Australia & NZ Archives - Page 55 of 96

October 1, 2013

Japan & China steady, ASX threatens correction

Dow Jones Japan index chose to ignore the poker game on Capitol Hill in Washington today, following Friday’s sharp fall. Breach of the rising trendline, however, warns of a correction.

Dow Jones Japan index

A weekly chart of the Nikkei 225 shows short-term support at 14300, with resistance at 15000. Failure of support would test the primary level at 13200, while upward breakout remains as likely and would signal an advance to 17000*. Earlier bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of a reversal; decline below 15% would strengthen the signal. Failure of support at 13200 would confirm.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 15000 + ( 15000 – 13000 ) = 17000

China’s Shanghai Composite is testing short-term support at 2150. Failure of support would penetrate the rising trendline, warning of another correction. A sharp fall on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates short-term selling pressure. Respect of 2150, or even 2100, would signal another test of resistance at 2250. Follow-through above the descending trendline would suggest the primary down-trend is reversing. But breach of 2100 would indicate another test of primary support at 1950.

Shanghai Composite Index

India’s Sensex continues on a downward path toward primary support. Penetration of the former rising trendline would increase the likelihood of a test. Breakout below 18500 would signal a primary down-trend, while follow-through below 18000 would confirm. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero is unlikely, but would suggest continuation of the primary up-trend.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 18500 – ( 20500 – 18500 ) = 16500

The ASX 200 retreated below its May high of 5250 for a second time; a bearish sign. Penetration of the rising trendline also warns of a correction. Breach of short-term support at 5200 would confirm.

ASX 200

There appears little danger of a primary reversal at this stage, with primary support at 4650, but 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the warning. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow (not shown) also displays a bearish divergence, indicating selling pressure. Long-term target for an advance would be 5850*, but we are likely to see a correction first.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5250 + ( 5250 – 4650 ) = 5850

October 1, 2013

Crawling, not walking, to non-mining led growth | MacroBusiness

Leith van Onselen quotes the latest JP Morgan report on the Australian economy:

…risk of a recession is “inevitably higher now than usual; the economy has built up vulnerabilities over time that have been masked by the continued growth in output and national income… the downside of avoiding recession is that Australia has carried these excesses through a succession of growth cycles”.

Households are particularly at risk from expensive house prices and high levels of household debt. Which brings me back to the unnecessary risks bank regulators are taking by condoning low bank capital ratios of between 4.0% and 4.5% of total credit exposure. Risk-weighting of bank assets provided a smokescreen, inflating perceived ratios to around 10%, while encouraging over-exposure to (low risk-weighted) residential mortgages.

September 25, 2013

Forex: Aussie and Euro breakout

The Euro broke through resistance at $1.34/$1.3450, offering a medium-term target of $1.37* and long-term target of $1.40*. A trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates a healthy up-trend.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.34 + ( 1.34 – 1.31 ) = 1.37; 1.34 + ( 1.34 – 1.28 ) = 1.40

The greenback is ranging aimlessly between ¥96 and ¥101 against the yen, indicating uncertainty. Breakout from the range will indicate future direction. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would suggest a primary down-trend.

USD/JPY

* Target calculation: 101 + ( 101 – 96 ) = 106

The Aussie Dollar retraced to test support at $0.93/$0.935 against the greenback after its recent breakout. Respect is likely and would suggest an advance to $0.97*. Follow-through above $0.95 would confirm.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculations: 0.95 + ( 0.95 – 0.93 ) = 0.97

The Aussie found support at $1.12 against its Kiwi neighbour. Recovery above $1.16 and the descending trendline would complete a double-bottom reversal, offering a target of $1.20*.

Kiwi Dollar

* Target calculations: 1.16 + ( 1.16 – 1.12 ) = 1.20

September 25, 2013

Asia recovery helps ASX 200

China’s Shanghai Composite Index ran into resistance at 2250 and is likely to retrace to support at 2100. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure. Respect of 2100 would be bullish, while recovery above 2250 would penetrate the descending trendline, suggesting that the primary down-trend is reversing. A primary up-trend would signal increased demand for resources and give a significant boost to the ASX. Failure of 2100 is unlikely, but would indicate a test of primary support at 1950.

