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Trump's announcement of raising tariff of Chinese imports  to 25%, from 10%, has renewed concerns over the US-China trade war, and its impacts on global economic outlook. The uncertainty has dampened energy prices. According to the CFTC Commitments of Traders report for the week ended May 7,  NET LENGTH for crude oil futures plunged -29 767 contracts to 494 336 for the week. Speculative long positions fell -21 509 contracts while shorts rose +8 258. For refined oil products, NET LENGTH for gasoline declined -10 818 contracts to 86 900, while NET SHORT  for heating oil added -362 contracts to 13 032 contracts for the week. NET SHORT for natural gas futures dropped -1 228 contracts to 67 901 contracts for the week.

Gold served as safe haven asset amidst economic uncertainty. NET LENGTH for gold futures gained +9 192 contracts, to 75 411 last week. Speculative long positions increased +8 526 contracts, while shorts slipped -666, resulting in the rise in NET LENGTH. For silver futures, speculative long positions added +226 contracts while shorts rose +3 319. These resulted in a drift to NET SHORT of 957 contracts. For PGMs, NET LENGTH of Nymex platinum futures declined -4 629 contracts to 28 693 while that for palladium decreased -1 428 contracts to 7 980.

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White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told Fox News Sunday that the trade negotiations "seemed to be taking too long" and the administration "can't accept any backtracking." He also complained that China hasn't come far enough.

On the impact of the tariffs that took effect last week, Kudlow said "the economic consequences are so small" as the US economy is "in terrific shape". He estimated US might only lose 0.2% of GDP. And, "this is a risk we should and can take without damaging our economy in any appreciable way.

On more tariffs on currently untaxed USD 300B in Chinese imports, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the details would be released on Monday. But Kudlow said it could probably be "months" before they take effect.

Meanwhile, he added that talks are on-going. And, there is a G-20 meeting in Japan toward the end of June next month and the chances that President Trump and President Xi will get together at that meeting are pretty good."

EUR/USD stayed in consolidation above 1.1111 last week and outlook is unchanged. Initial bias remains neutral for more consolidation first. Stronger rise and break of 1.1264 cannot be ruled out. But upside should be limited well below 1.1324 resistance to bring fall resumption. On the downside, break of 1.1111 will extend down trend to 100% projection of 1.1448 to 1.1183 from 1.1324 at 1.1059. Break will target 161.8% projection at 1.0895.

In the bigger picture, down trend from 1.2555 (2018 high) has just resumed. 61.8% retracement of 1.0339 (2016 low) to 1.2555 (2018 high) at 1.1186 was also taken out. Current fall should now target 78.6% retracement at 1.0813. Sustained break there will pave the way to retest 1.0339. On the downside, break of 1.1448 resistance is needed to be the first sign of medium term bottoming. Otherwise, outlook will stay bearish in case of rebound.

In the long term picture, the rejection from 38.2% retracement of 1.6039 to 1.0339 at 1.2516 argues that long term down trend from 1.6039 (2008 high) might not be over yet. EUR/USD is also held below decade long trend line resistance, 55 month and 55 week EMA. Break of 1.0339 will resume the down trend to 100% projection of 1.3993 to 1.0339 from 1.2555 at 0.9501

USD/JPY dropped further to as low as 109.47 last week but then formed a temporary low there and turned sideway. Initial bias is turned neutral this week for some consolidations first. On the downside, break of 109.47 and sustained trading below 109.72 key support will confirm completion of rebound from 104.69 at 112.40 on bearish divergence condition in daily MACD. Deeper decline should then be seen back to retest 104.69 low. For now, this will remain the favored case as long as 110.95 resistance holds.

In the bigger picture, USD/JPY is staying inside falling channel from 118.65. Thus, there is no confirmation of trend reversal yet. Sustained break of 109.71 will argue that rebound from 104.69 is completed. And the down trend from 118.65 is still in progress. But at this stage, in case of break of 104.69, we'd expect strong support above 98.9 (2016 low) to contain downside an bring rebound.

In the long term picture, the rise from 75.56 (2011 low) long term bottom to 125.85 (2015 high) is viewed as an impulsive move, no change in this view. Price actions from 125.85 are seen as a corrective move which could still extend. In case of deeper fall, downside should be contained by 61.8% retracement of 75.56 to 125.85 at 94.77. Up trend from 75.56 is expected to resume at a later stage for above 135.20/147.68 resistance zone.

GBP/USD dropped deeper than expected to 1.3176 last week and the development dampened the original bullish view. Initial bias is neutral this week first. On the downside, break of 1.2967 will turn bias to the downside for 1.2865 support. Decisive break there will revive the bearish case that rebound from 1.2391 has completed at 1.3381. Near term outlook will turn be turned bearish. On upside, above 1.3176 will retain the bullish case and target a retest on 1.3381 high next.

In the bigger picture, medium term decline from 1.4376 (2018 high) halted and made a medium term bottom after hitting 1.2391. Rebound from 1.2391 is seen as a corrective move for now. In case of another rise, strong resistance could be seen around 61.8% retracement of 1.4376 to 1.2391 at 1.3618 to limit upside. On the downside, break of 1.2773 support will suggests that such corrective rise is completed and bring retest of 1.2391 low first.

