Today’s report: Light Monday with US markets closed
We come into a very light week of trade this week. US markets are closed on this Monday for the long weekend Memorial Day holiday, while later this week, UK markets will be shutting down, on Thursday and Friday in honor of the Queen’s Platinum jubilee.
Wake-up call
- economic sentiment
- financial aid
- Kuroda comments
- retail sales
- BoC
- global sentiment
- Stocks vulnerable
- Dealers report
Peformance chart: 30 Day Performance vs. US dollar (%)
Suggested reading
- When Crypto's Tulipmania Meets The Real Economy, L. Laurent, Bloomberg (May 30, 2022)
- Is Gaming the Gateway to Success in the Metaverse?, G. Bobillot, Financial Times (May 30, 2022)
Chart talk: Technical & fundamental highlights
Choose pair:
EURUSD – technical overview
The market has come under intense pressure in recent weeks, with setbacks accelerating to retest the multi-year low from 2017. A clear break below 1.0300 now sets up the next downside extension towards parity. At the same time, technical studies have been in the process of unwinding from oversold. But back above 1.1000 would be required at a minimum to take the immediate pressure off the downside.EURUSD – fundamental overview
The Euro has been better bid over the past couple of weeks. The single currency had initially benefited from stronger local data and more hawkish comments out from ECB Lagarde, before getting an added push on a repricing of Fed rate hike expectations. Looking ahead, Monday’s calendar is rather thin, especially with US markets closed for the long weekend. Key standouts come in the form of Eurozone economic sentiment and confidence reads, German inflation, and the Canada current account.EURUSD - Technical charts in detail
GBPUSD – technical overview
The market continues to be exceptionally well supported on dips down into the 1.2000 area, with the latest setback once again holding up ahead of the barrier. Overall, the daily trend remains bearish, though there are signs of the market wanting to put in a meaningful bottom ahead of the next major upside extension. Look for a clear break back above 1.3000 to strengthen this outlook.GBPUSD – fundamental overview
The Pound has been bid on the back of US Dollar selling from a repricing of Fed rate hike expectations. But we have seen some selling into rallies after the UK government announced a large financial aid package in the previous week. Looking ahead, Monday’s calendar is rather thin, especially with US markets closed for the long weekend. Key standouts come in the form of Eurozone economic sentiment and confidence reads, German inflation, and the Canada current account.USDJPY – technical overview
The market has rocketed higher to its highest levels since 2002 after breaking through the 2015 high. Technical studies are however in the process of unwinding from overbought readings, with scope for a sizable correction in the weeks ahead. Look for additional upside from here to be limited to the 130.00 area for now. A break back below 127.00 would confirm the likelihood of a deeper pullback.USDJPY – fundamental overview
We are finally seeing evidence of a Yen that has perhaps fallen a little too hard and fast on monetary policy divergence between the BOJ and Fed. Most recently, BOJ Kuroda was on the wires saying further US rate hikes wouldn't necessarily lead to Yen weakness. Looking ahead, Monday’s calendar is rather thin, especially with US markets closed for the long weekend. Key standouts come in the form of Eurozone economic sentiment and confidence reads, German inflation, and the Canada current account.AUDUSD – technical overview
The market has recently dropped back to a critical internal support level in the form of the 2016 low. A breakdown below this level would open the door for a bearish continuation towards 0.6000. Back above 0.7265 would be required to take the immediate pressure off the downside.AUDUSD – fundamental overview
The Australian Dollar has extended its recovery on the back of higher stocks and a repricing of Fed rate hike expectations. At the same time, gains have been mitigated given the more downbeat economic outlook in China and this latest slight miss in Aussie retail sales. Looking ahead, Monday’s calendar is rather thin, especially with US markets closed for the long weekend. Key standouts come in the form of Eurozone economic sentiment and confidence reads, German inflation, and the Canada current account.USDCAD – technical overview
A recent surge back above 1.3000 signals an end to a period of bearish consolidation and suggests the market is in the process of carving out a more significant longer-term base. Next key resistance now comes in up into the 1.3500 area. Any setbacks should be very well supported down into the 1.2500 area.USDCAD – fundamental overview
The Canadian Dollar has been in recovery mode, getting help from hot labor market data, a repricing of Fed rate hike expectations, higher stocks and better bid oil. Meanwhile, the market is looking for a 50bp rate hike from the Bank of Canada this week. Looking ahead, Monday’s calendar is rather thin, especially with US markets closed for the long weekend. Key standouts come in the form of Eurozone economic sentiment and confidence reads, German inflation, and the Canada current account.NZDUSD – technical overview
The market has been trending lower since topping out in 2021, making a series of lower highs and lower lows. The focus is now squarely on a retest of the 2015 low which comes in just ahead of 0.6100. Back above 0.6570 would be required to take the immediate pressure off the downside.NZDUSD – fundamental overview
The New Zealand Dollar has mostly been in recovery mode on account of a repricing of Fed rate hike expectations and higher stocks. Interestingly enough, the market has been less impressed with last week's consecutive RBNZ 50bps rate hike. Economic data in New Zealand remains concerning on many levels and the more downbeat outlook on China hasn't helped either. Looking ahead, Monday’s calendar is rather thin, especially with US markets closed for the long weekend. Key standouts come in the form of Eurozone economic sentiment and confidence reads, German inflation, and the Canada current account.US SPX 500 – technical overview
Longer-term technical studies are in the process of unwinding from extended readings off record highs. Look for rallies to be well capped in favor of lower tops and lower lows. Back above 4,312 will be required at a minimum to take the immediate pressure off the downside. Next major support comes in around 3,400.US SPX 500 – fundamental overview
With so little room for additional central bank accommodation, given an already depressed interest rate environment, the prospect for sustainable runs to the topside on easy money policy incentives and government stimulus, should no longer be as enticing to investors. Meanwhile, ongoing worry associated with coronavirus fallout, rising inflation, and geopolitical tension should continue to weigh more heavily on investor sentiment in 2022.GOLD (SPOT) – technical overview
The 2019 breakout above the 2016 high at 1375 was a significant development, opening the door for fresh record highs. Setbacks should now be well supported above 1700.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, coronavirus fallout, inflation risk, and geopolitical tension. 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.