With a new month underway, lets take our regular look at ten of the main equity markets.
*all charts, 20yr, monthly candles
Greece
Greece continues to collapse economically. Greek (youth) unemployment is now in the region of 60/65%. Effectively, if you're in your 20s, you can't expect any hope of a job for 'years', if not the rest of this decade.
Despite the economic reality, the Greek market is still bouncing from the summer low. The natural target remains 1300, I can't see the Greek market >1500, no matter how many Greek bonds the ECB buys.
France
Like many indexes in recent months, the French CAC has broken out of a down trend. However, its been stuck since the start of the year. There does look to be around 15/20% 'easy upside'.
Germany
The powerhouse of the EU, Germany has key elections looming later this year. I expect Merkel to get the kick, and that does open the door to a 'Sunday night surprise', where Germany unilaterally bails on the Euro currency, and switches - across a few 'bank holiday' days, back to the Mark.
In the market, the DAX needs to clear 8000 for the bulls to be confident that this is not going to end badly..in a giant 'triple top'.
UK
The basket case..that is the United Kingdom, where the market is rallying, despite the UK being back in recession for a third time.
Clearly, those green shoots are about to sprout again this spring. Or maybe that is just the printing machines at the BoE being spun up for the next round of QE?
Hong Kong
A clear break out of the down trend for the HK market, there is nothing bearish here. The Hang Seng needs to clear 26k for the bulls to be confident into the latter half of the year.
Spain
The one of the two ugly giant PIIGS, Spain remains a mess, and its market remains within a very broad downtrend. The IBEX needs to clear 9k, which is a good 10% higher, just to have any hope of achieving a breakout. It sure won't be easy.
USA
The mighty USA remains one of the strongest markets in the world. No doubt, this is at least partly due to the Fed throwing 85bn of new money at the financial markets each..and every month. Until the Bernanke ends QE, all dips are still likely going to be bought.
Best case downside for the doomer bears this year is somewhere around 12000/11500. That will be so difficult to achieve though, whilst the Fed is still meddling.
Italy
Italy is perhaps the most interesting market of all right now. It fell around 10% in February - largely due to the market getting spooked with the election results.
From a chart perspective, the Borsa is not exactly bullish. Any break <15k, and there is a real problem here, and danger of breaking 12500..at which point there is empty air to the next psy' level of 10k,
Japan
The demographic mess that is Japan has decided to go for the 'lets devalue our currency to oblivion' route You can see how the Nikkei has soared since the even more overt policy has been ramped up since the start of the year.
Clearly, nothing bearish here. The head of the JCB is walking a fine line here though. Things could spiral outta control, and then the bond market would be in danger of imploding.
China
A clear breakout is still holding. First upside target is 2600, and then 3500. China remains very dubious though, not least in its 'official' econ-data. I don't think even the China leadership have much idea how much of the data is real or not.
Summary
Generally, things remain broadly bullish. The very large ramp from the summer 2012 lows is holding. Yes, there are some minor signs of a rollover starting, but with the USA, UK, and Japan markets still cruising comfortably higher, there really isn't anything significantly bearish at all.
There are potential 'triple tops' viable for many indexes in the coming months, not least of which would be the USA and German markets. As things are, the doomer bears really can't expect more than a 20% correction in the coming months..before the next bounce.
As is always the case, if there is a decline..and a bounce, the key issue will be..does the bounce put in a lower high.
Looking ahead
Next week will be all about the monthly jobs report - out on Friday. Mr Market is expecting 171k net gains, with 7.8% (down from 7.9%) headline rate. That doesn't seem to be too high a number, and I'm guessing it will come in 'better than expected'.
On that basis, I won't be short for some weeks to come, and if the intra-day action looks okay, I'll be looking to take a 'minor' long index position. My upside target zone remains sp'1550/60. I suppose 1600s are possible, but that will be difficult..even with the Fed POMO dollars.
This remains one primary count/idea I am keeping in mind...
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The broader monthly chart remains pretty disturbingly bullish though.
If we can get stuck in the mid 1500s by late March/early April, I will look to begin a major re-short, with the 'hope' we'll get down to at least 1400, if not 1350 in the first initial wave.
Finally, let me say all comments are always welcome. Its good to hear from some of you out there. I am always learning from the many hundreds of other chartists, and I hope I am adding something useful too.
back on Monday :)