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Election day on 6 November is approaching. In August and September, the generic ballot polls moved up in favour of the Democrats – from 47.6% at the beginning of August to 49.7% at the time of writing. It remains our base case that the Democrats win the majority in the House and the Republicans retake the Senate. Furthermore, according to FiveThirtyEight, the probability of the Democrats winning control of the House of Representatives has risen in the past week to 78.0% from 73.9% (from a peak of 83.1%). Support for the Republicans has grown lately (currently 41.4%); however, it seems as though Kavanaugh's hearing has increased enthusiasm for the Democrats. In this regard, President Trump's approval rating has fallen slightly in the past week to 42.8% from 43.6%.

The Democrats still face a tough Senate map, as not many Republican seats are up for election. Some 24 of the 35 of the seats up for election are held by Democrats at the moment. According to FiveThirtyEight, the Republicans have a 79% chance of retaking the Senate. Actually, the Democrats' position in the Senate battle has worsened recently due to falling support in the deep red states. The reason for this is not clear but it could be a consequence of Kavanaugh's confirmation, which seems to have polarised voters.

Some 52% of Americans said they believe the women who accuse Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. Furthermore, 56% think that Kavanaugh would be influenced by personal political opinions when judging a case (CNN poll). This indicates that some voters question Kavanaugh's truthfulness and 51% in the poll oppose his confirmation. Overall, we expect the controversy surrounding Kavanaugh to continue in the run-up to election day, hurting the Republicans' chances of retaking the House.

In the coming week, possibly on Monday, the US Treasury report on FX manipulation is due. We do not expect the report to designate China a currency manipulator as China meets only one of the three criteria required to be legally classified as such.

This week Trump criticised the Fed multiple times and pinned the steep stock market sell-off on the Fed's monetary policy, rather than blaming the trade war. However, we expect the Fed will ignore Trump's critique and continue its hiking cycle.

A divided US Congress means that Trump would be unable to push his domestic policy agenda through. In our view, the midterm elections should have limited implications for markets and the economy, as it would be difficult for the Democrats to roll back Trumponomics even if they won both chambers. However, the risk is that he becomes even more hawkish on foreign policy and trade policy after the election.

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EUR/USD edged lower to 1.1431 initially last week but then recovered to 1.1610 before losing momentum after that. Initial bias remains neutral this week first. Another rise cannot be ruled out as long as 1.1534 minor support holds. Above 1.1610 will target 1.1814 resistance. But we'd expect upside to be limited by 1.1779/1814 resistance zone to bring down trend resumption eventually. On the downside, below 1.1534 minor support will indicate completion of rebound from 1.1431. Intraday bias will be turned back to the downside for 1.1431 and then 1.1300 low.

In the bigger picture, corrective pattern from 1.1300 could have completed at 1.1814 after hitting 38.2% retracement of 1.2555 to 1.1300 at 1.1779. Decisive break of 1.1300 will resume the down trend from 1.2555 to 61.8% retracement of 1.0339 (2017 low) to 1.2555 at 1.1186 next. Sustained break there will pave the way to retest 1.0339. On the upside, break of 1.1814 will delay the bearish case and extend the correction from 1.1300 with another rise before completion.

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. Firm break of 61.8% retracement of 1.0339 to 1.2555 at 1.1186 should at least bring a retest on 1.0339 low.

USD/JPY's fall from 114.54 accelerated to as low as 111.82 last week. Current developments suggests that rise from 104.62 has completed at 114.54 after rejection from 114.73 key resistance. USD/JPY is now correcting this whole rise. Initial bias is neutral for consolidation above 111.82 temporary low first. But upside of recovery should bel limited below 113.28 resistance to bring another fall. On the downside, break of 111.82 will target 38.2% retracement of 104.62 to 114.54 at 110.75. We'll look for bottoming signal above 109.76 key support.