Shanghai Composite Index

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is testing resistance at 15000. Breakout would signal an advance to 17500*. Earlier bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, however, warns of a reversal. Penetration of the rising trendline would also suggest the primary up-trend is losing momentum. Failure of support at 13200 remains unlikely, but would signal a reversal.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 15000 + ( 15000 – 12500 ) = 17500

India’s Sensex retreated below resistance at 20500. Tall shadows and long tails on the weekly chart indicate excessive volatility. Reversal below last week’s low at 19500 would warn of another down-swing. Breach of the rising trendline would strengthen the reversal warning. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero, however, would suggest continuation of the primary up-trend.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 18500 – ( 20500 – 18500 ) = 16500

ASX 200 recovery above the May high of 5250 indicates a primary advance. Follow-through above 5300 would confirm. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow suggests medium-term buying pressure. Long-term target for an advance would be 5850*.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5250 + ( 5250 – 4650 ) = 5850

September 23, 2013

Saving Medicare: The Case for Market-Based Health Reform

In a paper to Catholic Health Conference Australia, Jeremy Sammut highlights the need for revision of Australia’s national health care system.

….health spending already consumes a third of the NSW budget….. and if health spending continues to grow at current rates, health will consume the entire NSW budget in 20 years time.

Providing free services encourages over-use and, with limited budgets, restricts access to essential services for the most needy. Sammut suggests a shift to self-funding for minor expenditure, with state assistance for chronic or catastrophic needs.

As the increasingly unaffordable United States private health system demonstrates, it is impossible to insure people for all health services without over-use causing a cost and premium spiral. In a private system, moral hazard creates un-affordability; in a free public insurance system like Medicare it causes arbitrary and unethical rationing.

Public and private health systems are both plagued by the problem of ‘first dollar insurance’ – the expectation among consumers that private or public insurance should entitle them to receive treatment entirely paid for by a third-party payer no matter how small the cost or condition.

By contrast, a soundly constructed insurance system should not insure people for all services. Instead, individuals should be required to self insure for minor health needs and expenses. Third party insurance should be reserved to enable people to share exceptional risk involving major health problems, and thus should only cover a minimum package of high-cost treatments for complex chronic and catastrophic conditions. And personal responsibility, consumer sovereignty, and price signals should also feature by using front-end deductibles and copayments to control costs and deter unnecessary use of marginal and discretionary services and trivial claims.

What we also need is for public and private hospitals to compete on an equal footing for the taxpayer’s health care dollar. This system has been successfully implemented in the Lombardy region of Italy, with excellent results. Margherita Stancati at WSJ online reports:

Lombardy, by contrast, has increased its quality standards, set its own reimbursement rates and, most important, put public and private hospitals on an equal footing by making each equally eligible for public funds. If a hospital meets the quality standards and charges the accepted reimbursement rate, it qualifies. Patients are free to choose between state-run and publicly funded private hospitals at no extra cost. Their co-pay is the same in either case. As a result, public and many private hospitals in Lombardy compete directly for patients and funds.

…..Around 30% of hospital care in Lombardy is private now — more than anywhere else in Italy. And service in both the private and public sector has improved.

Read Jeremy Sammut’s presentation at Saving Medicare: The Case for Market-Based Health Reform | Jeremy Sammut.

September 18, 2013

APRA: Australian banking system ‘more sound’

Interesting choice of words:

[Australian Prudential Regulation Authority chairman John Laker] said the Australian banking system was more sound than it was five or six years ago.

“We know that because we managed to negotiate the financial crisis without the fallout for our financial systems,” he said.

“The banking sector is holding more capital, it’s holding higher quality capital, it is holding more liquid assets.”

What he did not say is that Australian banks are financially sound and holding enough capital — and we are unlikely to hear that before banks double their current “improved” capital and leverage ratios.

September 17, 2013

Forex: Euro, Sterling and Aussie Dollar strengthen

The Euro found support at $1.31, the short retracement suggesting a breakout above resistance at $1.34/$1.3450. Breakout would offer a target of $1.40*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates a healthy primary up-trend.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.34 + ( 1.34 – 1.28 ) = 1.40

Sterling is doing even better, breaking through resistance at €1.19 after piercing the descending trendline. Breakout completes a double bottom reversal with a target of €1.24*. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero also suggests a primary up-trend. Reversal below €1.16 would warn of a bull trap, but is most unlikely.

