Australia 200 – Resistance at 5800 Stands Tall

Australia 200 for Monday, February 9, 2015

In the last few weeks the Australian 200 index has done very well and surged higher to move back above the key 5400 level to reach a new six year high just above 5800 in the last few days. Since that time, it has just eased back a little.  A couple of weeks ago saw the resistance at 5500 stand tall and fend off all advances, however this now been broken strongly through. The recent move higher from below 5300 to above the key level of 5400 is important as it desperately tries to hang on to this important trading range for the index above 5400. In the week prior, the Australia 200 Index eased back again under the 5400 level after making numerous attempts to clear it over the last month, which saw it drop to a three week low below 5250 before its recent surge higher.

The moderate support from around the 5300 level held it up well for a a couple weeks before the surge higher. The short-term resistance level at 5500 has returned and now resumes its role of placing selling pressure on the index. Throughout most of November and December, the Australia 200 Index fell steadily lower down towards support around 5150 and two month lows before rallying back above 5400 again. Over the last few weeks the Australia 200 index has struggled with resistance at 5400 which has forced it lower time and time again. The 5400 level has been a major player for the last 12 months and the index must get back above this level to encourage more buying and bullish sentiment. It enjoyed a solid resurgence throughout October after getting much needed support from the 5200 level, which has resulted in it moving back above the 5400 and 5500 levels, around a two month high.

Throughout most of September the Australia 200 Index declined strongly from its multi-year high after running into resistance around 5650 back to enter its previously established trading range between 5400 and 5500, before falling further below 5200 and to an eight month low around 5120 a few weeks ago. Several weeks ago it received solid support from the 5100 level which saw it rally well to close out a couple of weeks ago. Back in early September the 5400 level was called upon to offer support as the index desperately tried to stay in touch with its range, however it fell through there before rallying strongly back up to 5400. Up until recently, the 5400 level had done well and propped up price to keep it within the range. In its recent fall at the beginning of August it moved down to a three week low around 5375, however it received solid support at the 5400 level which has allowed to consolidate and rally higher.

Australia’s central bank lowered its 2015 growth and inflation forecasts and predicted unemployment will rise, underscoring this week’s decision to cut interest rates.  “Growth overall is now forecast to remain at a below-trend pace somewhat longer than had earlier been expected,” the Reserve Bank of Australia said Friday in its quarterly monetary policy statement in Sydney. “The economy is expected to be operating with a degree of spare capacity for some time yet, and domestic cost pressures are likely to remain subdued.”  The RBA reduced its forecast average expansion for this year to between 1.75 percent and 2.75 percent from between 2 percent and 3 percent estimated in November. It lowered projected headline consumer-price growth to 1.25 percent in the year through June from between 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent seen three months earlier.

(Daily chart below)

Australia 200 February 8 at 22:40 GMT   5788   H: 5817   L: 5769

Australia 200 Technical

S3

S2

S1

R1

R2

R3

5400

5150

5100

5800

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During the hours of the Asian trading session on Monday, the Australia 200 Index will be looking to make another run at the resistance level at 5800.

Further levels in both directions:

• Below: 5400, 5150 and 5100.

• Above: 5800.

Economic Releases

23:50 (Sun) JP M2 Money Supply (Jan)

23:50 (Sun) JP METI Tertiary activity index (Dec)

00:30 AU ANZ Job Ads (Jan)

05:00 JP Consumer Confidence (Jan)

05:00 JP Economy Watchers Survey (Jan)

09:30 EU Sentix Indicator (Feb)

13:15 CA Housing starts (Jan)

NZ REINZ House Price Index (9th-13th) (Jan)

WLD OPEC release monthly oil market report

* All release times are GMT

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