Europe: DAX and FTSE hesitant

Germany’s DAX is retracing, but as long as it respects medium-term support at 8000, the primary advance is intact. Breakout above resistance at 8500 would offer a long-term target of 9500*. A 21-day Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would strengthen the signal. Reversal below 8000 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 7700.
DAX Index

* Target calculation: 8500 + ( 8500 – 7500 ) = 9500

The FTSE 100 displays selling pressure, with 21-day Twiggs Money Flow retreating below zero. Reversal below 6500 would warn of another correction. Respect of 6500 is unlikely but would indicate an advance to 6900/7000.
FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 6750 + ( 6750 – 6000 ) = 7500

Italy’s MIB Index is heading for a test of 17500 after breaking resistance at 16000. Repeated troughs above zero on 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow suggest a healthy up-trend.
MIB Index

Spain’s Madrid General Index broke resistance at 800, indicating a rally to 900. Long-term 13-week Twiggs Money Flow recovered above zero but remains weak. Reversal below 760 is unlikely, but would warn of a test of the 2012 low at 600.
Madrid General Index

S&P 500 support but TSX bearish

The S&P 500 ran into resistance at 1700, but long tails on the last two days indicate support at 1675. Follow-through above 1700 would offer a target of 1800*. The 21-day Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero indicates a healthy up-trend, but a lower peak than May would warn of selling pressure. Reversal below support at 1650 is unlikely, warning of another test of primary support at 1560.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1680 + ( 1680 – 1560 ) = 1800

The VIX below 15 indicates historically low market risk.

VIX Index

Canada’s TSX 60 VIX is similarly bullish.

TSX 60 VIX Index

The TSX Composite Index encountered resistance below 12900, however, and declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of continued selling pressure. Respect of 12900 would indicate another test of 11750. Breakout above 12900 is less likely, but would offer a long-term target of 14000*.
TSX Composite Index

* Target calculation: 13000 + ( 13000 – 12000 ) = 14000

ASX 200 finds resistance, China tests support

China’s Shanghai Composite Index continues to test long-term support at 1950. Breakout would signal a primary decline, with a target of the 2008 low at 1660. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of rising selling pressure. Respect of 1950 is unlikely, but would indicate a rally to 2150.

Shanghai Composite Index

Japan’s Nikkei 225 found resistance at 15000, but the primary trend is upward and retracement that respects the rising trendline would suggest another advance. Declining peaks on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow would indicate selling pressure.  Follow-through above 15000 would test the earlier high at 16000.

Nikkei 225 Index

India’s Sensex is testing resistance at 20200. Breakout would signal an advance to 22000*. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above its May peak indicates buying pressure. Respect of resistance at 20200 is unlikely, but would re-test the rising trendline.

BSE Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 20000 + ( 20000 – 18000 ) = 22000

The ASX 200 is consolidating in a narrow band below resistance at 5000 — a bullish sign suggesting a test of the May peak at 5250. Highs of 5000 in 2010 and 2011 give this level additional significance and breakout would indicate an advance to 5850*. Follow-through above 5250 would confirm. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero merely indicates short-term selling pressure. Reversal below 4850 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 4650.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 5250 + ( 5250 – 4650 ) = 5850

Europe: DAX and FTSE 100 recovery

Germany’s DAX recovered above its 2007/2008 high at 8200, signaling a primary advance with a long-term target of 9500*. Breach of resistance at 8500 would confirm. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow is above zero, but remains weak, warning of further retracement to test support at 8000. Reversal below 8000 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of the rising trendline around 7700.
DAX Index

* Target calculation: 8500 + ( 8500 – 7500 ) = 9500

The FTSE 100 is testing resistance at the 2008 high of 6750. Breakout would signal an advance to 7500*. Follow-through above the 1999/2000 high at 7000 would confirm. Respect of 6750 would indicate further consolidation above primary support at 6000.
FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 6750 + ( 6750 – 6000 ) = 7500

