Bears threaten US rally

Rallies on the Dow and S&P 500 reflect a more positive outlook for the US economy. But the FTSE 100 has followed China’s Shanghai Composite and India’s SENSEX into bear territory, while Germany’s DAX, Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Australia’s ASX 200 threaten key support levels. There is very little to cheer about at present.

Dow Jones Global Index is testing resistance at the former primary support level of 290. Respect is likely and breach of 270 would confirm another decline. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum peaks below zero flag a strong primary down-trend.

Dow Jones Global Index

* Target calculation: 290 – ( 320 – 290 ) = 260

Dow Jones Industrial Average recovered above primary support at 16000 but respect of 17000 is likely and would warn of another decline. Breach of 16000 offers a target of 14000*. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow oscillating around zero indicates uncertainty.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 16000 – ( 18000 – 16000 ) = 14000

The S&P 500 recovered above 1900, while rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates short-/medium-term buying pressure. Expect a test of 2000 but breakout is unlikely. Breach of support at 1900 would signal another decline, with a (medium-term) target of 1700*.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1900 – ( 2100 – 1900 ) = 1700

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) continues to range between 20 and 30 reflecting hesitancy — and the potential to react quickly to bad news.

S&P 500 VIX

Canada’s TSX 60 also retraced to test resistance at 750. Respect is likely and breach of 700 would offer a target of 650*. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum peaks below zero indicate a strong primary down-trend.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 700 – ( 750 – 700 ) = 650

Europe

Germany’s DAX is testing primary support at 9500. Peaks below zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum warn of a primary down-trend. Follow-through below 9300 would confirm.

DAX

* Target calculation: 9500 – ( 11500 – 9500 ) = 7500

The Footsie retreated below 6000, signaling a primary down-trend. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum peaks below zero further strengthen the signal. Long-term target for a decline is 5000*.

FTSE 100

* Target calculation: 6000 – ( 7000 – 6000 ) = 5000

Asia

Support has given way on the Shanghai Composite Index, strengthening the primary down-trend signaled last August when 13-week Twiggs Momentum crossed below zero. Target for the decline is 2400*.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 3000 – ( 3600 – 3000 ) = 2400

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index is testing primary support at 17000. Breach is likely and would confirm the primary down-trend signaled by 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 94 – ( 106 – 94 ) = 82

Two failed swings on India’s Sensex (failing to reach the upper trend channel) warn of increasing selling pressure. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum peaks below zero confirm this. Follow-through below 24000 would offer a target of 22500*.

SENSEX

* Target calculation: 25000 – ( 27500 – 25000 ) = 22500

Australia

The ASX 200 staged a short rally today but sentiment remains bearish and respect of the recent high at 5050 would warn of another decline. Bullish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure but the weight of global bear markets is likely to sap any enthusiasm. Reversal below 4850 would offer a medium-term target of 4650*, or 4000* in the long-term.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 4850 – ( 5050 – 4850 ) = 4650; 5000 – ( 6000 – 5000 ) = 4000

The largest sector, Banks, is already in a primary down-trend, having been singled out for particular attention by the bears. Breach of support at 7500/7600 would warn of a decline to 6600*.

ASX 300 Banks

* Target calculation: 7600 – ( 8600 – 7600 ) = 6600

Markets are fundamentally volatile. No way around it. Your problem is not in the math. There is no math to get you out of having to experience uncertainty.

~ Ed Seykota

Gold rallies but how long?

We are witnessing a flight to safety as money flows out of stocks and into bonds, driving 10-year Treasury yields as low as 1.88 percent. Breach of support at 2.0 percent suggests that another test of primary support at 1.5 percent lies ahead.

10-Year Treasury Yields

What makes this even more significant is that it occurred while China is depleting foreign reserves — quite likely selling Treasuries — to support the Yuan. Heavy intervention in the past few weeks to prevent further CNY depreciation against the Dollar may well show recent estimates of a further $0.5 Trillion outflow in 2016 to be on the light side.

USDCNY

China is caught in a cleft stick: either deplete foreign reserves to support the Yuan, or allow the Yuan to weaken which would fuel further selling and risk a downward spiral. Regulations to restrict capital outflows may ease pressure but are unlikely to stem the flow.

Chinese sales of Dollar reserves have slowed appreciation of the Dollar Index. Cessation of support for the Yuan would cause breakout above 100 and an advance to at least 107*.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 93 ) = 107

Gold

Gold has also benefited from the flight to safety, rallying to $1150/ounce. The rally may well test $1200 but resistance is expected to hold. Respect would suggest a decline to $1000/ounce*; confirmed if support at $1050 is broken. Continued oscillation of 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero flags a strong primary down-trend.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1100 – ( 1200 – 1100 ) = 1000

Dow breaks support

My newsletters on December 10th and January 14th warned of the approaching storm across global markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has now broken primary support at 16000, signaling a primary down-trend. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero, indicating selling pressure, strengthens the warning. Target for the decline is 14000*.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 16000 – ( 18000 – 16000 ) = 14000

S&P 500 breach of primary support at 1870 confirms the Dow signal. The long tail on the latest candle indicates the continued presence of buyers (highlighted by rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow). Expect retracement to test the new resistance level but respect is likely and follow-through below 1850 would be the final nail in the coffin. The medium-term target is 1700* but long-term, expect a test of 1500.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1900 – ( 2100 – 1900 ) = 1700

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) testing 30 suggests elevated risk.

