There are a couple of developments to note in the forex markets last week. Firstly, Dollar ended as the strongest major currencies as markets firmed up the expectation of a June hike by Fed. However, the greenback tumbled sharply against Euro and Swiss Franc before close after weaker than expected inflation data. The dollar index was rejected from 55 day EMA and closed lower at 99.19. That was also accompanied by steep decline in 10 year yield which closed at 2.335. Overall development suggests that the greenback would turn weaker against Euro again as the post French election pull back ends.
Dollar index rejected by 55 day EMA
Dollar index’s rebound was limited at 99.88 last week, below 55 day EMA (now at 99.96). Subsequent sharp fall suggests that rebound from 99.54 has completed already. More importantly, the corrective pattern from 103.82 is likely not finished and deeper fall is now in favor through 98.54 in near term. However, we’d still expect strong support from 50% retracement of 91.91 to 103.82 at 97.86 to contain downside to resume the larger up trend at a later stage.
10 year yield heading back to 2.177
10 year yield edged higher to 2.423 last week but failed to sustain above 55 day EMA. The sharp decline from there argues rebound from 2.177 is completed and the fall from 2.615 is possibly resuming. Near term outlook is now turned bearish for 38.2% retracement of 1.336 to 2.621 at 2.130. We’d still anticipate, with lower confidence now, strong support from 2.130 to contain downside. But a break there would possibly extend the pull back to 50% retracement at 1.978 before completing the correction. Both developments argues that Dollar could turn weaker against Euro and Yen ahead.
Sterling to under perform Euro and Dollar on BoE
Secondly, Sterling weakened broadly, except versus Swiss Franc and New Zealand Dollar, after dovish BoE meeting. Markets should be paring bet on an early BoE rate hike. The central bank will likely hold their hands before clearing up the picture of Brexit negotiation with EU. GBP/USD will be looking at 1.2830 support this week while EUR/GBP will look at 0.8508 resistance. Break of these levels will trigger deeper selloff in the Pound and could drag down GBP/CHF and GBP/JPY too.
EUR/GBP’s actions from 0.8529 to 0.8383 were clearly corrective in nature. And focus will now be back on 0.8508 resistance. Also note that the cross just defended 0.8303 support level back in April. And a break of 0.8508 will extend the rebound from 0.8312 with the prospect of at least a take on upper side of medium range at 0.8786/8851. Sterling will likely under-perform Euro in near term.
Canadian Dollar shrugged rebound in oil
Thirdly, even though Canadian Dollar and Australia Dollar didn’t end the week too badly, the outlook remained bearish for both. In particular, WTI crude oil rebounded strongly last week after drawing support from 44.09 fibonacci level. However, Canadian Dollar had just little reaction to such rebound with USD/CAD staying in very tight range between 1.36/38. EUR/AUD consolidated for a while but the pull back was shallow. EUR/AUD could be set to resume recent rally through 1.49 this week.
Strong rebound in WTI crude oil indicates short term bottoming at 43.76 after breaching 38.2% retracement of 26.05 to 55.24 at 44.09. It’s a bit early to determinate whether the whole corrective fall from 55.24 is completed. But there is much prospect of at least at test on 55 day EMA (now at 49.69). However, the lack of reaction in USD/CAD argues that Canadian Dollar could be heading lower first before making a bottom.
Overall, for the near term, we’ll probably see Euro and Swiss performing better than Dollar, Sterling and Yen. Meanwhile, commodity currencies will likely remain the weakest group.
Regarding trading strategy…
Our buy EUR/JPY at 121.60 was not filled as the cross didn’t have a pull back at all last week. As it’s pressing 124.08 resistance and risk topping in near term, we’ll cancel the order first. The buy EUR/AUD at 1.4660 order was also not filled as the cross dipped to 1.4669, just missing our entry by 9 pips. Based on the above analysis, we’d still favoring further upside in EUR/AUD. And the pull back from 1.4909 could have completed after hitting 4 hour 55 EMA. Hence, we’ll just buy EUR/AUD at market this week, with a stop at 1.4640, below 1.4649 support.
EUR/AUD Weekly Outlook
EUR/AUD stayed in consolidation below 1.4909 last week and recent rebound lost momentum. But overall outlook is unchanged. That is, whole correction from 1.6587 has completed at 1.3624 already after defending 1.3671 key support level. Further rise is expected to next fibonacci level at 1.5455 after consolidation completes.
Initial bias in EUR/AUD remains neutral this week first. Consolidation from 1.4909 could extend and deeper retreat cannot be ruled out. But downside should be contained by 1.4442/4649 support to bring rise resumption. Above 1.4909 will extend recent rally from 1.3624 to next medium term fibonacci level at 1.5455.
In the bigger picture, price actions from 1.6587 medium term top are viewed as a corrective pattern. Such correction should be completed after defending 1.3671 key support. Rise from 1.3642 is now expected to target 61.8% retracement of 1.6587 to 1.3624 at 1.5455 and above. In any case, outlook will now stay cautiously bullish as long as 1.4309 resistance turned support holds.
In the longer term picture, the rise from 1.1602 long term bottom isn’t over yet. We’ll keep monitoring the development but there is prospect of extending the rise to 61.8% retracement of 2.1127 to 1.1602 at 1.7488 and above. However, sustained trading below 1.3671 should confirm trend reversal and target 1.1602 long term bottom again.
