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The US Dollar is currently trading around a pivot zone on the Daily timeframe, which supports the price. Considering the confluence of the pivot zone, demand zone, and trendline support, we can expect a bullish reaction from the current area. A bullish Dollar often implies a bearish outcome on XAUUSD.

GOLD Weekly Timeframe

On the weekly timeframe, XAUUSD is currently trading within the vicinity of a supply zone. We can also notice that there's been a recent break of structure downwards, as well as a supply zone. These confluences lend credence to our initial bearish outlook. However, we have to prove it by looking at the Daily timeframe.

GOLD Daily Timeframe

From the Daily timeframe perspective, everything aligns perfectly too. Thus, I suggest traders await the price reaction to the supply zone. With a solid rejection at that zone, the price will reverse toward the 50-Moving Average around 1844.

CONCLUSION

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GBPUSD may lead to the formation of a global corrective trend – a triple zigzag w-x-y-x-z, in which the market builds the final actionary wave z of the cycle degree.

The wave z most likely takes the form of a primary triple zigzag, in which we see the development of the primary wave. It may take the double zigzag pattern (W)-(X)-(Y).

The formation of the intervening wave (X) has recently ended. There is a high probability that the last sub-wave (Y) will take the form of a zigzag A-B-C.

The end of the first impulse wave A is expected at a minimum of 1.095.

Alternatively, it is assumed that the cycle wave z could have been fully completed. Thus, we see that since the end of September, bulls have started to move the price up in a new trend.

Perhaps we are seeing the development of a primary triple zigzag, where the first four parts are already formed.

In the last section of the chart, the final actionary wave is formed. Most likely, it will be at 76.4% of wave and will end near 1.298.

Retail sales edged lower by 0.1% month-on-month (m/m) in November, a better outturn than Statistics Canada's advance estimate for a 0.5% drop. Adjusting for the impact of inflation, the volume of sales was down 0.4% on the month.

Statistics Canada's advance estimate for December indicates a 0.5% m/m gain. Our internal card spending data also points to higher spending in December.

November was a good month for gas stations and car dealerships. Receipts at gasoline stations increased by 2.2% m/m, entirely on account of more driving and higher sales volumes (+3.7% m/m) since gas prices actually fell by 3.6% in that month. Sales of motor vehicle and parts rose by 1.4%, led by higher sales at new car dealerships (+1.2%).

Core sales, which exclude autos and gasoline, were much weaker than the headline, falling by 1.1% in November.

• Lower sales at food and beverage stores (-1.6%) as well as at building materials and garden equipment stores (-3.8%) led the decline. Performance was also soft at another housing-related category – furniture and home furnishings (-0.2%). Sales declined at sporting goods, hobby and book stores (-1.5%), general merchandise stores (-0.8%) and miscellaneous retailers (-2.0%).
• Electronics and appliance stores (+0.9%), personal and health stores (+0.5%) and clothing & accessories stores (+0.3%) were the only categories bucking the weak trend in November.
• E-commerce sales were down 2.7% m/m, marking the third consecutive monthly drop, and were 3.5% lower than a year ago.

Key Implications

Outside of spending more on gas and new cars, consumers took a breather from shopping in November, perhaps waiting for discounts and building up some financial cushion ahead of a spending-heavy December. Indeed, Statistics Canada flash estimate suggests that retail sales have rebounded in December. This is in line with our internal debit and credit card  aggregate spending data, which also points to an increase in consumer spending in December. A sizeable drop in gasoline prices last month could have given consumers a much-needed break, leaving more cash to spend on gifts.

Even as consumers appear to have kept on spending through December, they will likely need to tighten their belts this year. As we note in our latest forecast, we expect that as 2023 unfolds, consumer spending will likely edged lower in the second half of the year amid escalating debt servicing costs, which will take a bite out of discretionary spending.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.0796; (P) 1.0818; (R1) 1.0853; More...

Intraday bias in EUR/USD remains neutral, as consolidation continues below 1.0886. Overall outlook will remain bullish as long as 1.0482 support holds. Break of 1.0886 will resume rally from 0.9534 to 61.8% projection of 0.9630 to 1.0733 from 1.0482 at 1.1164 next.

