Holiday Thin Trade to Start the Week

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 well ahead of the yearly low in the 1.2400s. Look for a weekly close back above 1.3000 to strengthen the outlook.

• R2 1.2814 – 21 May high – Strong
• R1 1.2758 – 20 May high – Medium
• S1 1.2605 – 23 May low – Strong
• S2 1.2581 – 2 January low  – Strong

GBPUSD – fundamental overview

Though the weekend election had the ruling Conservative party in 5th place, the market was anticipating this result and had priced it accordingly ahead of the risk. The Pound has been better bid into Monday, recovering off last week's multi-day low, boosted initially on a renewed wave of broad based US Dollar selling from US administration soft Dollar policy, and extending the run, perhaps on comments from UK Chancellor Hammond, who said the House of Commons strongly opposed leaving the EU without a deal. Hammond went on to issue a warning that any PM forcing a no-deal Brexit would risk a vote of no confidence. This diminishes any fears of no-deal action that could come on pressure from the Nigel Farage victory. Monday trade will be thinner on account of the UK and US holiday closures.

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. The recent drop back below 110.00 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 110.96 – 6 May high – Strong
• R1 110.00 – Psychological – Medium
• S1 109.27– 24 May low – Medium
• S2 109.02 – 13 May low – Strong

USDJPY – fundamental overview

Most of the movement in the major pair is being directed by investor appetite, with the Yen still tracking with traditional correlations. Risk sentiment has been trending lower of late and this is keeping the major pair under pressure into rallies. Monday trading conditions are razor thin on account of the holiday closures in the UK and US, though we have seen some risk on flow that's opened mild demand for the pair. The risk on flow comes from the positive talk between the US and Japan on trade, with President Trump saying he may make an announcement in August, with respect to a US-Japan trade deal.

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 1.1330 – 14 May high – Medium
• S1 1.1196 – 24 May low – Medium
• S2 1.1163 – 29 March/2019 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

The market has been very well supported on dips 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 0.7070 to strengthen this outlook. In the interim, look for setbacks to continue to be well supported ahead of 0.6800.

• R2 0.7000 – Psychological – Strong
• R1 0.6960 – 14 May high – Medium
• S1 0.6900 – Figure – Medium
• S2 0.6865 – 17 May low – Strong

AUDUSD – fundamental overview

Weakness last week in the Australian Dollar came from the more dovish leaning RBA, broad based demand for the US Dollar on flight to safety flow and calls from Bill Evans for 3 RBA rate cuts this year. But last Thursday's round of distressing US data has helped to inspire an Aussie recovery on profit taking in US Dollar longs, which has taken some of the pressure off the downside into the new week. News of the US Commerce Department proposing anti-subsidy tariffs on goods from nations found to be pursuing competitive currency devaluations could also factor into price action going forward, though it will be interesting to see how Aussie reacts, given the soft Dollar implication on one side, and risk off implication on the other. Earlier today, China industrial profits declines, but the market hasn't done anything with the data, especially in light of the razor thin Monday holiday trade, with the UK and US out for holiday.

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 1.3377 – 1 May low – Medium
• S2 1.3336 – 18 April low – Strong

USDCAD – fundamental overview

The price of OIL tumbled in the latter half of last week, which didn’t do any favors for the Canadian Dollar. Huge inventory builds numbers contradicted earlier expectations of a drawdown heading into the summer, that had been responsible for a run up that preceded this big drop. Still, ongoing upbeat outlook sentiment from BoC Poloz and renewed broad based profit taking on US Dollar longs, have been supportive of the Loonie, keeping the Canadian Dollar from extending its 2019 run of declines. Trading conditions are exceptionally thin to start the week, on account of holiday closures in the UK and 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 above the latter, in anticipation of renewed upside, with only a close below to compromise the outlook. At the same time, a push back above 0.6700 will be required to take pressure off the downside.

• R2 0.6615 – 10 May high – Strong
• R1 0.6600 –  Figure – Medium
• S1 0.6500 – Psychological – Medium
• S2 0.6482 – 23 May/2019 low – Strong

NZDUSD – fundamental overview

The New Zealand Dollar suffered its way down to yearly lows last week, on the back of softer local data, a recent RBNZ rate cut, and downturn in global sentiment. Last Tuesday's GDT auction disappointment was also followed up with news of a downward revision to Fonterra's milk price forecasts. At the same time, the commodity currency did manage to get some help off the lows, on the back of broad based profit taking on US Dollar longs. US economic data to end the week was soft overall, while US administration protectionist policy also helped to inspire the recovery. Ahead of this Thursday Kiwi budget, the PM has said NZ budget responsibility rules will remain in place.

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 2961 – 1 May/Record high – Very Strong
• R1 2892 – 16 May high – Medium
• S1 2798 – 14 May low – 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 extended technical readings after racing through the July 2018 peak at 8,500. Next key resistance comes in at the 10k psychological barrier, which also happens to roughly coincide with the April 2018 high (9,980). But look for additional upside to be limited, to allow for these technical readings to unwind from stretched readings, before the market considers a meaningful push beyond 10k. Setbacks should ideally be supported ahead of 6,000.

• R2 9,979 – April 2018 high – Strong
• R1 8,949 – 27 May/2019 high – Medium
• S1 7,432 – 23 May low – Medium
• S2 7,000 – 17 May low – Strong

BTCUSD – fundamental overview

Bitcoin has enjoyed a stellar rally over the past few weeks, with demand increasing along the way. This month'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 haven't hurt the cause either. Household names like Starbucks, Microsoft, TD Ameritrade and Whole Foods are all making moves in the space, while governments have been more receptive to working with the crypto asset.

BTCUSD - Technical charts in detail

ETHUSD – technical overview

The recovery has recently accelerated to a fresh 2019 high, surging through medium-term resistance at 255 and exposing next key resistance at 355. The upside break suggests the market is now looking to establish a meaningful base, in favour of bullish structural shift. Still, shorter-term, the run is looking stretched and before we see that test of 355, we could see rallies well capped into 300 to allow for extended readings to unwind before the market gets going again. Setbacks should now be well supported into the 200 area.

• R2 300 – Psychological – Strong
• R1 279 – 16 May/2019 high – Medium
• S1 227 – 17 May low – Medium
• S2 200 – Psychological  – Strong

ETHUSD – fundamental overview

There has been a lot more buzz around adoption as the price of Bitcoin surges, with many mainstream names coming out in support of blockchain integration. Demand for web 3.0 applications is on the rise, and the blockchain with the biggest front end application potential is Ethereum. We've started to see some catch up as well, with ETH finding relative strength off cycle lows versus its older cousin.  At the same time, 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 an overextended Bitcoin runs into profit taking, there is risk we soon see a healthy adjustment back to the downside.