Australia rallies

The ASX 200 rallied off support at 4000, headed for a test of medium-term resistance at 4150 — and the descending trendline. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow remains below zero and respect of the zero line would warn of strong medium-term selling pressure. In the longer term, breach of primary support at 3850 would signal a primary decline to 3350*.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 3850 – ( 4350 – 3850 ) = 3350

Perils of ignoring Europe’s lessons – P.M.

DAVID MURRAY: The lending system for housing has resulted in a house price which is higher than it should be and part of the net foreign liabilities that are higher than they should be.

I believe that will be worked through by a stabilisation of house prices and steady increase in incomes and hopefully that’s the outcome but based on a price to income test, house prices in Australia are higher than they should be.

The regulations in the banking sector significantly promoted that outcome because the risk weight on housing is very low, so the gearing for housing is high. Historically the write-off rate’s been low. People believe that will last forever, which is always a worry. And this is purely with the benefit of hindsight, particularly on my part.

via PM – Perils of ignoring Europe’s lessons 24/11/2011.

Commodities drag Aussie and Canadian dollar lower

Commodities are weakening and dragging the Aussie and Loonie lower. The Aussie dollar shows a similar iceberg pattern on 63-day Twiggs Momentum, warning of a primary down-trend. Breakout below primary support at $0.94 would offer a long-term target of $0.80*.

AUDUSD

* Target calculation: 0.94 – ( 1.08 – 0.94 ) = 0.80

Canada’s Loonie is also headed for a test of $0.94 against the greenback. The peak below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum indicates a strong down-trend. Failure of primary support (0.94) would offer a target of $0.87*.

CADUSD

* Target calculation: 0.94 – ( 1.01 – 0.94 ) = 0.87

The credit crunch is coming – macrobusiness.com.au

The SMH has [a] very important story this morning on the funding crisis that is bearing down on the major banks:

Australian banks are preparing for a potential freeze in global funding markets as Europe’s worsening stresses threaten to send the world’s financial markets into a tailspin. Renewed funding pressures for the big banks, which need to raise $16.3 billion over the next two months, are likely to make it tougher for business and some consumers to access credit.

via The credit crunch is coming – macrobusiness.com.au | macrobusiness.com.au.

Australian sharemarket extends losses after weak China survey | The Australian

HSBC issued the preliminary “flash” version of its monthly manufacturing purchasing managers index survey – a closely watched non-government view on how China’s economy is faring. The survey fell to a contractionary reading of 48 for November, compared to a mildly expansionary reading of 51 last month. A reading of 50 separates expansion from contraction.

via Australian sharemarket extends losses after weak China survey | The Australian.

Cut in Europe Bank Lending Has Wide Impact – WSJ.com

European banks in recent years dramatically boosted lending to emerging markets and were among the biggest cross-border lenders in these countries. Their retreat has tightened credit in industries—from aircraft to media to mining — squeezing economies already feeling the effects of reduced demand from the developed world for their exports….”We’re in a very vulnerable position that’s definitely impacting global growth,” Gail Kelly, chief executive of Australia’s Westpac Bank said at The Wall Street Journal CEO Council last week. “It’s certainly impacting in my country and in Asia.”

via Cut in Europe Bank Lending Has Wide Impact – WSJ.com.

ASX 200 threatens support

The ASX 200 index is testing medium-term support at 4150. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Failure of support would test the primary level at 3850.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 3900 – ( 4300 − 3900 ) = 3500

A weekly chart of the All Ords shows a primary down-trend. Failure of support at 4200 would test 3900. Completion of a peak below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum would suggest another decline.

All Ordinaries Index Weekly Chart

* Target calculation: 4000 – ( 4500 − 4000 ) = 3500

Praise for good regulation – macrobusiness.com.au

[Economist Stephen King] is generally quick to remind us that regulation creates markets. Without property law and contract law, markets, as we know them, won’t be able function at all. The framework in which to understand regulation is that good regulation creates functional markets and balances benefits between market players and society at large. Bad regulation creates dysfunctional markets, or none at all, and can impede production by market agents by creating new risks, and costly hurdles.

via Praise for good regulation – macrobusiness.com.au | macrobusiness.com.au.

Brazilian Real and South African Rand

The Brazilian Real has fallen sharply against the greenback since the government took measures to stem the inflow of funds on capital account. Breach of medium-term support at $0.56 would indicate respect of the descending trendline and another test of primary support at $0.52. In the long-term, failure of primary support would warn of a fall to $0.40.

Brazilian Real

* Target calculation: 0.52 – ( 0.64 – 0.52 ) = 0.40

The South African Rand is weakening against both the US and Aussie dollar. The Aussie (another resources currency) shows an accelerating up-trend against the Rand. Breakout above R8.30 would signal an advance to R9.00*. Accelerating up-trends, however, inevitably lead to blow-offs — as in 2008.

South African Rand

* Target calculation: 7.50 + ( 7.50 – 6.00 ) = 9.00

Aussie and Loonie test support

The Aussie is testing support at parity against the greenback. The “iceberg” on 63-day Twiggs Momentum indicates a primary down-trend. Failure of parity would test primary support at $0.94 and, in the long-term, breach of primary support would signal a decline to $0.80*.

AUDUSD

* Target calculation: 0.94 – ( 1.08 – 0.94 ) = 0.80

63-Day Twiggs Momentum indicates a stronger down-trend on Canada’s Loonie. Failure of support at $0.975 would test primary support at $0.94 and, in the long-term, breach of the $0.94 level would signal decline to $0.80*.

CADUSD

* Target calculation: 0.94 – ( 1.01 – 0.94 ) = 0.87

The Aussie and Loonie normally move in sympathy with the CRB Commodities Index and a CRB break of its primary down-trend would warn of a reversal on the above two currencies.