US & Canada Archives - Page 82 of 174

May 8, 2014

Is the market overpriced? Episode III

US markets look pricey when we compare market capitalization to GDP. Why is the market ignoring this?

The S&P 500 is trading on a reasonable forward Price-Earnings Ratio (PE) of 15.17, but this forecasts a 23% jump in earnings over the next 12 months. Current as reported PE of 18.64 also assumes strong earnings growth.

S&P 500

Margins are growing:
S&P 500

But sales growth close to zero warns that earnings may falter:
S&P 500

Book value is surprisingly growing faster than sales, suggesting that corporations are hoarding assets rather than distributing profits to shareholders:
S&P 500

Causing asset turnover (sales/book value) to fall:
S&P 500

Which is why the valuation metric of Price to Book Value remains within reasonable bounds:
S&P 500

If management are unable to improve asset turnover — through improved sales or new investment — stockholders will start clamoring for higher distributions. Which may be one reason for high stock prices.

The second reason is that, with interest rates, tax rates and real wages at historic lows, corporations are likely to make fat profits over the next few years and stocks remain reasonably buoyant. But at least one of these factors can be expected to change in the next decade: recovery of the housing market would cause the Fed to lift interest rates; a revision of the tax code by a President who can work with both sides of the House; or a dramatic fall in exchange rates placing upward pressure on (real) wages as manufacturers regain export markets. The impact of any change will depend on how well the economy has recovered.

I will be watching sales growth, profit margins and asset turnover with interest over the next few quarters to see how this plays out.

May 7, 2014

Is the market overpriced? Episode II

Using Warren Buffett’s favorite broad market valuation metric of market capitalisation over GDP*, we can see valuations are on the high side, near to levels from early 2006, but nowhere near the alarming bubble of two years later. The Dotcom bubble (not shown) was even more severe.

NYSE Market Cap/Nominal GNP

*I have used GNP (or GNI as some call it) as this more accurately includes offshore income.

Australian investors will be relieved to find the ASX, at 100, reflects fair value. Even if we ignore the 2007 property/resources bubble.

ASX Market Cap/Nominal GNP

May 7, 2014

Is the market overpriced?

David Leonhardt published this graph from Robert Shiller in his piece in the NY Times:

Shiller CAPE

I have one major issue with this: stock values are based on FUTURE earnings, not PAST earnings. The two are only related if earnings for the past 10 years are indicative of earnings for the next 10 years. I suspect that the next 10 years will present a whole new rash of unforeseen problems, but will be nothing like the last 10 years — any more than the period 2001 to 2010 resembles 1991 to 2000 (or 1981 to 1990).

May 7, 2014

Selling pressure rises

S&P 500 displays little direction while bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to signal selling pressure. Reversal below 1850 would warn of a correction to test primary support at 1750. Breakout above 1900, however would signal an advance to 1950.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1750 ) = 1950

The primary trend remains upward and CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) below 14 continues to indicate low risk typical of a bull market.

VIX Index

The Nasdaq 100 is struggling to break 3600 and reversal below 3400 would warn of a down-swing to the primary trendline. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of selling pressure, but breakthrough above 3600 would suggest another advance.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 3700 + ( 3700 – 3400 ) = 4000

The Russell 2000 is testing primary support at 11.00. Follow-through below 10.80 would confirm. Small caps outstripped large caps over the last 18 months, but now appear to be faltering. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum cross below zero would also warn of small cap reversal to a down-trend. A small cap down-trend would not necessarily mean large caps will follow: large caps significantly outperformed small caps for more than 3 years leading up to the 2000 Dotcom crash.

Russell 2000

Canada’s TSX 60 is retracing, but unlikely to break support at 820 and the rising trendline. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, with troughs above zero, indicates long-term buying pressure. Respect of support would suggest an advance to the 2008 high of 900.

TSX 60

May 2, 2014

Gold faces conflicting forces

Treasury yields are falling
The Dollar is weakening
Inflation expectations are falling
Gold and silver are testing support

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes closed below support at 2.60 percent, warning of another decline. Follow-through below 2.50 percent would signal a primary down-trend, with an immediate target of 2.00 percent*. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero also suggests weakness. Recovery above 2.80 is unlikely at present, but would indicate another advance.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.50 – ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 2.00

The Dollar Index is heading for a test of primary support at 79.00. Peaks below the zero line on 13-week Twiggs Momentum signal a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support at 79.00 would confirm, offering a target of 76.50*. Recovery above 80.50 is unlikely, but would signal that the index has bottomed.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 79.0 – ( 81.5 – 79.0 ) = 76.5

Gold and Silver

Gold faces conflicting forces: low inflation reduces demand for precious metals, but low interest rates and a weaker Dollar increase demand.

