Next 24 hours: Risk off blood bath
Today’s report: Disruptive forces
We come into the new week with the market contending with harsh realities it’s been ignoring for some time, which could prove more disruptive in the days and weeks ahead. The US Dollar is in demand and stocks are coming under pressure.
Wake-up call
- ECB officials
- UK infections
- growth forecasts
- stocks slide
- housing starts
- RBNZ hikes
- Stocks vulnerable
- Dealers report
Peformance chart: 30 Day Performance vs. US dollar (%)
Suggested reading
- Falling Bond Yields Are an Unsolved Conundrum, J. Authers, Bloomberg (July 16, 2021)
- The Half Year in Charts, C. Bilello, Compound Advisors (July 15, 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
More broad based US Dollar demand into the end of last week on yield differentials and flight to safety. We also heard from ECB officials wary of sending a hawkish signal with this week's expected upgraded inflation forecast. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of Eurozone construction output, a BOE Haskel speech, and US NAHB housing.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
Infections in the UK have jumped up to their highest levels since January. This in conjunction with US Dollar favourable yield differentials and flight to safety into the Buck have been weighing on the Pound. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of Eurozone construction output, a BOE Haskel speech, and US NAHB housing.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 came under some pressure on Friday after the BOJ was out downgrading growth forecasts. Meanwhile, the BOJ move into climate change funding initiatives has been seen as just another excuse to perpetuate QE. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of Eurozone construction output, a BOE Haskel speech, and US NAHB housing.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 downside pressure in metals and mining sector stocks, along with broad based demand for the US Dollar on yield differentials and flight to safety have been behind this latest decline in the Australian Dollar to fresh yearly lows. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of Eurozone construction output, a BOE Haskel speech, and US NAHB housing.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
The Canadian Dollar was unable to muster any upside momentum from better Canada housing starts, with the greater pressure coming from broad based US Dollar demand on yield differentials and flight to safety. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of Eurozone construction output, a BOE Haskel speech, and US NAHB housing.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 has done a great job outperforming against its peers in the face of broad US Dollar demand. A more hawkish leaning RBNZ and Westpac expectations for three rate hikes this year, especially after this latest hot New Zealand inflation read have been fueling the relative outperformance. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of Eurozone construction output, a BOE Haskel speech, and US NAHB housing.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.