S&P500 holds strong while Canada and Europe weaken

10-Year Treasury yields broke resistance at 2.50% as bond-holders offload their positions. Expect weak retracement to test the new support level at 2.00%, but recovery above 2.50% is likely and would signal a long-term advance to test resistance at 4.00%. Breakout above 4.00% would end the 31-year secular bear-trend. Rising yields reflect market expectations that the economy will recover, enabling the Fed to curtail further quantitative easing.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The S&P 500 broke support at 1600 and is undergoing a correction to test the long-term rising trendline at 1500. Twiggs Money Flow reflects moderate selling and the primary up-trend looks secure.

S&P 500 Index
My concern is: can the US withstand negative sentiment from global markets? The rising VIX is not yet cause for alarm, with the market shrugging off the last foray above 20, but a spike above 25 would warn of elevated risk.

VIX Index

The TSX Composite broke support at 11900/12000 to signal a primary down-trend. Falling 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure. Expect a test of the 2012 low at 11250.

TSX Composite Index

The FTSE 100 is testing the rising trendline and support at 6000. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of a reversal. Failure of support at 6000 would strengthen the signal.

FTSE 100

Germany’s DAX is headed for a test of the long-term trendline and primary support at 7400/7500. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure. Breach of 7400 would signal reversal to a primary down-trend.

DAX

Forex: Euro retraces but Sterling weakens on the cross

The euro is retracing to test the new support level at $1.32, respect would confirm the advance to $1.37*.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.32 + ( 1.32 – 1.27 ) = 1.37

Pound Sterling is testing support at €1.16 against the euro. Failure would indicate a decline to primary support at  €1.14 , with a longer term target of €1.10. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would strengthen the bear signal.
Pound Sterling

The greenback found support at ¥94 against the Yen. The primary trend is still upward and recovery above ¥100 would signal a fresh advance with a target of ¥114*. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would strengthen the signal. Respect of resistance at ¥100, however, would warn of reversal.

USD/JPY

* Target calculation: 104 + ( 104 – 94 ) = 114

Canada’s Loonie respected resistance at $0.99 against the greenback and is headed for another test of support at $0.96. Successive peaks below zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicate a healthy primary down-trend. Breach of  $0.96 would offer a target of $0.93*.

Canadian Loonie

* Target calculation: 0.96 – ( 0.99 – 0.96 ) = 0.93

Gold falls while Treasury yields rise

Gold is testing primary support at $1340/ounce. Breach of support would signal another primary decline, while follow-through below $1320 would confirm.

Spot Gold
Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero indicates a healthy primary down-trend. Breach of primary support would offer a target of $1100*.
Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1300 – ( 1500 – 1300 ) = 1100

Silver displays a similar down-trend on the monthly chart, offering a target of $16/ounce*.
Spot Silver

* Target calculation: 26 – ( 36 – 26 ) = 16

Dollar Index

The Dollar Index respected its primary trendline at 80.50 on the weekly chart. Recovery above 81.50 would indicate another test of 84. Declining peaks on 13-week Twiggs Momentum, however, suggest a weak up-trend. Failure of support at 80.50 would warn of another test of primary support at 79.

Dollar Index

Treasuries

Treasuries fell, with yields rising sharply after today’s FOMC announcement. Target for the advance of 10-year Treasury Yields is 2.60%*.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.10 + ( 2.10 – 1.60 ) = 2.60

Crude Oil

Crude is rising despite the stronger dollar, with Nymex WTI breaking resistance at $98/barrel and Brent testing resistance at $106. The spread between the two has narrowed to around $8 and is likely to close further as the US economy recovers faster than Europe. Follow-through of Nymex crude above $100/barrel would confirm a primary up-trend, reflecting a stronger US economy — if the dollar is strengthening.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

Commodities

The Dow Jones/UBS Commodity Index, assisted by crude oil, found support at 130 on the weekly chart. Expect a test of the declining trendline at 134, but the primary trend is down and, with China weakening, a test of  primary support at 125/126 remains likely.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

Forex: Aussie Dollar falls below 93 US cents

The Aussie Dollar fell to below $0.93 within hours of the latest FOMC announcement from the Fed. Breach of support indicates another decline, with a target of $0.90*.

Aussie Dollar/USD

* Target calculation: 0.9330 – ( 0.9660 – 0.9330 ) = 0.9000

The monthly chart shows the Aussie has broken long-term support around $0.95, signaling a decline to $0.80*. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero confirms a primary down-trend.

Canadian Loonie

* Target calculation: 0.95 – ( 1.10 – 0.95 ) = 0.80

It is not just a stronger greenback, the Aussie is also falling against the crosses. Canada’s Loonie broke resistance at parity to the Australian Dollar, signaling a primary up-trend.

Canadian Loonie

ASX: Following China into a down-trend

The S&P 500 is testing resistance at 1650, but declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warns of continued selling pressure. Breakout would signal an advance to the upper trend channel, around 1700. Reversal below 1600, however, remains likely and would indicate a correction to 1500.
S&P 500 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite Index broke primary support at 2170 on Thursday. Follow-through below 2150 would signal a decline to the 2012 low of 1950*.
Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2350 – 2150 ) = 1950

The ASX 200 is retracing to test its new resistance level at 4900. Respect would confirm the primary down-trend — as would a peak below zero on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow.

