Euro Suffers Manageable Blow on Priced No Vote

GBPUSD – technical overview

The market has broken out of a multi session consolidation off the multi-year low, which has opened a sizable correction higher. Ultimately, there is room to run a little more to the 1.2800 area without compromising the intense downtrend, with a lower top sought out in favour of a bearish resumption back towards 1.2000. Only a weekly close above 1.2800 would compromise the structure. A daily close below 1.2300 will put the immediate pressure back on the downside.

• R2 1.2796 – 6Jul low – Strong
• R1 1.2737 – 2Dec High – Medium
• S1 1.2570 – 2Dec low – Medium
• S2 1.2386 – 28Nov low – Strong

GBPUSD – fundamental overview

An impressive recovery for the Pound over the past week, with the UK currency outperforming across the board. The relative outperformance comes from a repricing of Brexit risk, with many feeling more optimistic about the currency’s outlook now that talk of access to the single market has come back on the table. The anti-Brexit Lib Dem victory in last Friday’s by-election has also been supporting the Pound, with the currency getting yet another boost against the Euro early Monday on cross related EURGBP sales post the Italian referendum NO vote. Looking ahead, we get UK services PMIs, US ISM non-manufacturing and some Fed speak.

USDJPY – technical overview

The major pair has seen an intense bullish shift in recent days, with the most recent break above 107.50 exposing fresh upside towards next meaningful resistance in the 115.00 area. However, daily studies are looking stretched which suggests that additional upside could be limited  in favour of a more significant healthy corrective pullback. But ultimately, any setbacks are expected to be well supported above previous resistance at 107.50.

• R2 114.83 – 1Dec high – Strong
• R1 114.00 – Figure – Medium
• S1 112.87 – 5Dec low – Medium
• S2 111.36 – 28Nov low – Strong

USDJPY – fundamental overview

The reality of the NO vote in the Italian referendum opened the door for some initial downside in the major pair on the open, though the setbacks were contained as most of this negative risk had already been priced into the market ahead of the event. USDJPY was content to quickly jump back above 113.00 reverting to broader flows that had been dictating price action. Overall, yield differentials and policy divergence are still the primary drivers of Yen weakness, though the emergence of risk liquidation could invite a period of renewed Yen demand, especially after the Yen has already fallen so far and fast in recent weeks. Looking ahead, we get US ISM non-manufacturing and some Fed speak.

EURCHF – technical overview

A recent close below 1.0800 which had been defined as the bottom of a multi-week range strengthens the bearish outlook and opens the door for an acceleration of declines towards the 2016 low at 1.0624. At this point, a daily close back above 1.0865 would now be required to take the immediate pressure off the downside and suggest the market is once again looking settle back into the previous range.

• R2 1.0865 – 28Oct high – Strong
• R1 1.0818 – 30Nov high – Medium
• S1 1.0687 – 18Nov low – Medium
• S2 1.0624 – 24Jun/2016 low – Strong

EURCHF – fundamental overview

The SNB has unquestionably had a challenging time of late, with the central bank forced to contend with an ongoing wave of demand for the Swiss Franc, mostly recently in the aftermath of this latest Italian referendum NO vote. The central bank has been committed to its mandate of ensuring the Franc does not appreciate further through monetary policy and intervention tools. Though despite all efforts, the Franc continues to want to appreciate against the Euro. It seems the strategy has been to buy Euro when risk comes off and to do nothing when risk is back on and natural flows should be CHF bearish. But the trouble is, with risk mostly on and global equities elevated, the Franc is still not depreciating as much as the SNB would probably like to see and if global risk sentiment deteriorates, it could invite a massive wave of demand for the Franc that the SNB will be unable to offset.

AUDUSD – technical overview

The latest break below 0.7400 is a significant development and now opens the door for deeper setbacks towards next key support at 0.7145 in the days ahead. At this point, look for any rallies to be well capped ahead of 0.7600. Only back above 0.7700 delays the bearish outlook.

• R2 0.7582 – 15Nov high – Strong
• R1 0.7498 – 29Nov high– Medium
• S1 0.7371 – 1Dec low – Medium
• S2 0.7312 – 21Nov low – Strong

AUDUSD – fundamental overview

The Australian Dollar has largely ignored the fallout from the Italian referendum and is instead more focused on upcoming event risk in the form of early Tuesday’s RBA policy decision. While no change is expected on rates, it will be interesting to see what kind of tone the RBA gives off now that the market has shifted from pricing in rate cuts down the road to rate hikes. The RBA will be pleased with the lower Aussie exchange rate, demand from China and a nice recovery in iron ore and copper prices, but it will also not be wanting to get too hawkish with labour market data regressing and showing plenty of slack. Looking ahead to the rest of Monday’s calendar, US ISM non-manufacturing and some Fed speak stand out.

USDCAD – technical overview

This market looks to be in the process of carving out a longer-term base off the 1.2461, 2016 low. Look for any additional weakness to be supported well ahead of 1.3000 in favour of the next major upside extension towards a measured move objective into the 1.4000 area. Ultimately, only back below 1.3000 would delay the constructive outlook.

