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Forex: Dollar Attempts First 4 Day Rally in 3 Months, CPI Ahead

Talking Points:

  • Dollar Attempts First 4 Day Rally in 3 Months, CPI Ahead

  • British Pound Rate Outlook Deflating Quickly After Jobless Uptick

  • Yen Crosses: A Steadfast BoJ Doesn’t Bode Well for Record Trade Deficits

Dollar Attempts First 4 Day Rally in 3 Months, CPI Ahead

Two very potent fundamental themes are starting to throw their weight behind the dollar’s recovery. Yet, to mount enough strength to force a EURUSD, GBPUSD or AUDUSD reversal; these catalysts need to hit a fundamental stride we have not seen in the past weeks. In the meantime, the greenback has nevertheless managed a broad – albeit tepid – advance. In fact, its gains against the Euro and British pound were more technical than qualitative. That is the same impression we draw from the Dow Jones FXCM Dollar Index’s (ticker = USDollar) 21 point cumulative gains through the first half of the week.

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Moving forward, risk trends – as per usual – represent the greatest opportunity for the benchmark currency. The S&P 500, having exhausted its recovery before overtaking last month’s record highs around 1,850, dropped 0.7 percent this past session. Given the weak participation and the constant second-guessing on the equity index’s climb, this correction can build into fear rather easily. This past session, the IMF’s warnings that the recovery is still weak and exposed to “significant downside risks” struck the right, discouraging tone to concern stock traders and feed the dollar’s safe haven status. In measuring the amplitude of ‘fear’, traders should keep an eye on volatility measures. The equity-based VIX jumped 1.6 ‘vols’ this past session off monthly lows. A more significant FX volatility response (it was barely changed) is crucial for the dollar.

While waiting patiently for a definitive sentiment catalyst – bullish or bearish – dollar traders will also have to keep an eye on US-based monetary policy expectations. The currency has generated limited strength from the FOMC’s two Taper moves thus far, but the market is slowly resigning itself to the reality that QE3 will fully be wound down perhaps as early as September, and speculation of a rate hike will swell before that fateful day. This past session, Fed speakers and the FOMC minutes reinforced this bearing. Thursday’s CPI may further offer its stamp.

British Pound Rate Outlook Deflating Quickly After Jobless Uptick

The second round of important, monetary policy-related event risk was released from the UK docket this past session; and the outcome was notably pound negative. Building on the slide in the consumer-level inflation (CPI) figure from Tuesday – below the BoE’s 2.0 percent target for the first time since November 2008 – the ILO unemployment rate ticked up. It was the sharp drop in this particular labor series that had generated so much strength through January as the market interpreted the central bank’s ‘7.0 percent target before considering rate hikes’ in an extremely literal sense. With the BoE backing away from these explicit targets last week and now the jobless rate ticking up, concern that rate expectations have run too far is growing. If the 2-year UK government bond yields continue to retreat, the pound will follow.

Yen Crosses: A Steadfast BoJ Doesn’t Bode Well for Record Trade Deficits

A uniform advance from the yen against the majors this past session reflects the slow turn in risk trends we have seen in other markets. And, this drive seems to be already gathering a head of steam. Already, the funding currency is showing larger gains early in Thursday’s session than what it wrenched in the previous trading day. Do nothing to correct this unwelcome (from a policy official’s standpoint) development, the January trade statistics this morning offered little respite. The unadjusted deficit doubled to ¥2.79 trillion – the largest on record.

Euro Faces Tests on Economic and Financial Health Thursday

There was relatively little on the Euro newswires this past session, but the IMF made a point of highlighting that the regional economy was “turning the corner” with a fragile recovery. Moving forward, the event risk fills out with two particular highlights. Offering a tangible and direct update, the February Eurozone PMI figures are a timely GDP proxy to test the IMF’s and market’s dubiousness. Perhaps not as volatility-inducing – but arguably just as influential – Spain is planning auction sell 5, 10 and 30-year bonds. There is no better test of confidence.

Canadian Dollar Rebound Fails, USDCAD Soars

So much for the loonie recovery effort. The Canadian dollar was the biggest mover on the day Wednesday with a drop that ranged between 0.8 and 1.3 percent (NZDCAD and CADJPY respectively). There was certainly a ‘risk’ element to the faux carry currency’s stumble, but the day’s data seemed to proffer more than its fair share of influence. Wholesale Trade Sales marked its fourth largest drop in five years.

