by Mercaforex
The U.S. was closed for trading on Friday and currencies across the board moved in an extremely quiet manner. Trading today from the U.S. could see a spillover from sentiment that was generated on Thursday due to the rather negative jobless data which served as a reminder that the economic slope remains a perilous one. Talk of ‘green shoots’ can still be heard but they appear to be over matched for the time being with words of caution - that the recession may have slowed but the slump is not over. The ISM Non Manufacturing data will come from the U.S. today and a reading of 45.9 is expected, this would be a better number than last month’s outcome. This release will be the only major statistic from the U.S. for the next couple of days.
The currency markets and in particular the USD has been led by the results from the equity markets the past couple of months. The Dow and S&P will serve as the lynchpin for investors this week but traders will also have to keep their ears pinned to the many speeches coming forth from the upcoming G8 meetings. There has been plenty of speculation that Brazil, China, Russia, and now India are leading a parade which will discuss the possibility of the global economy becoming less reliant on the USD. However the skeptical question that must be asked is how this would be worked out and who would be willing to deliver leadership. In short expect words but no actions from this drama. It is highly unlikely that the USD can be cast aside for many years and dialogues about it possibly being relegated to a less important position seem more like political bantering than economic reality. The USD proved that it is the domain of risk adverse traders on Thursday and its results today and all of this week will likely continue to come based on what type of risk / reward scenarios are playing out on Wall Street.
EUR
The EUR traded to the weaker side of its range against the USD on Friday but because of the holiday across the ocean volume was rather light. The broad Retail Sales figures were released from the European Union on Friday and they produced a minus -0.4% result, which was worse than the anticipated number of minus -0.1%. Today the Sentix Investor Confidence survey will be published for Europe and a reading of minus -23.7 is projected. Tomorrow German Factory Orders will be the big release. The EUR has found some doubt crawl into its trading the past week as news about the health of the German banking sector and concern expressed by ECB President Trichet about the economic welfare of the continent has been heard. Like their global counterparts, European investors have seen doubts rise about the prospects for growth seep into their sentiment again. The EUR will find that it moves in a dollar centric mode today as investors deal with the overlap from markets that were basically brought to a standstill on Friday and the repercussions that still need to be filtered from last Thursday’s session.
GBP
Sterling continued to find a slippery road on Friday after losing ground on Thursday to the USD. The GBP has had a good run the past few months against the greenback and its results have brought out an army of traders who have tried to pick its top believing it will go lower, leaving some of these traders bloodied. The U.K. released its Services PMI data on Friday and its reading was slightly below expectations coming in with a figure of 51.6 versus the estimate of 51.8. The Halifax HPI has been moved back yet another day and is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday now. Tomorrow will definitely see Manufacturing and Industrial Production figures. News that GBP traders will be watching, will be from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, who may be announcing the government’s plans for broader regulatory powers today that will be given to the Bank of England and FSA. The MPC meeting will be taking place Thursday and its results will be likely be that the BoE will release more funds for fiscal stimulus. The Sterling finds itself trading at the lower end of what has been a strong range against the USD. Its results will be watched by all traders this week.
JPY
The JPY has shown once again that it is within a classic consolidated range with the USD. The Japanese stock markets lost ground largely on the heels of strong head winds which were generated by the retreat in equities in the U.S. markets on Thursday. The JPY continued to pick up strength from Asian investors that are showing a desire for a safe haven. Risk adverse sentiment has seemingly returned to vogue.
Technical Analysis
EUR/USD
The bearish channel on the daily chart continues with a volatile price movement. The Slow Stochastic on the daily chart is also showing continued bearish movement and is supported by the RSI. Going short with tight stops appears to be the right strategy.
Support level: 1.3850 resistance price: 1.4010.
GBP/USD
The 4 hour chart show that the pair is in a bearish configuration as volatility is increasing, and showing only bearish signals. Going short with tight stops appears to be preferable.
Support level: 1.6010 resistance price: 1.6310.
USD/JPY
The bearish channel on the daily chart continues. The Slow Stochastic on the 4 hour and the daily chart indicates the continuation of the bearish movement within the channel. However the Slow Stochastic on the daily chart is showing the correction of the current bearish trend is possible. Going short with tight stops appears to be the preferable.
Support level: 94.90 resistance price: 95.90.
USD/CHF
The bullish channel on the daily chart continues and the Slow Stochastic on the 4 hour chart indicates the continuation of the bullish movement within the channel and will try to breach the strong resistance at the 1.1030 level. Going long appears to be preferable.
Support level: 1.0850 resistance price: 1.1030.
The Wild Card
Gold
According to the hourlies, the downtrend the gold is going through seems to be strong. The daily chart is confirming that the downward momentum is still quite strong and that 910.00 is the next valid target. Forex traders may be able to maximize gains today by entering a short position.
Support level: 909.00 resistance price: 935.00.
