Colin Twiggs, Author at the patient investor

October 20, 2018October 20, 2018

East to West: Europe faces a stern test

The Shanghai Composite Index broke primary support at 2650 but rising troughs on the Trend Index indicate buying pressure. Expect retracement to test the new resistance level at 2700.

Shanghai Composite Index

India’s Nifty is testing primary support at 10,000. Descending peaks on the Trend Index warn of selling pressure. Breach of support at 10,000 would indicate weakness but we need a lower peak to confirm a down-trend.

Nifty Index

European stocks are under the pump, with threats from the Asian contagion, Brexit, Italy and recent US volatility. Breach of support at 365 warns of a primary down-trend.

DJ Euro Stoxx 600 Index

The DAX also breached primary support (11,800). Retracement respected the new resistance level and descending Trend Index peaks warn of growing selling pressure.

DAX Index

France’s CAC-40 index is testing primary support at 5000.

CAC-40 Index

The Footsie is testing primary support at 7000, with descending Trend Index peaks again warning of selling pressure. Breach would signal a primary down-trend.

FTSE Index

A down-turn in Europe would add to uncertainty in US markets.

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.

October 20, 2018October 20, 2018

Gold bear rally boosts Aussie miners

China’s Yuan broke support at 14.50, warning of another decline.

Chinese Yuan

A weaker Yuan is likely to lead to Dollar strength. The Dollar Index respected support at 94 and follow-through above 96 would confirm another advance.

Dollar Index

A strengthening Dollar would weaken demand for Gold. Gold broke resistance at $1210/ounce, commencing a bear market rally. Expect resistance at $1250. Reversal below support at $1180 is unlikely at present but would warn of a decline to the 2015 low at $1050/ounce.

Spot Gold in USD

The Aussie Dollar is in a primary down-trend with descending Trend Index peaks below zero warning of strong selling pressure.

Australian Dollar

The combination of a gold bear rally and a weak Aussie Dollar prompted a rally among Australian gold miners. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (XGD) broke resistance at 4900 and is testing 5100. Ascending troughs on the Trend Index indicate buying pressure and a test of 5400 is likely.

All Ordinaries Gold 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.

October 20, 2018

ASX finds support

The ASX 200 found support around 5900, with a long tail indicating buying interest. Breakout of Twiggs Money Flow above the descending trendline would confirm. Breach of support at 5750 is unlikely but would warn of a primary down-trend.

ASX 200

Banks are weighing the index down, with the ASX 300 Banks index retracing to test resistance at its former primary support level of 7400. Respect would confirm another decline. Descending Trend Index peaks below zero warn of selling pressure.

ASX 300 Banks Index

I remain cautious on Australian stocks, especially banks, and hold over 30% cash in the Australian Growth portfolio.

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.

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018

Tearing Teslas apart to reveal some of their best and worst decisions

Tesla has a few problems to sort out before it makes our shortlist.

Tearing Apart Teslas to reveal some of Elon Musk's best and worst decisions. https://t.co/egKkIFZLbe via @business

— Colin Twiggs (@Colin_Twiggs) October 19, 2018

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.

October 10, 2018October 12, 2018

Nasdaq warns of broad market correction

Tech stocks fell sharply, with the Nasdaq 100 closing below support at 7400, warning of a correction. Twiggs Money Flow (21-day) cross below zero indicates medium-term selling pressure. Follow-through of the index below 7300 would signal a correction to test 7000.

Nasdaq 100

The S&P 500 has so far respected support at 2870. Breach would confirm a broad market correction and test the rising LT trendline at 2800.

S&P 500

Asia

In China, the Shanghai Composite Index is headed for another test of primary support at 2650. Trend Index peaks at/below zero indicate long-term selling pressure. Breach of 2650 would offer a long-term target of 2000, the 2014 low.

Shanghai Composite Index

India’s Nifty is undergoing a strong correction. Breach of support at 10,000 would warn of a primary down-trend.

