The TSX 60 continues to test support at 900 after a breakout in December 2016. Follow-through below 890 would confirm a primary down-trend. Falling crude oil prices and exposure of banks to precarious housing prices are driving selling pressure.
India: Sensex tests support
India’s Sensex continues to test medium-term support at 31000. Bearish divergence on Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure. Respect of support would offer a target of 32000*. Completion of a second narrow consolidation, after the first between 29000 and 30000, would signal a strong bull market. Breach of support, however, would warn of a correction to 30000.
* Target: 29000 + ( 29000 – 26000 ) = 32000
Westpac Leading Index counters jobs surge
In stark contrast to the buoyant recent ABS jobs numbers, the Westpac Leading Index slowed:
From Matthew Hassan at Westpac:
The six month annualised growth rate in the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Leading Index, which indicates the likely pace of economic activity relative to trend three to nine months into the future, eased from 1.01% in April to 0.62% in May.
…..The index is pointing to a clear slowing in momentum. While the growth rate remains comfortably above trend, the pace has eased markedly since the start of the year….
Read more at Westpac.
S&P 500 stays on course
The S&P 500 continues to advance, with a short-term target of 2500*. Bearish divergence on Twiggs Money Flow warns of rising selling pressure. While secondary (medium-term) in nature we should expect stronger resistance at 2500.
Bellwether transport stock Fedex is advancing strongly after breaking out above $200, signaling rising economic activity in the economy.
Stage III of a bull market can last for several years.
Strange week on the ASX
Strange week on the ASX, with strong jobs numbers from the ABS causing a surge in the Aussie Dollar and a more optimistic outlook on the ASX.
But Iron ore continues to fall, headed for a test of 50.
The ASX 300 Metals & Mining index respected resistance at 3000 and is headed for a test of primary support at 2750. Breach would confirm the primary down-trend.
The ASX 300 Banks index respected resistance at 8500 and is likely to test primary support at 8000. Again, breach would confirm the primary down-trend.
The ASX 200 has formed a broadening wedge consolidation, in a down-trend. Declining Twiggs Money Flow indicates some selling pressure. Expect a test of primary support at 5600. Again, breach would warn of a primary down-trend. But a failed swing (that respects 5700) would warn that all bets are off and the index may be preparing for a rally.
Australia: Jobs surge
The May 2017 ABS Labour Force Survey surprised to the upside, with employment increasing by 42,000 over the previous month (full-time jobs even better at +52,100). These are seasonally adjusted figures and the trend estimates are more modest at 25200 jobs.
Seasonally adjusted hours worked also jumped, reflecting an annual increase of 2.3%.
The Australian Dollar surged as a result of the impressive numbers but Credit Suisse warns that there may be some issues with the latest strong NSW estimates:
By state, the gains in full-time employment were particularly strong in NSW…..
But beware the sample rotation bias ….the ABS has confessed that for the sixth time in seven months, it has rotated the sample in favour of higher employment-to-population cohorts. Officials report that this has had a material impact on the NSW employment outcomes.
If the numbers are correct, there are only two areas that could account for the job growth: apartment construction and infrastructure. The former is unlikely to last and the latter, while an important part of the recovery process, are also not a permanent increase.
I would prefer to wait for confirmation before adjusting my position based on a single set of numbers.
One swallow does not make a spring, nor does one day.
~ Aristotle
The Myth Of The “Passive Indexing” Revolution | RIA
From Lance Roberts at RIA:
While the idea of passive indexing works while all prices are rising, the reverse is also true. The problem is that once prices begin to fall the previously “passive indexer” becomes an “active panic seller.” With the flood of money into “passive index” and “yield funds,” the tables are once again set for a dramatic and damaging ending.
Draining the swamp?
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration proposed a wide-ranging rethink of the rules governing the U.S. financial sector in a report that makes scores of recommendations that have been on the banking industry’s wish list for years.
….If Mr. Trump’s regulatory appointees eventually implement them, the recommendations would neuter or pare back restrictions from the Obama administration, which argued the rules were necessary to guard against excessive risk taking and a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis.
Seems to me like the exact opposite of ‘draining the swamp’. The new administration proposes removing or limiting the rules intended to reduce risk-taking in the financial sector.
This could end badly.
Especially with bank capital at current low levels.
Source: Trump Team Proposes Broad Rethink of Financial Rulebook – WSJ
Steady growth in US hours worked
Growth of total hours worked, calculated as Total Nonfarm Payroll multiplied by Average Hours worked, improved to 1.575% for the 12 months to May 2017.
And the April 2017 Leading Index, produced the Philadelphia Fed, is tracking at a healthy 1.64%. Decline below 1.0% is often an early warning of a slow-down; below 0.5% is more urgent.
Dow Jones Industrial Average continues to advance. Rising troughs on Twiggs Money Flow signal long-term buying pressure.
Dow Jones Transportation Average is slower, headed for a test of resistance at 9500. But recent breakout of Fedex above $200 is an encouraging sign and the index is likely to follow.
We are in stage III of a bull market, but this can last for several years.
Australia: RBA hands tied
Falling wage rate growth suggests that we are headed for a period of low growth in employment and personal consumption.
The impact is already evident in the Retail sector.
The RBA would normally intervene to stimulate investment and employment but its hands are tied. Lowering interest rates would aggravate the housing bubble. Household debt is already precariously high in relation to disposable income.
Like Mister Micawber in David Copperfield, we are waiting in the hope that something turns up to rescue us from our predicament. It’s not a good situation to be in. If something bad turns up and the RBA is low on ammunition.
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery. The blossom is blighted, the leaf is withered, the god of day goes down upon the dreary scene, and — and in short you are for ever floored….
~ Mr. Micawber in Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield