ASX 200: Large caps strong while small caps decline

The ASX 200 continues to test support at 4980/5000 on the weekly chart. Breakout above 5100 would offer a medium-term target of 5500*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates strong buying pressure. Reversal below 4980 is unlikely but would warn of a correction.
ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 5000 + ( 5000 – 4500 ) = 5500

ASX small-caps are still doing badly, with the ASX 50 [$XFL] out-performing the $XSO (ASX Small Ords) by a substantial margin. The opposite of what one would expect in a bull market: treat it as a caution. The current $XSO down-swing should test the lower channel at 2300, presenting a buy opportunity for swing traders.

ASX 200 Index

Asia: Japan advances while India & China retreat

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index broke its 2010 high of 11500, indicating continuation of the primary advance to 12000*. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Expect a correction to test the new support levels at 11000, possibly 10000.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 10000 + ( 10000 – 8000 ) = 12000

India’s Sensex broke support at 19000, warning of a correction to the primary trendline at 18000. The sharp fall on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, following a bearish divergence, confirms strong selling pressure.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 19 + ( 19 – 18 ) = 20

Singapore’s Straits Times Index retreated from resistance at 3300. Expect support at 3200; failure would warn of a correction. Another trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum would suggest that the primary up-trend is intact. Breakout above 3300 would offer a target of the 2007 high at 3900*.

Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3300 + ( 3300 – 2700 ) = 3900

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index correction is headed for a test of secondary support at 22000 but is still some way above the primary trendline — and support — at 21000. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would suggest a healthy primary up-trend.
Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 22 + ( 22 – 18 ) = 26

China’s Shanghai Composite is also on the retreat, testing secondary support at 2250. Failure would indicate a down-swing to primary support at 1950/2000. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough below zero would warn of another primary decline, with a long-term target of 1500*.
Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2500 – 2000 ) = 1500

Europe: DAX selling pressure continues

Germany’s DAX is consolidating between 7500 and 7900. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow still warns of selling pressure. Failure of 7500 would indicate a correction to test the rising trendline — around support at 7000.

DAX Index

* Target calculation: 7500 + ( 7500 – 7000 ) = 8000

The Italian MIB Index broke support at 16000. Following the earlier trendline break this warns of a primary reversal. Confirmation would come from breach of primary support at 15000. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the signal. Respect of primary support would still not mean that trouble is over, as a lower peak followed by failure of primary support may follow.
FTSE MIB Index

The FTSE 100 displays a rising flag on its weekly chart, below resistance at 6400. Upward breakout would offer a target of 6800*. Downward breakout is unlikely but would signal a correction. Another 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would indicate strength in the primary up-trend.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 6400 + ( 6400 – 6000 ) = 6800

Canada: TSX buying pressure

Long tails on the TSX Composite weekly chart indicate medium-term buying pressure. Breakout above 12800 would signal a fresh advance, while follow-through above 12900 would confirm. Reversal below 12600 is unlikely but would warn of a correction. Rising troughs on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicate long-term buying pressure and a primary advance. The long-term target would be 15000*.

TSX Composite Index

* Target calculation: 13000 + ( 13000 – 11000 ) = 15000

S&P 500 and Nasdaq selling pressure

The S&P 500 is oscillating between 1485 and 1530. I avoided using the word “consolidating” because that implies a degree of calm. Far from it. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of medium-term selling pressure. Reversal below 1485 and the rising trendline would indicate a correction. Breakout above 1530 is less likely but would offer a target of 1575*.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1530 + ( 1530 – 1485 ) = 1575

On the monthly chart we can see that a correction below the secondary trendline would target primary support and the primary trendline between 1350 and 1400. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would indicate continuation of the up-trend, while retreat below zero would suggest a primary reversal.
S&P 500 Index
The VIX Volatility Index remains close to recent lows at 0.15. This does not provide much long-term reassurance: the VIX was at similar levels in May 2008. Breakout above the recent high at 0.20 would be a warning sign.
VIX Index
The Nasdaq 100 displays a bearish divergence on both 63-day Twiggs Momentum and long-term (13-week) Twiggs Money Flow. Reversal below the rising trendline would strengthen the signal. While breach of primary support at 2500 would signal a reversal.
Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2500 – ( 2900 – 2500 ) = 2100

S&P 500 breaks support at 1500

The S&P 500 broke support at 1500 and is headed for support at 1475.

