HomeAction InsightMarket OverviewDollar Broadly Lower on Uncertainty Over Trump's Policies

Dollar Broadly Lower on Uncertainty Over Trump’s Policies

Dollar weakens broadly as another week starts. EUR/USD and USD/CHF extend recent near term move with EUR/USD hitting as high as 1.0749 so far. GBP/USD also takes out 1.2432 resistance. Some analysts attribute the selloff in the greenback to uncertainty over US president Donald Trump’s policies. The markets were generally let down by the lack of details, or even direction other than "America first", in Trump’s inauguration last Friday. Trump reiterated over the weekend that he’s going to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. However, nothing has been said regarding what pushed the markets higher since election. That is, expansive policies with lower taxes and higher infrastructure spending. The greenback will stay weak until the markets get some more clarity on the issues.

Q4 GDP report from UK and US will be the main focus of the week ahead. Dollar and Sterling are so far the weakest major currencies this month, for different reasons. Dollar is weighed down by uncertainties on Trump’s policies while Sterling is pressured by concern of hard Brexit. Traders will likely look pass the GDP data from both countries and stay cautious. Eurozone PMIs and German Ifo will also catch some attentions. Meanwhile, Australian CPI will also be closely watched. Aussie is so far the strongest major currency this month and would look into inflation reading for additional strength.

Here are some highlights for the week ahead:

  • Monday: Japan all industry index; Canada wholesale sales; Eurozone consumer confidence
  • Tuesday: Eurozone PMIs; UK public sector net borrowing; US existing home sales
  • Wednesday: Japan trade balance; Australia CPI; Swiss UBS consumption; German Ifo; US house price index
  • Thursday: New Zealand CPI; Swiss trade balance; German Gfk consumer sentiment; UK GDP; US jobless claims, trade balance, wholesale inventories, new home sales, leading indicators
  • Friday: Japan CPI; Australia PPI, import prices; Eurozone M3 money supply; US GDP, durable goods

Canadian dollar was sold off sharply last week after dovish message from BoC governor Stephen Poloz that rate cut cannot be ruled out. The surge in AUD/CAD suggests that decline from 1.0396 has completed at 0.9591 already. More importantly, the cross stayed inside medium term channel from 0.9148, arguing that rise from there is still in progress. Near term outlook is mildly bullish for 1.0396 resistance and above. But overall, the cross is bounded in long term consolidation pattern after making a top at 1.0784 (2012). Price actions from 0.9148 doesn’t warrant a break out yet and the consolidation is still set to extend with at least another medium term decline.

USD/CHF Daily Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.9986; (P) 1.0040; (R1) 1.0066; More…..

USD/CHF’s fall from 1.0342 resumed by taking out 0.9995 and reaches as low as 0.9981 so far. Intraday bias is back on the downside. As noted before, rise from 0.9443 has completed at 1.0342 already, after failing to sustain above 1.0327 key resistance. Fall from there would now target 61.8% retracement of 0.9443 to 1.0342 at 0.9786 and below. On the upside, break of 1.0121 resistance is needed to indicate short term bottoming. Otherwise, near term outlook will stay bearish in case of recovery.

In the bigger picture, rejection from 1.0327 resistance suggests that consolidation pattern from there is still in progress. Fall from 1.0342 is seen as the third leg and retest of 0.9443/9548 support zone could be seen. But we’d expect strong support from there to contain downside. At this point, we’re still expect the larger rally to resume later to 38.2% retracement of 1.8305 to 0.7065 at 1.1359.

USD/CHF 4 Hours Chart

USD/CHF Daily Chart

Economic Indicators Update

GMT Ccy Events Actual Consensus Previous Revised
04:30 JPY All Industry Activity Index M/M Nov 0.40% 0.20%
13:30 CAD Wholesale Sales M/M Nov 0.60% 1.10%
15:00 EUR Eurozone Consumer Confidence Jan A -4.8 -5.1

Subscribe to our daily and mid-day newsletter to get this report delivered to your mail box

Featured Analysis

Learn Forex Trading