Countries & Regions Archives - Page 188 of 383

February 4, 2014

US correction confirmed

The S&P 500 broke support at 1770, confirming a secondary correction. At times like this it pays to look at monthly charts to gain a long-term perspective. The first line of support is at 1700. Respect of the secondary trendline would flag a weak correction indicative of a strong up-trend. Breach of that level, however, would suggest a strong correction to 1550 and the primary trendline. The scale of the bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, when compared to the divergence in 2007, suggests medium-term selling pressure — typical of a secondary correction rather than a (primary) reversal.

S&P 500

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) crossed to above 20, suggesting moderate risk, but not yet cause for concern.

VIX Index

The Nasdaq 100 retreated below 3500, warning of a correction. Again, the bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow appears secondary and no threat to the primary up-trend.

Nasdaq 100

February 4, 2014

Dow scare tactics

I wish I had a dollar for every time the 1929 Dow has been superimposed over the current index. Like this effort at Zero Hedge.

Dow Jones

Why did the analyst select a period of two years? Because that is the period that fits.

Dow Jones

If we compare the period 1920 to 1933 to the last 13 years, 2001 to 2014, there is a significant difference.

Dow Jones 2001 to 2014

By 1929 the Dow had climbed roughly 400%, while by 2014 the Dow gained roughly 50% over a similar time period.

Superimposing charts one on top of the other has no sound basis in technical analysis and should be viewed as an attempt to scare the market into a sell-off. A correction may be overdue, but there are always potential buyers hoping for much lower prices.

Hat tip to John B. for sending me the Zero Hedge chart.

February 3, 2014

Strong UK manufacturing rebound continues | Markit

From Markit Economics, released February 3rd, 2014:

The strong upturn in manufacturing production was maintained in January, as companies scaled up output in response to stronger inflows of new orders. There were reports of improved demand from the domestic market and rising levels of new business from overseas…..

February 2, 2014

Japan: Nikkei falls as Dollar weakens

The US Dollar is testing support at ¥102 to ¥103 against the Yen. Breach of the rising trendline would strengthen the warning from a bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum. Reversal of Momentum below zero would suggest a primary down-trend. Recovery above ¥104 is less likely, but would offer a target of ¥110*.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 106 + ( 106 – 102 ) = 110

A rising Dollar/Yen exchange rate would assist Japanese stocks. The Nikkei 225 is testing support at 15000 after penetrating its rising trendline. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Reversal below 15000 would indicate a strong correction, while a Twiggs Money Flow cross below zero would warn of a primary down-trend.

Nikkei 225

January 29, 2014

US interest rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes broke support at 2.75 percent after penetrating the rising trendline. Both warn of trend weakness. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum strengthens the signal and reversal below zero would warn of a primary down-trend. Breach of support at 2.50 still seems unlikely, but would offer a target of 2.00 percent*.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.50 – ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 2.00

The Dollar Index, on the other hand, appears headed for another test of resistance at 81.50. Breakout would signal a primary advance to 83.00*, while recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the signal. Reversal below 79.80 cannot be ruled out, with long-term rates falling, and would warn of another test of primary support at 79.00.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.5 + ( 81.5 – 80 ) = 83

January 28, 2014

ASX 200 breaks support

With secondary weakness in both China and the US, the ASX 200 broke support at 5200, signaling another correction. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero suggests short-term selling pressure. Recovery above 5250 is unlikely, but would indicate a bear trap. Failure of primary support at 5050 would warn of a primary down-trend.

ASX 200

The monthly chart illustrates the importance of primary support at 5000. Breach would confirm the down-trend, suggesting a fall to the long-term trendline, around 4600.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5300 + ( 5300 – 5200 ) = 5400

The ASX 200 VIX rose sharply, but (below 20) continues to reflect low market risk.

ASX 200

January 28, 2014

India: SENSEX resists

India’s Sensex displays strong resistance at its 2007 and 2010 high of 21000, with several failed attempts at a breakout. Reversal below 20500 would warn of another correction to the primary trendline. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure typical of a consolidation.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 21000 + ( 21000 – 20000 ) = 22000

January 28, 2014

Shanghai decline

China’s Shanghai Composite Index found short-term support at 2030 on Tuesday, but another test of the primary level at 1950 appears inevitable. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Breach of support at 1950 would offer a target of the 2008 low at 1700*.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 1950 – ( 2200 – 1950 ) = 1700

January 27, 2014

What a good economy should look like | Warren Mosler

Warren Mosler, from a talk in Chianciano, Italy, on January 11, 2014 entitled Oltre L’Euro: La Sinistra. La Crisi. L’Alternativa.

What a good economy should look like

I just want to say a quick word about what a good economy is because it’s been so long since we’ve had a good economy. You’ve got to be at least as old as I am to remember it. In a good economy business competes for people. There is a shortage of people to work for business. Everybody wants to hire you. They’ll train you, whatever it takes. They hire students before they get out of school. You can change jobs if you want to because other companies are always trying to hire you. That’s the way the economy is supposed to be but that’s all turned around. For one reason, which I’ll keep coming back to, the budget deficit is too small. As soon as they started tightening up on budget deficits many years ago, we transformed from a good economy where the people were the most important thing to what I call this ‘crime against humanity’ that we have today……

So what you do is you target full employment, because that’s the kind of economy everybody wants to live in. And the right size deficit is whatever deficit corresponds to full employment…….

January 27, 2014

ROSENBERG: More Signs Of Wage Inflation

Gluskin Sheff’s David Rosenberg:

The Fed’s Beige Book contained no fewer than two dozen references to wage pressures and skilled job shortages and in sectors that cover around 40 million workers. I realise the average hourly and weekly earnings data from the non farm payroll survey are tepid but a big disconnect seems to have emerged between those measures and the broad wage/salary growth numbers out of the National Accounts data……