Australia & NZ Archives - Page 61 of 97

July 2, 2013

Australian banks: Who’s been swimming naked?

Margot Patrick at WSJ reports that the Bank of England is enforcing a new “leverage ratio” rule:

Top U.K. banks regulator Andrew Bailey told lawmakers that the requirement for banks to hold at least 3% equity against total assets “is a sensible minimum,” and that those who fall short must act quickly, but without cutting their lending to households and businesses.

The Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority on June 20 said Barclays and mutual lender Nationwide Building Society don’t meet the standard and gave them 10 days to submit plans for achieving it.

I hope that their Australian counterpart APRA are following developments closely. Both UK and Australian banks are particularly vulnerable because of their over-priced housing markets. And while the big four Australian banks’ capital ratios appear comfortably above 10 percent, these rely on risk-weightings of 15% to 20% for residential mortgages.

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

July 2, 2013

Rudd? Gillard? Australians have bigger problems | IOL Business

“Australia is a leveraged time bomb waiting to blow,” Albert Edwards, Société Générale’s London-based global strategist, said. “It is not just a CDO, but a CDO squared. All we have in Australia is, at its simplest, a credit bubble built upon a commodity boom dependent for its sustenance on an even greater credit bubble in China.”

From William Pesek at Rudd? Gillard? Australians have bigger problems – Columnists | IOL Business | IOL.co.za.

July 1, 2013

Asia rallies but ASX meets resistance

Japan’s Nikkei 225 broke resistance at 13500, indicating the correction is over. Expect a re-test of the May high at 16000. Reversal below 13500, however, would mean another test of 12500. A trough above the zero line on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow would indicate a healthy primary up-trend.

Nikkei 225 Index

Dow Jones Shanghai Index respected support at 250, the long tail on both the $DJSH and Shanghai Composite indicating strong buying pressure. Expect a rally to test resistance at 275 (2150 on the Shanghai Composite), but the primary trend remains downward and resistance at 275 (2150) is likely to hold.

Dow Jones Shanghai Index

India’s Sensex rallied off its rising trendline, suggesting that the primary up-trend will continue. Follow-through above 19500 would indicate a test of resistance at 20000/20200. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of a reversal and would only be refuted by a breakout above 20200 (or a rise above the May peak on TMF).

BSE Sensex Index

The ASX 200 respected its descending trendline at 4800 and is headed for another test of support at 4650. A peak below zero on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow would indicate a healthy down-trend. Breach of 4650 would test the key long-term support level of 4400, while respect would mean another test of 4900. In the longer term, respect of 4400 would be bullish, but failure of support would be a strong bear signal.

ASX 200 Index

The ASX Small Ordinaries, by contrast, exhibits a stronger bullish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow, indicating buying support. Breakout above 1960 would indicate the latest primary decline is over, while reversal below 1880 would offer a target of 1800. Small Caps have been badly mauled over the last two years and at some point will present an opportunity to value investors. Unfortunately that end is not yet in sight.
ASX Small Ordinaries Index

June 30, 2013

Barclays’ threat on lending under fire | FT.com

Anne-Sylvaine Chassany at FT writes of the UK’s Prudential Regulation Authority:

The PRA irked banks when it included a 3 per cent leverage ratio target in its assessment of UK lenders’ capital health. It identified shortfalls at Barclays and Nationwide, the UK’s largest building society, which have projected leverage ratios of 2.5 per cent and 2 per cent respectively under PRA tests.

Outrageous isn’t it? That banks should be asked to maintain a minimum share capital of three percent against their lending exposure — to protect the British taxpayer from future bailouts. My view is that the bar should be set at 5 percent, although this would have to be phased-in over an extended period to prevent disruption.

I hope that APRA is following developments closely. The big four Australian banks are also likely to be caught a little short.

June 30, 2013

Lurking beneath Australia’s AAA economy… | On Line Opinion

Kellie Tranter highlights the unstable position of the big Australian banks:

Australia has had a current account deficit since the 1980s. That means we are spending more than we are earning. We’ve had to sell public assets to balance the current account deficit. Put simply, the surplus on the capital account is flogging off the sideboard to buy the fruit.

Our net international financial position is not strong and our gross foreign liabilities are alarming. Banks are the intermediaries between foreign lenders and Australia’s big spenders. The banks have mediated the private household debt and as a result if there is a worldwide recession, banks could be called to pay up.

Our banks have borrowed short (internationally) and lent long (domestically, for mortgages etc.)…….

I have been sounding off about the inadequate capital reserves of the big four banks — because of low risk-weightings attached to residential mortgages — but Kellie also raises the question of their $13.8 trillion derivatives exposure. She concludes:

If the banks are hunky dory why is it necessary [for the RBA] to set up a $380 billion emergency fund and, more importantly, is it enough in light of possible derivatives exposure?

June 25, 2013

ASX and Asian selling pressure

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index respected support at 12500 and its long-term rising trendline, but another test is likely in the week ahead. Follow-through above 13500 would indicate the correction is over, suggesting a re-test of resistance at 16000. Breach of 12500, however, is more likely, with bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warning of a reversal.

Nikkei 225 Index

Shanghai Composite Index is falling sharply. So far the down-trend has been gradual, with the PBOC looking to manufacture a soft landing. But 13-week Twiggs Money Flow crossing below zero warns of rising selling pressure. Breach of support at 1950 would offer a target of 1600*.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2400 – 2000 ) = 1600

India’s Sensex breached its rising trendline, warning that the primary up-trend is weakening. Failure of support at 18000 would signal a primary down-trend. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates trend reversal is likely. Recovery above 19000 is unlikely, but would suggest a fresh primary advance.