Italy’s MIB Index respected primary support at 15000. Breakout above resistance at 16000 indicates another test of 17500. Repeated troughs above zero on 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow suggest a healthy up-trend.
MIB Index

Spain’s Madrid General Index displays a weaker retracement above long-term support at 760, while 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates selling pressure. Breakout below 760 would warn of a test of the 2012 low at 600. Respect of support, however, would indicate another rally to 880* — especially if accompanied by breakout above 820 or 13-week TMF recovery above zero.
Madrid General Index

* Target calculation: 820 + ( 820 – 760 ) = 880

S&P 500 breakout

Short candles on the S&P 500 indicate some opposition, but breakout above resistance at 1675 indicates an advance to 1800*. Follow-through above 1700 would strengthen the signal. The 21-day Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero indicates medium-term buying pressure — and a healthy up-trend. Reversal below 1650 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 1560.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1680 + ( 1680 – 1560 ) = 1800

The VIX below 15 suggests low market risk.

VIX Index

The TSX Composite Index is advancing towards resistance at 12900. Breakout would signal a primary advance, with a long-term target of 14000*. Follow-through above 13000 would strengthen the signal. Breach of the declining trendline on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow would also suggest improving buying pressure. Respect of 12900, however, and reversal of 13-week TMF below zero, would warn of another test of 11750.

TSX Composite Index

* Target calculation: 13000 + ( 13000 – 12000 ) = 14000

Crude rallies while gold and commodities stall

Gold is consolidating in a narrow range below resistance at $1300 — a bullish sign. Upward breakout would penetrate the descending trendline, suggesting a bottom is forming.  Reversal below $1270, however, would indicate another test of $1200. Failure of support at $1200 would offer a medium-term target of $1100*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1300 – 1200 ) = 1100

The monthly chart shows a primary trendline some way above current price action. Even a rally to $1400 would not disrupt the primary down-trend.
Spot Gold

Dollar Index

The Dollar Index retreated after a false break above 84.00. Respect of the rising trendline would indicate the primary up-trend is intact, while reversal below 79.00 would signal a primary down-trend. Recovery above 84.50 would signal an advance to 89.00.
Dollar Index

Crude Oil

Nymex WTI light crude is in a clear primary up-trend, with Brent crude lifting in sympathy. Rising Nymex crude prices reflect a stronger US economy. Target for the Nymex advance is the 2012 high of $110/barrel*. Expect the spread with Brent crude to narrow.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

* Target calculation: 98 + ( 98 – 86 ) = 110

Commodities

The Shanghai Composite Index rebounded weakly above long-term support at 1950, but is likely to re-test in the next few weeks. Failure would indicate a decline to test the 2008 low at 1400. China is the primary driver of commodity prices and another decline on the Shanghai Index would drag prices even lower. Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index reversal below long-term support at 125 would confirm, targeting the 2009 low at 100*. Not good news for Australian resources stocks, even if the impact is cushioned by a falling Aussie Dollar.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 125 – ( 150 – 125 ) = 100

FTSE hesitates while DAX gaps ahead

Dow Jones Europe Index is ranging between 270 and 290 on the weekly chart, indicating a weak advance after earlier breaking long-term resistance at 265. Breakout above 290 would signal continuation, but reversal below 270 remains as likely and would warn of a reversal; confirmed if the index follows-through below 265.
Dow Jones Europe Index
The FTSE 100 broke resistance at 6500 (from the March 2013 peak), indicating an advance to 6900. But tall shadows (or candlewicks) on Thursday and Friday warn of short-term selling pressure and reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero strengthens the signal. Breach of support at 6400 would warn of another test of primary support at 6000.
FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 7000 + ( 7000 – 6000 ) = 8000

Germany’s DAX gapped above the declining trendline, signaling another primary advance, with a target of 9300*. Breach of resistance at 8500 would confirm. Recovery of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow above zero indicates medium-term buying pressure. Reversal below 8000 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of 7700.
DAX Index

* Target calculation: 8500 + ( 8500 – 7700 ) = 9300

ASX 200 consolidates while Asia rallies

China’s Shanghai Composite Index continued its rally on Monday, headed for a test of 2150. Last week’s tall shadow (or candlewick) indicates selling pressure. Respect of resistance is likely and reversal below 1950 would signal a primary decline, with a target of the 2008 low at 1700. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero would strengthen the bear signal.

