The final verdict on George Osborne as Chancellor | Mainly Macro

Simon Wren-Lewis, economics professor at Oxford University, writes:

What George Osborne did with his austerity programme was the equivalent of putting a sick patient on a starvation diet accompanied by cold showers. The UK economy without accelerated austerity would still have been in poor shape, but under George Osborne it has been a disaster.

Read more at mainly macro: The final verdict on George Osborne as Chancellor.

China: Hang Seng & Shanghai retreat

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index retreated below 23000. Breach of the rising trendline warns of a correction. Respect of support at 22000 would confirm a strong primary up-trend, while breach of 21000 — and the primary trendline — would warn of a reversal. Another 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would also confirm the primary up-trend. Recovery above 24000 is unlikely at present but would test the 2010 high of 25000.

Hang Seng Index

The Shanghai Composite Index respected primary resistance at 2500. Breach of the secondary trendline warns of a correction. A higher trough — above 2000 — would establish a solid foundation for a primary advance. As would a 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero.

Shanghai Composite Index

China Property Bubble by Gillem Tulloch [video]

Quick summary of the Chinese property bubble by Gillem Tulloch of Forensic Asia Limited.

Euro retraces

The Euro retraced to test support and the rising trendline at $1.32. Respect would indicate a primary advance with a target of $1.42*. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum well above zero suggests continuation of the primary up-trend. Failure of support at $1.32, however, would indicate a bull trap — with a target of $1.26.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.37 + ( 1.37 – 1.32 ) = 1.42

Aussie Dollar weakens

The Aussie Dollar is headed for a test of primary support at $1.015 on the weekly chart. Failure of support would offer a target of $0.96, while respect would signal another attempt at $1.06. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero suggests a downward breakout.

Aussie Dollar/USD

Sterling breaks support

The pound broke support at €1.15 against the euro, signaling a test of the 2011 low at €1.10.
Pound Sterling/USD

S&P 500 caution

The S&P 500 retreated below 1525, heading for support at 1500. Failure of support would test the secondary trendline at 1475. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure, but may not be sufficient to start a full-blown correction.

S&P 500 Index

Breach of the secondary trendline at 1475 would indicate a test of primary support at 1350. Recovery of 63-day  Twiggs Momentum above 10% would increase likelihood of an upward breakout — with a target of 1750* — while retreat below zero would suggest a primary reversal.
S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1550 + ( 1550 – 1350 ) = 1750

ASX 200: The scramble for yield

The ASX 200 broke short-term resistance at 5050 on the hourly chart before retreating to test its new support level. The index is advancing in layers of 25 points (5000 >> 5025 >> 5050 >> 5075) and shows no signs of abating. But retracement to test the new support level of 5000 remains likely in the larger time frames. Respect of support on the weekly chart would confirm a primary advance, with a long-term target of 6000*.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 5000 + ( 5000 – 4000 ) = 6000

One area of concern: the advance is being driven by a scramble for yield, with blue chip stocks in the ASX 50 [$XFL] out-performing mid-caps [$XMD] by a wide margin — the exact opposite of what one would expect in a bull market.

ASX 200 Index

The situation is even worse when comparing to small-caps [$XSO].

ASX 200 Index

Asia: India & Japan retreat

India’s Sensex displays a bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, warning selling pressure. Breach of the secondary trendline — and medium-term support at 19500 — would indicate a correction to 18000.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 19 + ( 19 – 18 ) = 20

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index is retreating from its 2010 high of 11500 on the monthly chart. Reversal below 11000 would suggest a correction to 10000. Respect of support, however, would indicate a fresh primary advance.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 11000 + ( 11000 – 8000 ) = 14000

China’s Shanghai Composite Index was closed last week for Chinese New Year.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index re-opened Thursday, finding support at 23000.  Breakout above 24000 would test the 2010 high of 25000.  Troughs high above the zero line on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicate buying pressure. Reversal below 23000 is unlikely but would warn of a correction.

Shanghai Composite Index

Europe: FTSE advances while DAX retreats

The FTSE 100 is advancing toward long-term resistance at 6750 on the monthly chart. Rising troughs on 13-week  Twiggs Money Flow indicate long-term buying pressure.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 6000 + ( 6000 – 5250 ) = 6750

Germany’s DAX is testing support at 7500. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Failure of 7500 would indicate a correction to test the rising trendline — and support at 7000.

DAX Index

* Target calculation: 7500 + ( 7500 – 7000 ) = 8000