Temporary reprieve

By Colin Twiggs
June 27th, 2011 7:00 a.m. ET (9:00 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.


Chinese markets retreated above primary support, indicating a false break, while the Nasdaq 100 followed a similar path. Market sentiment, however, remains predominantly bearish.

Global

The Dow Jones Global Index 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues a sharp fall, indicating strong selling pressure. Failure of the band of primary support at 250 would signal reversal to a primary down-trend.

Dow Jones Global Index

USA

Dow Jones Industrial Average

The Dow is testing short-term support at 11900, while 21-day Twiggs Money Flow (21-day) holding below zero warns of selling pressure. Expect a test of primary support at 11600.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 12400 + ( 12400 - 11600 ) = 13200

S&P 500

The S&P 500 is testing primary support at 1250. Breach of support would complete a double top with a target of 1150*. Twiggs Money Flow (21-day) holding below zero indicates continued selling pressure.

Standard & Poors 500 chart

* Target calculation: 1350 + ( 1350 - 1250 ) = 1450 or 1250 - ( 1350 - 1250 ) = 1150

Transport

Bellwether transport stock Fedex respected primary support at 85 after reporting strong earnings. Performance, however, was primarily attributable to strong international earnings (boosted by the weaker dollar and lower tax rates), while domestic volumes remained flat [Fedex].

Dow Transport Index

Technology

The Nasdaq 100 retreated above primary support at 2200, but 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero continues to indicate selling pressure. Reversal below 2200 would confirm the double top reversal with a target of 2000*.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 2200 - ( 2400 - 2200 ) = 2000

Canada: TSX

The TSX Composite Index is in a primary down-trend, testing support at the initial target of 12800*. Twiggs Money Flow (21-day) below zero indicates continued selling pressure. The next major support level is 12300.

TSX Composite

* Target calculation: 13500 - ( 14200 - 13500 ) = 12800

United Kingdom

The FTSE 100 penetration of its ascending trendline warns that the primary trend is weakening. Twiggs Money Flow (21-day) holding below zero indicates continued selling pressure. Breach of primary support at 5600 would complete a double top reversal, offering a target of 5100*.

FTSE 100 Daily

* Target calculation: 6100 + ( 6100 - 5600 ) = 6600 or 5600 - ( 6100 - 5600 ) = 5100

Germany

The DAX continues to test medium-term support at 7000 (and the ascending trendline). Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow suggests a reversal, with the recent sharp fall indicating rising selling pressure. Breach of 7000 would test primary support at 6500.

German DAX

* Target calculation: 7500 + ( 7500 - 6500 ) = 8500

France

The CAC-40 also warns that the primary trend is weakening, while 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates selling pressure. Expect a test of primary support at 3700.

France CAC-40

India

The Sensex tested resistance at 18500 Monday. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying support. Upward breakout would not signal a reversal, but would offer a target of 19800.

Sensex India

Singapore

The Straits Times Index is retracing to test the new resistance level at 3100. Respect remains likely and would signal a down-swing to test primary support at 2920.

Singapore

Japan

The Nikkei 225 completed a false break below support at 9400. Penetration of the declining trendline indicates another test of 10000. Reversal below medium-term support at 9400, however, would test primary support at 8600/8800.

Japan

South Korea

The Seoul Composite Index retreated Monday to re-test medium-term support. Failure of 2040 would test primary support at 1920. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of a reversal.

South Korea

* Target calculation: 2100 + ( 2100 - 1900 ) = 2300

Taiwan

The Dow Jones Taiwan Index broke medium-term support at 205, signaling a test of primary support at 196. The sharp fall on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates strong selling pressure.

Taiwan Index

* Target calculation: 220 + ( 220 - 195 ) = 245

China

The Shanghai Composite Index completed a false break, testing medium-term resistance at 2760. Breakout would signal a bear trap. Bullish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicates medium-term buying support.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculations: 2700 - ( 3050 - 2700 ) = 2350

The Hang Seng Index retraced to test the new resistance level at 22200; respect would confirm the primary down-trend. Bullish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow, however, continues to indicate medium-term buying support.

Hang Seng Index Hongkong

* Target calculation: 22500 - ( 24500 - 22500 ) = 20500

Brazil: Bovespa

The Bovespa Index respected resistance at 65000 and is headed for a test of support at 58000*. Twiggs Money Flow below zero reflects continued strong selling pressure.

Brazil Bovespa

* Target calculation: 64000 - ( 70000 - 64000 ) = 58000

South Africa: JSE

The JSE Overall Index is headed for a test of primary support at 30000; failure would signal a reversal. Penetration of the long-term trendline warns that the up-trend is weakening. Twiggs Money Flow (13-week) reversal below zero confirms selling pressure.

JSE Overall Index

* Target calculation: 33000 + ( 33000 - 30000 ) = 36000

New Zealand: NZX

The sharp fall on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of abnormal selling pressure on the NZ50. Failure of medium-term support at 3430 would test primary support at 3300.

NZX 50 Index

* Target calculation: 3425 + ( 3425 - 3300 ) = 3550

Australia: ASX

The All Ordinaries respected resistance at 4600, confirming a primary down-trend. Declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero indicates continued selling pressure. Target for the down-swing is 4200*.

ASX All Ordinaries

* Target calculation: 4600 - ( 5000 - 4600 ) = 4200

The ASX 200 retreating below primary support at 4500 confirmed the reversal.

ASX 200


The public ought always to keep in mind the elementals of stock trading. When a stock is going up no elaborate explanation is needed as to why it is going up. It takes continuous buying to make a stock keep going up. As long as it does so, with only small and natural reactions from time to time, it is a pretty safe proposition to trail with it.

But if after a long steady rise a stock turns and gradually begins to go down, with only occasionally small rallies, it is obvious that the line of least resistance has changed from upward to downward. Such being the case why should anyone ask for explanations? There are probably very good reasons why it should go down.....

~ Jesse Livermore in Reminiscences of a Stock Operator