Forexpros Daily Analysis - 12/05/08
Read the Daily Forex Trading Analysis
Today’s US Dollar Trading
• BOE and ECB leave rates on hold, as expected
• USD reverses after starting better overnight
• Majors hold key support (?)
Overnight Preview
• Look for USD to consolidate, possible book squaring ahead of US data
Looking Ahead
All times EASTERN (-5 GMT)
• 8:30am USD Trade Balance -61.4B
Summary
The USD is sharply lower to end the Thursday US session after initially firming overnight. The absence of major news plus general sentiment RE: the weakness in the US Economy this week put a damper on the potential for the USD to rally significantly and stay there. After a follow-on break into key support the majors reversed out of the lows and actually made highs during early New York trade before settling back to general two-way action. Cable looked set to hold the 1.9600 handle but weak longs dumped positions into the London fix and the rate continued to rotate around the 1.9550 area for the rest of the day; high prints at 1.9629 and lows at 1.9500 have created a technical double-bottom. Traders look for a bout of short covering if the 1.9500 area holds on a test the next 24 hours but with the end of the week due anyway I suspect that shorts will cover ahead of the London Fix tomorrow. EURO also rallied back after a hard fall overnight; initially triggering stops on a break under the 1.5350 area. Active selling and more stops took the rate down to 1.5284 low print before rallying back to make highs on the day at 1.5442 as late shorts were forced to cover. Traders note that system accounts and model accounts were active on the sell side overnight and most likely they were whipsawed adding to the upside bias for the US session. USD/JPY fell into stops as the 104.50/60 area was unable to hold the recent advance; stops under the 104.00 handle also adding to the pressure as were lower equities. Although equities were firmer in NY today the failure to hold gains was seen as a negative for the rate. Traders also note that USD/JPY has possibly broken the recent uptrend channel; stops are said to be resting under today’s low at the 103.60 area suggesting a long-liquidation break may be in the works. Loonie weakened dramatically and the USD/CAD was higher on the day against the sentiment of the market. Traders may be watching crude and gold prices for clues to the rates near-term direction but the 1.0200 handle is still offering solid resistance; highs at 1.0180 again. On the day, the USD has likely made the highs for the week against some pairs. Look for corrective action overnight as the market prepares for the last piece of news for the week; US balance of Trade Friday morning.
GBP/USD Daily
Resistance 3: 1.9680
Resistance 2: 1.9650
Resistance 1: 1.9620/30
Latest New York: 1.9526
Support 1: 1.9500
Support 2: 1.9480
Support 3: 1.9450
Comments
Rate falls through 1.9650 support area and stops drive trade lower, support at 1.9500 area now in play. Bounce likely from here. Look for continuation of the recovery Friday. Look for a re-test of the 1.9600 area within 24 hours; likely ahead of the London Fix Friday. Close under the 1.9700 handle today likely washed out longs; shorts will cover before the weekend. Bounce back to trade at or near the 1.9720 area by the end of the week suggests a rally is coming. Upside remains limited in my view but ranges can be wide as evidenced by the past few days of trade. Sell rallies if not short; buying dips dangerous.
Closes over the MA’s likely not to last so a rally over the 100 bar MA a good sell in my view.
Some pressure from EURO remains. Cross-spreading for Yen, Swissy and EURO evident.
Data due Friday: All times EASTERN (-5 GMT)
EUR/USD Daily
Resistance 3: 1.5500/10
Resistance 2: 1.5480
Resistance 1: 1.5450
Latest New York: 1.5400
Support 1: 1.5380
Support 2: 1.5350
Support 3: 1.5300/10
Comments
Sharp follow-on break is sold by system accounts; likely a bounce is coming. Rally over the 1.5400 handle significant. Rate holds opening range on the fall-back; solid sign of no sellers left. Break under 1.5300 area on stops suggests more losses are coming; bounce likely first. Support at 1.5280 is firm near-term. Look for rotation higher next 24 hours. Rate clears close in stops again. Strong long-liquidation break is still coming; Watch for two-way volatility. Be ready to re-short quickly if a rally happens; look for a short-covering rally to stall around the 1.5550/1.5600 area again; look to re-short in that area.
Data due Friday: All times EASTERN (-5 GMT)
Analysis by: Forexpros.com written by Jason Alan Jankovsky
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