Waiting for the next shoe to drop

Next 24 hours: Currency traders drawn to the Pound

Today’s report: Waiting for the next shoe to drop

We seem to be in a bit of a holding pattern into Tuesday. We’re waiting for the next batch of headlines from the global trade front, waiting to see what comes of Brexit now that risk of no-deal has been reduced and Boris Johnson has been backed into a corner, and waiting for this week’s European Central Bank decision.

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Wake-up call

Chart talk: Technical & fundamental highlights

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EURUSD – technical overview

The major pair has extended its run of declines off the 2008 high, trading down to a fresh multi-month low. 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 1.0800 would compromise this outlook. Back above 1.1412 will strengthen the view.

  • R2 1.1116 – 27 August high – Strong
  • R1 1.1085 - 5 September high – Medium
  • S1 1.0968 - 4 September low – Medium
  • S2 1.0925 – 3 September/2019 low – Strong

EURUSD – fundamental overview

Subdued trade in the Euro to start the week. Most of the flow has been reported to be around HFT scalping. We did see the Euro close higher in the previous week, despite ongoing softness in Euro area data. It seems US administration soft Dollar policy and comments from the next ECB President about problems associated with QE, have been helping to prop the single currency. Monday's economic data out of the Euro area was however more on the positive side, as reflected through German trade and Eurozone sentix investor confidence. Still, not a lot of action and it seems the market is more focused on pre-event risk positioning, ahead of this week's anticipated ECB decision. Looking ahead, absence of first tier data on the Euro calendar, will leave the focus on bigger picture themes and US JOLTS job openings.

EURUSD - Technical charts in detail

GBPUSD – technical overview

The market has seen an impressive bounce out from the lowest levels since 2016, with the price recovering back above critical resistance at 1.2310, to take the immediate pressure off the downside. This has set up a double bottom possibility, with a measured move extension target coming in at 1.2660. Ultimately, only back below 1.2000 would compromise the more constructive outlook for the major pair.

  • R2 1.2400 – Ichimoku Cloud top – Strong
  • R1 1.2385 – 9 September high – Medium
  • S1 1.2210 – 5 September low – Medium
  • S2 1.2106 – 3 September high – Strong

GBPUSD – fundamental overview

Boris Johnson looks to be up against it, with little in the way of options after the Benn bill was pushed through, which compels the PM to seek a 3 month extension to the 31st of January if he can't secure a deal or convince parliament to vote for a no-deal Brexit. The Pound has found comfort in the reduced risk associated with this development, while also benefiting from some solid Monday data. Looking at the economic calendar for the day, we get UK employment data, followed up by US JOLTS job openings.

USDJPY – technical overview

The longer-term downtrend remains firmly intact, with the major pair recently taking out major support in the form of the 2018 and 2019 lows respectively. Rallies should continue to be well capped below 110.00. Below the 2018 low now opens the door for the next major downside extension towards the 2016 low at 99.00.

  • R2 107.57 – 2 August high – Strong
  • R1 107.50 – 10 September high – Medium
  • S1 106.33 – 5 September low – Medium
  • S2 105.74 – 3 September low  – Strong

USDJPY – fundamental overview

There hasn't been a lot going on that would be influencing price action in the major pair all that much, which leaves us downplaying recent weakness in the Japanese currency. We continue to expect the Yen to track with bigger picture correlations including risk sentiment and US Dollar yield differentials. Looking ahead, US JOLTS job openings is the only notable standout on the calendar for the remainder of the day.

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.
  • R2 1.1064 – 26 July high – Strong
  • R1 1.1000 – Psychological – Medium
  • S1 1.0811 – 4 September/2019 low – Medium
  • S2 1.0800 – Figure – 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, 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 under pressure over the past several months, but has also been well supported on dips. 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 above 0.6700 on a weekly close basis.

  • R2 0.6910 – 10 July low – Strong
  • R1 0.6876– 9 September high – Medium
  • S1 0.6754 – 4 September low – Medium
  • S2 0.6677 – 7 August/2019 low – Strong

AUDUSD – fundamental overview

The Australian Dollar has been getting mixed messages into Tuesday. On the one side, Aussie has been finding bids on the latest China RRR cut and some impressive Aussie home loans data. On the other side, rallies have run into resistance, contending with a dip in NAB business confidence and business conditions. China inflation data didn't offer any new insights. Looking ahead, US JOLTS job openings is the only notable standout on the calendar for the remainder of the day.

USDCAD – technical overview

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.

  • R2 1.3300 – Figure – Medium
  • R1 1.3247 - 5 September high – Medium
  • S1 1.3139 – 9 September low – Medium
  • S2 1.3105 – 31 July low – Strong

USDCAD – fundamental overview

The Canadian Dollar has been better bid in recent sessions, getting a nice boost from last Friday's solid Canada employment report better than expected Ivey PMI read. Meanwhile, OIL has been bid up, another source of CAD strength, with the commodity benefitting from the news that the Saudi King replaced Oil Minister Al-Falih with one of his sons Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. The new OIL minister has since indicated OPEC will continue with output cuts. Looking ahead, key standouts on Tuesday's economic calendar include Canada housing starts and US JOLTS job openings.

NZDUSD – technical overview

Despite recent weakness, there's a case to be made for a meaningful bottom, with the market rallying out from longer-term cycle low area around 0.6300. As such, look for setbacks to be well supported in the days ahead, in anticipation of a continued recovery. Only a weekly close below 0.6300 would give reason for rethink. Back above 0.6600 will take the immediate pressure off the downside.

  • R2 0.6499 – 8 August high – Strong
  • R1 0.6445 –  9 September high – Medium
  • S1 0.6353 – 5 September low – Medium
  • S2 0.6325 – 4 September low – Medium

NZDUSD – fundamental overview

A rebound n Kiwi retail credit card spending is helping to keep the New Zealand Dollar in recovery mode into Tuesday. Overall, the commodity currency has been better bid in recent days, on the back of broad based profit taking on US Dollar longs, and improved risk appetite, with Brexit less of a stress and China coming back to the negotiating table with the US. Looking ahead, US JOLTS job openings is the only notable standout on the calendar for the remainder of the day.

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.

  • R2 3029 – 26 July/Record high – Strong
  • R1 3000 – Psychological – Strong
  • S1 2889 – 2 September low – Medium
  • S2 2777 – 6 August low – Strong

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, 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 1600, while in the interim, look for any setbacks to be well supported above 1400.

  • R2 1600 – Round number – Strong
  • R1 1558 – 4 September/2019 high – Strong
  • S1 1480 – 13 August low – Medium
  • S2 1400 – Psychological – 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

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.

  • R2 13,748– 26 June/2019 high – Strong
  • R1 12,310 – 6 August high – Medium
  • S1 9,348 – 29 August low – Medium
  • S2 9,075 – 17 July low – Strong

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. Future ECB President Lagarde has just come out in support of cryptocurrencies as well. 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 Q2 run up, though we anticipate continued demand from institutional players starved for yield in a world where global equities are increasingly vulnerable.

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 150 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 150 would compromise the outlook.

  • R2 240 – 6 August high – Strong
  • R1 204 – 20 August high – Medium
  • S1 164 – 29 August low – Medium
  • S2 150 – Psychological  – Strong

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. Risk off in the global economy is expected to result in Eth underperformance relative to Bitcoin.

Peformance chart: 5 Day Performance vs. US dollar

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