EURO STOXX 50 INDEX

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Euro Stoxx 50 index is either offering a rare buying opportunity similar to 2011 or one last chance for the bulls to exit before the downtrend resumes.

The bearish case suggests that the Euro Stoxx 50 index peaked in April 2015 after completing a 2 year-long head and shoulder top which was followed by the breakdown of the multi-year uptrend (2009-2015). According to this outlook, last few months price action is a pullback to the broken trend line. Pullbacks are usually followed by the continuation of the dominant trend.

STOXX 50 I

Weekly scale chart showing the bearish case

The bullish case suggests that the Euro Stoxx 50 index completed a 2 year-long head and shoulder top but found support at the lower boundary of a long-term trend channel. According to this outlook, last few months price action is a consolidation above trend line support (lower boundary of possible trend channel). Once the index completes the consolidation it can reverse and trend higher.

STOXX 50 II

Weekly scale chart showing the bullish case

Daily scale chart shows the last 3 months consolidation between 2550 and 2900. For the bullish case I will be looking for a breakout above 2900 levels. For the bearish case, a breakdown below 2550-2650 area will signal lower prices for the coming months.

STOXX 50 III

TRY, ZAR and MXN

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This could be a critical day for most of the emerging market currencies against the U.S. dollar. USD/TRY, EUR/TRY, USD/ZAR and USD/MXN are few cross rates worth mentioning in this update.

USD/TRY is possibly completing a rectangle chart pattern. The lower boundary of the year-long consolidation formed support between 2.75 and 2.80. A strong weekly close around 2.85 and above will likely reverse the last couple of months strong TRY trend and result in an upward move towards 3.05 levels.

USDTRY

EUR/TRY is possibly completing a symmetrical triangle. Low volatility on weekly scale suggests a strong trend period for the coming months. Again, a decisive breakout on weekly scale is required to confirm the completion of 7 month-long sideways consolidation. A weekly close above 3.30 levels will breach the resistance with enough margin.

EURTRY

Monthly scale price chart of USD/ZAR shows the importance of 13.80-14.15 area. 13.80 was the historical high that was broken on the upside. 14.15 is the 1 year-long moving average that acted as strong support since the uptrend on USD/ZAR began in 2011. Unless we see a decisive break below 13.80-14.15 area, USD should continue to gain strength against the Rand.

USDZAR

USD/MXN is another emerging market currency that found support at the 200 day moving average. 17 level was not only the long-term average but also the lower boundary of the possible 2 year-long trend channel. If USD/MXN is reversing from these levels, cross rate should rebound towards 19.5 levels in the following weeks.

USDMXN

 

SILVER and SOYBEANS

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Poor man’s gold might be setting up for a strong performance in the metal complex. SILVER/GOLD ratio is reversing from a historical support area. This level acted as a medium/long-term turning point for the ratio in 1997, 2003 and in 2008. Not only the relative performance of Silver is showing strength but also the price chart of Silver forming a possible base formation. Silver has been outperforming another precious metal that has industrial use; platinum. SILVER/PLATINUM ratio is on the rise with the latest chart development suggestion even more to come. In the metals, silver can be a winner.

SILVER VS GOLD WEEKLY SCALE RATIO

SILVER VS GOLD WEEKLY SCALE RATIO

SILVER VS PLATINUM WEEKLY SCALE RATIO

SILVER VS PLATINUM WEEKLY SCALE RATIO

Over the past year, Silver possibly formed a head and shoulder base with a neckline at 16.35 levels. Breakout above 16.35 will clear multi-year downward trend lines and also the year-long horizontal resistance. Weekly price closed at 16.21 levels.

SILVER

Another long-term opportunity might be developing on Soybeans price chart. Over the past few weeks, Soybeans reversed from an important inflection point. Two long-term trend lines overlapped around 850 levels. Last week’s strong weekly price bar suggests possible strength for the following weeks. Resistance area on the first month continuation chart is around 1070.

WEEKLY SCALE PRICE CHART

WEEKLY SCALE PRICE CHART

USD/INR (U.S. DOLLAR/INDIAN RUPEE)

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Thanks to the Central Banks and the decision to delay rate hikes by FED, both emerging market equities and currencies had a strong rally in March. Latest recovery in equities and currencies pulled several emerging market FX to strong support levels. Such that, these are critical inflection points worth mentioning.

US Dollar / Indian Rupee weekly price chart

US Dollar / Indian Rupee weekly price chart

USD/INR (U.S. Dollar/Indian Rupee), pulled back from its historical high level at 68.80 to the lower boundary of its 2 year-long trend channel at 66 levels. Lower boundary of the 2 year-long trend channel is also the 200-day exponential moving average, in other words a strong support.

On the daily chart we can also see that MACD, a momentum indicator, reached oversold levels, though not on a buy signal yet. All these technical information suggest that unless there is a decisive breakdown below 66 levels, Indian Rupee is likely to weaken in the following weeks. In case of a rebound from the 200 day average and the lower boundary of the 2 year-long trend channel, the new trading range will be 66 and 69.

