Crawling, not walking, to non-mining led growth | MacroBusiness

Leith van Onselen quotes the latest JP Morgan report on the Australian economy:

…risk of a recession is “inevitably higher now than usual; the economy has built up vulnerabilities over time that have been masked by the continued growth in output and national income… the downside of avoiding recession is that Australia has carried these excesses through a succession of growth cycles”.

Households are particularly at risk from expensive house prices and high levels of household debt. Which brings me back to the unnecessary risks bank regulators are taking by condoning low bank capital ratios of between 4.0% and 4.5% of total credit exposure. Risk-weighting of bank assets provided a smokescreen, inflating perceived ratios to around 10%, while encouraging over-exposure to (low risk-weighted) residential mortgages.

Read more at Crawling, not walking, to non-mining led growth | | MacroBusiness.

European markets retrace, but FTSE bearish

European markets are consolidating after recent gains with the exception of Italy, which is suffering from political instability, while the FTSE 100 displays persistent selling pressure.

The FTSE 100 is heading for a test of primary support at 6400, having broken medium-term support at 6500. Declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow after a lengthy period below zero indicates medium-term selling pressure; bearish divergence on the 13-week indicator also warns of strong selling pressure. Failure of support at 6400 would signal a primary down-trend; respect is unlikely, but would suggest another test of 6700.

FTSE 100

Germany’s DAX retraced to the new support level at 8500. Respect would offer a medium-term target of 9000* and a long-term target of 9400*. Reversal below 8000 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 7600.

DAX

* Target calculation: 8500 + ( 8500 – 8000 ) = 9000 ; 8500 + ( 8500 – 7600 ) = 9400

France’s CAC-40 is similarly testing support at 4100. Recovery above its 2011 high of 4200 would offer an immediate target of 4300* and a long-term target of 4500*. Reversal below 3900 is unlikely but would warn of a test of primary support at 3600.

CAC-40

* Target calculation: 4100 + ( 4100 – 3900 ) = 4300 ; 4050 + ( 4050 – 3600 ) = 4500

Spain’s Madrid General Index displays healthy buying pressure on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow. Retracement that respects support at 900 would confirm a long-term advance to 1050*. Reversal below 900 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction.

Madrid General Index

* Target calculation: 900 + ( 900 – 750 ) = 1050

Italy’s MIB Index is weaker, following a rift between Prime Minister Enrico Letta and his coalition partner, Silvio Berlusconi. Follow-through below the rising trendline would test support at 16500. Recovery above 18000, on the other hand, would signal a primary advance with a long-term target of 20000*.

MIB Index

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

TSX 60 bearish divergence

Canada’s TSX 60 index is testing long-term resistance at 740, but bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Reversal below 730 would indicate another test of primary support at 710. Failure of support would signal a primary down-trend.

TSX 60

The VIX below 15, however, continues to reflect low market risk.

TSX 60 VIX

Short-term support for S&P 500 but long-term bearish

The September quarter-end often heralds a correction as fund managers re-balance their portfolios and shed under-performing stocks.

The S&P 500 is testing support at the May high of 1675 on the daily chart. The long tail on Monday’s candle indicates short-term buying support, but bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warns of medium-term selling pressure. Breach of support and the (secondary) rising trendline would signal a test of primary support at 1625.

S&P 500

Selling pressure is also evident on the weekly chart, where a similar divergence warns of a primary reversal. This is a relatively weak signal, with 13-week Twiggs Money Flow elevated well above zero and primary support some way above the long-term rising trendline. Failure of support at 1625 would signal a reversal, but it would be prudent to wait for confirmation from the long-term trendline or other major indexes.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1700 + ( 1700 – 1550 ) = 1850

VIX crossed to above 15, but still indicates relatively low market risk.

VIX Index

Dow Jones Industrial Average broke its (secondary) rising trendline, signaling a test of primary support at 14800. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of a reversal and breach of 14800 would confirm. Recovery above 15660 is unlikely, but would indicate a fresh advance.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

Buy Yen on Debt Debacle? | WSJ

Ian Talley at WSJ reports:

In, “The Curious Case of the Yen: A Safe Haven Currency without Inflows” (see p.142) the IMF studied 11 shocks between the August 1990 U.S. savings and loan crisis and the August 2011 U.S. debt ceiling confrontation that pushed the volatility index 10 percentage points higher than its previous 60-day average. “The yen has tended to appreciate on average during these episodes, against the U.S. dollar, the euro and in nominal and real effective terms,” the IMF found.

Read more at Buy Yen on Debt Debacle? – Real Time Economics – WSJ.

