US auto-sales mixed Home-made not so hot US March vehicle sales data released yesterday showed an increase in the annualised rate to 17.15 from February s 16.2 million cars and trucks. However, the jump was due mainly to increases in German and Japanese luxury brands, large trucks and the perennially popular SUV s. Ford, GM and Honda sales shrank and missed estimates. In China Toyota sales slumped by 20.9 per cent taking Q1 sales down by 0.1 per cent from this time last year in their biggest market. Tonight at 8pm ITV will host a 2 hour debate with the leaders of all 7 UK political parties. If anyone still thought May s general election was a two horse race it s high time to re-think. Challenge: name all seven. Nicole Elliott
DAX 30 Holding what is becoming an established range while the MACD is not bullish. Best to keep away over the Easter break. DAY TRADER: Square for now. POSITION TAKER: Wondering what will happen in Greece where Easter Sunday is the 12 th April. 11800 12050 11615 12125 11520 12160 11400 12220 ii
FTSE 100 Holding support at 6700 with an increasingly complex chart pattern. Remember not to become complacent. DAY TRADER: Square and wary. POSITION TAKER: Short at 6850; stop above 6915. First target 6700, then probably 6500. 6725 6855 6690 6900 6670 6975 6600 7065 iii
S&P 500 If this really is a potential double top chart pattern, its second half should develop more quickly than the first. A weekly close below 2040 will complete and will probably tip the balance for another slump to 1980. DAY TRADER: Small short at 2057; stop above 2095. Target 1985. POSITION TAKER: Will sell on a weekly close below 2040. 2055 2070 2045 2090 2025 2100 1990 2120 iv
BRITISH POUND/US DOLLAR Beginning to look almost comfortable between 1.480 and 1.5000 while electioneering heats up. DAY TRADER: Hoping to keep out of sterling things until mid-may. POSITION TAKER: Careful with all currencies. 1.4800 1.4900 1.4740 1.5000 1.4700 1.5015 1.4635 1.5135 v
EURO/US DOLLAR Consolidating close to multi-year lows but certainly not suffering unduly because of Greece. Expect another push at the 50 per cent resistance level at 1.1000. DAY TRADER: Square. POSITION TAKER: Remember the Rule of 8, now that the euro has dropped against the US dollar for 9 consecutive months. 1.0730 1.0880 1.0655 1.0920 1.0600 1.1000 1.0550 1.1045 vi
GOLD Increasingly difficult with jagged and random moves within a very wide, poorly delineated band. DAY TRADER: Small short at 1195; stop above 1225. Target 1157. POSITION TAKER: Still trading well below trend line resistance that has dominated since April 2013. 1180 1205 1168 1220 1160 1225 1150 1245 vii
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