Abe’s Daily Outlook
By Mike Conlon | July 29, 2010
Abe Cofnas has been analyzing the Forex market for years. Here is his outlook for today’s action in the Forex market.
USDCHF - This pair is in a retracement from a low of 1.0396 to a high of 1.0641. It is probing a 50% retracement level. A break of 1.0518 is a key support point. A break of 1.049 would be a major sell signal.
USDCAD - The Loonie is in a strengthening pattern with Resistance at 1.04 and Support at 1.025. The outlook is a resumption of the strengthening of this pair. Going countertrend poses more risks. If Resistance or Support is broken, traders need to reassess the direction, but need to wait until confirmation of any breakout of this pattern.
USDJPY - The Dollar Yen is in a sideways slightly bullish pattern. The 4 Hour Resistance is 88.16 and Support is 86.81 with Outer support at 86.35. Technical sentiment is choppy here and this pair offers more difficulty trading today.
EURUSD - Sentiment is very bullish with momentum pushing this pair beyond resistance at 1.3049. The critical factor today is whether the EURUSD stays above this point. Buyers beware and need confirmation that the run up will be sustained. Sellers will need to be careful NOT to anticipate a reversal, but to confirm it.
GBPUSD - The Pound Sterling is in a sustained upward channel. Notice that the slope of the Bollinger Bands is up. The outlook for a reversal is dangerous. Bulls and Bears should be focused on Inner Support at 1.555. A breakdown here will attract sellers.
AUDUSD - The Aussie dollar pair is biased to the upside but in an interim sideways channel. Support is at the Lower Bollinger Band of the 4 hour which coincides with the 38.2 % retracement of the Low of .8632 to the recent high of .9075. Resistance is at .9075 and the outlook is a test of Resistance. A retracement below 0.8906 will signal further weakness
Tags: aud-usd, bollinger bands, eur-usd, forex, gbp-usd, sentiment, usd-chf, usd-jpy
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Portugal Downgrade!
By Mike Conlon | July 13, 2010
In the European session, Moody’s ratings agency downgraded Portugal two notches to A1 but maintained a “stable” outlook while citing weak growth prospects. ECB President Trichet maintained that monetary policy is appropriate in an attempt to assuage the market. Meanwhile, investor confidence figures in Germany weakened, as did wholesale prices.
In the UK, higher than expected CPI figures showed that inflation may not be subsiding as the BOE had expected which halted the Pound’s 3-day decline as expectations for normalized monetary policy have picked up for the second half of 2010. In addition, home prices expanded to the highest reading since 2007, adding further support for the normalized monetary policy view.
Earnings season in US kicked off yesterday after the bell and generally speaking have been viewed as positive. Stock index futures are higher in the pre-market, so we are seeing some Dollar weakness generally in line with risk-taking.
In the forex market:
Aussie (AUD): Overnight, Australian business was unchanged as businesses reported improving sentiment. However, there is some pressure on the Aussie as concerns over a slowing Chinese economy have increased.
Kiwi (NZD): The Kiwi is rebounding from earlier lows due to Chinese slowdown concerns as the market is anticipating higher CPI data later this week.
Loonie (CAD): The Loonie is higher this morning as both US corporate earnings and commodities are higher. The Loonie will be in focus this week as Canada stands to benefit from good earnings in the US more so than the Aussie and Kiwi as the US is the largest importer of Canadian goods and services.
Euro (EUR): The Euro is lower this morning on the Portuguese debt downgrade, though Greece had a successful bond auction which has pared losses. Both German and Euro zone economic sentiment figures came in less than expected, showing a deteriorating outlook for the economy. Wholesale prices in Germany were also lower, with the index showing a decline of .2% for the month vs. an expectation of a .2% rise, also taking the year-over-year figure down to 5.1% from an expectation of 5.5%.
Pound (GBP): The UK reported CPI data showing a 3.2% gain, less than the BOE was hoping and still above its target limit of 3%. The BOE has a dual mandate to keep inflation in check and encourage employment, so it may have its hands full trying to balance economic growth and taming inflation. Nevertheless, the market sees this as reason to support the view that the BOE may return to normalized monetary policy in the second half of 2010. In addition, house prices rose 11% to the highest levels in almost 3 years.
Dollar (USD): The Dollar I slower this morning as corporate earnings season has started and the initial reports are positive for the economy. Stock futures and commodities are higher in the pre-market, and the inverse correlation of the Dollar to the equity markets appears to be intact this morning and risk appetite is increasing.
Yen (JPY): The Yen started the morning higher but is giving back gains as the US market becomes the focal point of the trading day. Risk due to the debt downgrade in Portugal had provided the Yen with a bid, but that appears to be reversing. This took the Nikkei lower, despite the fact that Japanese consumer confidence advance for the sixth straight month.
