Next 24 hours: Offshore Yuan to Record Low, Stocks Tumble
Today’s report: More about trade, less about monetary policy
We’re coming out of a week in which the market digested the latest Fed policy decision and monthly employment report out of the US, and yet, most of the attention is elsewhere, with market participants more focused on fallout from the US administration’s latest round of tariffs on China.
Wake-up call
- services PMIs
- political woes
- Yen demand
- SNB policy
- job ads
- trade data
- yield differentials
- jobs report
- Macro players
- Increased exposure
- traditional markets
Suggested reading
- What the Market Fears More Than Rates, M. Gongloff, Bloomberg (August 2, 2019)
- Time To Prepare for this Bull Market to End, K. Kam, Fortune (August 2, 2019)
Chart talk: Technical & fundamental highlights
Choose pair:
EURUSD – technical overview
The major pair has extended its run of declines off the 2008 high, trading down to a fresh multi-month. But with the downtrend looking exhausted, the prospect for a meaningful higher low is more compelling, with a higher low sought out above the multi-year low from 2017, ahead of the next major upside extension. Only a weekly close back below the psychological barrier at 1.1000 would compromise this outlook. Back above 1.1412 will strengthen the view.EURUSD – fundamental overview
The news of upgraded soft Dollar policy out of the White House, via another round of China tariffs, was enough to inspire a reversal of flow last week, after the Euro had initially extended its run of declines against the Buck to a plus two year low. Friday Eurozone data was mixed, with producer prices a little softer, but offset by better than expected retail sales. Meanwhile, the US jobs report came in mostly in line with expectation and was overshadowed by the developments on the trade front. Looking ahead, key standouts on the Monday calendar include German and Eurozone services PMIs and US ISM non-manufacturing.EURUSD - Technical charts in detail
GBPUSD – technical overview
The recent breakdown below 1.2400 has opened the door for a fresh downside extension towards the major cycle low from 2016 in the 1.1800s. Longer-term studies continue to suggest the market should be looking to start turning back up, though at this stage, the pressure remains on the downside and it will take a break back above 1.2400 to take the immediate pressure off the downside and revive the outlook supporting a longer-term base.GBPUSD – fundamental overview
The Pound did a good job finally finding some demand on Friday, with the UK currency recovering out from multi-month lows against the Buck. The recovery happening despite the news of PM Johnson's majority getting cut down to the narrowest of margins and UK construction PMIs coming in a little softer. It seems the market was more focused on risk associated with the US administration's soft Dollar trade policy, which inspired broad based profit taking on Dollar longs into the end of the week. Looking ahead, key standouts on the Monday calendar include UK services PMIs and US ISM non-manufacturing.USDJPY – technical overview
The longer-term downtrend remains firmly intact, with the major pair slowly gravitating back towards a retest of major support in the form of the 2018 and 2019 lows respectively, down in the 104s. Rallies should continue to be well capped below 110.00.USDJPY – fundamental overview
The major pair has fallen victim to profit taking on US Dollar longs, mostly on the back of the latest round of US tariffs on China, as the US administration pushes ahead with its soft Dollar trade policy initiative. The combination of trade wars and a falling stock market, is a combination that should continue to invite downside pressure in the major pair. Looking ahead, key standouts on the Monday calendar include Japan and China services PMIs reads and US ISM non-manufacturing.EURCHF – technical overview
The market is trading at its lowest levels in two years, and at this point, it would take a daily close back above 1.1173 to take the immediate pressure off the downside. The latest breakdown below 1.1000 opens the door for the next major downside extension towards 1.0600.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, 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 0.7100 to strengthen this outlook. In the interim, look for setbacks to continue to be well supported ahead of 0.6700.AUDUSD – fundamental overview
The Australian Dollar has been gravitating back towards the 2018 low, on the back of yield differentials that have been moving in the US Dollar's favour. The other week, we heard some upgraded dovishness from RBA Lowe, and this was followed up last week, with a less dovish read of the Fed meeting. Meanwhile, we've also since seen a pullback in US equities, with the drop weighing on the risk correlated commodity currency. There was some Aussie demand on Friday, perhaps fueled by profit taking on long US Dollar exposure post the latest announced US tariffs on China. Looking ahead, key standouts on the Monday calendar include Australia services PMIs and job ads, China services PMIs and US ISM non-manufacturing.USDCAD – technical overview
