A three-year chart shows strong support for the US dollar at R6.50. Earlier breach of the descending trendline and rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum both warn that the Rand is likely to weaken. Now we have a break above resistance at R7.00 testing the 2011 high of R7.35. Breakout would signal an advance to R8.00*.
* Target calculation: 7.30 + ( 7.30 – 6.50 ) = 8.10
Rising stocks and a sharp fall on spot gold reflect uncertainty as to whether Ben Bernanke will announce further quantitative easing by the Fed, at Jackson Hole, Wyo. on Friday. Further purchases of Treasurys by the Fed would lift inflation and send investors scrambling for inflation-hedges like gold and blue-chip stocks. Stocks are rising, but gold is falling. Could it be that promise of an end to the conflict in Libya makes the world a safer place — or that a resulting fall in oil prices would reduce inflationary pressures? Brent crude and the CRB Commodities Index are both rising, suggesting that the precious metals blow-off is driven by profit-taking — after the sharp surge over the last few weeks and ahead of an uncertain announcement on Friday.
Spot gold is testing its secondary [green] rising trendline at $1700/$1720. Support is likely to hold — especially if there is any hint of QE3 on Friday — but failure would warn of a fall to the long-term trendline around $1500/ounce.
* Target calculation: 1900 + ( 1900 – 1700 ) = 2100
The monthly gold chart shows spot gold testing the upper trend channel of the long-term bull-trend. Correction to the lower channel would result in a substantial fall. A lot depends on what happens Friday.
The Sensex rallied Monday but on light volume. The sharp fall on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of strong medium-term selling pressure and support at 16000 is not expected to hold.
* Target calculation: 16500 – ( 17500 – 16500 ) = 15500
Monday’s long tail on the Straits Times Index also indicates short-term buying support. The sharp fall on 21-day Twiggs Momentum indicates a strong down-trend and support at 2700 is expected to fail.
* Target calculation: 2800 – ( 3000 – 2800 ) = 2600
The Dow Jones Shanghai Index reversed below primary support at 328, confirming the primary down-trend signal from the Shanghai Composite Index. The 21-day Momentum peak barely above zero strengthens the bear signal.
* Target calculation: 330 – ( 360 – 330 ) = 300
Dow Jones HongKong Index broke short-term support at 415, indicating a down-swing to its 2010 low at 365. The longer-term 63-day Momentum below zero strengthens the bear signal.
* Target calculation: 415 – ( 445 – 415 ) = 385