In the longer term picture, consolidative pattern from 1.1946 (2016 low) is still in progress. For now, we'd expect any downside attempt to be contained by 1.1946 low first. But decisive break of 38.2% retracement of 2.1161 (2007 high) to 1.1946 at 1.5466 is needed to indicate long term reversal. Otherwise, an eventual downside breakout will remain in favor.

USD/CHF dropped notably last week as correction from 1.0237 extended lower. But overall outlook is unchanged. In case of deeper retreat, downside should be contained by 55 day EMA (now at 1.0081) to bring rebound. On the upside, break of 1.0237 will resume larger rise from 0.9186 to 1.0342 key resistance. However sustained break of the 55 day EMA would pave the way back to 0.9879 key support.

In the bigger picture, medium term up trend from 0.9186 is extending. Current rise should target 1.0342 resistance next. For now, we'd be cautious on strong resistance from there to limit upside, until we see medium term upside acceleration. On the downside, break of 0.9879 support is needed to indicate reversal. Otherwise, outlook will stay bullish in case of deep pull back.

In the long term picture, price actions from 0.7065 (2011 low) are not clearly impulsive yet. Thus, we'll treat it as developing into a corrective pattern, at least, until a firm break of 1.0342 resistance.

AUD/USD edged lower to 0.6962 last week but quickly turned sideway. Initial bias remains neutral this week first and more consolidative trading could be seen. Upside of recovery should be limited by 0.7069 resistance to bring fall resumption. On the downside, break of 0.6962 will resume the fall from 0.7295 to 100% projection of 0.7295 to 0.7003 from 0.7205 at 0.6913. Decisive break there will indicate further downside acceleration and pave the way to retest 0.6722 low. However, considering bullish convergence condition in 4 hour MACD, firm break of 0.7069 will indicate near term bottoming and turn bias back to the upside for 0.7205 resistance and above.

In the bigger picture, with 0.7393 key resistance intact, medium term outlook remains bearish. The decline from 0.8135 (2018 high) is seen as resuming long term down trend from 1.1079 (2011 high). Decisive break of 0.6826 (2016 low) will confirm this bearish view and resume the down trend to 0.6008 (2008 low). However, firm break of 0.7393 will argue that fall from 0.8135 has completed. And corrective pattern from 0.6826 has started the third leg, targeting 0.8135 again.

In the longer term picture, prior rejection by 55 month EMA maintained long term bearishness in AUD/USD. That is, down trend from 1.1079 (2011 high) is still in progress. Sustained break of 0.6826 will target 0.6008 low and then 61.8% projection of 1.1079 to 0.6826 from 0.8135 at 0.5507.

USD/CAD stayed in consolidation pattern below 1.3521 last week and outlook is unchanged. Initial bias remains neutral this week first. While deeper decline cannot be ruled out, downside should be contained above 1.3274 support to bring rally resumption. On the upside, firm break of 1.3521 will resume the whole rise from 1.3068 to retest 1.3664 high. However, decisive break of 1.3274 support will indicate completion of rise from 1.3068 and turn outlook bearish.

In the bigger picture, USD/CAD is staying well inside medium term rising channel (support at 1.3278). Thus, the up trend from 1.2061 (2017 low) should be in progress. On the upside, decisive break of 61.8% retracement of 1.4689 (2016 high) to 1.2061 at 1.3685 will pave the way to 78.6% retracement at 1.4127 next. This will remain the favored case as long as 1.3068 support holds. However, sustained break the channel support will be the first sign of medium term reversal. Firm break of 1.3068 would confirm.

In the longer term picture, corrective fall from 1.4689 (2015 high) should have completed with three waves down to 1.2061, just ahead of 50% retracement of 0.9406 (2011 low) to 1.4689 (2015 high) at 1.2048. The development keeps long term up trend from 0.9406 and that from 0.9056 (2007 low) intact. For now, there is still prospect of extending the long term up trend through 1.4689.

EUR/JPY dropped to as low as 122.48 last week but formed temporary low there and recovered. Initial bias is neutral this week for some consolidations first. Current development suggests that rebound from 118.62 has completed at 127.50 already. Hence, upside of recovery should be limited by 124.09/125.29 resistance zone to bring fall resumption. On the downside, break of 122.48 will target retest of 118.62 low.

In the bigger picture, current development argues that rebound from 118.62 is merely a correction and has completed at 127.50. EUR/JPY is staying in long term falling channel from 137.49 (2018 high). Decisive break of 118.62 will confirm resumption of this medium term fall and target 109.20 low. For now, this will be the favored case as long as 125.23 resistance holds.

In the long term picture, EUR/JPY is staying in long term sideway pattern, established since 2000. Fall from 137.49 is seen as a falling leg inside the pattern. Break of 118.62 will extend this falling leg through 109.03 low. On the upside, break of 133.12 resistance bring retest of 149.76 (2014 high).