Despite the recent breakdown to a yearly low, the longer-term structure remains constructive, with dips expected to be well supported for renewed upside, eventually back above the 2018/multi-month high at 1.3665. At this point, only a weekly close below the psychological barrier at 1.3000 would compromise this outlook.USDCAD – fundamental overview
The Canadian Dollar extended its run of recent declines against the Buck after Canada trade data missed, while the US jobs report was solid in contrast. But a recovery in the price of OIL and broad based selling of the Buck on the latest US administration soft Dollar trade policy measures, proved to be enough to rally the Loonie back into the weekly close. Looking ahead, absence of first tier data out of Canada, will leave the focus on some US ISM non-manufacturing data.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. Any setbacks, should ideally be well supported into the 0.6500 area.NZDUSD – fundamental overview
The New Zealand Dollar has come under a lot of pressure in recent weeks, giving back most of what had been an impressive recovery. Downside momentum from last month's dovish RBNZ calls, has continued, following last week's less dovish Fed read and accompanying liquidation in stocks on the White House announcement of additional tariffs on China. Looking ahead, key standouts on the Monday calendar include China services PMIs reads and US ISM non-manufacturing.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 at 2729, with a break below to strengthen the outlook. A monthly close above 3000 would be required to compromise the outlook calling for a top.US SPX 500 – fundamental overview
Although we've seen the market extending to fresh record highs in 2019, on the back of the Fed policy reversal, with so little room for additional easing, given an already depressed interest rate environment, the prospect for a meaningful extension of this record run, on easy money policy incentives, should no longer be as enticing to investors as it once was. Meanwhile, expected renewed 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
The recent breakout above the 2016 high at 1375 was a significant development, and suggests the market is in the early stages of a bullish move that follows a multi-month consolidation. The next major level of resistance comes in around 1500, while in the interim, look for any setbacks to be well supported above 1400.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
Overall, look for additional upside to be limited for now, as the market continues to correct and consolidate, in the aftermath of a major surge in the second quarter of 2019. Any setbacks should be very well supported ahead of 7,000, with an eventual higher low sought out in favour of a bullish continuation back above the 2019 high at 13,748. Only a weekly close below 7,000 would compromise the constructive outlook.BTCUSD – fundamental overview
Bitcoin enjoyed a spectacular run in the second quarter of 2019, racing to fresh yearly highs, surging towards 14k, on the back of increased adoption and more openness from the traditional investor community. The news of tech giants now turning towards the world of crypto has invited a higher profile that should be a net positive in the long run. At the same time, it also exposes the ethos to fresh critique from higher ups at the central bank and government levels. The market is also going through a period of technical adjustment after the fierce run up, though we anticipate demand from institutional players into dips.BTCUSD - Technical charts in detail
ETHUSD – technical overview
The market is in the process of a major correction after a surge in the second quarter of 2019. Look for setbacks to be well supported above of previous resistance turned support at 170 on a weekly close basis, in favour of the next major higher low and bullish resumption back towards and through the 2019 high up at 363. Ultimately, only a weekly close below 170 would compromise the longer term constructive outlook.ETHUSD – fundamental overview
There was a lot more buzz around adoption following the Q2 2019 Bitcoin surge, with many mainstream names coming out in support of blockchain integration. Demand for web 3.0 applications is on the rise, and Ethereum is the blockchain with the biggest front end application potential. At the same time, profit taking in the aftermath of the rapid Q2 appreciation has triggered a healthy period of correction, while critique of the space from the likes of President Trump and Fed Chair Powell, along with worry associated with fallout in the global economy, are stories that could keep the more risk correlated crypto asset weighed down in the second half of the year.