Special report: Fed decision preview
Today’s report: Where will the dust settle on Wednesday?
This week has been all about the possibility the Fed gestures towards tighter policy and fallout in China. The resulting price action has been very much risk off as to be expected. Stocks are under pressure and the US Dollar in demand.
Wake-up call
- FOMC decision
- Gas shortage
- BOJ policy
- Iron ore
- election result
- Consumer confidence
- Stocks vulnerable
- Dealers report
Peformance chart: 30 Day Performance vs. US dollar (%)
Suggested reading
- Winter Is Coming and Europe Is Running Scarily Low on Gas, M. Levine, Bloomberg (September 21, 2021)
- Time For A Taper Tantrum?, J. Calhoun, Alhambra (September 19, 2021)


Chart talk: Technical & fundamental highlights
Choose pair:
EURUSD – technical overview
The market has been looking for a higher low since topping out in 2021 up at 1.2350. Ideally, setbacks continue to be well supported down towards 1.1600 in favour of the next major upside extension back through 1.2350 and towards a retest of the 2018 high at 1.2555 further up. Only a weekly close below 1.1600 would force a rethink.EURUSD – fundamental overview
No major updates around the Euro into Wednesday, with the single currency stuck sideways into today's major event risk in the form of the Fed decision. The only other notable standout on today's calendar comes from US existing home sales.EURUSD - Technical charts in detail
GBPUSD – technical overview
The market is in a consolidation phase in the aftermath of the run to fresh 2021 and multi-month highs. At this stage, additional setbacks should be limited to the 1.3500 area ahead of the next major upside extension towards a retest and break of critical resistance in the form of the 2018 high.GBPUSD – fundamental overview
The Pound has found some added downside pressure on account of the ongoing gas shortage and chatter around a three day work week. We've also seen selling on broad based US Dollar demand from risk off flow. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of US existing home sales, and the FOMC decision.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 113.00 to negate the outlook.USDJPY – fundamental overview
We've seen a lot more demand for the Yen of late on account of all the risk off flow. Market participants are definitely looking for some protection against fallout in China as well. The BOJ policy decision will be digested early Wednesday, though no change to policy is expected. Other key standouts on today’s calendar include US existing home sales, and the FOMC decision.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 earlier this year. At this stage, there is risk for additional declines, though setbacks are expected to be well supported down into the 0.7000 area. Look for a weekly close above 0.7500 to force a shift in the structure.AUDUSD – fundamental overview
Most of the selling in the Australian Dollar we've been seeing has come from the slide in commodities prices and US equities. Iron ore price declines have been getting quite a bit of attention as far as the Australian Dollar is concerned, with the slump no at about 44% from the highs seen back in July. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of US existing home sales, and the FOMC decision.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 was lower on Tuesday, but things could have been a lot worse if not for some feeling of stability in the aftermath of the election result which saw PM Trudeau secure his third term. Still, there was selling on the reality of heavy costs associated with an election that proved to be unnecessary and on macro forces in the form of risk off trade. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of US existing home sales, and the FOMC decision.NZDUSD – technical overview
The market has entered a period of consolidation after running up to a yearly and multi-month high. At this stage, rallies should be well capped and there is still room for deeper setbacks into the 0.6500-0.6800 area before we see an attempt at a higher low and resumption of upside pressure. Back above the April high at 0.7317 would be required to force a shift in the structure.NZDUSD – fundamental overview
The New Zealand Dollar has come under added pressure in recent sessions. The big picture risk off flow has certainly factored into the price action, though we've seen added downside pressure from the recent discouraging New Zealand consumer confidence read. Key standouts on today’s calendar come in the form of US existing home sales, and the FOMC decision.US SPX 500 – technical overview
Longer-term technical studies are looking quite exhausted and the market is showing signs of wanting to roll over after racing to another record high. Look for rallies to be well capped ahead of 4600, with a break back below 4353 to strengthen the outlook.US SPX 500 – fundamental overview
We're trading just off fresh record highs, and yet, 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 into this second half of 2021.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 1600.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. [audio mp3="https://www.lmax.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/09/15seplmaxaudio.mp3"][/audio]