The two major themes in the world market right now are US corporate earnings and the continued EU debt crisis. While US earnings have started out on a positive note, the downgrade of Portuguese debt has counter-acted the positive sentiment.
It is important to note that certain news carries more weight in different market sessions. For example, the earnings news was initially viewed as positive in the overnight session….until the debt downgrade reversed sentiment in the European session. Now that the US session is about to begin, the market has returned its focus to the positive news in the US.
This is a familiar pattern that we see time and time again. Since the majority of the risk in the marketplace stems from the Euro session, there will be times when seemingly good news can be derailed by bad news only to be outweighed by the good news again as the US session begins.
This can provide traders with numerous opportunities to get into positions based on the opening of the US session! For those who prefer to hold trades overnight, you really need to be careful with stop placement as the potential for swings from risk taking to risk aversion are increased as each trading session opens.
So today will be interesting to see which news today is more favored by the market. My guess is the good news wins!
If you are not familiar with the different trading sessions and how they affect the forex market, be sure to check out our currency trading courses!
To follow these events live with a free, real-time practice account, click here! Don’t miss out on the world’s fastest growing market!
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O Canada!
By Mike Conlon | July 9, 2010
This morning, Canadian employment figures came in and showed a drop in the unemployment rate from 8.1% to 7.9% on strong jobs growth. The Canadian economy added 93K jobs vs. an expectation of 20K. This belies the good economic story going on in Canada despite the fact that they rely on the US to import their goods and services. Should the US economy slow down, it could affect Canadian GDP negatively.
In the European session, ECB President Trichet made the “we’re not out of the woods yet” comment, saying that there is still question over the health of the EU banking system and that serious changes need to be implemented to get better control over the deficits. The bank stress tests are due in about two weeks.
In the UK, PPI figures came in lower than expected, showing signs that the BOE may be correct in their assessment that inflation would be subside. The minutes from the rate policy meeting will be released on July 21st, and is expected to show a continued dovish stance.
Lastly, we’re seeing Dollar strength this morning despite the fact that risk-aversion is mild. This is probably more of a technical bounce and the function of traders not wanting to hold risk assets over the weekend. US stock earnings season kicks off on Monday.
In the forex market:
Aussie (AUD): The Aussie is lower this morning after posting its best week of gains in nearly 9 months. Bets that a further rate hike in 2010 have increased as a result of the best surge in employment they have seen in nearly 4 years.
Kiwi (NZD): The Kiwi is also lower, trading in sympathy with the Aussie.
Loonie (CAD): The Loonie is the best performer this morning as employment gains bested analyst expectations by a wide margin. There is a good growth story going on in Canada, as they benefit from commodity gains and as long as their largest trading partner to the south (US) keeps spending. In addition, housing starts came in largely in line with expectations.
Euro (EUR): The Euro is lower this morning as the market prepares for the bank stress tests. There is much speculation in the market about what the results will be, and what measures will need to be taken to insure financial health. One such solution would be that the banks may need to raise additional capital. German CPI figures came in as expected, showing signs of some price stability. There are also rumors floating about that the ECB may need to take a more dovish stance with the Euro, which could mean increased quantitative easing or possible rate cuts, though the latter seems unlikely at this point.
Pound (GBP): The Pound is lower as well, as PPI figures fell for the first time in nearly 2 years, easing inflation pressures in the economy. The UK had been seeing inflation outside of government targets, but it appears that it may be coming back to their preferred range. In addition, the UK trade deficit widened as a .2% gain in exports was negated by a 2.4% gain in imports.
Dollar (USD): The Dollar is higher against all but the Loonie, as the market moves toward the safe haven of the Dollar going into the weekend. In addition, the Dollar has been beaten up this week as risk-taking has been the primary driver. Reports are coming out that economists are paring back their expectations for growth in US, but see no signs of the dreaded double dip at this point despite the recent patch of negative economic news. US earnings season also kicks off on Monday, so this could be adding to market fears should corporate profits be down.
Yen (JPY): The Yen is starting out lower this morning, as the Nikkei was able to hold on to gains in the overnight session. There is some mild risk-aversion in the market today, and the Yen is higher than the European currencies.
So today is a bit of a mixed bag. Neither risk-taking nor risk-aversion can be seen as a dominant theme. Good news out of Canada has put the focus back on the N. American currencies, with the European ones lagging.
US corporate earnings will be the big story next week, and if those reports are positive, it could buoy market sentiment higher. While the stock market health does not equal overall economic health, it will act as a good economic barometer and could provide hope that the employment picture may be about to get better.
