ASX 200 retreats

Australia’s ASX 200 retreated below the band of resistance at 4350/4400. Recovery above 4400 would confirm the primary up-trend signaled by the 63-day Twiggs Momentum cross to above zero. Target for an advance would be the 2011 high at 4900*.

ASX 200 Index Weekly Chart

* Target calculation: 4400 + (4400 – 3900) = 4900

On the daily chart, however, bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow highlights medium-term selling pressure, warning of a correction. Breach of the rising trendline and support at 4250 would confirm, signaling another test of primary support at 4000.

ASX 200 Index Daily Chart

China & Hong Kong

The Shanghai Composite Index is testing resistance at 2500. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero indicates a primary up-trend. Breakout above 2500 would confirm the signal — and assist an Australian recovery.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2500 + ( 2500 – 2250 ) = 2750

The Hang Seng is headed for another test of support at 20000. Failure would warn that the primary up-trend is weakening. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen a bear signal.
Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 20 + ( 20 – 17.5 ) = 22.5

UK & Europe: France rejects austerity

Election of French Socialist Francois Hollande may lead to a similar rejection of austerity measures by Spain and Italy, creating a clear fault-line between the uncompromising German-led North and a more socialist French-led South. That could eventually lead to fracture of the euro-zone unless the two camps discover a new spirit of compromise. Be prepared for a rough ride.

The CAC-40 index rallied Monday and recovery above 3300 would indicate that the correction is over. Respect of the zero line by 13-week Twiggs Money Flow would signal buying pressure. Failure of support at 3100, however, would indicate another test of primary support at 2800.

France CAC-40 Index

Spain’s Madrid General Index continues in a strong primary down-trend, with 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating below zero. Failure of support at the 2009 low of 700 would signal another primary decline.

Madrid General Index

* Target calculation: 750 – ( 900 – 750 ) = 600

63-Day Twiggs Momentum (below zero) also indicates a primary down-trend on Italy’s MIB Index but this week’s blue candle suggests support at 13500. Recovery above 15000 would signal another test of 17000. Failure of support, however, would offer a long-term target of 10000*.

Italy MIB Index

* Target calculation: 13500 – ( 17000 – 13500 ) = 10000

The German DAX continues to test the rising trendline and support at 6500. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests strong buying pressure. Respect of support would confirm the primary up-trend and test the 2011 high at 7600.

Germany DAX Index

London Stock Exchange was closed Monday. The FTSE 100 is again testing support at 5600 and failure would warn of another test of primary support at 5000/5050. Breach of the rising trendline would also signal that the up-trend is losing momentum. Retreat of 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero would warn of a primary down-trend.

FTSE 100 Index

Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 threaten a correction

The Nasdaq 100 is testing medium-term support at 2630. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of a correction; follow-through below Friday’s low of 2620 would confirm, offering an initial target of 2400.

Nasdaq 100 Index

The S&P 500 continues to test support at 1350/1370 on the weekly chart after penetrating its rising trendline. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure. Failure of support would signal a correction with an initial target of 1300*, but the primary up-trend is not under immediate threat.

S&P 500 Index Weekly Chart

* Target calculation: 1350 – ( 1400 – 1350 ) = 1300

Fedex double top

Bellwether transport stock Fedex is consolidating in a narrow band above the neckline of a double top reversal at $88. Follow-through below $85 would confirm a primary down-trend, warning of a slow-down in the broader economy. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the signal. Recovery above $90 is less likely, but would suggest continuation of the primary up-trend.

Fedex

Canada TSX 60 breaks support

Canada’s TSX 60 index broke medium-term support at 675, signaling continuation of the secondary correction. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero warns that the primary down-trend will continue, but 13-week Twiggs Money Flow holding above zero continues to indicate healthy buying pressure. Primary support at 650 is expected to hold and be followed by a rally to test resistance at 725.

TSX 60 Index
TSX 60 Index Twiggs Money Flow

Forex: US Dollar/Yen

The US dollar is testing long-term support at ¥80. Failure would warn of weakness in the primary up-trend, while respect would indicate a primary advance to ¥90. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum holding above zero suggests continuation of the primary trend.

US Dollar/ Japanese Yen

* Target calculation: 85 + ( 85 – 80 ) = 90

Forex: Pound Sterling strengthens against Euro

The euro is headed for another test of support at $1.30. Failure would complete a small bearish descending triangle on the weekly chart. Breach of primary support at $1,26 would offer a long-term target of $1.17*. Respect of the zero line (from below) by 63-day Twiggs Momentum would strengthen the signal.

Euro

* Target calculation: 1.26 – ( 1.35 – 1.26 ) = 1.17

Pound Sterling is in a primary up-trend against the euro, as indicated by 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero. Target for the current advance is €1.255*.

Pound Sterling

* Target calculation: 1.215 + ( 1.215 – 1.175 ) = 1.255

Forex: Australia, Canada and South Africa

The Australian dollar has tracked the CRB Commodities Index fairly closely since 2009. Weakening commodity prices warn that the Aussie is likely to follow.

CRB Commodities Index and Australian Dollar

Against the US dollar, the Aussie is headed  for another test of support at $1.02. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Failure of support at $1.02 would confirm this, offering an initial target of $0.99.

Australian Dollar

* Target calculation: 1.02 – ( 1.05 – 1.02 ) = 0.99

Canada’s Loonie is in a primary up-trend against the Aussie dollar — as signaled by the 63-day Twiggs Momentum cross to above zero. Breakout above $0.982 completes a bullish ascending triangle formation with a target of parity.

Canadian Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.98 + ( 0.98 – 0.96 ) = 1.00

The Aussie is also weakening against the South African Rand. Cross of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Failure of support at R7.90 would confirm, offering an initial target of R7.50*.

South African Rand

* Target calculation: 8.00 – ( 8.50 – 8.00 ) = 7.50

Commodity and stock prices diverge

We had an interesting discussion last week about the correlation between commodities and stocks. The weekly chart below shows how CRB Commodities Index closely tracks the S&P 500 — except in times of extreme volatility like 2007/2008. We  are now witnessing another divergence, with the CRB headed for a test of primary support at 295 while the S&P 500 strengthens. Does weak demand for commodities indicate that stocks are over-priced as in 2007?  The Fed has been doing its best to depress bond yields, pumping up stock prices ahead of the November election. It is too early to tell what the outcome will be, but we need to monitor this relationship through the year.

CRB Commodities Index v. S&P 500 Index

The divergence between Brent Crude and Nymex Light Crude, from early 2011, continues. Both are in a primary up-trend, however, and breakout above the 2011 Nymex high would threaten the still fragile US recovery, offering a long-term target of $140/barrel. Brent is currently testing medium-term support at $115, but respect of this would also confirm a primary up-trend.

ICE Brent Afternoon Markers v. Nymex WTI Light Crude Weekly Chart