US & Canada Archives - Page 94 of 177

November 18, 2013

S&P 500 and Nasdaq bouyant

The S&P 500 is advancing strongly but expect some resistance at the target of 1800*. Penetration of the descending trendline on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests that selling pressure is easing. Reversal below 1750 is unlikely at present, but would warn of a correction to at least the secondary trendline at 1700. Short corrections are indicative of long-term buying pressure.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1725 + ( 1725 – 1650 ) = 1800

Bellwether transport stock Fedex exceeded its target of $130*, with rising Twiggs Money Flow indicating strong buying pressure. A bullish sign for the US economy.

Fedex

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 70 ) = 130

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) below 15 continues to indicate low market risk.

VIX Index

The Nasdaq 100 continues its accelerating up-trend, breaking resistance at 3400 after a brief consolidation. Rising Twiggs Money Flow, with troughs above the zero line, indicates strong buying pressure. Target for the advance is 3550*. Accelerating trends, or blow-offs, enjoy rapid gains but inevitably end with a sharp fall.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 3400 + ( 3400 – 3250 ) = 3550

November 13, 2013

Dow follows through

Dow Jones Industrial Average followed through above 15800 after breaking resistance at 15700 to signal a fresh advance. Expect retracement to again test 15700 in the next few weeks, but respect of the new support level strengthens the breakout signal. Long-term target for the advance is 16600*. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure. Reversal below 15500 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 14800.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 15700 + ( 15700 – 14800 ) = 16600

November 12, 2013

TSX bullish consolidation

Canada’s TSX 60 is consolidating in a narrow range at its medium-term target of 770 after a strong spurt. This is a bullish sign and follow-through above 775 would signal a further advance to 800*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests buying pressure. Reversal below 740 is most unlikely.

TSX 60

* Target calculation: 740 + ( 740 – 680 ) = 800

TSX 60 VIX is above 15 but still in the low risk range.

TSX 60 VIX

November 12, 2013

Dow signals fresh advance

Dow Jones Industrial Average broke resistance at 15700, ending the consolidation of recent months and signaling an advance to 16600*. Expect retracement to test the new support level in the next few weeks. Respect would confirm the advance. Penetration of the descending trendline on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure. Reversal below 15500 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 14800.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 15700 + ( 15700 – 14800 ) = 16600

The S&P 500 is testing short-term resistance at 1775. Breakout would offer a short-term target of 1800*. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow appears to have ended. Reversal below 1750 is unlikely at present, but would indicate a correction to at least 1710.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1775 + ( 1775 – 1750 ) = 1800

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) below 15 continues to indicate low market risk.

VIX Index

The Nasdaq 100 continues its accelerating up-trend, with Twiggs Money Flow indicating strong buying pressure. Short retracement is likely and breakout above 3400 would suggest another advance. Accelerating trends, or blow-offs, enjoy rapid gains but inevitably end with a sharp fall.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 2900 + ( 2900 – 2500 ) = 3400

November 11, 2013

Ending Too Big to Fail | The Big Picture

From an address by William C. Dudley, President of the NY Fed, to the Global Economic Policy Forum, November 8, 2013:

There is evidence of deep-seated cultural and ethical failures at many large financial institutions. Whether this is due to size and complexity, bad incentives or some other issues is difficult to judge, but it is another critical problem that needs to be addressed. Tough enforcement and high penalties will certainly help focus management’s attention on this issue. But I am also hopeful that ending too big to fail and shifting the emphasis to longer-term sustainability will encourage the needed cultural shift necessary to restore public trust in the industry.

Dudley calls for increased capital requirements to reduce the risk of failure as well as more robust procedures to reduce the impact of a single large failure:

The major initiative here is the single point of entry framework for resolution proposed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Under this framework, if a financial firm is to be resolved under Title II of the Dodd-Frank Act, the FDIC will place the top tier bank holding company into receivership and its assets will be transferred to a bridge holding company. The equity holders will be wiped out and sufficient long-term unsecured debt will be converted into equity in the new bridge company to cover any remaining losses and to ensure that the new entity is well capitalized and deemed creditworthy. Subsidiaries would continue to operate, which should limit the incentives for customers to run. By assigning losses to shareholders and unsecured creditors of the holding company and transferring sound operating subsidiaries to a new solvent entity, such a “top-down” resolution strategy should ensure continuity with respect to any critical services performed by the firm’s subsidiaries and this should help limit the magnitude of any negative externalities.

November 4, 2013

Transport: Fedex improving outlook

Bellwether transport stock Fedex has risen dramatically in recent weeks, reflecting the improving outlook for economic activity.
Fedex

UPS has enjoyed a similar surge, as has Deutsche Post AG (which owns DHL).

Deutsche Post AG

November 3, 2013

Nasdaq accelerates while Dow and S&P500 hesitate

The Nasdaq 100 continues its accelerating up-trend — as indicated by successively steeper trendlines and a rising trendline on 13-week Twiggs Momentum. Accelerating trends, or blow-offs, are well-known for rapid gains but inevitably end with a sharp fall.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 2900 + ( 2900 – 2500 ) = 3400

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) remains below 15, indicating low market risk.

