Special report: Why you should keep an eye on gold (and bitcoin too)
Today’s report: Tuesday calendar stacked with data
Already on Tuesday we’ve seen mixed Japan growth data and an RBA Minutes that produced no fresh cues as far as the monetary policy outlook goes.
Wake-up call
- policy divergence
- hike expectations
- BOJ Kuroda
- RBA Minutes
- Emergency Act
- sentiment deterioration
- Stocks vulnerable
- Dealers report
Peformance chart: 30 Day Performance vs. US dollar (%)
Suggested reading
- Factor In Poor Sentiment to Size Up Ukraine Crisis, J. Authers, Bloomberg (February 15, 2022)
- Fundraisers, Crypto & Mini-Trumps: Peter Thiel’s Life After FB, A. Brown, Forbes (February 13, 2022)


Chart talk: Technical & fundamental highlights
Choose pair:
EURUSD – technical overview
Setbacks have been well supported below 1.1200, with the market sharply reversing course and pushing back towards the yearly high. A clear break back above 1.1500 will suggest the market could be getting ready to turn back up. Inability to sustain above 1.1500 will keep the pressure on the downside.EURUSD – fundamental overview
It continues to be about the yield differentials for the major pair, with the US Dollar winning out on the more aggressive Fed pricing relative to the ECB. Looking ahead, key standouts for the remainder of the day come in the form of UK employment, Eurozone trade and employment, Eurozone and German ZEW reads, Canada housing starts, NY empire manufacturing and US producer prices.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
Solid UK growth data and higher rate expectations have been helping to drive GBP outperformance against most currencies. Looking ahead, key standouts for the remainder of the day come in the form of UK employment, Eurozone trade and employment, Eurozone and German ZEW reads, Canada housing starts, NY empire manufacturing and US producer prices.USDJPY – technical overview
The longer-term trend is bearish despite the recent run higher. Look for additional upside to be limited, with scope for a topside failure and bearish resumption back down towards the 100.00 area. It would take a clear break back above 117.00 to negate the outlook.USDJPY – fundamental overview
The Yen has regained some bid tone on the back of the latest wave of risk off flow. On the data front, Japan headline GDP was below forecast, though this was offset by upward revisions. BOJ Kuroda was also on the wires saying the central bank's unlimited fixed-rate bond operation had the intended effect of capping 10yr JGB yields. Looking ahead, key standouts for the remainder of the day come in the form of UK employment, Eurozone trade and employment, Eurozone and German ZEW reads, Canada housing starts, NY empire manufacturing and US producer prices.AUDUSD – technical overview
The Australian Dollar has been in the process of a healthy correction following the impressive run towards a retest of the 2018 high in 2021. At this stage, the correction is starting to look stretched and setbacks should be well supported above 0.7000 on a weekly close basis. A weekly close below 0.7000 will force a bearish shift.AUDUSD – fundamental overview
No fresh policy cues from the latest RBA Minutes. Instead, it's been about the recent iron ore dump and downturn in global sentiment. Looking ahead, key standouts for the remainder of the day come in the form of UK employment, Eurozone trade and employment, Eurozone and German ZEW reads, Canada housing starts, NY empire manufacturing and US producer prices.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 getting some help from higher oil prices, but hasn’t been able to get away from risk off flow and drama around the standoff between Canadian truckers and the government. On Monday, the Canadian PM invoked the Emergency Act on the truck convoy. Looking ahead, key standouts for the remainder of the day come in the form of UK employment, Eurozone trade and employment, Eurozone and German ZEW reads, Canada housing starts, NY empire manufacturing and US producer prices.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
The New Zealand Dollar tried to rally into the end of last week on rising two-year inflation expectations given the impact on the RBNZ policy outlook, but hasn’t been able to hold onto those gains with broader risk sentiment deteriorating and Fed policy still looking more hawkish. Looking ahead, key standouts for the remainder of the day come in the form of UK employment, Eurozone trade and employment, Eurozone and German ZEW reads, Canada housing starts, NY empire manufacturing and US producer prices.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 and risk of rising inflation 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 and an acceleration beyond the next major psychological barrier at 2000. 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, and coronavirus fallout. 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.