Category: Countries & Regions

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Wall Street is Still Out of Control, and Why Obama Should Call for Glass-Steagall and a Breakup of Big Banks

In the wake of the bailout, the biggest banks are bigger than ever. Twenty years ago the ten largest banks on the Street held 10 percent of America’s total bank assets. Now they hold over 70 percent.

….I doubt the President will be condemning the Street’s antics, or calling for a resurrection of Glass-Steagall and a breakup of the biggest banks. Democrats are still too dependent on the Street’s campaign money.

That’s too bad. You don’t have to be an occupier of Wall Street to conclude the Street is still out of control. And that’s bad for all of us.

via Robert Reich: Wall Street is Still Out of Control, and Why Obama Should Call for Glass-Steagall and a Breakup of Big Banks.

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China: the case of the missing inflation – FT.com

While most analysts pored over the numbers to get a sense of how growth was holding up, at least two spotted a large discrepancy between reported price changes and implied price changes.

The gap is more than just an academic curiosity. It suggests that inflation is a lot stronger than the government has been saying and could explain why Beijing has been so reluctant to loosen policy despite a slowing economy.

….China chalked up an implied GDP deflator of 10.3 percent year-over-year in the third quarter, the highest since it started publishing quarterly growth figures in 1999, noted Wei Yao, an economist with Societe Generale. That was well above the 6.3 percent rise in the consumer price index during the same three months.

Diana Choyleva, an economist with Lombard Street Research, found that the chasm was even bigger in quarter-on-quarter terms: the GDP deflator was up 3.8 percent, while CPI was up just 1.5 percent.

….the gap between the deflator and CPI is usually innocuous, just a couple of percentage points.

via China: the case of the missing inflation | beyondbrics | News and views on emerging markets from the Financial Times – FT.com.

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Stimulus spending, austerity and public debt: James Galbraith

Prof. James Galbraith on fiscal stimulus and public debt:

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Agree:

  • Fiscal stimulus should not be a short-term program that will run out. The term should be 10 to 20 years so that business can make long-term plans.
  • Stimulus spending should focus on investment that creates assets — to be offset against the accompanying liabilities.

Disagree:

  • Austerity cuts are foolhardy. ~ Austerity cuts should free up money for investment in infrastructure projects.

Strongly disagree:

  • “There is no long-term debt problem here. We’re clearly in a sustainable situation otherwise the markets would not give the US government the (low) rates they are.” ~ Keep telling yourself that!
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Iron ore crash – macrobusiness.com.au

Spot iron ore prices have shed 19 percent so far this month in a sell-off largely fueled by slower construction steel demand in China, the world’s biggest buyer of imported iron ore at around 400 million tonnes a year.

In Europe, a more important market for Vale than Rio, steel markets have taken a knock given uncertainty surrounding the region’s debt crisis.

Growth of Europe’s steel production will slow in 2012 along with activity in the steel-using sectors, Eurofer, the European steel producers association, has forecast.

via Iron ore crash – macrobusiness.com.au | macrobusiness.com.au.

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S&P 500 and Europe encounter resistance

The S&P 500 pulled back from resistance at 1250 and is headed for a test of short-term support at 1200. Failure would test primary support at 1100, while breakout above 1250 would signal an advance to 1400*. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow continues to indicate secondary buying pressure.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1250 + ( 1250 – 1100 ) = 1400

Dow Jones Europe index also ran into resistance at 250, bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warning of short-term selling pressure. Reversal below 230 would test primary support at 205/210, while breakout above 250 would signal an advance to 290*.

Dow Jones Europe Index

* Target calculation: 250 + ( 250 – 210 ) = 290

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China property developer warns on price falls – FT.com

China Vanke, the country’s biggest developer by market share, said government efforts over the past year to rein in soaring prices were having a severe impact on the market and developers were being squeezed after sales volumes in 14 of the country’s largest cities halved in September from a year earlier.

“We can see a trend of declining sales, especially in the major cities,” Shirley Xiao, executive vice-president at China Vanke, said on a conference call with investors on Tuesday. “Prices have begun to decline little by little so we think even buyers who are able to buy will choose to wait for now because they’re targeting even lower price cuts.”

via China property developer warns on price falls – FT.com.

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Euro Crisis Plan in Doubt

The 17 eurozone countries have not reached final agreement on the details of two key elements of the plan — reducing Greece’s massive debts and boosting the firepower of the bailout fund, two European officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were confidential.

Because of that, the 10 EU countries that do not use they euro won’t sign off on a plan to force banks across the continent to raise billion of euros in capital and insisted the meeting of finance ministers be called off, the officials said.

One of the officials said that the eurozone was also still waiting for Italy to take concrete action to control its debts and kick start growth.

“It’s a real mess once again,” the other official said.

via Euro Crisis Plan in Doubt.

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Canada TSX 60

The TSX 60 index also shows a small bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, suggesting secondary buying pressure. Expect a rally to the descending trendline at 720. Respect would signal another test of primary support at 640. Breakout remains unlikely, but would offer a target of 800*.

TSX 60 Index

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

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Europe approaches zero hour

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there is bound to be a relief rally when EU leaders announce details of their rescue package — followed by a pull-back when traders figure out the costs. The danger is that Germany and France do an “Ireland” and rescue the banks but put themselves at risk. Both have public debt to GDP ratios close to 80 percent and it would not take much to push them into the danger zone. A down-grade would raise their cost of funding and place their own budgets under pressure. If they are down-graded then the kids are home alone — there will be no adults left in the room.

The FTSE 100 displays a decent bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, warning of strong buying pressure. Breakout above 5600 would offer a target of 6000*, but expect retracement to test the new support level. Respect would confirm the advance.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 5500 + ( 5500 – 5000 ) = 6000

Germany’s DAX is headed for 6500, but a weaker recovery on Twiggs Money Flow suggests this is a bear market rally. Respect of 6500 would indicate another test of 5000.

DAX Index

The French CAC-40 index displays secondary buying pressure. Respect of 3700 would signal another test of primary support at 2800.

CAC-40 Index

Madrid rallied to test resistance at 900. Again buying pressure on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow appears secondary. Respect of 900 would signal a decline to the 2009 low of 700. Breakout, however, would signal a rally to test the descending trendline.

Madrid General Index

Italy’s MIB index is testing the descending trendline near 16500. Respect would test the 2009 low at 12500. Breakout would offer a target of 19000*.

FTSE MIB Index

* Target calculation: 16 + ( 16 – 13 ) = 19

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2008 Deja Vu

Early May 2008, the S&P 500 index recovered above resistance at the former primary support level of 1400 on its second attempt. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow broke back above zero, indicating secondary buying pressure. Breakout was followed by two pull-backs in May. The first made a false break below the new support level; the second followed through, commencing a 50% decline to 700.

S&P 500 Index Weekly Chart - 2008

We are now at a similar watershed. Expect retracement in the week ahead to test the new support level at 1250. Respect of support would strengthen the signal, but beware of any penetration. Follow-through above 1300 would signal that the (immediate) danger is over. Until then, consider this a bear market.

S&P 500 Index Weekly - 2011

* Target calculation: 1250 + ( 1250 – 1100 ) = 1400

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