Colin Twiggs, Author at the patient investor

June 29, 2012

Debt crisis: Germany caves in over bond buying, bank aid after Italy and Spain threaten to block 'everything' – Telegraph

Bruno Waterfield: On Thursday night, Italy and Spain plunged an EU summit into disarray by threatening to block “everything” unless Germany and other eurozone countries backed their demands for help.
…..Under the deal, Spanish banks will be recapitalised directly by allowing a €100 billion EU bailout to [be] transferred off Spain’s balance sheet after the European Central Bank takes over as the single currency’s banking supervisor at the end of the year.
……[and] a pledge to begin purchases of Italian bonds using EU bailout funds to reduce Italy’s borrowing costs with a lighter set of conditions…..

via Debt crisis: Germany caves in over bond buying, bank aid after Italy and Spain threaten to block ‘everything’ – Telegraph.

Colin Twiggs

Colin Twiggs is a former investment banker with almost 40 years of experience in financial markets. He co-founded Incredible Charts and writes the popular Trading Diary and Patient Investor newsletters.

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

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.
He founded PVT Capital (AFSL No. 546090) in May 2023, which offers investment strategy and advice to wholesale clients.

June 28, 2012

Forex: Euro, Pound Sterling, Australian Dollar and Canadian Loonie

The Euro retreated below support at $1.26, indicating a test of the 2010 low at $1.19/1.20. Breach of the rising trendline on 63-day Twiggs Momentum would strengthen the bear signal.

Euro/USD

Pound Sterling is testing resistance at $1.58 against the greenback. Respect would indicate another test of primary support at $1.52. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would warn of a primary down-trend.

Pound Sterling/USD

* Target calculation: 1.53 – ( 1.63 – 1.53 ) = 1.43

Against the Euro, Pound Sterling is in an accelerating up-trend. The gap between the recent low at €1.225 and the previous peak at €1.215 suggests strong buying pressure — as does 63-day Twiggs Momentum oscillating high above zero.

Pound Sterling/Euro

* Target calculation: 1.250 + ( 1.250 – 1.215 ) = 1.285

Canada’s Loonie is strengthening against the Aussie Dollar. Long-term bullish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns of reversal to a primary up-trend. Breakout above parity would confirm.

Canadian Loonie/Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 1.00 + ( 1.00 – 0.96 ) = 1.04

Short retracement suggests that the Aussie Dollar is, in turn, strengthening against the greenback on the Daily chart. Breakout above $1.02 (and the descending trendline) would indicate that a bottom is forming. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero would suggest a primary up-trend.

Aussie Dollar/USD

* Target calculation: 1.02 + ( 1.02 – 1.00 ) = 1.04

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

June 28, 2012

Dollar rebound drives gold and commodities lower

The US Dollar Index respected support at 81.00 and is headed for resistance at 83.50. Breakout would offer a target of 86.00*. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating above the zero line indicates a healthy up-trend.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 82 + ( 82 – 78 ) = 86

Spot Gold retreated below support at $1600/ounce. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum reversal below zero signals a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support at $1530 would confirm. Introduction of QE3 by the Fed, however, would commence a new up-trend.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1550 – ( 1800 – 1550 ) = 1300

The primary down-trend on CRB Commodities Index is unlikely to change unless we see the introduction of QE3. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero indicates a strong primary down-trend.

CRB Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 270 – ( 290 – 270 ) = 250

Brent Crude and Nymex WTI Light Crude both offer a target of $75 per barrel. After falling sharply over the last few months, the gap has narrowed to just over $10 per barrel — from a peak of $25 in October 2011. Rapidly expanding gas and oil reserves are driving North American prices lower, while gloomy prospects for European economies have crimped demand for Brent Crude.

Brent Crude and Nymex WTI Light Crude

* Target calculation: 100 – ( 125 – 100 ) = 75

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

June 26, 2012

What Will Germany Do?

Anatole Kaletsky: With every day that passes, and especially since the French election, it is becoming clearer that the problem country for the euro—the odd man out in terms of economic structure and the chief obstacle to any political resolution of the euro crisis—is not Greece, Spain or Italy. It is Germany. It is Germany that refuses even to talk about mutual debt and banking guarantees. It is Germany that insists on self-defeating fiscal austerity and intolerable political conditions for the debtor countries. It is Germany that vetoes quantitative easing by the ECB, which could cap bond yields and relieve deflationary debt traps. And it is Germany that makes the other euro countries uncompetitive, discourages devaluation of the euro against the dollar and refuses even to relax its own domestic fiscal policies to reduce its trade surplus and support growth….

via John Mauldin’s Outside The Box

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

June 26, 2012

Australia: ASX 200

A monthly chart of the ASX 200 shows how the index tends to peak ahead of the CRB Commodities Index and Australian Dollar but then fall in step with them from there on. The ASX 200 was first to reverse direction in 2011 but commodities now lead the way. Expect Australian stocks — and the Aussie Dollar — to follow commodities lower. Breach of primary support at 3850 would offer a target of 3200*.

