Towards A More Palatable Brexit Uncertainty

GBPUSD – technical overview

The major pair has put in an impressive recovery off the multi-month low in early January, helping to support the case for a longer-term developing uptrend off the 2016 low. Pullbacks are now viewed as corrective on the daily chart, with dips expected to be supported above the bottom of the daily Ichimoku cloud. Look for a weekly close back above 1.3400 to strengthen the outlook.

• R2 1.3400 – Figure – Medium
• R1 1.3382 – 13Mar/2019 high – Strong
• S1 1.3200 – Figure – Medium
• S2 1.3056 – 13Mar low  â€“ Medium

GBPUSD – fundamental overview

As far as Brexit goes, the next logical step is a vote in favour of delaying Brexit until June end, with this vote happening later today. There is still the possibility that Theresa May tries to make some more headway to get a deal pushed through, but if this doesn’t happen, we’ll need to see unanimous support from all EU member states to grant the delay for a period of time that will be up for debate. As we continue to highlight, the move towards a delay has been a constructive development for the Pound in that it leaves the market staring at an uncertainty far more palatable than the uncertainty of disorderly Brexit. Of course, a move that opens up an official delay, does also put that other possibility of a second referendum on the table. But this is something that isn’t a central point of focus right now. Looking ahead, we get US initial jobless claims and new home sales.

USDJPY – technical overview

The major pair is in the process of correcting within a bigger picture downtrend. Look for the recovery rally to be capped below 113.00 on a daily close basis, 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, which guards against the 2016 low at 99.00. Ultimately, only back above 113.00 delays the bearish outlook.

• R2 112.15 – 5Mar/2019 high  – Medium
• R1 111.66 – 8Mar high – Strong
• S1 110.79 – 8Mar low – Medium
• S2 110.26 – 15Feb low – Strong

USDJPY – fundamental overview

Overall, the major pair should continue to track along with risk sentiment and yield differentials. There has been a lot of fluffy positive talk around US-China trade deal progress, though the reality appears to be much different. On Tuesday, we heard from the US trade representative, who said the outcome of US-China trade talks remains uncertain with “major, major issues that have to be resolved.” This has factored into some of the offers we’ve been seeing into the latest rally in the major pair. Looking ahead, the calendar features US initial jobless claims and new home sales.

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 1.1502– 22Oct high â€“ Strong
• R1 1.1445 â€“ 5Feb/2019 high – Medium
• S1 1.1300 – Psychological – Medium
• S2 1.1185– 7Sep/2018 low â€“ 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

The market has been very well supported since breaking down in early January to multi-year lows. The price action suggests we could be seeing the formation of a major base, though it would take a clear break back above 0.7400 to strengthen this outlook. Look for setbacks to continue to be well supported ahead of 0.7000.

• R2 0.7122 – 1Mar high – Strong
• R1 0.7098 – 13Mar high – Medium
• S1 0.7004 – 8Mar low â€“ Medium
• S2 0.6982 – 2Jan low â€“ Strong

AUDUSD – fundamental overview

We’ve seen mild setbacks in the Australian Dollar this week, with softer Aussie confidence readings and discouraging China industrial production weighing. But overall, the Australian Dollar has been well supported on dips, with the currency getting a boost from broad based US Dollar declines in the aftermath of last Friday’s discouraging US NFP print, more dovish leaning speak from the Fed Chair and this most recent round of softer US inflation readings. However, at the same time, Aussie also correlates with risk flow and any renewed downside pressure on US equities, perhaps on the back of negative headlines out from the US-China trade talk front, could prove to be offsetting. Looking at the calendar, we get US initial jobless claims and new home sales.

USDCAD – technical overview

Overall, the structure remains constructive, with dips expected to be well supported for fresh upside back above the 2018/multi-month high at 1.3665. Back below the psychological barrier at 1.3000 would be required to delay the outlook.

• R2 1.3468 – 7Mar high – Strong
• R1 1.3372 – 13Mar high – Medium
• S1 1.3320 – 14Mar low – Medium
• S2 1.3275 – 4Mar low â€“ Strong

USDCAD – fundamental overview

The Canadian Dollar has managed to recover this week, after taking a healthy hit in recent weeks. The primary driver behind the recovery has been this latest round of contrasting employment data, dovish Fed speak and softer US inflation readings. The Loonie has also been finding support on the latest run up in the price of OIL, with the commodity breaking out above multi-session consolidation highs. Looking at the calendar for the day, absence of first tier data out of Canada, will leave the focus on US initial jobless claims and new home sales.

NZDUSD – technical overview

While the bigger picture outlook still shows the market in a downtrend, as per the weekly chart, there’s a case to be made for a meaningful low in place at 0.6425. As such, look for 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. A push through 0.6970 will strengthen the constructive outlook.

• R2 0.6900 – Figure – Strong
• R1 0.6874 –  12Mar high – Medium
• S1 0.6800 – Figure â€“ Medium
• S2 0.6745 – 7Mar low – Strong

NZDUSD – fundamental overview

The New Zealand Dollar has come under some pressure into Thursday, with the currency perhaps taking a hit from the ugly China industrial production numbers. Overall however, the New Zealand Dollar has been better bid in 2019, with the currency getting a boost from more dovish leaning Fed policy and ongoing support for US equities. And yet, at the same time, given Kiwi’s correlation with risk, any negative developments with respect to trade talks between the US and China could be something that keeps the currency from racing significantly higher. Looking at the calendar, we get US initial jobless claims and new home sales.

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 2825, 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 2824 – 17Oct high â€“ Strong
• R1 2824 – 13Mar/2019 high – Strong
• S1 2722 – 8Mar low – Medium
• S2 2681 – 8Feb low – 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. US hourly earnings are starting to move up, which could be a warning of a jump in inflation. Although we have seen attempts to push the market higher in early 2019, on the Fed’s more cautious outlook, exhausted monetary policy tools post 2008 crisis suggest the prospect for fresh record highs at this point in the cycle are not a realistic prospect. 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, with only a close back below 1250 to compromise the constructive outlook. The latest push through 1300 strengthens the outlook.

• R2 1347– 20Feb/2019 high – Strong
• R1 1316 – 1Mar high – Medium
• S1 1281 – 7Mar low â€“ Medium
• S2 1277 â€“ 4Jan/2019 low â€“ 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 the December high at 4385 to take the immediate 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 4,480 â€“ 29Nov high – Strong
• R1 4,380 â€“ 24Dec high – Strong
• S1 3,400– Round number –Medium
• S2 3,212 â€“ 15Dec/2018 low  â€“ Strong

BTCUSD – fundamental overview

Bitcoin is showing signs of stability after an abysmal performance in 2018. At the moment, the market still faces headwinds in the form of regulatory uncertainty and front end application, though looking out, there continue to be many encouraging signs the market is here to stay and will be seeing increased adoption.

BTCUSD – Technical charts in detail

ETHUSD – technical overview

The latest recovery rally has stalled out into a meaningful previous support zone, to keep the pressure on the downside, with risk for a bearish continuation to next critical support in the 50-75 area. At this point, it would take a sustained break back above 170 to take the immediate pressure off the downside.

• R2 200 â€“ Psychological – Medium
• R1 170 – 24Feb high – Strong
• S1 100 â€“ Psychological – Medium
• S2 83 â€“ 7Dec/2018 low  â€“ Strong

ETHUSD – fundamental overview

Ongoing regulatory challenges, technological obstacles and a global economic downturn are some of those headwinds that need to be considered in the months ahead. At the same time, longer term prospects are looking quite bright and valuations are increasingly attractive with adoption showing signs of ramping up over the longer term.