Spot gold continues to test support at $1300/$1280 per ounce. Failure of support would indicate a test of primary support at $1200, but long tails and 13-week Twiggs Momentum recovery above zero indicate that another test of $1400 remains as likely.

Spot Gold

Silver is more bearish and failure of primary support at $19/ounce would offer a target of $16*. Respect of the zero line (from below) by 13-week Twiggs Momentum suggests continuation of the primary down-trend. A down-swing on silver would be likely to be followed by gold. Recovery above $22/ounce is less likely, but would signal a primary up-trend.

Spot Silver

* Target calculation: 19 – ( 22 – 19 ) = 16

April 30, 2014

TSX 60 targets 900

Canada’s TSX 60 followed through above 825/830, signaling an advance to the 2008 high of 900. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, above zero, indicates long-term buying pressure. Reversal below 825 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction to 770.

TSX 60

April 30, 2014

S&P 500 follows through

S&P 500 follow-through above short-term resistance at 1880 strengthens the case for an advance to 1950. Breakout above 1900 would confirm. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above zero would signal long-term buying pressure. Reversal below 1850 is unlikely, but would warn of a test of primary support at 1750.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1750 ) = 1950

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

VIX Index

Nasdaq 100 breakout above 3600 would suggest a fresh advance. Follow-through above 3750 would confirm, offering a target of 4000*. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above zero would also be a bullish sign, while respect of resistance at 3600 would be bearish.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 3700 + ( 3700 – 3400 ) = 4000

The primary trend is upward and none of our market filters indicate elevated risk.

April 28, 2014

Medium-term selling pressure but long term bullish

Summary:

Medium-term selling pressure is strong, warning of a secondary correction
But the primary trend is up and VIX remains low
Long-term prospects remain bullish

The S&P 500 continues to encounter resistance at 1880 and bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money warns of medium-term selling pressure. Breakout above 1900 would signal a primary advance, but a secondary correction is more likely. The primary trend, however, remains upward.

S&P 500

VIX below 15 continues to indicate low risk typical of a bull market.

S&P 500 VIX

The Nasdaq 100 displays stronger selling pressure on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow. Respect of resistance at 3600/3650 would be cause for concern, breach of support at 3400 completing a head and shoulders reversal with a target of 3100* at the primary trendline. Recovery above 3750 is unlikely at present, but would offer a target of 4000.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 3400 + ( 3700 – 3400 ) = 3100

April 26, 2014

Fractional reserve banking: ‘the chief loose screw’ | House of Debt

By Atif Mian and Amir Sufi quote from The Chicago Plan (1933-1939) of which Irving Fisher was a strong supporter:

“A chief loose screw in our present American money and banking system is the requirement of only fractional reserves behind demand deposits. Fractional reserves give our thousands of commercial banks power to increase or decrease the volume of our circulating medium [money] by increasing or decreasing bank loans and investments. The banks thus exercise what has always, and justly, been considered a prerogative of sovereign power. As each bank exercises this power independently without any centralized control, the resulting changes in the volume of the circulating medium are largely haphazard. This situation is a most important factor in booms and depressions.”

April 23, 2014

S&P 500 and Nasdaq selling pressure

The S&P 500 is testing resistance at 1880 and follow-through above 1900 would signal another primary advance. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money, however, continues to warn of selling pressure and another secondary correction remains likely. But the primary trend is up.

S&P 500

VIX below 14 suggests low risk typical of a bull market.

S&P 500 VIX

The Nasdaq 100 is testing resistance at 3600/3650. Breakout would suggest another advance, while respect would be cause for concern. Reversal below 3400 would complete a head and shoulders reversal with a target of 3100* at the primary trendline. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates strong selling pressure.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 3400 + ( 3700 – 3400 ) = 3100

I would suggest that even a Nasdaq fall to 3100 would not disrupt the bull market. Penetration of the primary trendline at 3100, however, would be cause for concern.