Countries & Regions Archives - Page 208 of 383

August 5, 2013

Forex: Euro tests resistance, Aussie breaks support

The Euro broke medium-term resistance at $1.32 and is testing the next level at $1.34. Breakout would indicate a primary advance, while respect of resistance (indicated by reversal below $1.32) would warn of another test of primary support at $1.27. Close oscillation of 13-week Twiggs Momentum around the zero line reflects hesitancy.

Euro/USD

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

Sterling is testing primary support at €1.135 against the euro. Long tails indicate buying pressure and recovery above €1.165 would suggest that a bottom is forming. Breakout above €1.19 would complete a double bottom with a target of €1.24. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the signal.

Sterling/Euro

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

Against the greenback, Sterling is testing medium-term resistance at $1.54. Last week’s long tail suggests buying pressure. Breakout would offer a target of $1.575. Respect is less likely, but would indicate another test of primary support at $1.485. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the bull signal.

Sterling/Euro

The greenback is oscillating around resistance at ¥100 against the Yen. Follow-through above ¥101.50 would suggest a new advance, while breakout above ¥104 would confirm, offering a target of ¥114*. Reversal below ¥98 remains as likely, however, and would warn of a test primary support at ¥94.

USD/JPY

* Target calculation: 104 + ( 104 – 94 ) = 114

Canada’s Loonie continues its primary down-trend against the greenback. Breach of medium-term support at $0.96 would test the primary level at $0.94/$0.945. Failure of primary support would offer a long-term target of $0.84*.

Canadian Loonie

* Target calculation: 0.94 – ( 1.04 – 0.94 ) = 0.84

Against the Aussie Dollar, the Loonie remains in a strong up-trend .

Canadian Loonie

The Aussie Dollar also continues its primary down-trend against the greenback. Breach of medium-term support at $0.90 suggests a decline to $0.87*, but the long-term target is $0.80*.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculations: 0.90 – ( 0.93 – 0.90 ) = 0.87; 0.95 – ( 1.10 – 0.95 ) = 0.80

August 3, 2013

ASX 200 completes flag

The ASX 200 broke out of its narrow flag, indicating an advance to 5250. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow supports the signal. Reversal below 5000 is unlikely, but would test medium-term support at 4850. The ASX 200 Volatility Index ($XVI) remains below 15 — a bullish sign.

ASX 200 Index

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

August 3, 2013

S&P 500 follows through

The S&P 500 followed through above resistance at 1700, indicating an advance to 1800*. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow suggests selling pressure, but this is not as pronounced on the weekly chart and a peak above the May high would negate this. Reversal below support at 1675 remains unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 1560.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1680 + ( 1680 – 1560 ) = 1800

The Dollar Index is testing resistance at 82.50. Breakout would indicate the correction is over, suggesting an advance to 84.50. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would strengthen the signal.

Dollar Index

We received some bad data for gold from our Forex & Precious metals data supplier. Here is the corrected chart and our revised comments:

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1350 – 1200 ) = 1050

Gold continues to test support at $1300/ounce. Breach would suggest another test of primary support at $1200, while failure of primary support would offer a target of $1050*. Dollar Index breakout above 82.50 would strengthen the bear signal. Recovery above 1350 is less likely, but would indicate continuation of the rally to $1400/ounce.

July 31, 2013

China exports

Shipping rates for container vessels remain at depressed levels, close to the lows of 2009, according to the The Harper Petersen Index from ship brokers Harper Petersen & Co. This reflects the depressed level of global trade in manufactured goods. Major exporters like China are the most severely affected.

Harper Petersen Index

July 29, 2013

Asia retreats but ASX 200 soldiers on

Japan opened sharply lower on Monday, with Dow Jones Japan Index testing its long-term rising trendline at 75. Failure of support at 69 would signal a primary down-trend.

Dow Jones Japan Index

The Nikkei 225 is similarly testing its rising trendline. Declining peaks on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicate selling pressure. Failure of support at 12500 would signal a primary down-trend. Recovery above 15000 is unlikely but would test 16000.

Nikkei 225 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite Index continues to test long-term support at 1950. Breakout would signal a primary decline, with a target of the 2008 low at 1660. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of selling pressure. Respect of 1950 is unlikely, but would indicate a rally to 2150.

Shanghai Composite Index

India’s Sensex found resistance at 20200, retreating toward its rising trendline. Penetration of the trendline would warn the trend is weakening, while failure of support at 18500 would signal a primary down-trend. Rising troughs on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, however, indicate moderate buying pressure. Respect of support at 19000 would suggest another primary advance; confirmed if resistance at 20200 is broken.

BSE Sensex Index

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

The ASX 200 is consolidating in a narrow flag above the new support level at 5000. Upward breakout is likely and would signal a test of the May peak at 5250. Oscillation of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow around zero indicates hesitancy. Reversal below 4850 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 4650.

