Selling Pressure Increases
By Colin Twiggs
November 21, 2009 2:30 a.m. ET (6:30 p.m. AET)
These extracts from my trading diary are for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as investment or trading advice. Full terms and conditions can be found at Terms of Use.
Major markets display a number of ascending broadening wedge reversal patterns and bearish divergences on Twiggs Money Flow, indicating increased selling pressure. While not conclusive until the patterns are completed by a breakout, they warn of a secondary correction.
USA
Dow Jones Industrial Average
The Dow encountered resistance at 10500 and is expected to test the lower border of the ascending broadening wedge formation. Broader wedges (with a megaphone appearance) are more reliable than narrower (telescope-style) wedges, but the formation nonetheless warns of a correction back to the base of the wedge at 9000. Bearish divergence on Twiggs Money Flow (13-week) reinforces the signal, warning of a secondary correction. Upward breakout from the formation is less likely, but would offer a target of 11000*
* Target calculation: 10000 + ( 10000 - 9000 ) = 11000
S&P 500
The S&P 500 retreated below support at 1100 after a marginal breakout, indicating trend weakness. Follow-through below 1080 would indicate a failed up-swing in the broadening ascending wedge pattern, warning of a correction to the base of the formation at 980. Bearish divergence on Twiggs Money Flow (13-week & 21-day) also warns of a correction.
Transport
Broadening wedges on the Dow Transport Average and Fedex favor continuation of the primary up-trend. UPS recovery above its October high would also signal a primary advance.
Technology
The Nasdaq 100 reversed at the upper border of its broadening wedge formation (right-angled ascending) and is headed for a test of support at 1650. Failure of support would offer a target of 1500*. Breakout above the upper border is less likely, but would indicate a primary advance to 1950*. Bearish divergence on Twiggs Money Flow (21-day) continues to warn of a correction; reversal below zero would strengthen the signal.
* Target calculation: 1650 - ( 1800 - 1650 ) = 1500 and 1800 + ( 1800 - 1650 ) = 1950
Canada: TSX
The TSX Composite failed in its attempt at a breakout above 11600, the upper border of a (right-angled descending) broadening wedge continuation pattern. Friday's blue candle indicates continued buying support and another breakout attempt is expected. Follow-through above 11700 would signal an advance to 12400*. Twiggs Money Flow (21-day) recovery above the declining trendline indicates rising buyer interest.
* Target calculation: 11600 + ( 11600 - 10800 ) = 12400
United Kingdom: FTSE
The FTSE 100 reversed at the upper border of the right-angled ascending broadening wedge reversal pattern — expect a test of the lower border at 5000. Twiggs Money Flow (21-day) reversal below zero and continued bearish divergence warn of selling pressure. Failure of support (5000) would signal a correction with a target of 4600*. Breakout above the upper border is less likely, but would signal an advance to 5800*.
* Target calculation: 5000 - ( 5400 - 5000 ) = 4600 and 5400 + ( 5400 - 5000 ) = 5800
Germany: DAX
The failed up-swing on the DAX broadening wedge formation warns of a downward breakout and correction to 4700*. Twiggs Money Flow (21-day) reversal below zero and continued bearish divergence indicates selling pressure and increases the likelihood of a correction. Reversal below 5300 would confirm.
* Target calculation: 5300 -( 5900 - 5300 ) = 4700
Help to keep this newsletter free! Forward this link to friends and colleagues
Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer.
~ Thomas Paine, Common Sense (1776)