Asia: Japan rises as gold falls

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index is in a strong primary up-trend as the BOJ commences asset purchases on a massive scale. This is a tectonic shift in the market. Larry Edelson (as quoted by Barry Ritholz) has the most convincing explanation of the sharp fall in gold:

The wicked and aggressive devaluation of the Japanese yen is setting off a massive stampede OUT of gold and into cash and other assets…….Why are the Japanese dumping gold, especially when their currency is being devalued? It’s simple. The fall in the Japanese yen caused the price of gold in yen to spike sharply higher. So Japanese investors are cashing in their profits.

…and buying stocks.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 11500 + ( 11500 – 8500 ) = 14500

India’s Sensex corrected to support at 18000; breakout would warn that momentum is failing and a test of primary support at 16000 likely. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of a (primary trend) reversal.

Sensex Index

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is testing medium-term support at 2150. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum suggests a bottom is forming, but that does not rule out another test of primary support at 1950/2000. Respect of 2150, however, with breach of the descending trendline, would be a bullish sign suggesting an inverse head-and-shoulders reversal.

Shanghai Composite Index

Asia tentative

Dow Jones Japan Index was tentative Monday, the inside day indicating hesitancy. Recovery above 70.50 would signal continuation of the primary advance, while penetration of the rising trendline would warn of a correction.

Dow Jones Japan Index

Dow Jones Hong Kong Index met resistance at its former support level. The Hang Seng Index is testing medium-term support at 22000. Failure appears likely and would test primary support — and the rising trendline — at 21000.
Hang Seng Index

The Shanghai Composite Index found support at 2250 for the third week in a row. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying pressure. Respect of support would be a bullish sign: a shallow trough followed by breakout above 2450 would signal a primary up-trend. Failure of support, while less likely, would test primary support at 1950/2000.
Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2450 + ( 2450 – 2250 ) = 2650

India rallied Monday, but failure of support at 18800 would test the primary level at 18000.  Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure. Failure of 18000 would indicate a primary trend reversal.

Sensex Index

Asia finds relief

Japan found relief from the overnight selling. Dow Jones Japan Index is back testing resistance at 70. Breakout would signal continuation of the primary advance.

Dow Jones Japan Index

Dow Jones Hong Kong Index is undergoing a correction but found support at yesterday’s low of 464.
Hang Seng Index

India is falling today. The Sensex is likely to re-test support at 18800. Breakout above 20200 would signal a primary advance to 21000*, but bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure. Reversal below 19000 would warn of a correction to the primary trendline at 18000. Failure of 18800 would confirm.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 20 + ( 20 – 19 ) = 21

China is neutral Tuesday, but the Shanghai Composite broke support at 2250 on Monday, warning of a down-swing to primary support at 1950/2000.
Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2450 + ( 2450 – 2250 ) = 2650

Asia finds support

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index broke through its medium-term target of 12000. Selling pressure failed to materialize and the index is headed for its long-term target of 14000*.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 11000 + ( 11000 – 8000 ) = 14000

India’s Sensex found support at 18800. Penetration of the declining trendline indicates a rally to 20200. Breakout would signal a primary advance to 21000*, but bearish divergence continues to warn of selling pressure. Reversal below 19000 would warn of a correction to the primary trendline at 18000.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 20 + ( 20 – 19 ) = 21

Singapore’s Straits Times Index continues to consolidate below resistance at 3300. Buying support at 3250 is evident from higher volume at the 3250 level. Breakout above 3300 would signal a fresh primary advance, with a long-term target of the 2007 high at 3900*.

Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3300 + ( 3300 – 2700 ) = 3900

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index correction found support at 22500. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum indicates selling pressure. Expect another test of 22500; failure would signal a test of the primary trendline at 21000.
Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 22 + ( 22 – 18 ) = 26

China’s Shanghai Composite also found support, at 2250. Respect would indicate another test of resistance at 2450, while failure would indicate a down-swing to primary support at 1950/2000. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum suggests a primary up-trend; a trough above zero would strengthen the signal. Breakout above 2450 would confirm.
Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2450 + ( 2450 – 2250 ) = 2650

Asia: Japan advances while India & China retreat

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index broke its 2010 high of 11500, indicating continuation of the primary advance to 12000*. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Expect a correction to test the new support levels at 11000, possibly 10000.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 10000 + ( 10000 – 8000 ) = 12000

India’s Sensex broke support at 19000, warning of a correction to the primary trendline at 18000. The sharp fall on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, following a bearish divergence, confirms strong selling pressure.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 19 + ( 19 – 18 ) = 20

Singapore’s Straits Times Index retreated from resistance at 3300. Expect support at 3200; failure would warn of a correction. Another trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum would suggest that the primary up-trend is intact. Breakout above 3300 would offer a target of the 2007 high at 3900*.

Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3300 + ( 3300 – 2700 ) = 3900

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index correction is headed for a test of secondary support at 22000 but is still some way above the primary trendline — and support — at 21000. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would suggest a healthy primary up-trend.
Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 22 + ( 22 – 18 ) = 26

China’s Shanghai Composite is also on the retreat, testing secondary support at 2250. Failure would indicate a down-swing to primary support at 1950/2000. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough below zero would warn of another primary decline, with a long-term target of 1500*.
Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2500 – 2000 ) = 1500

Asia: India retreats while Japan and Singapore advance

India’s Sensex is headed for a test of support at 19000. Breach of the secondary trendline already warns of a correction to the primary trendline around 18000. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, followed by reversal below zero, indicates strong selling pressure.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 19 + ( 19 – 18 ) = 20

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is consolidating in a narrow range below 3300 — a bullish sign — and 21-day Twiggs Money Flow oscillating above zero indicates buying pressure. Breakout above 3300 would signal an advance to the 2007 high at 3900*. Reversal below 3250 is unlikely but would warn of a correction.

Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3300 + ( 3300 – 2700 ) = 3900

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index is again testing its 2010 high of 11500. Reversal below 11000 would suggest a correction to 10000, while breakout would offer an initial target of 12000*.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 10000 + ( 10000 – 8000 ) = 12000

Asia: India & Japan retreat

India’s Sensex displays a bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, warning selling pressure. Breach of the secondary trendline — and medium-term support at 19500 — would indicate a correction to 18000.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 19 + ( 19 – 18 ) = 20

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index is retreating from its 2010 high of 11500 on the monthly chart. Reversal below 11000 would suggest a correction to 10000. Respect of support, however, would indicate a fresh primary advance.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 11000 + ( 11000 – 8000 ) = 14000

China’s Shanghai Composite Index was closed last week for Chinese New Year.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index re-opened Thursday, finding support at 23000.  Breakout above 24000 would test the 2010 high of 25000.  Troughs high above the zero line on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicate buying pressure. Reversal below 23000 is unlikely but would warn of a correction.

Shanghai Composite Index

Asia: China near 1 year high

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is testing resistance at its 2012 high of 2460 on the daily chart. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure. Breakout is likely and would signal a primary up-trend, but the index is overdue for a correction and a higher trough is required to confirm the reversal.

Shanghai Composite Index

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index already indicates a primary up-trend. Reversal below 23000, however, would warn of a correction.

Shanghai Composite Index

India’s Sensex is testing its secondary rising trendline, while declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests selling pressure. Breach of the trendline would indicate a correction to test 18000/18200.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 19 + ( 19 – 18 ) = 20

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is testing resistance at 3300. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum suggests continuation of the primary up-trend. Breakout would signal an advance to 3900*.
Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3300 + ( 3300 – 2700 ) = 3900

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index retreated from its 2010 high of 11500. Reversal below 11000 would suggest a correction to 10000. Respect of support would indicate a breakout above 11500 — and a fresh primary advance.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 11000 + ( 11000 – 8000 ) = 14000

Asia rallies

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is headed for a test of resistance at 2500. Crossover of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero — and breach of the declining trendline — suggest a primary up-trend. Breakout above 2500 would strengthen the signal. But only a higher trough followed by a new high on the index chart would confirm.

Shanghai Composite Index

India’s Sensex retreated below 20000, while declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term selling pressure. Expect a correction to test support at 19000 but long-term buying pressure should ensure that the up-trend continues.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 19 + ( 19 – 18 ) = 20

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is testing resistance at 3300. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum suggests continuation of the primary up-trend. Breakout would signal an advance to 3900*.
Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3300 + ( 3300 – 2700 ) = 3900

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index is headed for its 2010 high at 11500. A spike in 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates strong buying pressure. Breakout is likely and would suggest a primary advance to 14500*.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 11000 + ( 11000 – 8000 ) = 14000

Asia: China rally

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is testing resistance at 2150. While a large correction — signaled by breakout above 2150 — is not a reliable reversal signal, it does indicate that a bottom is forming. Bullish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum also suggests a reversal. But only a higher trough followed by a new high on the index chart would confirm.

Shanghai Composite Index

India’s Sensex is consolidating in a narrow range below 19500. Breakout is likely and would indicate an advance to 20000*. Oscillation of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above zero indicates long-term buying pressure, but bearish divergence warns of medium-term resistance. Reversal below 19000 is unlikely but would warn that the advance is losing momentum.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 19 + ( 19 – 18 ) = 20

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index is advancing to resistance at 10000/10200*. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum indicates buying pressure; look for a trough above zero to confirm.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 9200 + ( 9200 – 8200 ) = 10200