Author: 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.
Posted on

ASX 200 weighed down by banks

The ASX 200 respected the new resistance level at 5650, confirming a primary down-trend. Target for the decline is 5000.

ASX 200

The ASX 300 Banks Index broke long-term support at 7000, warning of another decline. Trend Index peaks below zero indicate selling pressure. Expect retracement to test the new resistance level but respect is likely and would confirm a long-term target of 5000.

ASX 300 Banks Index

I have been cautious on Australian stocks, especially banks, for a while, and hold 40% cash in the Australian Growth portfolio.

Posted on

Risk averse rather than fearful

The S&P 500 is again testing the band of primary support between 2600 and 2550. Follow-through below this level would warn of a bear market. Volatility (21-day) is in the amber zone between 1% and 2%. A real test of market resilience will be the next sizable rally or advance. If declining volatility remains above 1%, that would warn of an imminent market sell-off.

S&P 500

The Nasdaq 100 is in a similar position, with declining Money Flow warning of medium-term selling pressure.

Nasdaq 100

Of the big five tech stocks, only Microsoft looks strong. Facebook is in a primary down-trend but Apple and Google are testing primary support. Apple’s exposure to China is obviously a concern. China accounts for roughly 25% of Apple’s global market but Apple estimates that it is responsible for 4.8 million jobs in China which gives them some negotiating clout.

Big Five tech stocks

If two more of the big five broke primary support, that would in my opinion signal a bear market.

Asia

The Shanghai Composite Index is consolidating in a narrow band below 2700. Downward breakout is likely and would signal another decline, with a target of 2300.

Shanghai Composite Index

India’s Nifty is testing resistance at 11,000. Respect would be bearish, warning of another test of primary support at 10,000. Declining peaks on the Trend Index warn of long-term selling pressure.

NSX Nifty

Europe

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx is in a primary down-trend. Follow-through below 350 confirms a bear market, warn of a decline to test 305/310.

DJ Euro Stoxx 600

The Footsie also broke primary support at 6900. Retracement is testing the new resistance level but respect of 7000 is likely and would confirm a bear market, with a target between 5600 and 6000.

FTSE 100

There is a high level of uncertainty in global markets at present. Europe has Brexit and Italy. The US has investigations into Donald Trump’s election campaign. China has the threat of a trade war with the US. But my sense is that the market has become risk averse rather than fearful. There is no sign of panic selling as yet. But investors are clearly on the defensive and prepared to sell off vulnerable stocks.

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted on

Gold rallies despite strong Dollar

Falling crude prices show a dead cat bounce at $50/barrel, warning of further selling pressure. OPEC production cuts have not helped much as the market anticipates slowing demand from China.

Nymex WTI Light Crude

The Dollar Index is strengthening, with Trend Index troughs above zero signaling buying pressure. Follow-through above 97.50 would signal an advance to 100 in the medium-term (next quarter).

Dollar Index

Gold rallied to test resistance at $1250/ounce but this is still a bear rally and another test of support at $1180 is likely. Breach would warn of a decline to the 2015 low at $1050/ounce.

Spot Gold in USD

The All Ordinaries Gold Index ran into strong resistance at 5100. Declining Trend Index peaks warn of selling pressure. Breach of 4900 would warn of another test of 4550.

Gold in Australian Dollars

Posted on

ASX 200 breaks support

The ASX 200 broke primary support at 5650, signaling a down-trend. Trend Index peaks at zero warn of selling pressure. Expect retracement to test the new resistance level but respect of 5750 is likely and would confirm a bear market. Target for a primary decline is 5000.

ASX 200

ASX 300 Metals & Mining Index found support at 3400 but declining Trend Index peaks warn of selling pressure. Follow-through below 3400 would confirm a primary down-trend.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

A falling housing market and declining construction are dragging the market lower. Banks are the catalyst. Tightening credit standards in response to the Royal Commission and pressure from APRA are slowing lending and likely to lead to a contraction. Broad money growth is slowing sharply.

