ASX 200: Materials rocket but Financials fade

Last week I wrote that I had zero confidence in the ASX 200 breakout but you can’t argue with the tape. The ASX 200 retracement respected its new support level at 6350 and commenced a fresh advance. Money Flow completed a trough high above zero, signaling strong buying pressure.

ASX 200

Iron ore is a big contributor, rocketing to $106/tonne.

Iron Ore

Materials followed suit, breaking resistance at 13,500 suggesting a fresh advance.

ASX 200 Materials

The housing rally in response to the recent RBA rate cut has fizzled out, with CoreLogic reporting lower auction clearance rates last weekend:

The combined capital city final auction clearance rate came in at 48.3 per cent last week, which was lower than the 58 per cent the previous week. The lower clearance rate was across a lower volume of auctions over what was the Queen’s birthday long weekend, which saw 805 homes taken to auction, down on the 1,661 auctions the prior week.

The Financials advance has also lost impetus, with lower peaks on the Money Flow Index warning of increased selling pressure. Reversal below 6000 would warn of another correction.

ASX 200 Financials

The market is discounting the potential impact of a US-China trade war on Australia, relying on a large Chinese injection of fiscal stimulus to steady the ship. They may be right but Chinese officials have been talking this down for the past few months.

We hold 46% of our Australian Growth portfolio in cash and fixed income securities because of high uncertainty from (1) the US-China trade war; and (2) declining house prices and their potential impact on under-capitalised banks — leveraged at nearly 20 times common equity (CET1).

Gold surges as the Dollar falls

The latest rally in Gold reinforces my bearish outlook for equities. Gold and Treasuries are rising as investors seek a safe haven from the likely turmoil in equities.

The Dollar Index plunged below its LT rising trendline, warning of a test of 95.

Dollar Index

Gold responded, testing resistance at $1350. Breakout above $1350 would offer a medium-term target of $1400/ounce.

Spot Gold in USD

Trade war reality sinks in

Realization that we are slipping into a trade war is starting to sink in.

The S&P 500 broke medium-term support at 2800, warning of a correction. The target is primary support at 2400. Volatility is flashing an amber warning, above 1.0%.

S&P 500

Nymex crude is plunging as anticipated global demand falls.

Crude Oil

Long-term Treasury yields are falling, with the 10-Year headed for a test of support at 2.0%. The Yield Differential (purple line) is back below zero, warning of a recession.

Yield Differential: 10-Year and 3-Month Treasuries

As I have mentioned earlier, a negative yield curve is a reliable early indicator of recession but trouble is imminent when it recovers above zero. Normally caused by the Fed cutting interest rates in response to falling employment growth. The critical indicator to watch is non-farm payroll growth. When that falls below 1.0% (right-hand scale), watch out!

Employment Growth and Fed Funds Rate

War is an evil thing; but to submit to the dictation of other states is worse…. Freedom, if we hold fast to it, will ultimately restore our losses, but submission will mean permanent loss of all that we value…. To you who call yourselves men of peace, I say: You are not safe unless you have men of action on your side.

~ Thucydides (circa 400 BC)

Gold resurgence

Gold recovered above $1300/ounce, signaling another test of resistance at $1350. This may be the watershed that I spoke of last week, where safe haven demand for Gold surges. Breakout above $1350 would signal a fresh advance.

Spot Gold in USD

Gold at a watershed

Silver found short-term support at $14.50/ounce but declining Trend Index peaks indicate selling pressure and a test of primary support at $14 is likely.

Spot Silver in USD

Gold, by contrast, has found strong support at $1280/ounce, refusing to give way despite concerted selling. Breach of 1280 would signal a test of primary support at 1180 but recovery above 1300 becomes increasingly likely the longer that support holds.

Spot Gold in USD

A rising Dollar would weaken demand for Gold but the Dollar Index has met strong resistance between 97 and 98. Follow-through above 98 would signal a fresh advance but a fall below 97 would be bullish for Gold.

Dollar Index

10-Year Treasury yields have also broken support at 2.4% offering a short-term target of 2.2%. Falling Treasury yields have a depressing effect on the Dollar and boost demand for Gold (by lowering the opportunity cost).

10-Year Treasury Yield

Gold is therefore at a watershed. Breach of strong support for Gold at $1280 would be a strong bear signal but respect would be a bullish sign, suggesting another advance. Probability is still favor of the bearish scenario but the bull case is strengthening.

