Forex: Euro, Pound Sterling, Yen, Aussie, Loonie, Rand

The euro is testing resistance at $1.23/$1.24 against the greenback. Breakout above resistance and the descending trendline would warn that the primary down-trend is weakening and a bottom is forming . Negative values on 63 -day Twiggs Momentum continue to indicate a primary down-trend and respect of resistance would favor another decline.

Index

* Target calculation: 1.205 – ( 1.240 – 1.205) = 1.170

Pound Sterling is retracing to find support against the euro. Friday’s doji signals uncertainty. Respect of €1.27 would mean that the up-trend is still accelerating, while respect of €1.255 would indicate a healthy trend.

Index

* Target calculation: 1.26 + ( 1.26 – 1.23 ) = 1.29

Canada’s Loonie is strengthening against the greenback on the weekly chart.  Breakout above parity would confirm a test of $1.02*. Fluctuation of 63 -day Twiggs Momentum around zero, between 3% and -3%, would indicate a ranging market.

Index

The Aussie dollar is testing resistance at $1.045/$1.05 against the greenback. Breakout would offer an initial target of $1.08*. Recovery of 63 -day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests a primary up-trend.

Index

* Target calculation: 1.05 + ( 1.05 – 1.02 ) = 1.08

The Aussie is also testing resistance at 82/82.50 Japanese yen. Breakout would offer an initial target of 84.50* and a medium-term target of ¥88.

Index

* Target calculation: 82 + ( 82 – 79.50 ) = 84.50

Against the South African Rand, the Aussie is retracing to test support at R8.50. Respect would offer an initial target of R9.00*. Rising 63 -day Twiggs Momentum continues to indicate a primary up-trend.

Index

* Target calculation: 8.75 + ( 8.75 – 8.50 ) = 9.00

Christian Noyer: Monetizing public debt

Christian Noyer, Governor of the Bank of France and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the BIS: Some central banks have developed large-scale public debt acquisition programmes. They have done so for reasons relating to immediate macroeconomic stabilisation… to go beyond the zero-interest rate limit. The Eurosystem as well intervened on a much smaller scale when malfunctioning debt markets prevented the effective transmission of monetary policy impulses. There is not a single central bank that is seriously considering the monetisation of deficits with the more or less declared intention of reducing the weight of debt via inflation. In my view, this notion is nothing more than a financial analyst’s fantasy.

via Christian Noyer: Public and private debt – imbalances of global savings.
Comment:~ No central bank has declared an intention to monetize public debt (or deficits) — reducing public debt via inflation — but without a viable alternative how many will end up there? Gary Shilling points out that “competitive quantitative easing by central banks is now the order of the day.” The Bank of Japan last year “expanded its balance sheet by 11 percent, while the Federal Reserve’s increased 19 percent, the European Central Bank’s rose 36 percent and the Swiss National Bank’s grew 33 percent.” Japan, after 20 years of stagnation and with net public debt at 113% of GDP, illustrates the predicament facing many developed countries. If there was a plan B they would have tried it by now.

Asia: China, Japan bearish

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index is headed for another test of long-term support at 8000/8200 on the monthly chart. The latest peak below zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of strong selling pressure. Failure of support would signal another test of the 2008/2009 lows at 7000.

Nikkei 225 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is testing its 2011 low at 2150 on the weekly chart. Failure would indicate a decline to 1800*. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to warn of a primary down-trend. Recovery above 2250 remains unlikely, but would suggest another rally to 2500.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2500 – 2150 ) = 1800

India’s Sensex is retracing to test support on the weekly chart. Respect of 17000 would indicate a rally to 18500, but 63-day Twiggs Momentum oscillating in a narrow range around zero suggests a ranging market and another test of primary support at 15800/16000 remains as likely.

Sensex Index

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is testing resistance at 3040. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests that the primary up-trend is intact, and breakout would signal an advance to 3300*, but a ranging market is more likely.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3000 + ( 3000 – 2700 ) = 3300

Asia: India bullish while China, Japan bearish

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index formed a peak below zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, indicating strong selling pressure. Failure of primary support at 8200 would signal another test of the 2008/2009 lows at 7000.

Nikkei 225 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is testing its 2011 low of 2150 after breaking  primary support at 2250. Breach of the new support level would indicate a decline to 1800*. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero would strengthen the bear signal. Recovery above 2250 is unlikely, but would suggest another rally to 2500.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2500 – 2150 ) = 1800

India’s Sensex: Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates reversal to a primary up-trend; a trough above the zero line would signal strong buying pressure. Respect of support at 17000 by the latest retracement would indicate a rally to 18500, while breakout above 18500 would confirm the primary up-trend.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 18500 + ( 18500 – 16000 ) = 21000

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is testing resistance at 3030. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests that the primary up-trend is intact. Breakout above 3030 would signal a primary advance to 3300*.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3000 + ( 3000 – 2700 ) = 3300

A lack of money isn't the problem: it's time to shrink – The Drum – ABC News

Alan Kohler: Debt was built up through 30 years of current account imbalances after currencies were finally unshackled from the gold standard in 1971, and the depression of the 70s came to an end in 1982.

Central banks, principally the Federal Reserve, complied in the process of debt build-up by holding down interest rates and allowing asset prices to rise, keeping balance sheets in the black.

