FOREX: USD Stabilizes, But Little Sign of a S/T Bounce

Aug-04 16:58
  • Following Friday's sharp downdraft in the USD, FX markets were more stable Monday, with the USD pulling back only a small part of the post NFP weakness. The ICE USD Index saw some support into the 50-dma at 98.303 - however Monday's price action took the form of stabilization rather than any bounce in prices.
  • The more stable market Monday aided a recovery in GBP. GBP/USD traded either side of the 1.33 handle - topping Friday's high in the process. Moves come ahead of this Thursday's BoE decision at which markets fully discount a 25bps rate cut. The vote split among the MPC will be carefully watched as a clue for future easing plans across the second half of the year. The bearish theme in GBPUSD remains intact for now - despite Friday’s rally. Last week’s sell-off resulted in a breach of the bear trigger at 1.3365, the Jul 16 low. The break confirms a resumption of the downleg that started Jul 1 and highlights a clear breach of the trendline drawn from the Jan 13 low. 
  • JPY was the firmest in G10 - prompting a second session of losses for USD/JPY. The rate is now through Friday's low and going further to erase the rally off the mid-July low. Layered support comes in between 145.71 - 145.86 - marking the confluence of the 100-dma, 50-dma and the mid-July lows.
  • Meanwhile, CHF was the weakest in G10 - seeing very little reprieve from Trump's decision to install some of the most sizeable tariffs against Switzerland. Reports that the Swiss government are to make a more attractive offers as part of negotiations did little to reverse the CHF weakness, which sees USD/CHF continue to trade either side of the 0.8074 50-dma.
  • Focus Tuesday rests on China composite and manufacturing PMI data, final PMI prints across Europe and the US as well as the US ISM services index for July. BoJ minutes are the sole central bank release in G10 - however any further commentary from Fed officials will be carefully watched considering the focus on who could replace Fed's Kugler after her resignation over the weekend. 

Historical bullets

USDCAD TECHS: Trend Outlook Remains Bearish

Jul-04 20:00
  • RES 4: 1.4111 High Apr 4
  • RES 3: 1.4016 High May 12 and 13 and a key resistance 
  • RES 2: 1.3920 High May 21 
  • RES 1: 1.3674/3776 20- and 50-day EMA values
  • PRICE: 1.3607 @ 16:12 BST Jul 4
  • SUP 1: 1.3557 Low Jul 03
  • SUP 2: 1.3540 Low Jun 16 and the bear trigger
  • SUP 3: 1.3503 1.618 proj of the Feb 3 - 14 - Mar 4 price swing
  • SUP 4: 1.3473 Low Oct 2 2024

The trend needle in USDCAD points south and this week’s move down reinforces current conditions. S/T gains between Jun 16 - 23 appear to have been corrective. Key support and the bear trigger is 1.3540, Jun 16 low. Clearance of this level would resume the downtrend and open 1.3503, a Fibonacci projection. Pivot resistance is at the 50-day EMA, at 1.3776. A clear break of this average would signal scope for a stronger recovery.  

AUDUSD TECHS: Bull Cycle Remains In Play

Jul-04 19:30
  • RES 4: 0.6700 76.4% retracement of the Sep 30 ‘24 - Apr 9 bear leg
  • RES 3: 0.6688 High Nov 7 ‘24
  • RES 2: 0.6603 High Nov 11 ‘24
  • RES 1: 0.6590 High Jul 01
  • PRICE: 0.6548 @ 16:05 BST Jul 04 
  • SUP 1: 0.6521 20-day EMA
  • SUP 2: 0.6468/6373 50-day EMA / Low Jun 23 and a reversal trigger     
  • SUP 3: 0.6357 Low May 12
  • SUP 4: 0.6275 Low Apr 14

The trend set-up in AUDUSD remains bullish and the pair is holding on to its recent gains. The latest break higher maintains the bullish price sequence of higher highs and higher lows, the definition of an uptrend. Moving average studies are in a bull-mode position, highlighting a dominant uptrend. Sights are on 0.6603 next, the Nov 11 2024 high. Key short-term support has been defined at 0.6373, the Jun 23 low.   

EURJPY TECHS: Northbound

Jul-04 19:00
  • RES 4: 171.88 High Jul 19 ‘24
  • RES 3: 171.28 1.382 proj of the Feb 28 - Mar 18 - Apr 7 price swing
  • RES 2: 171.09 High Jul 23 ‘24  
  • RES 1: 170.61 High Jul 03
  • PRICE: 170.22 @ 16:04 BST Jul 04 
  • SUP 1: 169.04  Low Jul 02 
  • SUP 2: 167.87 20-day EMA 
  • SUP 3: 167.13 Low Jun 20   
  • SUP 4: 165.66 50-day EMA   

EURJPY traded higher on Thursday resulting in a print above 170.47, the 76.4% retracement of the Jul 11 - Aug 5 sell-off. A clear break of this price point would strengthen bullish conditions and signal scope for extension. This would open 170.28 next, a Fibonacci projection. The trend is overbought, a pullback would unwind this condition. Support to watch lies at 167.87, the 20-day EMA.