Europe: Signs of a revival

Bullish divergence on Madrid General Index (13-week Twiggs Money Flow) indicates buying pressure. Breakout above 720 would complete a double-bottom reversal with a target of 840*. Penetration of the descending trendline would strengthen the signal.

Madrid General Index

* Target calculation: 720 + ( 720 – 600 ) = 840

FTSE 100 broke resistance at 5750 and is headed for a test of 6000 on the weekly chart. The 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero indicates a healthy primary up-trend. Expect strong resistance at 6000 because of the number of previous peaks at this level. Breakout would offer a long-term target of 6750*.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 6000 + ( 6000 – 5250 ) = 6750

Forex: Euro, Pound Sterling, Canadian Loonie, Australian Dollar, South African Rand and Japanese Yen

The Euro retreated after encountering resistance at $1.2400/1.2450. Respect of the rising trendline, however, would confirm that the primary down-trend is losing momentum and a bottom is forming. Recovery above $1.2450 would strengthen the signal. Reversal below $1.2150 would warn of another down-swing — confirmed if primary support at $1.2050 is broken — with a target of $1.185.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.215 – ( 1.245 – 1.215 ) = 1.185

Pound Sterling’s up-trend against the Euro continues on the Weekly chart. Respect of support at €1.255 would indicate an advance to €1.315*. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum is evidence of a strong primary up-trend.

Pound Sterling/Euro

* Target calculation: 1.285 + ( 1.285 – 1.255 ) = 1.315

Canada’s Loonie broke above parity, headed for a test of resistance against the greenback at $1.02.  Long-term bullish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum and recovery above zero suggest a primary up-trend.

Canadian Loonie/Aussie Dollar

The Aussie Dollar is similarly headed for a test of resistance at $1.08 against the greenback. Breakout would offer a long-term target of $1.20* but calls for RBA intervention to prevent further appreciation are growing. Professor Warwick McKibbin told The Australian Financial Review:

When a portfolio shift into Australian currency is observed, the exchange rate change should be completely offset so the shock only affects the money markets rather than the real economy. If the shock cannot be observed precisely then the central bank should “lean against the wind”, that is intervene to slow down the extent of appreciation of the exchange rate.

 

Aussie Dollar/USD

* Target calculation: 1.08 + ( 1.08 – 0.96 ) = 1.20

The Aussie retreated from resistance at R8.75 against the South African Rand and is testing support at R8.50. Failure of support would signal a primary down-trend with an initial target of $8.25*.

Aussie Dollar/South African Rand

* Target calculation: 8.50 – ( 8.75 – 8.50 ) = 8.25

The Aussie broke medium-term resistance at ¥82.50 against the Japanese Yen, heading for a test of the upper range border at ¥88/¥90. The Australian Dollar/Japanese Yen has been a good reflection of global risk tolerance since 2009, oscillating between ¥72 and ¥90 as risk tolerance rises or falls. Rising 63-Day Twiggs Momentum and recovery above zero suggest a primary up-trend as the Aussie Dollar’s status as a reserve currency grows, attracting capital inflows.

Aussie Dollar/Japanese Yen

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Europe and Footsie recovering

Madrid General Index is testing resistance at 720. Breakout would complete a double bottom, offering a target of 840*.  Bullish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum indicates a resurgence, but we are some way off a recovery above zero which would signal a primary up-trend.

Madrid General Index

Dow Jones Europe Index displays a strong bullish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum, indicating a (primary trend) reversal. Recovery above zero would strengthen the signal. Penetration of the descending trendline would suggest a test of resistance at 265.

Dow Jones Europe Index

The FTSE 100 is headed for a test  resistance at 6000. A trough at zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests buying pressure but expect strong resistance at 6000 because of the number of previous reversals at this level.

FTSE 100 Index

Italian's Job: Premier Talks Tough in Bid to Save Euro – WSJ.com

Only the ECB has the necessary firepower to move the market. Senior German officials say the ECB’s help is what [Italian premier Mario] Monti has really been after all along. The Italian leader is convinced that the June 28 summit provided political cover for the ECB to take bold action, in the knowledge that euro-zone governments—including Germany—won’t oppose it.

“I have no doubt that the night before the disintegration of the euro, the ECB will do whatever is necessary to save it,” Mr. Monti says. “The question is: Do we need to get to the night before?”

via Italian’s Job: Premier Talks Tough in Bid to Save Euro – WSJ.com.

