Today’s report: Anything but transitory
Investors continue to ignore the threat of rising inflation, this after US producer prices shot up well above forecast on Thursday.
Wake-up call
- industrial production
- unimpressive reads
- delta variant
- Canberra lockdown
- Snap election
- border closure
- Stocks vulnerable
- Dealers report
Peformance chart: 30 Day Performance vs. US dollar (%)
Suggested reading
- Inflation Mystery Meat May Be Food for the Dollar, J. Authers, Bloomberg (August 12, 2021)
- How to Build A C02 Processing Artificial Tree, T. Hannen, Financial Times (August 4, 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
Thursday was a quiet day for the most part with no major movement. Still, the Euro remained weighed down on account of the softer Eurozone industrial production reads. Key standouts on Friday’s calendar come in the form of German wholesale prices, Eurozone trade, Canada producer prices, US import and export prices, and Michigan sentiment.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
June GDP reads were a beat in the UK, but it was more of a sell the fact type reaction in the aftermath of the data, with added weight coming from discouraging UK industrial production and manufacturing production reads. Key standouts on Friday’s calendar come in the form of German wholesale prices, Eurozone trade, Canada producer prices, US import and export prices, and Michigan sentiment.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 didn't do much at all on Thursday, though there continues to be good demand for the Japanese currency on traditional flight to safety bids. The comments from a Japanese health official that the virus was impossible to control played a part on price action, while Tokyo is considering extending the state of emergency. Key standouts on Friday’s calendar come in the form of German wholesale prices, Eurozone trade, Canada producer prices, US import and export prices, and Michigan sentiment.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
A slowdown in China, declining metals prices and the news of Canberra entering a hard seven day lockdown, have all kept the Australian Dollar well capped into rallies. Key standouts on Friday’s calendar come in the form of German wholesale prices, Eurozone trade, Canada producer prices, US import and export prices, and Michigan sentiment.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 whole lot of action in the Canadian Dollar on Thursday, though we did see some selling of the Loonie on the news of the talk around a snap election. Key standouts on Friday’s calendar come in the form of German wholesale prices, Eurozone trade, Canada producer prices, US import and export prices, and Michigan sentiment.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 took a hit on Thursday and remains under pressure, this after the news of the government's plan to keep the border closed for the remainder of the year. Key standouts on Friday’s calendar come in the form of German wholesale prices, Eurozone trade, Canada producer prices, US import and export prices, and Michigan sentiment.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.