Francesco Guerrera: A simple solution is staring the likes of Deutsche Bank AG, BNP Paribas SA and Banco Santander in the face: large, decisive, increases in capital through equity sales that would allay investor concerns and boost balance sheets. With the year-end results almost all out of the way, banks should start raising capital soon. The experience of the U.S. financial crisis shows that in stressed times capital infusions can cure or mask many ills and buy valuable time to restructure businesses.
UK and Europe
The FTSE 100 is retracing to test the new support level at 5750. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of medium-term selling pressure. Reversal below 5600 would warn of a bull trap, while respect would confirm the primary up-trend.
* Target calculation: 5750 + ( 5750 – 5100 ) = 6400
Dow Jones Europe Index is consolidating below resistance at 260. Penetration of the descending trendline suggests that a bottom is forming. Breakout above 260 would signal a primary advance to 310*, while reversal below 240 and the rising trendline would warn of another test of primary support at 210.
* Target calculation: 260 + ( 260 – 210 ) = 310
Europe: UK and Germany signal bull market
The FTSE 100 broke through resistance at 5750 to signal a primary up-trend. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure. Target for the initial advance is 6300*.
* Target calculation: 5700 + ( 5700 – 5100 ) = 6300
Germany’s DAX also signals a primary up-trend, with a target of 7400* for the initial advance.
* Target calculation: 6400 + ( 6400 – 5400 ) = 7400
Italy’s MIB index lags behind, but breakout above 17000 would give a similar signal, with a target of 20000*.
* Target calculation: 17000 + ( 17000 – 14000 ) = 20000
Forex: EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, JPY, ZAR
The euro remains in a strong primary down-trend. The current rally is testing resistance at $1.32, but 63 -day Twiggs Momentum continues to trend downwards. Breach of support at $1.26 would signal a down-swing to $1.20*.
* Target calculation: 1.26 – ( 1.32 – 1.26 ) = 1.20
Pound Sterling has breached its declining trendline against the greenback, warning that a bottom is forming. Breakout above $1.62 would complete a double bottom reversal, testing the 2011 high at $1.68.
* Target calculation: 1.62 + ( 1.62 – 1.53 ) = 1.71
Canada’s Loonie also signals that a bottom is forming. Breakout above $1.01 would indicate the start of a primary up-trend, with an initial target of $1.06*.
* Target calculation: 1.01 + ( 1.01 – 0.96 ) = 1.06
The Aussie is testing resistance at $1.08. Breakout would similarly signal a primary up-trend with an initial target of $1.18*.
* Target calculation: 1.08 + ( 1.08 – 0.98 ) = 1.18
The greenback is testing primary support at 76 against the Japanese yen. Breakout would offer a target of 72*. Recovery above the declining trendline, however, would suggest that a bottom is forming — confirming the large bullish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum — while breakout above 80 would signal a primary up-trend.
* Target calculation: 76 – ( 80 – 76 ) = 72
The South African Rand is strengthening against the US Dollar, while encountering resistance at R8.50 against its Australian counterpart. Downward breakout from the ascending triangle would warn of a correction to test the long-term trendline at R7.50, while breakout above R8.50 would indicate another primary advance, with a target of R9.50*.
* Target calculation: 8.50 + ( 8.50 – 7.50 ) = 9.50
The Euro Crisis Makes Absolutely No Sense – Brett Arends (WSJ)
WSJ: Mean Street
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Brett Arends exposes flaws in Eurozone efforts to resolve the currency crisis.
UK & Europe
Dow Jones UK index retreated below support/resistance (the lighter shaded candle reflects an incomplete week) at the October 2011 high, suggesting a bull trap. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of strong selling pressure.
The FTSE 100 shows a similar bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below the zero line would strengthen the bull trap signal.
Dow Jones Europe index is testing medium-term support at 240. Breach of the green ascending trendline would warn of another test of primary support at 210 — as would 63-day Twiggs Momentum respecting the zero line.
King Says BOE Ready to Act – WSJ.com
[BOE Governor Mervyn King] kept the door open for more stimulus in his speech Tuesday. “With inflation falling back and wage growth subdued, there is scope for interest rates to remain low and, if necessary, for further asset purchases, to prevent inflation falling below the 2% target,” he said. The annual rate of inflation in the U.K. dipped to 4.2% in December from 4.8% a month earlier, and is expected to slow sharply this year.
Dow Jones Europe
Even Europe is showing signs of life, with Dow Jones Europe Index breaking medium-term resistance at 240 to signal a test of 260. Breach of the descending trendline would suggest a bottom is forming. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the signal. In the long-term, breakout above 260 would complete a double-bottom reversal with a target of 310*.
* Target calculation: 260 + ( 260 – 210 ) = 310
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*.
* 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.
* 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.
* Target calculation: 13 – ( 17 – 13 ) = 9
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.