Market Overview
The ebb and flow of the tide of risk appetite seems to be in the process of another turn as the risk aversions is coming back to the fore in recent days. This comes as we begin to gather more data on how the economic impact is hitting across the major economies for March. US retail sales and industrial production paint a grim picture for the US economy, whilst the IMF forecasts for a slump in global growth is also painting a very dark picture. In this environment of slipping risk appetite, we see the US dollar regaining strength, even as Treasury yields fall back again. The safe haven flows are key here and the dollar (along with the Japanese yen) remain the key performers when risk appetite ebbs away. The higher beta major currencies (the Aussie and Kiwi) are under pressure today, not helped by the dovish comments from RBNZ Governor Orr noting that negative rates are not being ruled out at this stage. Oil remains depressed by the grim outlook, whilst equity markets are increasingly testing their recovery trends and breakout supports. This has a feel of being a crucial crossroads for markets now. As we move into the European session today, there is a mild positive bias to equities, but the dollar is outperforming on major forex. We view rallies on risk with increased caution with this set-up.
Wall Street closed lower last night, with the S&P 500 -2.2% at 2783, although futures are holding up today as the E-mini S&P 500 Futures climbs back by +0.5%. In Asian there was a mixed picture, with the Nikkei -1.3% and Shanghai Composite +0.3%. European markets are edging positively higher, with FTSE futures +0.8% and DAX futures +1.0%. In forex, there is a USD positive bias across major pairs, with the underperformance of AUD and NZD the standouts. In commodities, gold and silver are holding ground this morning, whilst oil is also holding up around key support too.
For the economic calendar, the main focus once more is on US data later in the session. Every week, Thursday is becoming the day where the latest grim readings of the scale of COVID-19 impacting the US labor market is seen. US Weekly Jobless Claims are at 1330BST and are expected to show another 5.10m claims this week (after the record 6.61m claims last week). There is also some housing data for the month of March with the US Building Permits at 1330BST which are expected to drop to 1.30m (from 1.45m in February) whilst US Housing Starts are expected to fall to 1.30m (form 1.61m in February).Finally there is another regional Fed survey for April with the Philly Fed Business Index at 1330BST expected to plummet to -30.0 (from -12.7 in March).
Chart of the Day – AUD/JPY
When considering the outlook for risk appetite, the Aussie/Yen cross is a very good gauge. The Aussie is a higher beta/higher risk major currency, whilst the yen is the classic safe haven. So it is with great interest we see that the rally on Aussie/Yen has been hit by yesterday’s decisively negative candle and whether the recovery is now turning into reverse. The retreat from 69.25 means that the market is now breaking several of the technical factors that have been reasons to still be positive about the recovery. An uptrend from the crucial March low of 59.90 has been broken by this morning’s slip back, along with the market breaking below the 50% Fibonacci retracement (of the big 76.54/59.90 sell-off) around $68.20. The bulls will also be concerned that the improvement on the RSI has tailed off around 60, a level which has not been overcome since the sell-off began (this points to this move still being a bear market rally). Furthermore, the Stochastics are bear crossing lower (not yet a confirmed sell-signal) and the recovery on MACD lines faltering around neutral. The key will now be how the market reacts to the breakout of 67.62 which was the original March rebound high and is a basis of support. A closing breach today would add weight to the likely renewed selling pressure. The 38.2% Fib around 66.25 would be a target area. The hourly chart already shows corrective momentum building and a confirmed move below 67.50 would complete a six session top pattern, implying a further -175 pips of decline towards 65.75. The bulls need to decisively recover back above 68.20/68.50 overhead supply to regain some impetus.
There is a lack of certainty over who is in control of EUR/USD right now. Yesterday’s decisive move lower suggested that the dollar bulls were making a comeback. There was a considerable breakdown on the hourly chart, but the move bounced off $1.0855 which effectively forms an uptrend (of the past three weeks) on the daily chart. The legacy coming into today’s session is one of caution and the market is again pulling lower. Yesterday’s negative candle is weighing on sentiment of the recovery, whilst momentum indicators also rolling over again around neutral levels is a concern. Even though the hourly chart broke below key support at $1.0890 yesterday and posted decisive negative signals on hourly momentum, the bull rebound suggests that the dollar bulls are not quite ready to regain control yet. Given the supply of old bulls in the range $1.0890/$1.0925 this is an area that is now a barrier to recovery and a failure around here overnight suggests would really suggest growing negative sentiment in EUR/USD. This is a market that has the feel of a change in outlook. A move back under $1.0855 would confirm a trend breach on the daily chart, but also build a new negative trend (lower highs and lower lows) on the hourly chart which would open for a likely retest of $1.0770 again.
