CNH: USD/CNH: Off Session Highs But Little Moved On News Of Blinken-Xi Meeting

Jun-19 08:15

MNI (London) - USD/CNH nudges away from session highs on headlines confirming the impending Blinken-Xi meeting.

  • As a quick reminder, we don’t expect much in the way of meaningful advances in Sino-U.S. relations to come from the meeting, meaning that is probably as much about improving optics as anything else.
  • The market seems to share a similar train of thought, preventing any meaningful readthrough into CNH trade.
  • Spot last deals just above CNH6.1600, ~350pips higher on the day, with the well-defined technical uptrend in the pair intact.
  • Most of today’s onshore trading session was dominated by a feeling of disappointment re: a lack of immediate stimulus announcements at the end of Friday’s State Council meeting (some hope on that front had become apparent in market pricing at the end of last week), with focus now on July’s Politburo meeting re: a potential ground for such announcements.

Fig. 1: USD/CNH

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg

Historical bullets

USDCAD TECHS: Bullish Short-Term Theme

May-19 20:00
  • RES 4: 1.3695 High Mar 28
  • RES 3: 1.3668 High Apr 28 and key resistance
  • RES 2: 1.3640 High May 3
  • RES 1: 1.3568 High May 15
  • PRICE: 1.3520 @ 16:33 BST May 19
  • SUP 1: 1.3404 Low May 16
  • SUP 2: 1.3363/15 Low May 11 / 8
  • SUP 3: 1.3302 Low Apr 14 and a key near-term support
  • SUP 4: 1.3275 Low Feb 14

USDCAD remains above Tuesday’s low. The recovery from the May 8 low eased recent bearish pressure and the pair has traded through the 50-day EMA, currently at 1.3513. A clear break of this average would strengthen the case for bulls and signal scope for a climb towards resistance at 1.3668, the Apr 28 high. Key support lies at 1.3302, the Apr 14 low. A break would reinstate the recent bearish theme.

US STOCKS: Stocks Off 3M Highs as Debt Ceiling Talks Hit Snag

May-19 19:37

Stocks see-sawing in modestly weaker territory after posting the best levels since early February in the first half as debt ceiling negotiations hit a snag in late morning trade.

  • "GOP DEBT NEGOTIATORS SAY WHITE HOUSE NOT BEING REASONABLE .. and GOP NEGOTIATORS LEAVE DEBT TALKS" Bbg have triggered late morning unwinds with SPX E-Mini Futures down 11.25 points (-0.27%) at 4205; DJIA down 131.31 points (-0.39%) at 33457.23; Nasdaq down 44.1 points (-0.3%) at 12652.15.

  • No substantive reaction to a policy panel event with Fed Chairman Powell, former chair Bernanke highlighting "key issues in monetary policy and the economy and facilitate discussions on the challenges faced by monetary policymakers.

  • Echoing previous comments - tighter credit conditions "weigh on economic growth hiring and inflation. As a result, our policy rate may not need to rise as much as it would have otherwise to achieve our goals."
  • At the moment: Emini futures have breached key resistance and the bull trigger at 4206.25, the May 1 high. Clearance of this level confirms an extension of the bull trend from Mar 13. This opens 4244.00, the Feb 2 high and the next key short-term resistance. Key support is at 4062.25, the May 4 low. A move through this level would highlight a bearish threat.

AUDUSD TECHS: Key Support Remains Exposed

May-19 19:30
  • RES 4: 0.6921 High Feb 20
  • RES 3: 0.6861 50.0% retracement of the Feb 2 - Mar 10 bear leg
  • RES 2: 0.6824 High Feb 24
  • RES 1: 0.6705/6818 50-day EMA / High May 10
  • PRICE: 0.6664 @ 16:26 BST May 19
  • SUP 1: 0.6605 Low May 18
  • SUP 2: 0.6565 Low May 10 and the bear trigger
  • SUP 3: 0.6547 61.8% of the Oct - Feb bull cycle
  • SUP 4: 0.6403 76.4% of the Oct - Feb bull cycle

AUDUSD maintains a softer tone following the pullback from 0.6818, the May 10 high, and price is trading closer to this week’s lows. A bearish continuation would expose key support at 0.6565, the Mar 10 low. Clearance of this level would confirm a resumption of the bear cycle that started Feb 2 and highlight a range breakout. On the upside, a breach of 0.6818 is required to reinstate a bullish theme and this would expose 0.6861, a Fibonacci retracement.