S&P 500 VIX

Gold and Treasury Yields

Bonds have benefited from the flight to safety, with 10-year Treasury Yields closing below 2.0%. Follow-through below 1.90% would suggest a test of the 2015 low at 1.65%.

10-Year Treasury Yields

Gold likewise rallied to $1100 per ounce. But falling oil prices and low inflation are likely to undermine any long-term demand for gold as a store of value.

S&P 500 VIX

How far will the S&P 500 fall?

Prompted by a question from Hailoh on IC forum:

“Down for sure, but in what stages? Without a Lehman failure there may not be the impetus for a dramatic plunge towards the end.”

The S&P 500 is testing primary support at 1850/1870. Decline of 6-month Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend. I am a great believer in chart symmetry and breach of 1870 would most likely result in a decline to 1500, the next major support level.

S&P 500 Index

This could still prove to be a false alarm — as in 1998, 2010 and 2011 — but charts like bellwether transport stock Fedex suggest otherwise.

Fedex

Also the 10% year-on-year declining profit margins for Q3 2015. A 20% year-on-year fall for Q4 2015 would confirm.

Profit Margins

Fedex warns of slowing economy

Bellwether transport stock Fedex, in a primary down-trend, warns of slowing economic activity in the US. The 6-month Twiggs Momentum peak below zero flags a strong down-trend. Breach of support at 130.00 would warn of another decline — and worsening economic climate.

Fedex

European equivalent Deutsche Post AG (DPW.DE), owner of DHL, also warns of declining economic activity. Breach of support at 23.00 would warn of another decline.

Deutsche Post AG

Gold muted as Dollar slides

I would have expected a gold rally in response to the falling Dollar but the response is so far muted.

The Euro leapt 3.08% last Thursday, December 3rd, in response to a weaker-than-expected stimulus package from the European Central Bank.

EURUSD

The Dollar Index, with a 57.6% weighting against the Euro, fell 2.26%.

Dollar Index

Other factors also weaken the Dollar. The Peoples Bank of China is selling off reserves to support the falling Yuan. This is likely to continue as capital outflows from China maintain pressure on the currency.

USDCNY

A weaker Dollar would boost US exports and accelerate domestic growth. Strong bearish divergence between 13-week Twiggs Momentum and the Dollar Index warns of a reversal. Breach of support at 98 would indicate a test of primary support at 93. Failure of primary support remains unlikely, but reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the warning.

Dollar Index

Interest Rates

Long-term interest rates remain soft despite the anticipated Fed rate hike. 10-Year Treasury yields respected support at 2.0 percent. Breakout above 2.50 percent would indicate a test of 3.00 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

Gold

Gold is headed for a test of support at $1000/ounce* after breaching $1100. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum peaks below zero confirm a strong primary down-trend. A weaker Dollar would increase support for gold but there is no sign of this yet.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1100 – ( 1200 – 1100 ) = 1000

Fed: Who Is Holding All the Excess Reserves?

Ben Craig and Sara Millington at FRB Cleveland say “liquidity is not diffusing through the banking system, but is instead staying concentrated on the balance sheets of the largest banks.” Banks from the European Union (EU) have also substantially increased their holdings of excess reserves at the Fed.

Hat tip to Barry Ritholz

Gold breaks support

Gold fell to $1070/ounce, breaching the band of primary support between $1080 and $1100 per ounce. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum peaks below zero indicate a strong primary down-trend. The next level of support is $1000/ounce*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1100 – ( 1200 – 1100 ) = 1000

Inflation

Core CPI is close to the Fed target of 2.0 percent but inflation expectations continue to fall, with the 5-year breakeven rate (5-year Treasury minus 5-year TIPS yield) as low as 1.2 percent.

5-Year Breakeven Rate

Interest Rates and the Dollar

Long-term interest rates are rising, anticipating a Fed rate hike. 10-Year Treasury yields retraced to test the new support level after breaking through 2.25 percent. Respect of support is likely and will signal an advance to 2.50 percent. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests an up-trend. Breakout above 2.50 percent would confirm.

10-Year Treasury Yields

Low inflation and a stronger Dollar are weakening demand for gold. The Dollar Index is testing resistance at 100. Respect of zero by 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates long-term buying pressure. Breakout above 100 is likely and would signal an advance to 107*.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 93 ) = 107

Gold testing $1100/ounce

Solid job numbers have boosted the prospects for an interest rate hike before the end of the year. Employment is growing steadily, having exceeded its 2008 high by more than 4.2 million new jobs.

Employment and Unemployment

Unemployment is falling as job growth holds above 2.0 percent a year.

Interest Rates and the Dollar

Long-term interest rates are rising, with 10-year Treasury yields headed for a test of resistance at 2.50 percent after breaking through 2.25 percent. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero indicates an up-trend. Breakout above 2.50 percent would confirm.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The Dollar strengthened in response to rising yields, the Dollar Index breaking resistance at 98. Respect of zero by 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates long-term buying pressure. Breakout above 100 would confirm another advance, with a target of 107*.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 93 ) = 107

Gold

Gold fell as the Dollar strengthened, testing primary support at $1100/ounce. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum peaks below zero indicate a strong (primary) down-trend. Follow-through below $1080 would signal another decline, with a target of $1000/ounce*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1100 – ( 1200 – 1100 ) = 1000