Nifty Index

Europe

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 is again testing primary support at 3300. A Trend Index peak at zero warns of mounting selling pressure. Breach of 3300 would warn of a primary decline, with a target of 3000.

DJ Euro Stoxx 600 Index

The Footsie is also testing primary support, at 7250, but a recovering Trend Index indicates buying pressure.

FTSE 100 Index

Rising US interest rates are already hurting developing economies like India and China, and a looming US-China trade war would threaten a global contraction.

Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.

~ Warren Buffett

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.

October 10, 2018

ASX 200 correction

The ASX 200 broke support at 6120/6150, signaling a correction. Expect support at the rising long-term trendline at 6000. Penetration of the trendline would warn that the primary up-trend is faltering.

ASX 200

Banks lead the decline, with ASX 300 Banks index headed for a test of primary support at 7300. A Trend Index peak below zero would warn of strong selling pressure. Breach of 7300 would signal another decline. Follow-through below 7000 would present a long-term target of 5000, the 2011 low.

ASX 300 Banks Index

I am cautious on Australian stocks, especially banks, and hold over 30% cash in the Australian Growth portfolio.

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.

October 8, 2018October 10, 2018

NEXTDC Limited (NXT)

Stock: NEXTDC Limited
Symbol: NXT
Exchange: ASX
Latest Price: $6.13
Market cap: $2.1 billion
Currency: AUD
Financial Year: 30 June
Date: 8 October 2018

Sector: Technology
Industry: Data Storage

Investment Theme: Long-term Growth
Structural Trends: Rising connectivity and online services

Company Profile

NEXTDC is an Australia-based and Australia-focused technology company providing data center outsourcing solutions through a nationwide network of Tier III and Tier IV facilities.

Markets & Competitors

NEXTDC provides enterprise-class colocation services to local and international organizations. Clients include:

Government agencies and private enterprise concerned as to whether off-shore data storage meets Australian Privacy Act and/or requirements for the protection of sensitive information;
Global cloud providers such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, IBM and Oracle;
Large IT service providers such as Wipro, Tech Mahindra, NEC, Dimension Data, Fujitsu, NTT and Data#3; and
Telecommunications providers such as Optus, Telstra, AAPT, Vocus, TPG, PCCW, Superloop and CenturyLink.

Financial performance

Revenue Growth

NEXTDC shows steady revenue growth over the past 5 years as it expands its data centers across Australia.

Revenue per share

Net assets expanded to $1.2 billion in FY 18 from $282 million in FY15, funded by a mix of new equity and debt. Further expansion is planned for FY19:

NEXTDC recently announced plans to acquire three new sites in Australia for additional data centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth: S3 80MW, M3 80MW and P2 20MW – these new facilities in Sydney and Melbourne will be the largest ever built in Australia. That takes NEXTDC’s total future capacity to over 300MW.

Return on Assets/Equity

While revenue growth may appeal, return on assets is low at 0.64% in FY18 (FY17: 3.33%*). Return on equity is not much better at 0.95% for FY18 (FY17: 5.48%*). EBITDA/Total assets fell to 5.06% in FY18, from 5.75% in FY17.

Return on Equity and Return on Assets

Utility Origin Energy (ORG) earns similar rates of return at 0.88% (ROA), 1.88% (ROE) and 11.9% (EBITDA/TA).

*FY17 results were inflated by a $10.2 million tax credit.

Weaknesses

Development of new and existing data centers is capital intensive and sometimes undertaken without pre-sales commitment from customers, and there is a risk that there is not enough demand to achieve a sufficient return on investment.

According to various recent industry cyber risk reports, cyber incidents and their financial impacts are increasing significantly year on year and cyber criminals are targeting small and large businesses alike. To mitigate these risks, NEXTDC has implemented an information security management system based on ISO 27001 as well as undertaken ongoing penetration and vulnerability tests.

