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

Steve Keen: Australia & Canada face debt-deflation crisis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=f7iK4DHPr9E#!

[23 minutes]

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

S&P 500 and Nasdaq

An Hourly chart shows the S&P 500 Index consolidating below 1400. Breakout above the narrow flag would signal an advance to 1450*. Reversal below the trend channel is unlikely but would warn of retracement to 1340.

S&P 500 Index

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

The Nasdaq 100 exceeded its initial target of 2650, now revised to 2750, and is due for a correction. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure. Expect a test of support at 2400.

Nasdaq 100 Index

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

Canada TSX: Momentum trades

Bullish

  • New Zealand Energy [NZ] ~ respected support at $3.00; breakout above $3.80 would confirm another primary advance.
  • Rio Alto Mining [RIO] ~ narrow consolidation favors breakout above $4.70, signaling a new advance; support at $4.30.
  • Roxgold [ROG] ~ good support at $1.90, breakout above $2.15 would signal a new advance.

Watch for breakout

  • Tri-Oil Resources A [TOL] ~ narrow consolidation between $3.50 and $3.80 but strong bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow
  • Argonaut Gold [AR] ~ strong resistance at $10.00, support at $9.00
  • Atna Resources [ATN] ~ support at $1.25, resistance at $1.50.
  • Northern Graphite [NGC] ~ 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero is bearish but ascending triangle below $2.20, breakout would signal a fresh advance.
  • Pretium Resources [PVG] ~ breakout above $18.00 would signal continuation
  • TAG Oil [TAO] ~ testing resistance at $10.00
  • Americas Petrogas [BOE] ~ testing support at $4.00, respect would favor breakout above $4.50 and a fresh advance.

Americas Petrogas [BOE]

  • Coastal Energy [CEN] ~ recovered above $20.00, follow-through above $21.00 would confirm a fresh advance.

Americas Petrogas [BOE]

Negative Watch

  • Silvercrest Mines [SVL] ~ strong bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow followed by sharp drop to test support at $2.50.
  • Madalena Ventures [MVN] ~ long correction, headed for test of $1.00.

Carmen Reinhart: Financial Repression – WSJ

Carmen Reinhart marks the rise of financial repression. “Faced with a private and public domestic debt overhang of historic proportions, policy makers will be preoccupied with debt reduction, debt management, and, in general, efforts to keep debt-servicing costs manageable. In this setting, financial repression in its many guises with its dual aims of keeping interest rates low and creating or maintaining captive domestic audiences will probably find renewed favor and will likely be with us for a long time.”

via Secondary Sources: Financial Repression, Jobs and Growth, Daylight Saving Scam – Real Time Economics – WSJ.