Dollar Steady after Weak Durables, Euro Weakness Limited Despite Ifo


dollar
Action Insight Market Overview Markets Snapshot

Dollar Steady after Weak Durables, Euro Weakness Limited Despite Ifo

Markets are relatively steady today. Even though Euro dipped mildly following Germany Ifo, there was no follow through selling so far and EUR/USD is still struggling around 1.3 psychological level. Yen traders are clearly hesitating to sell if further ahead of Friday's BoJ announcement. BoJ is expected to publish inflation forecast after the meeting and would likely trigger some volatility in yen. Dollar is also stuck in range and had little reaction to the weak durable goods report. Headline durables dropped -5.7% in March versus expectation of -2.8%. Ex-transport orders also dropped -1.4% versus consensus of 0.5% growth.
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Featured Technical Report

USD/JPY Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 98.76; (P) 99.15; (R1) 99.82; More...
USD/JPY is staying in tight range below 99.94 and intraday bias remains neutral. As discussed before, consolidation from 99.94 could still extend further with another fall. Below 98.48 will turn bias to the downside for deeper retreat. But in that case, downside should be contained by 95.74 and bring rebound. Eventually, rise from 77.13 is expected to resume later and break of 100 psychological level to 161.8% projection of 77.13 to 96.70 from 92.56 at 104.65.
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Economic Indicators Update

GMT Ccy Events Actual Consensus Previous Revised
21:00 NZD RBNZ Rate Decision 2.50% 2.50% 2.50%
23:50 JPY Corporate Service Price Y/Y Mar -0.20% -0.40% 0.10% 0.00%
01:30 AUD CPI Q/Q Q1 0.40% 0.70% 0.20%
01:30 AUD CPI Y/Y Q1 2.50% 2.80% 2.20%
01:30 AUD CPI RBA Trimmed Mean Q/Q Q1 0.30% 0.50% 0.60%
01:30 AUD CPI RBA Trimmed Mean Y/Y Q1 2.20% 2.40% 2.30%
01:30 AUD CPI RBA Weighted Median Q/Q Q1 0.30% 0.50% 0.60%
01:30 AUD CPI RBA Weighted Median Y/Y Q1 2.60% 2.40% 2.30%
06:00 CHF UBS Consumption Indicator Mar 1.25 1.26
08:00 EUR German IFO - Business Climate Apr 104.4 106.5 106.7
08:00 EUR German IFO - Current Assessment Apr 107.2 109.4 109.9
08:00 EUR German IFO - Expectations Apr 101.6 103.2 103.6
08:30 GBP BBA Mortgage Approvals Mar 31.2K 31.2K 30.5K 30.6K
10:00 GBP CBI Reported Sales Apr -1 7 0
12:30 USD Durable Goods Orders M/M Mar -5.70% -2.80% 5.70%
12:30 USD Durables Ex Transportation M/M Mar -1.40% 0.50% -0.50%
14:30 USD Crude Oil Inventories -1.2M
Orders and Options Watch

US Session: Orders and Options Watch

EUR: Although the single currency rebounded initially in European morning on news out of Italy, soft German data put pressure on euro and bids at 1.2975-80 were filled, however, bids are still noted at 1.2950-55 (for protection of 1.2950 barrier), mixture of bids and stops remains at 1.2940-50 and buying interest is tipped further out at 1.2920 and 1.2900 with more stops placed below 1.2890-00. On the upside, offers are reported at 1.3040-50, more selling interest is located at 1.3080-85 with stops building up above 1.3090-1.3100, sizeable sell orders remain at 1.3120-30 and also 1.3150 with some stops placed above 1.3155-60.
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Forex Trade Ideas

Trade Idea Update: USD/JPY - Buy at 98.70

Despite yesterday's fall to 98.48, as the greenback found renewed buying interest there and again after FOMC, suggesting bullishness remains for a retest of 99.90-100.00 level, however, a firm break of this psychological level is needed to retain bullishness and extend medium term upmove to 100.39 (2.618 times extension of 75.31-84.19 measuring from 77.14) and possibly towards 100.50 which is likely to hold on first testing due to loss of near term upward momentum.
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Trade Idea: AUD/USD – Buy at 1.0200

