Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 threaten a correction

The Nasdaq 100 is testing medium-term support at 2630. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of a correction; follow-through below Friday’s low of 2620 would confirm, offering an initial target of 2400.

Nasdaq 100 Index

The S&P 500 continues to test support at 1350/1370 on the weekly chart after penetrating its rising trendline. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure. Failure of support would signal a correction with an initial target of 1300*, but the primary up-trend is not under immediate threat.

S&P 500 Index Weekly Chart

* Target calculation: 1350 – ( 1400 – 1350 ) = 1300

Fedex double top

Bellwether transport stock Fedex is consolidating in a narrow band above the neckline of a double top reversal at $88. Follow-through below $85 would confirm a primary down-trend, warning of a slow-down in the broader economy. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the signal. Recovery above $90 is less likely, but would suggest continuation of the primary up-trend.

Fedex

Canada TSX 60 breaks support

Canada’s TSX 60 index broke medium-term support at 675, signaling continuation of the secondary correction. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero warns that the primary down-trend will continue, but 13-week Twiggs Money Flow holding above zero continues to indicate healthy buying pressure. Primary support at 650 is expected to hold and be followed by a rally to test resistance at 725.

TSX 60 Index
TSX 60 Index Twiggs Money Flow

Forex: US Dollar/Yen

The US dollar is testing long-term support at ¥80. Failure would warn of weakness in the primary up-trend, while respect would indicate a primary advance to ¥90. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum holding above zero suggests continuation of the primary trend.

US Dollar/ Japanese Yen

* Target calculation: 85 + ( 85 – 80 ) = 90

Forex: Pound Sterling strengthens against Euro

The euro is headed for another test of support at $1.30. Failure would complete a small bearish descending triangle on the weekly chart. Breach of primary support at $1,26 would offer a long-term target of $1.17*. Respect of the zero line (from below) by 63-day Twiggs Momentum would strengthen the signal.

Euro

* Target calculation: 1.26 – ( 1.35 – 1.26 ) = 1.17

Pound Sterling is in a primary up-trend against the euro, as indicated by 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero. Target for the current advance is €1.255*.

Pound Sterling

* Target calculation: 1.215 + ( 1.215 – 1.175 ) = 1.255

Forex: Australia, Canada and South Africa

The Australian dollar has tracked the CRB Commodities Index fairly closely since 2009. Weakening commodity prices warn that the Aussie is likely to follow.

CRB Commodities Index and Australian Dollar

Against the US dollar, the Aussie is headed  for another test of support at $1.02. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Failure of support at $1.02 would confirm this, offering an initial target of $0.99.

Australian Dollar

* Target calculation: 1.02 – ( 1.05 – 1.02 ) = 0.99

Canada’s Loonie is in a primary up-trend against the Aussie dollar — as signaled by the 63-day Twiggs Momentum cross to above zero. Breakout above $0.982 completes a bullish ascending triangle formation with a target of parity.

Canadian Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.98 + ( 0.98 – 0.96 ) = 1.00

The Aussie is also weakening against the South African Rand. Cross of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Failure of support at R7.90 would confirm, offering an initial target of R7.50*.

South African Rand

* Target calculation: 8.00 – ( 8.50 – 8.00 ) = 7.50

Paul L. Kasriel: Don’t End the Fed, Mend the Fed

Although the return to a gold standard for our monetary system has much appeal, it is unlikely to occur. So, let’s not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Perhaps there is second-best monetary policy approach to the gold standard that might achieve most of the desirable outcomes of a gold standard but might have a greater probability of actually being adopted……. My suggested approach is very similar to one advocated by Milton Friedman at least 60 years ago. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I guess. I am proposing that the Federal Reserve target and control growth in the sum of credit created by private monetary financial institutions (commercial banks, S&Ls and credit unions) and the credit created by the Fed itself. I believe that this approach to monetary policy would reduce the amplitude of business cycles, would prevent sustained rapid increases in the prices of goods/services and would prevent asset-price bubbles of the magnitude of the recent NASDAQ and housing experiences.

econtrarian_043012.pdf (application/pdf Object).

FRB| Governor Tarullo: Regulatory Reform since the Financial Crisis

It is sobering to recognize that, more than four years after the failure of Bear Stearns began the acute phase of the financial crisis, so much remains to be done–in implementing reforms that have already been developed, in modifying or supplementing these reforms as needed, and in fashioning a reform program to address shadow banking concerns. For some time my concern has been that the momentum generated during the crisis will wane or be redirected to other issues before reforms have been completed. As you can tell from my remarks today, this remains a very real concern.

via FRB: Speech–Tarullo, Regulatory Reform since the Financial Crisis–May 2, 2012.

Japan & South Korea

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is consolidating between 9400 and 9700. Declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Breakout below 9400 would test 9000. Recovery above 9700 is less likely but would indicate the start of another primary advance.

Nikkei 225 Index

The Seoul Composite Index is testing support at 1950. Respect would confirm the primary up-trend, offering a target of 2150*. Respect of the zero line by 63-day Twiggs Momentum would strengthen the signal.

Seoul Composite Index

* Target calculation: 1950+ ( 1950 – 1750 ) = 2150

India & Singapore find support

India’s Sensex index found support at 17000. Recovery above 17500 would indicate respect of the support level and another attempt at 18500.  63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating above zero already indicates a primary up-trend but only recovery above the November high of 18000 would confirm. Target for an advance would be 20000*.

BSE Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 18.5 + ( 18.5 – 17.0 ) = 20.0

The Nifty index is similarly testing support at 5200, while recovery above 5400 would confirm the primary up-trend. Target for an advance would be 6000*.

NSE Nifty Index

* Target calculation: 5600 + (5600 – 5200) = 6000

Singapore’s Straits Times Index continues in a narrow consolidation above the double-bottom neckline at 2900, suggesting continuation of the primary up-trend. Target for the expected breakout would be 3200*.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 2900 + ( 2900 – 2600 ) = 3200