Asian stocks fall but ASX 200 resilient

The Asia-Pacific region reacted to Friday’s sell-off in US markets, with the Nikkei and Hang Seng currently down 1.5% and 1.2% respectively. The Shanghai exchange is closed for a public holiday, while India’s DJ15 is down 0.67%. The ASX 200, however, rallied towards the close, losing only 0.17%.

The monthly chart of Japan’s Nikkei 225 continues to display a large bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, warning of long-term selling pressure. Reversal below 14000 would signal a primary down-trend. Recovery above 15000 is as likely, however, and would indicate another advance.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 15000 + ( 15000 – 14000 ) = 16000

A monthly chart shows the Shanghai Composite Index on the flight path for a soft landing. Successive falls over the past 5 years have all exceeded the previous trough by roughly 200 points and this seems unlikely to change for the foreseeable future. The problem with a managed descent is that it is likely to endure for a lot longer than a short sharp crash. Breach of primary support at 1950 would therefore offer a target of 1800.

Shanghai Composite Index

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index on the other hand displays a large bullish ascending triangle. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough at zero indicates buying pressure Breakout above 24000 would signal a primary advance. Reversal below the rising trendline is unlikely, but would warn of reversal to a primary down-trend.

Hang Seng Index

* Long-term target calculation: 24000 + ( 24000 – 17000 ) = 31000

India’s Sensex encountered resistance at 22500 and is likely to retrace to test 22000. Respect would signal an advance to 23000*. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, however, warns of short/medium-term selling pressure. Reversal below 21500 is unlikely, but would indicate another correction.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 21500 + ( 21500 – 20000 ) = 23000

The ASX 200 proved surprisingly resilient, rallying toward the close. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure, but expect strong resistance at 5450/5460. Breakout above 5450/5460 would signal an advance to 5600*. Respect of resistance or a false break, however, would warn of another test of support at 5300 and possibly a stronger correction. Primary support at 5050 does not at this stage appear threatened and the index remains in an up-trend.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5450 + ( 5450 – 5300 ) = 5600

ASX 200 VIX below 12 continues to indicate low risk typical of a bull market.

ASX 200

Asia: India bullish while China finds support

India’s Sensex retraced after encountering sellers at 22000, but Monday’s engulfing candle indicates support. Breakout above 22000 would signal an advance to 23000*. Reversal below 21300 is unlikely, but would warn of another correction. Momentum troughs above zero suggest a healthy primary up-trend.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 21500 + ( 21500 – 20000 ) = 23000

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is headed for another test of 14000 after a false break above 15000. Breach of support would signal a primary down-trend. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure; reversal below zero would also indicate a primary down-trend.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 14000 – ( 15000 – 14000 ) = 13000

China’s Shanghai Composite Index found support at 1990/2000. Follow-through above the rising trendline would indicate another bear rally. Bullish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow suggests medium-term buying pressure. Reversal below 1990 is unlikely at present, but would warn of a decline to 1850.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2150 – 2000 ) = 1850

Japan: Hesitant recovery

The Nikkei 225 recovered above 15000, signaling another attempt at 16000. Retracement that respects the new support level would strengthen the signal. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would indicate buying pressure, but bearish divergence flags long-term selling pressure and reversal below zero would warn of a primary down-trend — confirmed if support at 14000 is breached.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 16000 + ( 16000 – 14000 ) = 18000

Nikkei finds Yen support

The US Dollar found solid support at ¥101 against the Yen. Recovery above ¥103 would suggest an advance to ¥111*. Breakout above ¥106 would confirm. Recovery above the December 2013 high on 13-week Twiggs Momentum would strengthen the signal. Breach of support at ¥101 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction to primary support at ¥96.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 106 + ( 106 – 101 ) = 111

The Nikkei 225 found support at 14000. Recovery above 15000 would indicate another attempt at 16000. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would strengthen the signal.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 16000 + ( 16000 – 14000 ) = 18000

