EurAnalysis

12445 is daily r1 why did u placed 5pips upper??? is just a question...

Very Informative post. Thanks.

http://www.merkfunds.com/merk-perspe...-08-07-insight

Snippet:


August 7, 2012

Investors have not woken up to it, but last week may have been a game changer. European Central Bank (ECB) President Draghi took tail risks out of the Eurozone, while at the same time forcing closer fiscal integration. He did it all while keeping the ECB out of some political minefields. It's pure genius. The initial market reaction suggested he might have lost a battle, not realizing that he is winning the war. http://www.merkfunds.com/images/2012...e-the-king.jpg

Dismayed by a dysfunctional process caused by a lack of leadership and the increasing risk of some of the worst case scenarios playing out, we have been staying away from the euro in our hard currency strategy. As of late last week, those dynamics changed: we are giving the euro another chance, not only because of substantial short covering potential, but also because Draghi’s “whatever it takes” approach might bring about seismic changes in how European integration, fiscal and monetary policy move forward.

In essence, Draghi told the world that the ECB will act like a central bank of a United States of Europe if the integration of European fiscal policy accelerates. The “integration” process hasn’t worked particularly well. In the early years of the Eurozone, peripheral Eurozone countries used cheap access to financing to live beyond their means. Now, the markets have serious doubts about the sustainability of the finances of weaker Eurozone countries. To regain the markets’ trust, governments have nibbled with austerity measures. While the respective governments will take offense to us using the term ‘nibble’ at their hard fought progress, governments have not been able to reduce their debt loads. Politicians blame the high cost of borrowing and speculators. Unfortunately, as long as debt is merely shuffled around, no matter how big any aid package may be, it is unlikely to bring long lasting relief. In an effort to regain the trust of the markets, governments must engage in credible structural reform. Ireland has successfully gone down this path, but politicians have so far been unable to do the same in Spain, Italy and Greece. In Spain, Prime Minister Rajoy enjoys an absolute parliamentary majority and has no excuse. Italy is run by a technocrat; as such, the market is rightfully suspicious. Greece, well, is in a category of her own.

To break the debt spiral of these weaker countries, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) and European Stability Mechanism (ESM) have been put in place. Accessing these facilities comes with a hefty price tag: giving up sovereign control over one’s budget. However, that’s exactly what a United States of Europe needs: tight fiscal integration. While access to the bailout facilities reduces the immediate cost of borrowing, it may also shut the door to selling bonds in the markets at palatable cost.

That raises the question of what is a palatable cost of borrowing? In the 1990’s, paying 6% for 10-year debt was just normal for some countries. Yet, because so much more debt has piled up, paying 6% is now considered unsustainable – at least unless such draconian budget cuts are introduced to balance budgets even with such high interest burden. And just in case anyone is wondering, the U.S. would be in just as dire a situation, if not worse, if it had to pay 6% on its long-term debt. We are currently concerned about the “fiscal cliff” in the U.S. – but even if the draconian cuts and increased taxes introduced by the fiscal cliff were implemented, the U.S. budget deficit would still be above 3% of GDP (the level that Eurozone nations are intended to stay below). The difference between the U.S. and peripheral Eurozone countries is foremost that the bond market lets the U.S. get away with its deficit spending.



We have long argued that the market provides the best incentive to stop governments from overspending. Spain, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Greece – all these countries have engaged in astounding reforms, all with the “encouragement” of the bond market. Politicians, however, are most creative in avoiding making tough choices. So how does one square the circle, how does one live with political realities while at the same time provide a path to fiscal sustainability? Politicians have called for the ECB to step in, to buy bonds of weaker Eurozone countries, thus lowering their cost of borrowing. But when the ECB has done that in the past through the Securities Markets Program (SMP), policy makers have lost their motivation to pursue structural reform. Policy makers choose between the cost of acting and the cost of not acting: the moment there is relief in the market, commitment to reform fades. It also puts the ECB into the uncomfortable position of playing judge of whose reform plans are worthy of support and whose are not.

The argument for market intervention is that the “monetary transmission mechanism” is broken. That may be correct, but becoming a political hot potato is no attractive alternative for a central bank.

So ECB President Draghi announced a new philosophical framework last week: the judge of whether sufficient austerity is implemented to warrant ECB support is the conditionality of EFSF/ESM, i.e. the types of rules the International Monetary Fund (IMF) introduces on countries. It’s the best one can hope for if policy makers don’t accept the market’s judgment. In our view, accepting the market pressure would be preferred, but this is the best course of action given the realities presented. Indeed, we consider Draghi’s action nothing short of pure genius.