In the bigger picture, current development suggests that the rally from 0.9534 low (2022 low) is a medium term up trend rather than a correction. Further rally is in favor to 61.8% retracement of 1.2348 (2021 high) to 0.9534 at 1.1273 next. This will remain the favored case as long as 1.0482 support holds.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.2337; (P) 1.2368; (R1) 1.2422; More...

Intraday bias in GBP/USD stays neutral at this point. On the upside, decisive break of 1.2445 will confirm resumption of whole rise from 1.0351. Next target will be 1.2759 fibonacci level. On the downside, break of 1.2252 minor support will turn bias to the downside, and extend the corrective pattern from 1.2445 with another falling leg.

In the bigger picture, rise from 1.0351 medium term bottom is at least correcting whole down trend from 1.4248 (2021 high). Further rise is expected as long as 1.1644 resistance turned support holds. Next target is 61.8% retracement of 1.4248 to 1.0351 at 1.2759. Sustained break there will pave the way back to 1.4248.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.9142; (P) 0.9166; (R1) 0.9184; More...

Intraday bias in USD/CHF remains neutral at this point. Outlook remains bearish as long as 0.9407 resistance holds. Sustained break of 61.8% projection of 1.0146 to 0.9355 from 0.9545 at 0.9056 will pave the way to 100% projection at 0.8754, which is close to 0.8756 long term support. Nevertheless, on the upside, break of 0.9407 should confirm short term bottoming and turn bias back to the upside.

In the bigger picture, rise from 0.8756 (2021 low) has completed at 1.0146, well ahead of 1.0342 long term resistance (2016 high). Based on current downside momentum, fall from 1.0146 should be a medium term down trend itself. Next target is a test on 0.8756 low. Strong support should be seen there to bring rebound. Still, further decline will now be expected as long as 0.9407 resistance holds, in any case.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 127.13; (P) 129.35; (R1) 131.14; More...

USD/JPY is still bounded in established range despite today's strong recovery. Intraday bias remains neutral first. On the upside, break of 131.56 minor resistance should confirm short term bottoming at 127.20. Intraday bias will be back on the up for stronger rebound to 38.2% retracement of 151.93 to 127.20 at 136.64. On the downside, though, firm break of 127.20 will resume larger fall from 151.93 to 121.43 fibonacci level next.

In the bigger picture, the firm break of 55 week EMA (now at 131.59) raises the chance of medium term bearish reversal, but that's not confirmed yet. Strong support could be seen around 61.8% retracement of 102.58 to 151.93 at 121.43 and 38.2% retracement of 75.56 to 151.93 at 122.75 to bring rebound. But break of 134.76 resistance is needed to indicate bottoming first. Otherwise further fall will remain in favor.

Yen's weakness continues into US session after BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda repeated his dovish stance. Swiss Franc is also trading notably lower, reversing some of this week's gains. Aussie, Kiwi are extending recovery but there is no clear upside momentum. For the week, Sterling is still the strongest, followed by Swiss Franc while Yen is the worst, followed by Aussie.

In Europe, at the time of writing, FTSE is up 0.17%. DAX is up 0.41%. CAC i up 0.56%. Germany 10-year yield is up 0.0735 at 2.138. Earlier in Asia, Nikkei rose 0.56%. Hong Kong HSI rose 1.82%. China Shanghai SSE rose 0.76%. Singapore Strait Times rose 0.54%. Japan 10-year JGB yield rose 0.0008 to 0.404.

Canada retail sales down -0.1% mom in Nov

Canada retail sales decreased -0.1% mom to CAD 61.8B in November, better than expectation of -0.5% mom. Core retail sales, excluding gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers, decreased -1.1% mom, largest decline in 11 months.

Sales declines in 6 of 11 subsectors, representing 47.4% of retail trade. The decrease was led by lower sales at food and beverage stores (-1.6%) and building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (-3.8%).