New Zealand Dollar: PPI Another Blow to Rate Forecasts

Though a March rate hike from the RBNZ is still fully priced in by the swaps and FX market, that is not what will lead the Kiwi’s next move. The first hike is fully expected and thereby fully priced in. Further gains from the currency on the basis of yield forecasts means building on expectations of subsequent hikes. The drop from the 4Q factory-level inflation report (PPI) this past session does little to set that pace.

Emerging Markets Come Under Real Selling Pressure

In the IMF’s (International Monetary Fund) staff report for the upcoming finance minister and central bankers meeting, the group made specific mention of potential trouble in the Emerging Markets. According to the group, prolonged turmoil on capital outflow and higher interest rates for the risky economic category could generate deeper problems for the global financial system. In response, the MSCI Emerging Market ETF dropped 0.7 percent (to $39.02) on a sharp increase in volume. Leading the currency response were some of the most risk-sensitive: the South African Rand dropped 1.5 percent, Hungarian Forint fell 1.2 percent and Russian Ruble slipped 0.6 percent.

Gold Posts First Back-to-Back Decline Since Late January

A rebound for the dollar and continued talk of moderating monetary accommodation this past session led spot gold to a 0.8 percent decline (to $1,311) Wednesday for the first back-to-back decline since January 27-28. Despite the decline, the metal is still well above its 200-day moving average and the round $1,300-figure. Furthermore, volume on this slip was still light in ETFs and futures, while the CBOE’s volatility index has yet to price in disaster. Yet, further developments along the fundamental lines we have seen lately can cause bulls indigestion. If the upcoming US CPI data helps escalate the Taper conversation to pricing in the eventual, first Fed hike; selling momentum make build.

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ECONOMIC DATA

GMT

Currency

Release

Survey

Previous

Comments

0:00

NZD

ANZ Consumer Confidence Index (FEB)

135.8

As the Kiwi remains at major resistance, data this and next week out of New Zealand may have a larger impact on price action.

0:00

NZD

ANZ Consumer Confidence (MoM) (FEB)

4.9%

1:45

CNY

HSBC/Markit PMI Manufacturing (FEB)

49.4

49.5

Manufacturing PMI has been following service PMI to the downside as of late.

7:00

EUR

German Producer Prices (MoM) (JAN)

0.2%

0.1%

German Producer Prices YoY are at their lowest levels since 2010.

7:00

EUR

German Producer Prices (YoY) (JAN)

-0.8%

-0.5%

7:45

EUR

French CPI - EU Harmonised (MoM) (JAN)

-0.5%

0.4%

If French CPI does not meet or beat estimates, we may see that reflect poorly on the EUR/USD pair as it will add to disinflation worries following Germany’s disappointing CPI data as of late. Price action from the French numbers may be limited as market participants wait for German and Euro-Zone composite PMI figures.

7:45

EUR

French CPI - EU Harmonised (YoY) (JAN)

0.9%

0.8%

7:45

EUR

French Consumer Price Index (MoM) (JAN)

-0.4%

0.3%

7:45

EUR

French Consumer Price Index (YoY) (JAN)

0.8%

0.7%

7:45

EUR

French Consumer Price Index Ex Tobacco Index (JAN)

125.2

125.82

8:30

EUR

German PMI Manufacturing (FEB A)

56.3

56.5

8:30

EUR

German Purchasing Manager Index Services (FEB A)

53.4

53.1

9:00

EUR

Euro-Zone PMI Manufacturing (FEB A)

54.0

54.0

9:00

EUR

Euro-Zone PMI Services (FEB A)

51.9

51.6

9:00

EUR

Euro-Zone PMI Composite (FEB A)

53.1

52.9

11:00

GBP

CBI Trends Total Orders (FEB)

5

-2

GBP has given up some strength over the past 24 hours, but selling pressure could be halted by strong retail sales on Friday.

11:00

GBP

CBI Trends Selling Prices (FEB)

20

13:30

USD

Consumer Price Index (MoM) (JAN)

0.1%

0.3%

2014 has hardly been a stellar year thus far for U.S. data, especially in the context of housing data on Wednesday that largely missed estimates. Although we saw USD strength following the FOMC minutes, any disappointing CPI print could halt that move higher near term.

