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USD/JPY Daily Outlook

ActionForex

Daily Pivots: (S1) 114.28; (P) 114.95; (R1) 115.50; More...

Prior breach of 115.43 minor resistance suggests that pull back from 118.65 is completed at 112.56 already. Intraday bias stays mildly on the upside for retesting 118.65 first. Break will resume whole rise from 98.97 and target 125.85 key resistance. In case of another fall, we'd expect strong support from 38.2% retracement of 98.97 to 118.65 at 111.13 to contain downside and bring rebound.

In the bigger picture, price actions from 125.85 high are seen as a corrective pattern. The impulsive structure of the rise from 98.97 suggests that the correction is completed and larger up trend is resuming. Decisive break of 125.85 will confirm and target 61.8% projection of 75.56 to 125.85 from 98.97 at 130.04 and then 135.20 long term resistance. Rejection from 125.85 and below will extend the consolidation with another falling leg before up trend resumption.

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USD/CAD Daily Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.3262; (P) 1.3307; (R1) 1.3363; More...

Current development suggests that the consolidation pattern from 1.3588 has completed with three waves to 1.3017. And, the corrective rise from 1.2460 hasn't completed. Intraday bias is mildly on the upside for 1.3598 resistance. Break will target next fibonacci level at 1.3838. Meanwhile, break of 1.3017 will revive the case of near term reversal and target 1.2460.

In the bigger picture, price actions from 1.4689 medium term top are seen as a correction pattern. The first leg has completed at 1.2460. The second leg is still in progress and could target 61.8% retracement of 1.4689 to 1.2460 at 1.3838. As rise from 1.2460 is seen as a corrective move, we'd look for reversal signal above 1.3838. Meanwhile, break of 1.3017 will likely start the third leg to 1.2460 and below.

USD/CAD 4 Hours Chart

USD/CAD Daily Chart

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AUD/USD Daily Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.7511; (P) 0.7542; (R1) 0.7592; More...

AUD/USD continues to lose upside momentum as seen in 4 hour MACD. But with 0.7448 minor support intact, rebound from 0.7158 could extend higher towards 0.7777/7833 resistance zone. At this point, we'd expect strong resistance from this zone to limit upside. On the downside, below 0.7448 minor support will turn bias back to the downside for 0.7144 key support level.

In the bigger picture, AUD/USD is staying inside long term falling channel and it's likely that the down trend from 1.1079 is still in progress. Break of 0.6826 low will confirm this bearish case. We'll be looking for bottoming sign again as it approaches 0.6008 key support level. Meanwhile, sustained break of 0.7833 resistance will be a strong sign of medium term reversal.

AUD/USD 4 Hours Chart

AUD/USD Daily Chart

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Dollar Stays in Red as Markets Await Trump

Dollar remains in red for the week, except versus Yen and Canadian Dollar, as markets await Donald Trump's inauguration. Treasury Secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin had sent USD higher. As he suggested, USD's "long-term strength, over long periods of time, is important". He added that "the US currency has been the most attractive currency to be in for very, very long periods of time. I think that it's important". Regarding President-elect Donald Trump's recent statement that the greenback was too strong, Mnuchin clarified that "when the president-elect made a comment on the US currency, it wasn't meant to be a long-term comment".

Fed chair Janet Yellen said that monetary policy has not "fallen behind the curve". Also, she doesn't see overheating in labor market to cause inflation to surge. She expected labor market to strengthen as a moderate pace with GDP growth held down by "a variety of forces". That include, slow labor-force and productivity growth and weak global growth. And thus, it is "prudent to adjust the stance of monetary policy gradually over time". Traders saw that as a sign of no urgency for a faster hike and that limits dollar's strength in rebound attempt.

Yesterday, ECB left its policies unchanged, with the base interest rate staying at 0% and the deposit rate at -0.4%. Meanwhile, the current QE program stayed at EUR 80b per month. It would be extended until December, but at a decreased rate of EUR 60b from March on. On economic developments, President Mario Draghi acknowledged recent strength in activity indicators, but noted that "there are no signs yet of a convincing upward trend in underlying inflation". Draghi added that "the Governing Council will continue to look through changes in HICP inflation if judged to be transient and to have no implication for the medium-term outlook for price stability". On the monetary policy outlook, he reiterated that need to maintain low interest rates as "the recovery of all of the Eurozone is in the interests of everybody, including Germany".

