Forex: CAD, AUD, ZAR

Canada’s Loonie continues a narrow consolidation below $1.01, suggesting an upward breakout in response to higher oil prices. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero indicates a primary advance. Target for the advance would be the 2011 high of $1.06. Breach of the rising trendline is unlikely, but would warn of reversal.

CAD/USD

* Target calculation: 1.01 + ( 1.01 – 0.96 ) = 1.06

The Aussie Dollar reflects broader weakness in commodities. Breach of the rising trendline would warn of a decline to test primary support at $0.96, while respect would indicate another test of $1.08 — and suggest an upward breakout.

AUD/USD

Against the South African Rand, the Aussie Dollar continues to test support at R8.00. Narrow consolidation suggests a downward breakout and test of the long-term trendline at R7.50. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would warn of a primary down-trend.

AUD/ZAR

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

Budget 2012: George Osborne averts a slow national rot – Telegraph Blogs

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: The underlying ghastliness of the British predicament remains. [Government] Spending as a share of GDP has ratcheted up from 35pc at the end of the 1990s to the Brownian peak of 51.7pc in 2009 (Eurostat), an all-time high in peace-time. It came back slightly to 50.4pc in 2010.

This debacle happened over a decade when a string of countries were slimming down the Leviathan state. Germany and Holland are now leaner than Britain.

Eurostat’s total government spending as a share of GDP for 2010 (the latest available) shows:

France 56.6
Sweden 52.7
UK 50.4
Italy 50.3
Germany 47.9
Norway 45.8
Switzerland 34.2

The US, Japan, Canada, and Korea are all much lower, and China is much lower yet.

This state burden is the macro-economic killer. It is a far more relevant than the tax take as a share of the economy, since it includes borrowing (ie deferred taxation).

via Budget 2012: George Osborne averts a slow national rot – Telegraph Blogs.

ASX 200 response

Australia’s ASX 200 opened with a strong blue candle on the hourly chart but is now retracing to find support. Respect of short-term support at 4290 would suggest follow-through to 4320, while failure would test medium-term support at 4240/4250.

ASX 200 Index

Breakout above 4320 would indicate another test of 4400. Though we are unlikely to see a primary up-trend until China signals that it has formed a bottom.

S&P 500 early rally

The S&P 500 surprised with an early rally, before the end of the quarter. Breach of resistance at 1415 on the hourly chart signals a new primary advance. Short retracement indicates a healthy up-trend — as does a trough above the zero line on 24-hour (4 day) Twiggs Momentum.

S&P 500 Index Hourly Chart

Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure, but recovery above 30% would negate this. Immediate target for the advance is 1450, while the long-term target is 1600*.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1150 ) = 1450; 1350 + (1350 – 1100) =1600

ASX 200 hesitant

Australia’s ASX 200 index displays stubborn resistance at 4300, but rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying pressure. Upward breakout would signal a primary up-trend, with an initial target of 4650 and a long-term target of 4950*. The right-angled broadening pattern reflects weak support and downward breakout would test primary support at 4000.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 4400 + ( 4400 – 3850 ) = 4950

Japan & South Korea

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index also shows a bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow, warning of a correction. The next medium-term support level below 10000 is the former resistance level at 9000, so there could be a fairly sharp fall. But the primary trend is up and recovery above 10200 would signal an advance to 11000*.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 10 + ( 10 – 9 ) = 11

Despite global weakness, South Korea’s Seoul Composite Index continues to test resistance at 2050. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow, however, warns of medium-term selling pressure. Expect another test of 1950, but recovery above 2050 would signal an advance to 2250*.

Seoul Composite Index

* Target calculation: 1950 + ( 1950 – 1650 ) = 2250

Hong Kong & China correction

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is retracing after a sharp bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow. The longer term 13-week indicator, however, suggests no more than a secondary correction. Breach of the rising trendline, however, would warn that the trend is losing momentum.

Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 20000 + ( 20000 – 17500 ) = 22500

The Shanghai Composite Index is retracing to test support at 2300. Failure would indicate continuation of the primary down-trend, while respect would suggest that a base is forming. A further peak below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum would signal another decline.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2500 – 2150 ) = 1800

India & Singapore

India’s Sensex found support at 17000. Failure would signal another test of primary support at 15000, but 13-week Twiggs Money Flow remains above zero and respect of support is more likely. Recovery above 18000 would confirm tthe primary up-trend, with a target of 21000*.

BSE Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 18 + ( 18 – 15 ) = 21

The NSE Nifty Index is similarly testing medium-term support at 5200. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum holding above zero indicates a primary up-trend. Respect of support at 5200, by say recovery above 5500, would confirm the signal. Failure of support is less likely, but would signal another test of 4500.

NSE Nifty Index

* Target calculation: 5400 + ( 5400 – 4500 ) = 6300

Singapore’s Straits Times Index twice penetrated resistance at 3000, confirming the primary up-trend, but each time retreated. Expect softness until quarter-end followed by another breakout attempt. Target for the advance is 3300*.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 2900 + ( 2900 – 2500 ) = 3300

Europe hesitates

Dow Jones Europe Index retreated below 260, indicating a correction to test support at 247. Respect would indicate a healthy up-trend, while a fall below 240 would signal reversal. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates long-term buying pressure, suggesting continuation of the up-trend.

Dow Jones Europe Index

* Target calculation: 260 + ( 260 – 210 ) = 310

The FTSE 100 is also retracing to test support, at 5600. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates long-term buying pressure. Respect of the long-term trendline would signal continuation of the primary up-trend.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 5700 + ( 5700 – 5100 ) = 6300

Canada: TSX 60

Canada’s TSX 60 index found strong support at 700. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow signals buying pressure. Recovery above 720 would indicate a primary advance to 820*; follow-through above 730 would confirm.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 720 + ( 720 – 620 ) = 820