Next 24 hours: Investors trying to focus on the positives
Today’s report: Risk markets trying to recover from weekend news
The news of the drone attacks on Saudi OIL facilities has resulted in some risk off flow to start the week, while a softer round of economic data out of China has also contributed to the risk off price action. At the same time, markets have stabilized rather quickly.
Wake-up call
- EURUS ECB speak lines Monday docket
- Brexit clarity
- weekend risk-off
- SNB policy
- China data
- Drone attack
- empire manufacturing
- tension eases
- hard asset
- institutional demand
- traditional markets
Suggested reading
- Saudi Arabia Drone Attack A Strike at Oil’s Future, L. Denning, Bloomberg (September 15, 2019)
- Israel Goes to the Polls, Central Banks Set Rates, D. Garrahan, FT (September 15, 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 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.EURUSD – fundamental overview
The opposition to the resumption of QE from various ECB members, has been a source of gains behind the post-ECB decision Euro rebound. ECB Holzmann went as far as to describe the move back to QE as a mistake, while highlighting the possibility incoming ECB President Lagarde won't be as dovish leaning. ECB Knot and Weidmann were also vocal about their opposition to the QE decision. Hopes for fiscal stimulus out of Germany following Draghi's aggressive call for fiscal policy to take charge, has been yet another source of Euro demand. Looking ahead, we get speeches from ECB's Coeure and Lane, and US empire manufacturing.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 not only take the immediate pressure off the downside, but also transition the market into a technical uptrend on the daily chart, as per the daily Ichimoku cloud. Ultimately, only back below 1.2000 would compromise the more constructive outlook for the major pair.GBPUSD – fundamental overview
Boris Johnson is optimistic he will be able to get a deal done, and this in conjunction with recent moves by parliament to prevent a no-deal Brexit, have resulted in a serious reduction of odds associated with no-deal. A report from the EU side that EU lawmakers will vote to tweak the Irish backstop, so that it only applies to Northern Ireland, has been one of the possible breakthroughs in the negotiating process that is encourage the prospect for a deal. All of this has helped to give the Pound a healthy boost. Looking ahead, there is no first tier data on the UK docket. US empire manufacturing is the only notable standout on the Monday calendar.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 in favour of the next major downside extension towards the 2016 low at 99.00.USDJPY – fundamental overview
The Yen has been weaker of late, on the back of encouraging signs relating to US-China trade talks and reduced risk associated with Brexit. Interestingly, there haven't been too many renewed bids for the Yen on Monday, following the risk off weekend news of the drone attacks on Saudi crude facilities. We've also taken in a batch of softer than expected data out of China, with the Yen failing to generate upward momentum on this as well. Looking ahead, US empire manufacturing 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.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.AUDUSD – fundamental overview
The Australian Dollar comes into the new week better bid, on the back of a more optimistic outlook on the global trade front, and on the back of a solid run of data out of Australia. We have however seen some offers into the new week, with risk sentiment taking a hit from the news of the drone attacks on crude facilities in Saudi Arabia, and from the news of a softer batch of data out of China. Looking ahead, US empire manufacturing 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.USDCAD – fundamental overview
The Canadian Dollar had received an initial jolt higher on the Monday open, with the currency absorbing bids from the rocket open in the price of OIL, as it reacted to the weekend news of the drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. However, the Loonie demand quickly faded away, as it became clear the setbacks from the attacks would not be enough to materially alter the state of overall supply in the market. Meanwhile, some risk off flow from this, along with risk off from softer China data, was also offsetting any demand for the Loonie from the OIL jump. Looking ahead, we get Canada foreign securities purchases and new motor vehicle sales, along with US empire manufacturing.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.NZDUSD – fundamental overview
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, China coming back to the negotiating table with the US, the US deferring a round of tariffs on China, and a post ECB Euro recovery. Kiwi has even managed to hold up well in the face of some risk off flow to start the week, on the back of the drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities and softer round of economic data out of China. Looking ahead, US empire manufacturing 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.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 despite any signs that would suggest otherwise. 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.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. 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.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.