US & Canada Archives - Page 66 of 174

November 10, 2014

Dow, Nasdaq advance

Broadening wedges are not patterns on which I place a great deal of reliance, but you can depend on them to generate false signals — in both directions. Dow Jones Industrial Average broke resistance at 17300 and has now penetrated the upper border of the broadening wedge. Follow-through above 17600 would confirm a primary advance with a target of 19000*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates long-term buying pressure. Reversal below 17000 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support and the rising trendline at 16000.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 17500 + ( 17500 – 16000 ) = 19000

The Nasdaq 100 offers a target of 4500*, having broken resistance at 4100. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow drifting sideways reflects a lack of enthusiasm, but recovery above 35% would flag renewed buying pressure. Reversal below 4000 is unlikely.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 4100 + ( 4100 – 3700 ) = 4500

November 9, 2014

In Praise of Global Imbalances by Sanjeev Sanyal – Project Syndicate

Sanjeev Sanyal, Deutsche Bank’s Global Strategist, writes:

….according to International Monetary Fund data, the current overall global investment rate, at 24.5% of world GDP, is near the top of its long-term range. The issue is not a lack of overall investment, but the fact that a disproportionate share of it comes from China. China’s share of world investment has soared from 4.3% in 1995 to an estimated 25.8% this year. By contrast, the United States’ share, which peaked at 36% in 1985, has fallen to less than 18%. The decline in Japan’s share has been more dramatic, from a peak of 22% in 1993 to just 5.7% in 2013…

November 8, 2014

S&P 500 bullish but Europe and China encounter resistance

Retracement of the S&P 500 respected its new support level at 2000, confirming a primary advance with a target of 2150*. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above the declining trendline indicates buyers are back in control. Reversal below 2000 and the rising trendline is unlikely, but would signal another correction.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 2000 + ( 2000 – 1850 ) = 2150

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) at 13 indicates low risk typical of a bull market.

S&P 500 VIX

Germany’s DAX found resistance at 9400 and retracement to test support at 9000 is likely. Failure of the former primary support level at 8900/9000 would confirm a primary down-trend. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero would also indicate that sellers dominate.

DAX

* Target calculation: 9000 – ( 10000 – 9000 ) = 8000

The Footsie also encountered resistance, at 6500/6560. Respect of this level would warn of a primary down-trend, but rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests medium-term buying pressure.

FTSE 100

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is testing its 2013 high of 2440. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of (medium-term) resistance.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2400 + ( 2400 – 2300 ) = 2500

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also found resistance, at 24000. Reversal below 23000 would confirm a primary down-trend. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero would strengthen the bear signal.

Hang Seng Index

The ASX 200, influenced by both the US and China, is testing resistance at 5550. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow (above zero) indicates medium-term buying pressure. Expect a test of 5650/5660. Reversal below 5380/5400 is less likely, but would warn that sellers have resumed control. I have lowered the target to 6000* because of constant back-filling in recent months.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5650 + ( 5650 – 5300 ) = 6000

November 8, 2014

A Growth Pact for America by Glenn Hubbard | Project Syndicate

Glenn Hubbard, former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush, and Dean of Columbia Business School proposes:

….two policies are particularly promising for such a “Pact for America”: federal infrastructure spending and corporate-tax reform. Enactment of these reforms would generate a win for each side – and for both.

But such a bipartisan consensus requires removing both the left and the right’s ideological blinders, at least temporarily. On the left, a preoccupation with Keynesian stimulus reflects a misunderstanding of both the availability of measures shovel-ready projects and their desirability whether they will meaningfully change the expectations of households and businesses. Indeed, to counteract the mindset forged in the recent financial crisis, spending measures will need to be longer-lasting if they are to raise expectations of future growth and thus stimulate current investment and hiring.

The right, for its part, must rethink its obsession with temporary tax cuts for households or businesses. The impact of such cuts on aggregate demand is almost always modest, and they are poorly suited for shifting expectations for recovery and growth in the post-financial-crisis downturn….

November 4, 2014

Canada: TSX 60 finds resistance

Canada’s TSX 60 rallied to 850 before finding resistance. Reversal below 820 would warn of a primary down-trend. Retreat of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the bear signal. Follow-through of the index above 865 is less likely, but would indicate another test of 900.

TSX 60

November 4, 2014

S&P 500 and Nasdaq retracement

The S&P 500 is likely to retrace to test the new support level at 2000. Respect would confirm a fresh advance with a target of 2150*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying pressure. Reversal below 2000 is unlikely, but would warn of a bull trap (correction).

