Breakdown or Breakthrough – What’ll it be for the GBP?

GBPUSD – technical overview

On a medium to longer term basis, the outlook is still looking constructive off the +30 year low from 2016, with a higher low sought ahead of the next major upside extension back towards and through the current 2018 high. Right now, the major pair will need to hold up into the latest round of setbacks, ideally above 1.2800 on a daily close basis, and push back through critical resistance in the form of the September high at 1.3300 if it wants to strengthen bullish prospects.

• R2 1.3100 – Figure – Medium
• R1 1.3048 – 13Nov high – Strong
• S1 1.2828 – 12Nov low – Medium
• S2 1.2761 – 1Nov low  – Strong

GBPUSD – fundamental overview

The Pound is getting a lot of attention right now, as the market waits for the latest from the Brexit front. Theresa May will be addressing Parliament and is expected to come under a lot of fire from all sides. There has been ongoing chatter of a no confidence vote and this hasn’t allowed for much confidence in the prospect for this latest draft Brexit agreement to pass in parliament. At the same time, there has been a lot of back and forth here and we’ll have to wait and see how things unfold. The Pound has held up well considering, helped along by some broad based profit taking on Dollar longs. Less hawkish comments from Fed Powell could be factoring into this. On the data front, we get UK retail sales, followed by US readings that include empire manufacturing, initial jobless claims, the Philly Fed, business inventories and retail sales.

GBPUSD - Technical charts in detail

USDJPY – technical overview

Rallies continue to be very well capped on a medium-term basis, with the outlook still favouring lower tops and lower lows. Look for yet another topside failure ahead of 114.00, in favour of the next major downside extension towards key support around 109.75. Ultimately, only a break back above 114.75 would negate the bearish outlook.

• R2 114.56 – 5Oct high  – Strong
• R1 114.22 – 12Nov high – Medium
• S1 113.48 – 8Nov low – Medium
• S2 112.95 – 7Nov low – Strong

USDJPY – fundamental overview

Most of the price action in the major pair has been about broad based US Dollar demand on the attractive yield differentials, as the Fed pushes forward with policy normalisation. Of course, another major driver here is risk sentiment and in 2018, with US equities still tracking close to record highs, this has also helped to inspire the demand we've seen since the major pair bottomed out in March. At the same time, there has been some selling in the stock market in recent weeks and if this latest attempt to recover falls short ahead of another downturn, we could quickly see a resurgence in Yen demand. The market will also need to keep an eye on US trade policy in the aftermath of the midterm elections. If the Dems are able to slow the administration down, it could lead to more USD support. If however the administration is still able to push ahead, this could invite a round of profit taking on USD longs. On Thursday, we're seeing more broad based US Dollar selling, with some less hawkish Fed Powell comments attributed to the move. Looking ahead, we get US data that features empire manufacturing, initial jobless claims, the Philly Fed, business inventories and retail sales.

EURCHF – technical overview

The market has been in the process of recovering out from a 2018 low coinciding with critical support in the 1.1200 area. However, at this stage, there is no clear directional bias, with the price action deferring to a neutral state. Back above 1.1560 would get some bullish momentum going for a push to 1.2000, while back below 1.1200 would be quite bearish.

• R2 1.1560– 8Aug high – Strong
• R1 1.1502 – 22Oct high – Medium
• S1 1.1313 – 27Sep low– Medium
• S2 1.1224– 18Sep low – Strong

EURCHF – fundamental overview

The SNB remains uncomfortable with Franc appreciation and continues to remind the market it will need to be careful about any attempts at trying to force an appreciation in the currency. But the SNB will also need to be careful right now, as its strategy to weaken the Franc is facing headwinds from a less certain global outlook. Any signs of sustained risk liquidation between now and year end, will likely invite a very large wave of demand for the Franc that will put the SNB in the more challenging position of needing to back up its talk with action, that ultimately, may not prove to be as effective as it once was, given where we're at in the monetary policy cycle.

AUDUSD – technical overview

Technical studies are stretched on a medium term basis, though the market has been unable to make any meaningful recoveries out from its lowest levels since February 2016. At this stage, the market will need to establish back above 0.7316 to take the immediate pressure off the downside. Until then, risk remains for fresh downside below the 0.7000 psychological barrier, which defends against a retest of the 2016 low down at 0.6830.

• R2 0.7316 – 26Sep high – Strong
• R1 0.7303 – 8Nov high – Medium
• S1 0.7200 – Figure – Medium
• S2 0.7160 – 17Oct high – Medium

AUDUSD – fundamental overview

Aussie has received a nice boost on Thursday, with an impressive Aussie employment report and some broad based Dollar selling on the back of less hawkish Fed Powell comments, factoring into the price action. Overall however, a lot of what happens here will likely hinge on the outlook for global trade and risk sentiment. Economic data out of Australia has been better of late, which has helped to rally Aussie out from a +2.5 year low against the Buck, though Aussie will continue to face headwinds from yield differentials that favour the US Dollar and flight to safety bids that also work in the Buck's favour. Looking ahead, we get US data releases that feature empire manufacturing, initial jobless claims, the Philly Fed, business inventories and retail sales.

USDCAD – technical overview

The market has been consistently sold into rallies since topping out in June, which could still invite a deeper decline before the next upside extension gets underway. Still, look for any weakness to be well supported ahead of 1.2500 with only a break back below this psychological barrier to negate the bigger picture constructive outlook.