The breakout for the sterling recovery of the past week took a significant knock yesterday, as a decisive negative candle breached the uptrend since the key March low. Although the dollar bulls are yet to grasp control, there is a sense that there is a shift in sentiment underway. Given that this trend breach has come with the threat of renewed corrective signals on momentum indicators, there is a suggestion that the Cable rally is at a key juncture. The breakout support of $1.2485 was breached intraday yesterday and despite holding into the close, another slip back today is testing the breakout support once more. It comes as Stochastics have crossed decisively lower (not yet a confirmed sell signal) and RSI is again tailing off around the 60 mark (as it on the late January and early March rallies). Momentum indicators are suggesting that renewed dollar strength is knocking at the door. The hourly chart shows yesterday’s low at $1.2435 could be key now. A breach would also be a confirmed breach of at $1.2485 and would suggest flaky underlying demand around the old breakout. The next test would then become the old mid-range band $1.2300/$1.2350, whilst key support is at $1.2160. The Cable bulls need to fight hard today to break back above $1.2575 (a potential lower high from yesterday) to reclaim the ascendency.
The dollar bulls looked to stage a bit of a comeback yesterday, and similar to EUR/USD and Cable, there is a sense that they are on the brink of regaining control again. On Dollar/Yen though there is more of a mixed outlook on a near to medium term basis, and this has been exacerbated by the defence of support at 106.90 yesterday. A mild positive candle in response on the daily chart is being followed up by further mild gains this morning. This move is now testing the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement (of the 112.20/101.20 sell-off) at 108.00 and what is arguably a short term downtrend (around 108.10). Furthermore, the hourly chart shows that there was recently a move below what could now become a mid-range pivot at 108.20, so continued trading below this level will sustain a negative bias. It certainly seems that the near term outlook will be determined by how the dollar bulls can react around this 108.00/108.20 resistance area today. Momentum is giving some mixed signals, as the daily Stochastics and RSI begin to tick higher and MACD lines begin to moderate around neutral again. Hourly momentum has also ticked higher to take a more neutral configuration too. For now, we remove our negative bias (this renews below 106.90) and turn neutral as what is effectively now a range between 106.90/109.30 has developed.
Gold
We have become more cautious of the breakout on gold in the past 24 hours. The bulls will certainly point to the fact that once more the breakout support (this time around $1702) is holding (as previous breakouts have around $1640 and $1671). Our bias is still positive, with the uptrend support at $1688 today and positively configured momentum. However, there is a risk that the move loses impetus, with the Stochastics rolling over and RSI stalling in the mid-60s. We remain encouraged by the holding of support at $1702, but the hourly chart shows that this is a market which is still close to a near term correction. The formation of what could be a small head and shoulders top over recent sessions (neckline support at $1706) needs watching, as does hourly RSI which is hanging on to 40, whilst hourly MACD lines have just edged below neutral. Failures of these conditions would open for a corrective move. For us this would be a close below $1702 which would likely see a pullback into the $1670s. We would still be supportive of buying into this weakness, but for now we are cautious of gold breaking decisively higher this morning. We continue to believe that gold will see further new multi-year highs above Tuesday’s $1746, but prefer to see how this near term consolidation plays out. The previous two consolidations post a breakout has resulted in another upside break and continuation of the uptrend (see the breakout above $1642), and this is still our preferred position. A decisive move above $1727/$1730 would be the trigger for the bulls to regain momentum and effectively re-open the upside for $1646 and beyond.
WTI Oil
Are there any bulls willing to support WTI from another key downside break? The reaction post OPEC+ has been pretty negative and it seems that the market is resigned to a low oil price now. A brief dip to $19.20 in yesterday’s session was again a new multi-year low but interestingly there was no decisive downside breach. Very similar to the late March move (to $19.27) which was part of a near term support building process, WTI only closed marginally down on the session yesterday and is only marginally weaker today. Eyebrows are raised by the apparent positive divergence which could be brewing on the RSI, which if nothing else shows the medium term selling pressure has eased. Effectively the sell-off is again slowing around the lows of a range above $19.20. The hourly chart shows resistance at $20.60/$20.90 needs to be overcome for any sense of near term recovery again. A closing breach of $19.20 opens 18 year lows again.
With recovery uptrends now being tested across several major markets, we see this as becoming a crucial near to medium term crossroads. Yesterday’s negative session showed a degree of uncertainty with the move lower, as a small bodied candlestick was posted. It comes as the daily Stochastics begin to cross lower (although not yet confirming a sell signal) and the recovery in the RSI is beginning to peter out around the neutral point. The bulls need to respond to prevent a series of negative signals being posted. Support of a three week uptrend on the Dow comes in at 23,260 today, whilst breaching the support at 23,095 would also complete a small top pattern. The most important near term support remains the breakout band 22,480/22,595 and this is one bad session away (although the Average True Range is declining fast, it is still just under 900 ticks). The bulls will say this is a pause for breath in the recovery, and the hourly chart shows positive momentum just unwinding back towards levels where the bulls can go again. However, given the potential nature of the recovery, the longer the stalling persists the higher the propensity for nervous bulls to retreat again. Resistance is key at 24,040 and needs to be overcome for the traction to be renewed.
"""DISCLAIMER: This report does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account the individual financial circumstances or objectives of the clients who receive it. All information and research produced by Hantec Markets is intended to be general in nature; it does not constitute a recommendation or offer for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, nor should it be construed as such.
All of the views or suggestions within this report are those solely and exclusively of the author, and accurately reflect his personal views about any and all of the subject instruments and are presented to the best of the author’s knowledge. Any person relying on this report to undertake trading does so entirely at his/her own risk and Hantec Markets does not accept any liability. """