Today’s report: Busy Friday Features US Jobs Report
The US Dollar heads into Friday in a fairly good mood, trading higher across the board since the weekly open, even against the Euro which is coming off an impressive round of Thursday gains, sitting just off its 2017 high from last week.
Wake-up call
Chart talk: Major markets technical overview video
- ECB Minutes
- BOE McCafferty
- bond operations
- SNB fighting
- base metals
- Canada employment
- US data
- jobs report
- Macro players
- USDZAR
Peformance chart: Five day performance v. US dollar
Suggested reading
- (Another) Taper Tantrum, M. Gilbert, Bloomberg (July 6, 2017)
- British Open Prize Money in Dollars!, J. Detrixhe, Quartz (July 6, 2017)
Chart talk: Technical & fundamental highlights
Choose pair:
EURUSD – technical overview
This latest break to fresh 2017 highs beyond 1.1300 has confirmed a higher low at 1.1110 opening this latest extension towards 1.1500, which also coincides with critical longer-term resistance in the 1.1400-1.1700 area. But daily studies are looking stretched, suggesting any additional upside could be difficult, with the greater risk building for some form of a meaningful bearish reversal in the sessions ahead. Still, the uptrend in 2017 is well intact and a break below back below a confirmed higher low at 1.1110 would be required to officially shift the broader focus back to the downside.
EURUSD – fundamental overview
It didn’t take too long for the Euro to resume its 2017 uptrend, with the single currency racing back up on Thursday and contemplating a break to a fresh yearly high towards 1.1500. The catalyst for the move came from the combination of a more hawkish ECB Minutes and softer US data. The ECB Minutes revealed board members having the conversation about dropping the central bank's QE bias, while US ADP employment and US initial jobless claims disappointed. Perhaps the only thing capping the Euro somewhat was the solid US ISM non-manufacturing print and some positioning ahead of today’s US employment report. German industrial production is the only notable standout on the European calendar. It’s worth noting the Fed’s release of its monetary policy report to Congress and Trump’s meeting with Putin (for the first time) at the G20 summit should not be overlooked.
GBPUSD – technical overview
The market has entered a period of choppy consolidation over the past several sessions but is now expected to be very well supported on dips in favour of a higher low and bullish continuation towards a measured move extension objective at 1.3500 in the weeks ahead. A breakout above critical resistance at 1.2775 back in April triggered a structural shift in the major pair warning of a longer-term base. Only back below 1.2360 would compromise this outlook. Still, in the shorter-term, choppy consolidation in the 1.2500-1.3000 area should not be ruled out before the market ultimately breaks higher.
GBPUSD – fundamental overview
There wasn’t much going on in the UK on Thursday, though the Pound still managed to find some bids on the back of discouraging US economic data. Both ADP employment and initial jobless claims were a let down, though a solid ISM non-manufacturing print did help to cap gains somewhat. BOE McCafferty has also helped to keep the Pound supported after commenting the central bank would be needing to take away stimulus given an acceleration in inflation. Looking ahead, today will be a busy day for the Pound. First we get a batch of data out of the UK including industrial production, manufacturing production and trade, and then all of the focus shifts to the US jobs report. It’s worth noting the Fed’s release of its monetary policy report to Congress and Trump’s meeting with Putin (for the first time) at the G20 summit should not be overlooked.
USDJPY – technical overview
Despite the latest recovery rally, the overall pressure remains on the downside. In the interim, look for any additional upside to remain capped below 114.00, though only a break back above the recent high at 114.37 will negate the outlook and take the pressure off the downside.
USDJPY – fundamental overview
A disappointing round of Thursday US data and some risk off flow had capped gains in the major pair before the market was bid up again early Friday on the back of BOJ bond operations which saw an increase in purchases and an unlimited fixed rate bond operation for the 5 and 10 year segments. Overall, the more hawkish policy trajectories at the Fed, ECB and BOE have already impacted the Yen in recent days, with the Japanese currency tracking lower (USDJPY higher) as yield differentials widen in favor of the US Dollar, Euro and Pound. However, there is risk all of this central bank hawkishness spooks the global equities market, which could inspire renewed Yen demand on traditional correlations (USDJPY lower).  Looking ahead, the key standout on today’s calendar is the US employment report. But other events to watch will be Fed’s release of its monetary policy report to Congress and Trump’s meeting with Putin (for the first time) at the G20 summit.
EURCHF – technical overview
A recent break above 1.0900 has taken the short-term pressure off the downside and could be warning of a more significant structural shift. Next key resistance comes in at 1.1000, with the psychological barrier coinciding with a high from August 2016. The establishment above 1.1000 would force a meaningful shift in the structure and open the door for longer-term upside. At the same time, while the market holds below 1.1000 on a daily closes basis the overall trend is still bearish and a break back below 1.0800 would renew downside pressure.
EURCHF – fundamental overview
Overinflated, record high US equities should be a worry for the SNB as any capitulation on the equity front is likely to invite massive safe haven Franc demand the central bank will have an extremely difficult time offsetting, irrespective of the central bank’s negative rate policy and intervention efforts. The SNB is hoping global sentiment will remain artificially elevated and the ECB will continue to paint a more hawkish picture. But it looks like it really should come down to the performance in US equities given the influence on broader sentiment. Any signs of intensification to the downside will likely invite a pickup in Franc demand and unwanted downside pressure on EURCHF.
AUDUSD – technical overview
Despite the latest rally, the market continues to be very well capped into medium-term resistance around 0.7800. Ultimately, any moves to the topside are therefore classified as corrective with the market expected to stall out and roll over again. Look for a break back below 0.7536 to strengthen this outlook and accelerate declines.
