Forex Update

The Euro is testing resistance at $1.32 and its descending trendline. Upward breakout would warn the primary down-trend is ending. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero indicates a primary up-trend. Breakout above the 2012 high of $1.35* would strengthen the signal, but only a higher trough of several weeks would confirm.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.275 + ( 1.275 – 1.20 ) = 1.35

Pound Sterling is correcting to support around €1.22 against the Euro. Breach of the rising trendline would warn the primary up-trend is ending, while retreat of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would suggest a primary down-trend.

Pound Sterling/Euro

Canada’s Loonie is testing the new support level against the greenback at $1.02.  Respect of support would confirm the primary up-trend indicated by long-term bullish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum. Target for the advance is $1.08* but expect resistance at the 2011 highs of $1.06.

Canadian Loonie/Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 1.02 +( 1.02 – 0.96 ) = 1.08

The Aussie Dollar respected resistance at $1.06 against the greenback, retreating to test support at $1.04 on the daily chart. Respect of support is likely and follow-through above $1.05 would indicate another test of $1.06. The 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero signals a primary up-trend. Breakout above $1.06 would confirm.  Expect resistance at $1.075/$1.08, but target for an advance is $1.10*.

Aussie Dollar/USD

* Target calculation: 1.06 + ( 1.06 – 1.02 ) = 1.10

The Aussie Dollar is testing resistance at ¥83.50 against the Japanese Yen. Recovery of 63-Day Twiggs Momentum above zero indicates a primary up-trend. Breakout would signal an advance to ¥88*. Reversal below ¥79.50 is unlikely but would re-test primary support at ¥74.

Aussie Dollar/Japanese Yen

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 80 ) = 88

A few readers objected to my view that the RBA should intervene to prevent further appreciation of the Australian Dollar. One reason cited is that the RBA is not strong enough to stand up to global capital markets and would eventually be forced to capitulate. I disagree. If you are printing your own money you can take on all-comers. The SNB demonstrated this by preventing depreciation of the euro against the Swiss Franc, pegging the rate at 1.20 CHF for the last year.

Euro/Swiss Franc

The second argument was that “the market knows best” and any interference would cause more problems than it solves. My answer to that is that capital markets are subject to huge ebbs and flows, some determined by trade fluctuations but primarily caused by speculative flows and deliberate strategies by other central banks. If the RBA fails to act, local industry exposed to international competition may be irreparably damaged by loss of international markets and being under-cut in local markets by cheap imports. When the tide eventually turns, and the dollar weakens, it would be difficult to restore those industries if key capital equipment and skilled jobs have been lost.

The US is a perfect example: China and Japan hold more than $2 trillion in US treasury investments which helped to suppress appreciation of their currencies against the greenback, maintaining a trade advantage which cost the US millions of manufacturing jobs. It will be difficult to restore those industries lost even if the imbalance is corrected.

Australia: ASX 200 rising

Short bars on the S&P 500 retracement are a bullish sign, respect of short-term support at 1450 would suggest a strong advance.

The ASX 200 is strengthening in sympathy, despite poor performance of Chinese markets.  Breakout above 4400 would strengthen the primary up-trend signal, from rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum. Follow-through above 4450 would confirm.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 4450 + ( 4450 – 4000 ) = 4900

Forex: Euro, Pound Sterling, Canadian Loonie, Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen

The Euro broke out above its trend channel and resistance at $1.2750 on the daily chart to signal a primary up-trend. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero confirms. Target for the advance is the 2012 high of $1.35*.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.275 + ( 1.275 – 1.20 ) = 1.35

Pound Sterling is correcting to support around €1.22 against the Euro. Breach of the rising trendline would warn that a top is forming, while retreat of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would indicate a primary down-trend.

Pound Sterling/Euro

Canada’s Loonie is retracing to test the new support level after breaking above resistance against the greenback at $1.02.  Breakout confirms the primary up-trend indicated by long-term bullish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum. Target for the advance is $1.08*.

Canadian Loonie/Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 1.02 +( 1.02 – 0.96 ) = 1.08

The Aussie Dollar is testing resistance at $1.06 against the greenback. The 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero signals a primary up-trend. Breakout above $1.06 would confirm.  Expect resistance at $1.075/$1.08, but target for an advance would be $1.10*.

Aussie Dollar/USD

* Target calculation: 1.06 + ( 1.06 – 1.02 ) = 1.10

I commented a few days ago that apart from a bad case of Dutch Disease —  where capital inflows and increased revenues from resources projects drive up the exchange rate and harm other export industries — the Australian dollar is at risk of developing “Swiss Disease” — where flight to a safe haven currency also drives up the  exchange rate, destroying local export industries. Professor Warwick McKibbin has a point:

“When a portfolio shift into Australian currency is observed, the exchange rate change should be completely offset so the shock only affects the money markets rather than the real economy. If the shock cannot be observed precisely then the central bank should “lean against the wind”, that is intervene to slow down the extent of appreciation of the exchange rate.”

The RBA should be selling dollars to protect local export industries from rapid appreciation of the currency.

The Aussie Dollar is headed for resistance at ¥83.50 against the Japanese Yen. Recovery of 63-Day Twiggs Momentum above zero indicates a primary up-trend. Breakout would signal an advance to ¥88*.

