US Dollar Trying to Run Again

GBPUSD – technical overview

This latest impressive run to the topside has stalled out ahead of critical resistance in the form of the December peak at 1.2775. While we could still see a test and overshoot beyond 1.2775 in the sessions ahead, the market would need to establish a weekly close above this level to suggest a major base in place and force a bullish structural shift. Until then, expect any moves into or through 1.2775 to stall out. A daily close below 1.2400 will increase bearish prospects.

• R2 1.2707 – 2Feb high – Strong
• R1 1.2583 – 9Feb high– Medium
• S1 1.2440 – 10Feb low – Medium
• S2 1.2346 – 7Feb low – Strong

GBPUSD – fundamental overview

The Pound is back under pressure into the midweek after the currency took its hits on Tuesday on the back of softer UK inflation readings and an upbeat, hawkishly perceived Fed Chair testimony, in which Yellen left the door open for a March hike. More volatility is expected today with the market first digesting this latest UK employment data before moving on to US CPI, retail sales and empire manufacturing. The Fed Chair will also be back at it when she testifies in front of the House panel.

USDJPY – technical overview

The market has seen a nice bounce, though the short-term pressure remains on the downside despite this bounce in light of a recent break of multi-session consolidation that projects weakness into the 109.50 area in the days ahead. At this point, it would take a push back above 115.62 to officially alleviate short-term downside pressure and as such, the current rally is expected to stall out ahead of 115.00.

• R2 115.00 – Psychological – Strong
• R1 114.51– 15Feb high – Medium
• S1 113.25 – 14Feb low – Medium
• S2 111.59 – 7Feb low – Strong

USDJPY – fundamental overview

The Yen took a big hit on Tuesday after the Fed Chair produced upbeat, hawkish testimony, ultimately leaving the door open for a March hike. Comments from FinMin Aso and BOJ Kuroda relating to FX have been largely ignored on Wednesday and the focus will now shift to a healthy batch of US data featuring retail sales, CPI and empire manufacturing. The Fed Chair could also move markets again when she testifies in front of the House panel. Of course, another source of Yen weakness has been this ongoing push to record highs in US equities. 

EURCHF – technical overview

A recent close below 1.0800 which had been defined as the bottom of a multi-week range has strengthened the bearish outlook, opening the door for additional declines towards the 2016 low at 1.0624. At this point, a daily close back above 1.0763 would be required to take the immediate pressure off the downside.

• R2 1.0763 – 30Dec high – Strong
• R1 1.0708 – 3Feb high – Medium
• S1 1.0633 – 8Feb low – Medium
• S2 1.0624 – 24Jun/2016 low – Strong

EURCHF – fundamental overview

The SNB is in a quiet battle with the market, forced to contend with an ongoing wave of demand for the Swiss Franc in a less certain global environment, especially with the weapon of monetary policy worn down. The central bank has been committed to its mandate of ensuring the Franc does not appreciate further. But despite all efforts, the Franc continues to want to appreciate. It seems the central bank’s strategy has been to sell Francs when risk comes off and to do nothing when risk is back on and natural flows should be CHF bearish. But the trouble is, even with global equities elevated, arguably reflecting global appetite for risk, the Franc barely depreciating, if at all. This is an added concern with the SNB’s holding of US equities hitting a fresh record of its own at $63.4 Billion. Of course, the reemergence of Eurozone political risk is only further contributing to SNB stress, with the Franc finding even more demand on the back of these developments.

AUDUSD – technical overview

The market has entered a healthy bullish phase after setbacks stalled shy of key medium-term support at 0.7145 in late December. Still, overall, rallies continue to be very well capped on a medium-term basis, with only a daily close back above 0.7800 to compromise this outlook. Look for a daily close below 0.7600 to officially put the pressure back on the downside.

• R2 0.7779 – 8Nov high – Strong
• R1 0.7697 – 14Feb high– Medium
• S1 0.7606 – 7Feb low – Medium
• S2 0.7578 – 2Feb low – Medium

AUDUSD – fundamental overview

A round of impressive Aussie NAB business confidence and business conditions readings have been followed up Wednesday with a healthy Westpac consumer confidence print. The data has unquestionably helped the commodity currency fend off renewed selling interest on the back of Tuesday’s more hawkish Fed Chair testimony in which Yellen left the door open for a March hike. Other Aussie supportive drivers of late include hotter China CPI, rallying base metals and a rotation back into the long side of the AUDNZD trade. Looking ahead, Wednesday’s focus will be on US data featuring retail sales, CPI and empire manufacturing. The Fed Chair will also be back on the wires, this time testifying in front of the House panel.

USDCAD – technical overview

Despite recent setbacks, look for the market to continue to be well supported on dips into the 1.3000 area ahead of the next major upside extension back towards the December peak at 1.3600. In the interim, a daily close back above 1.3213 will help take the immediate short-term pressure off the downside.