RBA: Credit & Broad Money

Unfortunately the alternative is far worse. A blow-off of the credit-fueled property bubble would threaten stability of the financial system.

The ASX 300 Banks Index broke long-term support at 7000, warning of another decline. Trend Index peaks below zero indicate selling pressure. Expect retracement to test the new resistance level but respect is likely and would confirm another primary decline. The long-term target is 5000.

ASX 300 Banks Index

I have been cautious on Australian stocks, especially banks, for a while, and hold 40% cash in the Australian Growth portfolio.

Posted on

Tech leaders bearish

There are five tech giants that dictate market direction. All reflect bearish sentiment in the market but only Facebook (FB) is in a primary down-trend. Not enough to call this a bear market.

FAAAM

Facebook (FB) is the only one to have broken primary support. At present it is retracing to test the new resistance level at 150.

FB

Alphabet is headed for a test of primary support at 1000 while declining Money Flow warns of selling pressure.

GOOGL

Apple (AAPL) also signals selling pressure and has penetrated its rising trendline. Expect a test of primary support at 150.

AAPL

Amazon (AMZN) is stronger, respecting its LT trendline, but declining Money Flow  warns of selling pressure. Breach of 1500 would be bearish.

AMZN

Microsoft (MSFT) is strongest with Money Flow holding above zero. Breach of 100, however, would warn of a test of primary support at 85.

MSFT

If another, most likely AAPL or GOOGL, breaks primary support then the needle would swing into bear market territory.

Posted on

ASX 200 tests primary support

The ASX 200 continues to flirt with primary support at 5650. Money Flow is still comfortably above zero, indicating strong support. But breach of 5650 would signal a primary down-trend, offering a target of 5000.

ASX 200

The two largest sectors are already in a primary down-trend.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining Index broke support at 3500, signaling a decline with a target of 3100. Follow-through below 3400 would confirm.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

The ASX 300 Banks Index, in a down-trend since 2015, is currently testing long-term support at 7000. Trend Index peaks below zero warn of selling pressure. Breach would offer a target of 5000.

ASX 300 Banks Index

I have been cautious on Australian stocks, especially banks, for a while, and hold 40% cash in the Australian Growth portfolio.

Posted on

Europe cracks but US steady

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 600 followed through below 350, confirming a bear market in Europe. A Trend Index peak below zero warns of strong selling pressure. Expect a decline to test 305/310.

DJ Euro Stoxx 600

The Footsie broke support at 6900, signaling a primary down-trend, while a Trend Index peak at zero warns of selling pressure. Expect a decline, with a target of 6000.

FTSE 100

US markets are high on volatility but low on direction.

The S&P 500 continues to range between 2600 and 2800. Breach of 2600 would warn of a primary decline but rising volatility does not flag immediate danger. A large trough above 1% extending over at least six to eight weeks, however, would warn of elevated risk.

S&P 500

The Nasdaq 100 shows a W-shaped bottom above primary support at 6500. Declining Money Flow is still above the zero line suggesting that the sell-off is secondary in nature.

Nasdaq 100

Last week I mentioned that bellwether transport stock Fedex had breached primary support but quarterly Fedex Express package shipments were rising in August 2018. Statistics for Q2, to November 30, are due for release on December 18 and I expect will reflect a robust economy.

Fedex

Posted on

ASX 200 heads for a bear market

The ASX 200 dipped below primary support at 5650, signaling a primary down-trend. A Trend Index peak at the zero line warns of strong selling pressure. The market is still open, and a lot can happen by the close, but the prospect of a bear market is now close at hand. Expect retracement to test the new resistance level but respect would confirm a bear market, offering a target of 5000.

ASX 200

The two largest sectors are already in a primary down-trend.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining Index broke support at 3500, signaling a decline with a target of 3100.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

The ASX 300 Banks Index, in a down-trend since 2015, is currently testing long-term support at 7000. Breach would offer a target of 5000.

ASX 300 Banks Index

I have been cautious on Australian stocks, especially banks, for a while, and hold 40% cash in the Australian Growth portfolio.

Powered by WordPress / WordPress Maintenance Service By Website Helper