VIX Index

The S&P 500 is edging higher on the weekly chart, but bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of rising selling pressure. Reversal below the secondary trendline at 1700 would indicate a correction to the primary trendline and primary support at 1630.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1730 + ( 1730 – 1650 ) = 1810

Dow Jones Industrial Average is testing resistance at 15700. Breakout would offer a target of 16600*. Respect of the descending trendline on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, however, would confirm the earlier bearish divergence and warn of a correction to primary support at 14800. Breach of 14800 remains unlikely, but would signal a reversal.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 15700 + ( 15700 – 14800 ) = 16600

Canada’s TSX 60 is retracing after a strong spurt. Duration of retracements reflect trend strength. Another trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow would suggest strong buying pressure. Reversal below 740 is most unlikely, but would warn of trend weakness.

TSX 60

* Target calculation: 740 + ( 740 – 680 ) = 800

TSX 60 VIX below 15 also reflects low market risk.

TSX 60 VIX

October 31, 2013

Forex: Euro & Aussie test support

The Euro is retracing to test the new support level at its February high of $1.37. Respect of the rising trendline would confirm a long-term advance to $1.46*. Troughs above zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicate a healthy up-trend. Reversal below the trendline is unlikely, but would warn of a correction to the primary trendline and support at $1.31.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.37 + ( 1.37 – 1.28 ) = 1.46

Sterling broke medium-term support at €1.175, signaling a correction to test primary support at €1.14. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero strengthens the warning. Recovery above resistance at €1.19 is unlikely, but would suggest an advance to €1.24*.

Sterling/Euro

* Target calculation: 1.19 + ( 1.19 – 1.14 ) = 1.24

A higher trough on the Greenback against the Yen suggests buying pressure. Breakout above ¥99 would strengthen the signal, offering a target of ¥101. 21-Day Twiggs Momentum appears to have leveled out and a trough above zero would indicate a primary up-trend. Reversal below support at ¥97 is unlikely, but would test primary support at ¥96.

USD/JPY

Canada’s Loonie retreated below support at $0.96 against its US neighbor. Breach of primary support at $0.9450 would signal continuation of the primary down-trend, as would another 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero. Recovery above $0.96 is unlikely, but would warn of a trend reversal.

Canadian Loonie

The Aussie Dollar retraced to test medium-term support at $0.95* against the Greenback. Recovery above $0.9550 is likely and would indicate a test of parity*. Two doji candles suggest support and follow-through below $0.9450 is unlikely, indicating a fall to $0.93.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.975 + ( 0.975 – 0.95 ) = 1.00

The Aussie encountered resistance at $1.16 against its Kiwi neighbour, suggesting a test of medium-term support at $1.14. Respect of $1.14 would be bullish and breakout above $1.16 would complete a double-bottom reversal with a target of $1.20*. Failure of $1.14 is now unlikely, but would threaten primary support at $1.12.

Kiwi Dollar

* Target calculations: 1.16 + ( 1.16 – 1.12 ) = 1.20

October 27, 2013

US & Canada: Rising buying pressure

The S&P 500 short retracement at 1750 is a bullish sign, confirming the advance to 1800*. Rising 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying pressure. Reversal below 1730 is most unlikely at present, but would warn of a test of primary support at 1650.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1730 + ( 1730 – 1650 ) = 1810

VIX below 15 flags low market risk.

VIX Index

Dow Jones Industrial Average is headed for a test of resistance at 15700; breakout would offer a target of 16600*. Recovery above the descending trendline on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow would negate the earlier bearish divergence. Breach of 14800 is unlikely, but would warn of a reversal.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 15700 + ( 15700 – 14800 ) = 16600

The Nasdaq 100, with 13-week Twiggs Money Flow troughs well above zero, indicates strong buying pressure.

Nasdaq 100

Canada’s TSX 60 is advancing toward its target of 800*, the trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicating strong buying pressure. Reversal below 740 is now most unlikely.

TSX 60

* Target calculation: 740 + ( 740 – 680 ) = 800

October 24, 2013

Forex: Euro breakout, Aussie strengthens

The Euro broke through its February high of $1.37, signaling a long-term advance to $1.46*. Troughs above zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicate a healthy up-trend, but expect retracement to test the new support level. Reversal below support at $1.34 is unlikely, but would warn of another correction.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.37 + ( 1.37 – 1.28 ) = 1.46

Sterling is testing medium-term support at €1.175. Penetration of the rising trendline warns the trend is weakening and failure of support would signal a correction to primary support at €1.14. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero strengthens the warning. Recovery above resistance at €1.20 is unlikely, but would signal an advance to €1.225*.

Sterling/Euro

* Target calculation: 1.20 + ( 1.20 – 1.175 ) = 1.225

The greenback is pretty directionless against the Japanese Yen, reflecting indecision. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum warns of trend weakness. Breakout above ¥101 would signal another advance, while breach of support at ¥96 would indicate a reversal.

USD/JPY

Canada’s Loonie is back at parity against the Aussie Dollar. Expect some support at this level. A breach of the descending trendline would alert us to a potential rally, as would reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero.

Canadian Loonie

The Aussie Dollar encountered resistance at its target of $0.97* against the greenback. Short retracement would indicate strong momentum, while respect of the new support level at $0.95 would suggest a healthy up-trend. Failure of support is unlikely, but would warn the up-trend is weakening.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.95 + ( 0.95 – 0.93 ) = 0.97

The Aussie Dollar is strengthening against its Kiwi neighbour, breaking resistance at $1.14 to signal another test of $1.16. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum favors a primary up-trend. Breakout above $1.16 would complete a double-bottom reversal with a target of $1.20*. Reversal below $1.14 is now unlikely, but would warn of another decline; confirmed if primary support at $1.12 is broken.

Kiwi Dollar

* Target calculations: 1.16 + ( 1.16 – 1.12 ) = 1.20