Dollar rises as yields fall

Flight to safety is driving demand for the Dollar, with the Dollar Index breaking resistance at 90 to signal a long-term up-trend.

Dollar Index

Long-term Treasury yields are falling in response to a lower inflation outlook. But foreign Treasury purchases may also be a contributing factor, with China seeking to protect its advantage in export markets.

10-Year Treasury Yields

Expect strong support at 1.40 to 1.50 percent. Yields are unlikely to fall below that level unless there is a serious risk of deflation. Recovery above 3.0 percent appears some way off, but would warn that the 30-year secular bull market in bonds is coming to an end.

Gold and Inflation

The Dollar Index is testing long-term highs at 90. Breakout is likely and would suggest a strong bull trend.

Dollar Index

One reason is falling inflation expectations, with the Breakeven Rate (5-year Treasury yield minus equivalent TIPS yield) testing its 5-year low. Further falls would increase pressure on the Fed to raise interest rates.

Breakeven Rate

A strong Dollar and low inflation both weaken gold prices. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum, below zero, suggests a strong down-trend. Follow-through below $1180/ounce would confirm this.

ASX 200 daily

Stronger dollar, weaker gold

Ten-year Treasury Note yields retreated below 2.30%, signaling another test of primary support at 2.00%. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero suggests a continuing down-trend. Recovery above 2.40% is unlikely, but would warn of a rally to 2.65%.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.30 – ( 2.60 – 2.30 ) = 2.00

The Dollar Index is testing resistance at its 2008/2010 highs between 88 and 90. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates a healthy (primary) up-trend. Expect retracement or consolidation below resistance, but failure of support at 84 is unlikely.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 79 ) = 89.00

Gold

Low inflation and a strong dollar reduce demand for gold. Low interest rates reduce the carrying cost of gold, but the appeal is muted when inflation expectations remain low. Gold is testing its new resistance level at $1200/ounce. Respect is likely and would confirm a long-term target of $1000*. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero indicates a strong down-trend.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

ASX under pressure

The S&P 500 continues to test resistance at 2050, the upper bound of the broadening wedge. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests buying pressure. Breakout would offer a target of 2250*. Reversal below 2000 is less likely, but would warn of another correction.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 2050 + ( 2050 – 1850 ) = 2250

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

S&P 500 VIX

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 is testing resistance at 3140. Breakout would indicate an advance to 3300. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow oscillating around zero suggests indecision. Respect of 3140 would test primary support at 3000.

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50

The Shanghai Composite Index retraced to test support at 2440, while declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure. Reversal below the rising trendline at 2400 would warn of a correction, while respect would suggest trend strength.

Shanghai Composite

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is weaker. Reversal below 23000 would warn of a test of primary support at 21200/21500. Twiggs Money Flow (13-week) reversal below zero would also be a strong bear signal.

HSI

The ASX 200 is undergoing another correction. Respect of support at 5250/5300 would indicate reasonable trend strength, but declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow suggests medium-term selling pressure. With both Energy and Metals & Mining sectors under pressure, a test of primary support at 5120/5150 is likely.

ASX 200

The Aussie Dollar is also falling, having reversed below primary support at $0.8650 to signal a decline to $0.80*.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.87 – ( 0.94 – 0.87 ) = 0.80

Dollar rising, Treasury yields trend lower

The rally in ten-year Treasury Note yields continues. Expect resistance at 2.50% (the descending trendline). Respect would warn of another test of primary support at 2.00%. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to signal a primary down-trend.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.30 – ( 2.60 – 2.30 ) = 2.00

A monthly chart of the Dollar Index places the current advance in its long-term context. Expect resistance at 88 to 90, with a possible correction to test support at 84. But the primary trend is up and breakout above 90 would offer a long-term target of 105. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum suggests a healthy (primary) up-trend. Failure of support at 84.50 is unlikely.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 79 ) = 89.00

Aussie Dollar plunges

The Australian Dollar broke support at $0.8650, signaling a (primary) decline with a target of $0.80*. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero strengthens the bear signal. Recovery above $0.8650 is most unlikely, but would warn of a bear trap.

AUDUSD

* Target calculation: 0.87 – ( 0.94 – 0.87 ) = 0.80

Dollar rising as Treasury yields recover

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes recovered above the former support level at 2.30%, suggesting another test of 2.50% and the descending trendline. Reversal below 2.30%, however, would warn of another test of primary support at 2.00%. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to signal a primary down-trend.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.30 – ( 2.60 – 2.30 ) = 2.00

The Dollar Index respected its new support level at 84.50 and recovery above 86.5 would confirm a primary advance to 89*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum suggests a healthy (primary) up-trend. Failure of support at 84.50 is unlikely, but would warn of correction to the primary trendline.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 79 ) = 89.00

Russia’s Ruble in a world of pain

Russia’s ruble is in a world of pain, having lost one-third of its value against the Dollar over the last 40 months. The down-trend is accelerating, emphasized by two large 13-week Twiggs Momentum peaks below the zero line.

RUBUSD

Vladimir Putin has backed himself into a corner and has no way out but to escalate. His current strategy in Eastern Europe of one-step-back-two-steps-forward is becoming predictable and the European Union is likely to run out of patience, responding with further sanctions. Increasingly threatening behavior in the Baltic is also unlikely to intimidate, merely strengthening alliances and resolve.

George Soros on the Ukraine crisis:

https://twitter.com/andersostlund/status/525183504066560000

Former Swedish PM Carl Bildt seems to agree:

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard weighs in on Russia’s economic woes:

Treasury yields fall and the Dollar finds support

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes is in a primary down-trend (since breaking support at 2.50%). Expect retracement to test resistance at 2.30%. Respect is likely and would indicate another test of primary support at 2.00%*. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero signals bear strength. Recovery above 2.30 is unlikely, but would test the descending trendline and resistance at 2.50%.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.30 – ( 2.60 – 2.30 ) = 2.00

Inflation expectations are falling, with the 5-year inflation breakeven rate (5-year treasury yields minus the 5-year TIPS rate) now close to 1.4%.

5-Year Inflation Breakeven Rate

The Dollar Index respected its new support level at 84.50. Recovery above 86.5 would confirm a primary advance and a target of 89*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum suggests a healthy (primary) up-trend. Failure of support at 84.50 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction to the primary trendline.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 79 ) = 89.00

Aussie & Euro rally, but for how long?

The Aussie Dollar continues to pressure primary support at $0.8650. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero indicates a primary down-trend. Respect of resistance at $0.89 would strengthen the signal. Breach of primary support would confirm, offering a target of the 2010 low at $0.80.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 87 – ( 94 – 87 ) = 80

The Euro retraced to test its new resistance at $1.28. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum (below zero) confirms a strong down-trend. Respect of resistance would warn of another decline, while breach of medium-term support at $1.25 would target the 2010/2011 lows of $1.20.

Euro/USD

* Target calculation: 1.28 – ( 1.40 – 1.28 ) = 1.16