Forex: Euro, Pound Sterling, Canadian Loonie, Australian Dollar, South African Rand and Japanese Yen

The Euro retreated from resistance at $1.24 to test support at $1.22. Downward breakout would test the 2010 low of $1.19. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum continues to indicate a strong down-trend.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.23 – ( 1.27 – 1.23 ) = 1.19

Pound Sterling broke short-term support at €1.27 against the Euro, warning of a correction to €1.25. Respect of support at €1.25, however, would suggest a healthy up-trend.

Pound Sterling/Euro

Canada’s Loonie is testing parity against the greenback. Breakout would advance to $1.02. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero would indicate a primary up-trend, while a break above $1.02 would confirm.

Canadian Loonie/Aussie Dollar

The Aussie Dollar retreated from resistance at $1.05*. Reversal below $1.045 would test the rising trendline but penetration below $1.03 is unlikely. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests a primary up-trend.

Aussie Dollar/USD

* Target calculation: 1.05 + ( 1.05 – 1.02 ) = 1.08

The Aussie Dollar respected support at R8.50 South African Rand before rallying to R8.75. Breakout is likely and would offer a target of R9.00*.

Aussie Dollar/South African Rand

* Target calculation: 8.75 + ( 8.75 – 8.50 ) = 9.00

The Australian Dollar is consolidating mid-range (between ¥72 and ¥90) against the Japanese Yen.  Breakout above ¥82.50 is likely and would test the upper range border, while reversal below ¥79.50 would test primary support. Recovery of 63-Day Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the bull signal.

Aussie Dollar/Japanese Yen

Poles Apart – NYTimes.com

I enjoyed this comment on the NYtimes website by A Man from Poland in response to Paul Krugman’s criticism of Mitt Romney lavishing praise on the Polish economy. Especially because Krugman concludes: “Doesn’t anyone tell Romney to do his homework?”

Mr Krugman,

I see that you don’t know too much about situation in Poland.

Of course I agree that currency depreciation was one of main reasons of Poland’s relative resilience in the crisis.

But there were second very important reason – income tax cuts in 2008.

In 2008, the first time from 10 years we had income tax cut in Poland.

Till 2007 we had 19%, 30% and 40% progressive income tax rates. In 2008 19% tax rate was decreased to 18%, 30% was decreased to 18% and 40% tax rate (for the richest taxpayers) was reduced to 32%. So, we changed 19%-30%-40% progressive system into less progressive, lower income tax system 18%-32%.

In 2008 there was also social security tax reduction which additionally decreased labour cost in Poland.

So, thanks to income tax cuts and social security tax cuts we have maintained (roughly) employment rate and consumption level in Poland and it was second important reason of quite good situation in Poland.

via Poles Apart – NYTimes.com.

Spain Capital Outflows Reach Record Levels in Euro Crisis – SPIEGEL ONLINE

In the first five months of 2012, a total of €163 billion left the country, the figures [from the country’s central bank] indicate. During the same period a year earlier, Spain recorded a net inflow of €14.6 billion.

The outflow has resulted from domestic banks sending money abroad, foreign lenders pulling out cash and mostly non-resident investors dumping Spanish assets.

via Spain Capital Outflows Reach Record Levels in Euro Crisis – SPIEGEL ONLINE.

FT Alphaville » Negative rates as a precursor to the death of banking

Izabella Kaminska: The [European research] team at Morgan Stanley concludes:

Banks earnings have already come under significant pressure from the flattening of the yield curve. Unless negative real rates came with a material steepening of the curves (not our rates colleagues’ view), banks earnings would come under even greater pressure. In fact, the greatest risk our rates colleagues see would be for negative rates 2-3 years down the curve, in which case banks would need to re-price credit further. In our view, as banks’ confidence in loan growth and margins fell, so would their confidence on their capital plans and so lending would remain weak. We see Japan’s experience as good case study in this.

via FT Alphaville » Negative rates as a precursor to the death of banking.

Europe: DAX and Footsie buying pressure

Germany’s DAX is headed for a test of resistance at the 2012 high of 7200. A trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates strong buying pressure. We should see stubborn resistance at 7200 but also strong support at 6500 if there is a retracement.

DAX Index

The FTSE 100 is testing resistance at 5700 while 21-day Twiggs Money Flow bottoming above zero indicates (medium-term) buying pressure. Breakout would offer a target of 5900*.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 5700 + ( 5700 – 5500 ) = 5900