Countries & Regions Archives - Page 115 of 380

May 15, 2016

Old-school American retail is getting crushed by capitalism | Yahoo

From Seana Smith:

Earnings season is sending a massive warning for the retail sector: Big players are getting crushed, and if companies fail to change their strategies, things may go from bad to worse. A slew of weak results sent traditional retailers into a tailspin this week. Gap (GPS) and Ralph Lauren (RL), along with department stores Macy’s (M), Kohl’s (KSS), Nordstrom (JWN) and J.C. Penney (JCP), all disappointed Wall Street with their latest numbers.

Gap and Ralph Lauren both reported a drop in comparable sales, falling 7% and 5% respectively. And the results weren’t any better for department stores. Macy’s recorded its worst quarterly results since the recession, Kohl’s posted an 87% decline in its profit, Nordstrom slashed its guidance and J.C. Penney reversed five straight quarters of sales growth.

But there’s one massive retailer that’s bucking the trend — Amazon.

The e-commerce giant is gaining market share while wreaking havoc on its brick-and-mortar competitors.“Amazon is already the second largest U.S. apparel retailer (trailing only WMT), as the company has grown to ~7% of the overall U.S. apparel market. We estimate Amazon will reach 19% share of the U.S. apparel market by 2020,” Morgan Stanley wrote in a note to clients on Thursday.

AMZN

Amazon (AMZN) broke through resistance at 700, offering a target of 900. Rising troughs on long-term (12-month) Money Flow reflect strong buying pressure. Retracement that respects the band of support at 680 to 700 would confirm the breakout.

Source: Old-school American retail is getting crushed by capitalism – Yahoo Finance

May 15, 2016

Retail sales lift

Retail sales (excluding motor vehicles and fuel) jumped to a 2.96% year-on-year increase for April 2016, climbing back above Core CPI to reflect a real increase.

US Retail Sales ex Motor Vehicles and Fuel

We are still waiting on light vehicle sales for April. An upturn would indicate reviving consumer confidence in the economy.

US Light Vehicle Sales

An upturn in business sales is also needed, to spur new investment.

US Business Sales

May 15, 2016

Iron Ore Wrap

From Andy Semple at Andika:

The iron ore price has slumped to a one-month low as investors fret over the strength of Chinese demand. The commodity weakened 1.7% to $US53.50 a tonne at the end of last week, its lowest price since April 11. It’s the commodity’s seventh red session in the past eight and the price has now dropped to below the [Australian] government’s recent budget forecast of $US55 a tonne.

May 13, 2016

Greenback finds support

The US Dollar Index rallied off long-term support at 93 but this looks more a pause in the primary down-trend, signaled by decline of 13-week Momentum below zero, than a reversal.

US Dollar Index

Explanation for the Dollar rally is evident on the chart of China’s foreign reserves: a pause in the sharp decline of the last 2 years. China has embarked on another massive stimulus program in an attempt to shock their economy out of its present slump.

China: Foreign Reserves

But this hair of the dog remedy is unlikely to solve their problems, merely postpone the inevitable reckoning. The Yuan is once again weakening against the Dollar and decline in China’s reserves, and the US Dollar as a consequence, is likely to continue.

USD: Chinese Yuan

May 13, 2016

Don’t Blame Sykes-Picot for the Middle East’s Mess | Foreign Policy

By Steven A. Cook, Amr T. Leheta:

The weaknesses and contradictions of authoritarian regimes are at the heart of the Middle East’s ongoing tribulations. Even the rampant ethnic and religious sectarianism is a result of this authoritarianism, which has come to define the Middle East’s state system far more than the Sykes-Picot agreement ever did.

The region’s “unnatural” borders did not lead to the Middle East’s ethnic and religious divisions. The ones to blame are the cynical political leaders who foster those divisions in hopes of maintaining their rule. In Iraq, for instance, Saddam Hussein built a patronage system through his ruling Baath Party that empowered a state governed largely by Sunnis at the expense of Shiites and Kurds. Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and his father before him, also ruled by building a network of supporters and affiliates whereby members of his Alawite sect enjoyed a privileged space in the inner circle. The Wahhabi worldview of Saudi Arabia’s leaders strongly encourages a sectarian interpretation of the country’s struggle with Iran for regional hegemony. The same is true for the ideologies of the various Salafi-jihadi groups battling for supremacy in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen…..

Source: Don’t Blame Sykes-Picot for the Middle East’s Mess | Foreign Policy

May 12, 2016

ASX confidence growing

The ASX 200 is growing in confidence. Having penetrated its descending trendline, to suggest a bottom, the index rallied to test resistance at 3400. Rising troughs on 13-week Money Flow suggest buying pressure. Retracement that respects support at 5200 would strengthen the signal, while breakout above 5400 would confirm a primary up-trend.

ASX 200

May 12, 2016

Aussie gold stocks shine

Australian gold stocks have had a good run since the index (XGD) broke resistance at 2800. At some stage there is bound to be a correction but the up-trend now looks pretty robust, rising 13-week Money Flow confirming buying pressure.

XGD

May 12, 2016

Europe fizzles

The Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 rally of the last few weeks fizzled without making much headway over the previous peak before retreating below 3000. Failure of support at 2850 would warn of another test of primary support. Reversal of 13-week Money Flow below zero would warn of another decline.

DAX

May 12, 2016

Asia: Shanghai weakens

The Shanghai Composite Index broke medium-term support at 2900, warning of another test of primary support at 2700. Reversal of Money Flow below zero would warn of a decline to 2400*.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 3000 – ( 3600 – 3000 ) = 2400

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index is edging higher but trend strength is weak. Breakout above resistance at 17000 was followed by a retreat to 16000. Support is weak and breach of 16000 would signal another test of primary support at 15000.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 17000 – ( 20000 – 17500 ) = 15000

India’s Sensex is more bullish, testing its upper trend channel at 26000. Short retracement is a bullish sign and breakout above 26000 would signal that the down-trend is ending. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the signal.

SENSEX

* Target calculation: 23000 – ( 25000 – 23000 ) = 21000

May 12, 2016

TSX60 meets resistance

Canada’s TSX 60 found resistance at 820. Reversal below 800 warns of a correction but short retracement would be a bullish sign. And breakout above 820 would signal another advance. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum suggests a primary up-trend.

TSX 60 Index