Fixed Income Archives - Page 11 of 16

November 27, 2013

Gold: $1200 next?

Spot gold consolidating in a narrow band below support at $1250/ounce suggests a test of $1200. The 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero strengthens the signal. Breakout below the June low ($1200) would confirm a primary down-trend. Recovery above $1260 is unlikely, but would indicate a rally to $1350.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1250 – ( 1350 – 1250 ) = 1150

Silver broke through support at $20.50/ounce and is headed for a test of primary support at $18/ounce. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support would confirm.

Spot Silver

Often a leading indicator of spot prices, the Gold Bugs Index, representing un-hedged gold stocks, broke primary support at 210 to signal a primary down-trend. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would strengthen the signal.

Gold Bugs Index

Dollar Index

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes retreated below 2.75. Breakout would signal a fresh primary advance, with a target of 3.50 percent* (breakout above 3.00 percent would confirm). Reversal below the rising trendline is less likely, but would warn of trend weakness and another test of 2.50. Higher yields would help strengthen the dollar.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 3.00 + ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 3.50

The Dollar Index retraced to test the new support level at 80.50. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would warn of a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support at 79 would confirm. Breakout above 81.50 remains as likely, however, and would indicate an advance to 84*.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.5 + ( 81.5 – 79 ) = 84

Higher interest rates and a stronger dollar would increase downward pressure on gold.

Crude Oil

Nymex crude is undergoing a strong correction and is likely to test primary support at $85/$86 per barrel. Reversal of 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Brent crude is rising despite an easing of tensions with Iran. The primary reason for the divergence is supply. Iain Armstrong, oil analyst at Brewin Dolphin, earlier in the year explained that Brent is effectively a global brand — affected by global issues of supply/demand — while Nymex is a “local” brand and benefits from plentiful shale oil in the US.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

Commodity Prices

A resurgent Shanghai Composite Index is supporting commodity prices. Recovery of the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index above 126 would indicate a bear trap. A peak below zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum, however, warns of a continuing down-trend. Respect of the resistance level, as indicated by follow-through below 122, would signal a decline to 114*.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 124 – ( 134 – 124 ) = 114

July 8, 2013

Bond ETF exits proving costly| Bloomberg

Lisa Abramowicz and Mary Childs at Bloomberg write:

Investors who sought exchange-traded funds as a faster way to trade corporate bonds are finding that they can be as expensive to trade as the underlying debt.

As trading in the three-biggest credit ETFs surged to unprecedented levels last month amid the market’s biggest losses since 2008, the funds’ shares dropped as much as 1.1 percentage points more than the net value of the less-traded securities they hold. The two largest high-yield bond ETFs have lost about 6 percent since reaching a five-year high May 8. That’s about 2 percentage points more than the loss for the Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Index….

July 7, 2013

S&P500 tide changing

The VIX retreated below 15, signaling that market risk is falling.

S&P 500 Index

The S&P 500 is testing its declining trendline after a brief consolidation above 1600. Penetration would suggest that the correction is over; confirmed if resistance at 1650 is broken. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow is leveling out and a trough above the line would signal a healthy primary up-trend. Target for an advance would be 1800*.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1680 + ( 1680 – 1560 ) = 1800

The TSX Composite index penetrated its declining trendline, suggesting that the correction is over. Follow-through above 12250 would strengthen the signal, while a rise above 12400 would confirm. Recovery of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow above zero would indicate buying pressure. Target for an advance would be 12900/13000. Reversal below 11900 is now unlikely, but would signal a primary down-trend.

Nikkei 225 Index

July 2, 2013

Dollar strengthens while bonds fall

The Dollar Index is headed for a test of resistance at 84.00/84.50. Respect of the rising trendline indicates a healthy up-trend — as does the 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough above zero. Breakout above 84.50 offer a long-term target of the 2010 high at 89*.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 79 ) = 89

Treasury yields are softening as the Fed talks down the prospect of ending QE, but the primary trend remains upward. Respect of support at 2.00% for 10-year Treasuries would indicate a healthy up-trend (for yields), while brief retracement that respects 2.30% would warn of sharply falling bond prices and further instability.