In the bigger picture, corrective fall from 118.65 (2016 high) should have completed with three waves down to 104.62. Decisive break of 114.73 resistance will likely resume whole rally from 98.97 (2016 low) to 100% projection of 98.97 to 118.65 from 104.62 at 124.30, which is reasonably close to 125.85 (2015 high). This will stay as the preferred case as long as 109.76 support holds. However, decisive break of 109.76 will dampen this bullish view and turns outlook mixed again.

In the long term picture, the rise from 75.56 (2011 low) long term bottom to 125.85 top 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 rebounded further to as high as 1.3257 last week but lost momentum since then. Initial bias is neutral this week first. With 1.3132 minor support intact, another rise cannot be ruled out. But upside should be limited by 1.3316 key fibonacci level to bring down trend resumption eventually. On the downside, below 1.3132 minor support will turn bias back to the downside for 1.2921 first. However, sustained break of 1.3316 would pave the way to next fibonacci level at 1.3721.

In the bigger picture, whole medium term rebound from 1.1946 (2016 low) should have completed at 1.4376 already, after rejection from 55 month EMA. The structure and momentum of the fall from 1.4376 argues that it's resuming long term down trend. And this will be the preferred case as long as 38.2% retracement of 1.4376 to 1.2661 at 1.3316 holds. However, firm break of 1.3316 would bring stronger rebound to 61.8% retracement at 1.3721. And, the eventual depth of the fall from 1.4376, and the chance of hitting 1.1946 low, will depend on the strength of the interim corrective rebound from 1.2661.

In the longer term picture, outlook in GBP/USD is held bearish. Rebound from 1.1946 was rejected solidly by falling 55 month EMA. The pair was limited well below 38.2% retracement of 2.1161 (2007 high) to 1.1946, as well as the decade long falling trend line. On break of 1.1946, next target will be 61.8% projection of 1.7190 to 1.1946 from 1.4376 at 1.1135.

USD/CHF's consolidation from 0.9954 continued last week and outlook is unchanged. Despite drawing support from 4 hour 55 EMA, upside is limited below 0.9954. Initial bias remains neutral this week first. In case of another fall, downside should be contained by 38.2% retracement of 0.9541 to 0.9954 at 0.9796 to bring rise resumption. On the upside, break of 0.9954 will target 1.0067 resistance next.

In the bigger picture, the pullback from 1.0067 has completed at 0.9541 already. And rise from 0.9186 is likely resuming. Firm break of 1.0067 will pave the way to retest 1.0342 key resistance. We'd be cautious on strong resistance from there to limit upside to bring another medium term fall to extend long term range trading.

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 stayed in consolidation above 0.7040 last week. Initial bias stays neutral this week first. In case of another rebound, upside should bel limited well below 0.7314 resistance to bring fall resumption. On the downside, break of 0.7040 will resume recent down trend to 61.8% projection of 0.7676 to 0.7084 from 0.7314 at 0.6948 next.

In the bigger picture, fall from 0.8135 is tentatively treated as resuming long term down trend from 1.1079 (2011 high). Decisive break of 0.6826 will target 0.6008 key support next (2008 low). However, break of 0.7500 support turned resistance will argue that the corrective pattern from 0.6826 is going to extend with another rising leg before completion.

In the longer term picture, the corrective structure of rebound from 0.6826 (2016 low) to 0.8135, and the failure to break 38.2% retracement of 1.1079 (2011 high) to 0.6826 at 0.8451, carry bearish implications. AUD/USD was also rejected by 55 month EMA. Now, the down trend from 1.1079 is in favor to extend. On break of 0.6826, next target will be 61.8% projection of 1.1079 to 0.6826 from 0.8135 at 0.5507.

Despite rebounding further last week, USD/CAD is held below 1.3081 resistance. With 4 hour MACD crossed below signal line again, initial bias is neutral this week first. On the upside, decisive break of 1.3081 will be the first sign of completion of whole choppy fall from 1.3385. In that case, near term outlook will be turned bullish for 1.3225 resistance for confirmation. On the downside, below 1.2886 minor support will turn bias to the downside for 1.2781 instead. That would also argue that fall from 1.3385 is still in progress for another low.

