GOLD

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Year-long consolidation in Gold prices  should end soon. A strong trend period should follow once the symmetrical triangle is resolved in one direction. Volatility has decreased on weekly scale and this increased the likelihood of high volatility period in the following weeks/months. Boundaries of the consolidation stand at 1,270 and 1,360 levels. Breakout above 1,360-1,400 area will push gold price higher towards 1,525 levels. Breakdown below 1,250-1,270 support area will result in another downtrend towards 1,150 levels.

GOLD

U.S. HOUSING STARTS

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U.S. housing starts was down another 9.3 percent in June after declining 7.3 percent in May. Latest figure stands at 893,000. Here is why we should actually pay close attention to 840,000 levels in the following months. Yes, technical analysis can also be applied to economic time series. Anything that is a product of human interaction in free markets is a subject of technical analysis and this historical chart on U.S. housing starts clearly shows the boundaries of the supply  and demand.

US HOUSING STARTS

Over the past half-century U.S. housing starts fluctuated between 2.2 million and 840,000 with one exception during the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Because the housing market was the epicenter of the financial melt-down during the 2007-2009 decline, housing starts data inevitably undershoot the 840K levels. Since October 2012, housing starts are above the historical threshold. For the housing market recovery to remain intact, housing starts should hold above 840K levels.

TAIWAN WEIGHTED INDEX

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Taiwan still needs to prove itself. However, sooner or later breakout from this long-term chart pattern will present tremendous opportunity. 24 year-long sideways consolidation might be close to completion. Breakout should be powerful and preferably once confirmed this market shouldn’t look back. There are two more resistance levels that I will be following and these are 9,700 and 10,350 levels. Taiwan is an emerging market that must be on your watch list.

TAIWAN WEIGHTED INDEX

S&P 500, STOXX 50, NIKKEI and FTSE 100

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S&P 500 index cleared its historical high level at 1,580 levels. U.S. equities have clearly outperformed the rest of the global equity markets. So far so good… But without Japan, Europe and UK how far can the positive trend in equities reach? Long-term charts show that Stoxx 50, Nikkei 225 and FTSE 100 indices have reached strong long-term resistance levels. Only after a breakout above these long-term resistances will global equities have more fuel to resume their long-term uptrend. Failure to breakout from these consolidations in the following months can be negative for equity markets.

S&P 500 INDEX

EURO STOXX 50

NIKKEI 225 INDEX

UK FTSE 100 INDEX

PLATINUM

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After a long consolidation period, Platinum might be preparing for a strong breakout. Since the beginning of 2014, Platinum price has been forming higher highs and a horizontal resistance. Strong horizontal resistance area remain between 1,470 and 1,490. Breakout above the resistance area can push prices higher towards 1,550-1,600 range.

PLATINUM

Another interesting chart development can be seen on Platinum Group Metals – an equity listed in NYSE. Stock has formed a perfect symmetrical triangle. Strength in Platinum can result in a breakout on this long-term chart pattern. In the following weeks I will keep an eye on precious metals and especially on Platinum.

PLATINUM GROUP METALS

GERMANY BUND

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Bond prices are rising again. German government bonds are looking strong as Bund futures prepare for a breakout from a 2 year-long consolidation range. Since mid-2012 German Bund has been consolidating between 137 and 147 levels. Prices are now testing the strong resistance at 147 levels for the 4th time. Breakout above 147 can result in a multi-month strength in German government bonds. Breakouts from flat consolidation ranges are powerful and are usually followed by trend periods.  Failure to close decisively above 147 levels can result in further consolidation between 137 and 147.

Monthly scale chart

BUND MONTHLY

Weekly scale chart

BUND WEEKLY

BRENT CRUDE OIL

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While you are reading this post please note that I’m not basing my decision-making and my analysis on the latest developments in middle east. I’ve been analyzing Brent crude and the energy sector for some time. Earlier analysis (May 17, 2014 / Mar 29, 2014 / Mar 3, 2014) suggested a strong directional move that is likely to develop. Low volatility periods are usually followed by high volatility and vice versa. Brent Crude oil and energy sector has been consolidating for more than 2 years in a very tight range. This resulted in a historical low volatility. In other words “calm before the storm”. Breakouts from these type of low volatility trading ranges are usually very powerful. This was the basic assumption that I based my analysis on. Latest developments in the middle east can be a trigger for higher prices (still to be seen). Rather than focusing on the short-term news effect I would like to draw your attention to the larger scale breakout that can take place in the energy sector. As I have mentioned in my earlier updates, energy sector is likely to be the hot topic in the second half of the year.

 

BNO

ETFS BRENT

BRENT CRUDE OIL

AUD/NZD

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I analyzed this pair in April 2014. Cross rate showed significant chart pattern development at a historical support. AUD/NZD is trying to rebound from 3 decade-long support level. 1.05 was tested for five times over the past thirty years. Each test was recorded as medium/long-term low. We are there again… Not only the long-term chart is signaling a possible rebound but also the daily chart is suggesting higher AUD/NZD with a double bottom chart pattern.

  1. On the long-term monthly scale chart MACD is trying to reverse from a historical low-level. Buy signal on MACD will be bullish for Australian dollar.
  2. On the daily chart AUD/NZD breached the horizontal resistance at 1.095. Last challenge is the 200-day moving average at 1.103 levels.

I think the overall technical outlook is turning in favor of Australian dollar versus New Zealand  dollar.

Monthly scale chart

AUDNZD

Daily scale chart

AUDNZD II

CORN

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Is Corn forming a perfect inverted head and shoulder chart pattern? If yes, price should rally from these levels and reach the neckline around 530 levels in the next few weeks and if you see such price action you should be more confident that a year-long base formation is about to complete, suggesting much higher levels. I like to see symmetry in head and shoulder chart patterns and also a horizontal neckline. So far the chart pattern followed these characteristics. We are probably still at the early stages but it’s worth adding this chart to our watch list as a bullish chart development.

CORN

GBP/SGD

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Long-term trends can be interrupted by short/medium-term consolidations; in other words “breath-taking” periods. In technical analysis these type of short/medium-term consolidations are classified as flag, pennant, triangle or rectangle chart pattern. Each chart pattern has its own characteristics.

Since the beginning of 2013, British pound has been outperforming Singapore dollar. Cross rate formed a clear uptrend. After reaching 2.13 levels in the beginning of 2014, GBP/SGD started moving sideways to form a common consolidation pattern known as symmetrical triangle. Volatility on daily and weekly scale suggests another trend period is likely to unfold following the latest consolidation. Breakout above 2.12 levels will be bullish for British pound and GBP/SGD cross-rate will target 2.15-2.18 area. As long as the cross rate remains above 2.09 levels the uptrend will remain intact.

GBPSGD