10-year Treasury Yields

July 1, 2013

Asia rallies but ASX meets resistance

Japan’s Nikkei 225 broke resistance at 13500, indicating the correction is over. Expect a re-test of the May high at 16000. Reversal below 13500, however, would mean another test of 12500. A trough above the zero line on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow would indicate a healthy primary up-trend.

Nikkei 225 Index

Dow Jones Shanghai Index respected support at 250, the long tail on both the $DJSH and Shanghai Composite indicating strong buying pressure. Expect a rally to test resistance at 275 (2150 on the Shanghai Composite), but the primary trend remains downward and resistance at 275 (2150) is likely to hold.

Dow Jones Shanghai Index

India’s Sensex rallied off its rising trendline, suggesting that the primary up-trend will continue. Follow-through above 19500 would indicate a test of resistance at 20000/20200. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of a reversal and would only be refuted by a breakout above 20200 (or a rise above the May peak on TMF).

BSE Sensex Index

The ASX 200 respected its descending trendline at 4800 and is headed for another test of support at 4650. A peak below zero on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow would indicate a healthy down-trend. Breach of 4650 would test the key long-term support level of 4400, while respect would mean another test of 4900. In the longer term, respect of 4400 would be bullish, but failure of support would be a strong bear signal.

ASX 200 Index

The ASX Small Ordinaries, by contrast, exhibits a stronger bullish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow, indicating buying support. Breakout above 1960 would indicate the latest primary decline is over, while reversal below 1880 would offer a target of 1800. Small Caps have been badly mauled over the last two years and at some point will present an opportunity to value investors. Unfortunately that end is not yet in sight.
ASX Small Ordinaries Index

July 1, 2013

S&P500 falters while TSX rises

The S&P 500 rally appears to be faltering. Reversal below 1600 would suggest another decline, with a target of 1500*. Breach of support at 1560 would confirm, while reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero would strengthen the signal.

S&P 500 Index

The June quarter ended with the S&P 500 above its new support level at 1550. Respect of the zero line by 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates a healthy up-trend, but the tall shadow (or wick as some call it) on the latest candle suggests otherwise. Reversal below 1500 would warn of a correction to the rising trendline, around 1400.

S&P 500 Index
Breakout of VIX above 25 would signal increased market risk.

S&P 500 Index

A false break below primary support on the TSX Composite index was followed by a rally above 12000. Follow-through above the descending trendline would suggest that the correction is over, but a 21-day Twiggs Money Flow peak below zero would warn of selling pressure — and reversal below 11900 would confirm the primary down-trend.

Nikkei 225 Index

June 25, 2013

S&P500 holds strong while Canada and Europe weaken

10-Year Treasury yields broke resistance at 2.50% as bond-holders offload their positions. Expect weak retracement to test the new support level at 2.00%, but recovery above 2.50% is likely and would signal a long-term advance to test resistance at 4.00%. Breakout above 4.00% would end the 31-year secular bear-trend. Rising yields reflect market expectations that the economy will recover, enabling the Fed to curtail further quantitative easing.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The S&P 500 broke support at 1600 and is undergoing a correction to test the long-term rising trendline at 1500. Twiggs Money Flow reflects moderate selling and the primary up-trend looks secure.

S&P 500 Index
My concern is: can the US withstand negative sentiment from global markets? The rising VIX is not yet cause for alarm, with the market shrugging off the last foray above 20, but a spike above 25 would warn of elevated risk.

VIX Index

The TSX Composite broke support at 11900/12000 to signal a primary down-trend. Falling 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure. Expect a test of the 2012 low at 11250.

TSX Composite Index

The FTSE 100 is testing the rising trendline and support at 6000. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of a reversal. Failure of support at 6000 would strengthen the signal.