BSE Sensex Index

Apart from Japan, the outlook for Asia is bearish.

The ASX 200 is headed for a test of support at 4400, bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow having warned of a reversal. Failure of support at 4400 would re-test the 2011 lows, while respect would be bullish — suggesting another attempt at 5000.

ASX 200 Index

June 19, 2013

Forex: Aussie Dollar falls below 93 US cents

The Aussie Dollar fell to below $0.93 within hours of the latest FOMC announcement from the Fed. Breach of support indicates another decline, with a target of $0.90*.

Aussie Dollar/USD

* Target calculation: 0.9330 – ( 0.9660 – 0.9330 ) = 0.9000

The monthly chart shows the Aussie has broken long-term support around $0.95, signaling a decline to $0.80*. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero confirms a primary down-trend.

Canadian Loonie

* Target calculation: 0.95 – ( 1.10 – 0.95 ) = 0.80

It is not just a stronger greenback, the Aussie is also falling against the crosses. Canada’s Loonie broke resistance at parity to the Australian Dollar, signaling a primary up-trend.

Canadian Loonie

June 17, 2013

ASX: Following China into a down-trend

The S&P 500 is testing resistance at 1650, but declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warns of continued selling pressure. Breakout would signal an advance to the upper trend channel, around 1700. Reversal below 1600, however, remains likely and would indicate a correction to 1500.
S&P 500 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite Index broke primary support at 2170 on Thursday. Follow-through below 2150 would signal a decline to the 2012 low of 1950*.

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2350 – 2150 ) = 1950

The ASX 200 is retracing to test its new resistance level at 4900. Respect would confirm the primary down-trend — as would a peak below zero on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow.

ASX 200 Index

The ASX Small Ordinaries Index, reflecting retail investor interest in the market, continues its primary down-trend. Breach of the 2012 low at 2040 warns of a decline to 1700*.

ASX Small Ords Index

* Target calculation: 2050 – ( 2400 – 2050 ) = 1700

June 12, 2013

Forex: Aussie resistance, Yen falls

The Aussie Dollar rallied to $0.955 on the 2-hour chart before encountering selling pressure. Expect a test of the 2011 low at $0.94. Breach would indicate another decline. The next target is $0.90*, with a long-term target of $0.80*. Breakout above $0.955 is unlikely, but would re-test resistance at $0.98.

Aussie Dollar/USD

* Target calculations: 0.94 – ( 0.98 – 0.94 ) = 0.90 and 0.95 – ( 1.10 – 0.95 ) = 0.80

Canada’s Loonie, however, respected support at $0.96, heading for another test of resistance at $0.99 or parity. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero suggests continuation of the down-trend. Respect of resistance would indicate another decline, with a target of $0.94*.

Canadian Loonie

* Target calculation: 0.97 – ( 1.00 – 0.97 ) = 0.94

The euro broke resistance at $1.32 and is headed for $1.37*. Breakout is some way off, but would offer a target of $1.47*.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.37 + ( 1.37 – 1.27 ) = 1.47

Pound Sterling broke resistance at $1.56, signaling an advance to $1.63*. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the bull signal.

* Target calculation: 1.56 + ( 1.56 – 1.50 ) = 1.62

The greenback continues a strong correction against the Yen, but this is a secondary movement and the primary up-trend is unaltered. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would strengthen the signal. Recovery above resistance at ¥100 would signal a fresh advance with a target of ¥113*. Long-term target for the advance is the 2007 high at ¥125*.

USD/JPY

* Target calculations: (a) 104 + ( 104 – 95 ) = 113; (b) 100 + ( 100 – 75 ) = 125

June 11, 2013

Europe & Asia: Widespread selling pressure

Germany’s DAX respected support at 8000 on its recent retracement. Follow-through above 8500 would confirm a fresh primary advance. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, however, warns of strong selling pressure. Retreat below 8000 would test the rising trendline around 7500.
DAX Index

The FTSE 100 also encountered resistance at its 2007 high, bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow signaling selling pressure. Expect a test of support at 6000. Recovery above 6750 is unlikely but would signal a fresh primary advance.

DJ Europe Index

The Nikkei 225 found support at 12500. Reversal below this level would warn of a decline to 10000. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of strong selling pressure. I was interested to read that George Soros was buying Japanese stocks. To me it seems premature.

Nikkei 225 Index

India’s Sensex is headed for a test of medium-term support at 19000. Breach would test primary support at 18000. Respect would indicate another advance, but bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of reversal to a primary down-trend. Failure of primary support at 18000 would confirm.

BSE Sensex Index

Singapore’s Straits Times Index reversed below its new support level at 3300, warning of a bull trap. Follow-through below last week’s low would indicate a test of the long-term trendline around 3000.

Straits Times Index

The Shanghai Composite Index retreated sharply last week and is headed for another test of support at 2150. Breach would signal a fall to 1950. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. A weakening Shanghai Index is bearish for Australian resources stocks.

Shanghai Composite Index

The ASX 200 found support at 4750, while bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of strong selling pressure. The falling Aussie Dollar is forcing a retreat of offshore investors from the market, but the eventual boost to export earnings is likely to present a buying opportunity later. Expect a weak rally followed by decline to 4500.

ASX 200 Index