Although aussie has rebounded after falling to 1.0221 yesterday, as long as resistance at 1.0358 holds, near term downside risk remains for the fall from 1.0583 to extend one more fall to 1.0199 (previous support and 61.8% projection of 1.0583-1.0291 measuring from 1.0400), however, this diagonal triangle kind of minor wave v should be limited to 1.0150-60 and bring another rebound later. A break of said resistance at 1.0358 would suggest low is possibly formed
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Candlesticks Intraday Trade Ideas Update Schedule (GMT):
1st Update: 0630 - 0700; 2nd Update: 0930 - 1000; 3rd Update: 1230 - 1300; 4th Update: 1500 - 1530
Pairs Covered: EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, USD/CHF
Elliott Wave Daily Trade Ideas Update Schedule (GMT):
AUD/USD, EUR/JPY: 0800 - 0830; EUR/GBP, USD/CAD: 1430 - 1500
Suggested Readings
Fundamental Highlights
Technical Highlights

Euro Dropped Broadly on Weidmann's Comments


Euro
Action Insight Market Overview Markets Snapshot

Euro Dropped Broadly on Weidmann's Comments

Euro weakened broadly overnight as Bundesbank head Weidmann was quoted that ECB could lower interest rates if the Eurozone economy worsens. He warned that "overcoming the crisis and the crisis effects will remain a challenge over the next decade." And he noted that while Eurozone might recover this year, "the calm that we are currently seeing might be treacherous". Euro was sold off sharply after the comments with EUR/USD breaching 1.3021 minor support, this indicates near term reversal. More importantly, the weakness was rather broad based as EUR/GBP is way off yesterday's high of 0.8636 and EUR/AUD also dipped from 1.2738. A focus before then end of the week will be on whether EUR/USD would dip below 1.3 psychological level again.
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Featured Technical Report

EUR/GBP Daily Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.8509; (P) 0.8573; (R1) 0.8612; More....
EUR/GBP rebounded to as high as 0.8636 but retreated sharply since then. Intraday bias is turned neutral first. As long as 0.8489 minor support holds, we'd stay cautiously bullish in the cross. That is, correction from 0.8806 has finished at 0.8410 already. Above 0.8636 will target a test on 0.8793/8806 resistance zone. However, break of 0.8489 will dampen this view and will turn bias back to the downside to 0.8410 and below to extend the correction.
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Economic Indicators Update



GMT Ccy Events Actual Consensus Previous Revised
23:50 JPY Trade Balance (JPY) Mar -0.92T -0.92T -1.09T
1:30 AUD NAB Business Confidence Q1 2 -5
8:30 GBP Retail Sales M/M Mar -0.50% 2.10%
12:30 USD Initial Jobless Claims (APR 13) 347K 346K
14:00 USD Philly Fed Survey Apr 3 2
14:00 USD Leading Indicators Mar 0.10% 0.50%
14:30 USD Natural Gas Storage -14B
     
Orders and Options Watch

European Session: Orders and Options Watch

EUR: Yesterday's selloff cleared most of the indicated bids and stops scattered at 1.3100, 1.3090 and 1.3020-30, however, suggested buying interest from European names at 1.3000 contained euro's downside so far. At the moment, bids are reported at 1.3020 and also in good size at 1.3000 with some stops placed below 1.2990-95, more demand should emerge around 1.2970 and 1.2950. On the upside, offers are tipped at 1.3060 and also at 1.3080, larger sell orders are reported at 1.3100, then 1.3125, more sizeable selling interest is seen at 1.3150-55 and further out at 1.3200. Option expires today include: 1.2800, 1.2900, 1.2905, 1.2910, 1.2925, 1.2930, 1.2950, 1.2960, 1.3000, 1.3015 and 1.3145.
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Forex Trade Ideas

Trade Idea: USD/CHF - Buy at 0.9265

Although the greenback staged a strong rebound after falling to 0.9207 yesterday and suggest a temporary low is formed there, break of indicated resistance at 0.9340 is needed to add credence to this view and bring retracement of recent decline to previous resistance at 0.9367. Once this level is penetrated, this would suggest the fall from 0.9567 top is possibly ended and bring further gain to 0.9400 but reckon upside would be limited to 0.9429
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Trade Idea: GBP/USD - Sell at 1.5290

