Not Enough USD Weakness to Turn Heads…Yet

GBPUSD – technical overview

At this stage, we still view the pullback in 2018 as a correction within a developing uptrend off the 2016 low and will be looking for a higher low to carve out well ahead of 1.1840, in favour of a push back to the topside. For this to play out, the market will ideally need to hold above some meaningful support in the 1.2300s and recover back through the September 2018 peak at 1.3300. Critical short-term resistance comes in at 1.2815, with a break back above the level to strengthen the bullish prospect.

• R2 1.2815 – 31Dec high – Strong
• R1 1.2790 – 8Jan high – Medium
• S1 1.2712 – 7Jan low – Medium
• S2 1.2648 – 3Jan high  – Strong

GBPUSD – fundamental overview

Brexit headlines out of the UK will work back into the mix this week, with the PM still trying to do what she can to get Parliament to vote on a deal when the vote happens next week, as per the current timeline. The latest reports have May heading back to play hardball with the EU, offering a deal that would give MPs the power to decide on the Irish backstop at a later date. The Pound has done a good job recovering out from that flash crash low from the other week, with broad based US Dollar selling from Powell’s cautious speak driving the demand. On the data front, absence of first tier data out of the UK, will have the market thinking about US trade and US JOLTS job openings.

GBPUSD – Technical charts in detail

USDJPY – technical overview

Setbacks have intensified as the market continues to confirm the bearish outlook since stalling out above 114.00 in early October. Look for any recovery rallies to be well capped ahead of 111.00 in favour of the next major downside extension below the 104.63 2018 low. This would expose a very important psychological barrier at 100.00 further down.

• R2 109.73 – 2Jan high  – Strong
• R1 109.00 – 8Jan high – Medium
• S1 108.02 – 7Jan low – Medium
• S2 107.52 – 4Jan low – Strong

USDJPY – fundamental overview

The major pair has managed to stabilise after last week’s flash crash, with the latest wave of demand coming from a number of risk positive stories that include the Fed Chair’s willingness to consider a full pause in 2019 and renewed US-China trade talks. Still, it will be hard for Powell to think about pausing if inflation ticks up, something that became more of reality following last Friday’s US hourly earnings print. Looking ahead, we get US trade and US JOLTS job openings.

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 1.1185 would be quite bearish.

• R2 1.1435– 16Nov high – Strong
• R1 1.1359 – 22Nov high – Medium
• S1 1.1200 – Psychological – Medium
• S2 1.1185– 7Sep/2018 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 in 2019, 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

Daily studies are trying to unwind from stretched readings and there could be an extended period of consolidation and correction that plays out from here. Despite the breakdown below the 2016 low, inability to establish below that low around 0.6825 will keep the market from wanting to get overly bearish and could even warn of some form of a longer-term base. However, a drop back below the 2016 low again, would expose deeper setbacks towards the 2008 low around 0.6000. The market would need to break back above 0.7400 to force a bullish shift in the structure.

• R2 0.7204 – 18Dec high – Strong
• R1 0.7150 – 7Jan high – Medium
• S1 0.7000 – Psychological – Medium
• S2 0.6994 – 4Jan low – Strong

AUDUSD – fundamental overview

While the Australian Dollar suffered a major blow from last week’s flash crash, sinking to its lowest levels in a near decade, the currency has managed to find quick demand into dips. A possible Fed pause, ongoing drama at the White House and worry about US administration protectionism are all USD bearish drivers. Certainly, an uptick in risk sentiment into the new week is also helping, with the more accommodative Fed Powell speak and optimism around renewed US-China trade talks, fueling additional demand. Looking ahead, key standouts come in the form of US trade and US JOLTS job openings.

USDCAD – technical overview

The market recently extended its run through a major psychological barrier at 1.3500, breaking to fresh multi-month high. However, stretched technical studies suggest additional upside may be limited to this area, with risk for another sizable pullback. A bearish reversal week is confirming the shorter-term bearish outlook, which has room to extend back down towards 1.3000 over the coming sessions.

