Canada: TSX 60 tests 2011 high

Canada’s TSX 60 encountered strong selling at the 2011 high of 820. Follow-through below 814 would test medium-term support at 800. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates medium-term selling pressure. Breach of the rising trendline is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 770. Breakout above 820 is less likely, but would signal an advance to 840*.

TSX 60

* Target calculation: 805 + ( 805 – 770 ) = 840

S&P 500 persistent selling

The S&P 500 broke out above 1850, but the tall shadow/wick reflects persistent selling. The E-mini (Mar 2014) is currently sitting just above 1840. Index breakout below this level would warn of another correction. Follow-through above 1860 is now unlikely, but would signal an advance to 1950*. The long-term trend remains bullish, with repeated 21-day Twiggs Money Flow troughs above the zero line.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1750 ) = 1950

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is likely to rise because of developments in the Ukraine, but below 20 reflects a bull market.

VIX Index

Nasdaq 100 reversal below 3600 would warn of a test of primary support at 3400. Decline of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below its recent low would strengthen the signal. Breakout above 3700 seems less likely, but would offer a target of 3800*.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 3600 + ( 3600 – 3400 ) = 3800

ASX 200 stalls as Aussie Dollar retreats

The Aussie Dollar retreated from resistance at $0.91. Breakout below primary support at $0.885 against the greenback would warn of a primary decline, with a long-term target of $0.81*. Follow-through below $0.865 would confirm. Recent Twiggs Momentum peaks below zero also indicate a primary down-trend. Respect of primary support and recovery above $0.91 is unlikely, but would suggest that a bottom is forming.

Aussie Dollar

* Target calculation: 0.89 – ( 0.97 – 0.89 ) = 0.81

The ASX 200 is consolidating below resistance at 5450, waiting for a lead from US markets. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests long-term selling pressure, but completion of a large trough above zero (TMF recovery above 30%) would change this. Breakout above 5450 would signal an advance to 5800*. Reversal below 5400, however, would warn of another correction.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5400 + ( 5400 – 5000 ) = 5800

ASX 200 VIX below 15 indicates low risk typical of a bull market.

China faces challenges

I have kept Michael Pettis January summary of the four challenges facing China:

  1. China is over-reliant on credit to generate growth;
  2. Attempts to boost consumption will reverse the long-standing subsidy of new investment;
  3. Attempts to resolve excess capacity also slow growth; and
  4. Unrecognized bad debt on bank balance sheets means that growth is overstated.

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is again testing support around 2000. Follow-through below 1990 would signal a primary decline to 1850*. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero would warn of medium-term selling pressure. Respect of support is less likely, but would suggest another attempt at 2150/2250.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2150 – 2000 ) = 1850

DAX and Euro bearish

The Euro encountered resistance at $1.38 and is again testing the new support level of $1.37 on the weekly chart. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum warns of trend weakness, but only reversal below zero would indicate a primary trend reversal. Breach of primary support at $1.35 would signal a down-trend, while breakout above $1.38 would offer a target of $1.43*.

Euro

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

Germany’s DAX paints a similar picture to the Euro, with bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggesting sellers at 10,000. Retreat below 9600 would warn of another test of primary support at 9000.

DAX

DAX Volatility below 20, however, continues to suggest low risk typical of a bull market.

DAX

S&P 500 at 1850

The S&P 500 continues to encounter stout resistance at 1850. The narrow range, however, reflects buyers commitment. Follow-through above 1860 would signal an advance to 1950*. Reversal below 1825 is less likely, but would warn of another correction. The long-term trend remains bullish, with repeated 21-day Twiggs Money Flow troughs above the zero line.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1750 ) = 1950

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) below 20 continues to indicate low risk typical of a bull market.

S&P 500 meets resistance

The S&P 500 encountered stout resistance at 1850, highlighted by today’s false breakout. Follow-through above 1860 would indicate that buyers out-number sellers, signaling an advance to 1950*. Reversal below 1825 is unlikely, but would warn of another correction. The long-term trend remains bullish, with repeated 21-day Twiggs Money Flow troughs above the zero line.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1750 ) = 1950

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) below 20 reflects low risk typical of a bull market.

VIX Index

Dow Jones Industrial Average is weaker. Large bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Reversal below 16000 would warn of a correction to test primary support at 15400.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 16500 + ( 16500 – 15500 ) = 17500

The Nasdaq 100, on the other hand, remains bullish. Reversal below 3600, especially after last week’s doji star candlestick formation, would warn of a test of primary support at 3400. Decline of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below its recent low would strengthen the signal. Breakout above 3700, however, would offer a target of 3800*.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 3600 + ( 3600 – 3400 ) = 3800

London Calling…..

The strong advance for Sterling, over the last 8 months, is likely to encounter substantial resistance at the 2011 and 2009 highs of $1.68 and $1.70 respectively. Resistance also coincides with the target of $1.68* from the double bottom completed in September 2013. Breakout above $1.70 would offer a long-term target of $1.90, but reversal below $1.66 would test support at $1.62 in the short-term.

FTSE 100

* Target calculation: 1.58 + ( 1.58 – 1.48 ) = 1.68

The FTSE 100 is likely to break out above resistance at 6850 after a higher trough on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow flagged a surge in buying pressure. Target for an advance is 7200* but expect committed sellers at the 1999 high of 7000. Retreat below primary support at 6400 is most unlikely, but would warn of a primary down-trend.

FTSE 100

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

ASX 200 hits resistance

After a healthy start to the day, the ASX ran into poor Flash Manufacturing PMI out of China. The Aussie Dollar fell through 90 cents, suggesting another test of 87 (US cents).

Aussie Dollar

The ASX 200 faces strong resistance at 5400 to 5450. Rising 21-day Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure and breakout above 5450 would confirm a primary advance. But reversal below 5400 would warn of another correction; follow-through below 5350 would confirm.

ASX 200

* Target calculation: 5350 + ( 5350 – 5050 ) = 5650

Nasdaq big picture

You don’t often see buying pressure as good as the Nasdaq 100, with 21-day Money Flow holding above zero for more than a year (posted in response to a reader comment that the Nasdaq breakout looked phony).

Nasdaq 100