Countries & Regions Archives - Page 176 of 383

April 15, 2014

Europe hesitant

The Euro is retracing to test support at $1.37 on the monthly chart. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum continues to warn of medium-term weakness, and penetration of the rising trendline/support at $1.35 would warn of a bull trap. Follow-through above $1.40 is unlikely at present, but would signal an advance to $1.46*.

Euro

* Target calculation: 1.37 + ( 1.37 – 1.28 ) = 1.46

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 found support at 3100. Recovery above 3180 would signal another advance, but bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum suggests weakness. Failure of 3100 would warn of a correction to test 2900/3000.

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50

The DAX found support at 9200 and recovery above 9400 would suggest another test of 9800. Breakout above 9800 is unlikely, but would offer a target of 10600*. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to indicate medium-term selling pressure, until the descending trendline is broken. Further consolidation between 9000 and 9800 is the most likely outcome. Breach of primary support at 9000 is unlikely, but would signal reversal to a primary down-trend.

DAX

DAX Volatility is rising, but continues to indicate low risk typical of a bull market.

DAX

The Footsie similarly found support at 6500. Recovery above 6750 would signal another attempt at 6850. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow oscillating above zero continues to indicate healthy (long-term) buying pressure. Reversal below 6400 (and the rising trendline) is unlikely, but would signal a primary reversal. Breakout above 6850 is also unlikely at this stage, so again further consolidation is the most likely outcome.

FTSE 100

April 14, 2014

India, China strengthen while Japan falters

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is testing primary support at 14000, while a large bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of long-term selling pressure. Follow-through below 14000 would confirm a primary down-trend. Recovery above 15000 and the descending trendline is unlikely, but would indicate an advance to 16000*.

Nikkei 225

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

Bullish divergence (13-week Twiggs Money Flow) on the Shanghai Composite Index signals medium-term buying pressure. Breakout above 2180 would complete a double bottom reversal. Breach of primary support at 1980 is unlikely, but would offer a target of 1750*.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Long-term target calculation: 2000 – ( 2250 – 2000 ) = 1750

Indian exchanges were closed Monday. A long-term view of the Sensex displays a healthy up-trend, with 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero indicating buying pressure. Target for the latest advance is 23000*, but reversal below 22000 would warn of a correction to test the new support level at 21000.

Sensex

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

April 14, 2014

Shanghai near double bottom

Dow Jones Shanghai index continues its strong performance. Breakout above 285 would complete a double bottom reversal, signaling a primary up-trend. Respect of resistance is more likely, but would still be bullish if followed by narrow consolidation.

Dow Jones Shanghai

April 14, 2014

Aussie strong despite ASX

The ASX 200 broke its rising trendline and short-term support to signal a correction. Declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates short-term selling pressure (a trough that respects zero would be a bullish sign). Breach of 5290/5300 would warn of a test of primary support at 5050. Failure of primary support is unlikely, but would signal a down-trend. Recovery above 5460 is also unlikely at present, but would signal a fresh advance.

ASX 200

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

ASX 200 VIX is rising, but continues to indicate low risk typical of a bull market.

ASX 200

The Aussie Dollar remains strong, consolidating at $0.94 despite ASX weakness. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum signals a primary up-trend, but we may see the RBA intervene to prevent this. The RBA may need to follow the RBNZ, with macro-prudential controls, to take the steam out of the housing market (setting a maximum LVR percentage, for example) if further rate cuts become necessary.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.93 + ( 0.93 – 0.91 ) = 0.95

April 13, 2014

Russia ‘Tourists’ Fighting in Ukraine | The Daily Beast

From Oleg Shynkarenko at The Daily Beast:

A journalist from Russia’s Moskva FM Radio broadcasting from Donetsk asked a local rebel commander, “Can you tell me your name?” He answered: “Of course, I am Paramonov Pavel Vladimirovytch.”

“Are you from Donetsk?”

“Of course not. I am from Yefremov, Tula region [Russia].”

“What are you doing in Donetsk?”

“I am helping brotherly people to defend their rights, do you have another questions?”

April 13, 2014

Murray must target ‘intermediation’ | InvestorDaily

Compulsory and tax-advantaged superannuation has the effect of inflating funds flowing into the financial sector, said the submission [to the Financial System Inquiry].

“We note an emerging body of research concluding that beyond a threshold level, financial sector size and growth have a negative association with stability, economic growth and productivity,” Regnan said.

April 11, 2014

Markets warn of correction

Before we examine the US and Australian markets, please take a look at the two charts below and tell me whether the trend is up or down. If you have a five-year old or six-year old handy, try asking them.

S&P 500

And the second one:

ASX 200

The trend on both is clear. If we invert the charts, you will recognize the S&P 500:

S&P 500

The S&P 500 breach of support at 1840 warns of a secondary correction and a sharp fall on 13-week Twiggs Money suggests selling pressure similar to the correction in late 2012. But the primary trend is up.

Likewise the ASX 200. The index retreated from 5500 and follow-through below 5380 would warn of a secondary correction. But 13-week Twiggs Money Flow oscillating above zero indicates buying pressure and the primary trend remains upward.

ASX 200

Momentum stocks are experiencing a sell-off, but our strategy is to hold existing positions. Attempting to time entries and exits in secondary corrections erodes performance. None of our market filters indicate elevated risk and we are confident that this is a bull market.

April 9, 2014

Are we in a bull market?

A simple reflection of the weekly trend on major markets using Ichimoku Cloud. Candles above the cloud indicate an up-trend, below the cloud indicates a down-trend, while in the cloud reflects uncertainty. From West to East:
S&P 500
S&P 500
Footsie
FTSE 100
DAX
DAX
ASX 200
ASX 200
Nikkei 225 is testing primary support at 14000 and looks a bit weaker

While China is holding above primary support at 1950/2000 but shows no clear trend
Shanghai Composite

Overall, there is a strong case for a bull market.

April 8, 2014

Big Banks to Get Higher Capital Requirement – WSJ.com

Stephanie Armour and Ryan Tracy discuss the new leverage ratio that the eight biggest US lenders will be required to meet:

The eight bank-holding companies would have to hold loss-absorbing capital worth at least 5% of their assets to avoid limits on rewarding shareholders and paying bonuses, and their FDIC-insured bank subsidiaries would have to keep a minimum leverage ratio of at least 6% or face corrective actions. That is higher than the 3% agreed upon under global standards, which U.S. regulators have seen as too weak.

[FDIC Chairman Maurice] Gruenberg said leaving the leverage ratio at 3% for large banks “would not have meaningfully constrained leverage during the years leading to the crisis.” He said the rule “may be the most significant step we have taken to reduce the systemic risk posed by these large complex banking organizations.”

Banks are pushing back against the new ratios required by the Fed, FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Banks have balked at the leverage ratio, saying it will curtail lending and saddle them with more costs that leave them at a competitive disadvantage against foreign banks with lower capital requirements. Banks will have to hold that capital as protection for every loan, security and asset they hold, not just those deemed risky.

As a general rule, share capital is more expensive than debt, but that may not be the case with highly leveraged banks if you remove the too-big-to-fail taxpayer subsidy. Improved capital ratios would lower the risk premium associated with both the cost of capital and the cost of debt, offering a competitive advantage over foreign banks with higher leverage.

I would like to see APRA impose a similar minimum on Australia’s big four banks which currently range between 4% and 5%.

April 8, 2014

Shanghai breakout

Dow Jones Shanghai index also exerts a positive influence, with a strong breakout above medium-term resistance at 271. Resistance at 284 is some way off, but would complete a double bottom reversal.

Dow Jones Shanghai