ASIA/EUROPE FOREX NEWS WRAP
The Dow Jones FXCM Dollar Index (Ticker: USDOLLAR) is working on its fourth consecutive day lower in the wake of the disappointing 1Q’13 GDP report released on Friday, which showed that continuing contraction of government spending has proved to be a significant drag on the world’s largest economy. Also raising eyebrows on Friday was data that showed that the US consumer might have seen its best days in 2013 already, at least in the first half of the year: payroll taxes are up and their impact is starting to be seen on the income front; consumer confidence is falling; and the savings rate dropped to its lowest rate since the 4Q’07, right before the crisis. If anything, today is narrowly a reverberation from Friday; Asia and Europe are reacting.
Overall, the commodity currencies are much improved on the day, bolstered by reverberations from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s policy meeting last week. While the RBNZ said it was likely to remain on hold for the rest of 2013, there’s growing consensus that further upside pressure in the housing market could force a rate hike in the 2H’13. Upcoming housing data, which would be supportive of this view should it meet expectations when released, is seen as a catalyst for the New Zealand Dollar.
The Australian Dollar is surprisingly stronger despite Australian sovereign yields remaining at their lowest levels over the past six-months. With 1Q’13 inflation data disappointing last week, it is likely that there’s renewed dovish commentary at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s policy meeting next Tuesday. While a rate cut is unlikely now, I do expect at least one more 25-bps cut in the main rate by the 4Q’13.
Taking a look at European credit, further narrowing of the peripheral yields relative to core yields has provided lift to the Euro on Monday. The Italian 2-year note yield has decreased to 1.161% (-9.0-bps) while the Spanish 2-year note yield has decreased to 1.792% (-8.3-bps). Likewise, the Italian 10-year note yield has decreased to 3.945% (-10.4-bps) while the Spanish 10-year note yield has decreased to 4.200% (-5.9-bps); lower yields imply higher prices.
Are you new to FX or curious about your trading IQ?
RELATIVE PERFORMANCE (versus USD): 10:35 GMT
NZD: +0.67%
AUD: +0.55%
EUR: +0.41%
CHF:+0.39%
GBP:+0.37%
CAD:+0.23%
JPY:+0.17%
Dow Jones FXCM Dollar Index (Ticker: USDOLLAR): -0.27% (-0.83% past 5-days)
ECONOMIC CALENDAR
See the DailyFX Economic Calendar for a full list, timetable, and consensus forecasts for upcoming economic indicators. Want the forecasts to appear right on your charts? Download the DailyFX News App.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OUTLOOK
EURUSD: The weak US 1Q’13 GDP report has spurred near-term upside in the pair, but don’t confuse that with rate cut expectations being unwound; they’re not. Accordingly, rallies in the EURUSD are seen as opportunities to sell for the time being, though the trade through the highs seen last week is encouraging for a bullish structure. In light of the several Dojis and Inverted Hammers that formed on daily candles last week, it is evident that the EURUSD is not trending but rather chopping, and should be avoided until a new discernible pattern makes itself clear. I’m neutral for the time being, but look to sell this week.
USDJPY: The Bullish Ascending Triangle pattern as negated late last week and now price has traded below both the 8- and the 21-EMAs, amid a break in the daily RSI uptrend. On Friday I noted “the USDJPY appears ripe for a pullback, which could be provoked by a weaker than expected US 1Q’13 GDP reading.” With this transpiring, a break of the 21-EMA at 97.80/85 could see price extend its loses to former resistance now support at 96.60.
GBPUSD: No change: “The GBPUSD is finding modest follow through (no doubt tempered ahead of the US 1Q’13 GDP print), pushing closer towards 1.5500 now that mid-April resistance at 1.5410/15 cracked yesterday. If the ascending channel range is to continue to play out, a run towards 1.5550 shouldn’t be ruled out. Declines should be supported in the near-term by 1.5340 (8-EMA) and 1.5285/90 (21-EMA).” The move towards the topside channel rail at 1.5540/60 should bring about some relief; and if the range is to hold, the next leg lower should begin in early-May.
AUDUSD: Last week I said: “Mid last week the 8-/21-EMA structure flipped bearish amid the breakdown in the RSI uptrend, coinciding with the rally off of the March 4 and April 8 lows. Fundamentally speaking, amid declining base metals’ prices and poor data out of China, it is our preference to sell the commodity currencies. Technically speaking, it is worth noting that the AUDUSD failed to find follow through on the potential basing pattern, a three day cluster of “Doji-Hammer-Doji.””The back-to-back Inverted Hammers haven’t seen any follow through and now the 8-/21-EMA structure is compressing to the upside, perhaps negating the bearish signal. I’m neutral but looking to sell a rally.
SP 500: No change: “Is the top in? A dramatic sell-off yesterday dropped the SP 500 below the crucial 1570/75 area, former swing highs as well as the ascending trendline support off of the late-December and late-February swings lows – coincidentally the pre-fiscal cliff deal low and the post-Italian election low. We’re in a bit of “no man’s land” here, with either a close back above 1570/75 necessary for a retest of the highs, or a close below 1530/35 to signal weakness towards and below 1500.”
GOLD: No change: “The major support zone from the past 18-months from 1520 to 1575 gave way with fervor last week, as the combination of weak fundamentals (financial institutions scrambling for cash in Europe after Cyprus) and broken technicals produced the ideal selling climate. Precious metals in general have gotten hammered, and Gold has fallen back to the mid-March swing lows near 1380/85. A weekly close below 1430 this week leaves the possibility of a bigger dip towards 1305.”
— Written by Christopher Vecchio, Currency Analyst
To contact Christopher Vecchio, e-mail cvecchio@dailyfx.com
Follow him on Twitter at @CVecchioFX
To be added to Christopher’s e-mail distribution list, please fill out this form