ASX 200 Index

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

The ASX 200 Volatility Index below 15 also indicates low market risk — a bullish sign.
ASX Volatility Index

July 28, 2013

Europe: DAX and FTSE hesitant

Germany’s DAX is retracing, but as long as it respects medium-term support at 8000, the primary advance is intact. Breakout above resistance at 8500 would offer a long-term target of 9500*. A 21-day Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would strengthen the signal. Reversal below 8000 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 7700.
DAX Index

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

The FTSE 100 displays selling pressure, with 21-day Twiggs Money Flow retreating below zero. Reversal below 6500 would warn of another correction. Respect of 6500 is unlikely but would indicate an advance to 6900/7000.
FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 6750 + ( 6750 – 6000 ) = 7500

Italy’s MIB Index is heading for a test of 17500 after breaking resistance at 16000. Repeated troughs above zero on 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow suggest a healthy up-trend.

Spain’s Madrid General Index broke resistance at 800, indicating a rally to 900. Long-term 13-week Twiggs Money Flow recovered above zero but remains weak. Reversal below 760 is unlikely, but would warn of a test of the 2012 low at 600.

July 28, 2013

How urban Chinese workers helped cause the great recession | Quartz

Hillary Rosner describes how the inflow of savings from China contributed to the US sub-prime crisis:

“The foreign reserve holdings of U.S. Dollars,” the researchers write, “which had been at less than 11% of U.S. GDP prior to 2000, grew rapidly after 2002; in fact they almost doubled over the 5-year period from 2002 to 2007.”

July 28, 2013

S&P 500 support but TSX bearish

The S&P 500 ran into resistance at 1700, but long tails on the last two days indicate support at 1675. Follow-through above 1700 would offer a target of 1800*. The 21-day Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero indicates a healthy up-trend, but a lower peak than May would warn of selling pressure. Reversal below support at 1650 is unlikely, warning of another test of primary support at 1560.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1680 + ( 1680 – 1560 ) = 1800

The VIX below 15 indicates historically low market risk.

VIX Index

Canada’s TSX 60 VIX is similarly bullish.

TSX 60 VIX Index

The TSX Composite Index encountered resistance below 12900, however, and declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of continued selling pressure. Respect of 12900 would indicate another test of 11750. Breakout above 12900 is less likely, but would offer a long-term target of 14000*.

* Target calculation: 13000 + ( 13000 – 12000 ) = 14000

July 25, 2013

Forex: Euro strengthens, Loonie and Aussie weaken

The Euro continues to test medium-term resistance at $1.32. Respect of primary support at $1.27 is likely, following bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum. Breakout above $1.32 would strengthen the signal, while follow-through above $1.37 would confirm a fresh advance, offering a target of $1.50. Reversal below $1.27 is unlikely, but would warn of a primary down-trend.

Euro/USD

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

The greenback continues to test resistance at ¥100 against the Yen. Follow-through above ¥101.50 would suggest a new advance, while breakout above ¥104 would confirm, offering a target of ¥114*. Reversal below ¥98.50 is unlikely, but would warn of a test primary support at ¥94.

USD/JPY

* Target calculation: 104 + ( 104 – 94 ) = 114

Canada’s Loonie respected support at $0.94, suggesting a rally to test resistance at parity against the greenback. The monthly chart displays long-term selling pressure, however, and another test of primary support at $0.94 is likely. Breakout would warn offer a target of $0.84*. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum already suggests a primary down-trend.

Canadian Loonie

* Target calculation: 0.94 – ( 1.04 – 0.94 ) = 0.84

A monthly chart of the Aussie Dollar displays a similar pattern against the greenback, with a broad top followed by breakout below primary support at $0.95. Support at $0.90 provides temporary respite, but the long-term target is $0.80*. Again, declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates a primary down-trend.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.95 – ( 1.10 – 0.95 ) = 0.80

The Aussie/Kiwi cross has exceeded its target of $1.15*, steady decline on the weekly chart reflecting the impact of falling commodity prices. Breakout above the descending trendline would indicate a rally to test resistance at $1.21, but that seems a way off with the decline in 13-week Twiggs Momentum accelerating.

Aussie/Kiwi Dollar

* Target calculation: 1.21 – ( 1.27 – 1.21 ) = 1.15

July 23, 2013

EconoMonitor » Beijing’s New Leaders Are Right to Hold Back

Michael Pettis argues that China cannot stimulate its economy out of trouble:

There are still bulls out there who insist that China is out of the woods and making a strong recovery, for example former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Stephen Grenville, who argues in his article strangely titled China doomsayers run out of arguments:

“The missing element from the low growth narrative is that unemployment would rise, provoking a stimulatory policy response. China would extend the transition and put up with low-return investment recall that when unemployment was the issue, Keynes was prepared to put people to work digging holes and filling them in rather than have unemployment rise sharply. To be convincing, the low-growth scenario needs to explain why this policy response will not be effective.”

It seems to me that the reason why simply “provoking a stimulatory policy response” won’t help China has been explained many times, even recently by former China bulls. Of course more stimulus will indeed cause GDP growth to pick up, as Grenville notes, but it will do so by exacerbating the gap between the growth in debt and the growth in debt-servicing capacity. Because too much debt and a huge amount of overvalued assets is precisely the problem facing China, it is hard to believe that spending more borrowed money on increasing already excessive capacity can possibly be a useful resolution of slower Chinese growth.