Trump Calms Markets…..For Now

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 ahead of 1.2700. Look for a weekly close back above 1.3400 to strengthen the outlook.

• R2 1.3177 – 3 May high – Strong
• R1 1.3081 – 8 May high – Medium
• S1 1.2900 – Figure – Medium
• S2 1.2866 – 25 April low  – Strong

GBPUSD – fundamental overview

The Pound has come under some pressure over the past week, with setbacks extending to the downside on Tuesday. Renewed tension around Brexit has been sourced as a primary driver of underperformance, though the risk associated with interparty bickering should hardly be treated as the same as the intense downside risk of imminent, disorderly Brexit from earlier this year. On Tuesday, setbacks have been mild, but have come from the softer than expected UK employment data components.

USDJPY – technical overview

Another topside failure has led to a sharp pullback, with the market unable to establish above a formidable resistance zone in the 112s. Last week's drop below 109.70 strengthens the bearish case, exposing the next major downside extension towards a retest of the January flash crash low in the 104s. Any rallies should now be well capped below 112.00, with only a break back above the yearly high at 112.40 to delay the bearish outlook.

• R2 110.30 – 8 May high – Strong
• R1 109.84 – 13 May high – Medium
• S1 108.50 – 31 January low – Strong
• S2 107.51 – 4 January low – Strong

USDJPY – fundamental overview

The major pair is feeling the stress of the breakdown in trade talks between the US and China, with the latest escalation fueling broad based liquidation and Yen demand on the traditional correlation with risk off flow. However, there has been some relief into Tuesday, after the US President expressed optimism that a deal would get done. The President will be looking to sit down with China at the upcoming G10 meeting.

EURCHF – technical overview

The market continues to do a good job adhering to a medium-term range, with rallies well capped towards 1.1500 and dips well supported into the 1.1200 area. At this stage, there is no clear trend, and it will take a sustained break back above 1.1500 or below 1.1200 for directional insight.

• R2 1.1477 – 23 April/2019  high – Strong
• R1 1.1446 – 30 April high – Medium
• S1 1.1309 – 13 May low – Medium
• S2 1.1300– Figure – Medium

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. In the interim, look for setbacks to continue to be well supported on dips below 0.7000 and ahead of 0.6800.

• R2 0.7140 – 23 April high – Strong
• R1 0.7069 – 30 April high – Medium
• S1 0.6925 – Minor Fib Extension – Medium
• S2 0.6900 – Figure – Strong

AUDUSD – fundamental overview

The Australian Dollar has been facing headwinds from this latest wave of risk reduction, mostly brought on by the breakdown in talks between the US and China on trade. However, on Tuesday, Aussie managed to find support off the lows, mostly on the back of a recovery in risk assets, brought on by some more upbeat Trump talk, after the President expressed optimism once again that a deal would get done.

USDCAD – technical overview

Despite breaking to a fresh yearly high in recent days, overall, the market has entered a period of choppy consolidation in 2019. However, the longer-term 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 1.3522 – 24 April/2019 high – Strong
• R1 1.3500 - Psychological – Medium
• S1 1.3400 – Figure – Medium
• S2 1.3377 – 1 May low – Strong

USDCAD – fundamental overview

A stabilisation in the price of OIL and a much better than expected Canada jobs report, have helped to inspire a recovery in the Canadian Dollar off recent lows against the Buck. Still, the risk reduction in global markets is an offsetting theme, with the Loonie needing to worry about the fallout in US-China trade talks and impact it could have on future trade negotiations between Canada and the US.

NZDUSD – technical overview

Despite recent weakness, there's a case to be made for a meaningful low in place at 0.6425 (2018 low). As such, look for setbacks to be well supported ahead of 0.6500 in anticipation of renewed upside, with only a break back below 0.6500 to compromise the outlook. At the same time, a push back above 0.6700 will be required strengthen the constructive outlook.

• R2 0.6694 – 19 April high – Strong
• R1 0.6631 –  7 May high – Medium
• S1 0.6525 – 8 May/2019 low – Medium
• S2 0.6500 – Psychological – Strong

NZDUSD – fundamental overview

The New Zealand Dollar sunk to a fresh yearly low last week, after the RBNZ came out and followed through with a rate cut. Though the cut was mostly anticipated, it still came as an initial surprise to many a trader, with the move representing ongoing necessity for ultra accommodative monetary policy post 2008 crisis. However, Kiwi was able to recovery rather quickly, with many pricing the move as a one and done. RBNZ Governor Orr perhaps helped this along last Thursday, offering comments that reinforced the possibility for a one and done move. Still, with risk sentiment deteriorating in the face of broken down trade talks between the US and China, Kiwi upside is likely to be limited. There has been a little relief for Kiwi on Tuesday, after President Trump was out with some more upbeat talk about the outlook for a trade deal with China.