If those earnings reports are largely negative, then that may open a whole new can of worms as the market is already aware of the general state of the economy. In addition, if Washington DC policies continue to threaten business, then it could be a long time before companies begin to hire employees again, if they are reporting good gains.
Either way, there is still risk in the market. If we can successfully get through next week, the European bank stress tests will pose the next major threat.
To learn more about how you can take advantage of world events through the currency market, be sure to check out our currency trading courses!
To follow these events live with a free, real-time practice account, click here! Don’t miss out on the world’s fastest growing market!
Tags: account, AUD, Aussie, bank, BOE, cad, canada, commodity, course, currenc, currencies, currency, currency market, currency trading, dollar, dow, ECB, economic, economy, EUR, Euro, Europe, fear, financial, forex, forex market, free, fx, fxedu, gbp, Il, jpy, Kiwi, live, loonie, lower, market, meeting, Mike Conlon, minutes, news, nzd, pound, practice, practice account, rate, rate cut, release, RSI, sentiment, ssi, stock, technical, time, trade, trader, Trichet, unemployment, USD, Yen
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Follow Up With Abe!
By Mike Conlon | July 8, 2010
As a follow up to my original interview and due to overwhelming viewer response, Abe Cofnas has provided the answers to your questions. You can view that interview here. In addition and going forward, Abe has graciously agreed to provide forex trading blog with a weekly feature, giving us insight into his unique perspective accumulated through years of forex trading.
So I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Abe and look forward to his weekly feature.
QUESTION: HOW DO YOU SUGGEST TRADERS SCAN THE MARKET AS THEY START THEIR TRADING DAY?
The best approach is first to have a mind-set that realizes that there is a lot of volatility in forex and therefore it is important to get a top-down viewpoint of what is happening. So one of the first things to do is to use multiple time frames.
When you are looking at a currency pair, look at three time frames at once. I suggest a 4 hour, 15 minute, and 5 minute time frame. The example below shows this for the EURUSD.
(click chart to enlarge)
Now follow that and the 15 minute chart offers a lot more granularity. Of course we have swings down, but the prevailing sentiment from the 4 hour was up and this means that the trader should only look for buy situations.
QUESTION: WHAT ROLE DOES THE 5 MINUTE CHART PLAY?
The 5 minute chart acts like the local traffic guard. If you want to go long, then you need confirmation on the 5 minute chart.
QUESTION: ARE THESE THE ONLY TIME FRAMES ONE SHOULD USE?
The concept is 3 time frames. One can use a 2 hour, a 15 minute, and a 3 minute chart. The essential feature is to never only look at one time frame.
QUESTION: WHEN DO YOU GO COUNTER-TREND?
Counter-trend moves can make you money, but a starting trader should not go against the trend. It’s a numbers game and the trend is your friend because it can provide you with more winning trades if you go with it.
Having said that, if the 4 hour breaks down support- or, I will be flexible - the 2 hour breaks support, you can look to the 15 and 5 to confirm it. The 2 hour chart below shows support at 1.255. So if the EURUSD broke through this- even though the 4 hour chart is still not broken looking for a sell is legitimate.
QUESTION: WHAT ELSE IS GOOD TO LOOK AT ?
Definitely look at the Dollar Index (DXY). It provides a quick look at global sentiment. So make sure you’re trading WITH the sentiment
QUESTION: ARE THERE ANY OTHER GOOD INDICATORS YOU LOOK AT?
Let’s deal with that on the next blog.
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Volatility Rules!
By Mike Conlon | July 8, 2010
Yesterday, the markets started off in risk-taking mode and that quickly reversed to post huge gains as the market flipped to risk-taking. As I mentioned yesterday, there was no real reason to induce risk-aversion as the there was no news driving fear. That proved to be prescient. This goes to show how the 24-hour nature of the currency market can provide opportunities as different markets gauge risk.
Overnight, the BOE left rates unchanged and did not expand its asset purchase program reflecting a view that their economy may be stabilizing.
The ECB also left rates unchanged, but did begin its own asset purchase program to try to help ease pressure on its banking system.
In Australia, employment figures came in much better than expected showing signs that the economy is not slowing down and bringing back the chance that the RBA could move on rates again this year.
In the forex market:
Aussie (AUD): Overnight, the Australian unemployment rate fell to 5.1% as the economy added 46K jobs vs. an expectation of 15K. This has sent the Aussie higher and has encouraged risk-taking, as the market is increasing its bet that the RBA may have to resume interest rate hikes. The fear of a potential Chinese slowdown had left the market betting that the RBA was finished for the year.
Kiwi (NZD): The Kiwi is higher trading along with the Aussie as risk-taking is continuing from yesterday’s gains.