AUDUSD – fundamental overview
The Australian Dollar has taken a healthy hit this week, initially triggered after the RBA failed to deliver a more upbeat, hawkish policy decision many were expecting. Weakness in copper prices, falling coal exports to China, slumping iron ore and worry over a capitulation in risk assets are other factors keeping Aussie weighed down into the latter portion of the week. Even Thursday’s discouraging US ADP and jobless claims prints have done little to prop Aussie into setbacks. Looking ahead, the big focus will be on the US jobs report, though the Fed’s release of its monetary policy report to Congress and Trump’s meeting with Putin (for the first time) at the G20 summit should not be overlooked.
USDCAD – technical overview
The latest round of setbacks have taken the pressure off the topside for now, with the market trading back into a longer-term range. The recent break below 1.3200 has opened the door for a more pronounced decline through major psychological support at 1.3000. Ultimately however, the longer-term uptrend remains intact and setbacks should be well supported below the 1.3000 barrier. Still, we would now need to see a bounce in the sessions ahead and break back above 1.3044 at a minimum to strengthen the constructive outlook.
USDCAD – fundamental overview
Canada trade data showed a wider than expected deficit, though there were some decent components within the data to offset. Meanwhile, Thursday’s round of US data was mixed as well, with ADP and claims missing, but ISM non-manufacturing coming in better than forecast. In the end, the deciding factor proved to be the price of OIL, with another pullback ultimately resulting in a lower Canadian Dollar on the day. Still, overall, the Canadian Dollar has been well bid in recent weeks, with a very clear hawkish shift in the Bank of Canada’s thinking assigned as the primary driver. Looking ahead, it should be a very busy final session of the week for the Loonie, with the currency needing to take in monthly employment reports out of Canada and the US, along with Canada Ivey PMIs. The Fed will also release its monetary policy report to Congress, which could factor into price action.
NZDUSD – technical overview
Despite the intense surge over the past several days, the overall pressure remains on the downside with the market expected to be very well capped in the 0.7300s. The longer-term chart is reflective of this fact as it looks like we’re seeing the formation of a major top off the 2016 high. Only a clear break back above 0.7400 would compromise the outlook, while back below 0.7186 strengthens the bearish case.
NZDUSD – fundamental overview
The New Zealand Dollar has put in an impressive rally in recent weeks, but is starting to show signs of exhaustion. This week’s wave of US Dollar demand and another negative GDT auction showing have factored into the mild Kiwi selloff. Meanwhile, fear of vulnerability in global equities is acting as an additional strain for Kiwi. We did however see some demand emerge on Thursday following the disappointing US ADP employment and initial jobless claims prints. Looking ahead, the big focus will be on the US jobs report, though the Fed’s release of its monetary policy report to Congress and Trump’s meeting with Putin (for the first time) at the G20 summit should not be overlooked.
US SPX 500 – technical overview
Any setbacks have been exceptionally mild thus far and at a minimum, a daily close back below 2400 would be required to take the immediate pressure off the topside, though only a break below 2320 would signal a meaningful shift in the structure. But for now, until we see a daily close below 2400, the market is capable of extending its record run towards the next measured move extension target at 2480 further up.
US SPX 500 – fundamental overview
The US equity market has done a good job proving it’s easily supported into any dip and can keep pushing to record highs as it focuses on rates staying lower for longer and the Fed continuing to underdeliver on forward guidance. But this bet will be put to the test in a big way going forward, with the Fed upgrading its commitment to policy normalisation and other major central bank jumping on the monetary policy reversal bandwagon. The major takeaway is that central banks are sending a clear message that an era of artificial support is finally coming to an end. Today’s US jobs report is in focus and could open the door for an intensified liquidation if the data is strong and has investors reconsidering dovish bets,
GOLD (SPOT) – technical overview
The market has come under intense pressure since rallying to a fresh 2017 high in June, with setbacks accelerating. However, overall, setbacks have been very well supported for many months now, with the yellow metal putting in a series of higher highs and higher lows since basing out in 2016. As such, look for additional declines to be limited, with the market ideally holding above the previous higher low at 1214 on a daily close basis ahead of the next major upside extension and bullish resumption.
GOLD (SPOT) – fundamental overview
Solid demand from medium and longer-term players continues to emerge on dips, with these players more concerned about exhausted monetary policy, extended global equities, political uncertainty, systemic risk and geopolitical threats. All of this should continue to keep the commodity in demand, 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. Certainly the US Dollar under pressure in 2017 is adding to the metal’s bid tone as well, but there is a growing sense that even in a scenario where the US Dollar is bid, gold may continue to find bids on risk off macro implications.
Feature – technical overview
USDZARÂ is showing signs of the formation of a meaningful base since bottoming out around 12.30 earlier this year. The latest push back above 13.21 strengthens this outlook and sets the stage for a continuation of gains towards next key resistance at 13.71 further up. Any setbacks should ideally be well supported ahead of 12.55, with only a break back below this level to negate the constructive outlook.
Feature – fundamental overview
The South African Rand is finally succumbing to a wave of negative drivers on the domestic front, with the currency dropping to a seven week low against the Buck. The latest Rand slide has been attributed to jitters at the ANC conference earlier this week after the ruling party proposed nationalising the central bank and expropriating land without compensation. The proposals are viewed as quite radical, something that is unsettling to an investor base already nervous about a never ending string of political uncertainty, including corruption charges surrounding Zuma. Throw in persisting recessionary forces in South Africa and the prospect for a material reversal in elevated global equities and it all points to the greater risk for Rand weakness going forward.