ASX 200, CRB Commodities Index, AUDUSD - Monthly Chart

* Target calculation: 3800 – ( 4400 – 3800 ) = 3200

On the daily chart, breach of support at 3980/4000 would signal a test of primary support at 3850. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero, warning of medium-term selling pressure, increases the likelihood of a downward breakout.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 4000 – ( 4150 – 4000 ) = 3850

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

June 26, 2012

China and Hong Kong

China’s Shanghai Composite Index broke support at 2250, signaling resumption of the primary down-trend. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum (below zero) strengthens the signal.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2250 – ( 2500 – 2250 ) = 2000

Wait for a break below 880 on the Shenzhen Composite Index to confirm the Shanghai signal. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero would indicate selling pressure.

Shenzhen Composite Index

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index respected resistance at 20000. Reversal below 18000 would indicate a decline to 16000*. A peak below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum would strengthen the bear signal.

Hang Seng Index

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

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

June 26, 2012

Japan, India and Singapore

Dow Jones Japan Index retreated from resistance at 50 and is headed for a re-test of support at 46. Failure would signal a decline to 42*. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates selling pressure and a peak below zero would warn of a strong down-trend.

Dow Jones Japan Index

* Target calculation: 46 – ( 50 – 46 ) = 42

India’s Sensex penetrated its declining trendline but almost immediately encountered resistance at 17000. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates strong support and breakout above 17000 would suggest a primary advance — confirmed if the peak at 18500 is bested. Reversal below 15800, however, would warn of a decline to 15000*.

BSE Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 16000 – ( 17000 – 16000 ) = 15000

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is testing resistance at 2900. Respect of zero by 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns of continuation of the down-trend; breach of support at 2700 would confirm, offering a target of 2500*.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 2700 – ( 2900 – 2700 ) = 2500

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

June 26, 2012

US and Canada: bull trap?

The S&P 500 retracement breached support at 1330, indicating a false breakout. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero would warn of a bull trap, while breach of support at 1270 would confirm another decline — with a target of 1160*.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1260 – ( 1360 – 1260 ) = 1160

Nasdaq 100 monthly chart shows an intact up-trend despite slowing momentum. Respect of support at 2400 (and the zero line by 63-day Twiggs Momentum) would indicate another primary advance. Penetration of the rising trendline, however, would warn that a top is forming.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2800 + ( 2800 – 2400 ) = 3200

Canada’s TSX 60 shows similar weakness, on the daily chart, to the S&P 500. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow, however, indicates support at 640. Respect would suggest that a bottom is forming — strengthened if the index recovers above the declining trendline. Breach of support, on the other hand, would signal a decline to 600*.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 640 – ( 680 – 640 ) = 600

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

June 26, 2012

UK and Europe

The FTSE 100 monthly chart shows how the up-trend since 2009 has lost momentum, forming a large top. Reversal below 4800 would complete the reversal, offering a target of 3500*. Recovery above 6000 is unlikely but would indicate resumption of the up-trend.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 4800 – ( 6000 – 4800 ) = 3600

Germany’s DAX shows a similar loss of momentum on the monthly chart. Breach of medium-term resistance at 6000 would indicate another test of 5000. Recovery above 7200 is unlikely.

DAX Index

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

June 25, 2012

Anna Schwartz, monetary historian

Anna Schwartz died aged 96 last week. Often called the “high priestess of monetarism” she co-authored the classic A Monetary History of the United States, 1867-1960 with Milton Friedman in 1963. Mrs. Schwartz joined the National Bureau of Economic Research in New York in 1941 and continued to work there for more than 70 years. She leaves a lasting legacy.

If you investigate individually the manias that the market has so dubbed over the years, in every case, it was expansive monetary policy that generated the boom in an asset. The particular asset varied from one boom to another. But the basic underlying propagator was too-easy monetary policy and too-low interest rates …..

~ Anna Schwartz, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal, October 2008.

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.