The credit crisis of 2007-08 brought asset prices down rapidly and rendered banks suddenly insolvent, so they had to be recapitalised by governments. Now the governments of Europe, the US and Japan are insolvent, and the only question is when the central banks will monetise their debt – that is, print more money and buy their debts…..

via A lack of money isn’t the problem: it’s time to shrink – The Drum – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

Asian markets: India bullish while China weakens

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index is testing medium-term resistance at 9000/9100. Breakout would test 10000. Troughs below zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicate weakness.

Nikkei 225 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is retracing to test resistance at 2250. Respect would confirm a primary down-trend — already signaled by 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2250 – ( 2500 – 2250 ) = 2000

Wait for confirmation from a Shenzhen Composite index reversal below 880/900. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would strengthen the signal.

Shenzhen Composite Index

Singapore Straits Times Index broke through medium-term resistance at 2900, headed for a test of 3050. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests that the primary up-trend is intact.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3050 + ( 3050 – 2900 ) = 3200

India’s Sensex displays a healthy bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, indicating reversal to a primary up-trend. Breakout above 17000 suggests another test of 18500. And breach of 18500 would confirm the primary up-trend.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 18500 + ( 18500 – 16000 ) = 21000

Japan, India and Singapore

Dow Jones Japan Index retreated from resistance at 50 and is headed for a re-test of support at 46. Failure would signal a decline to 42*. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates selling pressure and a peak below zero would warn of a strong down-trend.

Dow Jones Japan Index

* Target calculation: 46 – ( 50 – 46 ) = 42

India’s Sensex penetrated its declining trendline but almost immediately encountered resistance at 17000. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates strong support and breakout above 17000 would suggest a primary advance — confirmed if the peak at 18500 is bested. Reversal below 15800, however, would warn of a decline to 15000*.

BSE Sensex Index

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

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is testing resistance at 2900. Respect of zero by 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns of continuation of the down-trend; breach of support at 2700 would confirm, offering a target of 2500*.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 2700 – ( 2900 – 2700 ) = 2500

Forex: Europe, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Japan

The Euro is testing its new resistance level at $1.26. Respect would offer a target of $1.17*. Bullish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum, however, warns that the down-trend is weakening; recovery above zero would suggest reversal to a primary up-trend. Breach of the descending trendline would strengthen the signal.

EUR/USD

* Target calculation: 1.26 – ( 1.35 – 1.26 ) = 1.17

Pound Sterling displays a strong up-trend against the euro, again testing resistance at €1.25. Breakout would signal an advance to €1.30*. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating high above zero indicates trend strength.

GBP/USD

* Target calculation: 1.26 + ( 1.26 – 1.22 ) = 1.30

The Greenback has corrected sharply against the Japanese Yen before finding medium-term support at ¥78. Recovery above ¥80 (and the descending trendline) would indicate that the correction is over, while breach of support would test primary support at ¥75.50/76.50. The long-term bullish divergence on 63-Day Twiggs Momentum continues to warn of reversal to an up-trend.

USD/JPY

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 78 ) = 90

Sharply falling crude oil prices have weakened Canada’s Loonie relative to the Aussie Dollar. Against the greenback, the Loonie bounced of short-term support at $0.96 but this is unlikely to last and we should expect a test of primary support at $0.94/0.95. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would warn of a primary down-trend.

Canadian Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.96 – ( 0.98 – 0.96 ) = 0.94

The Aussie Dollar lifted along with commodity prices and is headed for a test of $1.02 (USD). Upward breakout would signal an advance to $1.08, while respect of resistance (and the descending trendline) would warn of a decline to $0.90*. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would strengthen the bear signal.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.96 – ( 1.02 – 0.96 ) = 0.90

The Aussie Dollar is headed for a test of resistance at R8.50 (South African Rand). Breakout would offer a target of R9.00*. Reversal of 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero, however, would warn of a primary down-trend.

Aussie Dollar/South African Rand

* Target calculation: 8.50 + ( 8.50 – 8.00 ) = 9.00

Asia-Pacific stocks surge on Greek election results

ASX 200 Index is testing resistance at 4120 after Greek voters narrowly favored the New Democracy party in Sunday’s election — meaning that Greece is likely to remain in the euro-zone. Bullish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium term buying pressure — following breach of the descending trendline suggested that the correction was over. Follow-through above 4150 would strengthen the signal, offering a target of the May high at 4450.

ASX 200 Index

Dow Jones South Korea Index respected support at 402. Breakout above 420 would confirm that the down-trend is over. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the signal.

Dow Jones South Korea Index

Dow Jones Japan Index is testing the descending trendline and short-term resistance at 49. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum still reflects a primary down-trend, but breach of the descending trendline would warn that a bottom is forming.

Dow Jones Japan Index

Dow Jones Hong Kong Index is testing medium-term resistance at 388. Breach of the descending trendline warns that a bottom is forming. Upward breakout would indicate a rally to 440. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the signal.

Dow Jones Hong Kong Index

Forex: Japanese Yen

The US Dollar broke support at ¥80 Japanese Yen and is now at the 61.8% Fibonacci level. Failure of short-term support at ¥79 would indicate another test of primary support at ¥76. The long-term bearish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum continues, however, and a trough above zero would indicate a fresh primary advance. Breakout above ¥84 would confirm.

USD/Japanese Yen

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