Today’s report: A peek at the major market drivers of 2020
We’re into holiday thin trade and conditions won’t get back to fuller form until the second week in January. 2019 saw a good deal of downside risk associated with Brexit uncertainty put to rest, and while there remains uncertainty around the event, it isn’t expected to be a theme that grabs the market’s attention like it had in recent years.
Wake-up call
- import prices
- Brexit bill
- bigger picture
- tougher battle
- US-China headlines
- GDP data
- volume thins
- Trade wars
- hard asset
- institutional demand
- traditional markets
Suggested reading
- Central Bankers are Starting to Get Desperate, M. Gongloff, Bloomberg (December 19, 2019)
- Can UK Scientists Lead the World After Brexit?, C. Cookson, Financial Times (December 20, 2019)
Chart talk: Technical & fundamental highlights
Choose pair:
EURUSD – technical overview
The downtrend off the 2018 high is looking exhausted and the prospect for a meaningful higher low is more compelling. A higher low is now 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
We're into holiday thin trade and there won't be much in the way of any meaningful market drivers until the second week in January when trading conditions return to fuller form. Looking ahead, we get German import prices, and US releases in the form of durable goods, the Chicago Fed National Activity index and new home sales.EURUSD - Technical charts in detail
GBPUSD – technical overview
The market has seen a recovery out from the lowest levels since 2016, with the price now pushing back above the weekly Ichimoku cloud to signal a bullish structural shift. Ultimately, only back below the 1.2500 handle would compromise the newly established constructive medium and longer-term outlook. Next key resistance comes in the form of the monthly high from September 2017 at 1.3658, with setbacks expected to be well supported ahead of 1.2900.GBPUSD – fundamental overview
The Pound is trying to find its feet after giving back a chunk of gains in the aftermath of the UK election. Boris Johnson's EU bill has now passed through the House of Commons with overwhelming support and the market will be waiting for the new year to see how things progress from here. Absence of first tier data in the UK, will leave the focus on US durable goods, the Chicago Fed National Activity index and new home sales.USDJPY – technical overview
Despite rally attempts, the longer-term downtrend remains firmly intact. Rallies should continue to be well capped below 110.00 on a monthly closes basis, with deeper setbacks anticipated towards a retest of the yearly low, below which exposes critical support in the form of the 2016 low at 99.00 further down.USDJPY – fundamental overview
We're into holiday thin trade and there won't be much in the way of any meaningful market drivers until the second week in January when trading conditions return to fuller form. Looking ahead, we get US durable goods, the Chicago Fed National Activity index and new home sales.EURCHF – technical overview
The market remains very well capped into offers and the medium-term picture continues to favour the downside. A break back above 1.1060 would be required to take the immediate pressure off the downside. Below 1.0800 exposes the 1.0600 area.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 into 2020, 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
We're into holiday thin trade and there won't be much in the way of any meaningful market drivers until the second week in January when trading conditions return to fuller form. Looking ahead, we get US durable goods, the Chicago Fed National Activity index and new home sales.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
We're into holiday thin trade and there won't be much in the way of any meaningful market drivers until the second week in January when trading conditions return to fuller form.Looking ahead, we get Canada GDP, US durable goods, the Chicago Fed National Activity index and new home sales.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 0.6200. As such, look for setbacks to be well supported in the days ahead, in anticipation of a continued recovery. Only a weekly close below 0.6200 would give reason for rethink. Back above 0.6500 strengthens the outlook and takes the immediate pressure off the downside, with focus now on a test of next meaningful resistance in the form of the July 2019 high at 0.6791 .NZDUSD – fundamental overview
We're into holiday thin trade and there won't be much in the way of any meaningful market drivers until the second week in January when trading conditions return to fuller form. Looking ahead, we get US durable goods, the Chicago Fed National Activity index and new home sales.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 3070, with a break below to strengthen the outlook. A monthly close above 3200 would be required to compromise the outlook.US SPX 500 – fundamental overview
Although we've seen the market extending to fresh record highs in 2019, with so little room for additional central bank accommodation, 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 into 2020, 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 2019 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
The market continues to correct in the aftermath of a major surge in the second quarter of 2019. However, any setbacks should be very well supported in the 6,000 area, with a higher low sought out in favour of a bullish continuation back above the 2019 high and towards the record high from late 2017 further up. Ultimately, only a weekly close below 5,750 would compromise the constructive outlook.BTCUSD – fundamental overview
Bitcoin is 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. Plenty of demand is reported on dips down towards $6,000.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 100 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 100 would compromise the outlook.ETHUSD – fundamental overview
Profit taking in the aftermath of the rapid Q2 appreciation has triggered a healthy period of correction and consolidation, 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 continue to keep the more risk correlated crypto asset weighed down. Risk off in the global economy is also expected to result in ETH underperformance relative to Bitcoin.