Colin Twiggs, Author at the patient investor

March 29, 2012

Gold and the Dollar both weaken

The Dollar Index is retracing to test primary support at 78.00 on the weekly chart. Respect of the rising trendline would signal continuation of the primary up-trend, while failure of support would warn of a down-trend to test support at 73.00. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the bear warning.

US Dollar Index Weekly Chart

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

Despite the weakening dollar, spot gold is headed for the long-term rising trendline on the weekly chart. Failure of support at $1600/ounce would warn that the primary trend is weakening, while failure of $1500 would signal that the trend has reversed. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum into negative territory — for the second time recently after several years above zero — already warns of a primary down-trend.

Spot Gold Weekly Chart

* Target calculation: 1500 – ( 1800 – 1500 ) = 1200

The 4-hour chart shows gold respecting resistance at $1700 before retreating below medium-term support at $1670. Failure of short-term support at $1655 (the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level) would test $1630 and signal continuation of the down-trend. Recovery above $1700 is unlikely but would signal respect of the long-term rising trendline (on the weekly chart above) and resumption of the primary up-trend.

Spot Gold 4-Hour Chart

March 27, 2012

Budget 2012: George Osborne averts a slow national rot – Telegraph Blogs

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: The underlying ghastliness of the British predicament remains. [Government] Spending as a share of GDP has ratcheted up from 35pc at the end of the 1990s to the Brownian peak of 51.7pc in 2009 (Eurostat), an all-time high in peace-time. It came back slightly to 50.4pc in 2010.

This debacle happened over a decade when a string of countries were slimming down the Leviathan state. Germany and Holland are now leaner than Britain.

Eurostat’s total government spending as a share of GDP for 2010 (the latest available) shows:

France 56.6
Sweden 52.7
UK 50.4
Italy 50.3
Germany 47.9
Norway 45.8
Switzerland 34.2

The US, Japan, Canada, and Korea are all much lower, and China is much lower yet.

This state burden is the macro-economic killer. It is a far more relevant than the tax take as a share of the economy, since it includes borrowing (ie deferred taxation).

via Budget 2012: George Osborne averts a slow national rot – Telegraph Blogs.

March 26, 2012

ASX 200 response

Australia’s ASX 200 opened with a strong blue candle on the hourly chart but is now retracing to find support. Respect of short-term support at 4290 would suggest follow-through to 4320, while failure would test medium-term support at 4240/4250.

ASX 200 Index

Breakout above 4320 would indicate another test of 4400. Though we are unlikely to see a primary up-trend until China signals that it has formed a bottom.

March 26, 2012

S&P 500 early rally

The S&P 500 surprised with an early rally, before the end of the quarter. Breach of resistance at 1415 on the hourly chart signals a new primary advance. Short retracement indicates a healthy up-trend — as does a trough above the zero line on 24-hour (4 day) Twiggs Momentum.

S&P 500 Index Hourly Chart

Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure, but recovery above 30% would negate this. Immediate target for the advance is 1450, while the long-term target is 1600*.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1150 ) = 1450; 1350 + (1350 – 1100) =1600

March 25, 2012

The Customer Is Too Often Wrong at FXCM – WSJ.com

In each of the last four quarters, more than 70% of FXCM’s U.S. accounts were unprofitable for those trading them. As a broker, FXCM earns money each time customers trade, so there is no upside in seeing them end up in the red. Why so many losing hands? The answer may lie in the large amount of leverage that FXCM customers can employ. Limits vary by country, but FXCM offers leverage of up to 50 to 1. That means a customer with only $20,000 could take $1 million in exposure. In such a trade, a modest market move could quickly wipe out all of an account’s equity.

via Heard on the Street: The Customer Is Too Often Wrong at FXCM – WSJ.com.

March 24, 2012

ASX 200 hesitant

Australia’s ASX 200 index displays stubborn resistance at 4300, but rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying pressure. Upward breakout would signal a primary up-trend, with an initial target of 4650 and a long-term target of 4950*. The right-angled broadening pattern reflects weak support and downward breakout would test primary support at 4000.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 4400 + ( 4400 – 3850 ) = 4950

March 24, 2012

Japan & South Korea

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index also shows a bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow, warning of a correction. The next medium-term support level below 10000 is the former resistance level at 9000, so there could be a fairly sharp fall. But the primary trend is up and recovery above 10200 would signal an advance to 11000*.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 10 + ( 10 – 9 ) = 11

Despite global weakness, South Korea’s Seoul Composite Index continues to test resistance at 2050. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow, however, warns of medium-term selling pressure. Expect another test of 1950, but recovery above 2050 would signal an advance to 2250*.

Seoul Composite Index

* Target calculation: 1950 + ( 1950 – 1650 ) = 2250

March 24, 2012

Hong Kong & China correction

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is retracing after a sharp bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow. The longer term 13-week indicator, however, suggests no more than a secondary correction. Breach of the rising trendline, however, would warn that the trend is losing momentum.

Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 20000 + ( 20000 – 17500 ) = 22500

The Shanghai Composite Index is retracing to test support at 2300. Failure would indicate continuation of the primary down-trend, while respect would suggest that a base is forming. A further peak below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum would signal another decline.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2500 – 2150 ) = 1800

March 24, 2012

India & Singapore

India’s Sensex found support at 17000. Failure would signal another test of primary support at 15000, but 13-week Twiggs Money Flow remains above zero and respect of support is more likely. Recovery above 18000 would confirm tthe primary up-trend, with a target of 21000*.

BSE Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 18 + ( 18 – 15 ) = 21

The NSE Nifty Index is similarly testing medium-term support at 5200. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum holding above zero indicates a primary up-trend. Respect of support at 5200, by say recovery above 5500, would confirm the signal. Failure of support is less likely, but would signal another test of 4500.

NSE Nifty Index

* Target calculation: 5400 + ( 5400 – 4500 ) = 6300

Singapore’s Straits Times Index twice penetrated resistance at 3000, confirming the primary up-trend, but each time retreated. Expect softness until quarter-end followed by another breakout attempt. Target for the advance is 3300*.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 2900 + ( 2900 – 2500 ) = 3300

March 24, 2012

Bill Gates investing in nuclear power

Bill Gates talks about his investment in Generation IV nuclear power.

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