S&P 500 and Treasury yields surge

By Colin Twiggs
May 5th, 2013 10:30 p.m. ET (12:30 pm AET)

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10-Year Treasury yields rallied sharply on Friday, breaking the new resistance level at 1.70%. Follow-through above 1.80% would confirm the decline is over, signaling another test of resistance at 2.00%/2.10%.

10-Year Treasury yields

On the monthly chart we can see that breakout above resistance at 2.00%/2.10% would signal a primary up-trend and possible test of 4.00% in the next few years. Only a breakout above 4.00%, however, would end the secular bear-trend of the last three decades.

10-Year Treasury yields

Last week Treasury yields were falling while stocks were rising. That changed on Friday, with the S&P 500 breaking through resistance at 1600, suggesting an advance to 1650. The index has exceeded its target of 1600* and seems overdue for a correction, but bullish sentiment is rising and the market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent (attributed to John Maynard Keynes). Oscillation above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates a healthy primary up-trend. A June quarter-end below 1500 now looks unlikely, but would present a strong long-term bear signal.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1475 + ( 1475 - 1350 ) = 1600

Bellwether transport stock Fedex is testing support at $90. Respect of the rising trendline would signal the primary up-trend is intact. Recovery above $100 would confirm.

Fedex

Structural flaws in the US economy have not been addressed and uncertainty remains high, despite low values on the VIX. House prices are rising, largely due to institutional buying, but the overhang of shadow inventory is expected to delay recovery of housing construction. Mamta Badkar at Business Insider reports:

Shadow inventory fell 18 per cent year-over-year in January to 2.2 million units, according to CoreLogic's latest report. This represents nine months' supply. ....down 28 per cent from its 2010 peak of 3 million units.

As traders we have to follow the trend, but it is important to remain vigilant.



The fundamental and irrefutable principles of politics:

Everyone has the right to life and liberty.
You have a right to pursue happiness - there's no guarantee that you'll catch it.
The payment for successful effort is ownership.
Both parties must benefit or no voluntary exchange will take place.
There is no such thing as the 'right' to anything produced by another person's effort.

~ William (Bill) Buckler at The Privateer