Special report: Breaking down the Fed decision
Today’s report: The China spillover
The big story heading into Wednesday is the fallout in Chinese markets, which then spilled over into US markets.
Wake-up call
- Cross related
- BOE timeline
- China contagion
- Aussie inflation
- Canada inflation
- risk off
- Stocks vulnerable
- Dealers report
Peformance chart: 30 Day Performance vs. US dollar (%)
Suggested reading
- Workers Gaining at Expense of Shareholders, G. Shilling, Bloomberg (July 27, 2021)
- Buy The Dip, If You Can, J. Calhoun, Alhambra Investments (July 26, 2021)


Chart talk: Technical & fundamental highlights
Choose pair:
EURUSD – technical overview
The market has been looking for a higher low since topping out in 2021 up at 1.2350. Ideally, setbacks continue to be well supported down towards 1.1600 in favour of the next major upside extension back through 1.2350 and towards a retest of the 2018 high at 1.2555 further up. Only a weekly close below 1.1600 would force a rethink.EURUSD – fundamental overview
There wasn't anything meaningful in the way of first tier data on Tuesday and most of the move higher in the Euro was around cross related demand in risk off flow. Key standouts on Wednesday’s calendar come in the form of German confidence reads, Canada inflation, US trade, and the FOMC decision.EURUSD - Technical charts in detail
GBPUSD – technical overview
The market is in a corrective phase in the aftermath of the run to fresh 2021 and multi-month highs. At this stage, additional setbacks should be limited to the 1.3500 area ahead of the next major upside extension towards a retest and break of critical resistance in the form of the 2018 high.GBPUSD – fundamental overview
Calls from the street for earlier rate hikes from the BOE, along with solid CBI data helped to prop up the Pound on Tuesday. Deutsche was the latest bank looking for an August 2022 hike, six months earlier than their prior call. Key standouts on Wednesday’s calendar come in the form of German confidence reads, Canada inflation, US trade, and the FOMC decision.USDJPY – technical overview
The longer-term trend is bearish despite the recent run higher. Look for additional upside to be limited, with scope for a topside failure and bearish resumption back down towards the 100.00 area. It would take a clear break back above 113.00 to negate the outlook.USDJPY – fundamental overview
The Yen was higher on Tuesday on account of all the risk off flow from the fallout out of China. Key standouts on Wednesday’s calendar come in the form of German confidence reads, Canada inflation, US trade, and the FOMC decision.AUDUSD – technical overview
The Australian Dollar has been in the process of a healthy correction following the impressive run towards a retest of the 2018 earlier this year. At this stage, there is risk for additional declines, though setbacks are expected to be well supported down into the 0.7000 area.AUDUSD – fundamental overview
The Australian Dollar was under pressure on Tuesday as virus cases in Sydney hit new highs and fallout in Chinese markets intensified. Key standouts on Wednesday’s calendar come in the form of Aussie inflation, German confidence reads, Canada inflation, US trade, and the FOMC decision.USDCAD – technical overview
Finally signs of a major bottom in the works after a severe decline from the 2020 high. The weekly close back above 1.2500 encourages the constructive outlook and opens the door for a push back towards next critical resistance in the 1.3000 area. Any setbacks should be well supported into the 1.2200s.USDCAD – fundamental overview
Not a lot of activity in the Canadian Dollar on Tuesday. The rally in oil stalled out and equity markets were under pressure, which did contribute to some of the mild selling in the Loonie. Key standouts on Wednesday’s calendar come in the form of German confidence reads, Canada inflation, US trade, and the FOMC decision.NZDUSD – technical overview
The market has entered a period of consolidation after running up to a yearly and multi-month high. At this stage, there is still room for deeper setbacks into the 0.6500-0.6800 area before we see an attempt at a higher low and resumption of upside pressure.NZDUSD – fundamental overview
The New Zealand Dollar was lower on Tuesday, taking its hits from the fallout in risk sentiment in China, which then spread to the US market. Key standouts on Wednesday’s calendar come in the form of German confidence reads, Canada inflation, US trade, and the FOMC decision.US SPX 500 – technical overview
Longer-term technical studies are looking quite exhausted and the market is showing signs of wanting to roll over after racing to another record high. Look for rallies to be well capped ahead of 4500, with a break back below 4139 to strengthen the outlook.US SPX 500 – fundamental overview
We're trading just off fresh record highs, and yet, with so little room for additional central bank accommodation, given an already depressed interest rate environment, the prospect for sustainable runs to the topside on easy money policy incentives and government stimulus, should no longer be as enticing to investors. Meanwhile, ongoing worry associated with coronavirus fallout and risk of rising inflation should weigh more heavily on investor sentiment into the second half of 2021.GOLD (SPOT) – technical overview
The 2019 breakout above the 2016 high at 1375 was a significant development, opening the door for fresh record highs and an acceleration beyond the next major psychological barrier at 2000. Setbacks should now be well supported above 1600.GOLD (SPOT) – fundamental overview
The yellow metal continues to be well supported on dips with solid demand from medium and longer-term accounts. These players are more concerned about exhausted monetary policy, extended global equities, and coronavirus fallout. All of this should keep the commodity well supported, with many market participants also fleeing to the hard asset as the grand dichotomy of record high equities and record low yields comes to an unnerving climax.