BoJ governor Haruhiko Kuroda said yesterday that he hasn't heard any "pessimism about Abenomics". Yet, the central bank's 2% inflation target "has not yet been achieved". And, BoJ will "continue with monetary easing to hit the 2 percent target at the earliest possible time." He also said that he would closely monitor US president-elect Donald Trump's policies. But he showed little concern that protectionism under Trump would hurt the global economy. BoJ deputy governor Hiroshi Nakaso warned of a surge in dollar funding cost as policies diverge. But he didn't seen any "particular problem emerging for now".

China's GDP expanded 6.8% yoy in 4Q17, up from 6.7% in the prior quarter. Industrial production grew 6% yoy in December, down from 6.2% in November. The market had anticipated a 6.1% growth. Retail sales expanded 10.9% yoy, beating consensus of 10.7% and November's 10.8%. Urban fixed asset investment increased 8.1% for the full year 2016, slowing from 8.3% in the first 11 months of the year. Looking ahead, Germany will release PPI in European session. UK will release retail sales. Canada will also release retail sales and CPI today.

AUD/USD Daily Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.7511; (P) 0.7542; (R1) 0.7592; More...

AUD/USD continues to lose upside momentum as seen in 4 hour MACD. But with 0.7448 minor support intact, rebound from 0.7158 could extend higher towards 0.7777/7833 resistance zone. At this point, we'd expect strong resistance from this zone to limit upside. On the downside, below 0.7448 minor support will turn bias back to the downside for 0.7144 key support level.

In the bigger picture, AUD/USD is staying inside long term falling channel and it's likely that the down trend from 1.1079 is still in progress. Break of 0.6826 low will confirm this bearish case. We'll be looking for bottoming sign again as it approaches 0.6008 key support level. Meanwhile, sustained break of 0.7833 resistance will be a strong sign of medium term reversal.

AUD/USD 4 Hours Chart

AUD/USD Daily Chart

Economic Indicators Update

GMT Ccy Events Actual Consensus Previous Revised
2:00 CNY GDP Y/Y Q4 6.80% 6.70% 6.70%
2:00 CNY Industrial Production Y/Y Dec 6.00% 6.10% 6.20%
2:00 CNY Retail Sales Y/Y Dec 10.90% 10.70% 10.80%
2:00 CNY Fixed Assets Ex Rural YTD Y/Y Dec 8.10% 8.30% 8.30%
7:00 EUR German PPI M/M Dec 0.40% 0.30%
7:00 EUR German PPI Y/Y Dec 1.00% 0.10%
9:30 GBP Retail Sales M/M Dec -0.10% 0.20%
13:30 CAD Retail Sales M/M Nov 1.10%
13:30 CAD Retail Sales Less Autos M/M Nov 1.40%

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(ECB) Monetary Policy Decisions

At today's meeting the Governing Council of the ECB decided that the interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility will remain unchanged at 0.00%, 0.25% and -0.40% respectively. The Governing Council continues to expect the key ECB interest rates to remain at present or lower levels for an extended period of time, and well past the horizon of the net asset purchases.

Regarding non-standard monetary policy measures, the Governing Council confirms that it will continue to make purchases under the asset purchase programme (APP) at the current monthly pace of €80 billion until the end of March 2017 and that, from April 2017, the net asset purchases are intended to continue at a monthly pace of €60 billion until the end of December 2017, or beyond, if necessary, and in any case until the Governing Council sees a sustained adjustment in the path of inflation consistent with its inflation aim. The net purchases will be made alongside reinvestments of the principal payments from maturing securities purchased under the APP. If the outlook becomes less favourable, or if financial conditions become inconsistent with further progress towards a sustained adjustment in the path of inflation, the Governing Council stands ready to increase the programme in terms of size and/or duration.

The President of the ECB will comment on the considerations underlying these decisions at a press conference starting at 14:30 CET today.

GBP/USD Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.2205; (P) 1.2308; (R1) 1.2364; More...