Loonie (CAD): The Loonie is also higher on risk-taking ahead of tomorrow’s employment report in Canada. Oil is catching a bid and is higher as the demand for risk assets has increased.
Euro (EUR): The Euro is mixed this morning keeping in line with risk-taking. The ECB left rates unchanged at 1%, and showed that it is willing to buy government debt to shore up the banking system. However, there is a sense that the ECB may need to expand those purchases going forward. German industrial production figures came in much better than expected, providing a bright spot to economic health.
Pound (GBP): The Pound is trading lower against all but the Yen, as the BOE left rates unchanged at .5% which the market had been expected. They also left their asset purchase program unchanged, and there may be slight disappointment that it hasn’t expanded. In addition, industrial and manufacturing production figures came in slightly lower and home prices were also lower, showing signs that inflation may be shrinking as the BOE had hoped.
Dollar (USD): The Dollar is lower against all but the Pound and Yen, as initial jobless claims figures came in slightly better than expected. Initial claims were 454K vs. and expectation of 460K, which may be showing that the US is losing jobs at a slower pace.
Yen (JPY): The Yen is lower across the board as risk-taking is continuing from yesterday. In addition, Japan’s current account balance decreased revealing that domestic demand may be picking up. This is seen as positive as it could help fight the deflation they have been experiencing.
As you can tell by now, there is A LOT of volatility in the market and frankly, I couldn’t be happier. Volatility provides opportunities for traders to profit from changes in sentiment worldwide.
Right now this is most definitely a trader’s market, as the short-term movement is out-pacing longer term position-taking. There is still fear in the marketplace and many hurdles to get over to return to global economic stability. I don’t know where the market will be in 6 months from now; let alone 2 days from now!
What I do know is that there will be ample opportunities for me to make money in the forex market as different news events drive sentiment between risk-taking and risk-aversion. My stocks may be flat, and bonds paying no interest, but there are always ways to profit from forex!
Isn’t it time you got involved to find out for yourself why the forex market is the fastest growing financial market in the world?
To learn more about how you can take advantage of world events through the currency market, be sure to check out our currency trading courses!
To follow these events live with a free, real-time practice account, click here! Don’t miss out on the world’s fastest growing market!
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Less Money Needed!
By Mike Conlon | June 30, 2010
There was encouraging news overnight as the ECB said it would lend banks less than analysts had predicted, showing signs that the European banking system may not be in as weak a state as the market thinks. In addition, German unemployment changed less than expected and the unemployment rate remained steady showing signs of economic stability. Euro zone CPI figures fell back to 1.4%, slightly better than analyst expectations.
In the UK, consumer confidence figures fell to 6-month lows as residents prepare for budget cuts, and BOE policy-maker Adam Posen said that UK recovery is tentative and could risk sliding back into recession. Look for continued loose monetary policy unless inflation figures really heat up.
In the US, the ADP employment change came in less than expected and could serve as a harbinger of Friday’s Non-Farm Payrolls report.
In Australia, bank lending and house price gains showed that the economy has been resilient in the face of rate hikes but whether that trend continues remains to be seen.
Canadian GDP figures came in flat, showing neither growth nor contraction but missing analyst expectations of a .2% gain.
So today is a bit of a mixed bag, with earlier risk-taking on the European bank news giving back some gains. Stocks are mixed to slightly lower with commodities relatively flat. Today is the last day of the second quarter, so we could see some window dressing which could mean volatility in stocks.
In the forex market:
Aussie (AUD): The Aussie is giving back some gains after bank lending and home price figures showed how strong the Australian economy has held up despite the RBA’s rate hikes to cool the economy. While the trading day started off in risk-taking mode, the Aussie may decline if we flip to risk aversion.
Kiwi (NZD): The Kiwi is lower this morning as the RBNZ said in its annual Statement of Intent that it will continue to remove economic stimulus as the NZ economy recovers. Part of this statement has been construed as backing away from tighter monetary policy, citing global economic conditions.
Loonie (CAD): A bit of a reversal for the Loonie this morning as well, as risk-taking waned and GDP figures came in lower than expected. GDP stalled after gaining for 7 straight months as retail sales declined as the government removed temporary tax relief measures.
Euro (EUR): The Euro is higher across the board this morning as the ECB said it will lend less to banks to cover their debt payments than the market was expecting. This shows that the financial health of European banks may not be as bad as expected and that they are largely able to meet debt obligations. There has been major fear about the sovereign debt exposure of these banks, and this announcement took that fear down a notch.
