Special report: 3 Things Unique to Today’s Fed Decision
Today’s report: Fed Decision and a Whole Lot More
Risk markets have taken notice of the Doug Jones victory in the Alabama Senate election, which stifles Trump administration momentum and could further complicate the tax reform passage. It’s a busy day ahead, capped off with the FOMC decision.
Wake-up call
Chart talk: Major markets technical overview video
- German ZEW
- HC vote
- Democrat victory
- SNB strategy
- consumer confidence
- OIL pullback
- price deterioration
- red flags
- Macro accounts
- USDTRYÂ
Peformance chart: Five day performance v. US dollar
Suggested reading
- Jim Simons, the Numbers King, D.T. Max, The New Yorker (December 12, 2017)
- Bitcoin’s Multiple Prices and Oil’s Silent Rally, M. Nisen,  Bloomberg (December 11, 2017)
Chart talk: Technical & fundamental highlights
Choose pair:
EURUSD – technical overview
Despite minor setbacks off a recent recovery high, the outlook for the major pair remains highly constructive. The door is now open for a more immediate resumption of a well defined uptrend that has taken form in 2017. Look for any setbacks to be well supported ahead of 1.1700, for the next major upside extension beyond the current yearly high of 1.2093 and towards the 1.2500 area further up. Only a daily close back below 1.1700 will delay this outlook.
EURUSD – fundamental overview
The Euro came under some more pressure on Tuesday, with a discouraging Germany ZEW reading and hotter US producer prices factoring into the price action. We’ve also been hearing chatter of end of year funding that skews in the US Dollar’s favour, along with some end of year profit taking on Euro longs. Still, the single currency has been very well supported on dips and is getting some more support off Tuesday’s low as the market takes in this latest news of the Democrat win in the Alabama Senate election which will make life for the President more complicated. The President will address the nation later today in an effort to push through tax reform before the year is out, though the market will be distracted by the Fed decision. Other data out on Wednesday should not be overlooked with Germany CPI, Eurozone industrial production, Eurozone employment and an important US CPI reading all due. The ECB decision is tomorrow.
GBPUSD – technical overview
The recent push back above 1.3340 now suggests the market is poised for a continuation of the 2017 uptrend, with a higher low in place at 1.3027, to be confirmed on a break of the 2017 high at 1.3658. This will then open the door for a measured move upside extension back above 1.4000 and towards 1.4200 into 2018. Any setbacks should now be well supported into that previous range resistance now turned support at 1.3340.
GBPUSD – fundamental overview
Tuesday’s UK CPI came in hotter than expected and helped to temper a slide in the Pound on what had been some broad US Dollar demand, helped along by an above forecast US producer prices print. The Pound has since recovered some more off the lows as the US Dollar takes a turn for the worse after the Democrat victory in the Alabama Senate election which will make the President’s life more complicated. But things are also complicated in the UK right now with the UK House of Commons voting on the EU withdrawal bill. The vote is expected to pass though there is a lot of resistance from conservative tories who believe the PM is moving in a direction that is far too soft. All of this comes ahead of tomorrow’s EU Summit where the market will be looking for the go ahead to be signaled so the two sides can progress onto trade and transition talks. Of course, Wednesday is stacked with more risk that includes UK employment data, US CPI, a speech from President Trump and the all important Fed decision.
USDJPY – technical overview
The major pair has been confined to a range trade for much of 2017, with rallies well capped ahead of 115.00 and dips well supported below 108.00. The latest topside failure off the range high strengthens this outlook, though the market will ideally need to hold below 113.50 on a daily close basis to further encourage the bearish prospect.
USDJPY – fundamental overview
The major pair has taken notice of the Doug Jones victory in the Alabama Senate election, with Jones securing the first Senate seat for a Democrat in Alabama since 1992. Jones squeaked out a victory that gives the Republicans an even tighter 51-49 Senate majority, further complicating tax reform passage. The victory also is a shot to the Trump administration as it casts doubt on the President's ability to push future policy through as well, while giving the Democrats momentum into 2018. The President is already scheduled to address the nation later today and his address will take on added meaning as he tries to do what he can to push the reform through before year end. The development is has clearly weighed on the Buck though the reaction has perhaps been a little more subdued, seemingly on caution ahead of today's Fed decision. US CPI is also out later on ahead of the Fed and should not be overlooked. Overall, the Yen should continue to monitor traditional correlations with risk.
EURCHF – technical overview
A period of multi-day consolidation has been broken, with the market pushing up to a fresh 2017 high. The bullish break could now get the uptrend thinking about a test of that major barrier at 1.2000 further up. In the interim, look for any setbacks to be very well supported ahead of 1.1400, while only back below 1.1260 would delay the overall constructive tone.
EURCHF – fundamental overview
The SNB will need to be careful right now as its strategy to weaken the Franc could face headwinds from the US equity market. The record run in the US stock market has been a big boost to the SNB’s strategy with elevated sentiment encouraging Franc weakness. Of course, the SNB is no stranger to this risk, given a balance sheet with massive exposure to the US equity market. But any signs of capitulation on that front, will likely invite a very large wave of demand for the Franc, which will put the SNB in a more challenging position to weaken the Franc.  And so, we speculate the SNB continues to be active buying EURCHF in an attempt to build some cushion ahead of what could be a period of intense Franc demand ahead.
AUDUSD – technical overview
The market has been under a lot of pressure over the past several weeks, extending declines into the 0.7500s thus far. It’s worth noting technical studies are in the process of unwinding from stretched readings, resulting in this latest consolidation, which could be well supported for the time being in the 0.7500 area. But overall, the pressure is on the downside and rallies are viewed as corrective while below 0.7900, with the possibility for another downside extension towards 0.7000 not to be ruled out.
