Europe rising

European recovery is highlighted by performance of the euro. Recovery above $1.37 would be bullish, while breakout above $1.38 would confirm a primary advance, with an immediate target of $1.43*. Reversal below $1.355 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at $1.33.

Euro

* Target calculation: 1.38 + ( 1.38 – 1.33 ) = 1.43

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 continues to test new-found support at 3100. 13-week Twiggs Momentum holding above zero suggests a healthy up-trend. Follow-through above 3100 would confirm an advance to 3350*. Breach of the rising (secondary) trendline is unlikely, but would warn of a test of the primary trendline and support at 2850.

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50

* Target calculation: 3100 + ( 3100 – 2850 ) = 3350

Footsie selling pressure

The FTSE 100 reflects selling pressure, with a large bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, but breakout above resistance at 6800 would indicate a test of long-term resistance at 6950/7000. Completion of another 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would strengthen the signal. Breach of the primary trendline is less likely, but would warn of a reversal, while breach of primary support at 6400 would confirm.

FTSE 100

* Target calculation: 6700 + ( 6700 – 6400 ) = 7000

Canada: TSX 60

Canada’s TSX 60 is retracing to test its new support level at 780. Respect would confirm an advance to 820*. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests nothing more than secondary (medium-term) weakness unless there is a crossover below zero. Breach of the rising trendline is unlikely, but would test primary support at 750.

TSX 60

* Target calculation: 780 + ( 780 – 740 ) = 820

TSX 60 VIX is rising but remains bullish.

TSX 60 VIX

Bullish VIX readings for the S&P 500

Declining CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) readings for the S&P 500 continue to indicate a bull market.

VIX Index

The S&P 500 itself is headed for another test of short-term resistance at 1850. Breakout would confirm the target of 1910*, while respect would warn of a correction, especially if followed by reversal below 1800. The recent decline in 13-week Twiggs Money Flow was secondary in nature and less severe than the corrections in June and August 2013; troughs high above the zero line are a long-term bull signal.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1810 + ( 1810 – 1710 ) = 1910

The Nasdaq 100 continues its accelerating up-trend, with Twiggs Money Flow troughs above the zero line indicating long-term buying pressure. The last decent correction was in June 2013 and continuation of the advance much further without a correction would suggest the market is becoming over-extended.

Nasdaq 100

Japan bullish, but India & China reflect selling pressure

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is retracing to test its latest support level at 16000. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow after a trough above zero indicates buying pressure. Respect of support would confirm a primary advance, with a long-term target of 17500*. A rising Dollar/Yen exchange rate would strengthen the signal. Breach of the rising trendline is unlikely, but would warn of another correction.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 15000 + ( 15000 – 12500 ) = 17500

China’s Shanghai Composite breached support at 2080, confirming the primary down-trend. Expect support at 1950: the low of December 2012 and respected in 2013. Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates selling pressure. Recovery above 2080 is unlikely but would warn of a bear trap.

Shanghai Composite Index

India’s Sensex encountered strong resistance at 21200 and declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of medium-term selling pressure. Expect another test of support at 20200. Failure would warn of a primary down-trend. Breakout above 21200 is unlikely in the next few weeks, but would suggest a primary advance to 22000*.

Sensex

* Target calculation: 21000 + ( 21000 – 20000 ) = 22000

TSX 60 in healthy shape

Canada’s TSX 60 is in healthy shape, with 13-week Twiggs Money Flow troughs above zero indicating strong buying pressure. Breakout above 780 would confirm an advance to 820*. Reversal below 740 is most unlikely, but would warn of a test of primary support at 675/680.

TSX 60

* Target calculation: 780 + ( 780 – 740 ) = 820

S&P 500, Nasdaq bullish

Short (3-day) retracement on the S&P 500 would indicate a strong trend. Follow-through above 1850 would confirm the target of 1910*. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow highlights medium-term buying pressure.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1810 + ( 1810 – 1710 ) = 1910

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) readings below 20 continue to indicate a bull market.