Pound (GBP): The Pound is lower this morning as comments from the BOE said that recovery is tentative and consumer confidence figures fell to 6-month lows as budget concerns weighed heavily. However, house price figures rose to 2-year highs in a sign that the property market may be stabilizing.
Dollar (USD): The Dollar is mixed as the ADP employment change showed a gain of 13K vs. an expectation of 60K jobs gained. Friday’s Non-Farm Payrolls report will really show how far along we are in the employment picture and economic health, but this worse-than-expected figure may be foreshadowing.
Yen (JPY): The Yen is showing some strength against all but the Euro as risk aversion appears to winning the morning battle. Yen started the trading lower as Asian stocks continued to sell-off, but then reversed on the Euro bank news, only to reverse again on the ADP jobs report.
Yesterday’s sell-off may have been an over-reaction to negative sentiment in the market but the important thing to remember is that global economies are still fragile. As various governments remove stimulus, economies will now be forced to stand on their own.
In the US, it’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs. As long as people are unemployed and unable or unwilling to spend, economic recovery is going to be fragile. Part of the problem is that we don’t have policies in place that encourage private sector growth, as looming tax hikes to support out of control spending weigh heavily on private business.
So this most recent scare is all about confidence. It is obvious that people don’t have confidence in their government’s ability to improve conditions. It doesn’t matter what the policy is, there is NO confidence right now.
However, there are pockets of economic strength around the globe and those who are employed are experiencing a MUCH different economy than those who aren’t. Some are beginning to say that this is the “new normal”; where we will have economic growth AND high unemployment. I beg to differ.
I understand that emergency stimulus measures were necessary to prevent us from going over the cliff but enough is enough. The sooner the government removes the training wheels from the economy, the sooner citizens will learn how to ride again. Because at this point, the US government is holding us back, and not letting us move forward. Friday’s NFP will either confirm or deny this assertion, and the market will respond accordingly.
To learn more about how you can take advantage of world events through the currency market, be sure to check out our currency trading courses!
To follow these events live with a free, real-time practice account, click here! Don’t miss out on the world’s fastest growing market!
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BOE Not Unanimous!
By Mike Conlon | June 23, 2010
Minutes released from the Bank of England’s rate policy meeting showed that the vote was not unanimous to keep rates unchanged at .5%, for the first time in nearly 7 months. Inflation concerns were the cause of the dissenting vote, as CPI figures in the UK have been above targets. While the BOE expects inflation to subside in the ensuing months, that may not necessarily be the case.
This comes a day after the emergency budget which was announced yesterday, calling for a reduction in spending and an increase in taxes.
In the US, the FOMC rate decision is due out later today, so expect to see some volatility in dollar-related pairs. It is widely held that there will not be a change in policy, but some market participants are betting that we may see a change in the language regarding policy. This would give credence to the rising sentiment that the Fed may raise rates later this year. Personally, I don’t see this happening and I think the Fed will be on hold for the remainder of the year.
Yesterday’s abysmal housing data confirmed that deflationary forces in the housing market may be the start of another leg down.
In the Euro zone, German consumer confidence came in slightly better than expected and PMI figures were largely in line. However, concerns over Greek debt have perked up again.
Overnight, the Yen was higher as the Nikkei was down taking its cues from yesterday’s sell-off in the US stock market.
This morning will bring US new home sales figures as well as Canadian retail sales figures. Any major deviations could send the respective currencies lower.
But expect volatility going into the FOMC announcement at 2:15 EST.
In the forex market:
Aussie (AUD): The Aussie is lower as stocks sold-off in the overnight session but it is gaining back some ground heading into the US session. Risk aversion has driven the Aussie lower, and there is some concern that Chinese demand for metals and energy is causing a rift in the Australian economy.
Kiwi (NZD): The Kiwi is higher this morning in anticipation of GDP figures which are due out later tonight. The expectation of .5% growth will likely be exceeded as demand from China for raw materials has the NZ economy picking up steam. Should the number best expectations, then the likelihood of a rate increase at July’s policy meeting will increase.
Loonie (CAD): The Loonie is lower this morning as oil prices are pulling back from the $78 level, and retail sales figures came in worse than expected. Analysts were expecting a decline of .4% and the figure showed a decline of 2.2%, a big miss. Canada is to the US what Australia and New Zealand are to China. If recovery here in the US is floundering, then it may not bode well for the Loonie and the Canadian economy in general.
Euro (EUR): The Euro is a mixed bag this morning, as it is up against the North American currencies but down against the rest. The EU is considering a bond levy on countries that don’t adhere to debt-to-GDP guidelines which of course brings the Greek debt crisis back to center stage. In addition, business confidence was down in France, though consumer confidence was higher in Germany. Go figure.
