The U.S Dollar Index had a roller-coaster ride this week although it managed to finish only slightly lower. Based on the November 2009 to June 2010 trading range of 75.03 to 89.22, this market is now testing a major 50% level at 82.12.
Over the past two weeks, the pace of the decline has slowed as the market approached the 50% retracement level, but following this week’s inside trading range, may be set up for an acceleration to the downside. A break through 82.12 is likely to trigger a sharp break into the next retracement level at 80.45.
Traders should turn their attention to this index this week because of the possibility of stronger than average volatility and the potential for a support base to form between the 50% and 61.8% retracement levels at 82.12 to 80.45.
The Weekly Euro had a volatile, two-directional trade this week, ping-ponging between a 50% support level at 1.2783 and a 61.8% resistance level at 1.2998. Technically, the weekly chart formed a closing price reversal top, but will have to trade through 1.2732 to confirm it. A confirmation of this pattern is likely to trigger a 2 to 3 week correction back to 1.2452 to 1.2316.
A failure to confirm the reversal top and a close over 1.2998 will be a bullish signal. Look for an acceleration to the upside if this occurs since the chart indicates no major resistance on the weekly chart until 1.3510.
On Friday, the Euro was up in early session trading in a continuation of Thursday’s strong rally before jitters about today’s stress tests triggered a profit-taking correction. From an early session high at 1.2965, the Euro broke to 1.2793 shortly after the New York opening.
The EUR USD spiked to 1.2910 immediately after stress test results began being released, but sold off quickly as traders were disappointed with the results. Although only a small number of European banks passed their stress tests, investors remained skeptical about the methodology used by the regulators. Many viewed the guidelines used as too easy on sovereign debt.
As expected, Germany’s HRE, Greek’s Atebank and Spain’s Banca Civica failed their tests, but most banks passed even in hot spots such as Greece and Spain.
The biggest concern for investors was that stress tests excluded the possibility of sovereign debt default. Sovereign debt held in portfolios was distinguished from sovereign debt held to maturity. Debt held for trading is expected to be marked to market; debt held to maturity is not.
The problem with this separation into two different types of debt means that it is possible that losses by banks will be underestimated. This could hurt the financial health of European Banks and undermine the credibility of the banking system.
The concerns being raised by investors put pressure on the Euro at the mid-session, but a late session rally in U.S. equity markets triggered a short-covering rally in the Euro, pushing it higher for the day. While the news about the bank stress tests is unsettling, risk takers decided that nothing out of the ordinary was revealed so traders turned their attention to higher risk assets like U.S. stocks in what can best be described as a relief rally.
The British Pound rallied sharply higher on Friday versus the U.S. Dollar and the Euro. Friday’s rally was ignited by the news that the U.K. economy grew almost twice as much as economists forecast in the second quarter in the fastest expansion for four years. The strongest gains were seen in the services, manufacturing and construction sectors.
The bullish economic news out of the U.K. was damaging to the U.S. Dollar because it was solid proof that the economy was recovering at a time when the Fed was forecasting a weaker GDP for the U.S. Friday’s report may be the evidence the Bank of England needs to begin hiking its historically low benchmark interest rate. In the meantime, the Fed is pondering applying more stimuli as well as renewing its quantitative easing program. Treasury market traders are already pricing in a rate hike for September 2011, this is up from an earlier forecast of Spring 2011.
The improving economy and the possibility of a sooner-than-expected rate hike make the GBP USD a more attractive investment at this time. Technically, the Pound/Dollar had an inside week which indicates impending volatility. The strong close puts this market in a position to take out the April swing top at 1.5523. A breakout above this level may run into selling pressure inside of a major retracement zone at 1.5635 to 1.5967.
Although the initial reaction to the stress tests was bearish for the Euro, traders quickly realized that the news was already in the market. In my opinion, European Central Bank President Trichet’s comment earlier in the month that banks would need to raise capital and a rumor last week that eleven banks would fail the test was spot on. Today’s report revealed that seven institutions didn’t have enough capital and may need to raise more than $4.5 billion.
Analysts around the globe are saying that the stress tests weren’t stringent enough and that the release of the results failed to alleviate market concerns about the banking system’s vulnerability to sovereign-default risk. Nonetheless, investors spoke today by trashing the Dollar and rallying stocks, this could be an indication that they have put the tests behind them and are turning their focus on the global economic recovery. This means that economic reports are likely to carry more weight in the weeks ahead.
Local: 312-896-3930
Toll Free: 800-971-2440
Email: Info@BrewerFX.com
Website: www.BrewerFX.com
DISCLAIMER: Forex (off-exchange foreign currency futures and options or FX) trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. The value of currencies may fluctuate and investors may lose all or more than their original investments. Risks also include, but are not limited to, the potential for changing political and/or economic conditions that may substantially affect the price and/or liquidity of a currency. The impact of seasonal and geopolitical events is already factored into market prices. Prices in the underlying cash or physical markets do not necessarily move in tandem with futures and options prices. The leveraged nature of FX trading means that any market movement will have an equally proportional effect on your deposited funds and such may work against you as well as for you. In no event should the content of this correspondence be construed as an express or implied promise or guarantee from Brewer Investment Group, LLC or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates that you will profit or that losses can or will be limited in any manner whatsoever. Loss-limiting strategies such as stop loss orders may not be effective because market conditions may make it impossible to execute such orders. Likewise, strategies using combinations of positions such as “spread” or “straddle” trades may be just as risky as simple long and short positions. Past results are no indication of future performance. Information contained in this correspondence is intended for informational purposes only and was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Information is in no way guaranteed. No guarantee of any kind is implied or possible where projections of future conditions are attempted.