Forex: Aussie and Euro breakout

The Euro broke through resistance at $1.34/$1.3450, offering a medium-term target of $1.37* and long-term target of $1.40*. A trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates a healthy up-trend.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.34 + ( 1.34 – 1.31 ) = 1.37; 1.34 + ( 1.34 – 1.28 ) = 1.40

The greenback is ranging aimlessly between ¥96 and ¥101 against the yen, indicating uncertainty. Breakout from the range will indicate future direction. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would suggest a primary down-trend.

USD/JPY

* Target calculation: 101 + ( 101 – 96 ) = 106

The Aussie Dollar retraced to test support at $0.93/$0.935 against the greenback after its recent breakout. Respect is likely and would suggest an advance to $0.97*. Follow-through above $0.95 would confirm.

Aussie Dollar

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

The Aussie found support at $1.12 against its Kiwi neighbour. Recovery above $1.16 and the descending trendline would complete a double-bottom reversal, offering a target of $1.20*.

Kiwi Dollar

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

Asia recovery helps ASX 200

China’s Shanghai Composite Index ran into resistance at 2250 and is likely to retrace to support at 2100. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure. Respect of 2100 would be bullish, while recovery above 2250 would penetrate the descending trendline, suggesting that the primary down-trend is reversing. A primary up-trend would signal increased demand for resources and give a significant boost to the ASX. Failure of 2100 is unlikely, but would indicate a test of primary support at 1950.

Shanghai Composite Index

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is testing resistance at 15000. Breakout would signal an advance to 17500*. Earlier bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, however, warns of a reversal. Penetration of the rising trendline would also suggest the primary up-trend is losing momentum. Failure of support at 13200 remains unlikely, but would signal a reversal.

Nikkei 225

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

India’s Sensex retreated below resistance at 20500. Tall shadows and long tails on the weekly chart indicate excessive volatility. Reversal below last week’s low at 19500 would warn of another down-swing. Breach of the rising trendline would strengthen the reversal warning. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero, however, would suggest continuation of the primary up-trend.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 18500 – ( 20500 – 18500 ) = 16500

ASX 200 recovery above the May high of 5250 indicates a primary advance. Follow-through above 5300 would confirm. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow suggests medium-term buying pressure. Long-term target for an advance would be 5850*.

ASX 200

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

Europe: Bullish except for FTSE

European markets continue to display healthy primary up-trends with the exception of the FTSE 100 which warns of selling pressure.

Germany’s DAX broke through medium-term resistance at 8500, offering a medium-term target of 9000* and a long-term target of 9500*. Reversal below 8000 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 7500.

DAX

* Target calculation: 8500 + ( 8500 – 8000 ) = 9000 ; 8500 + ( 8500 – 7500 ) = 9500

France’s CAC-40 is testing resistance at its 2011 high of 4200. Retracement to short-term support at 4100 is likely. Respect of support would be a bullish sign, while breakout above 4200 would offer an immediate target of 4300* and a long-term target of 4500*. Reversal below 3900 is unlikely but would warn of a bull trap.

CAC-40

* Target calculation: 4100 + ( 4100 – 3900 ) = 4300 ; 4050 + ( 4050 – 3600 ) = 4500

Spain’s Madrid General Index followed through above 900, but is now retracing to test the new support level. Respect would confirm a long-term advance to 1050* (960* in the medium-term). Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying pressure. Reversal below 840 is unlikely, but would warn of a bull trap.

Madrid General Index

* Target calculation: 900 + ( 900 – 750 ) = 1050 ; 900 + ( 900 – 840 ) = 960

Italy’s MIB Index is testing resistance at 18000. Retracement to support at 17500 is likely, but respect would be bullish. Breakout above 18000 would offer an immediate target of 18500 and a long-term target of 20000*. Reversal below 16500 is most unlikely, but would warn of a bull trap.

MIB Index

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

Bearish divergence on the FTSE 100 (13-week Twiggs Money Flow) warns of strong selling pressure. Reversal below 6400 would warn of a primary down-trend, confirmed if the rising trendline is broken. Reversal of TMF below zero would strengthen the signal. Breakout above 6750 is unlikely, but would signal a medium-term advance to the 1999 high of 7000.

FTSE 100

Bellwether Fedex suggests improving economy

Bellwether transport stock Fedex displays a healthy primary up-trend on the monthly chart, suggesting that economic activity is improving. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure at the 2007 high of $120; reversal below zero would indicate a reversal, while a trough above the zero line would signal a primary up-trend. Breakout above $120 would offer a target of $130*.

Fedex

* Target calculation: 120 + ( 120 – 110 ) = 130