Pound (GBP): The Pound is higher across the board, giving a vote of confidence to both the government for their budget and the BOE. The lone dissenter in the rate policy meeting is concerned about inflation, as growth targets may exceed expectations. That’s a “nice” problem to have, considering the economic condition of the US.
Dollar (USD): The Dollar is mostly lower prior to today’s FOMC meeting. Yesterday’s poor housing data sent stocks lower, and today’s new home sales aren’t expected to be much better. This should be enough to keep the Fed unchanged in both language and policy, and the market is starting to catch on to the fact that the smoke and mirrors of government spending may not be enough to stoke the economy. Go back and take a look at my discussion of biflation from a few days ago.
Yen (JPY): The Yen is mixed as well, trading higher vs. USD and CAD (both showing weakness) and the Euro (debt concerns) but lower vs. GBP, AUD, and NZD. So today can neither be classified as risk-taking or risk-aversion, but much of the yen strength was derived from weakness in the Nikkei, which sold off following the US stock market decline.
I think today really shows the difference to how the market reacts to different policy pursuits from around the globe heading into this weekend’s G-20 meeting. On the one hand, you have the EU and the UK who are committed to reducing deficits and trying not to raise taxes too much to discourage business (in fact the corporate tax rate was lowered in the UK), and the policies taken by the US.
The US is going the other way, expanding deficits and throwing good money after bad at our financial problems which can only result in higher taxes when it comes time to pay the piper. President Obama was rebuffed by Chancellor Merkel of Germany with regard to how to best combat the global financial crisis, and it appears as though the market agrees with the EU.
Weak housing data here in the US show that the stimulative effects of government spending may have slowed a decline in the economy, but have not fixed the problem. Now taxpayers (and their children and grandchildren) face an enormous burden for what adds up to temporary conditions.
The change people voted for was for less government spending and indeed we’re seeing change—even more and more spending! Hopefully this course can be reversed before it’s too late. I never thought I’d say this but now is the time we should be taking our economic cues from Europe, and not their prior policies that landed them in this mess.
Those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.
To learn more about how you can take advantage of world events through the currency market, be sure to check out our currency trading courses!
To follow these events live with a free, real-time practice account, click here! Don’t miss out on the world’s fastest growing market!
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Greek Junk!
By Mike Conlon | June 15, 2010
Yesterday, Moody’s ratings agency cut Greece’s credit rating from investment grade to junk, citing the economic risks the nation is facing. This derailed yesterday’s rally, and reversed some of the gains just as the Euro session closed. However, defenders are quick to point out that this news has already been factored in by the market and that conditions in Greece have improved since the data used to make the downgrade.
So it looks like the Euro has dodged a bullet—for now. In addition, German economic sentiment came in well below expectations showing signs that the picture is not as rosy as today’s market would have you believe. However, the Euro is higher vs. the Dollar and European stock markets are higher despite what some would consider heightened risk.
In the UK, CPI data declined for the first time in 3 months though housing prices ticked higher showing mixed results in the inflation picture.
Overnight at the Japanese rate policy meeting, BOJ officials unveiled a 33 billion stimulus program despite the comments that the export-led recovery is starting to spread to private domestic demand.
So this morning is a bit of a mixed bag, with stock markets higher, USD lower, but Yen and Euro higher. It will be interesting to see if these markets fall back in line with their usual correlations, or continue on their own path.
In the forex market:
Aussie (AUD): Overnight, minutes from the Australian central bank showed that concern over the European debt crisis may cause the bank to pause from future rate hikes. The RBA has “flexibility”, as previous rate hikes have appeared to have quelled inflation. In addition, in what some may view as counter-intuitive, an RBA Governor said that he would welcome slower Chinese growth, as it would allow the Australian economy to grow at a more moderate pace.
Loonie (CAD): The Loonie is higher this morning as oil has gained to $75.75 due to an increase in demand and a potential supply shock due to the gulf oil spill. In addition, there is a report out that corporations are diversifying away from the Euro and are issue bonds in Loonies, which could be a driver of demand.
Kiwi (NZD): From the not-so-fast department, the Kiwi is lower across the board after 4 days of gains following its rate hike. Overnight, home prices came in lower than expected, falling 1.4%. This may give the RBNZ a reason to pause rate hikes and to move slowly. The RBNZ would like to see a weaker Kiwi to help exports, and this housing figure may be a harbinger that inflation is tame in NZ.
Euro (EUR): So it looks like the Euro is brushing off the Greek credit downgrade as it is trading higher this morning. In addition to the downgrade, German business sentiment came in way below expectations, yet the Euro is higher. There are rumblings around the market of other potential downgrades and measures that other countries should be taking. In my mind this is heightened risk, but the market isn’t seeing that way. Remember to trade what you see and not what you think you know!
