By FX Empire.com
Economic Events: (GMT)
Major Economic Reports due this week. Please refer to the daily reports for explaination and forecast
US Markets closed on Monday for Presidents Day Holiday
|
Feb. 21 |
00:30 |
AUD |
Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes |
|
13:30 |
Core Retail Sales (MoM) | ||
|
Feb. 22 |
09:30 |
GBP |
MPC Meeting Minutes |
|
15:00 |
USD |
Existing Home Sales | |
|
Feb. 23 |
09:00 |
EUR |
German Ifo Business Climate Index |
|
13:30 |
USD |
Initial Jobless Claims | |
|
Feb. 24 |
07:00 |
EUR |
German GDP (QoQ) |
|
09:30 |
GBP |
GDP (QoQ) | |
|
15:00 |
USD |
New Home Sales |
EUR/USD Weekly Fundamental Analysis February 20-24, 2012, Forecast
Historical:
Highest: 1.5091 USD on 03 Dec 2009.
Average: 1.3709 USD over this period.
Lowest: 1.19 USD on 07 Jun 2010.
Rules:
Out of the major currency pairs the most popular and easy to trade currency pair is the EUR/USD. It has become so popular with traders these days that even when there is no visible trade to be had it is yet traded as a matter of habit. This is of course something that should be avoided and any investor who trades this currency pair wisely can do so successfully with sizable profits at the end of the day.
The first thing with trading currencies is to realize that the EUR/USD is made up of two separate currencies although considered to be one unit when taken as a pair. The weaknesses and strengths of each currency have to be taken into consideration when trading the unit as it influences the final outcome. Another factor that is often overlooked by traders or investors is that the weakening of one currency along with the strengthening of the other currency in the pair results in the generation of pips. It is according to this that entry and exit from the Forex market has to be done in order to maintain profitability.
Trading comprises of careful market studying, strategizing, planning and executing the plan in a timely manner. This is entirely different to scalping which is resorted to by many a trader on a regular basis. These traders are often clueless as to the market situation and just use this as a type of defense mechanism to compensate for the general lack of information and knowledge. The EUR/USD is a currency pair that certainly offers a lot of currencies trading opportunities if handled correctly.
Characteristics
Average broker spread: 2-3 pips
Daily range average: 90-100 pips
Best time to trade: Euro Session (0700 GMT – 1700 GMT)
some factors affecting the EUR/USD rate:
- The interest rate differential between the European Bank(ECB) and the Federal Reserve(FED)
- Dollar strength drives EUR/USD lower
- FED intervention to weaken the dollar the sends EUR/USD higher
Trading the EUR/USD
Trading Experience: New and Advanced currency traders
Trading Style: Day trading and Swing trading
1) Applying Technical Analysis and/or Analyzing Fundamental News from the Euro and US zone to make EUR/USD trading decisions. Breaking strong psychological levels (1.3000, 1.2000,..) and/or surprising economic news releases can make the EUR/USD move a lot in one direction without much retracements.
2) Since the EUR/USD pair tends to be negatively correlated to the USD/CHF, it is always a good idea to compare both EUR/USD and USD/CHF charts in order to predict future moves, if USD/CHF breaks above an important resistance level and EUR/USD didn’t break support level yet, the EUR/USD is very likely to break below support level.
Analysis and Recommendation:
The EUR/USD is trading today at 1.3139 after seesawing all week, almost breaking the 1.33 mark and falling to below the 1.30 level. There was little in the way of economic data that influenced the pair. It was all on rumor, news and actions in Greece, between the off again on again deal in Greece.
Beginning the week with votes in Athens to problems between Germany and Greece, to comments and accusations hurdled between leaders. On to the ECB old bond new bond swap.. Finally ending on Friday with comments from Merkel and Monti that a deal could be in place on Monday. Today’s news now says that the ECB bond swap is scheduled for March 8. No details on any side.. just innuendo and rumors.
Good luck figuring this one out. US markets are closed on Monday for the Presidents Day Holiday
Strength
- Greek bailout and PSI deal looking more likely AGAIN, at least that’s what markets think as Greek stocks rally 3.4% on week, European credit CDS narrower, European banks bounce and US stocks continue their march. Merkel and Monti assure the markets.