VIX Index

The Nasdaq 100 continues its accelerating up-trend, with rising Twiggs Money Flow troughs above the zero line indicating strong buying pressure. The last decent correction was in June 2013 and continuation of the advance much further without another correction of at least 2 to 3 weeks would suggest the market is becoming over-extended.

Nasdaq 100

Household debt indicates confidence improving

Good news for the US economy is that household credit has started to grow, recovering above zero after a protracted contraction. Not only does this indicate a recovery in consumer confidence, but it will fuel additional expenditure and stimulate income growth.

US Household Credit Growth

The ratio of household debt to personal disposable income continues to contract, indicating that debt is growing at a slower rate than disposable income. This is likely to continue for some time as households recover from the credit binge leading up to the GFC, but is a healthy sign provided credit growth remains positive.

Household Debt over Disposable Personal Income

Declining corporate bond spreads and historically low readings on the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) suggest a healthy bull market ahead.

CBOE Volatility Index

Australia

Australian household debt remains elevated at 150% of disposable income, almost 50% higher than US levels.

Australian Household Debt to Disposable Personal Income

While household debt levels will need to be addressed in the long-term, declining corporate bond spreads indicate there is no immediate cause for alarm.

Australian Bond Spreads

All who are able, may gain virtue by study and care, for it is better to be happy by the action of nature than by chance. To entrust to chance what is most important would be defective reasoning.
~ Aristotle

Bullish lead-in to the New Year

The S&P 500 broke resistance at 1810, signaling an advance to 1910*. Troughs high above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicate strong buying pressure.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1810 + ( 1810 – 1710 ) = 1910

The FTSE 100 completed its correction with a break above the descending trendline. Troughs above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicate buying pressure. Breakout above 6800 would offer a target of 7200*, but expect strong resistance at the 1999 high of 6950/7000.

FTSE 100

* Target calculation: 6800 + ( 6800 – 6400 ) = 7200

The Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 broke resistance at 3100, signaling an advance to 3350*. Troughs above zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicate a healthy up-trend. Retracement to test the new support level is likely; respect would strengthen the bull signal.

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50

* Target calculation: 3100 + ( 3100 – 2850 ) = 3350

Germany’s DAX similarly broke resistance at 9400, offering a target of 10200*. Troughs high above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicate strong buying pressure.

DAX

* Target calculation: 9400 + ( 9400 – 8600 ) = 10200

India’s SENSEX is testing resistance at 21200 after a correction that respected support at 20200. Breakout would signal an advance to 22200*. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would indicate buying pressure and a healthy up-trend.

BSE Sensex

* Target calculation: 21200 + ( 21200 – 20200 ) = 22200

Japan’s Nikkei 225 broke resistance at 16000, supported by a strong rise in the Dollar/Yen exchange rate. Breakout signals a primary advance with a long-term target of 19000*. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero suggests buying pressure and a healthy up-trend.

Nikkei 225

* Target calculation: 16000 + ( 16000- 13000 ) = 19000

A single cloud on the horizon, the Shanghai Composite Index is testing primary support at 2080. Failure of support would signal a primary down-trend with an immediate target of 1900*. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure, but recovery above zero would suggest support.

Shanghai Composite

* Target calculation: 2080 – ( 2260 – 2080 ) = 1900

The ASX 200 is lagging other markets because of negative influence from China. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates selling pressure. Respect of resistance at 5450 would be cause for concern if followed by reversal below 5300. Breakout above 5450 and completion of a trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, however, would signal another primary advance, with a target of 5900*.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5450 + ( 5450 – 5000 ) = 5900

Strong recovery in 2014

The S&P 500 followed through above 1810, signaling another primary advance. Troughs high above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicate strong long-term buying pressure. Short corrections such as the recent retracement are normally followed by strong gains, but there is no reliable method calculating targets in an accelerating up-trend. The target of 1910* calculated by the conventional method may well underestimate the advance.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1810 + ( 1810 – 1710 ) = 1910

My favorite bellwether, transport stock Fedex, is surging ahead on the monthly chart, suggesting a strong recovery for the US economy in the year ahead.

Fedex

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) readings below 20 also suggest a bull market.

VIX Index