S&P 500 and Europe encounter resistance

The S&P 500 pulled back from resistance at 1250 and is headed for a test of short-term support at 1200. Failure would test primary support at 1100, while breakout above 1250 would signal an advance to 1400*. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow continues to indicate secondary buying pressure.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1250 + ( 1250 – 1100 ) = 1400

Dow Jones Europe index also ran into resistance at 250, bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warning of short-term selling pressure. Reversal below 230 would test primary support at 205/210, while breakout above 250 would signal an advance to 290*.

Dow Jones Europe Index

* Target calculation: 250 + ( 250 – 210 ) = 290

Dollar Index: The big picture

When markets are volatile it often pays to take a step back and look at the big picture. A monthly chart shows the Dollar Index ranging between 70 and 90 since 2003, with the 80 level alternating as mid-range support/resistance. The index recently pulled back from resistance at 80 and will now either re-group for another attempt or medium-term support will give way, signaling a test of long-term support.

US Dollar Index Monthly

Zooming in to the daily chart shows narrow consolidation above medium-term support at 76.50. Breakout above 77.60 and the descending trendline would signal another test of 80, while failure of support at 76 would mean a decline to 73.50*.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 76.5 – ( 79.5 – 76.5 ) = 73.5

In the long term, breach of 73.50 would test 70, while breakout above 80 would signal an advance to 90. If support at 70 fails, gold will rocket through $2000/ounce, but that is only likely to occur if the Fed rolls out QE3.

ASX 200 hits ceiling

The ASX 200 index encountered both the declining trendline (from April 2011) and resistance at 4300. Low volume indicates a lack of enthusiasm from buyers. The strong red candle warns of another test of 3850; follow-through below Tuesday’s low would confirm.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 4000 – ( 4500 – 4000 ) = 3500

South Africa & Brazil

The JSE Overall Index is testing both resistance and the descending trendline at 31500. Breakout would test the 2008/2011 high of 33000, but respect would warn of a test of 30000. Reversal below 30000 would signal a primary decline to 26000. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying support but long-term selling pressure.

JSE Overall Index

* Target calculation: 28500 – ( 31500 – 28500 ) = 25500

Brazil’s Bovespa index also shows medium-term buying support but long-term selling pressure. Respect of resistance at 58000 would indicate another test of primary support at 50000. Breakout above 58000 is unlikely, given global market conditions and falling iron ore prices, but would signal reversal to a primary up-trend.

Bovespa Index

* Target calculation: 50 – ( 58 – 50 ) = 42

Race to the bottom

The euro is outstripping the dollar in their race to the bottom. Having respected resistance at $1.40, breakout below $1.35 would signal a test of the next major support level at $1.30*. The 63-day Momentum peak below zero confirms a strong down-trend.

Euro EURUSD

* Target calculation: 1.40 – ( 1.50 – 1.40 ) = 1.30

Canada: TSX 60

The weekly TSX 60 chart respected resistance at 730 and is retreating to test support at 650/660. Decline of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of further selling pressure. Failure of support would offer a target of 590*.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 660 – ( 730 – 660 ) = 590

DAX key reversal; FTSE rally fades

Germany’s DAX Index shows a strong key reversal [R] on the weekly chart. Expect a rally, but we are in a bear market and resistance at 6500 is likely to hold. Reversal below 5400 would warn of another down-swing.

DAX Index

* Target calculation: 5500 – ( 6500 – 5500 ) = 4500

The FTSE 100 fell at Monday’s open, but the weekly chart displays a particularly volatile consolidation edging higher. Breakout above 5400 would indicate a test of 5600/5700. Again, we are in a bear market; respect of resistance is likely and would warn of another test of 4800.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 5000 – ( 5600 – 5000 ) = 4400

Gold finds support at $1800/ounce

Spot gold found short-term support at $1800/ounce. A rally to $1900 from this point would form a bullish ascending triangle, suggesting an upward breakout and offering a target of $2100*. Failure of support, however, would penetrate the rising (secondary) trendline and suggest a correction to $1500.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1900 + ( 1900 – 1700 ) = 2100

Gold Bugs ($HUI) and Gold Miners ($GDX) Indexes both broke through resistance to signal a fresh primary advance. With a target of 700 for $HUI, the breakout favors continuation of the current advance in spot prices.

Amex Gold Bugs Index $HUI

* Target calculation: 600 + ( 600 – 500 ) = 700

European rally meets resistance

The FTSE 100 index is meeting selling pressure in its rally to test resistance at 5600, evidenced by tall shadows on the last two candles. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero would strengthen the signal. Failure of support at 4800 would offer a target of 4000*.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 4800 – ( 5600 – 4800 ) = 4000

The DAX Index also displays tall shadows on the last two weekly candles. The rally to test 6400 is particularly weak, with decline of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warning of strong selling pressure. Reversal below 5400 would offer a target of 4400*.

DAX Index

* Target calculation: 5400 – ( 6400 – 5400 ) = 4400

The CAC-40 displays similar selling pressure. Breakout below 2900 would offer a target of 2500*.

CAC-40 Index

* Target calculation: 2900 – ( 3300 – 2900 ) = 2500

TSX60

TSX 60 Index is testing resistance at 725/735. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow oscillating around zero indicates hesitancy. Resistance is likely to hold and reversal below the week’s low at 700 would warn of another test of support at 650/660. In the medium term, failure of support would offer a target of 580*.

TSX 60 Index

* Target calculation: 650 – ( 720 – 650 ) = 580