Asia: India and Japan rise but China remains bearish

India’s Sensex followed through after breaking resistance at 17500, confirming a primary advance to 18500*. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would indicate strong buying pressure.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 17.5 + ( 17.5 – 16.5 ) = 18.5

Singapore’s Straits Times Index, also in a primary up-trend, is consolidating above former resistance at 3040. Reversal below 3000 would signal a test of the lower trend channel. It is still unclear whether 63-day Twiggs Momentum will oscillate around zero, indicating a ranging market, or above zero, indicating a healthy up-trend. A trough above zero would resolve this.

Singapore Straits Times Index

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index broke through resistance at 9100, signaling a primary advance to 10000. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow below zero continues to warn of selling pressure; recovery would confirm the advance.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 9100 + ( 9100 – 8200 ) = 10000

The daily chart shows China’s Shanghai Composite Index testing support at 2100. Failure would indicate a test of the lower trend channel, while respect would test medium-term resistance at 2180. Breakout above the trend channel  would warn of another bear rally. Follow-through above 2180 would confirm. Bullish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2100 – ( 2180 – 2100 ) = 2020

The Hang Seng continues to consolidate above resistance at 20000. Follow-through would indicate an advance to 22000*.  Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests buying pressure.

Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 20 + ( 20 – 18 ) = 22

Asia: India recovers but China & Japan bearish

India’s Sensex broke resistance at 17500, signaling a primary up-trend. Expect an advance to 18500*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow — above zero — indicates strong buying pressure.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 17.5 + ( 17.5 – 16.5 ) = 18.5

NSE Nifty is testing resistance at 5350. Breakout would confirm the Sensex primary up-trend. Rising 63-Day Twiggs Momentum is promising but we need a trough above zero to signal a strong up-trend. Target for the breakout would be 5650*.

NSE Nifty Index

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

Understanding Momentum

Momentum is an oscillator, so you would expect equal peaks if the trend is constant. If oscillating above zero, it would be a constant up-trend; below zero, a constant down-trend; with zero at the mid-point, a ranging market. Divergence should ideally show a clear transition from one to the other or at least a sharp difference in the height of peaks or troughs. A trendline drawn under rising momentum will indicate that momentum is accelerating; a trendline break would indicate slowing acceleration — not necessarily a reversal.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index is testing resistance at 9000 but 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of strong selling pressure, with a peak below zero. Breakout above 9000 is unlikely, but would signal an advance to 10000. Failure of support at 8200 would indicate another test of the 2008/2009 lows at 7000*.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 8000 – ( 9000 – 8000 ) = 7000

China’s Shanghai Composite Index retreated below support at 2150; follow-through below 2100 would indicate a decline to 2000*. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum continues to signal a primary down-trend.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2250 – ( 2500 – 2250 ) = 2000

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is more bullish, consolidating above resistance at 20000. Follow-through would indicate an advance to 22000*.  Recovery of 63-Day Twiggs Momentum above zero would suggest a primary up-trend.

Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 20 + ( 20 – 18 ) = 22

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is similarly consolidating above former resistance at 3040. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum — above zero — indicates the primary up-trend is intact. Calculated target is 3300* but the trend channel suggests resistance at 3200.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3000 + ( 3000 – 2700 ) = 3300

Asia: India recovering but China & Japan bearish

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is testing its upper trend channel at 2160. Follow-through would indicate a rally to 2250, while reversal would indicate a decline to 2040*. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum continues to signal a strong primary down-trend.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2100 – ( 2160 – 2100 ) = 2040

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, however, broke through resistance at 20000 (weekly chart), indicating an advance to 22000*.  Recovery of 63-Day Twiggs Momentum above zero would confirm — further strengthened if the descending trendline is penetrated.

Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 20 + ( 20 – 18 ) = 22

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index continues to warn of strong selling pressure — with a peak below zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow. Failure of support at 8200 would signal another test of the 2008/2009 lows at 7000*. Breakout above 9000 is unlikely, but would signal an advance to 10000.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 8000 – ( 9000 – 8000 ) = 7000

India’s Sensex is testing resistance at 17500. Breakout is likely and would signal an advance to 18500. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would indicate strong buying pressure.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 17.5 + ( 17.5 – 16.5 ) = 18.5

NSE Nifty shows a similar picture. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum rising to a new 2012 high would indicate a primary up-trend. Target for the breakout would be 5650*.

NSE Nifty Index

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

Singapore’s Straits Times Index broke through resistance at 3040. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests that the primary up-trend is intact. The calculated target is 3300* but the trend channel suggests resistance around 3200.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3000 + ( 3000 – 2700 ) = 3300

Asia: China, Japan bearish

There are conflicting reports about whether China is head for a hard or soft landing. China has the reserves and the capacity to implement further infrastructure programs if the economy cools too rapidly. And while its long-term goal is to deflate the speculative real estate bubble, the PBOC has shown itself prepared to kick that can down the road until export markets recover from the euro-zone crisis. The downside to manufacturing a soft landing, as we have already discovered post-GFC, is that the recovery takes longer. So a sharp recovery of Chinese markets is also unlikely.

