Category: Stock Markets

Analysis of major stock markets around the world.

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S&P 500 and Nasdaq relief

June average hourly earnings growth came in flat at 2.74% for Total Private sector and 2.72% for Production and Non-supervisory Employees. This suuports the argument that underlying inflation remains benign, easing pressure on the Fed to accelerate interest rates.

Average Hourly Earnings Growth

The S&P 500 rallied off its long-term rising trendline. Follow-through above 2800 would suggest another primary advance with a target of 3000.

S&P 500

The Nasdaq 100 respected its new support level at 7000, signaling a primary advance. The rising Trend Index indicates buying pressure. Target for the advance is 7700.

Nasdaq 100

The Leading Index from the Philadelphia Fed is a healthy 1.51% for May. Well above the 1.0% level that suggests steady growth (falls below 1.0% are cause for concern).

Leading

Our estimate of annual GDP growth — total payroll x average weekly hours worked — is muted at 1.91% but suggests that earnings growth will remain positive.

Real GDP Estimate

Personal consumption figures for Q1 2018 show growth in consumption of services is slowing but durable goods remain strong, while nondurable goods are steady.

Consumption to Q1 2018

Declining consumption of nondurables normally coincides with a recession but is often preceded by slowing durable goods — below 5.0% on the chart below — for several quarters.

Consumption to Q1 2018

Conclusion: Expect further growth but be cautious of equities that are vulnerable to escalating trade tariffs.

We live in a global economy, but the political organization of our global society is woefully inadequate. We are bereft of the capacity to preserve peace and to counteract the excesses of the financial markets. Without these controls, the global economy, is liable to break down.

~ George Soros: The Crisis of Global Capitalism (1998)

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Banks lift ASX 200

The ASX 300 Banks index continues to test resistance at 8000. Respect remains likely and would indicate another test of primary support at 7300.

ASX 300 Banks Index

Rising banks lifted the ASX 200. Follow-through above 6250 signals another primary advance, with a target of the October 2007 high at 6750.

ASX 200

This leaves me in a difficult position. Technical signals suggest a primary advance, while economic indicators warn of rising headwinds and a potential bear market.

Banks

The banking sector is being squeezed by higher funding costs, falling credit growth and rising default risk.

Gerard Minack from Minack Advisers warns that the current credit contraction could cause a significant fall in housing prices:

Most houses are bought on credit, so the demand for housing is a function of the supply of credit. Consequently, housing loan approvals have historically led house prices. New loan approvals have fallen by around 20% year-over-year several times over the past 25 years. If the current credit contraction is more severe – say, a decline of up to 30% – then nationwide house prices could fall high single digits over the coming year.

….All this suggests that a high single-digit decline in house prices would put a material dent in domestic demand. If prices were to fall by, say, 15%, and if consumer income growth was as tepid as it now is, there would be a good chance of recession.

Resources

A falling Chinese Yuan highlights the threat of trade tariffs to the Chinese economy.

CNY/USD

Commodity prices have responded, falling to test primary support levels.

DJ-UBS Commodity Index

Including iron ore.

Iron Ore

The ASX 300 Metals & Mining index is testing medium-term support at 3800. Breach is likely and would warn of a correction to test the rising trendline.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

My approach is to sit with one foot either side of the fence. Focus on growth sectors. Stay away from Banks. Stay away from Resources but stay in Gold. And keep a healthy percentage of the Australian portfolio in Cash and reasonably secure interest-bearing investments. Definitely not hybrids.

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Be Data-driven not Fear-driven

A few months ago, markets feared a nuclear war on the Korean peninsula. Those fears have now largely dissipated but been replaced by fears of a massive trade war with China. There is always a small probability that our fears may be realized but most market fears are not.

Unless you want to follow in the footsteps of some media-driven forecasters, and anticipate ten of the next two recessions, you need to focus on the data and not on your fears.

I have always used Fedex as a bellwether of economic activity in the USA. Shipments of goods are an excellent barometer of the economic climate — and closely tied to quarterly earnings which in the long-run drive prices.

Fedex

Unfortunately Fedex stock price is likely to become less reliable over time as an indicator of economic activity, with the entry of a new competitor: Amazon.

But Fedex produces excellent quarterly statistics of parcel shipments which remain a useful gauge of economic conditions.

Fedex Express Parcel Statistics

Parcel shipments for the quarter ended May 31, 2018 are up 1.1% on the same quarter in 2017. And the annual average is rising. Not fantastic but a step in the right direction, suggesting that earnings for the next quarter will improve.

The S&P 500 is testing its long-term rising trendline. Respect of support at 2700 would suggest another advance. Breakout above 2800 would strengthen the signal.

S&P 500

The Nasdaq 100 retraced to test its new support level at 7000. Bearish divergence on the Trend Index hints at selling pressure. Breach of support would warn of another test of primary support at 6300. Lengthy consolidation would be likely. Respect of 7000, while less likely, on the other hand, would signal a fresh advance.

Nasdaq 100

Discount the obvious, bet on the unexpected.

~ George Soros

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ASX 200: China threat

A rapidly falling Chinese Yuan highlights the threat of trade tariffs to the Chinese economy.

CNY/USD

Expect another sell-off of foreign reserves by China, as in 2015 to 2016, in attempt to stabilize the Yuan and head-off a major capital exodus. The sell-off would weaken the Dollar and Chinese exports.

China Foreign Reserves

Significant monetary easing by the PBOC is also likely, to stimulate domestic demand. Driving the Debt-to-GDP ratio into the stratosphere.

The Aussie Dollar would act as a shock-absorber, following the path of the Yuan.

AUD/USD

Cushioning the blow to Australian exporters.

