The US dollar is being sold off right now for four reasons:
- Failed trade talks with Canada
- Milder US tariffs—of 10 percent rather than 25 percent—against Chinese goods have reduced safe haven dollar demand
- China’s assertion it will not devalue its currency further reduced demand for havens
- Many FX traders are also viewing the Fed's expected rate hike next week as a sell signal for the dollar
And the global reserve currency is likely to continue falling. Sellers have absorbed all the available demand above the psychological 95.00 level appear willing to sell for lower levels as they search for willing buyers.
The USD has formed a second trough, completing a formal reversal from the uptrend since late April, to what's now become a downtrend. During the same time, the price has crossed below the 100 DMA (blue), after having already crossed below the 50 DMA (green) when the greenback crossed below the uptrend line since May 14.
Trading Strategies
Conservative traders may wait for a more meaningful penetration of the 94.43 trough which was posted on August 28. The current penetration is less than 0.1 percent. A close below the 94.00 level may assuage their risk aversion. Then, they may wait for an upward correction toward the downtrend line since August 16 and the 95.00 key level and wait to see if it finds resistance. This would require at least one long, solid red candle, engulfing a previous green or small candle of any color, affirming the new downtrend.
Moderate traders may be satisfied with a close below the previous trough, beneath the 94.43 level. So far, the price penetrated four times, but did not close below. They may then wait for a return move for a better entry.
Aggressive traders may jump right in, provided they can afford a meaningful stop-loss or the risk of losing the position.
Conservative Trade Sample:
- Entry: 94.50, after closing below 94.00 and confirming the downtrend, as described above.
- Stop-loss: 95.00, psychological round number
- Risk: 50 pips
- Target: 93.00, round number above beginning of uptrend line.
- Reward: 150 pips
- Risk-Reward Ratio: 1:3
Moderate Trade Sample:
- Entry: 94.50, after closing below 94.43, the previous trough’s support, as described.
The rest is the same as above. Note: the only difference between the aggressive and moderate trade samples is the price move prior to the entry.
Aggressive Trade Sample:
- Entry: 94:40, upon close
- Stop-loss: 94.75, above the session highs of the last three days
- Risk: 35 pips
- Target: 93.20, the May peak-resistance turned June trough-support.
- Reward: 120 pips
- Risk-Reward Ratio: 1:4