With 1.2188 minor support intact, rebound from 1.1986 could still extend higher through 1.2432 resistance. But still, such rise is seen as the third leg of the consolidation pattern from 1.1946. Thus, we'd expect strong resistance at 1.2774 to limit upside and bring down trend resumption eventually. On the downside, below 1.2188 minor support will turn bias to the downside for retesting 1.1946 low.

In the bigger picture, fall from 1.7190 is seen as part of the down trend from 2.1161. There is no sign of medium term bottoming yet. Sustained trading below 61.8% projection of 2.1161 to 1.3503 from 1.7190 at 1.2457 will target 100% projection at 0.9532. Overall, break of 1.3444 resistance is needed to confirm medium term bottoming. Otherwise, outlook will remain bearish.

GBP/USD 4 Hours Chart

GBP/USD Daily Chart

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USD/CHF Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.0028; (P) 1.0051; (R1) 1.0096; More.....

With 1.0135 minor resistance intact, deeper fall could still be seen in USD/CHF. Rise from 0.9443 could have completed at 1.0342 already, after failing to sustain above 1.0327 key resistance. Deeper fall would be seen back to 0.9443/9548 support zone. On the upside, above 1.0135 minor resistance will turn focus back to 1.0342 resistance instead.

In the bigger picture, rejection from 1.0327 resistance suggests that consolidation pattern from there is still in progress. Fall from 1.0342 is seen as the third leg and retest of 0.9443/9548 support zone could be seen. But we'd expect strong support from there to contain downside. At this point, we're still extend the larger rally to resume later to 38.2% retracement of 1.8305 to 0.7065 at 1.1359.

USD/CHF 4 Hours Chart

USD/CHF Daily Chart

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USD/JPY Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 113.21; (P) 113.98; (R1) 115.40; More...

Breaching 115.43 minor resistance suggests that pull back from 118.65 is completed at 112.56 already. Intraday bias is turned back to the upside for retesting 118.65 first. Break will resume whole rise from 98.97 and target 125.85 key resistance. In case of another fall, we'd expect strong support from 38.2% retracement of 98.97 to 118.65 at 111.13 to contain downside and bring rebound.

In the bigger picture, price actions from 125.85 high are seen as a corrective pattern. The impulsive structure of the rise from 98.97 suggests that the correction is completed and larger up trend is resuming. Decisive break of 125.85 will confirm and target 61.8% projection of 75.56 to 125.85 from 98.97 at 130.04 and then 135.20 long term resistance. Rejection from 125.85 and below will extend the consolidation with another falling leg before up trend resumption.

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EUR/USD Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.0600; (P) 1.0657 (R1) 1.0685; More.....

EUR/USD retreated after hitting 38.2% retracement of 1.1298 to 1.0339. Intraday bias is turned neutral first. Rebound from 1.0339 is seen as a corrective move. Below 1.0453 will argue that it's completed and turn bias back to the downside for 1.0339 support. Break there will extend the larger down trend towards parity. In case of another rise, we'd expect upside to be limited by 1.0872 resistance and bring reversal.

In the bigger picture, whole down trend from 1.6039 (2008 high) is in progress. Such down trend is expected to extend to 61.8% projection of 1.3993 to 1.0461 from 1.1298 at 0.9115. On the upside, break of 1.1298 resistance is needed to confirm medium term bottoming. Otherwise, outlook will stay bearish in case of rebound.

EUR/USD 4 Hours Chart

EUR/USD Daily Chart

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ECB Stands Pat as Widely Expected, Dollar Recovers on Data

ECB kept the main refinancing rate at 0.00% and deposit rate at -0.4% as widely expected. There is also no change to the asset purchase program. The central bank extended the program to December 2017, buying EUR 60b a month. ECB president Mario Draghi noted in the post meeting press conference that "there are no signs yet of a convincing upward trend in underlying inflation." He emphasized that "a very substantial degree of monetary accommodation is needed for euro area inflation pressures to build up and support headline inflation in the medium term". Meanwhile, growth would be "dampened" by "sluggish pace of structural reform" in the region. Euro lost much momentum against Dollar and Sterling and is trading mildly lower. Also from Europe, Eurozone current account surplus widened to EUR 36.1b in November. UK RICS house price balance dropped to 24 in December. Swiss PPI rose 0.2% mom, 0.0% yoy in December.

