Nasdaq fails to dispel fears of a bear market

The Nasdaq 100 is consolidating in a narrow band below resistance at 2400 on the weekly chart, suggesting an upward breakout. Follow-through above 2450 would confirm the target of 2800*. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow continues to signal buying pressure after an earlier bullish divergence.

Nasdaq 100 Index

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

The Dow Industrial Average is consolidating below 12300. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying pressure. Breakout above 12300 would offer a target of 12800*. Failure of support at 11600 is less likely, but would mean another test of primary support at 10600.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 12200 + ( 12200 – 11600 ) = 12800

The S&P 500 is similarly consolidating between 1220 and 1300. Expect strong resistance at 1350.

S&P500 Index


Comparing to early 2008, the S&P500 displays a similar pattern, with the index testing resistance at 1400. We are close to a watershed: reversal below medium-term support (1220) would be a strong bear signal, while follow-through above recent highs would dispel fears of another bear market.

Index

Europe consolidates

The FTSE Italian MIB index found support at 15000. Expect an upsurge in response to news that Mario Monti has been asked to form a new government. Breakout above 17000 would signal a rally to 19000. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates consistent buying pressure over the past few weeks.

FTSE MIB Index

* Target calculation: 17 + ( 17 – 15 ) = 19

France’s CAC-40 index similarly found support at 3000. Recovery above 3400 would offer a target of 3800, but 63-day Twiggs Momentum, a long way below zero, indicates a primary down-trend.

CAC-40 Index

* Target calculation: 2800 – ( 3400 – 2800 ) = 2200 AND 3400 + ( 3400 – 3000 ) = 3800

The German DAX found support at 5700. Recovery above 6400 would offer a target of 7100, while failure of support would warn of another test of primary support at 5000.

DAX Index

* Target calculation: 6400 + ( 6400 – 5700 ) = 7100

The FTSE 100 is also consolidating above medium-term support — this time at 5350. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow continues to signal strong buying pressure. Breakout above 5700 would re-test the 2011 highs at 6100. Failure of support is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 4800.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 5700 + ( 5700 – 5300 ) = 6100

We need to remember, however, that this is still a bear market. We have seen one or two favorable news headlines but very little substance. And the European economy faces strong headwinds over the next few years.

Dow Jones Shanghai

Dow Jones Shanghai Index is also hesitant, with no advance over the last 3 trading days. Reversal below 304 would indicate a test of primary support at 284. Breakout above the descending trendline — and resistance at 330 — is unlikely with 21-day Twiggs Money Flow (respect of the zero line from below) warning of selling pressure.

Dow Jones Shanghai Index

Japan and South Korea

Dow Jones Japan Index is consolidating between 48 and 52. Breakout will signal future direction. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow is rising but there is no clear break as yet above the zero line. Monday’s candle indicates continued hesitancy.

Dow Jones Japan Index


Dow Jones South Korea Index also showed hesitancy Monday. Reversal below 400 would warn of another test of primary support at 350, while respect of 400 would indicate a primary advance to 450*. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow is declining but respect of the zero line would also signal a primary advance.

Dow Jones South Korea Index

* Target calculation: 400 + ( 400 – 350 ) = 450

ASX 200 hesitant

The ASX 200 index is testing its descending trendline. Recovery above 4350 would indicate a primary advance, while reversal below 4100 would test primary support at 3850. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warns of medium-term selling pressure.

ASX 200 Index

The longer term chart displays a bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, indicating long-term buying pressure. Breakout above 4350 would offer a weak advance but a correction that respects primary support would strengthen the signal.

ASX 200 Index Weekly

* Target calculation: 3900 – ( 4400 – 3900 ) = 3400

India Singapore

The weekly chart of India’s Sensex shows the index testing resistance at 18000 — which coincides with the descending trendline. Upward breakout would indicate that the primary down-trend is weakening, while respect would test primary support at 16000. 13-Week Twiggs Money Flow remains weak, despite earlier bullish divergence, and reversal below zero would warn of renewed selling pressure.

SENSEX Index

* Target calculation: 16 – ( 18 – 16 ) = 14

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is testing resistance at 2900. Respect would signal another test of primary support at 2500. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum continues to signal a primary down-trend.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 2500 – ( 2900 – 2500 ) = 2100

Europe stumbles onwards

Markets have been fed a steady diet of press releases out of Europe for the past few weeks but very little substance. This is a dangerous strategy as hopes are raised and reaction to any form of disappointment will be strong. No matter how it is dressed up, we are likely to witness a substantial default of Southern European borrowers, requiring recapitalization of French and Northern European banks. With public debt close to danger levels in many of these countries, there are no ready funds available for a bailout. Quantitative easing by the ECB has been touted as a possible solution, but aversion to this is so strong — particularly in Germany — that it would be political suicide for Angela Merkel to support this. So Europe stumbles onwards, searching for a disguised form of QE solution that is palatable to German voters.

Germany’s DAX is testing support at 5600. Breach would test 5000, while respect would signal a primary advance to 7200*. 13-week Twiggs Money Flow is relatively weak and reversal below zero would warn of renewed selling pressure.

DAX Index

* Target calculation: 6400 + ( 6400 – 5600 ) = 7200 OR 5700 + ( 5700 – 5000 ) = 6400

France’s CAC-40 index is testing medium-term support at 3000. Failure would test 2700, while respect (signaled by breakout above 3350) would signal a further advance. 13-week Twiggs Money Flow remains weak and reversal below zero would also warn of renewed selling pressure.

CAC-40 Index

* Target calculation: 2700 – ( 3300 – 2700 ) = 2100

Italy’s FTSE MIB index is similarly testing support at 15000. Again, 13-week Twiggs Money Flow is weak and reversal below zero would warn of renewed selling pressure.

FTSE Italian MIB Index

* Target calculation: 13 – ( 17 – 13 ) = 9

The FTSE 100 index is testing support at 5350. Failure would test primary support at 4800, while respect (signaled by breakout above 5700) would confirm a primary advance to 6100*. Rising 13-week Twiggs Money Flow favors an advance.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 5400 + ( 5400 – 4800 ) = 6000

Canada TSX 60

The TSX 60 is testing the band of resistance from 720 to 730 and the descending trendline. Upward breakout would indicate that the primary down-trend is weakening, while respect would warn of another test of primary support. The sharp rise on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying pressure, but there is no sign yet of a reversal.

TSX 60 Index

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

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

India, Singapore and China

India’s Sensex index retraced to test the new support level at 17500. The primary trend remains downward but respect of support at 17500 would confirm a rally to the descending trendline. Bullish divergence followed by a cross to above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying support.

BSE SENSEX Index

* Target calculation: 17 + ( 17 – 16 ) = 18

The Singapore Straits Times Index is testing the band of resistance at 2900/2950. Respect would indicate another test of primary support at 2500, while breakout would offer a target of 3300*.  63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero indicates that the index is still in a primary down-trend.
Singapore Straits Times Index

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

Dow Jones Shanghai Index is advancing to resistance at 330 and the descending trendline. Respect would indicate another primary decline, with a target of 250*, while breakout would signal that a bottom is forming.

DJ Shanghai Index

* Target calculation: 290 – ( 330 – 290 ) = 250