Forex: Euro breakout, Aussie strengthens

The Euro broke through its February high of $1.37, signaling a long-term advance to $1.46*. Troughs above zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicate a healthy up-trend, but expect retracement to test the new support level. Reversal below support at $1.34 is unlikely, but would warn of another correction.

Euro/USD

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

Sterling is testing medium-term support at €1.175. Penetration of the rising trendline warns the trend is weakening and failure of support would signal a correction to primary support at €1.14. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero strengthens the warning. Recovery above resistance at €1.20 is unlikely, but would signal an advance to €1.225*.

Sterling/Euro

* Target calculation: 1.20 + ( 1.20 – 1.175 ) = 1.225

The greenback is pretty directionless against the Japanese Yen, reflecting indecision. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum warns of trend weakness. Breakout above ¥101 would signal another advance, while breach of support at ¥96 would indicate a reversal.

USD/JPY

Canada’s Loonie is back at parity against the Aussie Dollar. Expect some support at this level. A breach of the descending trendline would alert us to a potential rally, as would reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero.

Canadian Loonie

The Aussie Dollar encountered resistance at its target of $0.97* against the greenback. Short retracement would indicate strong momentum, while respect of the new support level at $0.95 would suggest a healthy up-trend. Failure of support is unlikely, but would warn the up-trend is weakening.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.95 + ( 0.95 – 0.93 ) = 0.97

The Aussie Dollar is strengthening against its Kiwi neighbour, breaking resistance at $1.14 to signal another test of $1.16. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum favors a primary up-trend. Breakout above $1.16 would complete a double-bottom reversal with a target of $1.20*. Reversal below $1.14 is now unlikely, but would warn of another decline; confirmed if primary support at $1.12 is broken.

Kiwi Dollar

* Target calculations: 1.16 + ( 1.16 – 1.12 ) = 1.20

Druckenmiller Sees Storm Worse Than ’08 | Bloomberg

Stan Druckenmiller, George Soros’ former partner and one of the best-performing hedge fund managers of the past three decades, warns of the real long-term threat to the US economy:

Druckenmiller, 59, said the mushrooming costs of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, with unfunded liabilities as high as $211 trillion, will bankrupt the nation’s youth and pose a much greater danger than the country’s $16 trillion of debt currently being debated in Congress…… unsustainable spending will eventually result in a crisis worse than the financial meltdown of 2008…

Read more at Druckenmiller Sees Storm Worse Than ’08 as Seniors Steal – Bloomberg.

Asian recovery bullish for ASX

India’s Sensex is testing long-term resistance at its all-time high of 21000. Expect retracement to test the new support level at 20500. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying pressure and breakout above 21000 would offer a long-term target of 24000*. Reversal below 20500 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 18000.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 21000 + ( 21000 – 18000 ) = 24000

Rising troughs on Japan’s Nikkei 225 weekly chart suggest buying pressure; 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above 30% would strengthen the signal. Breakout above 15000 would signal an advance to 17500*. Reversal below 14000 is unlikely, but would warn of a bull trap.

Nikkei 225

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

China’s Shanghai Composite is consolidating below resistance at 2250. Reversal below the lower channel border at 2180, however, would warn that the trend is slowing and breach of support at 2150 would signal another correction. Declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates short-term selling pressure, but oscillation above the zero line indicates buyers are dominant in the longer term.

Shanghai Composite Index

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is testing resistance at 23500 on the weekly chart. Breakout would be a strong bull signal, offering a target of 25500*. Follow-through above 24000 would confirm the advance. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests medium-term buying pressure. Reversal below 22750 is unlikely, but would indicate a correction to 21500.

Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 23500 + ( 23500 – 21500 ) = 25500

Rising Asian markets are bullish for the ASX. The ASX 200 index followed through above 5300, confirming an advance to 5850*. Expect retracement to test the new support level at 5250/5300. Failure of support is unlikely, but would warn of another correction.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5250 + ( 5250 – 4650 ) = 5850

The EU should take inspiration from Switzerland in its attempts to increase democratic legitimacy | EUROPP

Joseph Lacey explains why the EU should follow the Swiss example:

Three major factors help to explain how Switzerland is possible. First, there are national elections and nationally-held referendums connected to the workings of a national government. Second, though national elections only take place every five years, referendums are far more frequent. On average, usually on three scheduled dates, Switzerland holds seven referendums annually. Some of these are constitutionally mandated, though the majority are demanded at the initiative of at least 100,000 citizen signatures. Third, unlike the case of Belgium where national consciousness is fragmented by two party systems divided along linguistic lines (French and Flemish), Switzerland has a single party system where the dominant cleavage is ideological, cutting across linguistic barriers and thereby allowing parties to draw common support from all public spheres.

Read more at The EU should take inspiration from Switzerland in its attempts to increase democratic legitimacy. | EUROPP.

European breakout

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 — representing 50 leading stocks in the Eurozone — broke long-term resistance at 3000, while the 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough above zero suggests a healthy up-trend. Expect retracement to test the new support level; respect would signal a primary advance, while failure would test 2850, warning of a bull trap.

Euro Stoxx 50

* Target calculation: 3000 + ( 3000 – 2500 ) = 3500

The FTSE 100 is also strengthening, with rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicating buying pressure. Breakout above 6700 would indicate an advance to 7000*. Reversal below support at 6400 is unlikely, but would warn of a primary down-trend.