Economic data from US are generally strong and is providing Dollar mild strength for rebound. Initial jobless claims dropped 1.5k to 234k in the week ended January 14, below expectation of 251k. Four-week moving average of initial claims dropped 10.25k to 246.75k, lowest since November 1973. That's also the 98 straight week of sub 300k reading, longest streak since 1970. Continuing claims dropped 47k to 2.05m in the week ended January 7. Housing starts jumped 11.3% to 1.23m annualized rate in December, above expectation of 1.19m. Building permits rose to 1.21m but misse3d expectation of 1.22. Philly Fed survey rose to 23.6 in January, above expectation of 16.

Released from Canada, manufacturing shipments rose 1.5% mom in November. International securities transactions dropped to CAD 7.24b in November. BoC left its overnight rate unchanged at 0.5% yesterday. Yet, it delivered a more dovish than expected message and sent CAD to a one-week low against USD. At the press conference, Governor Stephen Poloz revealed that 'Governing Council was particularly concerned about the ramifications of U.S. trade policy, because it is so fundamental to the Canadian economy'. He suggested that further rate cut cannot be ruled out of US' protectionist policy puts BOC's inflation target at risk. More in BOC Sent Dovish Message On Concerns Over Trump's Protectionist Policy.

Released earlier today, New Zealand business NZ manufacturing index rose to 54.5 in December, building permits dropped -9.2% mom in November. Australia employment rose 13.5k in December but unemployment rate rose to 5.8%.

EUR/USD Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.0600; (P) 1.0657 (R1) 1.0685; More.....

EUR/USD retreated after hitting 38.2% retracement of 1.1298 to 1.0339. Intraday bias is turned neutral first. Rebound from 1.0339 is seen as a corrective move. Below 1.0453 will argue that it's completed and turn bias back to the downside for 1.0339 support. Break there will extend the larger down trend towards parity. In case of another rise, we'd expect upside to be limited by 1.0872 resistance and bring reversal.

In the bigger picture, whole down trend from 1.6039 (2008 high) is in progress. Such down trend is expected to extend to 61.8% projection of 1.3993 to 1.0461 from 1.1298 at 0.9115. On the upside, break of 1.1298 resistance is needed to confirm medium term bottoming. Otherwise, outlook will stay bearish in case of rebound.

EUR/USD 4 Hours Chart

EUR/USD Daily Chart

Economic Indicators Update

GMT Ccy Events Actual Consensus Previous Revised
21:30 NZD Business NZ Manufacturing Index Dec 54.5 54.4 54.5
21:45 NZD Building Permits M/M Nov -9.20% 2.60% 2.00%
00:00 AUD Consumer Inflation Expectation Jan 4.30% 3.40%
00:01 GBP RICS House Price Balance Dec 24% 30% 30% 29%
00:30 AUD Employment Change Dec 13.5k 10k 39.1k
00:30 AUD Unemployment Rate Dec 5.80% 5.70% 5.70%
08:15 CHF Producer & Import Prices M/M Dec 0.20% 0.20% 0.10%
08:15 CHF Producer & Import Prices Y/Y Dec 0.00% 0.10% -0.60%
09:00 EUR Eurozone Current Account (EUR) Nov 36.1B 29.3B 28.4B 28.3B
12:45 EUR ECB Rate Decision 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
13:30 CAD International Securities Transactions (CAD) Nov 7.24B 10.23B 15.75B 15.77B
13:30 CAD Manufacturing Shipments M/M Nov 1.50% 1.00% -0.80% -0.60%
13:30 USD Initial Jobless Claims (JAN 14) 234K 251k 247k 249K
13:30 USD Housing Starts Dec 1.23M 1.19M 1.09M
13:30 USD Building Permits Dec 1.21M 1.22M 1.20M
13:30 USD Philly Fed Manufacturing Index Jan 23.6 16 21.5
15:30 USD Natural Gas Storage -151B
16:00 USD Crude Oil Inventories 4.1M

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