• R2 1.3482 – 29Nov high – Strong
• R1 1.3357 – 30Nov low – Medium
• S1 1.3255 – 2Dec low – Strong
• S2 1.3200 – Figure – Medium

USDCAD – fundamental overview

The Canadian Dollar is one of the stronger currencies over the past week. Most of the gains have come from an impressive rally in the price of OIL post the OPEC production cut agreement, though economic data out of Canada hasn’t been all that bad either. Last week’s impressive GDP showing was followed up on Friday with an above forecast Canada employment report. Still, it’s worth noting a bit of deception in the headline print as most of the jobs came out of the part time sector. Overall, yield differentials, monetary policy divergence with the Fed and the threat of risk liquidation are all forces that ultimately could weigh more heavily on the Loonie going forward with dealers reporting healthy Canadian Dollar offers into this latest rally. Looking ahead, IS ISM non-manufacturing and some Fed speak stand out.

NZDUSD – technical overview

Despite the latest bounce, the overall pressure has shifted back to the downside with the market now expected to be very well capped on rallies ahead of 0.7300. Look for a fresh lower top at 0.7403 in favour of the next major downside extension below 0.6952 and towards medium-term support at 0.6675 further down.

• R2 0.7229 – 11Nov high – Strong
• R1 0.7170 – 30Nov high – Medium
• S1 0.7043 – 1Dec low – Medium
• S2 0.7000 – Psychological – Strong

NZDUSD – fundamental overview

While most of the market was focused on a PM Renzi resignation early Monday, over in New Zealand, it was the shocking announcement of PM Key’s resignation that had local traders’ attention. According to the PM, it was time time to step down given his level of exhaustion and toll the position had taken on his family over the years. Still, not much of a reaction in the Kiwi market, with participants seemingly confident in the prospect of a competent successor in the form of Deputy PM English. Looking ahead, we get US ISM non-manufacturing and some Fed speak.

US SPX 500 – technical overview

While this latest surge back to a fresh record high could compromise what has been the possibility for a toppish structure, the risk is still tilted to the downside if the market fails to establish above 2200 on a monthly close basis. But ultimately, at this point, any topside failure will also need to be met with a break back below 2100 to once again encourage the possibility for a bearish structural shift. Initial support comes in at 2181, with a break below to take the immediate pressure off the topside.

• R2 2250.00 – Psychological – Strong
• R1 2215.00 – 30Nov/Record high – Medium
• S1 2181.00 – 21Nov low – Medium
• S2 2156.00 – 25Oct high– Strong

US SPX 500 – fundamental overview

The ongoing support for US equities has been more than impressive, particularly at a time when the Fed is about to embark on a steady path to policy normalisation. But the market will need to once again think about the bigger, more worrying issue at hand, which is an exhaustion of global monetary policy tools globally and an inability for central banks to continue to support and stimulate growth. This leaves financial markets vulnerable to any shocks and exposed to intense periods of additional risk liquidation going forward, especially at a time when the Fed is moving further away from accommodation. One such minor shock that is weighing in Monday trade has been the NO vote in the Italian referendum, with many now fearing systemic risk associated with a stifled Italian bank recapitalisation process and threat to the EU.

GOLD (SPOT) – technical overview

Despite a major setback, the overall structure remains constructive with the market in the process of carving out a longer-term base. Look for any weakness to be very well supported above 1130, with only a close back below this level to negate the basing outlook and give reason for pause. Back above 1197.70 strengthens the outlook and should accelerate gains towards a retest of the 2016 peak at 1375.

• R2 1221.10 – 22Nov high – Strong
• R1 1197.70 – 28Nov high – Medium
• S1 1160.70 – 1Dec low – Medium
• S2 1150.00 – Psychological – Strong

GOLD (SPOT) – fundamental overview

GOLD has suffered quite a blow over the past several days, with the yellow metal unable to ignore the intense rotation into the US Dollar. However, solid demand from medium and longer-term players continues to emerge on dips despite the setbacks, with these players more concerned about the limitations of exhausted monetary policy, extended global equities, systemic risk and a bet that record low inflation will turn up even faster in a Trump presidency. All of this will almost certainly continue to keep the commodity in demand, even if the Buck is propped, with many market participants fleeing to the hard asset as the grand dichotomy of record high equities and record low yields comes to an unnerving climax.

Feature – technical overview

USDTRY continues to push into unchartered territory, breaking to yet another record high, this time through psychological barriers at 3.5000, stalling just shy of 3.6000. While the uptrend remains firmly intact, daily studies are now at the point where they are overextended. This warns of some form of a major corrective pullback ahead to allow for these studies to unwind. Medium-term studies are also extended, yet another indication we could soon see a period of correction. Ultimately however, any setbacks should be well supported ahead of 3.2000.

• R2 3.6500 – Psychological – Strong
• R1 3.5950 – 2Dec/Record High – Medium
• S1 3.4070 – 29Nov low – Medium
• S2 3.3515 – 21Nov low – Strong

Feature – fundamental overview

While it’s been clear for some time the Erdogan government has been opposed to rate hikes, with Erdogan even calling for rate cuts in the previous week, it has also been very difficult to ignore the necessity for such action with the Lira continuing to decline to record lows. The other week, the CBRT went ahead and pushed rates up 50 basis points in an effort to offset some of this currency depreciation, though it seems the market is going to need a more aggressive move if it is going to make a dent in the current environment. Event risk and political risk are major headaches on the domestic front, while the CBRT also has to continue to worry about Fed normalisation. One major bank has come out with a downbeat assessment for Turkey and the Lira into 2017, declaring that Turkey has ‘by far the worst external position in CEEMEA’. The CBRT’s latest financial stability report has tried to paint a more upbeat picture but that’s a difficult thing to do when the currency is crashing and you get trade data showing a wider deficit. CPI data on tap but not likely to factor unless it is much softer, which is highly unlikely.