Countries & Regions Archives - Page 303 of 367

January 18, 2012

Banks Point to a Pickup in Lending – WSJ.com

At Citi, retail-banking loans rose 15% from a year ago to $133 billion, as the New York bank lent more to individuals and local businesses. At San Francisco-based Wells, commercial and industrial loans rose 11% from a year earlier to $167 billion at Dec. 31, amid what Chief Financial Officer Tim Sloan called broad-based growth.

All told, loans outstanding at the companies and J.P. Morgan rose by $41 billion from a year ago in the fourth quarter, to $2.14 trillion. That’s the first increase for the three giant lenders since 2008…

via Banks Point to a Pickup in Lending – WSJ.com.

Comment: ~ Private sector deleveraging is slowing and new capital investment improving, but this may prove a temporary respite as purchases were brought forward to take advantage of accelerated tax depreciation in 2011. The 100% write-off of new capital investment (in the year of purchase) will expire in 2012 if not extended by Congress.

January 17, 2012

Nouriel Roubini’s Global EconoMonitor » The Straits of America

Given the bearish outlook for US economic growth, the Fed can be expected to engage in another round of quantitative easing. But the Fed also faces political constraints, and will do too little, and move too late, to help the economy significantly. Moreover, a vocal minority on the Fed’s rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee is against further easing. In any case, monetary policy cannot address only liquidity problems – and banks are flush with excess reserves.

Most importantly, the US – and many other advanced economies – remains in the early stages of a deleveraging cycle. A recession caused by too much debt and leverage (first in the private sector, and then on public balance sheets) will require a long period of spending less and saving more. This year will be no different, as public-sector deleveraging has barely started.

via EconoMonitor : Nouriel Roubini’s Global EconoMonitor » The Straits of America.

January 17, 2012

Singapore & Korea

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is establishing a base between 2600 and 2900. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns that the down-trend is weakening. Breakout above 2900 would signal a primary advance to 3200*.

Straits Times Index

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

South Korea’s Seoul Composite Index is headed for a test of resistance at 1920. Breakout would signal a primary advance to 2150*, but bearish divergence warns of medium-term selling pressure. It advisable to wait for retracement to respect the new support level, confirming the breakout.

Seoul Composite Index

* Target calculation: 1900 + ( 1900 – 1650 ) = 2150

January 17, 2012

JSE & Bovespa threaten breakout

South Africa’s JSE Overall Index broke resistance at 33000 to signal a primary advance. Target for the initial advance is 35000*. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, however, warns of medium-term selling pressure; we should wait for confirmation from a retracement that respects the new support level. The indicator is rising in the long-term, however, indicating buying support.

JSE Overall Index

* Target calculation: 33 + ( 33 – 31 ) = 35

Brazil’s Bovespa index is testing resistance at 60000. Breakout would confirm a primary up-trend, but bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Again, we need to wait for retracement to confirm the breakout.

Bovespa Index

* Target calculation: 60 + ( 60 – 55 ) = 65

January 17, 2012

Canada: TSX60

The TSX 60 broke its descending long-term trendline, suggesting that the index is forming a base. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow signals buying pressure. Breakout above 720 would signal the start of a primary up-trend.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 720 + ( 720 – 640 ) = 800

January 16, 2012

Australia and Asia

Australia’s ASX 200 index continues to range between 3850 and 4350. Declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow reflects medium-term selling pressure, but the long-term rise reflects buying support. Failure of support at 4000 would suggest another test of 3850, but only breakout from the range will offer a clear long-term signal.

ASX 200 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite index respected resistance at 2300, suggesting a decline to 2000*. Deep negative values on 63-day Twiggs Momentum are evidence of a strong primary down-trend.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2300 – 2150 ) = 2000

India’s Nifty Index is headed for a test of the upper border of its downward trend channel at 5200. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum holding below zero continues to indicate a strong primary down-trend.

S&P/NSE Nifty Index

* Target calculation: 5600 + ( 6600 – 5600 ) = 5100

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index fell sharply Monday to test short-term support at 8360. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates selling pressure. Breakout below 8200 would warn of another primary decline, with a target of 7400*.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 8200 – ( 9000 – 8200 ) = 7400

January 16, 2012

European markets

The FTSE 100 is testing resistance at 5750 but bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Respect of resistance would suggest another test of primary support at 5050. Upward breakout is less likely, but would indicate an advance to 6300*.

FTSE 100 Index

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

The DAX is testing resistance at 6400. Breakout would indicate an advance to 7400*, but reversal of below the rising trendline — or 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero — would warn of another test of primary support at 5000.

DAX Index

* Target calculation: 6400 + ( 6400 – 5400 ) = 7400

Italy’s MIB Index is more hesitant than the DAX. Breakout above 17000 would signal a primary advance, but failure of support at 13000 would indicate a decline to 9000*. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero would warn of increased selling pressure.

FTSE MIB Index

* Target calculation: 13 – ( 17 – 13 ) = 9

January 15, 2012

S&P 500 and Nasdaq test resistance

The S&P 500 index is testing resistance at 1300. Breakout would signal a primary up-trend with a target of 1450* for the initial advance. Mild bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure, however, and reversal below the rising trendline would indicate another test of primary support at 1160.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1150 ) = 1450

The Nasdaq 100 is also testing resistance, at 2400. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum and 13-week Twiggs Money Flow both suggest an upward breakout, which would offer a target of 2800* for the initial advance.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2400 + ( 2400 – 2000 ) = 2800

Treasury yields are falling, indicating a flight to safety. Uncertainty in Europe and China is likely to hurt the market and we should only accept bull signals if they have strong confirmation.
10-Year Treasury Yield

January 15, 2012

Agenda: Greek Situation Is Most Serious of Latest Euro Crisis – WSJ.com

Friday provided the markets with two reminders that the euro crisis hasn’t gone away. The decision by Standard & Poor’s to downgrade nine members of the euro zone, including France being stripped of its Triple-A rating and Italy being downgraded to Triple-B, had been widely expected.

But the collapse of the negotiations between Greece and its private-sector bondholders over a voluntary write-down of its debt wasn’t anticipated. The International Institute of Finance, which is negotiating on behalf of bondholders, said it hadn’t been able to agree a deal.

via Agenda: Greek Situation Is Most Serious of Latest Euro Crisis – WSJ.com.

January 11, 2012

Westpac: Follow that Flow

The US recovery from the 2007–2009 recession has been particularly disappointing, in part due to the moribund state of the housing market.

The state of the housing market is in part a symptom of excess leverage, the US’ core concern.

Excess leverage will continue to weigh on US economic growth, restricting it to a sub-trend pace for the foreseeable future, resulting in a need for further QE.

….. Given the size of the US’ debt stock and the lack of assets set aside to fund future pension liabilities, it is logical to conclude that above-trend growth conditions are a long way off. In the meantime, households and government authorities will remain heavily exposed to any further deterioration in conditions, whether it be domestic or foreign (i.e. Europe) in origin.

QE3 will be needed merely to help protect against a further deterioration in economic conditions. Such a program would have to be large in scale and in coverage, likely covering USTs, mortgage securities and, with time, the existing debt of SLGs.

A final point: the degree of easing required to alleviate the financial stresses the US economy currently faces (and hopefully at least maintain the current level of activity) has not been recognised by markets. Given the precarious state of Europe, the market will likely take its time in coming to terms with the US’ own concerns. But, when the spotlight falls on the US, we expect a greater awareness of US credit risk and the absence of near-term growth prospects will see yields rise and the US dollar fall.