Talking Points:
- Bearish Momentum Prevailing in GBP/JPY
- Nearby Support on Multiple Time Frames
- 2 Ways to Participate in This Trade
As currencies finally appear to be gathering momentum to start the year, it is somewhat ironic that today’s GBPJPY trade actually goes against that momentum.
Several crosses are setting up, and although the four-hour charts are likely to offer better set-ups, the focus of today’s article will be how to enter such moves using the hourly chart.
On the below weekly chart of GBPJPY, we see that the pair has failed to touch the top of the channel, which usually means that there is some kind of divergence movement occurring, potentially indicating the slowing of the general trend.
However, it is also worth noting that three bearish countertrend candles in a row is unusual, especially given how strong the trend has been, and thus, price may be overdue for a reversion to the mean.
Guest Commentary: Bearish Signals on GBP/JPY Weekly Chart
The daily chart pattern below is extremely similar to that seen on the weekly, but with one difference: it is nearing a point of completion. Readers will readily see the upcoming line of support and the potential for that to be traded. Due to the slowing strength of trend on the weekly chart, this trade may not break the previous high, but there is still room for more than 400 pips to the upside, which makes this a very interesting trade scenario.
Guest Commentary: GBP/JPY Closing in on Daily Support
Given that support is more likely to be a range than a line, however, we look to the four-hour chart to gain a better idea of where this trade may develop.
The four-hour time frame offers a declining parallel channel of price action with price currently testing the bottom. This, in conjunction with several other factors such as previous horizontal support/resistance and the rising trend line, provide a zone of support at 167.67-168.89.
Guest Commentary: Key GBP/JPY Support Zone
This zone of support is notable for being only slightly more than 100 pips deep while the potential reward on this set-up is several hundred pips. Trades taken within this support zone using hourly triggers would likely have risk of less than 100 pips, and thus, excellent risk/reward profile would be established.
When drilling down further to the hourly chart, however, some traders may be spooked by the extreme momentum exhibited on the chart, and indeed, they should be rightly wary.
Guest Commentary: Rare V-Bottom Forming in GBP/JPY
Momentum moves rarely end in a V-type bottom, which we see shaping up in this case. As a result, there are two ways to participate in this trade:
- Scalp any bullish pin bars (such as the one forming) or bullish engulfing bars. (Reversal divergence is also acceptable, but the first two are more likely.) These moves may not last long, so at least two positions should be taken in order to mitigate risk. This strategy itself does carry some risk, but if price turns up, it will richly reward these traders. In most cases, it will turn into a slightly profitable scalp trade.
- Wait for more evidence of buyers entering the market. Currently, there are many bear flags with practically no sign of increasing volume, and thus, more conservative traders may choose to wait for a steeper reversal pattern before engaging with this price activity.
By Kaye Lee, private fund trader and head trader consultant, StraightTalkTrading.com