FTSE 100

* Target calculation: 6700 + ( 6700 – 6400 ) = 7000

TSX breakout

Canada’s TSX 60 broke through resistance at 740, signaling a long-term advance to 800*. A trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow would confirm strong buying pressure. Reversal below 740 is most unlikely, but would warn of a bull trap.

TSX 60

* Target calculation: 740 + ( 740 – 680 ) = 800

TSX 60 VIX below 15 suggests low market risk.

TSX 60 VIX

S&P 500 and Nasdaq bullish while Dow hesitates

The S&P 500 broke through resistance at 1730, signaling an advance to 1790/1800*. Follow-through above 1750 would confirm. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow troughs close to zero indicate buying pressure. Reversal below 1730 is unlikely at present, but would warn of a test of primary support at 1650.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1710 + ( 1710 – 1630 ) = 1790

VIX below 15 signals low market risk.

VIX Index

Dow Jones Industrial Average is headed for a test of 15700, but bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of a reversal. Breach of 14800 would confirm. Overall sentiment remains positive, however, and TMF recovery above the descending trendline (20%) would be a bullish sign. Breakout above 15700 would offer a target of 16600*.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 15700 + ( 15700 – 14800 ) = 16600

The Nasdaq 100 is contrastingly bullish, with 13-week Twiggs Money Flow troughs well above zero signaling strong buying pressure.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 3050 + ( 3050 – 2800 ) = 3300

Forex: Aussie breakout

The Euro is consolidating in a narrow band below $1.36. Upward breakout above $1.37 would signal a fresh advance, with a long-term target of $1.47*. The trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates a healthy up-trend. Failure of support at $1.34 — and penetration of the rising trendline — is unlikely, but would warn of another correction.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.37 + ( 1.37 – 1.27 ) = 1.47

Sterling broke short-term support at €1.18, warning of another correction to primary support at €1.14. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero continues to favor a primary up-trend. Breakout above resistance at €1.20 is unlikely, but would signal an advance to €1.24*.

Sterling/Euro

* Target calculation: 1.19 + ( 1.19 – 1.14 ) = 1.24

The greenback respected support against the Japanese Yen at ¥96. Breakout above ¥101 would signal another advance. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum, however, continues to warn of a weak up-trend and breach of support at ¥96 would indicate a reversal.

USD/JPY

* Target calculation: 96 – ( 100 – 96 ) = 92

Canada’s Loonie respected support at $0.96, suggesting another attempt at resistance of $0.9750. Breakout would complete a double-bottom reversal with a target of parity*. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum also favors a primary up-trend. Reversal below $0.96 is unlikely, but would signal another test of the primary level at $0.9450.

Canadian Loonie

* Target calculation: 97.5 + ( 97.5 – 94.5 ) = 100.5

The Aussie Dollar broke through resistance at $0.95, signaling an advance to $0.97*. Retracement to test the new support level at $0.95 is likely. Respect would confirm the primary advance; failure of support — though unlikely — would warn of another test of $0.93.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.95 + ( 0.95 – 0.93 ) = 0.97

Against its Kiwi neighbour, the Aussie Dollar respected resistance at $1.14, suggesting another test of primary support at $1.12. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum, however, continues to favor a primary up-trend. Recovery above $1.14 — and the descending trendline — would signal a test of primary resistance at $1.16. Breakout above $1.16 would complete a double-bottom reversal with a target of $1.20*. Until then, breach of primary support remains a threat and would warn of a decline to $1.08*.

Kiwi Dollar

* Target calculations: 1.12 – ( 1.16 – 1.12 ) = 1.08

S&P 500 breakout

The S&P 500 broke through resistance at 1700/1710, indicating a primary advance to 1790/1800*. Troughs close to zero on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow suggest buying pressure. Reversal below 1675 is unlikely at present, but would warn of a test of primary support at 1630.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1710 + ( 1710 – 1630 ) = 1790

India, ASX breakout

India’s Sensex is retracing to test its new support level after breaking resistance at 20500 Friday, signaling a primary advance to 22000*. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero indicates buying pressure. Reversal below 19500 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 18000.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 20000 + ( 20000 – 18000 ) = 22000

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is testing the rising trendline on its weekly chart. Penetration would warn that momentum is slowing, while breach of 13000 would signal a primary down-trend. Breakout above 15000 is as likely, despite the earlier bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, and would signal an advance to 17500*.

Nikkei 225

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

China’s Shanghai Composite is rallying to test resistance — and the upper trend channel — at 2330. The 21-day Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero indicates growing buying pressure. Reversal below 2150 is unlikely, but would indicate another test of primary support at 1950.

Shanghai Composite Index

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is testing resistance at 23500 on the weekly chart. Breakout would signal a primary advance to 25500*; follow-through above 24000 would confirm. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure. Respect of 23000 is unlikely, but would suggest another test of support at 21500.

Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 23500 + ( 23500 – 21500 ) = 25500

Singapore’s Straits Times Index appears to be preparing for another test of long-term resistance at 3300. Breakout would signal a primary advance to 3600*. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would warn of a primary down-trend, but sentiment is bullish across a wide range of markets and upward breakout is as likely.

Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3300 + ( 3300 – 3000 ) = 3600

The ASX 200 recovered above resistance at the May high of 5250, the false break suggesting a bear trap. Follow-through above 5300 would confirm an advance to 5850*. Reversal below 5100 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5250 + ( 5250 – 4650 ) = 5850