13:30

USD

Consumer Price Index (YoY) (JAN)

1.6%

1.5%

13:30

USD

Consumer Price Index ex Food & Energy (MoM) (JAN)

0.1%

0.1%

13:30

USD

Consumer Price Index ex Food&Energy (YoY) (JAN)

1.6%

1.7%

13:30

USD

Consumer Price Index n.s.a. (JAN)

233.049

13:30

USD

Consumer Price Index Core Index s.a. (JAN)

235.496

13:30

USD

Initial Jobless Claims (FEB 15)

330K

339K

13:30

USD

Continuing Claims (FEB 7)

2953K

13:58

USD

Markit Purchasing Manager Index (FEB P)

53.7

15:00

USD

Philadelphia Fed. (FEB)

10.0

9.4

15:00

USD

Mortgage Delinquencies (4Q)

6.41%

15:00

USD

MBA Mortgage Foreclosures (4Q)

3.08%

15:00

EUR

Euro-Zone Consumer Confidence (FEB A)

-11

-11.7

We are at highs not seen since 2011.

15:00

USD

Leading Indicators (JAN)

0.3%

0.1%

Est. was 0.4% last week.

16:00

USD

DOE U.S. Crude Oil Inventories (FEB 14)

3267K

WTI crude is pressing highs not seen since the summer of 2013.

GMT

Currency

Upcoming Events & Speeches

ALL

G20 Finance Ministers Meet in Sydney

0:00

USD

Fed's John Williams Speaks on U.S. Economy

2:00

CNY

China Economic Survey Bloomberg (FEB)

9:30

EUR

Spain to Sell 5, 10 and 30-Year Bonds

10:30

EUR

ECB's Vitor Constancio Speaks on Euro Economy

23:50

JPY

Bank of Japan Meeting Minutes

SUPPORT AND RESISTANCE LEVELS

To see updated SUPPORT AND RESISTANCE LEVELS for the Majors, visit Technical Analysis Portal

To see updated PIVOT POINT LEVELS for the Majors and Crosses, visit our Pivot Point Table

CLASSIC SUPPORT AND RESISTANCE

EMERGING MARKETS 18:00 GMT

SCANDIES CURRENCIES 18:00 GMT

Currency

USD/MXN

USD/TRY

USD/ZAR

USD/HKD

USD/SGD

Currency

USD/SEK

USD/DKK

USD/NOK

Resist 2

14.0200

2.3800

12.7000

7.8165

1.3650

Resist 2

7.5800

5.8950

6.5135

Resist 1

13.5800

2.3000

11.8750

7.8075

1.3250

Resist 1

6.8155

5.8475

6.2660

Spot

13.2388

2.1785

10.8853

7.7558

1.2627

Spot

6.4839

5.4204

6.0378

Support 1

13.0000

2.1000

10.2500

7.7490

1.2000

Support 1

6.0800

5.3350

5.7450

Support 2

12.6000

1.7500

9.3700

7.7450

1.1800

Support 2

5.8085

5.2715

5.5655

INTRA-DAY PROBABILITY BANDS 18:00 GMT

CCY

EUR/USD

GBP/USD

USD/JPY

USD/CHF

USD/CAD

AUD/USD

NZD/USD

EUR/JPY

Gold

Res 3

1.3860

1.6812

103.23

0.8946

1.1024

0.9093

0.8379

142.25

1340.67

Res 2

1.3837

1.6781

102.99

0.8928

1.1005

0.9072

0.8358

141.88

1335.05

Res 1

1.3813

1.6750

102.75

0.8910

1.0986

0.9050

0.8336

141.51

1329.43

Spot

1.3766

1.6688

102.26

0.8873

1.0947

0.9007

0.8294

140.77

1318.20

Supp 1

1.3719

1.6626

101.77

0.8836

1.0908

0.8964

0.8252

140.03

1306.97

Supp 2

1.3695

1.6595

101.53

0.8818

1.0889

0.8942

0.8230

139.66

1301.35

Supp 3

1.3672

1.6564

101.29

0.8800

1.0870

0.8921

0.8209

139.29

1295.73

v

--- Written by: John Kicklighter, Chief Strategist for DailyFX.com

To contact John, email jkicklighter@dailyfx.com. Follow me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/JohnKicklighter

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