Draghi’s action is pure genius because it dramatically accelerates fiscal integration in Europe. Already Spain and Italy are contemplating joining the bailout regime, if in turn Draghi will help lower their cost of borrowing. There will certainly be a lot of horse-trading; we also don’t expect all austerity measures to necessarily be fully implemented. But that’s not the point. The point is that weak countries subject themselves to a political body (not a central bank) that negotiates and sets terms. It is the United States of Europe we have been waiting for. With the framework set, the ECB can engage in market operations targeting securities that are part of the program. Draghi already indicated that the focus will be on the short-end of the yield curve (shorter dated Treasury securities); this is akin to what other central banks, like the Federal Reserve (Fed) do; well, the Fed has since moved out the yield curve (longer dated Treasury securities). Longer dated debt will be affected, although significant risk premia over German bonds may continue for some time.

Based on other comments we have seen, odds are that not many others, if any, will agree that Draghi’s actions were “pure genius.” After all, he did not provide the immediate relief all those stimulus addicted market participants have gotten used to. But Draghi understands that the best short-term policy may be a good long-term policy. The short-term policies advocated by many pundits, an aggressive purchase program of peripheral bonds would only achieve that holders of such debt can dump their bonds; buyers would be guaranteed to buy such securities at inflated prices, setting them up for almost certain disappointment (and thus scaring them away from future bond auctions).

Instead, Draghi achieved a great deal: as fiscal integration in the Eurozone may be dramatically accelerated. Importantly, a political process has been put in place. Ironically, it took a monetary policy maker to put a fiscal process in place; yet, Draghi allowed the ECB to be used merely as a catalyst, not as a political pawn.

Draghi also correctly shifts the focus going forward on the increased “fragmentation” in the Eurozone where market participants increasingly focus on domestic rather than intra-European activities. While more needs to be done, other central bank activities under consideration would have amplified rather than reduced fragmentation, would have made the demise of the euro more likely. To address fragmentation issues, work on many fronts needs to take place. Market participants are doing their part by rewriting contracts to clearly state what law they are subject to in case a member country were to leave the Euro.

As such, we started buying the Euro again in our hard currency strategy. Make no mistake about it: we are only putting our foot in the water; we are not yet wholeheartedly embracing the Euro. But we are giving this new framework a chance, as we judge it to be the greatest progress in the Eurozone debt crisis we have seen to date. The coming months will show whether this is to be written off as a trading opportunity or whether it is the new strategic direction that it has the potential of being. Greece may still drop out of the Euro, but such an exit is much less of a threat to Eurozone and global financial stability than it was as recently as a week ago.

Given that currencies trade against one another, this analysis would not be complete without looking at the U.S. dollar. In the U.S., too, many pundits have been disappointed at the lack of action by the Fed. Indeed, we also think the Fed under Bernanke’s leadership is likely to provide more stimulus. But just as Draghi has presented a new philosophical framework for future action, Bernanke may feel he is obliged to provide a new framework for “QE3”. That’s because many have rightfully pointed out that any new action might have limited impact, yet risk ever more unintended consequences. The obvious opportunity that presents itself will be in Jackson Hole, where he will be speaking later this month. The Fed is focused on different issues, notably a sustained recovery after the housing bust. As such, the Fed – and we are putting words into Bernanke’s mouth here – may need to err on the side of inflation. No responsible central banker – never mind closet central banker and chief Keynesian cheerleader Paul Krugman - would ever openly advocate inflation. Let’s just say that Bernanke’s upcoming Jackson Hole speech should be interesting to watch.

For now, with the prospect of ECB action – even if with delays and no guarantee - a number of tail risks have been taken out of the Eurozone. In our assessment, that alone warrants a significantly stronger Euro versus the U.S. dollar. As we discussed, we believe there’s a new wind blowing in the Eurozone. That wind may well take the tailwind of recent months out of the U.S. dollar.

Axel Merk
President and Chief Investment Officer, Merk Investments
Merk Investments, Manager of the Merk Funds

This is what I'm watching right now...

From the bear flag we did back in July from the May-June drop, the lowe trend line has been acting as pivot for the price action recently having returned to the trendline. Most of it's pressure has been below the trend line however, this has changed this week and has become support.

We also have higher highs being posted since the same July period as indicated by the green line. This is the line I really don't want to see breaking (other than perhaps a spike on the 1H or 4H). Closing a 1H candle above it followed by a confirmation candle opens the door for 1.2500 where there's a DNT and will prove difficult resistance. If it does break I don't see PA going much higher than the top of the July bear flag extension which would put it around 1.2550.

As PT mentioned, 1400 is a key level on the S&P and I do believe we are going to break it soon. My gut feeling is that market makers are trying to bring hope to the retail suckers (that's us) and have them put their hard earned cash into the markets before tanking it hard in September. It would not surprize me to see 1410 to 1420 on the S&P before September.