FTSE 100

Germany’s DAX is headed for a test of the long-term trendline and primary support at 7400/7500. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure. Breach of 7400 would signal reversal to a primary down-trend.

DAX

June 25, 2013

ASX and Asian selling pressure

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index respected support at 12500 and its long-term rising trendline, but another test is likely in the week ahead. Follow-through above 13500 would indicate the correction is over, suggesting a re-test of resistance at 16000. Breach of 12500, however, is more likely, with bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warning of a reversal.

Nikkei 225 Index

Shanghai Composite Index is falling sharply. So far the down-trend has been gradual, with the PBOC looking to manufacture a soft landing. But 13-week Twiggs Money Flow crossing below zero warns of rising selling pressure. Breach of support at 1950 would offer a target of 1600*.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2400 – 2000 ) = 1600

India’s Sensex breached its rising trendline, warning that the primary up-trend is weakening. Failure of support at 18000 would signal a primary down-trend. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates trend reversal is likely. Recovery above 19000 is unlikely, but would suggest a fresh primary advance.

BSE Sensex Index

Apart from Japan, the outlook for Asia is bearish.

The ASX 200 is headed for a test of support at 4400, bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow having warned of a reversal. Failure of support at 4400 would re-test the 2011 lows, while respect would be bullish — suggesting another attempt at 5000.

ASX 200 Index

June 19, 2013

Gold falls while Treasury yields rise

Gold is testing primary support at $1340/ounce. Breach of support would signal another primary decline, while follow-through below $1320 would confirm.

Spot Gold
Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero indicates a healthy primary down-trend. Breach of primary support would offer a target of $1100*.

* Target calculation: 1300 – ( 1500 – 1300 ) = 1100

Silver displays a similar down-trend on the monthly chart, offering a target of $16/ounce*.
Spot Silver

* Target calculation: 26 – ( 36 – 26 ) = 16

Dollar Index

The Dollar Index respected its primary trendline at 80.50 on the weekly chart. Recovery above 81.50 would indicate another test of 84. Declining peaks on 13-week Twiggs Momentum, however, suggest a weak up-trend. Failure of support at 80.50 would warn of another test of primary support at 79.

Dollar Index

Treasuries

Treasuries fell, with yields rising sharply after today’s FOMC announcement. Target for the advance of 10-year Treasury Yields is 2.60%*.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.10 + ( 2.10 – 1.60 ) = 2.60

Crude Oil

Crude is rising despite the stronger dollar, with Nymex WTI breaking resistance at $98/barrel and Brent testing resistance at $106. The spread between the two has narrowed to around $8 and is likely to close further as the US economy recovers faster than Europe. Follow-through of Nymex crude above $100/barrel would confirm a primary up-trend, reflecting a stronger US economy — if the dollar is strengthening.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

Commodities

The Dow Jones/UBS Commodity Index, assisted by crude oil, found support at 130 on the weekly chart. Expect a test of the declining trendline at 134, but the primary trend is down and, with China weakening, a test of primary support at 125/126 remains likely.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

June 16, 2013

Europe: Broad selling pressure

The FTSE 100 encountered selling pressure at 6750, indicated by bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, and is correcting towards the rising trendline and support at 6000 on the monthly chart. Respect would signal a healthy primary up-trend.

FTSE 100 Index

Germany’s DAX is experiencing strong selling pressure. Medium-term support at 8000 is unlikely to hold, but respect of support at 7500, and the rising trendline, would still signal a healthy up-trend.
DAX Index

Spain’s Madrid General Index also displays selling pressure, with bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow. Reversal below 800 would warn of another test of the 2012 low at 600, confirmed if 750 is broken.
FTSE 100 Index
Italy’s MIB Index found support at 16000 on the daily chart and there is an absence of selling pressure, but the weight of other European markets may drag the index lower. Penetration of the rising trendline would signal a test of primary support at 15000. Recovery above 17000, however, would suggest another primary advance.
FTSE 100 Index