Sterling/Euro

* Target calculation: 1.19 + ( 1.19 – 1.14 ) = 1.24

The greenback is stabilizing against the Yen after losing momentum over the last 3 months. The recent rally respected resistance at ¥100/101 and another test of ¥96 is likely. Breakout above ¥101 would offer a target of ¥106*, but failure of support at ¥96 remains as likely, and would warn of a primary down-trend.

USD/JPY

* Target calculation: 101 + ( 101 – 96 ) = 106

Canada’s Loonie is headed for a test of the descending trendline and resistance at $0.9750. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum favors a breakout, while recovery above zero would suggest a primary up-trend. Breakout would also complete a double-bottom reversal, with a target of parity*. Reversal below $0.96 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at $0.9450.

Canadian Loonie

* Target calculation: 97.5 + ( 97.5 – 94.5 ) = 100.5

The Aussie Dollar also completed a double-bottom reversal against the greenback — this time on a daily chart — offering a target of $0.95*. Follow-through above $0.93 confirms the signal. Reversal below $0.92 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at $0.89.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculations: 0.92 + ( 0.92 – 0.89 ) = 0.95

The Aussie continues to weaken against its Kiwi neighbour. Respect of primary support at $1.12 and recovery above the descending trendline, however, would warn that a bottom is forming. Breakout above $1.16 would confirm, offering a target of $1.20*.

Kiwi Dollar

* Target calculations: 1.16 + ( 1.16 – 1.12 ) = 1.20

September 16, 2013

Asian markets and ASX cautious

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index broke its descending trendline, indicating the correction is over. Breakout above 15000 would signal a primary advance to 18000*. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above 30% would support this. Reversal below 13000 is now unlikely.

Nikkei 225 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite breached its descending trendline at 2200, indicating the down-trend is over. A long wick (or shadow) on last week’s candle, however, suggests resistance — and reversal below 2150 and the rising trendline would warn of a bull trap. But rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to signal medium-term buying pressure. Follow-through above 2350 is likely, and would indicate a test of 2450.

Shanghai Composite Index

India’s Sensex also displays a long wick on last week’s candle. Expect strong resistance at 20500. Respect would indicate another test of primary support at 18000. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure, but long-term direction is unclear.

BSE Sensex Index

The ASX 200 is cautiously testing long-term resistance at 5250. Europe is bullish and Asian markets are rising, but the Dow and S&P 500 remain mildly bearish. Respect of resistance at 5250, indicated by reversal below 5150 and the rising trendline, would present another bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, indicating long-term selling pressure. Breakout above 5250, however, would signal another primary advance, with a long-term target of 5750*.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 5250 + ( 5250 – 4750 ) = 5750

September 16, 2013

Imbalances in the Australian housing market | Chris Joye

Chris Joye from the Financial Review warns on Radio National that imbalances that may be developing in the Australian housing market:

Hat tip to Leith van Onselen at Macrobusiness.com.au who comments:

“My only observation is that governments of all persuasions have for too long abrogated their responsibilities for housing policy to the RBA – allowing affordability concerns to be addressed via continuous lowering of interest rates, rather than addressing the underlying causes of poor affordability through supply-side and taxation reform.”

September 12, 2013

US & China lift ASX

The S&P 500 rallied strongly this week despite a weak bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warning of selling pressure. Recovery above 1700 would indicate another advance, while a new August high on Twiggs Money Flow would further strengthen the signal, offering a target of 1850*. Reversal below 1630 is unlikely, but would re-test primary support at 1560.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1700 + ( 1700 – 1550 ) = 1850

Dow Jones Industrial Average displayed a stronger bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, increasing the likelihood of reversal below 14800. But positive sentiment is growing and recovery above 15650 now seems as likely.
S&P 500 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite penetrated resistance at 2200 and the descending trendline, suggesting that the down-trend is ending. Reversal below the rising trendline would warn of another correction to test primary support at 1950, but breach of support is now less likely. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure; a trough above zero would strengthen the signal.

Shanghai Composite Index

The ASX 200 is testing resistance at 5250, buoyed by positive sentiment in China and the US. Breakout would suggest a primary advance, but a lower peak on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow would continue to warn of selling pressure. Reversal below 5150 remains as likely, and would test medium-term support at 4900/5000.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 5250 + ( 5250 – 4750 ) = 5750