With recent market volatility, the price level for a few currencies and commodities have begun to see prices not seen since last year. For instance, the USD fell to its lowest in almost a year during yesterday trading session after gains in global stocks. Gold has also shocked the market lately with continues uptrend, rising above $1000 for the first time since March 2008. With rallies this large, the forex market becomes more predictable, and traders can reap the benefits!
Economic News
USD – The Dollar Tumbles to 2009 Low !
The U.S. dollar fell to a new yearly low against the EUR and dropped against other major rivals Tuesday as investors continued to show a rising appetite for risk. Better economic data from Germany and Britain also supported investors’ risk appetite at the margin. The U.S. dollar, seen as a safe-haven in uncertain times, usually tends to fall when hopes of a global recovery rise.
The greenback’s weakness came against a backdrop marked by a push higher in equities and improving economic data abroad, as well as renewed questions about the role of the Dollar as the world’s premier reserve currency. The greenback was universally sold on reignited concerns about the capacity of the U.S. dollar to retain its global reserve status. The USD even lost ground to another safe-haven, the Japanese yen, suggesting the selling was more than just a shift to risk. The Dollar was down at 92.30 yen, having shed nearly 0.8% on Tuesday.
Renewed concerns about the status of the U.S dollar as the world’s reserve currency sparked by a United Nations agency report on Monday and news out of China expressing concern about printing money to fund Treasury purchases have also weighed on the Dollar. The USD was pushed lower by several news headlines with the UN report and the China news, analysts said. All these things are dollar negative. This is a reminder that the U.S. dollar is poised for some weakness in the months ahead.
EUR – EUR Rises Above $1.45 as Risk Appetite Returns
The European currency rose toward a 9 month high against the U.S dollar before a government report forecast to show French industrial production increased, boosting demand for higher-yielding assets. The EUR extended gains versus the Dollar on Tuesday amid a rise in global stocks and commodities. The currency advanced against the Yen for a 5th day as investors forecast consumer confidence in Japan climbed to 40.2 in August from 39.7 in July, boosting demand for higher-yielding assets.
The EUR is also benefiting from uncertainty about the U.S. economy. The Euro-Zone is likely to see a hike in Interest Rates before the U.S. does. The Euro-Zone currency also advanced as economists said the Paris-based statistics office Insee may report factory output in France gained 0.4% in July after rising 0.3% in June. The data is due Thursday.
The GBP saw a big jump, meanwhile, rising 0.9% against the U.S dollar to trade at $1.6530, as U.K. manufacturing output for July came in much stronger than forecast. The British pound dropped against the Yen for a second day amid speculation the Bank of England (BOE) this week will expand its asset-purchase program, adding to signs the economic recovery will be sluggish. The Bank of England is scheduled to announce its monetary policy decision on Thursday with the central bank widely expected to keep Interest Rates unchanged.
JPY – Yen Extends its Bullish Run against the Dollar
The Japanese yen rose against the EUR and U.S dollar before a government report that economists say will show U.K. industrial production grew in July at a slower pace, boosting demand for Japan’s currency as a refuge. The Yen also strengthened after the Ministry of Finance said Japan’s current-account surplus fell to 1.27 trillion yen ($13.7 billion) in July from a year earlier.
The Yen has already risen above levels expected by major manufacturers for the current fiscal year, and is showing signs of strengthening again. If the U.S dollar falls below 92 yen the impact may be big and such concerns are weighing on stocks, analysts said.
Crude Oil – Oil Jumps above $71 on Eve of OPEC Meet
Crude prices rallied more than 4% Tuesday, as sharp weakness in the U.S. dollar boosted commodities, and as energy traders looked ahead to the upcoming meeting of the OPEC oil cartel. The gains came as the U.S dollar slumped to its lowest level in almost a year against a basket of currencies and gold rallied above $1,000 an ounce, its highest since March 2008.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which accounts for about one-third of the world’s oil production, is scheduled to meet Wednesday in Vienna. Analysts expect the cartel to keep its production quota unchanged while pressuring member countries to comply with their current production limits.
Oil prices, which fell 6.5% last week, have been trading in a range between $65 and $75 a barrel since the start of August, with prices swinging on economic data as investors seek clues about the speed of a recovery from the recession. Investors will be on watch for inventory data, delayed by a day this week due to Monday’s holiday. The U.S. Energy Information Administration report will be issued Thursday at 15:00 GMT.
Technical News
EUR/USD
The price of this pair appears to be floating in the over-bought territory on the 4-hour chart’s RSI indicating a downward correction may be imminent. The downward direction on the daily chart’s Slow Stochastic also supports this notion. Going short might be a wise choice.
GBP/USD
The hourly chart is showing mixed signals with its RSI fluctuating at the neutral territory. However, there is a bearish cross forming on the daily chart’s Slow Stochastic indicating a bearish correction might take place in the nearest future. When the downwards breach occurs, going short with tight stops appears to be preferable strategy.
USD/JPY
The cross has experienced much bearishness in the last two days, and currently stands at the 92.25 level. There is much evidence in the chart’s oscillators that supports a possible bullish correction today. This is supported by the 4-hour chart’s RSI. Going long might be a wise choice.
USD/CHF
The pair has recorded much bearish behavior in the last week. However, the technical data indicates that this trend may reverse anytime soon. For example, the 4-hour chart’s RSI signals that a bullish reversal is imminent. Going long with tight stops may turn out to pay off today.
The Wild Card
Crude Oil
Crude Oil prices rose significantly yesterday and peaked at $71.40 per barrel. However, the 4-hour chart’s RSI is floating in an overbought territory suggesting that a recent upwards trend is loosing steam and a bearish correction is impending. This might be a good opportunity for forex traders to enter the trend at a very early stage.
Written by: Forexyard.com