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updated 25th February 2008  

N.B. Above Chart is abstracted from NextView Program

Last week we said that, "While Dow did close on a positive week, it did not provide a convincing move that could trigger a sustainable rally. Similarly, there were no evidences from global markets that suggesting we are out of the wood now. The global markets including USA, have merely told us that the Bulls and Bears are now in its equilibrium and that we may see a clearer direction in the next one to two weeks time. Perhaps after Monday holiday, the corporate results from Wal-Mart Stores and Hewlett-Packard, plus the coming CPI economic data will provide a clue to us on the intermediate market direction. Right now, especially for Monday and Tuesday, we could only expect some range trading, while waiting for a more definite direction in later part of the week." Indeed we were right on the direction, the Bulls and the Bears continued to battle over last week, with wild daily trading range. We also said that, "As for STI, we could expect a slight weakness on Monday opening follow by some rally, but should be stuck within the range of 2950- 3100 in the early part of the week, before having a clearer direction by end of the week if Dow Jones does provide the direction." Again, we were right to the dot! STI did attempt to rally and stay above 3100 in the first two days of last week, but was forced to sell down subsequently. So, has the market decided which direction to go now? Who won the battle, the Bulls or the Bears? What should we do in the coming week?

While last week did provide good daily trading range in stock markets, there was no clear direction as to where the market is heading to. Last Friday trading was full of surprised. Just when Asia markets like Hongkong, Singapore ... etc about to break down their critical supports levels, Nikkei came in to rescue in the afternoon and caused some rebounds in Hongkong and Singapore to stay above their respective important support. Similarly in USA, Dow Jones Industrial did sell down to a low of -120 pts, but again managed to rally back to +96 pts towards closing on the news that a plan by several banks to bail out struggling bond insurer Ambac Financial could be unveiled early next week. So, is this a conspiracy or pure coincident? I don't know. All I know is the battle between the Bulls and the Bears shall continue this week and may be extended to next week too. However, we are very near to a deciding point for both Bulls and Bears can no longer hold this equilibrium point forever. The reason that I am particularly interest in this juncture, is because the winner will basically decide whether we are heading for a mild recession or a deep depression! In technical term, it will provide a clearer picture as to whether we are heading for a WAVE 4 of bigger degree before another bull run OR we are heading for an A-B-C bigger degree melt down. I am confident market will tell us a clearer direction in the next two weeks, and by then we have plenty of time to decide our future investment strategy. Right now the wiser choice is to stay sideline and wait for market to tell us the direction! There are a series of economic data such as Monday's Existing home sales, Tuesday's PPI, Thursday's Durable goods order and Fed Chairman Bernanke testify on the US economy to the Senate Banking committee, all these may lead to a clearer future market direction. As for STI, we could expect a stronger opening on Monday with support at 3019 and resistance at 3130. The index will continue its range movement until USA market provides a clearer direction. As such, if you are intermediate term investor you should stay sideline waiting for market to tell you the direction.  As for traders, you may have to sell on rally and buy on dip during this range trading period. For STI, the first resistance will be at 3100 follow by 3130. Support are at 3020 follow by 2950.
The following are the support and resistance to watch for Dow Jones, Hang Seng and Nikkei next week.

                       Dow Jones      Hang Seng     Nikkei
Resistance       12767            24400            13900
Support             12069            22569            12900

As for STI the resistances and supports are as follow:
Resistance:      3050, 3100, 3130, 3168, 3200, 3250
Support:            3020, 2950, 2930, 2850, 2746

Events To watch For The Coming Week:

  1. The movement in Dow Jones Industry and NASDAQ..
  2. The movement in currencies, oil and commodities price.
  3. The economics data, such as Monday's Existing home sales, Tuesday's PPI, Thursday's Personal Income & Spending, Durable Goods orders.
  4. Fed chairman Bernanke testify on the US economy to the Senate Banking committee on Thursday.

The following are two possible wave counts on STI as at to-date:

  1. Preferred Count (60% probability)-- bullish count
    My preferred count calling for a top at 2502 (on 7/1/2000) as wave ((1)), it then follow by a two year sell off on wave ((2)) to 1197 (on 28/9/2001). The index had then entered into an  impulsive wave ((3)) that ended at 3906. We are now in the development of wave ((4)), of which we expect it to be a big triangle formation that take about one to two years to complete. The recent sell down is the first leg of wave ((4)), which will take a form of a-b-c and reaches the potential target of 2770, as the wave (a) of ((4)). The index will then continue to develop the (a)-(b)-(c)-(d)-(e) triangle formation.
     
  2. Alternate Count (40% probability)-- bearish count
    My alternate count calling for a top at 2502 (on 7/1/2000) as wave ((1)), it then follow by a two year sell off on wave ((2)) to 1197 (on 28/9/2001). The index had then entered into an  impulsive wave ((3)) that ended at 2666 in May 2006. The index had then entered into wave ((5)) that ended on 3906 in October'07. We are now in the downtrend bear market, which will last for a few years! Although this count remains as the least chance as compare to my preferred count. If the index breaks below 2776 convincingly on very high volume, the odd on bear market will significantly increase.

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