Next 24 hours: Back and forth we go
Today’s report: No new bad news is good news
Absence of any fresh downside catalysts seems to be enough for the market right now. We haven’t exactly seen anything majorly positive and the current downside risks around the war, coronavirus and inflation are still very much alive and well.
Wake-up call
- ECB Villeroy
- inflation
- Yield differentials
- RBA Lowe
- Railway strike
- stocks, commodities
- Stocks vulnerable
- Dealers report
Peformance chart: 30 Day Performance vs. US dollar (%)
Suggested reading
- The Fed Isn’t at the Mercy of the Yield Curve, M. Ashworth, Bloomberg (March 23, 2022)
- The Cost of Greener Shipping, H. Dempsey, Financial Times (March 21, 2022)


Chart talk: Technical & fundamental highlights
Choose pair:
EURUSD – technical overview
The latest breakdown below 1.1100 to fresh multi-month lows now sets up the next major downside extension below 1.1000 towards the multi-year low from 2020 in the 1.0600 area. At this stage, it will take a push back above 1.1500 to force a shift in the outlook.EURUSD – fundamental overview
The Euro hasn’t been able to do much of late, with the single currency weighed down into rallies on a dovish ECB outlook. The central bank is seen resisting calls for rate hikes. ECB Villeroy has said the central bank should not overreact to the energy price volatility. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of UK inflation, a Fed Chair Powell speech, and US new home sales.EURUSD - Technical charts in detail
GBPUSD – technical overview
The market is in a correction phase in the aftermath of the run to fresh multi-month highs in 2021. At this stage, additional setbacks should be limited to the 1.3000 area ahead of the next major upside extension towards a retest and break of critical resistance in the form of the 2018 high. Back above 1.3835 takes pressure off the downside.GBPUSD – fundamental overview
We’ve seen a healthy run higher in the Pound into Wednesday. A lot of this is believed to be around pricing into today’s UK inflation data, with the market expecting another hot print. Ultimately, this will add pressure on the BOE to raise rates more aggressively. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of UK inflation, the UK Spring Budget Statement, a BOE Bailey appearance, Fed Chair Powell speech, and US new home sales.USDJPY – technical overview
The longer-term trend is neutral despite the recent run higher. Look for additional upside to be limited, with scope for a topside failure above 120.00 and bearish reversal back down towards the 100.00 area. It would take a monthly close above 120.00 to negate the outlook.USDJPY – fundamental overview
The Yen continues to get hammered to multi-month lows, with the worsening terms of trade and widening yield differentials with the US Dollar playing a major part. Moreover, the fact that stocks haven’t been hit has hard, is taking away from any Yen demand we might normally see in a risk off backdrop, further intensifying the Yen outflows. Last Friday Friday, the BOJ left rates on hold while reaffirming its dovish stance and welcoming weakness in the Yen. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of UK inflation, a Fed Chair Powell speech, and US new home sales.AUDUSD – technical overview
At this stage, the market has found a bottom and is trying to work back to the topside. Ultimately, it will take a break back above 0.7600 to shift the focus back on the topside. A weekly close below 0.7000 will force a bearish shift.AUDUSD – fundamental overview
The Australian Dollar has held up well overall on demand for stocks and commodities, but has faced some selling pressure into this latest run higher. A lot of this coming from dovish RBA Lowe comments after the central banker questioned whether inflation psychology was shifting, suggesting rates might stay lower for longer. Lowe also highlighted the decline in Aussie consumer confidence. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of UK inflation, a Fed Chair Powell speech, and US new home sales.USDCAD – technical overview
Finally signs of a major bottom in the works after a severe decline from the 2020 high. A recent weekly close back above 1.2500 encourages the constructive outlook and opens the door for a push back towards next critical resistance in the 1.3000 area. Any setbacks should be well supported into the 1.2200s.USDCAD – fundamental overview
The Canadian Dollar has been trying hard to recover in recent sessions on a round of strong Canada data in March including the jobs report, housing starts, manufacturing sales, existing home sales and retail sales. We're also seeing some demand creep back in on another hot Canada inflation print and as oil looks to find a bottom after a sharp correction lower. We have however been seeing some weakness into Wednesday and the strike at Canadian Pacific could be factoring into the flow. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of UK inflation, a Fed Chair Powell speech, and US new home sales.NZDUSD – technical overview
Setbacks have intensified in recent weeks with the market trading down to fresh multi-month lows. A recent breakdown below the 0.6700 area opens the door for a drop towards 0.6500 in the sessions ahead.NZDUSD – fundamental overview
Kiwi has moved higher in recent sessions on the back of ongoing demand for commodities prices and a resilient US equity market. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of UK inflation, a Fed Chair Powell speech, and US new home sales.US SPX 500 – technical overview
Longer-term technical studies are in the process of unwinding from extended readings off record highs. The latest breakdown below 4,272 opens the door for the next major downside extension towards 3,500. Back above 4,612 will be required at a minimum to take the immediate pressure off the downside.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 weigh more heavily on investor sentiment in Q1 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 1900.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.