Dollar Outlook Weakens
By Colin Twiggs
December 12, 2006 8:00 p.m. AEDT (4:00 a.m. ET)
December 12, 2006 8:00 p.m. AEDT (4:00 a.m. ET)
These extracts from my daily trading diary are for educational
purposes and should not be interpreted as investment advice.
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Gold
Spot gold encountered resistance at $650 and is correcting back
towards support at $615.
Source: Netdania
Medium Term: A fall below $615 would be bearish,
signaling a test of primary support at $550/540. Respect of the
$615 level, however, would signal another attempt at
$650.
Long Term: Demand for gold is being driven by the weakening dollar. Stronger oil prices would further weaken the dollar and strengthen gold.
Long Term: Demand for gold is being driven by the weakening dollar. Stronger oil prices would further weaken the dollar and strengthen gold.
Crude Oil
January 2007 Light Crude broke through resistance at
$63.00/barrel before retreating. The upper border of the
right-angled broadening formation appears to have shifted to
$64.00/barrel.
Medium Term: Reversal above $64.00 would confirm the breakout from the broadening formation, but price appears headed for a test of the lower border of the formation after the fall below $62.00.
Medium Term: Reversal above $64.00 would confirm the breakout from the broadening formation, but price appears headed for a test of the lower border of the formation after the fall below $62.00.
Long Term: Failure of support at $55 would warn of a
long-term down-trend. Consolidation above this level, however,
would establish a base for continuation of the up-trend.
Currencies
The euro pulled back to test the new support level at
$1.30. Respect of this level would be a strong bull signal
(bearish for the dollar).
Source: Netdania
Medium Term: The next rally should test the early 2005
high of $1.37.
Long Term: A break above $1.37 would signal that the long-term up-trend has resumed.
Long Term: A break above $1.37 would signal that the long-term up-trend has resumed.
Treasury yields
The 10-year yield recovered above its long-term trendline, but
remains bearish: below the 100-Day moving
average and resistance at 4.60%.
Medium Term: Falling long-term yields often anticipate a decline in short-term yields. And falling short-term yields normally signal an economic slow-down.
The yield differential (10-year T-notes minus 13-week T-bills) continues its down-trend below zero, increasing the risk of a sharp down-turn as short-term rates rise.
Medium Term: Falling long-term yields often anticipate a decline in short-term yields. And falling short-term yields normally signal an economic slow-down.
The yield differential (10-year T-notes minus 13-week T-bills) continues its down-trend below zero, increasing the risk of a sharp down-turn as short-term rates rise.
Long Term: Probability of recession in the next four
quarters continues to creep upwards, reaching 44 per
cent at the end of last week according to the Wright
Model. A rise above 50 per cent would be cause for concern.
Tseng Tzu said: "Each day I examine myself in
three ways:
in doing things for others, have I been disloyal?
In my interactions with friends, have I been untrustworthy?
Have I not practiced what I have preached?"
~ The Analects of Confucius
in doing things for others, have I been disloyal?
In my interactions with friends, have I been untrustworthy?
Have I not practiced what I have preached?"
~ The Analects of Confucius
Technical Analysis and PredictionsI believe that Technical Analysis should not be used to make predictions because we never know the outcome of a particular pattern or series of events with 100 per cent certainty. The best that we can hope to achieve is a probability of around 80 per cent for any particular outcome: something unexpected will occur at least one in five times.My approach is to assign probabilities to each possible outcome. Assigning actual percentages would imply a degree of precision which, most of the time, is unachievable. Terms used are more general: "this is a strong signal"; "this is likely"; "expect this to follow"; "this is less likely to occur"; "this is unlikely"; and so on. Bear in mind that there are times, especially when the market is in equilibrium, when we may face several scenarios with fairly even probabilities. Analysis is also separated into three time frames: short, medium and long-term. While one time frame may be clear, another could be uncertain. Obviously, we have the greatest chance of success when all three time frames are clear. The market is a dynamic system. I often compare trading to a military operation, not because of its' oppositional nature, but because of the complexity, the continual uncertainty created by conflicting intelligence and the element of chance that can disrupt even the best made plans. Prepare thoroughly, but allow for the unexpected. The formula is simple: trade when probabilities are in your favor; apply proper risk (money) management; and you will succeed. For further background, please read About The Trading Diary. |