Tag: ASX 300 Metals & Mining

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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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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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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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Bi-polar ASX continues

Banks continue to threaten mayhem, with the ASX 300 Banks Index headed for a target of its 2016 low at 7200.

ASX 300 Banks

The second biggest industry group, Metals & Mining Index, however, remains in a primary up-trend. A long tail on the ASX 300 Metals & Mining weekly chart reflects support at 3800 and another test of 4000 is likely.

ASX 300 Banks

The ASX 200 continues to display a large bearish divergence on Twiggs Money Flow (13-week), warning of selling pressure. Breach of 5950 would warn of a test of primary support at 5650/5750.

ASX 200

I expect a gradual decline in the index unless mining falters. In which case all bets are off.

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Banks hurt the ASX

Banks face continued selling pressure as the Royal Commission progresses. The ASX 300 Banks Index broke medium-term support at 7700, confirming the primary down-trend and a target of the 2016 low at 7200.

ASX 300 Banks

Financials are the largest sector in the ASX 200. Materials, consisting of mainly Metals & Mining are second.

ASX 200
Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices

The ASX 300 Metals & Mining Index remains in a primary up-trend but threatens a correction to test the long-term rising trendline. Respect of the trendline is likely and would signal continuation of the up-trend. Breach of 3400 is unlikely but would present a bearish outlook, not only for Metals & Mining, but the entire ASX.

ASX 300 Banks

The ASX 200 is correcting to test medium-term support at 5950. Breach would warn of a test of primary support at 5750 but respect of support is just as likely. Breakout from the triangle on Twiggs Money Flow (13-week) will indicate the likely direction.

ASX 200

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ASX 200: Bi-polar economy

A sign of the economy’s good health is the largess distributed in Treasurer Scott Morrison’s recent budget, without wrecking the fiscal balance sheet. Net Debt is projected to peak at 18.6 percent of GDP in 2017/2018, with the budget returning to surplus in 2019/2020.

2018/2019 Budget Net Debt and Fiscal Deficit/Surplus
Source: Budget.gov.au

The ASX 200 is testing resistance at 6100/6150 despite the weakening Australian Dollar and troubled banking sector. Breakout above 6150 would signal a primary advance.

ASX 200

Led by the ASX 300 Metals & Mining Index. Breakout above 3800 signals a fresh primary advance, with a medium-term target of 4200.

ASX 300 Banks

But the ASX 300 Banks Index is in a primary down-trend, having broken support at 8000. Retracement that respects the new resistance level at 8000/8100 is likely and would confirm a primary down-trend with a medium-term target of the 2016 low at 7200.

ASX 300 Banks

We have a bi-polar economy, with Resources exports surging, along with Services and Rural (agriculture). Manufacturing exports are the only flat spot.

Export Volumes

But the banking sector faces challenges from a threatened housing down-turn, with near zero house price growth, and a regulator racing to shore up bank balance sheets before the bubble bursts.

Housing Price Growth

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ASX banks spoil the iron ore party

I underestimated the strength of iron ore which has now broken resistance at 70, suggesting that a bottom is forming. Strength of the latest rally indicates that the next correction is likely to find support at 60.

Iron Ore

The Resources sector responded, with the ASX 300 Metals & Mining index headed for a test of its February high at 3200 after recovering above support at 3000.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

Banks have been on the receiving end, however, with the ASX 300 Banks index testing short-term support at 8500. A Twiggs Money Flow peak below zero warns of strong selling pressure. Breach of 8500 would signal another test of primary support at 8000.

ASX 300 Banks

The ASX 200 continues to form a narrow line, consolidating between 5600 and 5800. Declining Twiggs Money Flow, with a peak below zero, warns of selling pressure. Breach of support at 5600 remains likely, despite the iron ore rally, and would signal a primary down-trend.

ASX 200

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ASX stalls

Iron ore is testing resistance at 70. Respect would warn of another test of primary support at 53, while breakout would suggest that a bottom is forming and the next correction is likely to find support at 60.

Iron Ore

The Resources sector remains wary, with the ASX 300 Metals & Mining index retreating after a false break above resistance at 3050.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

The ASX 300 Banks index retraced from resistance at 8800, heading for a test of the rising trendline and short-term support at 8500. Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure despite indications from APRA that they are unlikely to require further capital raising. Reversal below 8500 would warn of another test of primary support at 8000.

ASX 300 Banks

The ASX 200 has stalled, consolidating between 5600 and 5800 over the last two months. Declining Twiggs Money Flow, with a peak below zero, warns of selling pressure. Breach of support at 5600 is more likely, with an ensuing down-trend, but a lot depends on how iron ore behaves in the next few weeks.

ASX 200

It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.

~ Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

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ASX buoyant as iron rallies

Iron ore broke resistance at $60 and is headed for a test of $70 per ton. This is a strong rally but it does not signal the end of the bear market. Only when the rally ends and there is another test of primary support at $53 will we be able to gauge long-term sentiment.

Iron Ore

The ASX 300 Metals & Mining index broke resistance at 3000, completing a double bottom reversal with a target of 3250. Breach of 2750 is unlikely at present but would signal a primary down-trend.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

The ASX 300 Banks index is testing resistance at 8500 but Twiggs Money Flow below zero continues to warn of long-term selling pressure. Breach of 8000 remains likely and would confirm the primary down-trend.

ASX 300 Banks

The ASX 200 is consolidating in a small triangle (some would call this a large pennant) between 5600 and 5800. Breakout will signal future direction. A lot will depend on iron ore (China) and the banks, which seem to be pulling in opposite directions at present.

ASX 200

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ASX 200: Banks run into strong resistance

Iron ore peaked at $60. Expect a sharp fall to test support between $50 and $52, typical of a bear market. Chinese housing price growth — a key driver of iron ore prices as illustrated last week — is slowing and likely to drag ore prices lower.

Iron Ore

The ASX 300 Metals & Mining index is still on the up but likely to respect resistance at 3000, given the reversal in iron ore. Breach of 2750 would confirm a primary down-trend.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

The ASX 300 Banks index ran into strong resistance at 8500. Declining Twiggs Money Flow highlights selling pressure. Breach of 8000 is likely and would confirm the primary down-trend.

ASX 300 Banks

The ASX 200 displays strong selling pressure, with tall shadows on the last two weekly candles. Twiggs Money Flow dipping below zero for the second time warns of a primary down-trend. Follow-through below 5700 would test primary support at 5600. Breach of 5600 would complete a broad head and shoulders reversal, confirming a primary down-trend.

ASX 200

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