Powell Inspires US Dollar Decline

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. Shorter-term however, the market is threatening a possible break to another fresh 2018 low. If the market breaks down below the yearly low, it will open possibility for a measured move extension into the 1.2000s. Right now, a break back above the weekly high at 1.3000 would be required to alleviate immediate downside pressure.

• R2 1.3073 – 14Nov high – Strong
• R1 1.2928 – 22Nov high – Medium
• S1 1.2724 – 15Nov low – Medium
• S2 1.2662 – 15Aug low  – Strong

GBPUSD – fundamental overview

The Bank of England got down to it on Wednesday, laying out its worst case scenarios in the event of a disorderly Brexit process. Some of the highlights included an 8% cut in growth, 25% decline in the Pound and 30% drop in property prices. The Pound has done a good job rallying in the aftermath, with the currency perhaps scared higher on fear of the BOE's scenario playing out, while the UK currency has also benefited from another wave of less hawkish speak out from Fed Chair Powell. It's worth noting that Bombardier's Northern Island branch has come out backing Theresa May's deal, which could help to push momentum further in favour of the deal getting passed in Parliament. Looking ahead, we get UK net lending ad consumer credit, followed up by US core PCE, US pending home sales and the Fed Minutes late in the day.

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 114.22 – 12Nov high  – Strong
• R1 114.04 – 28Nov high – Medium
• S1 113.00 – Figure – Medium
• S2 112.31 – 20Nov low – Strong

USDJPY – fundamental overview

The major pair has run into a selling wall yet again up into 114.00, with the Yen rallying back on some less hawkish speak from Fed Chair Powell, which has narrowed those yield differentials out of the US Dollar's favour. Overall, risk sentiment is looking a lot shakier into year end and this in conjunction with a US administration still very much committed to soft Dollar protectionist measures, by way of tariffs, should inspire continued USDJPY offers into rallies, with risk for deeper setbacks that could extend back down towards the 2018 low.  Looking ahead, we get US core PCE, US pending home sales and the Fed Minutes late in the day.

EURCHF – technical overview

The market has been in the process of consolidating off the 2018 low, which coincided 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 1.1500 would get some bullish momentum going for a push to 1.2000, while back below 1.1200 would be quite bearish.

• R2 1.1435– 16Nov high – Strong
• R1 1.1359 – 22Nov high – Medium
• S1 1.1254 – 24Sep 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. The latest growth data out of Switzerland has come in much softer than expected.

AUDUSD – technical overview

Technical studies have been turning back up from stretched medium term readings, with the latest break back above 0.7300 suggesting a meaningful base could be in the process of carving out. This puts the shorter-term pressure back on the topside, with the focus on a push to the psychological barrier at 0.7500. A drop below 0.7165 would be required to shift the focus back on the downside.

• R2 0.7382 – 21Nov high – Strong
• R1 0.7339 – 16Nov high – Medium
• S1 0.7203 – 20Nov low – Medium
• S2 0.7165 – 13Nov low – Strong

AUDUSD – fundamental overview

Aussie has done a good job holding up into the midweek, despite more fire around global trade this week, after President Trump talked about the next round of tariffs on China. Wednesday's less hawkish Fed Powell speak has had a lot to do with this, with Powell inspiring profit taking on US Dollar longs and encouraging the equity markets at the same time. Still, it could be a tougher go for Aussie sooner than later, as more pressure on the trade front will get investors thinking about risk off again. This will not be a positive for China and the highly correlated Australian Dollar by extension. Looking ahead, we get US core PCE, US pending home sales and the Fed Minutes late in the day.

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, with only a break back below 1.2700 to negate the bigger picture constructive outlook.

• R2 1.3387 – 27Jun/2018 high – Strong
• R1 1.3360 - 28Nov high – Medium
• S1 1.3182 – 22Nov low – Medium
• S2 1.3128 – 16Nov low – Strong

USDCAD – fundamental overview

The price of OIL has fallen some 35% after rallying to its highest levels since 2014 back in October. This has weighed on the Loonie quite a bit, though things could have been a lot worse for the underperforming Canadian Dollar this week if it didn't get that help from last Friday's hotter Canada inflation readings and solid Canada retail sales showing. Setbacks in the Loonie have also been contained given offsetting broad based US Dollar bearish flow in the market, on the back of less hawkish Fed speak and reports the Fed may be considering a pause. Looking ahead, we get the Canada current account, along with US core PCE, US pending home sales and the Fed Minutes late in the day.

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 0.6900 – Figure – Strong
• R1 0.6888 – 28Nov high – Medium
• S1 0.6754 – 27Nov low – Medium
• S2 0.6707 – 12Nov low – Strong

NZDUSD – fundamental overview

The RBNZ has come out with an adjustment in which the central bank has shifted the Yuan into the number one slot in its TWI basket. On the data front, ANZ business confidence readings managed to hold steady. Kiwi has been well bid of late, shrugging off some softer data earlier this week, instead focusing on recovering equities and global risk sentiment. Wednesday's round of less hawkish Fed Powell speak has also played a role in accelerating Kiwi upside. Still, with the US administration looking fully prepared to march ahead with additional tariffs on China, the risk of deterioration in global sentiment runs high, which should once again offset positive flow and weigh on the correlated Kiwi. As far as the calendar goes for the remainder of the day, we get US core PCE, US pending home sales and the Fed Minutes late in the day.

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 2700 – 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

An extended period of range contraction has come to an end, with the market breaking down below the apex of a massive triangle formation in 2018. The decline has resulted in fresh yearly lows and warns of a deeper setbacks that could accelerate to the September 2017 low at 2,975. At this stage, it would take a break back above the October peak around 7,700 to take the pressure off the downside. However, daily studies are violently extended and a period of correction or consolidation is expected before the market extends lower towards that September 2017 low. Rallies should be well capped below 6,000.

• R2 5,740 – 18Nov high – Strong
• R1 4,780 – 21Nov high – Medium
• S1 3,655– 25Nov/2018 low –Medium
• S2 3,500 – Psychological  – Strong

BTCUSD – fundamental overview

Bitcoin is facing intense headwinds from broader risk liquidation themes and has sunk to fresh 2018 lows. The cryptocurrency has already been struggling to find its place in 2018, with the decentralised technology space still very young and yet to fully prove concept. The current backdrop of global sentiment deterioration only makes things more challenging in the space and we are seeing investors head for the exits as a result. This could open a bigger drop below $3,000 before the market looks for stability. Still, overall, the cryptocurrency and the technology it rests on continue to show a lot of potential looking out and we expect the market will regain composure once this sell-off plays out.

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 into the 100 area. Medium term studies are however stretched, which could warn of the start to a correction. Still, it would take a break back above 200 right now to take the pressure off the downside. The next major downside extension target comes in at a 75, a measured move extension target following a recent $90 consolidation between 165 and 255.

• R2 155 – 20Nov high – Strong
• R1 142 – 21Nov high – Medium
• S1 103 – 25Nov/2018 low – Medium
• S2 75 – Measured Move  – 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 below $100, 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 we expect significant demand will emerge well ahead of $50.