So far, Resources stocks are unfazed. The ASX 300 Metals & Mining index is consolidating below 4000.

ASX 200

The ASX 300 Banks index ran into stiff resistance at 8000. Expect another test of primary support at 7300 but this is not related to trade tariffs.

ASX 300 Banks Index

The ASX 200 appears unperturbed by the international turmoil, retracing calmly to test its new support level at 6150. Respect would signal another primary advance, with a target of the October 2007 high at 6750.

ASX 200

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S&P 500 retraces while Shanghai shudders

The S&P 500 retreated from resistance at 2800. Retracement is modest and I expect support above the rising trendline (2700). Volatility (Twiggs 21-Day) is below 1.0%, indicating that market risk has returned to normal levels.

S&P 500 and Twiggs Volatility

The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 is in a stronger position, making a new high at 7300, but is now likely to retrace to test the new support level at 7000. I am wary of Twiggs Money Flow as a lower peak would signal bearish divergence. A lot will depend on how buyers react at the new support level.

Nasdaq 100

China’s Shanghai Composite Index, on the other hand, broke support at 3000, signaling a primary decline. Initial target is the February 2016 low at 2700.

Shanghai Composite Index

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index weakened in sympathy. Breach of support at 29000 would signal a primary down-trend.

Hang Seng Index

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ASX 200: Bold play for Aussie Banks

The ASX 300 Banks Index jumped sharply this week as investors made a bold move into the big four banks. Banks have been under the pump for months, with plenty of negative publicity from the Royal Commission accompanied by media coverage of falling house prices. The Aussie Dollar also rallied, suggesting the buyers were offshore.

Have they got it right? Only time will tell. Trying to catch a falling knife is a hazardous endeavor. What looks cheap at the time often ends up being very expensive with the benefit of hindsight.

Bulls would say that the banks are a dominant oligopoly, generating strong cash-flows and un-threatened by international competition. Bears would say they are under-capitalized, poorly managed and sitting atop the mother of all housing bubbles. Technical analysts would say that the Banks index remains in a primary down-trend and this is most likely nothing more than a secondary bear market rally.

ASX 300 Banks Index

But there are broader implications. The bank rally lifted the ASX 200 through resistance at 6150, signaling another primary advance. A Trend Index trough at the zero line flags buying pressure. Target for the advance is the October 2007 high at 6750.

ASX 200

This looks like a bold play by a long-term value investor, taking advantage of the weak Aussie Dollar and strong bearish sentiment towards banks. Where one leads, others are likely to follow.

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ASX 200 strengthens despite banks and iron prices

Iron ore prices are weakening, with spot testing support at $62/tonne. A Trend Index peak below zero would complete a bearish outlook, warning of strong selling pressure. Breach of support at $58 would confirm a primary down-trend.

Iron Ore

The ASX 300 Metals & Mining index is testing resistance at 4000, remaining in a strong up-trend despite weaker ore prices.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

Australian banks face a tough time over the next year or two but the ASX 200 index continues to strengthen despite weakness in its largest sector. A Twiggs Money Flow (13-week) trough at the zero line signals interest from buyers and breakout above 6150 would signal a primary advance, with a target of the October 2007 high at 6750.

ASX 200

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S&P 500: Volatility back in the green zone

Since my February 13th newsletter flagged rising market volatility, market risk has been at the amber level, with 21-day Twiggs Volatility fluctuating between 1.0 and 2.0 percent on the S&P 500. A large trough that respects the 1.0 percent level, as in 2015 below, would be sufficient warning to cut back exposure to stocks because of elevated risk.

S&P 500 and Twiggs Volatility

Yesterday, Volatility (Twiggs 21-Day) on the S&P 500 retreated below 1.0 percent, suggesting a return to the lower-risk green zone. Breakout above 2800 would signal reviving investor confidence, and an advance to test 3000.

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Is ASX 200 resurgence sustainable?

The ASX 200 found support at 5950/6000, a bullish sign. Large bearish divergence on Twiggs Money Flow (13-week) continues to warn of selling pressure but breakout above 6150 would signal a fresh primary advance. Breach of 5950 is unlikely at present, but would warn of a test of primary support at 5650/5750.

ASX 200

The ASX 300 Banks decline continues, heading for a test of its 2016 low at 7200.

ASX 300 Banks

The ASX 300 Metals & Mining index breakout above 4000 is likely, offering a target of 4200.

ASX 300 Banks

The broad index looks bullish but I have two concerns. First is the weak banking index, representing the largest sector in the ASX 200. Second, iron ore prices are weakening. Spot prices are testing support at $62/tonne. A Trend Index peak below zero looks likely, and would warn of strong selling pressure. Breach of support at $58 would signal a primary down-trend.

Iron Ore

GDP growth recovered to 3.1% for the year ending 31 March 2018, on the back of strong exports, but the overall report card for the economy remains weak.

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Small caps lead US recovery

Russell 2000 Small Caps Index is leading the US recovery. The iShares Russell 2000 Small Caps ETF broke through resistance at 160, signaling a primary advance with a target of 175. According to Dow Theory, small capitalization stocks typically lead the advance in stage 3 of a bull market, with large caps having exhausted their gains.

iShares Russell 2000 Small Caps ETF

But Charles Dow did not have to contend with technology stocks which are a law unto themselves. The Nasdaq 100 broke through resistance at 7000 and is currently retracing to test the new support level. Respect is likely and would signal a primary advance with a target of 7700.

Nasdaq 100

The S&P 500 is further behind, headed for a test of resistance at 2800. Breakout would signal a primary advance with a target of 3000.

S&P 500

Bellwether transport stock Fedex is also recovering, having broken resistance at 256. A bullish sign for the broad economy. Expect a test of resistance at 274/275.

Fedex

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