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August 13, 2009
Early this morning news out of the Euro Zone sent the EUR USD higher. Euro
Zone GDP was better than expected buoyed by surprise increases from Germany
and France. This news spilled over to the other currencies as appetite
for risk returned to the market. The U.S. Dollar was weak versus all
major currencies today.
Technically the Euro could still attract selling pressure. The current
two-day rally has not taken out any significant tops to signal strong buying. The
charts indicate that this market has completed a technical retracement. A
lower close tomorrow will indicate that last week's closing price reversal
top is currently carrying more weight than the surprise news from the Euro
Zone this morning. Based on the main range of 1.4447 to 1.4086, this
pair found fresh selling at the .618 price at .14309.
A similar situation is developing in the GBP USD. Last week's
surprise announcement by the Bank of England to expand its quantitative easing
program remains the key reason why the British Pound should continue to feel
downside pressure.
Technically the GBP USD fell short of completing a 50% retracement of the
break from last week's top. Sellers did come in early but it is
going to take a follow-through break tomorrow to send this pair on a path to
lower prices. If buyers are still present then they may drive this market
to 1.6716 before the selling starts. Either way you look at it this current
two-day rally looks more like short-covering rather than new buying.
The USD CAD gave back more of its gains from earlier in the week because of
the renewed strength in the U.S. equity and crude oil markets. This market
found support at a .618 retracement level at 1.0800 and close over a 50% retracement
level at 1.0853. These are both strong indications that buyers stepped
in following the two-day break. A follow-through to the upside on Friday
will be a strong signal that a major bottom was reached last week.
The strong rally in the U.S. equity markets helped increase demand for the
higher yielding AUD USD and NZD USD. Although both of these markets rallied,
they still failed to take out their respective highs for the year at .8470
and .6817.
Tomorrow will be a key day for both of these currency pairs. If today's
churning in the equity markets following an initial surge to the upside is
any indication, then weakness in the stock market is likely to trigger the
start of a break in the Australian and New Zealand Dollars.
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