Algo Buy Signal – Amcor

Our Algo Engine triggered a buy signal on Amcor as the stock forms a “higher low” pattern at or near $15.30.

Amcor reports earnings on the 22nd August, the market in looking for EPS growth of 8 – 10%.  The recent rally in the AUD may see forward guidance reduced slightly, if the AUD was to stay above $0.80.

We continue to like Amcor as a buy and hold portfolio position, complimented with a covered call option. We’re allowing moderate capital growth and when combining the dividend with the covered call option, we’re generate 10 – 12% annualised cashflow.

Chart – AMC

 

 

 

 

A Busy Data Week In Australian Markets

The AUD/USD reached a 2.5 year high of .8065 last week.

Comments from RBA chief, Philip Lowe, that the central bank is not compelled to follow the USA’s higher interest rate policy only had a temporary effect on the Aussie.

This week’s data calendar has several potentially market moving reports.

The RBA is not expected to adjust interest rates on Tuesday.  However, if the board re-affirms their neutral-to-easing bias, the AUD/USD could retreat from recent highs.

Wednesday’s building approval data is usually a second-tier report but will be closely watched this month.

Thursday’s trade balance numbers are expected to remain in surplus, but the $1.77 billion consensus number is half of last month’s amount. This release would not have included the recent rally in the AUD, which would have a dampening effect on exports.

Friday’s Retail Sales data will have more impact on ASX stocks than the AUD. The forecast is an increase of .2%, which will keep the yearly sales pace barely in positive territory.

On balance, we expect the RBA and trade balance numbers to weigh on the AUD/USD,  and potentially turn the trend back to the downside.

Investors looking to profit from the AUD/USD trading lower can look to buy the BetaShare ETF with the symbol: YANK.

YANK is an inverse ETF, which means the unit price increases as the price of the AUD/USD decreases. YANK also has a 2.5% weighting, which means a 1% change in the AUD/USD will correspond to a 2.5% move in the unit price.

The current price of YANK is $12.60. We calculate that when the AUD/USD trades back to the January low near .7300, the unit price will trade at $16.75.

BetaShare ETF: YANK

Gold Continues To Climb

Gold posted a low of $1204.50 on July 10th. Since then, the yellow metal has rallied over 5% and hit an intra-day high of $1270.70 in last night’s New York trade.

This marks the 3rd straight week of higher prices and internal momentum indicators are now pointing to the June high of $1295.75.

However, share prices of local gold miners NCM and EVN have not reflected this stronger trade in the spot Gold price.

Both NCM and EVN announced positive quarterly production numbers last week, and we expect both names will break out their recent ranges on the topside.

Over the medium-term, we have price targets of $22.10 for NCM and $2.60 for EVN.Gold

Newcrest.

Evolution Mining

Amazon Falls 2% On Lower Earnings

Amazon reported much lower earnings than expected and shares declined more than 2% in late trading.

The e-commerce giant reported net income of $197 million, or 40 cents a share, on sales of $38 billion, a profit decline of 77% from the same quarter a year ago. Analysts on average expected Amazon to report earnings of $1.41 a share on sales of $37.2 billion.

The company’s spending cut into profit, as fulfilment costs — the amount Amazon spends to fill customers’ orders on its e-commerce platform — rose about 33% from a year ago and spending on technology and content increased by about 43%. Amazon stock traded at all-time highs of $1083.00 before settling at $1046.00.

The next key support level will  be found at $975.00. A break of that price could extend down to the June low of $920.00.

Amazon

 

How Long Will The XJO Range Trade?

Over the last 12 weeks, the XJO index has traded in a range bound, pennant formation.

In technical terms, this is known as an “indecision” pattern and is usually resolved by a measured move through the top of the range, or broken through the bottom of the range.

The current price set-up has been bound by the June 8th low of 5606 and capped by the June 15th high of 5850.

After one of these levels are breached, the measured move would be expected to reach the May 2nd high of 5950, or drop down through the low price of 5606 posted on February 6th.

The banking sector is the heaviest weighted group of stocks in the XJO. As such, the direction of the banking shares will largely determine the direction of the XJO index.

Our base case has been that the major banks will face challenges to grow revenue in the current market environment and that pricing risks are skewed to the downside.

These valuation concerns apply even stronger to the regional banks; BOQ and BEN. After recent price rebounds in these two stocks, we believe that they could trade lower and reach $10.50 and $10.00, respectfully.

XJO

BOQ

Bendigo

 

Boeing Soars After Strong Earnings Report

Shares of Boeing  rallied to their highest-ever level Wednesday, contributing 117 points to the Dow Jones 30 Index on the heels of a second-quarter earnings beat and improved profit outlook.

The stock shot up more than 8%, its largest percentage gain since August 2009, to a high of $230.43, its highest intra-day price ever.

The dollar gain of nearly $17 was the best daily point rise on record.

Boeing shares have posted gains in four straight sessions, tacked on nearly 10% over that period and are up more than 45% for the year.

The company reported $2.89 per share, compared with the street’s estimate of $2.58 per share.

Boeing

 

Evolution Posts Record Production

Evolution Mining (EVN) posted a record quarterly production result of 218,000 ounces at a sustained cost of  AUD$825.00 per ounce.

The strong Q4 number places the FY 2017 production at the upper end of forward guidance near 844,000 ounces, and below the lower end of the cost guidance of AUD$906.00.

We see near-term technical resistance in the $2.48 area with a longer-term price target near $2.60.

However, a stronger AUD/USD above .8000 will have a dampening effect to EVN’s bottom line going forward.

Evolution Mining

 

AZJ – Selling Pressure

AZJ has recognised an A$526m impairment to its Bulk assets, and continues its Inter-modal review.

AZJ noted continues to face challenging market conditions and we feel investor sentiment will be negative leading into the FY17 results on 14 August 2017.

AZJ has previously guided towards FY17 EBIT within A$800-850m range.

Regular viewers of the ASX top 50 video market report, will recognise AZJ as a stock we’ve been warning about, in 2017. Our concern relates to the sustainability of the high dividend payout ratio and the probability of the company being forced to announce a cut at the August result.

Chart – AZJ