USDINR III

U.S. Dollar / Indian Rupee daily price chart

MEXICO IPC INDEX

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Mexico’s IPC index, denominated in local currency, is preparing for a strong breakout. During Emerging markets poor performance (2011-2016), Mexico outperformed the MSCI Emerging Markets index. Strong relative performance is also reflected on the absolute performance of the IPC index, with the national benchmark now challenging horizontal resistance for the 5th time over the past 3 years. Breakout above strong resistance can push the index to all-time high levels.

Weekly price chart of the MEXICO IPC INDEX

Weekly price chart of the MEXICO IPC INDEX

The developing chart pattern could be an ascending triangle with bullish implications. Breakout above 46,500 levels will confirm the bullish chart formation and suggest higher prices that can target 55,000 levels.

Relative performance ratio between MSCI MEXICO and MSCI EM in local currencies

Relative performance ratio between MSCI MEXICO and MSCI EM in local currencies

Relative performance ratio between MSCI MEXICO and MSCI EM in U.S. dollar

Relative performance ratio between MSCI MEXICO and MSCI EM in U.S. dollar

While the MEXICO IPC INDEX is forming a bullish ascending triangle poised for a breakout to higher levels, here are some of the constituents that have similar bullish chart set ups.

Weekly price chart

Weekly price chart

GFNORTE formed a 3 year-long sideways consolidation. Stock is now challenging historical high levels. Breakout above 100 levels will be very positive.

Weekly price chart

Weekly price chart

2 year-long H&S bottom on ALPEK has strong resistance at 27.15 levels. A decisive weekly break above the neckline at 27.15 will result in higher prices.

U.S. DOLLAR INDEX

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Over the past week, FED’s dovish comments resulted in U.S. dollar weakness. However U.S. dollar index started weakening in the beginning of December 2015 irrespective of FED action. Wide price fluctuation between 92 and 100 levels is likely to be a sideways consolidation.

After its strong rally from 80 levels, U.S. dollar index is taking a breather. At this stage, it is early to call for a change in trend or claim that the U.S. dollar bull market is over. U.S. dollar index should find support around 92 levels. Only after a decisive breakdown below 92 levels we can expect large-scale correction for the U.S. dollar. Until that happens I view the medium/long-term outlook on the U.S. dollar as bullish.

US DOLLAR INDEX

Weekly price chart of U.S. DOLLAR INDEX

US DOLLAR INDEX II

Daily price chart of U.S. DOLLAR INDEX

 

EUROSTOXX 600, MSCI ACWI and MSCI EM

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As we are getting closer to eventful few weeks (thanks to Central Banks), I wanted to review some of the charts that will be important in our decision-making.

For those who trust the validity of long-term trend lines; most of the global equity indices breached +7 year-long upward sloping trend lines. These are major technical breakdowns, not minor violations.

Last few week’s counter-trend moves didn’t reverse the negative technical outlook on the long-term charts. Indices continue to make lower lows and lower highs and breaking down previous reaction low levels.

8-10% rallies can take place in bear markets. For reference I plotted the line chart of the MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX. Major bear markets over the past two decades show counter-trend moves exceeding 8% in price appreciation. In fact during 2001-2002 bear market MSCI ACWI rebounded from 203 levels to 245 levels, a 20% rally, followed by another 35% drop.

Wide price swings and of course mood swings are characteristics of market correction. Since the beginning of the correction in mid-2015, there has been two counter trend price movements. One has taken the index from 383 levels to 413 levels (7.8%) during September-November 2015 and the other one is ongoing. So far the reaction resulted in 8.8% appreciation from the low of 356 levels.

MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX

Line price chart of MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX with linear scale

EUROSTOXX 600 INDEX

Line price chart of EUROSTOXX 600 Index on semi-log scale

MSCI EM

Line price chart of MSCI EMERGING MARKETS INDEX on semi-log scale

EURO STOXX 600, NIKKEI and MSCI ACWI

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After reviewing the charts I posted two weeks ago on Euro Stoxx 600 and MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX, I can conclude that since then there has been more technical damage on global equity indices. Until markets recover above previously broken support levels, we should watch out for further downside in the global equity markets. In other words I’ll treat the current market conditions as a bear market.

Markets seldom move in straight lines. Earlier price action on Euro Stoxx 600 shows how two different bear markets unfolded in 2001 and 2008. 330-340 area will remain as strong resistance. Both the 7 year-long uptrend and the long-term moving average are breached on the downside. Rebounds should be considered as bear market rallies.

EUROSTOXX 600 INDEX

Monthly price chart of EURO STOXX 600 INDEX

EUROSTOXX 600 INDEX II

Weekly price chart of EURO STOXX 600 INDEX

It clearly takes more effort to change the direction of the trend on MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX when the global equity benchmark includes 23 developed and 23 emerging market equity index performance. So far it has given us a bearish message. 374-400 area will remain as strong long-term resistance. Failure to recover above 374 levels will resume the downtrend.

MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX I

Monthly price chart of MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX

MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX II

Weekly price chart of MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX

MSCI Emerging markets index is in a clear downtrend. The downtrend can accelerate. Index broke down decade-long trend line support and also the 5 year-long horizontal support at 850 levels. It is usually difficult to reverse momentum after such significant breakdowns.

MSCI EM

Monthly price chart of MSCI EMERGING MARKETS INDEX

Sell-off in Japan has been sharp over the past few weeks. Two strong technical supports overlapping at 17,000 levels has been broken on the downside. While we can conclude that in the short-term the market is oversold, it will need a lot of effort for the market to reverse the negative sentiment and recover above 17,000 levels. This market is also suggesting weak performance for the coming months.

NIKKEI 225 INDEX

Weekly price chart of NIKKEI 225 index

NATURAL GAS and COCOA

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Long-term price chart of Natural Gas suggests that the volatile commodity is now trying to recover from historical strong support area. Over the past two decades Natural Gas (Henry Hub) prices traded as low as 1.62. There has been several instances when price reversed sharply from the strong support area between 1.62 and 1.76.

NGAS I

Natural Gas might be forming a base formation above strong support area. Possible head and shoulder bottom might be completing with the right shoulder now testing the left shoulder price level and forming symmetry. It is important to note that a breakout above 2.5 levels will confirm the H&S base formation and suggest higher levels in the following months.

NGAS II

Head and shoulder bottom and top chart patterns usually form after prolonged down/up trends. Natural gas has been in a consistent downtrend since the beginning of 2014. A similar reversal took place in 2012 after the energy price fell from 5 levels to 1.9 in less than a year. Below chart shows the base formation (head and shoulder bottom) in the first half of 2012.

NGAS III

Cocoa is another commodity that could enjoy higher prices in the following weeks/months if strong trend channel and horizontal support holds. Last one year’s consolidation has been between 2700 and 3400 levels. Price is now back to 2700 levels. While long-term trend is upwards, intermediate-term trend is still sideways. Though, Cocoa can present a low risk/reward entry around the strong support level.

COCOA

DOW JONES AVERAGES and MSCI ACWI

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There are discussions right now if last few week’s sell-off was another failed breakdown. Was this another bear trap? Did Central Banks again manage to put a floor to equity markets? ECB’s dovish comments and BOJ’s negative interest rate moves both came this month, after sharp sell-off in equity markets.

Due to developing bearish chart patterns and the fact that major indices are below their long-term averages I’m weighing the possibility of a correction more than a strong bull market in the coming months. This time could be different and the technical outlook might prove to be a bear trap. I’m fine with that. That’s what markets are. Current chart set-up is something that I can’t ignore and I’ll try to explain here.

First let’s look at two major equity indices that we have been following. On a monthly scale “close” was at the border. The jury is still out in my opinion. Though, I would say last week of the month we have seen a good attempt to close at the higher levels for the month.

MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX III

EURO STOXX 600 INDEX III

Richard W. Schabacker in his book TECHNICAL ANALYSIS AND STOCK MARKET PROFITS (Printed in US in1932) discusses Important Reversal Formations. Under this section there is a detailed study of Head and Shoulder reversal chart patterns. We are all familiar with the Head and Shoulder chart pattern. I want to draw attention to a specific type that we are seeing right now on equity index charts. Schabacker explains:

Schabacker ISchabacker II

Here is the chart he was analyzing at the time. Please note that the original chart doesn’t include the red trend line (neckline). I added this to show the similarities with the current chart patterns.

Schabacker III

Several decades later similar chart patterns are appearing on the widely followed and traded equity indices. Dow Jones Transportation Index broke down a similar downward sloping trend line. Head and shoulder price target is at 5,800 levels, still far from current 6,906 levels.

DOW JONES TRANSPORTATION INDEX

Now let’s look at some similarities between 2008 and 2016. In 2008, Dow Jones Industrial Average reversed its 4 year-long uptrend with a Head & Shoulder top. Neckline was downward slanting. After the breakdown there was a pullback that violated the neckline but couldn’t push above the long-term average or inside the trend channel. The head and shoulder top that formed in 2007-2008 showed significant market weakness due to its drooping shoulder.

DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE

Dow Jones Composite Average is now forming a similar Head and Shoulder top with downward sloping neckline. Both the long-term moving average and the lower boundary of the 6 year-long trend channel is violated. If this time is not different, current chart set-up suggests a correction is more likely in the following months than the continuation of the bull market.

DOW JONES COMPOSITE INDEX III

We can also look at MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX and compare the top in 2007-2008 with the latest chart development. I think the current technical conditions can’t be ignored. I want to give these markets some more time to prove the bears wrong.

 

MSCI ALL COUNTRIES WORLD INDEX IV