Nouriel Roubini's Global EconoMonitor » Scary Oil

Nouriel Roubini: The last three global recessions (prior to 2008) were each caused by a geopolitical shock in the Middle East that led to a sharp spike in oil prices. The 1973 Yom Kippur War between Israel and the Arab states led to global stagflation (recession and inflation) in 1974-1975. The Iranian revolution in 1979 led to global stagflation in 1980-1982. And Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in the summer of 1990 led to the global recession of 1990-1991.

Even the recent global recession, though triggered by a financial crisis, was exacerbated by spiking oil prices in 2008. With the barrel price reaching $145 in July of that year, oil-importing advanced economies and emerging markets alike faced a recessionary tipping point.

……..Oil is already well above $100/barrel, despite weak economic growth in advanced countries and many emerging markets. The fear premium might push prices significantly higher, even if no military conflict ultimately takes place, and could trigger a global recession if one does.

via EconoMonitor : Nouriel Roubini’s Global EconoMonitor » Scary Oil.

Selling pressure warns of correction

Medium-term selling pressure, signaled by bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow, continues to warn of a correction in US and Asia-Pacific markets. The Dow Jones TSM (formerly “Wilshire”) Asia-Pacific Index displays a bearish divergence since mid-February. Reversal below 1280 would confirm a correction.

Dow Jones TSM Asia-Pacific Index

Dow Jones Industrial Average shows a similar bearish divergence, though the latest down-turn was exaggerated by triple-witching hour [TW] on Friday. Reversal below 12750 would confirm a correction.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

Canada: TSX 60 Index

Canada’s TSX 60 Index found support at 700, above the rising trendline. Respect of the zero line by 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates a primary up-trend. Recovery above 720 would confirm an advance to 790*.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 720 + ( 720 – 650 ) = 790

US: Good week for Nasdaq and S&P 500

The Nasdaq 100 rallied strongly this last week, closing on its revised target of 2750*. Steeply rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates strong buying pressure. Extension of the rally above the target would be risky and we are likely to see retracement to test the new support level and (long-term) rising trendline at 2400.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2400 + ( 2400 – 2050 ) = 2750

The S&P 500 followed through after its breakout above 1370, signaling continuation of the primary up-trend. Expect retracement to confirm support at 1350 before an advance to our target of 1450.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1150 ) = 1450

Real Recovery: America’s Debt is on the Decline

[A new report from the McKinsey Global Institute] estimated that home equity loans and cash-out refinancing increased consumer spending by a percentage point to 3 percent growth a year during the housing bubble years. But with that source of debt financing gone, retailers are more likely to see 2 percent annual growth over the next few years, which is about where it has been in recent months.

via Real Recovery: America’s Debt is on the Decline.

The Myth Of Cash On The Sidelines – Jim Bianco | The Big Picture

Last Thursday the Federal Reserve released its quarterly Flow of Funds data, current through December 2011. One of the more popular headlines from this data concerns the record amount of “cash on the sidelines.” Through Q4 2011, nonfarm nonfinancial corporate businesses held $2.23 trillion in liquid assets on their balance sheets. As the argument goes, this must be a sign of pent-up demand just waiting to be unleashed on the market.

The chart below shows liquid assets as a percentage of total nonfarm nonfinancial corporate business assets since 1952. By this measure, the “cash on the sidelines” argument is far less compelling.

Liquid Assets as a Percentage of Total Nonfarm Nonfinancial Corporate Business Assets

via The Myth Of Cash On The Sidelines – An Update | The Big Picture.

Forex: Australia, Canada and South Africa

A stronger greenback and weaker commodity prices are likely to depress resource-rich currencies. Canada’s Loonie stood up surprisingly well, mainly because of rising crude oil prices. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum recovered above zero, indicating a primary up-trend. Breakout above $1.01 would strengthen the signal, offering a target of the 2011 high at $1.06.

Canadian Dollar

* Target calculation: 1.01 + ( 1.01 – 0.95 ) = 1.07

The Aussie Dollar weakened along with commodity prices. Failure of support at $1.04 would warn of a correction to primary support at $0.96. Penetration of the rising trendline and reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the signal.

Aussie Dollar

The Aussie Dollar found support at R8.00 South African Rand. Expect a rally to test the upper range border at R8.50, but failure of support would test the long-term trendline at R7.50*. Penetration of the trendline and/or reversal of 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero would warn of a primary down-trend.

Aussie Dollar/South African Rand

* Target calculation: 8.00 – ( 8.50 – 8.00 ) = 7.50

Treasury yields surge

The yield on 10-year US Treasury Notes has surged to test resistance at 2.40 percent. Breakout would indicate a rally to the long-term trendline at 3.00 percent on the Monthly chart. Rising treasury yields signal that investors are migrating out of bonds and into stocks, especially when the Fed is attempting to suppress long-term rates.

10-Year Treasury Yields