Yesterday's anticipated selloff together with the breach of previous support at 1.5239 add credence to our view that top has been fomed at 1.5412 and bearishness remains for this decline from there to bring retracement of recent upmove to previous support at 1.5199, however, loss of near term downward momentum would prevent sharp fall below 1.5178 (61.8% Fibonacci retracement of 1.5034-1.5412) and reckon 1.5150 would remain intact
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Candlesticks Intraday Trade Ideas Update Schedule (GMT):
1st Update: 0630 - 0700; 2nd Update: 0930 - 1000; 3rd Update: 1230 - 1300; 4th Update: 1500 - 1530
Pairs Covered: EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, USD/CHF
Elliott Wave Daily Trade Ideas Update Schedule (GMT):
AUD/USD, EUR/JPY: 0800 - 0830; EUR/GBP, USD/CAD: 1430 - 1500
Suggested Readings
Fundamental Highlights
Technical Highlights

Gold Free Fall Continues, Euro Steady


Gold Free Fall
Action Insight Market Overview Markets Snapshot

Chinese Data Weigh on Sentiments, Gold Free Fall Continues, Euro Steady

Weak Chinese growth data was the main theme today which drove stock markets generally lower. US futures also point to lower opening after as Empire state manufacturing index dropped much more than expected to 3.1 in April. The biggest movers today were found in commodities where gold dropped over -5.5% at the time of writing and breached 1400 handle to as low as 1385. Silver was even worse by failing over -8.2% and even breached 23. Crude oil isn't much better as it broke 90 handle. In the currency markets, Aussie and Kiwi were hardest hit on risk aversion as well as free-falling commodity prices. Yen extended rebound from last week's short term bottom. European majors continue to be relatively steady against the greenback.
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Featured Technical Report

EUR/AUD Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.2413; (P) 1.2452; (R1) 1.2518; More.....
EUR/AUD rises to as high as 1.2587 in early US session and the break of 1.2563 confirmed resumption of rebound from 1.2218. Intraday bias is back to the upside and break of 38.2% retracement of 1.3189 to 1.2218 at 1.2589 will target 61.8% retracement at 1.2818 and above. On the downside, break of 1.2364 is needed to indicate completion of the rebound or near term outlook will stay mildly bullish.
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Economic Indicators Update

GMT Ccy Events Actual Consensus Previous Revised
23:01 GBP Rightmove House Prices M/M Apr 2.10% 1.70%
01:30 AUD Home Loans Feb 2.00% 1.50% -1.50% -0.30%
02:00 CNY Industrial Production YTD Y/Y Mar 8.90% 10.00% 9.90%
02:00 CNY Retail Sales YTD Y/Y Mar 12.60% 12.50% 12.30%
02:00 CNY Real GDP Y/Y Q1 7.70% 8.00% 7.90%
04:30 JPY Industrial Production M/M Feb F 0.60% -0.10% -0.10%
09:00 EUR Eurozone Trade Balance (EUR) Feb 12.0B 9.7B 9.0B
12:30 USD Empire State Manufacturing Apr 3.1 7 9.24
13:00 USD Net Long-term TIC Flows Feb -17.8B $40.0B $25.7B
14:00 USD NAHB Housing Market Index Apr 45 44
       
Orders and Options Watch

US Session: Orders and Options Watch

EUR: Although euro slipped to an intra-day low of 1.3036 on renewed concerns over Cyprus and stops below 1.3040 were tripped, cross-related demand contained downside and lifted the single currency in New York morning. At the moment, offers are still noted at 1.3100 and also at 1.3120-30, mixture of offers and stops is still seen at 1.3150-60, some option defensive offers are expected around 1.3190-00 (related to 1.3200 barrier). On the downside, bids are reported at 1.3030-35 and further out at 1.3000-10, stops are placed below 1.2985-90 with fresh demand likely to emerge around 1.2950-60, sizeable stops are tipped below 1.2940.
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Forex Trade Ideas

Trade Idea Update: GBP/USD – Sell at 1.5375

Despite intra-day initial brief bounce to 1.5386, as cable failed to close above the upper Kumo and dropped again, suggesting a temporary top is possibly formed at 1.5412 last week, hence consolidation with mild downside bias is seen for retracement of recent upmove, below previous support at 1.5294 would add credence to this view and bring retracement of recent upmove to 1.5250-60
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Trade Idea Update: USD/CHF – Buy at 0.9230

