China-U.S. east coast route shipping costs have fallen to USD3,300-3,800 per 40-foot standard container, from USD7,000 at the start of June, with the west coast line reaching USD1,700-1,800 per container, down from USD6,000, 21st Century Business Herald has reported. In response to weakening demand and falling freight prices, shipping companies are actively cutting capacity to stabilise the market. While the third quarter traditionally marks peak season for trans-Pacific trade, driven by inventory build-up ahead of Halloween, Black Friday, and Christmas, an industry insider said demand has been unseasonably weak this year, largely due to front-loaded shipping activity in the first half.
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The trend needle in USDCAD points south and this week’s recovery is considered corrective. Resistance at the 20-day EMA, at 1.3710, has been pierced. A continuation higher would signal scope for a stronger retracement and expose pivot resistance at the 50-day EMA, at 1.3832. For bears, a reversal lower and a resumption of the downtrend would pave the way for an extension towards 1.3521, envelope-based support.
US data is headlined by Thursday’s Q1 GDP revisions and Friday’s PCE report for May although there are plenty of other releases that will be watched with interest throughout the week.