• R2 1.3496– 4Jan high – Strong
• R1 1.3390 – 7Jan high – Medium
• S1 1.3254 – 7Dec low – Medium
• S2 1.3161 – 3Dec low – Strong

USDCAD – fundamental overview

The Canadian Dollar is finally fighting its way back from multi-month lows, with the Loonie getting a lot of help from the recovery in the price of OIL and US Dollar bearish sentiment from the latest round of cautious speak from Fed Chair Powell, a departure from the more hawkish message given at the recent Fed Meeting. Friday’s Canada jobs data came in roughly in line with forecasts. Looking ahead, key standouts come in the form of Canada trade, US trade and US JOLTS job openings.

NZDUSD – technical overview

The market has been in the process of cooling off after enjoying a healthy recovery rally out from +2.5 year lows. While the bigger picture outlook still shows the market in a downtrend, as per the weekly chart, there is a case to be made for a meaningful low in place at 0.6425. As such, look for the latest setbacks to be well supported ahead of 0.6500 in anticipation of additional upside, with only a break back below 0.6500 to put the focus back on the multi-month low from October at 0.6425.

• R2 0.6791 – 20Dec high – Strong
• R1 0.6768– 7Jan high – Medium
• S1 0.6672 – 4Jan low – Medium
• S2 0.6565 – 31Jan low – Strong

NZDUSD – fundamental overview

The New Zealand Dollar held up relatively well in the face of last week’s flash crash. The commodity currency is benefitting from the more dovish speak out from Fed Poweel, ongoing White House drama, and optimism around renewed US-China trade talks. It’s also worth noting last week’s positive GDT auction result, something that gives the New Zealand Dollar another reason to be feeling good. Looking ahead, key standouts come in the form of US trade and US JOLTS job openings.

US SPX 500 – technical overview

There have been legitimate signs of a major longer term top, with deeper setbacks projected in the months ahead. Any rallies should now continue to be very well capped ahead of 2800, in favour of renewed weakness that targets an eventual retest of strong longer-term resistance turned support in the form of the 2015 high at 2140. The projection is based off a measured move extension derived from the previous 2018 low from February to the record high move.

• R2 2688 – 12Oct high – Strong
• R1 2521 – 28Dec high – Medium
• S1 2339 – 26Dec/2018 low – Medium
• S2 2300 – Psychological – Strong

US SPX 500 – fundamental overview

Investor immunity to downside risk is not as strong into 2019. The lag effect of Fed policy normalisation, US protectionism, ongoing White House drama and geopolitical tension are all warning of deeper setbacks ahead. The Fed has also finally acknowledged inflation no longer running below target, something that could very well result in even less attractive equity market valuations this year, given the implication on rates. We recommend keeping a much closer eye on the equities to ten year yield comparative going forward, as the movement here is something that will continue to stress the market in 2019.

GOLD (SPOT) – technical overview

There are 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 1200 to compromise the constructive outlook. Next key resistance comes in at the 1300 psychological barrier.

• R2 1300 – Psychological – Strong
• R1 1292– 3Jan high – Medium
• S1 1264 – 26Dec low – Medium
• S2 1233 – 14Dec 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

At this stage, any upside moves are classified as corrective ahead of what could be the next downside extension and bearish continuation. It would take a break back above previous support in the 6,000 area to take the pressure off the downside. Next critical support comes in the form of the July and September 2017 lows, around 2,000 and 2,975 respectively.

• R2 5,050 – 20Nov high – Strong
• R1 4,480 – 29Nov high – Strong
• S1 3,212– 15Dec/2018 low –Medium
• S2 2,975 – Sep 2017 low  – Very Strong

BTCUSD – fundamental overview

Bitcoin has just gone through a tough 2018, with the cryptocurrency suffering on a number of fronts. 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 over the medium to longer term.

BTCUSD – Technical charts in detail

ETHUSD – technical overview

Stretched medium-term studies have been turning back up, leading to this latest recovery. Still, it would take a sustained break back above 255 to take the pressure off the downside. Until then, risk remains for a lower top and bearish continuation to next major support in the 50-75 area.

• R2 200 – Psychological – Medium
• R1 167 – Previous Support – Strong
• S1 109 – 22Dec low – Medium
• S2 83 – 7Dec/2018 low  – Strong

ETHUSD – fundamental overview

We’re coming off a year of dramatic weakness in the price of Ether in 2018 and the cryptocurrency continues to face headwinds into 2019. Ongoing regulatory challenges and a global economic downturn are some of those headwinds that need to be considered. At the same time, longer term prospects are looking quite bright and valuations are increasingly attractive. There is a lot of demand for Ether that has been reported below 100 and ahead of 50.