S&P 500 Index

On the weekly chart we can see that a correction below 1475 would target support at 1425 (the secondary trendline). Only primary support at 1350, however, would signal a reversal. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would indicate continuation of the up-trend, while retreat below zero would suggest a primary reversal.

S&P 500 Index

ASX 200: Small caps warning

The ASX 200 is headed for another test of resistance at 5100 on the hourly chart. Breakout would signal continuation of the primary advance. Reversal below 5050, however, would indicate another test of 5000.
ASX 200 Index
The monthly chart shows strong momentum but retracement to test the new support level of 5000 is likely in the weekly (if not monthly) time frame. Respect of support on the weekly chart would confirm a primary advance with a long-term target of 6000*.
ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 5000 + ( 5000 – 4000 ) = 6000

ASX small-caps are still doing badly, with the ASX 50 [$XFL] out-performing the $XSO by a substantial margin. That is the opposite of what one would expect in a bull market and should be treated as a warning to exercise caution.

ASX 200 Index

Asia: India retreats while Japan and Singapore advance

India’s Sensex is headed for a test of support at 19000. Breach of the secondary trendline already warns of a correction to the primary trendline around 18000. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, followed by reversal below zero, indicates strong selling pressure.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 19 + ( 19 – 18 ) = 20

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is consolidating in a narrow range below 3300 — a bullish sign — and 21-day Twiggs Money Flow oscillating above zero indicates buying pressure. Breakout above 3300 would signal an advance to the 2007 high at 3900*. Reversal below 3250 is unlikely but would warn of a correction.

Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3300 + ( 3300 – 2700 ) = 3900

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index is again testing its 2010 high of 11500. Reversal below 11000 would suggest a correction to 10000, while breakout would offer an initial target of 12000*.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 10000 + ( 10000 – 8000 ) = 12000

Europe: Italian stalemate

Reuters reports that support for Mario Monti’s centrist coalition is fading.

Opinion polls give the centre-left coalition led by the veteran former industry minister Pier Luigi Bersani a narrow lead but the race has been thrown open by the prospect of a huge protest vote against austerity policies imposed by Monti and rage at a wave of corporate and political scandals.

Without a strong government, resolution of Italy’s current crisis is unlikely. The Italian MIB Index retreated below new support at 17000 and last week penetrated the rising trendline, warning of a primary reversal. Breach of support at 16000 would strengthen the signal — as would reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero. Confirmation, however would only come from a lower peak followed by failure of primary support at 15000.
FTSE MIB Index

The FTSE 100 continues its advance toward long-term resistance at 6750. Failed down-swings within the recent reverse pennant (broadening wedge) suggest continuation of the advance. Upward breakout would offer a target of 6750, strengthened if 21-day Twiggs Money Flow recovers above 20% to form another trough above zero.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 6000 + ( 6000 – 5250 ) = 6750

Germany’s DAX continues to test support at 7500. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Failure of 7500 would indicate a correction to test the rising trendline — and support at 7000.

DAX Index

* Target calculation: 7500 + ( 7500 – 7000 ) = 8000

Canada: TSX edges lower

The TSX Composite found support at 12600/12650 on the daily chart. Breakout above 12800 would signal a fresh advance, while reversal below 12600 would warn of a correction. Expect support at 12500 and a 21-day Twiggs Money Flow trough at zero would indicate medium-term buying pressure. Rising troughs on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow (not shown) suggest that a base is forming. The long-term target for a breakout above 13000 would be 15000*.

TSX Composite Index

* Target calculation: 13000 + ( 13000 – 11000 ) = 15000