I still have a sell limit at 1.2450 and if 1400 breaks, I'll be adding another short at 1.2495 (just below the DNT level).

So I'm prepared to hold my shorts (and figurative shorts) as long as it doesn't move above the bear flag channel.

Heading out soon so have a great day guys and many green pips to you all.

Cheers!

Excellent - I was worried you might still have been kipping

Well done CM. Very usefull post.

Great analysis bud. Have fun at the beach.

I placed that short on Sunday night before going to bed as it was a 123.6% FIB extension level of the Thursday/Friday Low-High range. Seemed like a good place to put it.

Ask any questions that you may have. Only through questions and answers can we all learn. I also learn by answering questions and if I do not know I will say so and then find the answer.

Thanks for your comments and post.

Oh, no, always ready before 6.45am

Since the infestation of Zebra Mussels in the great lakes many years ago, they have cleared them up and the top of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron are crystal clear. When I get back, I'll big up a picture I took last week of us swimming in a bay and you'd think you're in Cozumel.

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Today's Markets:

In Asia, Japan +0.9%. Hong Kong +0.4%. China +0.1%. India +1.1%.
In Europe, at midday, London -0.1%. Paris +0.5%. Frankfurt +0.3%.
Futures at 7:00: Dow +0.2%. S&P +0.3%. Nasdaq +0.5%. Crude +0.2% to $92.40. Gold +0.15% to $1618.70.

Today's economic calendar:

7:45 ICSC Retail Store Sales
8:55 Redbook Chain Store Sales
1:00 PM Results of $32B, 2-Year Note Auction
2:30 PM Bernanke Press Conference
3:00 PM Consumer Credit

thanks CM as usual very informative post

i have one question as you said you are a short term trade could you please share your target zone or zones ? and how could you determine them ?

thanks again

Orderboard (updated)

Written by Pete Jackson
August 7, 2012 at 11:27 GMT

EUR/USD: Bids (light) 1.2370/80 larger down at 1.2340/50 and 1.2300/20. Large expiry today at 1.2400. Offers 1.2430/50 from SNB related name and funds, buy stops above on a break of the 1.2450 barrier. Also talk of another barrier at 1.2500 (supposedly part of a 1.20-1.25 DNT)

GBP/USD: Offers 1.5690/00 ahead of tech res 1.5730/35 (1.5729- 200 day MA). Bids 1.5540/50 and 1.5500/10, sell stops below

EUR/GBP: Strong offers 0.7960/70 and tech res 0.7968 (55 day MA) stronger again up at 0.7990/00. Option expiry 0.7925, Bids 0.7900/10, sell stops just below.

USD/JPY: Bids 78.00/10 (semi official), large sell stops through 77.90 and 77.50. Offers 78.30 up to 78.50 and again through 78.70/00 (exporters) some buy stops mixed in through 78.85, and more stops through 79.00 just ahead of tech res at 55/200 day MA’s at 79.11/17

EUR/JPY: Bids 96.90/00 and 96.50/60, Offers 97.40/50 and 97.70/80

AUD/JPY: Bids 82.70/80 and 82.50/60 (Japanese names) sell stops below. Offers and 83.15/20 and tech res 83.85/90

EUR/CHF: Bids 1.2000/10(SNB), Offers 1.2025/30

USD/CHF: Tech supp 0.9660/70 and 0.9630/35. Offers 0.9700/10 and 0.9730/40

AUD/USD: Offers 1.0580/1.0610, larger 1.0630/50. Bids 1.0550/60, 1.0530/40 and 1.0500/10, sell stops through 1.0500. (1.0600 large expiry today).

EUR/AUD: Offers 1.1770/80 and 1.1845/55, likely buy stops above. Bids 1.1650/60 and 1.1610/20

NZD/USD: Offers from 0.8215 up to 0.8230. Bids 0.8185/90 and 0.8165/70

USD/CAD: Sell stops through 0.9975 ahead of bids 0.9950/60 (funds, Canadians). Offers 1.0010/20 and 1.0050/60, tech res 1.0095/10 (100/200 day MA’s 1.0096/1.0107)

I use the charts to see where support and resistance is. I use the 15 minute charts and the 5 minute charts.

I have my own set up charts.

On Top I use EMA, BB, SAR and Fractional.

Below I Use MACD, Awesome Indicator and RSI.

Thanks for asking.

thanks !!! appreciate you explanation

wow PT ur da man,ur chart very clear an simple.

thanks for the V and sorry i just noticed now !!!

thanks again

Good post.

Very informative

PipTrapper - do you still long usd/cad? It looks like it's getting closer to ideal place to long it at around 9956 and 9935..