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

Japan & South Korea

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index is headed for a test of primary support at 8000 after breaking both support at 9000 and the rising trendline. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of long-term selling pressure. Breach of 8000 would resume the primary down-trend, offering a long-term target of 6000*.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 8000 – ( 10000 – 8000 ) = 6000

Dow Jones South Korea Index is retracing to test resistance at 425 after a sharp fall below the rising trendline. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Failure of primary support at 380 would confirm, signaling a decline to the 2011 low of 350.

Dow Jones South Korea Index

Forex: Japanese Yen

The US Dollar found support at ¥80 Japanese Yen. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough high above zero would indicate a strong up-trend. Recovery above the declining trendline and resistance at ¥82 would strengthen the signal. Failure of support is unlikely but would test primary support at ¥76.

USD/Japanese Yen

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

Japan & South Korea

Dow Jones Japan Index is headed for a test of primary support at 47. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of long-term selling pressure. Failure of support would resume the primary down-trend, offering a target of 38*.

Dow Jones Japan Index

* Target calculation: 48 – ( 58 – 48 ) = 38

Dow Jones South Korea Index reflects stronger support on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, but reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would still warn of a primary down-trend. Failure of primary support at 380 would confirm.

Dow Jones South Korea Index

Forex: US Dollar/Japanese Yen

The US dollar is testing long-term support at ¥80. Failure would warn of weakness in the primary up-trend but 63-Day Twiggs Momentum holding above zero suggests continuation. Recovery above ¥82 would indicate a fresh primary advance, with a target of ¥90*.

US Dollar/ Japanese Yen

* Target calculation: 85 + ( 85 – 80 ) = 90