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 2000 + ( 2000 – 1850 ) = 2150

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) at 14 continues to indicate low risk typical of a bull market.

VIX Index

The Nasdaq 100 is in a similar situation, having broken resistance at 4100. Retracement that respects support at 4000 would confirm a fresh advance, offering a target of 4500*. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above 35% would flag buying pressure.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 4100 + ( 4100 – 3700 ) = 4500

November 3, 2014

US Freight Transport Index

Looks like a robust recovery to me.

US Freight Transport Services Index

November 1, 2014

Dow and S&P 500 make new highs

US stocks have reaffirmed their bull market
European stocks are recovering
China and Japan signal up-trends
ASX is rising

The new reporting season is under way and fund managers are now looking for opportunities rather than selling off under-performers.

Dow Jones Industrial Average made a new high, above 17300, signaling a primary advance. Reversal below 17000 and the rising trendline is most unlikely, but would warn of another correction. Target for the advance is 18000*.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 17000 + ( 17000 – 16000 ) = 18000

The S&P 500 similarly made a new high, signaling a fresh advance. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow (above zero) indicates medium-term buying pressure. Target for the advance is 2150*. Reversal below 2000 and the rising trendline is unlikely, but would signal another correction.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 2000 + ( 2000 – 1850 ) = 2150

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) at 14 indicates low risk typical of a bull market.

S&P 500 VIX

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 continues to advance above its former primary support level at 3000. Long tails on the weekly candlesticks and recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above zero indicate buying pressure. Expect another test of 3300. Reversal below 3000 is less likely, but would signal a primary down-trend.

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50

* Target calculation: 3000 – ( 3300 – 3000 ) = 2700

China’s Shanghai Composite Index rallied above its recent high at 2400, confirming a primary up-trend. Target for the new advance is 2500*. and the rising trendline, warning of a correction. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough (above zero) indicates medium-term buying pressure; completion of a trough high above zero would signal trend strength.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2400 + ( 2400 – 2300 ) = 2500

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index broke resistance at 16300, signaling an advance with a long-term target of 18000*. Reversal below 16000 is unlikely, but would warn of another correction.

Nikkei 225 Index

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

The ASX 200 is headed for a test of resistance at 5660. Brief retracement at 5440 and rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow (above zero) both indicate medium-term buying pressure. Reversal below 5440 is unlikely, but would indicate a test of 5250. I have lowered the target to 6000* because of constant back-filling in recent months.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5650 + ( 5650 – 5300 ) = 6000

October 30, 2014

The Index of Cronyism by The Economist

Alejandro Chafuen discusses the impact of crony capitalism:

Unfortunately, much of the debate about cronyism is based on anecdotes and generalizations…..In the United States we have efforts, such as Subsidy Tracker, which give some idea of the problem. Subsidies feed cronyism. Known state subsidies to private business add up to $153 billion.

Subsidies are merely the tip of the iceberg. Artificial exchange rates and offshoring have cost millions of US manufacturing jobs.

The Economist has produced an Index of Cronyism which ranks Hong Kong as #1 and Russia #2 on the list. But it points out that the index is only a rough guide with three major shortcomings:

Not all cronies, especially politicians, disclose their wealth. So the fortune of Vladimir Putin, for example, is not included.
The index concentrates on vulnerable sectors and ignores other forms of subsidy outside these areas. And all companies in a sector, good or bad, are tarred with the same brush.
Only the wealth of billionaires is counted. There are many less-wealthy public servants and corporate officers who also benefit.

….More than a reason for criticism, “The Economist” and its Index of Cronyism should be a call for action and improvement. “If it Matters Measure It,” says the motto of the Fraser Institute. Cronyism matters. Measure it.

I wholeheartedly agree. Cronyism is a bigger threat to capitalism than (largely discredited) socialism. More work needs to be done to measure its economic and social cost.

October 30, 2014

Poland Prepares for Russian Invasion | The XX Committee

A top Polish MoD official, a man of “sober and strongly pro-American views” opines about Barack Obama and his national security staff:

“…You have no idea how many promises we’ve been given, even by the President himself, but there’s never any follow-up, it’s all talk. He thinks he’s on Oprah.” When I asked if he thought America would come to Poland’s aid in a crisis, he said laconically, “I’d flip a coin.”