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.
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.”
Wall St rallies on Europe hopes | The Australian
US stocks rallied this morning, as a report European Union finance ministers are discussing ways to recapitalise European banks fuelled a fierce comeback in the final hour of trading.
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*.
* Target calculation: 650 – ( 720 – 650 ) = 580
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.
* Target calculation: 70 – ( 85 – 70 ) = 55
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*.
* 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*.
* 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*.
* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2300 – 2000 ) = 1700
ICI – Trends in Mutual Fund Investing, August 2011
The combined assets of the nation’s mutual funds decreased by $398.0 billion, or 3.3 percent, to $11.621 trillion in August, according to the Investment Company Institute’s official survey of the mutual fund industry.
via ICI – Trends in Mutual Fund Investing, August 2011.
Stock funds decreased by 7.4% in August 2011 but were offset to some extent by gains in money market funds.
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.
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.
* 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*.
* 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*.
* Target calculation: 1.02 – ( 1.10 – 1.02 ) = 0.94
It’s Man vs. Machine and Man Is Losing – WSJ
Since the recession ended, businesses had increased their real spending on equipment and software by a strong 26%, while they have added almost nothing to their payrolls.
via It’s Man vs. Machine and Man Is Losing – Real Time Economics – WSJ.