FX Commentary US Dollar Firmed On Stronger-than-expected US Data

Market Talk
– The dollar was firm on Wednesday as stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data and hawkish Federal Reserve comments pointed to higher interest rates, while rate-hike bets in Europe also have the common currency clinging on above parity.

– U.S. job openings increased 199,000 to 11.239 million in July, data released overnight showed, pointing to persistently strong demand for labour and possibly foreshadowing a strong showing for broader labour data due on Friday.

– Data on Tuesday showed German inflation rose to its highest in almost 50 years in August, strengthening the case for the European Central Bank to also go for a super-sized rate hike next month, helping to keep the Euro near to parity against the greenback.

– Sterling inched higher to $1.1666 in early Asian trade, after hitting a fresh 2-1/2-year low of $1.1622 overnight. The yen steadied at 138.56 per dollar. The Australian and New Zealand dollars were nursing losses, but both steadied in early trade to put the Aussie at $0.6861 and the kiwi at $0.6139

– Gold prices fell on Wednesday but were hovering near a one-month low of $1,719.56, set Monday. Gold price is set for a fifth straight month of losses amid fears of aggressive policy tightening by the Federal Reserve,


Chart Focus NZD/USD

Key Points

1. Buy NZD/USD recommendation.

2. Buy NZD/USD at 0.6135. Stop at 0.6100 and profit target at 0.6220.

3. A positional adjustment ahead of NFP and a better than expected China PMI are both likely to aid the NZ dollar.

4. Price has managed to hold above the previous day’s low and MACD has a divergence warning of a possible price low.

Fundamental Comments

1. A likely positional adjustment ahead of NFP is likely to aid the NZ dollar.

2. A better than expected China PMI is likely to aid the NZ dollar.

Technical Comments

1. Price has managed to hold above the previous day’s low and is hinting at a reversal.

2. MACD has a divergence warning of a possible price low.



Key Levels

Support0.61200.60950.6060
Resistance0.61600.61950.6230

Technical Overview

USD/JPY -Price has a breakout from the Flag pattern but has no strong momentum to reach its pattern target price, touching the $139.06 and declined to a low at $138.41 this morning. There is a bearish divergence warning from the MACD indicator, hinting at a possible price high. Stochastic is in oversold condition and is hinting at a price decline. However, 20EMA is still bullish but we think price may have reached a high.

Support138.20137.70137.20
Resistance138.65139.05139.40

EUR/USD – Price has broken above the sideways range after being capped at the resistance 1.0045 level. Stochastic is moving higher and hinting at a price rally. 20EMA is pointing upwards which indicates bullish price trend. MACD remains above the zero line and hints at a bullish price trend. We may see the price continue its rally to test the previous high at $1.0075.

Support0.99850.99450.9900
Resistance1.00451.00751.0125

GBP/USD – Price broke below the bearish pennant pattern and made a new lower low at $1.1620.  Stochastic is in the oversold zone and is hinting at a limited downside. The price is still below 20EMA which indicates bearish price trend. MACD has a divergence warning of a possible price low in the marking. If the support at $1.1645 is violated, it will negate our price bottoming view and calls for a decline to 1.1595

Support1.16451.15951.1555
Resistance1.16951.17401.1795

XAU/USD – Price has broken below our support at $1730.70 and retesting the previous low at $1720.10. If the price is unable to sustain above this level, the price may have a further downside towards the next support at $1711.15. Both 20EMA and MACD indicators are bearish and are hinting at a bearish price trend. Stochastic has a bearish crossover but is near to the oversold zone, hinting at a limited downside.

Support1719.801711.151696.75
Resistance1730.701740.501755.80

USD/CAD – We had a buy call at $1.3000 on Tuesday which was filled overnight. Price reached a high at $1.3107 last night and our profit order was filled. We are out of this position with a 75 pips profit. Stochastic is entering into the overbought zone. There are potential divergences forming by the stochastic and MACD indicators. We think price has reached a high but 20EMA is hinting at bullish price trend.

Support1.30551.30251.2990
Resistance1.31101.31401.3180

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.