AUDUSD – fundamental overview
The Australian Dollar is getting a little help on Wednesday, with the currency benefitting from the strong Aussie Westpac consumer confidence print and the US Dollar fallout on the news of the Democratic victory in the Alabama Senate election. At the same time, the win for the Democrats has not been good for risk markets, which could have some offsetting impact on an Australian Dollar somewhat tied to risk correlations. President Trump is already scheduled to address the nation later today in an effort to push through tax reform and the speech will take on added meaning as the market is forced to digest US CPI and an important Fed decision at the same time.
USDCAD – technical overview
Clear signs of basing in this pair, with the recovery from plus two year lows back in September extending through an important resistance point in the form of the August peak. This sets the stage for additional upside in the days and weeks ahead, with the immediate focus now on a retest of the psychological barrier at 1.3000. In the interim, any setbacks should now be well supported ahead of 1.2600.
USDCAD – fundamental overview
The Canadian Dollar has been under consistent pressure since topping out at a plus 2 year high against the Buck in September, with the market reconsidering bets after the BoC's move to hike rates consecutively this year was followed up by a run of softer economic data. Looking out to 2018, there could be more downside risk to the Loonie as the fate of NAFTA comes back into the spotlight, with any talk of a breakup to put more pressure on the Loonie. The Canadian has also not been able to benefit from a recovery in the OIL market in 2017, but has felt the pressure of pullbacks when they happen, as reflected in Tuesday price action. As far as today’s calendar goes, the market will be paying close attention to the highly anticipated Fed decision along with an earlier reading of US CPI and the President’s speech on tax reform, which takes on added meaning after this latest Democrat victory in the Alabama Senate election.
NZDUSD – technical overview
Medium term studies have turned down sharply after the market pushed up to a plus two year high through 0.7500 in late July. A recent break below 0.7000 has opened a more meaningful reversal that has accelerated declines to fresh 2017 lows below 0.6800. However, daily studies are now looking stretched and there is risk building for some form of a meaningful correction, possibly back towards the 0.7200 area, before the market considers another round of declines.
NZDUSD – fundamental overview
The New Zealand Dollar has been outperforming this week, with most of the flow attributed to the market's vote of confidence of Adrian Orr as the next central bank governor of the RBNZ. The latest slowdown in the decline of house and food prices could also be helping to give the New Zealand Dollar an added prop. Kiwi has done a good job holding up off recent 2017 lows, and could be getting more help from US Dollar selling on the back of this latest Democrat victory in the Alabama Senate election. Still, the combination of an overall softer run of local data, downside pressure on commodities prices and worry about external factors associated with global risk appetite could continue to keep the risk correlated currency offered into rallies. Looking ahead, the focus will be on US CPI, a President Trump speech on tax reform and the Fed decision.
US SPX 500 – technical overview
The market continues to shrug off overextended technical readings, with any setbacks quickly supported for fresh record highs. Still, technical readings are tracking well overbought and are in desperate need for a period of healthy corrective action.Ultimately however, it will take a break back below 2557 at a minimum to alleviate immediate topside pressure.
US SPX 500 – fundamental overview
The US equity market continues to be well supported on dips, pushing further into record high territory. It seems, on a macro level, the combination of blind momentum, expectation US tax reform will ultimately work out well and the appointment of Jerome Powell as the next Fed Chair are helping to keep the move going. There hasn’t even been much fallout from this latest news of the Democrat victory in the Alabama Senate election, despite the result making things more complicated for the US administration’s policy agenda. Nevertheless, investor immunity to downside risk is not looking as strong these days and there’s a clear tension out there as the VIX sits at unnervingly depressed levels. The fact that Fed policy is normalising, however slow, could start to resonate a little more, with stimulus efforts exhausted, balance sheet reduction coming into play and another rate hike expected today. But for now, it’s more of the same, with the market shrugging off any red flags. At this point, it will take a breakdown in this market back below 2500 to turn heads.
GOLD (SPOT) – technical overview
Setbacks have been well supported over the past several months, with the market continuing to put in higher lows and higher highs, opening a recent push to a fresh 2017 high up around 1357. And so, look for this most recent dip to round out that next higher low in favour of a bullish continuation towards a retest of the 2016 peak at 1375 further up. This latest round of weakness below 1250 is a setback but ultimately, only a drop back below 1200 would negate the outlook.
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 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. Certainly the US Dollar under pressure in 2017 has added 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 for an extended period, GOLD will hold up on risk off macro implications. Dealers are now reporting demand in size ahead of 1200.
Feature – technical overview
USDTRY has extended its record run, with the market contemplating the establishment above major psychological resistance at 4.0000. At the same time, with medium technical studies looking extended, risk is building for a healthy corrective reversal in the sessions ahead. Ultimately, any setbacks should be well supported ahead of 3.6500, with only a break back below this level to force a shift in the structure.
Feature – fundamental overview
The CBRT is in that awful position of needing to decide between reacting to rocketing inflation and a free fall in the currency, or to a sluggish economy that is strained by the removal of any accommodation in place. Of course, the situation is even more stressful for the CBRT, with President Erdogan consistently calling for more accommodation. Monday’s inflation data came in hot yet again and has done nothing to help the central bank’s cause, though we have since seen the Lira recover a little, perhaps with the market feeling more confident in the CBRT taking action as the move will be more justified in the eyes of the government. How the CBRT decides to tighten policy is another question and we could see moves by way of alternative mechanisms.