- German ZEW investor confidence figure rises to best since April
- Initial Jobless Claims fall to lowest since 2008 at 348k, well below estimates of 365k
- Philly and NY manufacturers surveys up but components mixed as headline #’s are not sum of parts
- Housing starts continue to grow for multi-units (apt/condo)
- NAHB home builder index up 4 pts, 3 pts better than expected and highest since May ’07
- India’s wholesale inflation rises at slowest pace since Nov ’09, leaves open room to cut rates
- Australia central bank surprises with a hold on interest rates
- UK announces new round of QE
- Australia and NZ have positive economic reports
- China reduces bank reserves
- ECB deposit facility falls
- Japanese exporters see some breathing room with weaker yen to lowest since July after BoJ embarks on even more QE
Weakness
- Greek saga never ending, ECB wants special treatment old bond new bond swap
- Euro zone GDP in Q4 contracts .3% q/o/q, although touch better than estimates of .4%
- Portugal’s unemployment rate rises to 14% in Q4 from 12.4%, the highest since at least ’98
- Singapore confirms Jan estimate of Q4 GDP contraction
- Japanese economy shrinks more than expected in Q4, BoJ can’t help itself with more QE
- Chinese FDI in Jan falls .3%, 3rd month in a row of declines
- US Jan Retail Sales ex auto’s weaker than expected (but Dec revised up)
- CPI rate of change a below estimate m/o/m, core rate rises to highest since Sept ’08 y/o/y. Overall index at another record high.
Economic Highlights Feb 13-17 actual v. forecast
|
Feb. 14 |
JPY |
Interest Rate Decision |
0.10% |
0.10% |
0.10% |
|
JPY |
BoJ Press Conference | ||||
|
EUR |
German ZEW Economic Sentiment |
5.4 |
-11.6 |
-21.6 |
|
|
GBP |
BOE Inflation Letter | ||||
|
USD |
Core Retail Sales (MoM) |
0.7% |
0.6% |
-0.5% |
|
|
USD |
Retail Sales (MoM) |
0.4% |
0.8% |
0.0% |
|
|
Feb. 15 |
EUR |
German GDP (QoQ) |
-0.2% |
-0.3% |
0.6% |
|
GBP |
Claimant Count Change |
6.9K |
3.2K |
1.9K |
|
|
GBP |
BoE Inflation Report | ||||
|
GBP |
BoE Gov King Speaks | ||||
|
USD |
FOMC Meeting Minutes | ||||
|
Feb. 16 |
USD |
Initial Jobless Claims |
348K |
364K |
361K |
|
USD |
Fed Chairman Bernanke Speaks | ||||
|
Feb. 17 |
GBP |
Retail Sales (MoM) |
0.9% |
-0.2% |
0.6% |
|
CAD |
Core CPI (MoM) |
0.2% |
0.1% |
-0.5% |
|
|
USD |
Core CPI (MoM) |
0.2% |
0.3% |
0.1% |
|
|
USD |
CPI (MoM) |
0.2% |
0.3% |
0.0% |
Sovereign Bond Auction Schedule
Feb 20-24 n/a UK 0.375% 2062 I/L Gilt syndication
Feb 20 10:10 Norway Nok 3bn 4.5% May 2019 DSL
Feb 20 10:10 Slovakia Eur 0.15bn Apr 2014 & Eur 0.05bn Nov 2016 bonds
Feb 21 09:30 Spain 3 & 6M T-bill auction
Feb 21 15:30 UK Details gilt auction on Mar 01
Feb 21 18:00 US Auctions 2Y Notes
Feb 22 10:10 Sweden Nominal bond auction
Feb 22 10:30 Germany Eur 5.0bn Mar 2014 Schatz
Feb 22 16:30 Italy Details CTZ/BTPei on Feb 24 & BOT on Feb 27
Feb 22 18:00 US Auctions 5Y Notes
Feb 23 10:10 Sweden Sek 0.75bn I/L bond auction
Feb 23 16:30 Italy Details BTP/CCTeu on Feb 28
Feb 23 18:00 US Auctions 7Y Notes
Feb 24 10:10 Italy Auctions CTZ/BTP
Originally posted here