The U.S. was closed for trading on Friday and currencies across the board moved in an extremely quiet manner. Trading today from the U.S. could see a spillover from sentiment that was generated on Thursday due to the rather negative jobless data which served as a reminder that the economic slope remains a perilous one. Talk of ‘green shoots’ can still be heard but they appear to be over matched for the time being with words of caution - that the recession may have slowed but the slump is not over. The ISM Non Manufacturing data will come from the U.S. today and a reading of 45.9 is expected, this would be a better number than last month’s outcome. This release will be the only major statistic from the U.S. for the next couple of days.
The currency markets and in particular the USD has been led by the results from the equity markets the past couple of months. The Dow and S&P will serve as the lynchpin for investors this week but traders will also have to keep their ears pinned to the many speeches coming forth from the upcoming G8 meetings. There has been plenty of speculation that Brazil, China, Russia, and now India are leading a parade which will discuss the possibility of the global economy becoming less reliant on the USD. However the skeptical question that must be asked is how this would be worked out and who would be willing to deliver leadership. In short expect words but no actions from this drama. It is highly unlikely that the USD can be cast aside for many years and dialogues about it possibly being relegated to a less important position seem more like political bantering than economic reality. The USD proved that it is the domain of risk adverse traders on Thursday and its results today and all of this week will likely continue to come based on what type of risk / reward scenarios are playing out on Wall Street.
EUR
The EUR traded to the weaker side of its range against the USD on Friday but because of the holiday across the ocean volume was rather light. The broad Retail Sales figures were released from the European Union on Friday and they produced a minus -0.4% result, which was worse than the anticipated number of minus -0.1%. Today the Sentix Investor Confidence survey will be published for Europe and a reading of minus -23.7 is projected. Tomorrow German Factory Orders will be the big release. The EUR has found some doubt crawl into its trading the past week as news about the health of the German banking sector and concern expressed by ECB President Trichet about the economic welfare of the continent has been heard. Like their global counterparts, European investors have seen doubts rise about the prospects for growth seep into their sentiment again. The EUR will find that it moves in a dollar centric mode today as investors deal with the overlap from markets that were basically brought to a standstill on Friday and the repercussions that still need to be filtered from last Thursday’s session.
GBP
Sterling continued to find a slippery road on Friday after losing ground on Thursday to the USD. The GBP has had a good run the past few months against the greenback and its results have brought out an army of traders who have tried to pick its top believing it will go lower, leaving some of these traders bloodied. The U.K. released its Services PMI data on Friday and its reading was slightly below expectations coming in with a figure of 51.6 versus the estimate of 51.8. The Halifax HPI has been moved back yet another day and is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday now. Tomorrow will definitely see Manufacturing and Industrial Production figures. News that GBP traders will be watching, will be from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, who may be announcing the government’s plans for broader regulatory powers today that will be given to the Bank of England and FSA. The MPC meeting will be taking place Thursday and its results will be likely be that the BoE will release more funds for fiscal stimulus. The Sterling finds itself trading at the lower end of what has been a strong range against the USD. Its results will be watched by all traders this week.
JPY
The JPY has shown once again that it is within a classic consolidated range with the USD. The Japanese stock markets lost ground largely on the heels of strong head winds which were generated by the retreat in equities in the U.S. markets on Thursday. The JPY continued to pick up strength from Asian investors that are showing a desire for a safe haven. Risk adverse sentiment has seemingly returned to vogue.
Technical Analysis
EUR/USD
The bearish channel on the daily chart continues with a volatile price movement. The Slow Stochastic on the daily chart is also showing continued bearish movement and is supported by the RSI. Going short with tight stops appears to be the right strategy.
Support level: 1.3850 resistance price: 1.4010.
GBP/USD
The 4 hour chart show that the pair is in a bearish configuration as volatility is increasing, and showing only bearish signals. Going short with tight stops appears to be preferable.
Support level: 1.6010 resistance price: 1.6310.
USD/JPY
The bearish channel on the daily chart continues. The Slow Stochastic on the 4 hour and the daily chart indicates the continuation of the bearish movement within the channel. However the Slow Stochastic on the daily chart is showing the correction of the current bearish trend is possible. Going short with tight stops appears to be the preferable.
Support level: 94.90 resistance price: 95.90.
USD/CHF
The bullish channel on the daily chart continues and the Slow Stochastic on the 4 hour chart indicates the continuation of the bullish movement within the channel and will try to breach the strong resistance at the 1.1030 level. Going long appears to be preferable.
Support level: 1.0850 resistance price: 1.1030.
The Wild Card
Gold
According to the hourlies, the downtrend the gold is going through seems to be strong. The daily chart is confirming that the downward momentum is still quite strong and that 910.00 is the next valid target. Forex traders may be able to maximize gains today by entering a short position.
Support level: 909.00 resistance price: 935.00.