Dow Jones Shanghai Index

Last week’s dragonfly doji on Japan’s Nikkei 225 also indicates selling pressure, but the higher close hints this may have been resolved. Monday’s open is flat and reversal below last week’s low would warn of another test of primary support at 12500. Penetration of the rising trendline or a lower peak on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow would warn of trend weakness, while breach of primary support at 12500 would signal reversal.  But that is some way off and follow-through above 15000 would suggest another advance; confirmed if resistance at 16000 is broken.

Nikkei 225 Index

India’s Sensex is headed for another test of resistance at 20200. Breakout would signal an advance to 22000*. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above its May peak would indicate healthy buying pressure. Respect of resistance at 20200 is unlikely, but would re-test the rising trendline.

BSE Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 20000 + ( 20000 – 18000 ) = 22000

The ASX 200 is consolidating below resistance at 5000. Narrow consolidation is a bullish sign, but reversal below 4850 would warn of another test of primary support at 4650. Breakout above 5000 remains likely and would indicate an advance to 5850* — confirmed if resistance at 5250 is broken. Breach of primary support is unlikely, but would signal a primary down-trend. Oscillation of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow above zero would indicate healthy buying pressure.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 5250 + ( 5250 – 4650 ) = 5850

S&P 500 and TSX advance

The S&P 500 broke resistance at 1675 but the short candle indicates (short-term) selling pressure. Follow-through above the May high at 1690 would confirm the primary advance, with a target of 1800*. The 21-day Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero indicates medium-term buying pressure. Reversal below 1650 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 1560.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1680 + ( 1680 – 1560 ) = 1800

The VIX below 15 indicates market optimism.

VIX Index

The TSX Composite Index has advanced strongly since the bear trap below 12000.  Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above zero indicates medium-term buying pressure. Target for the advance is 12900.  Breakout would offer a long-term target of 14000*. Reversal below 12000 is unlikely, but would signal a primary down-trend; confirmed if 11750 is broken.

TSX Composite Index

* Target calculation: 13000 + ( 13000 – 12000 ) = 14000

The High-Frequency Trading Arms Race: Frequent Batch Auctions as a Market Design Response

Extract from a paper by Eric Budish, Peter Cramton, and John Shim proposing that frequent batch auctions — uniform-price double auctions conducted at frequent but discrete time intervals (e.g. every 1 second) – be employed to end the high-frequency trading arms race:

The fourth and final part of our argument shows that frequent batch auctions are an attractive market design response to the HFT arms race. Batching eliminates the arms race for two reasons. First, and most centrally, batching substantially reduces the value of a tiny speed advantage. In our model, if the batching interval is τ , then a δ speed advantage is only δ/τ as valuable as it is under continuous markets. So, for example, if the batching interval is 1 second, a 1 millisecond speed advantage is only 1/1000 as valuable as it is in the continuous limit order book market design. Second, and more subtly, batching changes the nature of competition among fast traders, encouraging competition on price instead of speed.

Intuitively, in the continuous limit order book market design, it is possible to earn a rent based on a piece of information that many fast traders observe at basically the same time – e.g., a jump in the price of ES – because continuous limit order books process orders in serial, and somebody is always first. In the batch market, by contrast, if multiple traders observe the same information at the same time, they are forced to compete on price instead of speed.

Read more at The High-Frequency Trading Arms Race: Frequent
Batch Auctions as a Market Design Response;Eric Budish, Peter Cramton, and John Shim;July 7, 2013
.