Despite intra-day rebound from 0.9265 to 0.9313, as cable has retreated after faltering below indicated resistance at 0.9332-40, retaining our view that near term downside risk remains for recent decline from 0.9567 top to resume and bring a stronger retracement of the rise from 0.9024 to 0.9259 (previous resistance), however, loss of near term downward momentum should prevent sharp fall below 0.9230-35 (61.8% Fibonacci retracement of 0.9024-0.9567) and bring rebound later.
Read more...
Candlesticks Intraday Trade Ideas Update Schedule (GMT):
1st Update: 0630 - 0700; 2nd Update: 0930 - 1000; 3rd Update: 1230 - 1300; 4th Update: 1500 - 1530
Pairs Covered: EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, USD/CHF
Elliott Wave Daily Trade Ideas Update Schedule (GMT):
AUD/USD, EUR/JPY: 0800 - 0830; EUR/GBP, USD/CAD: 1430 - 1500
Suggested Readings
Fundamental Highlights
Technical Highlights

French fin min says 2014 budget will raise tax burden



French

Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:03 AM PDT
  • EUR-3.9 bln prev
Posted: 15 Apr 2013 01:22 AM PDT
That little rally was short lived as USDJPY now trades back around 98.00 dragging EURUSD with it to 1.3057
GBPUSD ran into offers at 1.5340 and is now posting 1.5319
AUDUSD down to 1.0420 with gold turning lower again to USD 1440
Posted: 15 Apr 2013 12:52 AM PDT
  • currently 1.3090 with EURJPY stretching earlier gains to 128.64
  • offers in EURUSD now seen at 1.3100 and 1.3135 with larger interest at 1.3150 and 1.3200
  • bids at 1.3050,1.3035, 1.3000
Posted: 15 Apr 2013 12:32 AM PDT
  • says Greek debt on a sustainable path
  • says  Cyprus crisis will not alter its own macro-economic strategy
  • Aiming at a drastic of public debt after achieving primary budget surplus in 2013
  • Troika statement says next disbursement EUR 2.8 bln from EU-IMF could be agreed soon
Posted: 15 Apr 2013 12:28 AM PDT
  • FTSE  -0.2%
  • DAX  0.0%
  • CAC40 -0.1%
  • IBEX +0.1%
  • FTMIB -0.2%
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 11:37 PM PDT
  • will increase by 0.2% to 0.3% of GDP
  • Mr Moscovici quoted on reuters
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 11:36 PM PDT
Here’s an article in Bloomberg that looks at the costs in electricity from mining Bitcoins.
Blockchain.info, a site that tracks data on Bitcoin mining, estimates that in just the last 24 hours, miners used about $147,000 of electricity just to run their hardware … The trade-off here is that as virtual value is created, real-world value is used up. About 982 megawatt hours a day, to be exact. That's enough to power roughly 31,000 U.S. homes, or about half a Large Hadron Collider.
Really?
Why is this a problem?
How does the cost of people around the globe watching You Tube compare?
If the Bitcoin miners are buying their electricity (they are), where’s the problem? If you’re gonna whine about the electricity they use, then you probably need to come clean and whine about other uses for electricity, like watching You Tube, yeah? Or playing WOW (or whatever). Maybe we should just restrict electricity use to socially beneficial uses, for the greater good. Comrade.
Whining about Bitcoin electricity use
Is.
Just.
Whining.
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 11:34 PM PDT
  • speaking in his second scheduled appearance of the day
  • says still some uncertainty in global financial markets so good risk management is important
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Posted: 14 Apr 2013 11:17 PM PDT
Well, we’ve certainly seen some good movement in the last two sessions but are we seeing a shift in JPY sentiment ?  How much further can gold and silver fall? Are commodity currencies going to remain under attack? Will the SNB be in anytime soon to prop up EURCHF? Is the pound resuming its downtrend? Will we see greater focus on Eurozone contagion?
Lots of questions out there right now so let’s be having your trading ideas and thoughts as another week in the fickle world of forex gets underway. As usual I’ll be adding my own thoughts as the session progresses.
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 11:02 PM PDT
  • down 209.48 points
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 10:52 PM PDT
After the volatility of JPY over night and earlier this morning we’re seeing a move back higher in USDJPY to 98.15 and EURJPY to 128.30 from lows of 97.70 and 127.70 when I sat down 2 hours ago.
No specific reason cited but understandably a little bit of early morning/end of Asia interest to book some profit on what’s been a sharp move.
Big question now is whether we are seeing a shift in sentiment for a firmer JPY for a while. Personally I’d say the jury is still out but the JPY bears will be a little nervous at the moment having seen one-way traffic for a while.