Advance estimate indicates that sales rose 0.5% mom in December.

ECB Lagarde: Stay the course is my mantra for monetary-policy purposes

ECB President Christine Lagarde said, "We have to also stay that course of resilience that we observed in 2022. Stay the course' is my mantra for monetary-policy purposes."

"I hope that in 2023 fiscal policy will not work in a counter-cyclical way to monetary policy," she said. "We don't need to be pushed to do more than is necessary."

Lagarde also noted that China's reopening "will have inflationary pressure on many of us, simply because the level of energy that was consumed by China last year was certainly less than what they will consume this year, the amount of LNG that [they] will be buying from the rest of the world will be higher than what we have seen and there is not so much spare capacity in terms of oil and gas."

"So there will be constraints, there will be more inflationary pressure coming out of that added demand," she added.

SNB Jordan: Focus on price stability absolutely essential

SNB Chairman Thomas Jordan said,"inflation is far too high. It is negative not only for the functioning of the economy, it is very negative especially for lower income classes."

"The population doesn't like inflation, so ... the focus on price stability for central banks is absolutely essential."

Businesses "don't hesitate any more to increase their prices," the said. "That is different to two or three years ago, and that is also a signal it is not that easy to bring inflation back to 2%."

"Once inflation is high, the pressure coming from wages is here and it is proof it will not be that easy everywhere to bring inflation down quickly," he said.

UK retail sales volume down -1.0% mom in Dec, value down -1.2% mom

UK retail sales volume declined -1.0% mom in December, much worse than expectation of 0.4% mom. Ex-fuel sales dropped -1.1% mom, below expectation of 0.4% mom. Sales value decreased -1.2% mom while ex-fuel sales value declined -1.0% mom.

Between 2021 and 2022, retail sales volume fell by -3.0%, "as the lifting of restrictions on hospitality led to a return to eating out, and rising prices and the cost of living affected sales volumes."

BoJ Kuroda defends extremely accommodative monetary policy

BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda defended this week decision to maintain by the -0.1% interest rate and the 0.5% 10-year JGB yield cap.

"We expect, probably from February this year, inflation rates start to decline and fiscal year 2023 as a whole, inflation rate will be less than 2%. So, we decided to maintain the current extremely accommodative monetary policy for the time being," he said.

"Our hope is that wages start to rise and that could make 2% inflation target to be met in a stable and sustainable manner, but we have to wait for some time," he added.

Asked whether he had any regrets during reign, he said, "All in all, the government's policy, coupled with the BoJ's extremely accommodative policy, have been successful in changing Japan's economic structure and growth prospects".

"But our 2% inflation target has not been achieved in a sustainable, stable manner," he said. "That is the only regret I have".

Japan CPI core rose to 4% yoy in Dec, highest since 1981

Japan CPI core (all items ex-fresh food) accelerated from 3.7% yoy to 4.0% yoy in December, matched expectations. That's also the highest level in four decades since 1981. CPI core-core (all items ex-food and energy) also accelerated from 2.8% yoy to 3.0% yoy, hitting the highest level since 1991. Headline inflation rose from 3.8% yoy to 4.0% yoy.

Food prices jumped 7.4% while energy prices rose 15.2%. "The impact on CPI from higher energy prices was large in 2022 but contributions from food prices are now bigger," a government official said.

NZ BusinessNZ manufacturing unchanged at 47.2, further slippage expected in Q1

New Zealand BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index was unchanged at 47.2 in December. Looking at some details, production ticked up from 49.5 to 49.7. Employment rose from 46.9 to 48.8. New orders rose from 42.2 to 46.1. Finished stocks dropped from 55.5 to 50.1. Deliveries dropped from 49.6 to 48.4.

BNZ Senior Economist, Doug Steel stated that the latest PMI result "broadly fits with the clear decline we already expect for manufacturing GDP in Q4 with further slippage expected in Q1".

USD/JPY Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 127.13; (P) 129.35; (R1) 131.14; More...

