US DATA: Stronger Dallas Fed Manufacturing Only Partly Offsets Wider Weakness
December's Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey beat expectations with a headline reading of positive 3.4 vs -3.0 expected and -2.7 prior. That's the first positive reading in 32 months and the highest in 33, highlighted by a much stronger new orders reading (up 11 points to -0.9, pointing to unchanged demand from the prior month but still the best reading in 31 months).
- Other readings were mostly stronger vs November, including production, capacity utilization, shipments, expectations, though the employment subindices were a little softer.
- Notably though, there were much lower inflationary pressures evident in the survey, with raw materials prices falling 18 points to a 17-month low 10.5, with finished goods falling 12 points to -3.4, the first negative reading this year.
- Dallas is the 5th regional Fed to publish its December manufacturing report, and overall they were very mixed: Empire fell to 0.2 from 31.2 and Philly to -16.4 from -5.5, with Kansas City to -4 from -2, more than offsetting the improvements in Richmond (-10 from -14) and Dallas.
- That's not to mention the December MNI Chicago PMI which fell to 36.9 vs 40.2 prior, and the preliminary S&P Global PMI dipping to 48.3 from 49.7.
- As such despite an apparent improvement in some regional survey optimism immediately following the November elections (and again, this was quite mixed - the range of survey scores was the broadest since April 2020), the overall theme of the manufacturing sector remaining steady at a weak level generally remains intact.
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AUSSIE 3-YEAR TECHS: (Z4) Bounce Mode
- RES 3: 96.380 - High Mar 21 2023
- RES 2: 97.190 - High May 5 2023
- RES 1: 96.730/932 - High Sep 17 / 76.4% of Mar-Nov ‘23 bear leg
- PRICE: 96.090 @ 15:41 GMT Nov 29
- SUP 1: 95.760 - Low Nov 13
- SUP 2: 95.750 - Low 27 Nov ‘23
- SUP 3: 95.480 - Low Jan 11 2023 and a major support
Having hit a fresh pullback low at 95.760 across the global rates sell-off in recent weeks, the market found bottom and has staged a shallow bounce above the 96.00 handle. Nonetheless, recent weakness confirms the downside bias, with support undercutting at 95.750 below ahead of major support of 95.480. For any corrective recovery to take hold, markets need to retake the 96.00 handle on a closing basis.
USDCAD TECHS: Pullback Appears Corrective
- RES 4: 1.4287 2.0% 10-dma envelope
- RES 3: 1.4246 2.00 proj of the Oct 17 - Nov 1 - 6 price swing
- RES 2: 1.4196 1.764 proj of the Oct 17 - Nov 1 - 6 price swing
- RES 1: 1.4078/4178 High Nov 27 / 26 and the bull trigger
- PRICE: 1.4005 @ 16:09 GMT Nov 29
- SUP 1: 1.3965/28 20-day EMA / Low Nov 25 and a key support
- SUP 2: 1.3858 50-day EMA
- SUP 3: 1.3822 Low Nov 6
- SUP 4: 1.3747 Low Oct 17
Trend conditions in USDCAD remain bullish and Tuesday’s fresh cycle reinforced this theme. The move higher confirmed a resumption of the primary uptrend and marked an extension of the bullish price sequence of higher highs and higher lows. Sights are on 1.4196 next, a Fibonacci projection. Key short-term support has been defined at 1.3928, the Nov 25 low. For now, the latest pullback appears corrective.
AUDUSD TECHS: Corrective Bounce
- RES 4: 0.6762 High Oct 9
- RES 3: 0.6733 High Oct 13
- RES 2: 0.6604/88 50-day EMA / High Nov 7 and a reversal trigger
- RES 1: 0.6534/50 20-day EMA / High Nov 25
- PRICE: 0.6512 @ 16:03 GMT Nov 29
- SUP 1: 0.6434 Low Nov 26
- SUP 3: 0.6400 Round number support
- SUP 3: 0.6350 Low Aug 5 and a key support
- SUP 4: 0.6339 Low Nov 10 2023
A bearish theme in AUDUSD remains intact. The fresh cycle low on Tuesday marks an extension of the price sequence of lower lows and lower highs. Note that moving average studies are in a bear-mode position, highlighting a dominant downtrend. Scope is seen for a move towards 0.6350, the Aug 5 low and the next key support. The pair has recovered from its recent lows - a correction. Initial firm resistance to watch is 0.6534, the 20-day EMA.