Pound (GBP): The Pound is mixed this morning as inflation data slowed for the first time in 3 months. CPI figures came in at 3.4% vs. an expectation of 3.5%. This is higher than the government target figures of 3%, though economists are predicting a decline back below the upper band of the range by mid-year. However, housing prices also rose as demand picked up the most since January. While there is a lot of talk that inflation in the UK is “contained”, only time will tell if this is the case.
Dollar (USD): Stock markets appear to be driving the forex market today, as higher equities prices are reducing the demand for dollars. Empire manufacturing figures came in slightly less than expected but showing growth nevertheless, and import prices came in lower, probably due to recent dollar strength.
Yen (JPY): The Yen is surprisingly strong this morning as risk appetite appears to be happening this morning. Perhaps there is hesitation that carry trades may not be due to advance due to interest rate pauses in Australia and New Zealand. In addition, the BOJ signaled they would be instituting a $33 billion stimulus program to encourage business lending.
So today is kind of an “odd” day, as the currencies are trading more on their own fundamentals and not so much on risk themes. Today is seemingly a risk-taking day, though the demand for carry trades has been reduced due to Yen strength and possible interest rate pauses from the commodity currencies.
The Loonie is catching a bid as oil trades higher and Canada becomes a destination for capital-raising as an alternative to the Euro zone.
The UK is telling us there is no inflation, but the market may be thinking otherwise.
And lastly, the Euro is defying gravity and shrugging off credit downgrades. Perhaps these credit ratings agencies are losing their own credibility, or the market needs to see more from a risk perspective in order to sell-off the Euro. Either way, there is still risk in the market and the market may want to “see” problems occur than “hear” about them.
So don’t fall for the game of “show and tell”—and trade what you see and not what everyone wants you to know!
To learn more about how you can take advantage of world events through the currency market, be sure to check out our currency trading courses!
To follow these events live with a free, real-time practice account, click here! Don’t miss out on the world’s fastest growing market!
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Ban The Shorts!
By Mike Conlon | June 9, 2010
Both France and Germany have called on the EU to ban short-selling on certain stocks and government bonds with the intention to curb speculation in the market. While I am never a fan of this type of regulation, there does need to be some sort of “fix” for the market as speculation has gotten a little out of hand.
However, there are always unintended consequences to this type of action, and this could end up hurting their ability to raise capital. This could also hurt the forex market, as Euro-related pairs lack the volume to trade orderly. Nevertheless, there still is a ton of risk related to the Euro, with sovereign debt defaults the primary driver.
In addition, ECB President Trichet helped push the Euro higher with comments on the state of the Euro. As I mentioned yesterday, expect the game of “show and tell” to pick up, with officials telling us how great everything is but showing us little.
Also today, the US Fed Beige Book report comes out, with Bernanke expected to echo his comments from the other night.
In the forex market:
Aussie (AUD): Consumer confidence fell for the 3rd straight month down under, nevertheless the Aussie is higher on risk appetite. Fears of a global slowdown (particularly in China) and the raising of interest rates have added to the sentiment that the economy will slow in Australia.
Loonie (CAD): The Loonie is also higher this morning as oil prices have bounced higher and equity futures are set to open higher on risk-taking in the market.
Kiwi (NZD): The Kiwi is higher ahead of its interest rate policy meeting tomorrow, where the market is anticipating a 75% chance that the RBNZ will raise rates 25bp to 2.75%. Put me in the camp that is betting against the rate hike, as I feel the NZ economy rides on the coattails of Australia, and that the risk in the market may be too great to warrant a hike just yet.
Euro (EUR): The Euro is mixed this morning, trading higher against the safe-haven currencies, but lower against the commodity currencies. Comments from the ECB have helped push the Euro higher slightly, but let’s not forget about the huge risk the Euro poses as they struggle to get their fiscal houses in order.
Pound (GBP): The Pound has a bid this morning after a 4-day decline as investors seems more confident in the UK’s ability to combat their fiscal woes, much more so than the EU. The UK trade balance missed estimates, but narrowed from last month’s reading.
Dollar (USD): Today we get “Fedspeak”, as Bernanke gives his beige book report to Congress. I do not expect any change in language from the Fed Chief, and at this point I’m guessing that we will not see a rate hike this year. The Dollar has been higher this year on the flight to safety trade, and at this point I believe that inflation is a non-issue.
Yen (JPY): The Yen is lower this morning as risk-taking inspired carry trades are taking place ahead of the New Zealand rate decision. Japan will report its own GDP figures tomorrow, which are expected to show moderate but steady growth. In addition, new Finance Minister Noda said he would like to see price gains above 1%, but didn’t make that an “official” inflation target. Japanese deflation has plagued its economy for some time.