US SPX 500 – technical overview

There have been signs of a major longer term top, after an exceptional run over the past decade. Any rallies from here, are expected to be very well capped, in favour of renewed weakness targeting an eventual retest of strong longer-term previous resistance turned support in the form of the 2015 high at 2140. The initial level of major support comes in around 2786, with a break below to strengthen the outlook. A sustained move above 3000 would be required to delay the outlook.

• R2 3000 –Psychological – Very Strong
• R1 2961 – 1 May/Record – Medium
• S1 2800 – Psychological – Medium
• S2 2786 – 25 March low – Strong

US SPX 500 – fundamental overview

Although we've seen the market extend to another record high in recent days, mostly on the back of the Fed's dovish shift in 2019, exhausted monetary policy tools post 2008 crisis suggest the prospect for a meaningful extension of this record run at this point in the cycle is not realistic. Meanwhile, ramped up tension on the global trade front, should continue to be a drag on investor sentiment. We recommend keeping a much closer eye on the equities to ten year yield comparative going forward, as the movement here is something that could be a major stress to the financial markets looking out.

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 a recovery out from sub-1200 levels can extend back through big resistance in the form of the 2016 high at 1375. In the interim, look for setbacks to be well supported, with only a close back below 1250 to compromise the constructive outlook.

• R2 1325 – 25 March high – Strong
• R1 1311 – 10 APril high – Medium
• S1 1266 – 23 April/2019 low – Medium
• S2 1233 – 14 December 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

The market has enjoyed a nice run since breaking out above a consolidation between Q4 2018 and Q1 2019. But the rally has now resulted in severely extended technical readings after overshooting a previous support zone in the 6k area. As such, look for additional upside to be limited, to allow for these technical readings to unwind from stretched readings. Setbacks should ideally be supported ahead of 5,000, in favour of the next push through the July 2018 high at 8,500.

• R2 8,491 – July 2018 high – Strong
• R1 7,837 – 13 May/2019 high – Medium
• S1 5,857 – 4 May low – Medium
• S2 5,669 – 24 April high – Strong

BTCUSD – fundamental overview

Bitcoin has enjoyed a stellar rally over the past few weeks, with demand increasing along the way. Last week's resiliency in the face of the hack at a major exchange has given the crypto asset a huge credibility boost, while reports of mainstream adoption from the likes of Starbucks haven't hurt the cause either. Bitcoin has been a clear outperformer in the crypto space, with transaction fees to Bitcoin miners tracking at 8x other cryptocurrencies in recent sessions. Calls from US congressman Brad Sherman to ban Bitcoin have been shrugged off, with volumes on exchanges rocketing as the market pushes back through important levels.

BTCUSD - Technical charts in detail

ETHUSD – technical overview

A recent push back above 170 takes the immediate pressure off the downside, opening the door for an upside extension towards the next critical level of resistance at 255. Look for setbacks to now be well supported ahead of 125, with only a break back below this level to compromise the outlook.

• R2 255 – 22 September high – Strong
• R1 205 – 13 May/2019 high – Medium
• S1 166 – 5 May low – Medium
• S2 149 – 26 April low  – Strong

ETHUSD – fundamental overview

Famed investor, Mike Novogratz was on the wires talking up web 3.0, while suggesting Bitcoin's upside won't be as extreme at this point, with most of the ride already done. All of this points to a bigger focus on blockchains developing web 3.0 applications, with Ethereum at the top of the list. This suggests ETH could soon find some relative strength against its older cousin, especially considering the fact that it's trading at cyclical lows against Bitcoin. However, worry associated with fallout in the global economy, is worry that should weigh more heavily on risk correlated crypto assets like ETH. And considering the possibility that an overextended Bitcoin finds some profit taking, this could ultimately lead to setbacks in the price of ETH relative to the US Dollar, after the market traded up to a fresh 2019 high and enjoyed a nice run.