Catastrophic failure or equipment malfunction at a data center could result in NEXTDC not being able to provide power and cooling to support customers’ equipment, thus breaching service agreements and incurring contractual liabilities. To address this risk, NEXTDC’s data centers are designed and built with significant redundancy in place.

Technical Analysis

Twiggs Momentum has declined to a still-respectable 67% but 50-week Trend Index crossed below zero after a bearish divergence, warning of strong selling pressure.

Twiggs Momentum and Trend Index (50 week)

Conclusion

Do not buy. NEXTDC earns utility-level rates of return on assets and does not justify its current high forward price-earnings multiple of 78. Long-term revenue growth will require significant investment in new data centers, funded in part by new equity issues which dilute returns to existing shareholders.

Disclosure

Staff of The Patient Investor may directly or indirectly own shares in the above company.

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.

October 5, 2018

Dollar strength keeps gold bulls in check

Gold continues to find resistance at $1210/ounce. Trend Index peaks below zero warn of LT selling pressure but rising troughs suggest a secondary rally. Respect of resistance and the declining trendline would warn of another decline, offering a long-term target of the 2015 low at $1050/ounce.

Spot Gold in USD

The Dollar Index found support at 94. Follow-through above 96.50 would confirm another advance. A strengthening Dollar is likely to weaken demand for Gold.

Dollar Index

The Aussie Dollar broke support at 71 US cents, prompting a weak rally among Australian gold miners. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (XGD) is ranging between 4550 and 4900. Gold is more volatile than the currency and likely to determine long-term direction. A Trend Index peak below zero would signal continuation of the down-trend.

All Ordinaries Gold 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.

October 5, 2018

Extraordinary times of low unemployment and low inflation

Unemployment fell to 3.7% for September, well below the long-term natural rate of unemployment. This normally signifies a tightening labor market, a precursor to higher inflation.

Unemployment and the Natural Rate

But growth in average hourly earnings dipped slightly, to 2.75% for the past 12 months. Underlying inflationary forces remain subdued.

Average Wage Rates

As Fed Chairman Powell suggested, the Fed may be overestimating the natural rate. In his speech on Tuesday Powell summed up the current situation:

…Many of us have been looking back recently on the decade that has passed since the depths of the financial crisis. In light of that experience, I am glad to be able to stand here and say that the economy is strong, unemployment is near 50-year lows, and inflation is roughly at our 2 percent objective. The baseline outlook of forecasters inside and outside the Fed is for more of the same.

This historically rare pairing of steady, low inflation and very low unemployment is testament to the fact that we remain in extraordinary times. Our ongoing policy of gradual interest rate normalization reflects our efforts to balance the inevitable risks that come with extraordinary times, so as to extend the current expansion, while maintaining maximum employment and low and stable inflation.

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.

October 5, 2018

ASX 200: Miners rally but banks a worry

The ASX 200 found support at 6120/6150, with a long tail indicating buying interest. Follow-through above 6250 would suggest another advance. Breach is now unlikely but would warn of a test of the rising long-term trendline at 6000.

ASX 200

A rally on resources stocks helped support the overall index. Expect the ASX 300 Metals & Mining index to test 4000.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

Miners were helped by a weakening Aussie Dollar. Breach of support at 71 US cents offers a target of 69 cents. Trend Index peaks below zero warn of strong selling pressure.

AUDUSD

Banks, on the other hand, are weakening. The ASX 300 Banks index broke support at 7700, with a declining Trend Index warning of selling pressure. Expect a test of primary support at 7300.

ASX 300 Banks Index

Falling broad money and credit growth warn of a contraction — unless an unlikely Chinese-led mining boom can keep the wolf from the door.

Broad Money and Credit Growth

House prices are falling.

House Prices

Returns on bank equity are declining due to increased capital requirements, lower credit growth and narrow margins.

Banks Return on Equity

I remain cautious on Australian stocks, holding over 30% cash in the Australian Growth portfolio.

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.