As I mentioned yesterday, this is “cheer-leading” week for the various markets, as the lack of hard economic data is supplanted by discussions of various economic situations.
I am always skeptical when it comes to government announcements and prefer to analyze the hard data myself. But with that in mind, you have to pay attention to what they are saying.
As a trader, it is important to trade what you see and not what you think should happen. If Bernanke wants the market to go up, you should play along even if you think the fundamentals don’t match. However, be sure to exit quickly at the first sign of market sentiment change as the market is always right, regardless of what is said.
So pay close attention to the technicals as the various market participants digest the rhetoric.
Do you have a strong grasp of technical analysis?
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Who’s Buying?
By Mike Conlon | June 7, 2010
The market starts out his morning in “relief mode” as there was no negative news related to the European debt crisis released over the weekend. The G-20 met over the weekend to discuss global economic challenges going forward and appear to be divided over what is the best course of action to resume growth.
The general consensus is that every region around the world is going to try to export their way to growth; however, some regions will have distinct advantages over others due to currency valuations. With different countries trying to devalue to encourage exports, the race to the bottom will leave some out in the cold. However, US Treasury Secretary Geithner said that the world shouldn’t count on the US consumer to drive growth and that individual countries need to stimulate their own demand.
This is basically the Chinese model, as their peg of their currency to the US dollar provided them with artificially low valuations which allowed them to experience exponential economic growth through exports. If China is unwilling to allow their currency to float freely in the market, then the world economic balance will be out whack with some countries unable to recover.
The same could be said of Germany, who was able to experience competitive markets due to the having the same currency valuation as other nations of the EU. Allowing the weaker EU nations to borrow excessively benefitted German exports to the region.
Now, Germany stands poised to experience even further growth of exports, as the Euro is weaker making German products cheaper to the rest of the world. As I’ve mentioned before, a weaker Euro is good for Germany. As a result of the recent sell-off in the Euro, Germany reported a growth in factory orders of 2.8% vs. an expectation of a decline of .4%.
However, the question remains: Who’s buying? If world consumer demand decreases due to a lack of credit availability and austerity measures, who is going to lead world recovery?
In the forex market:
Aussie (AUD): The Aussie is trading higher this morning after opening lower from Friday’s close due to some risk fears abating. So the Aussie is still lower. European debt fears and G-20 differences of opinion are contributing to risk sentiment.
Loonie (CAD): The Loonie is higher this morning on oil price recovery to 71.5, but is weighed by overall risk in the market, particularly Euro-related.
Kiwi (NZD): The Kiwi is trading similarly to the Aussie.
Euro (EUR): The Euro is trading higher off of lows of just below 1.19 in the overnight session. A lower Euro lower is just what the Euro zone economy needs, as evidenced by the increased factory orders number in Germany. However, the ongoing debt-crisis is the elephant in the room and further problems will only drive the Euro lower, faster.
Pound (GBP): The Pound is higher despite new UK Prime Minister Cameron’s comments that the UK deficit situation is worse than feared. This will mean severe budget cuts and the potential for higher taxes, however the thing that must be remembered about the UK: at least they’re not in the EU!
Dollar (USD): The Dollar is lower as risk fears are lessening to start the week. In the familiar pattern I’ve mentioned time and time again, the Dollar starts the session higher then gradually loses value throughout the US trading session as the potential for market-moving news out of the EU lessens as their trading day comes to a close. US retail sales figures are due out on Friday on a week that is pretty devoid of economic news.
Yen (JPY): It’s official, former finance minister Kan is the new Japanese Prime Minister, and his weak yen policies are intended to stimulate economic growth and help the Japanese stocks. Nevertheless, the Yen traded at an 8-year higher vs. the Euro as risk aversion spurred demand. Japanese trade balance figures are due out tomorrow followed by GDP figures on Wednesday.
Every day the markets can make it through without a landmine going off in Europe is positive. Global recovery is still a long way away and you can now see how global cooperation is going to be needed going forward.
The markets of the past have created great imbalances, and those who benefitted in the past are reluctant to change for the future.
I expect the markets to continue to chug along, with the Euro continuing to decline in value over the course of time. This decline can and will be accelerated by any problems related to the debt crisis. Whether or not this crisis will be managed effectively remains to be seen.
So there is still considerable risk in the market, and don’t lose sight of that even if we see some decent economic reports from around the globe.
To learn more about how you can take advantage of world events through the currency market, be sure to check out our currency trading courses!
To follow these events live with a free, real-time practice account, click here! Don’t miss out on the world’s fastest growing market!
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