S&P 500: It's all on the price chart

All indicators do is highlight information that is already visible on the price chart. That is why you need to be careful making decisions based solely on an indicator — because when you summarize (information) you sacrifice. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum displays a bearish divergence, with declining peaks over the last two years while the index has been rising. Careful study of the price chart reveals the same information: a healthy trend should display symmetrical, equally-weighted corrections and advances, you can tell momentum is slowing when advances are weaker and corrections stronger. A trend reversal would only be clear on the monthly chart if the S&P 500 crossed below support at 1100, but declining momentum should warn well in advance that it is forming a top. Recovery above 1400 is unlikely, but would signal that the trend has regained momentum — especially if the Fed introduces QE3.

S&P 500 Index

The Nasdaq 100 is also losing momentum, but slightly. Respect of support at 2400 would indicate a healthy up-trend.  Likewise a trough above zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2800 + ( 2800 – 2400 ) = 3200

Canada: TSX 60 head and shoulders

Canada’s TSX 60 Index threatens to complete a large head and shoulders reversal with a break below support at 640. The first shoulder is in April 2010 and the second in March 2012. The recent iceberg on 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns of a primary down-trend. Failure of support would offer an immediate target of 560* and a long-term target of 460*.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 640 – ( 720 – 640 ) = 560; 640 – ( 820 – 640 ) = 460

Securities Technology Monitor: Dark Trading Bad, HFT Good

“HFTs appear to assist in decreasing excessive price volatility,” [Professor Alex Frino, CEO of Capital Markets Co-operative Research Centre (CMCRC) and Professor of Finance at the University of Sydney Business School] said. “This is partly due to the way HFT algorithms identify trading opportunities – they’re built to recognise when prices are abnormally high or low, and respond in a way that naturally pushes prices back towards the middle.”

via Securities Technology Monitor: Dark Trading Bad, HFT Good.

Securities Technology Monitor – Quote Stuffing Aims to Slow Rivals

Mao Ye, Chen Yao and Jiading Gai of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that “exogeneous technology shocks that increase the speed of trading from microseconds to nanoseconds dramatically increase” order cancellation rates and found “evidence consistent with quote stuffing.”

“As speed is of value to a trader, it is almost equally valuable to slow his competitors down,” the researchers said in their paper The Externality of High Frequency Trading.

via Securities Technology Monitor – Quote Stuffing Aims to Slow Rivals.

Australia: ASX 200 at primary support

The ASX 200 is testing primary support at 3980/4000. Failure would confirm the primary down-trend signaled by downward breakout from the large ascending triangle (August to May) and reversal of 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow (below zero) indicates strong selling pressure.

ASX 200 Index

Hong Kong, India and Singapore

Dow Jones Hong Kong Index is headed for primary support at 360. Failure would confirm the primary down-trend signaled by 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero.

Straits Times Index

India’s Sensex is testing support at 16000/15800. Failure would mean another test of primary support at 15000/15200. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates selling pressure. Failure of primary support would offer a target of 12000*.

BSE Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 15 – ( 18 − 15 ) = 12

Dow Jones Singapore Index broke medium-term support at 222, indicating a test of primary support at 208/210. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates selling pressure. Failure of primary support would offer a target of 190*.

Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 210 – ( 230 − 210 ) = 190

UK & Europe warn of primary down-trend

The FTSE 100 is testing medium-term support at 5250. Failure would mean another test of primary support at 5000/5050. Declining 63-Day Twiggs Momentum (below zero) indicates a primary down-trend. Failure of primary support would confirm.

FTSE 100 Index

Germany’s DAX broke medium-term support at 6200, penetration of the rising trendline warning that the up-trend is weakening. Expect a test of primary support at 5400. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero suggests a primary down-trend. Failure of primary support would confirm.

DAX Index

The broader Dow Jones Europe Index is already testing primary support at 210. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow (below zero) indicates strong selling pressure. Expect failure of support to signal a primary down-trend.

DAX Index

US: S&P 500 and Nasdaq break support

The S&P 500 broke medium-term support at 1290/1300 with a strong red candle on the back of weaker job numbers. A 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow peak below zero warns of selling pressure. Expect a test of primary support at 1150.

S&P 500 Index Daily Chart

On the weekly chart, Nasdaq 100 is headed for support at 2400 after breaching 2480. Penetration of the rising trendline warns that the primary up-trend is weakening. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the signal, suggesting a primary down-trend.

Nasdaq 100 Index

Commodities lead stocks lower

The CRB Commodities index is headed for a test of the 2010 low of 250. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero warns of a strong primary down-trend. Divergence from the S&P 500 index warns that stocks are likely to fall, following commodities down — at least to their 2011 lows.

CRB Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 290 – ( 330 – 290 ) = 250

Treasury yields fall as investors flee stocks

Treasury yields fell through the key support level of 1.70 percent as investors, seeking a safe haven, flowed into bonds. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns of further easing.

10-Year US Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 1.70 – ( 2.40 – 1.70 ) = 1.0