CZECHIA: Relations With Slovakia Remain Tense, Budget Data On Tap

Feb-03 08:22
  • Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that there are currently no conditions to resume the traditional Czech-Slovak intergovernmental consultations amid continued tensions over foreign policy. Fiala repeated his pushback against his Slovak counterprart Robert Fico's allegations that Prague is meddling in Slovakia's internal politics and said that mere criticism does not constitute interference. Still, Fiala clarified that there are bilateral contacts between specific ministers and that he will likely meet Fico on the sidelines of today's informal EU summit in Brussels.
  • The latest STEM opinion poll put ANO in first place with 35.1%, well ahead of the Spolu coalition that includes PM Fiala's ODS, which would garner 18.8% of the vote. In a hypothetical election, STAN would come third with 10.6% of the vote. Czechia is about to enter the campaign period ahead of polls scheduled to take place this autumn.
  • The Finance Ministry will release January budget balance at 13:00GMT/14:00CET. Reducing fiscal deficit has been one of the priorities of the current government despite the associated political costs.
  • Czechia's S&P Manufacturing PMI will be released at 08:30GMT/09:30CET, with consensus looking for an uptick to 45.7.

Historical bullets

JGB TECHS: (H5) Returns Lower

Jan-03 23:45
  • RES 3: 149.55 - High Mar 22 (cont)
  • RES 2: 147.74 - High Jan 15 and bull trigger (cont)  
  • RES 1: 144.48/146.53 - High Nov 11 / High Aug 6 
  • PRICE: 142.12 @ 15:01 GMT Jan 03
  • SUP 1: 141.65 - Low Dec 30
  • SUP 2: 141.56 - 1.764 proj of the Aug 6 - Sep 3 - 9 price swing
  • SUP 3: 141.05 - 2.000 proj of the Aug 6 - Sep 3 - 9 price swing   

Markets slipped on the hawkish Fed and are yet to fully recover, touching 141.65 on the way lower. Medium-term trend signals on the continuation chart continue to point south. A resumption of the trend would pave the way for a move towards 141.56, a Fibonacci projection point on the continuation chart. A stronger recovery would open 144.48, the Nov 11 high. Further out, key resistance is at 146.53, the Aug 6 high (cont). 

USDCAD TECHS: Bull Flag Highlights A Clear Uptrend

Jan-03 21:00
  • RES 4: 1.4669 2.0% 10-dma envelope
  • RES 3: 1.4539 3.382 proj of the Oct 17 - Nov 1 - 6 price swing
  • RES 2: 1.4508 3.236 proj of the Oct 17 - Nov 1 - 6 price swing
  • RES 1: 1.4467 High Dec 19 
  • PRICE: 1.4392 @ 15:50 GMT Jan 3 
  • SUP 1: 1.4336 Low Dec 20  
  • SUP 2: 1.4307/4232 20-day EMA / Low Dec 17 
  • SUP 3: 1.4136 50-day EMA
  • SUP 4: 1.4011 Low Dec 5

USDCAD is unchanged and bulls remain in the driver’s seat. The latest pause appears to be a flag formation - a bullish continuation signal. Note too that moving average studies are in a bull-mode position, highlighting a dominant uptrend. Sights are on 1.4508 next, a Fibonacci projection level. Initial firm support to watch lies at 1.4307, the 20-day EMA. A pullback would be considered corrective.

AUDUSD TECHS: Southbound

Jan-03 20:30
  • RES 4: 0.6471 High Dec 9
  • RES 3: 0.6408 50-day EMA               
  • RES 2: 0.6341 High Dec 18   
  • RES 1: 0.6247/6282 High Dec 30 / 20-day EMA
  • PRICE: 0.6204 @ 15:21 GMT Jan 3 
  • SUP 1: 0.6179 Low Dec 31 
  • SUP 3: 0.6158 1.236 proj of the Sep 30 - Nov 6 - 7 price swing
  • SUP 3: 0.6100 Round number support 
  • SUP 4: 0.6045 1.500 proj of the Sep 30 - Nov 6 - 7 price swing

A bearish trend condition in AUDUSD remains intact and the pair continues to trade closer to latest lows. Recent weakness maintains the price sequence of lower lows and lower highs. Note that moving average studies are in a bear-mode position too, highlighting a dominant downtrend. Scope is seen for an extension towards 0.6158 next, a Fibonacci projection. Initial firm resistance to monitor is 0.6282, the 20-day EMA.