• R2 1.3291 – 20Jul high – Strong
• R1 1.3264 - 13Nov high – Medium
• S1 1.3088 – 8Nov low– Medium
• S2 1.3049 – 2Nov low – Strong

USDCAD – fundamental overview

The Canadian Dollar has taken some hits over the past week and it hasn't been about broad based demand for the US Dollar either. The collapse in the price of OIL off the 2018 high has been turning heads, with the commodity down over 25% since topping out in early October. A market that was very worried about supply back in October, has been reconsidering this view as data shows more than thought. Into Thursday, there has been some relief for the Loonie on the back of a mild OIL bounce and less hawkish comments out from the Fed Chair. As far as the calendar goes, we get Canada ADP employment and US releases that feature empire manufacturing, initial jobless claims, the Philly Fed, business inventories and retail sales.

NZDUSD – technical overview

The market has been in the process of recovering out from +2.5 year lows and is looking to extend the correction following the latest break back above consolidation resistance around 0.6725. This sets the stage for a push that could extend back towards the psychological barrier at 0.7000 before the market considers the legitimacy of the recovery and prospect for a more significant bullish structural shift or bearish resumption.

• R2 0.6860 – 9Jul high – Strong
• R1 0.6818 – 7Nov high – Medium
• S1 0.6713 – 7Nov low – Medium
• S2 0.6633 – 5Nov low – Strong

NZDUSD – fundamental overview

Despite some recent demand and outperformance against its commodity currency cousins, the outlook for risk markets is still very much in question, as the weight of Fed policy normalisation starts to resonate with investors, and global trade uncertainty still hangs around in the background. Kiwi has managed to shrug off some softer data earlier in the week and renewed downside pressure in stocks, but this outperformance shouldn't continue if risk sentiment deteriorates further. While the early Thursday comments from Fed Powell were less hawkish and opened Dollar selling, the fact that the Fed Chair mentioned worry about lag effect from higher rates, could have a bigger fallout effect on stocks, which would offset Kiwi demand from the less hawkish comments. Looking ahead, the US docket features empire manufacturing, initial jobless claims, the Philly Fed, business inventories and retail sales.

US SPX 500 – technical overview

A market that has been extended on the monthly chart is at risk for a major correction, with the possibility for a massive topping formation. Any rallies should now continue to be very well capped ahead of 3000, in favour of renewed weakness back below the 2530 area yearly low (neckline) and towards a retest of strong longer-term resistance turned support in the form of the 2015 high at 2140. Only a weekly close above 3000 would negate the outlook.

• R2 2824 – 17Oct high – Strong
• R1 2800 – Figure – Medium
• S1 2603 – 29Oct low – Strong
• S2 2594 – 3May low – Medium

US SPX 500 – fundamental overview

Investor immunity to downside risk is not as strong these days. The combination of Fed policy normalisation, US protectionism, ongoing White House drama and geopolitical tension are all warning of capitulation ahead, despite this latest run to record highs. The Fed has also finally acknowledged inflation no longer running below target in 2018, something that could very well result in even less attractive equity market valuations given the implication on rates. We recommend keeping a much closer eye on the equities to ten year yield comparative going forward, as this could be something that inspires a more aggressive decline in the fourth quarter.

GOLD (SPOT) – technical overview

The market has been showing signs of wanting to turn back up after establishing back above the daily Ichimoku chart. There are also signs that we could be seeing the formation of a more significant medium to longer-term structural shift that would be confirmed if this latest recovery can extend back through big resistance in the form of the 2016 high at 1375. Look for setbacks to be well supported ahead of 1200, with only a close back below 1150 to compromise the constructive outlook. A daily close above 1250 will strengthen the outlook.

• R2 1266 – 9Jul high – Strong
• R1 1244 – 26Oct high – Medium
• S1 1196 – 13Nov low – Medium
• S2 1160 – 16Aug/2018 low  – Strong

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, political uncertainty, systemic risk and trade war threats. 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.

BTCUSD – technical overview

Considering the intensity of declines already seen this year, if the market does break to the topside, it could be a bullish signal that gets the trend moving up again. But we would need to see a break above the July lower top at around 8,500 for confirmation. Until then, a bearish continuation back towards the September 2017 low around 2,975 can not be ruled out.

• R2 7,000 – Psychological – Strong
• R1 6,648 – 21Oct high – Medium
• S1 5,633– 15Nov/2018 low –Medium
• S2 5,000 – Psychological  – Strong

BTCUSD – fundamental overview

Overall, Bitcoin is doing its best to try and hold up above $6,000 in 2018 after undergoing a massive decline off the record high from December 2017. But the market is facing headwinds from broader risk liquidation themes and has sunk to fresh 2018 lows. This could open a bigger drop towards $3,000 before the market looks for stability. The Bitcoin Cash harfork is not helping matters in any way, with this only casting more doubt on where the crypto market should look for that leader at a time when things are quite shaky.

BTCUSD - Technical charts in detail

ETHUSD – technical overview

The market remains under pressure in 2018, extending its run of intense declines to fresh 2018 lows. Medium term studies are however stretched, which could warn of the start to a recovery. Still, it would take a break back above 255 right now to take the pressure off the downside and suggest that the market could be starting to turn bullish again.

• R2 321 – 18Aug high – Strong
• R1 255 – 22Sep high – Medium
• S1 175 – 15Novlow – Medium
• S2 165 – 12Sep/2018 low  – Strong

ETHUSD – fundamental overview

Overall, we've seen quite a bit of weakness in the price of Ether in 2018 and there's still legitimate risk for deeper setbacks, given technical hurdles within the protocol, ongoing regulatory challenges and a global macro backdrop exposing risk correlated projects on the Ethereum blockchain. Monetary policy normalisations around the globe and an anticipated reduction in global risk appetite are placing a tremendous strain on ERC20 projects that have yet to even produce proper use cases and proof of concept. At the same time, longer term prospects are looking quite bright and after a drop of well over 70% off the record high, the market is starting to find some stability.