Saturday 1 August 2015

Weekend update - World monthly indexes

It was a very mixed month for world equity markets, with net monthly changes ranging from +6.1% (France), +0.4% (USA - Dow), to -14.3% (China). Outlook into the early autumn is for increasing weakness across most world markets... before resuming higher into 2016.


Lets take our monthly look at ten of the world equity markets

Greece


So.. err... yeah... there has been no trading in the Greek equity market since June 26'th. Late Friday afternoon, it was confirmed that the Greek Athex is set to open on Monday August 3rd. Traders within Greece will be subject to extremely tight capital controls, whereas those outside can buy/sell the Greek market as they wish.

There is little doubt the market will see a severe opening drop next Monday. The summer 2012 low in the 400s remains a valid target... and that doesn't even assume a GREXIT or any further political turmoil.

More than anything in July, it remains absolutely stunning to me that a European equity market was closed for an entire month.
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Brazil


The commodity centric Bovespa slipped -4.2%, having briefly lost the psy' level of 50,000. The Brazilian market remains stuck within a rather tight range for the better part of six years. I would expect an upside break no later than spring 2016.. and onward to 100K.


France


The French market saw the strongest gains in July, +6.1%.. back above the big 5K threshold. Yet.. the April high is still a fair way higher, and the July gains are likely a bounce before resuming lower. There is valid downside to the 4250/4000 zone by early October.


Germany


The economic powerhouse of the EU - Germany, climbed 3.3% in July. Price structure could be argued is a multi-month bull flag, but considering the other world markets.. the DAX is probably just consistently sliding lower into the late summer. Next key downside target is 10k, which is around 10% lower.


UK


The UK FTSE climbed a net 2.7% to 6696 in July, but this was less than half of the June decline. With a lower high and a lower low, there is little to be bullish about here. Trend support in August will be 6400, if that fails.. its an easy move to 6K.


Spain


The largest and most problematic of the EU PIIGS - Spain, remains stuck under key resistance of 12K. There is valid downside to 10000 in the near term. 9k is just about possible, but from there... UP into 2016.


USA - Dow


The mighty Dow saw a moderate net monthly gain of just 0.4% @ 17689, settling under the important monthly 10MA (17727). Underlying MACD (green bar histogram) cycle ticked lower in July, and has now been negative cycle for five months... the lowest nominal level since July 2009.

The Dow - along all other US indexes, looks set for a sig' fall across Aug'-early Oct' to the 16500/000 zone. Sustained action <16k looks extremely difficult.. even if the market is upset about an int' rate hike.


Japan


The BoJ fuelled Nikkei climbed 1.7% in July to 20585, but that was notably below the June peak of 20952. There is valid downside to the 17/16k zone, but with probable subsequent upside in 2016 to far... far higher levels. After all, the BoJ will just keep on printing, that much is certain.


Russia


With energy prices seeing severe declines across July, the Russian market was particularly badly hit, -8.1% @ 859. The outlook for Aug-Oct' is bearish, and it would seem the RTSI will be back in the 700/600s before things can stabilise.


China


Without question, China continues to see some of the more crazy price action. The July decline of -14.3% @ 3663 was a confirmation of the spiky top candles seen in May/June. A break under the recent low of 3373 seems a given, with first target zone of 3200/3000. Worse case for the retail amateur-gamblers in China is 2500 by early October.

Just reflect on that for a moment... a high of 5178 in June, but perhaps.... a full 50% crash to the 2500s by early autumn. I do expect renewed upside into 2016... whether from 3K... or 2500.


Summary

World equity markets saw some dynamic price action in July, not least due to absolute carnage in commodities.

Despite some notable strength - arguably a mere 'bounce', in many of the EU markets, all world markets look to have already maxed out in the near/mid term. For instance, if the Dow does decline to the 16000s by Sept/Oct, it is going to be almost impossible to break new highs in the remainder of this year.


Best guess?

I remain holding to the view of sig' weakness from August to early October...

Dow' weekly1b


Price structure on the Dow is a particularly bearish H/S formation, although there will not be confirmation of that until we see some consecutive daily closes under the key floor of 17k.
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Looking ahead

There are a fair few things scheduled in the coming week, although as ever.. it is often the things that aren't expected that will more especially spook the capital markets.

M - Pers' income/outlays, PMI/ISM manu', construction
T - Factory orders
W - ADP jobs, intl trade, PMI/ISM service sector
T - weekly jobs
F - monthly jobs, consumer credit

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Back at the Monday open :)

End month closings

It was a month for the equity bulls, with the sp'500 +2.0% @ 2103 (intra high 2132), whilst the Dow settled +0.4% @ 17690. Commodities were exceptionally weak in July, with WTIC Oil seeing an extreme net monthly decline of -20.8% in the $46s, whilst Copper collapsed -10.1% to $2.35.


Lets take a look at a few bits and pieces to close out the month...

sp'monthly


A net monthly gain of around 2%, with an intra month high of 2132.. a mere 0.1% from breaking a new historic high. Like most other US indexes, the sp'500 has been stuck since February. Underlying MACD (blue bar histogram) cycle continues to tick lower, and has been negative for five months. Best downside case is the lower monthly bollinger, which across Aug-Sept, will be in the low 1800s. Sustained price action under 1800 looks completely out of range. 


Dow' monthly'2


A fifth consecutive blue candle on the Dow 'rainbow' monthly chart. The Dow looks to have a mid term top of 18351, and looks in the early stage of a decline to the 16500/16000 zone by early October.


WTIC, monthly2


Having got stuck around the $60 threshold for a few months, Oil has resumed collapse mode, settling -20.8% in the $46s. The March low of the $42s looks set to be broken... with a viable target to around $35 in Q4.


Copper


Copper continues the broad decline from spring 2011... now in the low $2s. I do not expect sustained action <$2.00 into 2016.


USD, monthly

A net monthly gain of 1.9% @ DXY 97.44. Regardless of any continued chop across the next few months, the USD looks set to re-take the giant 100 threshold.. .and then proceed onward to the 120s. That will have a great many implications.

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Goodnight from London
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*the weekend update will be on the world monthly indexes

Daily Index Cycle update

US equities closed a little weak, sp -4pts @ 2104 (intra high 2114). The two leaders - Trans/R2K, settled -0.3% and +0.5% respectively. Near term outlook is for renewed equity weakness, and if the 200dma (2070s next week) can be closed under.. there is empty air to the giant 2000 threshold... which would equate to VIX in the low 20s.


sp'daily5



Dow



Trans


Summary

*the market laggard - Trans, continues to hold above the old descending channel... but broadly... the Trans is still exceptionally weak, relative to the rest of the market.
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Suffice to add, the main market managed to hold most of the gains built since the Monday low of sp'2063. The weekly close in the 2100s is a notable victory for the equity bulls, along with a third daily close above the 50dma.

As things are, the hourly cycle is offering increasing weakness across next Mon/Tuesday. The real issue is whether the market can get a daily close under the 200dma, which will be in the 2070s next week.

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a little more later...