Category: US & Canada

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To Cure the Economy – Joseph E. Stiglitz – Project Syndicate

The economy was very sick before the crisis; the housing bubble merely papered over its weaknesses. Without bubble-supported consumption, there would have been a massive shortfall in aggregate demand. Instead, the personal saving rate plunged to 1%, and the bottom 80% of Americans were spending, every year, roughly 110% of their income. Even if the financial sector were fully repaired, and even if these profligate Americans hadn’t learned a lesson about the importance of saving, their consumption would be limited to 100% of their income. So anyone who talks about the consumer “coming back” – even after deleveraging – is living in a fantasy world.

via To Cure the Economy – Joseph E. Stiglitz – Project Syndicate.

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Follow the Money: Behind Europe’s Debt Crisis Lurks Another Giant Bailout of Wall Street

A Greek (or Irish or Spanish or Italian or Portuguese) default would have roughly the same effect on our financial system as the implosion of Lehman Brothers in 2008. Financial chaos.

….The Street has lent only about $7 billion to Greece, as of the end of last year, according to the Bank for International Settlements. That’s no big deal.

But a default by Greece or any other of Europe’s debt-burdened nations could easily pummel German and French banks, which have lent Greece (and the other wobbly European countries) far more.

That’s where Wall Street comes in. Big Wall Street banks have lent German and French banks a bundle.

via Follow the Money: Behind Europe’s Debt Crisis Lurks Another Giant Bailout of Wall Street – Robert Reich.

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Bernanke Defends Fed Focus on Unemployment

In an appearance before the Joint Economic Committee, Bernanke blamed slow-growing consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of economic activity, on persistently high unemployment and the gnawing fear among a growing number of Americans that their jobs may be at risk. After noting that the decline in home values and financial assets also contributed to decreasing confidence, he said “probably the most significant factor depressing consumer confidence, however, has been the poor performance of the job market.”

via Bernanke Defends Fed Focus on Unemployment.

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TSX 60 breaks support

Canada’s TSX 60 index broke support at 650, while declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow signals rising selling pressure. Expect another down-swing with a target of 580*.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 650 – ( 720 – 650 ) = 580

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Fedex heads South

Transport bellwether Fedex respected resistance at $70, signaling a down-swing to $55*. 13-week Twiggs Money Flow declining below zero indicates a strong primary down-trend. UPS (lime green) is also in a primary down-trend; reversal below its August low would confirm the Fedex bear signal. Declining transport stocks warn of shrinking activity levels in the overall economy.

Fedex and UPS

* Target calculation: 70 – ( 85 – 70 ) = 55

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Dow threatens decline to 10000

Dow Jones Industrial Average is testing the band of support between 10600 and 10800. An up-tick in volume indicates some buying support but this appears insufficient to withstand downward pressure. Failure of support at 10600 is likely and would signal a primary decline to 10000*.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 11000 – (12000 – 11000 ) = 10000

The S&P 500 index is similarly testing support at 1100, while 21-day Twiggs Money Flow declining below zero warns of selling pressure. Breach of 1100 would signal a primary decline to 950*.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1100 – ( 1250 – 1100 ) = 950

The NASDAQ 100 is headed for a test of support at 2040. Reversal  of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Breach of support would signal another decline with a target of 1700*.

NASDAQ 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2300 – 2000 ) = 1700

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The “Muddle Through” Has Failed: BCG Says “There May Be Only Painful Ways Out Of The Crisis” | ZeroHedge

According to [Boston Consulting Group], the amount of developed world debt between household, corporate and government that needs to be eliminated is just over $21 trillion. Which unfortunately means that there is an equity shortfall that will have to be funded with incremental cash which will have to come from somewhere.

via The “Muddle Through” Has Failed: BCG Says “There May Be Only Painful Ways Out Of The Crisis” | ZeroHedge.

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Commodities point to weaker Aussie and Canadian Dollar

CRB Commodities Index is testing support at 300 and the lower border of its trend channel. 63-day Twiggs Momentum holding below zero indicates a strong primary down-trend. Breakout below the trend channel would warn of a sharp decline, with a target of 260*. Respect is less likely, but would indicate a rally to test the upper trend channel.

CRB Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 300 – ( 340 – 300 ) = 260

Canada’s Loonie and the Aussie Dollar are both closely linked to commodity prices. A fall in the CRB index would lead to similar falls in the two currencies. CAD breakout below $0.9650 would signal a test of $0.94*.

CADUSD

* Target calculation: 1.00 – ( 1.06 – 1.00 ) = 0.94

Both currencies commenced a primary down-trend when they broke parity. An Aussie Dollar breakout below $0.97 would offer an identical target of $0.94*.

AUDUSD

* Target calculation: 1.02 – ( 1.10 – 1.02 ) = 0.94

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