FOREX: GBP Remains Moderately Lower Post Soft UK Labour Market Data
Jun-10 16:23
- Currency markets have traded in a more subdued fashion Tuesday, as market participants continue to await any details on developments regarding US/China trade talks, which remain ongoing in London as the European session comes to an end. As of 1730BST, the dollar index is just 0.1% green, giving back a small portion of yesterday’s decline.
- GBP if off its worst levels, but remains a standout underperformer following the softer set of UK labour market data releases. Weakness in GBP came in two phases in early trade, first on the weak payrolls data, and then again on the SONIA open, with GBPUSD briefly piercing 1.3462, its 20-day EMA. A clear break of this average would suggest potential for a deeper correction and expose the 50-day EMA for direction, at 1.3299. Cable has since recovered back above 1.35 as we approach the APAC crossover.
- EURGBP stands 0.35% higher on the day, and in the process has breached a key short-term resistance at 0.8440, the 50-day EMA. A clear break of the average is required to highlight a stronger reversal, potentially exposing 0.8541, the May 02 high.
- Dips below the 0.8400 handle have been well supported in recent months, and key support has been defined at 0.8356, the May 29 low. Clearance of this level would be required to resume the technical downtrend.
- USDJPY had some early volatility on Tuesday, as initial Ueda comments prompted the pair to trade up to 145.29 and eclipse the post-payrolls high. Spot then subsequently moved lower following some temporary weakness for equities but found solid support between 144.40/50.
- Aside from potential headlines on US/China developments, all attention now turns to the US May inflation data due Wednesday, an important pre-FOMC steer.
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MACRO OUTLOOK: US PPI/Retail Sales And Powell Follow On Thursday [2/2]
May-09 20:17
- Core PCE implications will then be watched closely in Thursday’s PPI report, and we expect with additional focus on portfolio management after last month’s huge upward revision to February.
- Retail sales, whilst only reported in nominal terms, will offer a keenly awaited look at consumer behavior.
- Real spending moderated to 1.8% annualized in Q1 after 4.0% in Q4 despite likely tariff front-running, with April a good test of how much discretionary spending was pulled forward.
- Finally, Powell provides “Opening Remarks” at the Second Thomas Laubach Research Conference, although he’s allotted twenty minutes so there is scope for more substantive remarks than you’d usually expect. His message at Wednesday’s FOMC press conference was one firmly of being in no hurry to cut rates amidst huge uncertainty. He also appeared to put more weight on hard data over soft indicators that appear more stagflationary in nature.
MACRO OUTLOOK: US CPI Offers Look At April Tariff Distortions on Tuesday [1/2]
May-09 20:15
- The week’s US data calendar is highlighted by CPI inflation on Tuesday although PPI inflation and retail sales reports on Thursday are in close second. All three releases are going to be important, offering further hard data for April in the first month under reciprocal tariffs. What’s more, PPI and retail sales are followed by Fed Chair Powell just ten minutes after their release (more on that below).
- Core CPI inflation is seen accelerating to 0.3% M/M in April, with six unrounded estimates we’ve seen to date averaging 0.27% M/M.
- A potential for a ‘low’ 0.3% aside, it’s still likely a swift acceleration from a particularly soft 0.06% M/M in March which was in large part down to surprisingly abrupt declines in lodging away from home (-3.5%) and airfare (-5.3%) prices.
- This lodging weakness carried over to core PCE inflation back in March, at just 0.03% M/M after a particularly strong 0.50% M/M in February in a large wedge with core CPI at 0.23% M/M.
- Markets currently price a next Fed cut with the September FOMC meeting.
USDCAD TECHS: Pressuring Resistance
May-09 20:00
- RES 4: 1.4296 High Apr 7
- RES 3: 1.4111 High Apr 4
- RES 2: 1.4041 50-day EMA
- RES 1: 1.3943 High May 9
- PRICE: 1.3930 @ 16:06 BST May 9
- SUP 1: 1.3751 Low May 6
- SUP 2: 1.3744 76.4% retracement of Sep 25 ‘24 - Feb 3 bull run
- SUP 3: 1.3696 Low Oct 10 2024
- SUP 4: 1.3643 Low Oct 9 ‘24
USDCAD has recovered from its recent lows. Despite the recovery, the trend condition remains bearish and short-term gains are considered corrective. A fresh cycle low on Tuesday reinforces the bearish theme. Potential is seen for a move towards 1.3744, a Fibonacci retracement. Note that moving average studies are in a bear mode position, highlighting a dominant downtrend. Key resistance is seen at 1.4041, the 50-day EMA.