In the bigger picture, corrective rebound from 1.2061 could have completed at 1.3385 already. Deeper fall is mildly in favor to 61.8% retracement of 1.2061 to 1.3385 at 1.2567, which is close to 1.2526 support. For now, we're not seeing fall from 1.3385 as resuming larger down trend from 1.4689 (2015 high) yet. Thus, we'll look for bottoming signal again below 1.2567 . On the upside, though, break of 1.3081 resistance will argue that the pull back from 1.3385 is completed and rise from 1.2061 is resuming for another high above 1.3385.

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 prospect of extending the long term up trend to 61.8% projection of 0.9406 to 1.4689 from 1.2061 at 1.5326 in medium to long term.

Outlook in GBP/JPY is unchanged as the cross extended the sideway consolidation pattern from 149.70 last week. Initial bias remains neutral this week first. While deeper pull back cannot be ruled out, further rally is still expected as long as 145.67 resistance turned support holds. On the upside, above 149.70 will target 153.84/156.69 resistance zone next. However, break of 145.67 will suggest that the rebound from 139.88 has completed and turn near term outlook bearish again.

In the bigger picture, current development suggests that GBP/JPY has successfully defended 139.29 cluster support (50% retracement of 122.36 to 156.59 at 139.47). And, the rally from 122.36 (2016 low) is still intact. Such medium to long term rise would extend through 156.96 high. This will now be the preferred case as long as 145.67 near term support holds. However, break of 145.67 will turn focus back to 139.29/47 key support zone.

In the longer term picture, the failure to sustain above 55 month EMA (now at 152.97) mixed the outlook. Nonetheless, as long as 139.29 holds, rise from 122.36 is in favor to extend to 50% retracement of 195.86 (2015 high) to 122.36 (2016 low) at 159.11, and possibly further to 61.8% retracement at 167.78 before completion. However, firm break of 139.29 will turn focus back to 116.83/122.36 support zone instead.

EUR/JPY dropped further to 129.20 last week but formed temporary low there. Initial bias is neutral this week first. Deeper decline is expected as long as 130.70 minor resistance holds. Below 129.20 will target 127.85 support first. Break there will confirm completion of rebound from 124.89 at 133.12 and bring retest of this low. On the upside, though, above 130.70 minor resistance will turn bias back to the upside for 133.12 instead.

In the bigger picture, current development suggests that EUR/JPY could have defended key support level of 124.08 key resistance turned support. And, the larger up trend from 109.03 (2016 low) is still in progress. Firm break of 137.49 structural resistance will target 141.04/149.76 resistance zone next. This will be the preferred case as long as 127.85 near term support holds. However, break of 127.895 will turn focus back to 124.08 key support level.

In the long term picture, at this point, EUR/JPY is staying in long term sideway pattern, established since 2000. Rise from 109.03 is seen as a leg inside the pattern. As long as 124.08 support holds, further rally is in favor in medium to long term through 149.76 high. However, break of 124.08 could extend the fall through 109.03 low instead.

EUR/GBP's fall from 0.9097 extended to as low as 0.8722 last week before forming a temporary low and recovered. Initial bias is neutral this week for consolidations. Upside should be limited by 0.8847 resistance to bring fall resumption. On the downside, break of 0.8772 will target 0.8620 low first. Decisive break there will resume whole down trend from 0.9304. In that case, next target will be 100% projection of 0.9305 to 0.8620 from 0.9097 at 0.8412.

In the bigger picture, EUR/GBP is seen as staying in long term range pattern started at 0.9304 (2016 high). Current development suggests that fall from 0.9303, as a down leg in the pattern, is still in progress. But in case of deeper fall, downside should be contained by 0.8116 cluster support, 50% retracement of 0.6935 (2015 low) to 0.9304 at 0.8120, to bring rebound.

In the long term picture, we're holding on to the view that rise from 0.6935 (2015 low) is resuming the up trend from 0.5680 (2000 low). Hence, after the consolidation from 0.9304 completes, we'd expect another medium term up trend through 0.9799 to 100% projection of 0.5680 to 0.9799 from 0.6935 at 1.1054.