Aussie Dollar/Japanese Yen

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 80 ) = 88

Australia: Company tax payments down almost 40%

David Uren from The Australian, as quoted by Mark the Graph:

Last week’s national accounts show company tax payments have fallen from an all-time peak of 6.2 per cent of gross domestic product in 2007 as Peter Costello delivered his last budget, to just 3.8 per cent in the June quarter. This is the lowest share since September 1996, when Costello delivered his first budget. It is less than during the global financial crisis and erodes all the gains in corporate taxation tapped by both governments to finance personal tax cuts, increased family benefits, higher pensions, greater education spending and much more during the past 16 years. No wonder the budget is in deficit.

View some great charts from the National Accounts at Mark the Graph: Tax chartacular.

ASX 200: Descending triangle

The hourly chart of the ASX 200 formed a small descending triangle since  Friday, testing support at 4320. Descending peaks indicate selling pressure. Downward breakout would warn of another test of medium-term support at 4260. Upward breakout is unlikely but would indicate an advance to 4400.

ASX 200 Index Hourly

ASX 200: Testing support

The weekly chart shows the ASX 200 finding support at 4260. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests a primary up-trend. Breakout above 4400 would confirm the signal. Failure of support at 4260, however, would warn of another test of primary support at 4000.

ASX 200 Index Weekly

The hourly chart shows Friday’s jump above resistance at 4320 followed by retracement to test the new support level. A lower high on Monday followed by another test of 4320 shows buyers lack enthusiasm. Failure of support would warn of another test of medium-term support at 4260.

ASX 200 Index Hourly

Forex: Euro, Pound Sterling, Canadian Loonie, Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen

The Euro is headed for $1.275, unaffected so far by the announcement that the ECB will purchase government bonds in the secondary market. Expect strong resistance at $1.275, reversal below the lower trend channel would warn of a correction.

Euro/USD

Pound Sterling is weakening against the euro, with a descending triangle testing support at €1.255. Failure of support would indicate a test of €1.230. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum is falling, but continues to indicate a primary up-trend.

Pound Sterling/Euro

* Target calculation: 1.255 – ( 1.285 – 1.255 ) = 1.225

Canada’s Loonie is testing resistance against the greenback at $1.02.  Breakout would indicate an advance to the 2011 highs at $1.06. Reversal below parity is unlikely, but would test primary support at $0.95/$0.96. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum suggests a primary up-trend.

Canadian Loonie/Aussie Dollar

The Aussie Dollar found support at $1.02 against the greenback. Expect a test of $1.04. Breakout would indicate $1.06, while respect would warn of a down-swing to parity. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests an up-trend.

Aussie Dollar/USD

The Australian Dollar found support against the yen at ¥79.50/¥80.00. Recovery above ¥83.50 would indicate a test of ¥88.00. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum suggests a primary up-trend. Reversal below ¥79.50 is unlikely, but would indicate another test of primary support at ¥74.

US Dollar/Japanese Yen

Australia: Housing market weakens

Housing credit growth is at its lowest level in over 30 years: lower than the dip of the early 1980s and the crash of 1987. The current rate of growth is barely sufficient to match already depressed construction rates for new homes*. The decline should see a gradual softening of housing prices, accelerating if there are any further falls in housing credit growth.

RBA Housing Credit Growth

*Housing finance, for both owner-occupied and investor housing, totaled $59.8 billion for the year ended June 2012 according to the RBA, while residential construction — excluding land — was $44.2 billion according to ABS estimates.

ASX 200: Australian miners hurt by falling iron ore prices

The ASX is feeling the effect of slowing manufacturing in China, with falling iron ore prices causing weakness in RIO, FMG and BHP. Rio Tinto is testing support at $50, while steeply falling 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of strong selling pressure.

Rio Tinto Weekly

Impact on the ASX 200 index is more diluted but 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero again warns of selling pressure. Breakout above 4400 is unlikely in the present climate.

ASX 200 Index Weekly

Forex: Euro, Pound Sterling, Canadian Loonie, Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen

A monthly chart shows the euro testing long-term support at $1.20 against the greenback. Recovery above the steeply descending trendline would indicate another test of the upper triangle border, while failure of support would indicate long-term re-alignment. Indications, from president Mario Draghi, that the ECB will further expand its balance sheet explains euro weakness, but similar moves by the Fed would restore the status quo.

Euro/USD Monthly

On the daily chart, the Euro is headed for resistance at $1.275. The primary trend remains downward, but breach of the descending trendline indicates it is losing momentum. Failure of support at $1.240 and penetration of the rising trendline, however, would indicate another test of primary support at $1.205.

Euro/USD

Pound Sterling formed a descending triangle, testing support at €1.255 against the Euro. Failure of support would indicate a test of €1.225. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum is falling, but continues to indicate a primary up-trend.

Pound Sterling/Euro

* Target calculation: 1.255 – ( 1.285 – 1.255 ) = 1.225

Canada’s Loonie is consolidating in a narrow band below resistance against the greenback at $1.02.  Breakout above resistance at $1.02 would indicate an advance to $1.06, while reversal below parity would test $0.95/$0.96.

Canadian Loonie/Aussie Dollar

The Aussie Dollar is retracing to find support against the greenback, with $1.02 a likely target. Respect would suggest another test of $1.08. Narrow oscillation of 63-day Twiggs Momentum around zero would suggest a ranging market.

Aussie Dollar/USD

Australian Dollar appreciation against the yen is slowing. Reversal below ¥79.50 would indicate another test of primary support at ¥74.

US Dollar/Japanese Yen