UK DATA: UK Jobs Market Robust, Unlikely to Shift BOE
- The latest UK labour market data showed a continuation in the trend of slowing vacancies, whilst employment held steady at 3.7%. Tentative signs that wages may have have peaked were evident.
- A strong uptick in payrolled employees of +98k was recorded in February, after a substantial downwards revision to +42k (from 102k) in January. This, alongside the employment rate edging up 0.1pp and inactivity down 0.2pp on the quarter implies an increase in returns to the workforce, namely 16-24 year-olds, students and retirees according to the ONS.
- Meanwhile job vacancies cooled by 51k in the three months to February, but remain a robust 328k above pre-Covid levels.
- Nominal wages rose +5.7% in January, in line with forecasts and 0.3pp slower than in December. Excluding bonuses earnings eased by 0.2pp to +6.5% y/y, 0.1pp weaker than consensus expectations.
- There is little in the data to change views on the Bank of England's MPC. Doves will see signs of the labour market at least starting to stabilise, while the hawks will point to continued wages strength.
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USDCAD TECHS: Recent Gains Considered Corrective
- RES 4: 1.3751 High Nov 4
- RES 3: 1.3705 Dec 16 and the bull trigger
- RES 2: 1.3665 High Jan 6
- RES 1: 1.3475/3521 High Feb 6 / 19 and key short-term resistance
- PRICE: 1.3368 @ 17:04 GMT Feb 10
- SUP 1: 1.3345/3262 Low Feb 10 / 2
- SUP 2: 1.3226 Low Nov 15 and bear trigger
- SUP 3: 1.3205 61.8% retracement of the Aug 11 - Oct 13 rally
- SUP 4: 1.3131 0.764 proj of the Oct 13 - Nov 15 - Dec 16 price swing
USDCAD is consolidating and price remains above its recent low of 1.3262 on Feb 2. A bearish threat remains present and recent short-term gains are most likely a correction. A resumption of weakness and a break of 1.3262, Feb 2 low, would strengthen bearish conditions and open 1.3226, the Nov 15 low and the bear trigger. On the upside, the pair needs to clear 1.3521, the Jan 19 high, to signal a stronger reversal.
AUDUSD TECHS: Trend Needle Points North Despite Recent Pullback
- RES 4: 0.7245 2.00 proj of the Nov 21 - Dec 13 - Dec 20 price swing
- RES 3: 0.7202 High Jun 9
- RES 2: 0.7172 1.764 proj of the Nov 21 - Dec 13 - Dec 20 price swing
- RES 1: 0.7082/0.7158 High Feb 3 / 2 and the bull trigger
- PRICE: 0.6919 @ 16:59 GMT Feb 10
- SUP 1: 0.6856 Low Feb 6
- SUP 2: 0.6781 38.2% retracement of the Oct 13 - Feb 2 uptrend
- SUP 3: 0.6755 Trendline support drawn from the Oct 13 low
- SUP 4: 0.6688 Low Jan 3
AUDUSD is unchanged Friday. The uptrend remains intact, however, the recent move lower highlights a correction that is allowing a recent overbought trend condition to unwind. Price has pierced support at 0.6883, the 50-day EMA. A clear break of this EMA would signal scope for a deeper retracement. Key resistance and the bull trigger have been defined at 0.7158, the Feb 2 high. A break would resume the uptrend.
AUDUSD TECHS: Trend Needle Points North Despite Recent Pullback
- RES 4: 0.7245 2.00 proj of the Nov 21 - Dec 13 - Dec 20 price swing
- RES 3: 0.7202 High Jun 9
- RES 2: 0.7172 1.764 proj of the Nov 21 - Dec 13 - Dec 20 price swing
- RES 1: 0.7082/0.7158 High Feb 3 / 2 and the bull trigger
- PRICE: 0.6919 @ 16:59 GMT Feb 10
- SUP 1: 0.6856 Low Feb 6
- SUP 2: 0.6781 38.2% retracement of the Oct 13 - Feb 2 uptrend
- SUP 3: 0.6755 Trendline support drawn from the Oct 13 low
- SUP 4: 0.6688 Low Jan 3
AUDUSD is unchanged Friday. The uptrend remains intact, however, the recent move lower highlights a correction that is allowing a recent overbought trend condition to unwind. Price has pierced support at 0.6883, the 50-day EMA. A clear break of this EMA would signal scope for a deeper retracement. Key resistance and the bull trigger have been defined at 0.7158, the Feb 2 high. A break would resume the uptrend.