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 09:45 PM PDT
  • USDJPY 97.50,98.50,98.60,99.00, 99.20, 100.00,100.25
  • EURUSD 1.2700,1.3000,1.3005,1.3020,1.3100,1.3150,1.3325
  • GBPUSD 1.5200,1.5350,1.5400
  • AUDUSD 1.0325,1.0400,1.0490,1.0495,1.0550
  • USDCHF  0.9300,0.9350,0.9495
  • EURCHF 1.2150, 1.2200
  • EURGBP 0.8500
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 09:33 PM PDT
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 09:31 PM PDT
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 09:25 PM PDT
Good day everyone, and I hope you all had a great week-end.
A lively Asian session with a continuation of the meltdown we saw on Friday.
But while I’ve got a large Aussie contingent here, and being a keen golfer, I should first mark the achievement of Adam Scott in becoming the first Australian to win the US Masters.
Top work fella !
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 09:01 PM PDT
The forex trading headlines for Asia trading today
  • China Q1 GDP recorded a big miss, coming in at +7.7% y/y (vs. +8.0% expected)
  • Other Chinese data was also weak – China March Industrial Production +8.9% (vs. +10.1% expected)
  • China Retail sales for March +12.4% y/y (vs. +12.6% expected)
  • China March Fixed Asset investment excluding rural 20.9% (vs. 21.3% expected)
  • Australia housing finance for February: +2.0% (vs. +1.5% expected)
  • UK: April Rightmove House Prices +0.4% y/y (vs. +1.2% prior)
  • UK: April Rightmove House Prices +2.1% m/m (vs. +1.7% prior)
  • New Zealand data: March Services PMI 55.4 (vs. 55.5 prior)
  • BOJ's Kuroda spoke during the Tokyo morning, not really saying anything new – but his comments are here and here
  • I don't often report on newspaper articles in the headlines, but this one is worth being aware of – pointing to possible laying of groundwork for further wealth taxes in Europe
The Chinese GDP figures were a market focus today, with most currencies fairly quiet before their release.
USD/JPY, though, had an active morning, trading below 98.00 in the illiquid early New Zealand market before opening into Tokyo above 98.25. It traded as high as 98.71 as Kuroda's unsurprising comments were being reported and then traded lower for the rest of the session, back below 98.00 as I write this wrap-up.
The Chinese data showed a big miss on expectations (see bullets, above). Interestingly, a leak of the number came out moments before the official release, the leak was accurate. AUD, EUR, GBP, NZD all traded lower with the news.
Gold and silver were already having a bad day, silver in particular being sold heavily throughout the session.
Oil, too, lost ground after the Chinese data.
Adding: Just a couple of points to note about the poor Chinese data. There was market talk that the numbers were actually understated (which is unusual given Chinese data is often said to be overstated) so as to give the new Chinese leadership a lower base to work from in coming releases and therefore being able to claim their new policies are working. Also, it is now only a matter of time before reports of new Chinese easings start to do the rounds.
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 08:46 PM PDT
David Nutt, the former Government drugs tsar … has said that the banking crisis was caused by too many workers taking cocaine.
There you have it. Simple.
What’s that they say, when you’ve got a hammer, pretty much everything looks like a nail?
Telegraph
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 08:07 PM PDT
Umm … Very.
Its broken through (easily) important lows of the past nearly two years.
The first chart shows 3 years price action, and due to the scale you cant really see today’s candle that clearly, so the second chart is one year only:
11
Source is Bloomberg
Source is Bloomberg
Its been in a downtrend for a while. Will find resistance on bounces now.
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 07:48 PM PDT
EUR, GBP, NZD joining in the sell-off now – to new lows for the day.
AUD/USD to 1.0425 area.
EUR/USD has some support coming in around 1.3040/50.
Posted: 14 Apr 2013 07:36 PM PDT
Bloomberg article with a brief recap of the figures we just got out of China: China First-Quarter Growth Trails Estimates as Risks Loom
-
On a separate note:
The Chinese statistics office have said the Q1 miss is due to slower global growth and also domestic policy adjustment. There is some speculation doing the rounds that the figures may be slightly understated (!) so as to give the new leadership a lower base to work from going forward.
Also, note that its only a matter of time before these weak numbers park talk of PBOC easing.
Meanwhile AUD/USD had a little bounce to 60/65, where we expected sellers to again kick in, and is now 1.0435/38.