Author: Colin Twiggs

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Forex: Canadian Loonie and Aussie Dollar

Canada’s Loonie continues its narrow consolidation between $0.995 and $1.01 but falling crude prices warn that a correction is likely. Breakout below $0.995 and reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would both signal a correction. Upward breakout is currently unlikely but would signal a primary advance to $1.06*.

Canadian Loonie

* Target calculation: 1.01 + ( 1.01 – 0.96 ) = 1.06

On the daily chart, the Aussie Dollar found short-term support at $1.025 and is now rallying to test resistance at $1.045. Respect would indicate continuation of the correction, with a target of parity. Weaker commodity prices increase the likelihood of a strong correction. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the signal.

Aussie Dollar

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

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Crude and Commodities falling

Brent Crude broke support at $122/barrel, warning of a correction to test $115. Respect of $115 or a 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above the zero line would signal a strong primary up-trend. In the long term, breakout above $126 would offer a target of $150/barrel*.

ICE Brent Afternoon Markers

* Target calculation: 125 + ( 125 – 100 ) = 150

The broader CRB Commodities Index is headed for a test of primary support at 295 after breaching the long-term rising trendline. Failure of support would signal a decline to 265*. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below the zero line already indicates continuation of the primary down-trend.

CRB Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 295 – ( 325 – 295 ) = 265

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Which way gold?

The Dollar Index is consolidating on the weekly chart, indicating uncertainty. Respect of resistance at 80.00 would warn of another test of support at 78.00, while breakout would indicate continuation of the primary up-trend. In the longer term, breakout above 82.00 would offer a target of 86.00*, while failure of support at 78.00 would signal a primary down-trend. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would also warn of a primary down-trend.

US Dollar Index

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

Gold remains undecided despite a sharp fall on the Gold Bugs Index. The long tail on last week’s candle for spot gold indicates buying pressure at the $1600 support level. Recovery above $1700 would respect the long-term trendline and indicate another test of $1800, suggesting the start of a new up-trend. Breakout above $1800 would confirm, offering a target of $2000/ounce*. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough predominantly above the zero line would strengthen the bull signal. Reversal below support at $1600, however, would warn of a primary down-trend — confirmed if support at $1500 is broken.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1800 + ( 1800 – 1600 ) = 2000

The Gold Bugs Index, representing un-hedged gold stocks, is in a clear primary down-trend since breaking support at 500. Peaks below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum also signal a strong down-trend.

Gold Bugs Index

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Bruce Bartlett: How to Really Simplify the Tax Code – NYTimes.com

BRUCE BARTLETT: Prof. Michael Graetz of Columbia Law School has proposed what I believe is a MacArthur-like solution to tax reform. He would abolish the income tax for the vast bulk of Americans and replace the revenue with a 12.5 percent value-added tax. People would pay their taxes when they buy things and wouldn’t need to worry about keeping records or filing tax returns at all.

The brilliance of the Graetz plan is that no tax expenditures need to be repealed. He would simply give every family a tax exemption of $100,000, which would eliminate the income tax for 90 percent of those now filing returns.

via Bruce Bartlett: How to Really Simplify the Tax Code – NYTimes.com.

Comment:~ Why not abolish the income tax entirely? Retaining a partial system would leave taxpayers vulnerable to bracket creep as inflation pushes them into higher tax brackets. Income tax is a highly inefficient tax to administer and collect compared to broad-based taxes such as VAT. The argument that VAT increases the burden on the poor can be overcome by a subsidy (not an exemption) on basic foodstuffs and other essentials. Switching to a VAT-based system also makes the issues of income-splitting and use of tax havens redundant. One of the few negatives I can think of is that replacing income tax with a VAT may encourage offshore consumption — taking an overseas holiday for example rather than holidaying locally — in order to avoid consumption tax. I would welcome suggestions as to how this could be countered, as well as any further negatives you may think of.

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Fedex warns of economic slow-down

Bellwether transport stock Fedex completed a double top reversal, breaking through the neckline at $88. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow already warns of strong selling pressure. Follow-through below medium-term support at $85 would confirm a primary down-trend. A declining Fedex is associated with lower transport volumes and slowing activity in the broader economy.

Fedex

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Improve your entries (and exits) with Hour & Minute charts

Hour and minute charts can be used to improve the timing of your entries (and possibly exits) when compared to taking entry (and exit) signals from daily charts. Here is an example short trade on Australian retailer Harvey Norman [HVN_ax]. The monthly chart shows HVN testing long-term support at $2.00 — the 2009 low. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow holding below zero signals strong selling pressure, threatening a downward breakout.

Harvey Norman Monthly Chart


The daily chart shows HVN fell as far as $1.80 in December 2011 before recovering above the new resistance level ($2.00) in January. The rallied reached a high of $2.20 but bearish divergence on 21-day  Twiggs Money Flow warned of strong selling pressure. The stock reversed below $2.00 in early March — the first short signal — but prudent traders may have waited for further confirmation before taking their full position.

Harvey Norman Daily Chart

On the hourly chart we can see that HVN retraced to re-test resistance at $2.00, reaching a high of $2.01 before retreating below resistance to confirm the new down-trend. Short entry could be timed to enter on the next 15-minute bar following the reversal: an entry point of $1.99 compared to $1.98 using daily bars.

Harvey Norman 15-Minute Chart

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"The Big Easing" by Daniel Gros | Project Syndicate

The banks that are parking their money [about €1 trillion] at the ECB receiving only 0.25% interest are clearly not the same ones that are taking out three-year loans [€1.15 trillion] at 1%. The deposits come largely from northern European banks mainly German and Dutch, and LTRO loans go largely to banks in southern Europe mainly Italy and Spain. In other words, the ECB has become the central counterparty to a banking system that is de facto segmented along national lines. The real problem for the ECB is that it is not properly insured against the credit risk that it is taking on. The 0.75% spread between deposit and lending rates yielding €7.5 billion per year does not provide much of a cushion against the losses that are looming in Greece, where the ECB has €130 billion at stake.

via “The Big Easing” by Daniel Gros | Project Syndicate.

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Australia's Surplus Dreams Are Just That – WSJ.com

Cynthia Koons: Not only were [Australian] exports down, but imports declined too. Imports of goods for consumption fell 7%, reflecting caution in Australian households. Capital goods imports fell by 5%, a number that should be a particular concern for policy makers: A slowdown in purchases of machinery and equipment could be an early sign that investment in Australia’s resources boom is weakening.

via Heard on the Street: Australia’s Surplus Dreams Are Just That – WSJ.com.

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Forex: Euro, Pound Sterling & Yen

The Euro continues in a primary down-trend, with 63-day Twiggs Momentum respecting the zero line from below. Failure of medium-term support at $1.30 would indicate another test of primary support at $1.26. And breach of $1.26 would warn of a decline to $1.18*.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.26 – ( 1.34 – 1.26 ) = 1.18

The rise above zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum suggests that Pound Sterling commenced a primary up-trend. But respect of resistance at $1.60 indicates another test of $1.56. Respect of $1.56 would signal another advance, while failure would warn of a primary decline with a target of $1.46*.

Pound Sterling/USD

* Target calculation: 1.53 – ( 1.60 – 1.53 ) = 1.46

The Greenback is retracing against the Japanese Yen after a strong rally. A short correction is likely and would signal another strong advance; breakout above ¥84 would offer a target of ¥88*. Respect of zero by 63-day Twiggs Momentum would confirm the primary up-trend.

Japanese Yen

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 80 ) = 88

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