USD/JPY is still bounded in established range despite today's strong recovery. Intraday bias remains neutral first. On the upside, break of 131.56 minor resistance should confirm short term bottoming at 127.20. Intraday bias will be back on the up for stronger rebound to 38.2% retracement of 151.93 to 127.20 at 136.64. On the downside, though, firm break of 127.20 will resume larger fall from 151.93 to 121.43 fibonacci level next.

In the bigger picture, the firm break of 55 week EMA (now at 131.59) raises the chance of medium term bearish reversal, but that's not confirmed yet. Strong support could be seen around 61.8% retracement of 102.58 to 151.93 at 121.43 and 38.2% retracement of 75.56 to 151.93 at 122.75 to bring rebound. But break of 134.76 resistance is needed to indicate bottoming first. Otherwise further fall will remain in favor.

Economic Indicators Update

Canada retail sales decreased -0.1% mom to CAD 61.8B in November, better than expectation of -0.5% mom. Core retail sales, excluding gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers, decreased -1.1% mom, largest decline in 11 months.

Sales declines in 6 of 11 subsectors, representing 47.4% of retail trade. The decrease was led by lower sales at food and beverage stores (-1.6%) and building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (-3.8%).

Advance estimate indicates that sales rose 0.5% mom in December.

Full release here.

It's been another eventful week and one that serves to remind us that while there may be more sources of optimism this year, compared with last, it's going to be a very bumpy ride.

There's no doubt that there's been plenty more cause for optimism so far this year, especially compared with what we became accustomed to in 2022. The US could achieve the soft landing that many have doubted is possible, China could bounce back strongly from the dropping of Covid restrictions and the euro area may avoid a recession.

That's not a bad shift in expectations at all. But just as quickly as they turned more favourable, they could switch again. Economic data from the US this week has been far less promising. Rather than focus on disinflation and the labour market, it's been other economic indicators and earnings that have taken the spotlight and it hasn't been great.

What's more, it seems we're seeing more regular warnings of imminent layoffs, the latest coming from Alphabet which plans to cut 12,000 staff globally. For so long companies have been reluctant to lay staff off following the post-pandemic re-hiring struggles but the tide appears to be turning and it could accelerate from here, at which point the economic data may become much more downbeat.

UK retail sales slump again

It's been a busy week for UK economic data and many may be just as confused about the outlook as they were before. Data has previously indicated that the country may have managed to avoid a recession in the fourth quarter but at the same time, retail sales strongly suggest that households are feeling the strain which begs the question, did the World Cup just delay the inevitable?

Meanwhile, labour market figures remain strong, so much so that wages are continuing to accelerate higher while still failing to keep up with inflation. While that explains why households are spending less, it doesn't alleviate fears within the BoE that getting inflation sustainably back to 2% could necessitate inflicting more pain on households. An unenviable dilemma, but policymakers are in agreement that inflation must take priority. And when that is still above 10%, it's clear that means the rate hikes will keep coming.

Speed bumps ahead

Oil prices have been choppy this week after climbing back towards their late December/early January peaks. It would appear the rally is running short of momentum amid a week of less promising data from the US and a downturn in market sentiment, more broadly. That's to be expected. After all, it's not like we were going to go from the doom and gloom of 2022 into relentless optimism just like that. It's going to be a bumpy ride this year and this week has simply been the first speed bump of many. With so many other factors also influencing the oil price, I expect volatility is going nowhere.

Gold not far from record highs

Another rally on Thursday saw gold surpass last week's peak but already it's running into resistance and trading slightly lower on the day. While not the end of the world, it's clear that momentum is fading which, following a strong rally since November, could suggest a correction is possible. The environment remains favourable for gold but a correction could be healthy considering it's now rallied almost 20% from its early November lows and sits a little over 6% from all-time highs.

Volatility is back

It's been a very choppy week for bitcoin after the cryptocurrency surged back to life, buoyed by a much-improved risk environment. A period of relative calm in the crypto space has allowed for such a rebound, time clearly being a great healer and all that. Still, as we've seen in crypto, the volatility works both ways and what we've seen this past week suggests there's plenty more to come.