Nikkei warning

A weakening Dollar/Yen exchange rate is hurting Japanese stocks. The Nikkei 225 is testing support at 14000 after breach of the rising trendline indicated weak momentum. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Failure of 14000 would strengthen the signal, while breach of 13200 would confirm. Recovery above 15000 is unlikely, but would suggest another advance.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 16000 + ( 16000 – 14000 ) = 18000

Japan: Dollar supports Nikkei

The US Dollar found support at ¥101 against the Yen. Recovery above the May high at ¥104 would suggest a healthy up-trend, while breakout above ¥106 would offer a target of ¥110*. Divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum remains bearish, but another trough above zero would reverse this. Breach of support at ¥101 now seems unlikely, but would warn of trend weakness.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 106 + ( 106 – 102 ) = 110

A rising Dollar/Yen exchange rate would assist Japanese stocks. The Nikkei 225 found support at 14000 on the monthly chart. Recovery above 15000 would suggest another advance, while breakout above 16000 would confirm. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero, however, would warn of a primary down-trend.

Nikkei 225

Japan: Nikkei falls as Dollar weakens

The US Dollar is testing support at ¥102 to ¥103 against the Yen. Breach of the rising trendline would strengthen the warning from a bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum. Reversal of Momentum below zero would suggest a primary down-trend. Recovery above ¥104 is less likely, but would offer a target of ¥110*.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 106 + ( 106 – 102 ) = 110

A rising Dollar/Yen exchange rate would assist Japanese stocks. The Nikkei 225 is testing support at 15000 after penetrating its rising trendline. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Reversal below 15000 would indicate a strong correction, while a Twiggs Money Flow cross below zero would warn of a primary down-trend.

Nikkei 225

Weakening yen boosts Japanese stocks

The US Dollar retreated to test new support at ¥102 to ¥103. Respect is likely and would signal an advance to ¥110*. A rising Dollar/Yen exchange rate will assist Japanese stocks.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 106 + ( 106 – 102 ) = 110

The Nikkei 225 retreated below its new support level at 16000, but respect of the rising trendline would confirm a healthy up-trend. 13-week Twiggs Money Flow holding above zero suggests healthy buying pressure. Reversal below 15000 is unlikely but would indicate a strong correction.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 16000 + ( 16000 – 15000 ) = 17000

Desperately Seeking Demand | Patrick Chovanec

I have followed Patrick Chovanec on Twitter for several years and really enjoy his insights. His latest Quarterly Report for Silvercrest Asset Management is no exception.

For the past several decades, the U.S. has served as the world’s consumer of last resort. That allowed developing countries – namely Japan, and later China – to turbo-charge growth by producing more than they consumed, confident in the knowledge that Americans would provide the demand by consuming more than they produced. (A parallel pattern emerged within the EU, with Germany playing net producer and the rest of Europe net consumer). The surplus countries kept the game going by taking their export proceeds and lending them back to their customers so the deficit countries could keep buying. This is the global growth model we all became comfortable with……

Listen to most market commentators: while they may say that the financial crisis showed us the error of our ways, their every word belies a tacit wish to return to the world we knew before 2008. “When,” they ask, “will the U.S. consumer start spending again? When will Chinese output get back on track?” Europe, they dare to hope, will turn out okay as long as more countries learn to imitate Germany. Maybe a cheaper Yen will give a renewed boost to Japan’s exports.

These hopes are misplaced. We’re not going back to the past. The old growth model is broken. Here’s what will replace it…..

Read Patrick’s outlook at SILVERCREST ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC 1Q 2014: Desperately Seeking Demand

Hat tip to Leith van Onselen at Macrobusiness.com.au

Nikkei 225 retreats as Yen falls

Japan’s Nikkei 225 retreated below support at 16000 and is testing the long-term trendline. Breach of support at 15000 would warn of a test of primary support at 13200, while recovery above 16000 would suggest a primary advance to 17500*. A rising Dollar/Yen exchange rate would strengthen the bull signal.

Nikkei 225

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