above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicate strong buying pressure. Breakout would signal a long-term advance to 8400*.

DAX Index

* Target calculation: 7200 + ( 7200 – 6000 ) = 8400

Madrid General Index similarly found support at 770. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would indicate a primary up-trend. Respect of support would indicate a test of resistance at 900, while failure would retrace to 720.

Madrid General Index

France’s CAC-40 retraced to 3350. Respect would mean another test of 3600, while breach of the rising trendline would warn of a down-swing to test primary support at 2900.  A 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would suggest a primary up-trend. Breakout above 3600 would confirm, offering a target of the 2011 high at 4100.

CAC-40 Index

* Target calculation: 3600 + ( 3600 – 3000 ) = 4200

A daily chart of the FTSE 100 shows medium-term support at 5740. Follow-through above 5880 would indicate an attempt at primary resistance at 6000/6100. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow troughs above zero indicate buying pressure, but the last (marginal) breakout above 5880 warns of strong resistance at 6000. Breakout above 6100 would offer a long-term target of 6750*.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 6000 + ( 6000 – 5250 ) = 6750

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Canada: TSX60 tests 700

The TSX 60 is testing support at 700. Respect would indicate an advance to the 2012 high of 725, but failure would warn of another test of primary support at 640. I do not place much faith in the broadening wedge formation: narrow wedges tend to behave like trend channels. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum suggests a primary up-trend but we need a trough above zero to strengthen the signal. And only breakout above 725 would confirm.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 725 + ( 725 – 640 ) = 810

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US: Buying pressure easing

The September Quarter has ended, bonuses have been determined, and buying pressure is now likely to ease. The S&P 500 is testing resistance after breaking support at 1450. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates selling pressure. Respect of 1450 is likely and would indicate a test of 1400.

S&P 500 Index

The Nasdaq 100 weekly chart shows the index testing support at 2800/2750. Bearish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum indicates a weakening up-trend; reversal below zero would warn of a primary down-trend. Failure of support would strengthen the signal. Respect of support is unlikely but would indicate another advance.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2800 + ( 2800 – 2450 ) = 3150

Bellwether transport stock Fedex is testing support at $84. Narrow range of last week’s candle indicates selling pressure  — as does reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero. Downward breakout would confirm the primary down-trend earlier signaled by 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero. A Fedex down-trend would warn of slowing activity in the broader economy.

Fedex

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Garnaut’s bitter pill must be swallowed | | MacroBusiness

Interesting quote from Professor Ross Garnaut in the AFR:

He [Professor Garnaut] said Australia’s terms of trade, or income from exports, would be hit by three “mutually reinforcing negatives” under way in China.

The first was a shift in China’s economy away from a focus on heavy industrial investment and exports, which have driven metals and energy demand. The second was a wave of internal reforms including the move towards lower carbon emissions that would cruel demand for Australian thermal coal. The third was the current “cyclical” downturn that was likely to continue.

“It’s an accident they’re coming all at once, but they are,” Professor Garnaut said

From Leith van Onselen at Garnaut’s bitter pill must be swallowed | | MacroBusiness.

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Bernanke attempts to justify screwing savers

This extract from Joe Weisenthal lauds Ben Bernanke’s defense of monetary policy and its effect on savers.

I would encourage you to remember that the current low levels of interest rates, while in the first instance a reflection of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, are in a larger sense the result of the recent financial crisis, the worst shock to this nation’s financial system since the 1930s. Interest rates are low throughout the developed world, except in countries experiencing fiscal crises, as central banks and other policymakers try to cope with continuing financial strains and weak economic conditions.

He [Bernanke] then goes onto note that saving isn’t just “having money in a bank” and that the main way to benefit everyone (including savers) is to induce growth:

A second observation is that savers often wear many economic hats. Many savers are also homeowners; indeed, a family’s home may be its most important financial asset. Many savers are working, or would like to be. Some savers own businesses, and—through pension funds and 401(k) accounts—they often own stocks and other assets. The crisis and recession have led to very low interest rates, it is true, but these events have also destroyed jobs, hamstrung economic growth, and led to sharp declines in the values of many homes and businesses. What can be done to address all of these concerns simultaneously? The best and most comprehensive solution is to find ways to a stronger economy. Only a strong economy can create higher asset values and sustainably good returns for savers. And only a strong economy will allow people who need jobs to find them. Without a job, it is difficult to save for retirement or to buy a home or to pay for an education, irrespective of the current level of interest rates.

The way for the Fed to support a return to a strong economy is by maintaining monetary accommodation, which requires low interest rates for a time. If, in contrast, the Fed were to raise rates now, before the economic recovery is fully entrenched, house prices might resume declines, the values of businesses large and small would drop, and, critically, unemployment would likely start to rise again. Such outcomes would ultimately not be good for savers or anyone else.

In layman’s terms, Bernanke is saying that if the Fed didn’t act, everyone, including savers, would be in deep **** (trouble) …….so savers should be happy they are being screwed.

via Bernanke: Federal Reserve & Monetary Policy – Business Insider.

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David Murray: Australian government spending on alarming trajectory

David Murray, former Chairman of the Future Fund and former CEO of the Commonwealth Bank warns growing debt-funded entitlement could end with a Europe-style debt crisis.

Hat tip to Unconventional Economist at Macrobusiness.com.au

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Steve Keen on Post-Keynesian Macroeconomics

Prof Steve Keen’s presentation to the UMKC Post Keynesian conference in 2012.

Paul Krugman would argue that Income = Aggregate Demand when the economy is in equilibrium.
Steve Keen shows that the economy is not in equilibrium when aggregate debt is rising or falling:

Income = Aggregate Demand + Change in Debt

He illustrates (at 13:20) how, while GDP fell from $14.5 to $14.0 trillion, the US economy went from $18.5 to $11.5 trillion because of private debt contraction.

US GDP compared to GDP + Debt Change

This does not seem entirely accurate as my earlier chart of US Debt shows that Domestic (Non-Financial) Debt growth slowed but at no stage contracted during the GFC. I suspect that Steve has omitted Government Debt which acted as an important counter-weight to Private Debt contraction during the GFC.

US Domestic Debt Growth

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Georgian government warns of Russian build up as election nears | The Cable

By Josh Rogin

As Georgians head to the polls Monday, analysts are warning that rising tensions could boil over just as the Russian military is conducting exercises near the de facto border line……The European Union’s monitoring mission, which patrols the administrative boundary between Georgia and the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhasia and South Ossetia, noted in its most recent report that while the observers saw no movement of military equipment on the Georgian side that could be perceived as instigating an attack, the Russian forces on the other side of the boundary line are increasing……

via Georgian government warns of Russian build up as election nears | The Cable.

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China’s rail cargo volume declined further in August

by Zarathustra

Rail cargo volume growth fell further from -8.2% yoy in July to -9.2% yoy in August, worst since the financial crisis. Cargo volume transported by the railways amounted to 304 million tonnes in August 2012, slightly below 305 million tonnes in July.

via China’s rail cargo volume declined further in August.

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Chinese Yuan hits highest level against USD, but PBOC wants it weaker

by Zarathustra

After a long period since late last year as Chinese Yuan was expected to depreciate, it appears that the expectation of Chinese Yuan appreciation is back on people’s mind. Chinese Yuan hits the highest level since the revaluation started in 2005, completely reversing the depreciation since earlier this year…..

via Chinese Yuan hits highest level against USD, but PBOC wants it weaker.

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