Eurosis and US window-dressing

Neurosis: Emotional disorder arising from no apparent organic lesion or change and involving symptoms such as insecurity, anxiety, depression, and irrational fears…… No longer in scientific use.

Eurosis: Economic disorder involving symptoms such as insecurity, anxiety and depression, arising from rational fears of a collapse of the European monetary and banking system……. No longer of much use.

Europe

Dow Jones Europe index encountered (medium-term) resistance at 240. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of selling pressure. Expect a test of primary support at 210. Failure of support would indicate a fall to 160*.

DJ Europe Index

* Target calculation: 210 – (260 – 210 ) = 160

US

The S&P 500 index is stronger, testing resistance at 1300. Breakout would signal resumption of the primary up-trend. We are likely to see significant window-dressing ahead of the November 2012 election. The market may well respond, but the real picture is bleaker with an economy reliant on deficit-spending in order to avoid a slide back into recession. Respect of resistance at 1300 would warn of another test of primary support at 1160.

S&P 500 Index


Australia

ASX 200 index reflects the middle ground. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure but the index is presently testing primary support at 4000. Failure would signal a fall to 3650*. News of a fresh stimulus program in China, however, should help support resources stocks.

ASX 200 Index

* Target calculation: 4000 – (4350 – 4000 ) = 3650

S&P 500 and DJ Europe

The S&P 500 index is headed for medium-term support at 1160. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow warns of (medium-term) selling pressure. If support at 1160 fails, primary support at 1075/1100 is unlikely to hold — offering a target of 900*. Reversal below the rising trendline on 63-day Twiggs Momentum would indicate continuation of the primary down-trend.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1100 – ( 1300 – 1100 ) = 900

Dow Jones Europe index is also headed for primary support, at 205. Failure is likely and would offer a target of 160*. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero would warn of rising selling pressure.

Dow Jones Europe Index

* Target calculation: 210 – ( 260 – 210 ) = 160

S&P 500 hovers near tipping point

The S&P 500 index recovered above medium-term support at 1220/1250, with a short surge in buying pressure, but the situation remains precarious. Breakout above 1300 would indicate that the threat of another bear market has passed, but reversal below 1160 remains as likely — and would warn of another test of primary support at 1100/1080.

S&P 500 Index

The situation is similar to the attempted recovery above 1400 [now here] in 2008. Reversal below medium-term support [1400] in that case tipped us into a bear market.

S&P 500 Index

US markets show promise of recovery

We are not out of the woods yet, but the S&P 500 weekly chart is starting to diverge from its mid-2008 pattern. Headed for a test of the descending trendline and resistance at 1300, an index breakout would signal a primary advance to 1450* and the end of the bear market. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero would support this.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1150 ) = 1450

Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, displays short-term resistance between 12000 and 12300 on the daily chart. Reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero would warn of rising selling pressure.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 12300 + ( 12300 – 11200 ) = 13400

Nasdaq 100 Index is headed for resistance at 2400. Upward breakout would offer a target of 2750*. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure, but breakout above the descending trendline would negate this.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2400 + ( 2400 – 2050 ) = 2750

S&P 500 breaks 1200

The S&P 500 index broke medium-term support at 1200 and is headed for a test of the primary level at 1100. Failure would offer a target of 900*. The 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero warns of a primary down-trend.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1100 – ( 1300 – 1100 ) = 900

NASDAQ 100 index is similarly headed for the band of primary support between 2000 and 2050. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of strong selling pressure. failure of support would signal a primary decline to 1600*.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2000 – ( 2400 – 2000 ) = 1600

Dow Jones Industrial Average monthly chart shows the index testing medium-term support at 11000. The 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero again warns of a primary down-trend. Breach of support would test the primary level at 10400; and failure of that level would remove any doubt regarding a bear market.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 10400 – ( 12300 – 10400 ) = 8500

S&P 500 continues to mimic early 2008

Looking at the S&P 500 weekly chart, it continues to follow the same pattern as in early 2008. There is a similar false recovery above medium-term resistance at 1200 (compared to 1400 in 2008) followed by reversal below the new support level. Also, a similar 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below the zero line warns of a strong primary down-trend.

S&P 500 Index Weekly Chart

* Target calculation: 1100 – ( 1300 – 1100 ) = 900

S&P 500 approaches tipping point

The S&P 500 index broke downwards from its recent pennant, counter to normal bullish expectations, and is testing medium-term support at 1200. Failure of support would test primary support at 1100. Respect of support is less likely, but would suggest a rally to 1300. A 21-day Twiggs Money Flow cross below the zero line would indicate rising selling pressure.

S&P 500 Index

The weekly chart better illustrates the breakout above 1200 followed by several tests of the new support level. Respect of the zero line by 63-day Twiggs Momentum would be a strong bear signal, warning of continuation of the primary down-trend — as would failure of support at 1200.

S&P 500 Index Weekly Chart

* Target calculation: 1100 – ( 1300 – 1100 ) = 900

Comparing to the 2008 weekly chart, there was a similar break below 1400 in January followed by several months of indecision before a false recovery above 1400 in May. Reversal below 1400 precipitated a major sell-off, with the index falling 50% over the next 9 months. If we look (above) at the current chart, there was a similar fall below 1250, several months of indecision before “recovery” above 1200/1250. Reversal below 1200 would provide a similar bear warning to 2008 — as would a 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero.

S&P 500 Index 2008 Weekly Chart

There is no guarantee that stocks will follow the same path as in 2008, but reversal below 1200 would greatly increase the probability of another primary decline — with a target of 900*.

Nasdaq threatens breakout

The Dow is testing medium-term support at 11600. Failure would mean another test of primary support at 10600, while respect of support (with breakout above 12300) would confirm the primary advance to 12800*. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow continues to indicate buying pressure, favoring an advance.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 11600 + ( 11600 – 10400 ) = 12800

The S&P 500 is also testing medium-term support, this time at 1220. Respect would signal an advance to the 2011 high, while failure would re-test 1100. In the long-term, breach of 1100 would offer a target of 900* and breakout above 1350 would signal an advance to 1600.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1100 – ( 1300 – 1100 ) = 900

Bullish divergence on the Nasdaq 100 indicates strong buying pressure and a likely reversal. Breakout above 2440 would signal an advance to 2800*. Reversal below 2300 is less likely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 2000.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2400 + ( 2400 – 2000 ) = 2800