ASX 200 Index

The ASX Small Ordinaries Index, reflecting retail investor interest in the market, continues its primary down-trend. Breach of the 2012 low at 2040 warns of a decline to 1700*.

ASX Small Ords Index

* Target calculation: 2050 – ( 2400 – 2050 ) = 1700

Canada: TSX threatens down-trend

Canada’s TSX Composite is testing primary support at 11900 on the weekly chart. Breakout would signal reversal to a primary down-trend, confirming the warning from a bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow. Respect of support is unlikely, but would indicate another attempt at 13000.

TSX Composite Index

S&P500 up-trend despite test of support at 1600

A monthly chart shows 10-year Treasury yields continue to respect support at 2.00%, confirming the primary up-trend. Expect resistance at 2.50%, but the long-term (multi-year) target is 4.00%, where the 2009 high coincides with a descending trendline from the 31-year secular bear-trend. Rising yields reflect market expectations that the economy is recovering and the Fed will curtail further quantitative easing.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The S&P 500 is headed for a re-test of support at 1600, but recovery above 1650 would signal another advance — testing the upper channel around 1700. Declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow continues to signal selling pressure.

S&P 500 Index
Breach of support at 1600 would warn of a correction to test the long-term rising trendline at 1500, but that would not alter the healthy primary up-trend.
S&P 500 Index
The VIX is rising, but remains in the green zone, below 20, suggesting a healthy up-trend.

S&P 500 Index

Forex: Aussie resistance, Yen falls

The Aussie Dollar rallied to $0.955 on the 2-hour chart before encountering selling pressure. Expect a test of the 2011 low at $0.94. Breach would indicate another decline. The next target is $0.90*, with a long-term target of $0.80*. Breakout above $0.955 is unlikely, but would re-test resistance at $0.98.

Aussie Dollar/USD

* Target calculations: 0.94 – ( 0.98 – 0.94 ) = 0.90 and 0.95 – ( 1.10 – 0.95 ) = 0.80

Canada’s Loonie, however, respected support at $0.96, heading for another test of resistance at $0.99 or parity. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero suggests continuation of the down-trend. Respect of resistance would indicate another decline, with a target of $0.94*.

Canadian Loonie

* Target calculation: 0.97 – ( 1.00 – 0.97 ) = 0.94

The euro broke resistance at $1.32 and is headed for $1.37*. Breakout is some way off, but would offer a target of $1.47*.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.37 + ( 1.37 – 1.27 ) = 1.47

Pound Sterling broke resistance at $1.56, signaling an advance to $1.63*. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the bull signal.
Pound Sterling

* Target calculation: 1.56 + ( 1.56 – 1.50 ) = 1.62

The greenback continues a strong correction against the Yen, but this is a secondary movement and the primary up-trend is unaltered. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would strengthen the signal. Recovery above resistance at ¥100 would signal a fresh advance with a target of ¥113*. Long-term target for the advance is the 2007 high at ¥125*.

USD/JPY

* Target calculations: (a) 104 + ( 104 – 95 ) = 113; (b) 100 + ( 100 – 75 ) = 125

Gold and Dollar fall

Gold retreated below support at $1400, indicating the end of the bear rally. Expect a test of primary support at $1320/$1340. Yesterday’s long tail is evidence of short-term buying pressure, so breach of primary support is not a certainty. Respect would suggest another test of $1400.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1350 – ( 1500 – 1350 ) = 1200

Dollar Index

The Dollar Index is retreating after a false break above 84 on the monthly chart. Breach of support at 79 would complete a double top, signaling reversal to a down-trend. Fall of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the bear signal. Respect of the rising trendline remains as likely, however, and would signal a long-term advance to 89/90.

Dollar Index

Crude Oil

Crude is consolidating, with Brent likely to continue the down-trend after breaking support at $100/barrel. Respect of resistance at $106 would strengthen the signal. Nymex WTI, however,  is headed for resistance at $98. Breakout would signal an advance, but reversal below $90 is as likely and would test support at $85/barrel. The spread between the two is likely to narrow as the European economy under-performs the US.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

Commodities

A weakening Shanghai Composite Index is being followed lower by the Dow Jones/UBS Commodity Index. Breach of medium-term support at 130 would signal a test of  primary support at 125/126. Commodities remain in a primary down-trend and are likely to stay there unless China resumes major infrastructure investment. Not good news for Australian resources stocks.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

S&P500 recovers as bond yields rise, but TSX weakens

10-Year Treasury yields respected support at 2.00%, confirming the primary up-trend. Only breakout above 4.00% would end the 31-year secular bear-trend, but a rise to there would result in an almost 50% loss for bondholders. Rising yields reflect market expectations that the economy will recover and the Fed will curtail further quantitative easing.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The S&P 500 respected support at 1600 and is headed for a test of the upper channel around 1700. Reversal below support at 1600 is now unlikely, but would warn of a correction.

S&P 500 Index
The VIX is rising, but remains in the green zone, below 20.

S&P 500 Index

The TSX Composite reversed below support at 12500, indicating weakness. Follow-through below last week’s low would suggest a test of primary support at 11900/12000. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure.

Nikkei 225 Index