 

 

Gold retreats as the Dollar strengthens

China’s Yuan fell sharply against the Dollar on imposition of tariffs by the US. Expect a test of primary support.

Chinese Yuan/US Dollar

The Dollar index strengthened. Follow-through above 98 would signal a fresh advance. The long-term target is 100.

Dollar Index

10-Year Treasury yields are testing support at 2.40%. Breach would offer a target of 2.20%. Rate hikes are a distant memory.

10-Year Treasury Yield

Gold continues to test medium-term support at $1280/ounce. The tall shadow on this week’s candle warns of selling pressure; as does the Trend Index peak at zero. Breach of support would signal a test of primary support.

Spot Gold in USD

Silver continues to fall, heading for a test of primary support at $14. Declining Trend Index peaks indicate selling pressure.

Spot Silver in USD

Gold is likely to follow.

Silver leads Gold lower but safe haven demand rising

Silver has broken support at $15/ounce, warning of a test of primary support at $14. Declining Trend Index peaks indicate selling pressure.

Spot Silver in USD

Gold continues to test medium-term support at $1280/ounce. Precious metals tend to move together and Gold is expected to follow Silver in a test of primary support ($1180 for Gold).

Spot Gold in USD

The Dollar index, however, retreated below its new support level at 97.50. Penetration of the rising trendline would warn of a correction.

Dollar Index

China’s Yuan fell sharply against the Dollar as trade talks encountered major turbulence. The outlook for a trade deal now looks poor.

Chinese Yuan/US Dollar

10-Year Treasury yields are also falling as the prospect of further Fed rate hikes dims. Trend Index peaks below zero warn of strong demand for Treasuries (downward pressure on yields).

10-Year Treasury Yield

Failure to ink a trade deal is likely to boost demand for safe haven assets like the Dollar, Yen, Gold and US Treasuries. Capital flight from China may accelerate.

Employment lifts but S&P 500 tentative

Growth in total non-farm payrolls ticked up to 1.76% for the 12 months to April 2019, supporting Fed reluctance to cut interest rates.

Payroll Growth

The Philadelphia Fed Leading Index has been revised upwards, above a comfortable 1.0%.

Leading Index

Real GDP growth came in at a healthy 3.2% for the 12 months ended 31 March 2019 but growth in total hours worked sagged to 1.47%, suggesting that GDP growth is likely to slow.

Real GDP and Total Hours Worked

Growth in average hourly earnings came in at 3.23% (total private), suggesting that inflationary pressures remain under control. Little chance of a Fed rate hike either.

Average Hourly Earnings

The S&P 500 retracement respected support at 2900. Rising Money Flow indicates buying pressure but gains seem tentative.

S&P 500

US growth looks to continue but commodity prices warn that global growth is slowing.

Nymex crude penetrated its lower trend channel, warning of a correction. Despite the supply impact of increasing sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, and the threat of supply disruption in Libya.

Nymex Light Crude

A similar correction on DJ-UBS Commodities index reinforces that global demand is slowing.

DJ-UBS Commodities Index

Gold and Silver break support

The Dollar index retracement respected support at 97.50, confirming the advance. Follow-through above 98.00 would further strengthen the signal. Target for the advance is 100.

Dollar Index

10-Year Treasury yields penetrated the descending trendline, signaling that a base is forming around 2.50%. Rising troughs on the Trend Index also indicate support. Higher yields strengthen demand for Dollars.

10-Year Treasury Yield

The stronger Dollar is weakening demand for Gold. Declining Trend Index peaks warn of selling pressure. Spot Gold broke support at $1280/ounce, warning of a correction with a target of primary support at $1180.

Spot Gold in USD

Silver likewise broke support, at $15/ounce. Expect a test of primary support at $14.

Spot Silver in USD

The broad DJ-UBS Commodity Index continues to trend lower, in support of precious metals. Breach of primary support at 77 would warn of another decline.

DJ-UBS Commodity Index

Dollar breakout threatens Gold

The Dollar index broke through LT resistance at 97.50, signaling an advance to 100. Expect retracement to first test the new support level.

Dollar Index

A stronger dollar is likely to weaken Gold. Spot Gold is testing the base of its descending triangle, at $1280/ounce. A false break, with recovery above $1280 this week, warns of strong support but the overall trend is bearish. Breach of $1280 would offer a target of primary support at $1180.

Spot Gold in USD