• R2 1.3213 – 7Feb high – Strong
• R1 1.3169 – 9Feb high – Medium
• S1 1.3025 – 14Feb low – Medium
• S2 1.3000 – Psychological – Strong

USDCAD – fundamental overview

The Canadian Dollar has been feeling better about itself since this past Friday, when headline Canada employment came in well above forecast. Monday’s ‘wonderful’ Trudeau meeting with Trump as described by Trump himself may have helped to maintain the Loonie’s bid. Still, participants need to be reminded the Bank of Canada has expressed concern over the rise in the Canadian Dollar and upon closer glance, the fact that wage growth was much softer in this past Friday’s data, sitting at record lows, is something that should be more of a concern for Canadian Dollar bulls, especially with sizable USDCAD bids reported in the 1.3000 area. Tuesday’s Fed Chair Yellen testimony was more hawkish, leaving the door open for a March hike, yet another reason for traders to be thinking about selling the Loonie. Looking ahead, Canada manufacturing shipments and existing home sales are due, but will be overshadowed by US retail sales, CPI and empire manufacturing. The Fed Chair is also back on the wires, this time testifying before the House panel.

NZDUSD – technical overview

Despite this latest upside correction in 2017, the overall pressure remains on the downside with the market expected to be very well capped on rallies into the 0.7400 area. The weekly chart is reflective of this fact as it looks like we are seeing the formation of a major top off the 2016 high. As such, expect the market to continue to roll over in favour of that next lower top. A weekly close below 0.7200 will help strengthen this outlook.

• R2 0.7265 – 9Feb high – Strong
• R1 0.7218 – 13Feb high – Medium
• S1 0.7135 – 14Feb low – Medium
• S2 0.7130 – 100-Day SMA– Strong

NZDUSD – fundamental overview

The New Zealand Dollar is sitting at the bottom of the pack as far as performance in the developed currencies goes over the past week. The currency has taken hits from all sides. Softer local employment data, a more dovish RBNZ, the revival of the Trump reflation play, a rotation into AUDNZD and this latest hawkish Fed Chair testimony leaving the door open for a March hike are some of the major drivers behind the Kiwi underperformance. Of course, an ongoing bid for equities and rallying commodities have been helping to slow Kiwi declines. But ultimately, if the US Dollar continues to push on Trump reflation and hawkish Fed policy and if US equities falter, we could very well see a more intense liquidation of Kiwi longs. Looking ahead, we get plenty of first tier data out of the US, with retail sales, CPI and empire manufacturing due. Fed Yellen is also back on the wires, this time testifying before the House panel.

US SPX 500 – technical overview

The latest break to yet another record high following a healthy period of consolidation, has opened the door for the next big push towards 2350. While there could be signs of exhaustion on the horizon, given the intensity of this uptrend, a break back below 2300 would be required at a minimum to alleviate immediate topside pressure.

• R2 2350.00 – Psychological – Strong
• R1 2339.00 – 14Feb/Record high – Medium
• S1 2300.00 – Psychological – Strong
• S2 2254.00 – 12Jan low– Medium

US SPX 500 – fundamental overview

The record run in US equities has been more than impressive, particularly at a time when the Fed is embarking on a hawkish path to policy normalisation and the Trump administration is lacking the type of stability that would inspire confidence. This leaves financial markets vulnerable to any shocks and exposed to intense periods of risk liquidation going forward. The fact that monetary policy around the rest of the globe is exhausted with very little left in the tank to artificially support risk assets is yet another major concern. Of course, last week’s Trump’s comments relating to tax reform and the revival of the Trump reflation play have been behind this latest record high push, but overall, there are plenty of red flags out there, warning of a major capitulation ahead.

GOLD (SPOT) – technical overview

The market has been very well supported since basing out around 1120 in 2016. This latest break through 1220 confirms a fresh higher low at 1180 and opens the next major upside extension towards a measured move into the 1260 area. Only back below 1180 would delay the constructive outlook, while ultimately, below 1120 would be required to negate.

• R2 1260.00 – Measured Move – Strong
• R1 1244.80 – 8Feb high – Medium
• S1 1200.00 – Psychological – Medium
• S2 1180.60 – 27Jan low  – Strong

GOLD (SPOT) – fundamental overview

Solid demand from medium and longer-term players continues to emerge on dips, with these players more concerned about the limitations of exhausted monetary policy, extended global equities, political uncertainty and systemic risk. All of this should continue to keep the commodity in demand, 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

USDMXN has been in the process of correcting out from recent record highs earlier this year. The market is now coming back into critical psychological support in the 20.00 area and is expected to be well supported around the barrier in favour of a resumption of the uptrend and push back through the record high just over 22.00. Only a daily close below 20.00 would give reason for pause and open the possibility for a more meaningful structural shift.

• R2 22.0380 – 11Jan/Record – Strong
• R1 21.3900 – 11Nov high – Medium
• S1 20.1290 – 17Nov low – Medium
• S2 20.0000 – Psychological – Strong

Feature – fundamental overview

As per the words of the Banxico, in an effort to avoid consumer price contagion following a jump in gasoline prices and to anchor inflation expectations, the central bank went ahead and hiked rates 50bps to 6.25% this past Thursday. The market was expecting this move and was clearly pleased with the action in light of the intense downward pressure on the Peso in the world of Trump. The Peso has managed to strengthen moderately in the aftermath of the decision, also benefiting from a wave of risk on flow as Trump turns away, at least for a moment, from focusing on protectionist policies threatening prospects for the Mexican economy. CFTC positioning has also been Peso supportive, showing a trimming down of Peso shorts. Still, the Peso is far from out of the woods, with Trump uncertainty running high and the Fed Chair leaving the door open for a March hike in her Tuesday testimony. Looking out, the market is pricing another 100bps of Banxico hikes in 2017.