China’s Shanghai Composite Index broke its 2011 low at 2150 on the weekly chart, indicating a decline to 1800*. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of rising selling pressure. Recovery above 2250 remains unlikely, but would suggest another attempt at 2500.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2500 – 2150 ) = 1800

The Shenzhen Composite Index broke support at 880 to confirm the Shanghai signal. The peak below zero on 63-Day Twiggs Momentum also indicates a primary down-trend.

Shenzhen Composite Index

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is more resilient, testing resistance at 20000 on the weekly chart. Breakout would indicate an advance to 22000* — strengthened if 63-Day Twiggs Momentum recovers above zero. Reversal below 19000 is less likely but would warn of a decline to 16000 — confirmed if support at 18000 is broken.

Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 20 + ( 20 – 18 ) = 22

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index is headed for another test of resistance at 9000 on the weekly chart, but a peak below zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of strong selling pressure. Failure of support would signal another test of the 2008/2009 lows at 7000, while breakout above 9000 would signal an advance to 10000.

Nikkei 225 Index

India’s Sensex found support around 17000 on the weekly chart and is headed for another attempt at 17500. Breakout is likely and would indicate an advance to 18500. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would strengthen the recovery signal.

Sensex Index

Singapore’s Straits Times Index continues to test resistance at 3040. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests that the primary up-trend is intact, and breakout would signal an advance to 3300*. Narrow oscillation around zero, however would warn of a ranging market.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3000 + ( 3000 – 2700 ) = 3300

Hong Kong & China

The Hang Seng dropped 3 percent Monday, testing medium-term support at 19000. Failure of support would warn of a decline to 16000*. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero already suggests a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support at 18000 would confirm.

Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 18000 – ( 20000 – 18000 ) = 16000

With the Shanghai Composite in a primary down-trend, all we need is for the Shenzhen Index to break support at 880 to complete the trifecta. A peak below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum already warns of a primary down-trend.

Shenzhen Composite Index

* Target calculation: 900 – ( 1000 – 900 ) = 800

Asia: China, Japan bearish

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index is headed for another test of long-term support at 8000/8200 on the monthly chart. The latest peak below zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of strong selling pressure. Failure of support would signal another test of the 2008/2009 lows at 7000.

Nikkei 225 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is testing its 2011 low at 2150 on the weekly chart. Failure would indicate a decline to 1800*. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to warn of a primary down-trend. Recovery above 2250 remains unlikely, but would suggest another rally to 2500.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2500 – 2150 ) = 1800

India’s Sensex is retracing to test support on the weekly chart. Respect of 17000 would indicate a rally to 18500, but 63-day Twiggs Momentum oscillating in a narrow range around zero suggests a ranging market and another test of primary support at 15800/16000 remains as likely.

Sensex Index

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is testing resistance at 3040. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests that the primary up-trend is intact, and breakout would signal an advance to 3300*, but a ranging market is more likely.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3000 + ( 3000 – 2700 ) = 3300

Asia: India bullish while China, Japan bearish

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index formed a peak below zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, indicating strong selling pressure. Failure of primary support at 8200 would signal another test of the 2008/2009 lows at 7000.

Nikkei 225 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is testing its 2011 low of 2150 after breaking  primary support at 2250. Breach of the new support level would indicate a decline to 1800*. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero would strengthen the bear signal. Recovery above 2250 is unlikely, but would suggest another rally to 2500.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2500 – 2150 ) = 1800

India’s Sensex: Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates reversal to a primary up-trend; a trough above the zero line would signal strong buying pressure. Respect of support at 17000 by the latest retracement would indicate a rally to 18500, while breakout above 18500 would confirm the primary up-trend.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 18500 + ( 18500 – 16000 ) = 21000

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is testing resistance at 3030. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests that the primary up-trend is intact. Breakout above 3030 would signal a primary advance to 3300*.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3000 + ( 3000 – 2700 ) = 3300

Asian markets: India bullish while China weakens

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index is testing medium-term resistance at 9000/9100. Breakout would test 10000. Troughs below zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicate weakness.

Nikkei 225 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite Index is retracing to test resistance at 2250. Respect would confirm a primary down-trend — already signaled by 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2250 – ( 2500 – 2250 ) = 2000

Wait for confirmation from a Shenzhen Composite index reversal below 880/900. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would strengthen the signal.

Shenzhen Composite Index

Singapore Straits Times Index broke through medium-term resistance at 2900, headed for a test of 3050. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests that the primary up-trend is intact.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3050 + ( 3050 – 2900 ) = 3200

India’s Sensex displays a healthy bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, indicating reversal to a primary up-trend. Breakout above 17000 suggests another test of 18500. And breach of 18500 would confirm the primary up-trend.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 18500 + ( 18500 – 16000 ) = 21000

China and Hong Kong

China’s Shanghai Composite Index broke support at 2250, signaling resumption of the primary down-trend. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum (below zero) strengthens the signal.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2250 – ( 2500 – 2250 ) = 2000

Wait for a break below 880 on the Shenzhen Composite Index to confirm the Shanghai signal. Reversal of  13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero would indicate selling pressure.

Shenzhen Composite Index

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index respected resistance at 20000. Reversal below 18000 would indicate a decline to 16000*. A peak below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum would strengthen the bear signal.

Hang Seng Index

* Target calculation: 18000 – ( 20000 – 18000 ) = 16000