Canadian dollar shrugs as CPI declinesIt has been a quiet day in the currency markets, and the Canadian dollar has followed suit. In the North American session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3386, down 0.15%.
Inflation in Canada slowed to 6.3% y/y in December, down from 6.8% a month earlier and matching the consensus. On monthly basis, the decline was noticeable at -0.6%, compared to 0.0% in November and the forecast of -0.1%. Core CPI fell to 5.4% y/y, down from 5.8% in November and below the forecast of 6.1%. The driver of the drop in inflation was a sharp decline in gasoline prices. Food prices, however, remain high and rose by 11% in December, a slight improvement over the November read of 11.4%. The Canadian dollar shrugged off the drop in inflation and remains close to the 1.34 round-figure mark.
The drop in inflation suggests that the Bank of Canada's aggressive rate cycle is having the desired effect, although inflation remains much higher than the BoC's target of 2%. The BoC holds its rate meeting next week, and the markets have priced in a 25- basis point hike, which would bring the cash rate to 4.50%. If inflation continues to downtrend, the expected hike next week could signal the end of the current rate-tightening cycle.
The BoC has said that future hikes would be determined by economic data, and there are signs of economic strength despite the rate hikes. GDP is expected to rise 1.2% y/y in Q4 and job growth sparkled in December, with over 100,000 new jobs. The markets are expecting a 25-bp hike next week, but it's uncertain what the central bank has planned after that. The markets will be looking for clues about future rate policy from the rate statement and BoC Governor Macklem post-meeting comments.
USD/CAD is testing support at 1.3389. Below, there is support at 1.3328
1.3455 and 1.3546 are the next resistance lines
BOC
USD/CAD eyes Bank of Canada meetThe Canadian dollar is slightly lower on Tuesday. In the European session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3620, up 0.24%.
The Bank of Canada has been aggressive in its tightening, including a whopping full-point hike in July, which brought the cash rate to 2.50%. The BoC has been gradually easing since then, raising rates by 75 bp and then 50 bp, bringing the cash rate to 3.75%. Will the trend continue on Wednesday? According to the markets, probably yes. There is a 72% chance of a 25 bp move, with a 28% likelihood of a second straight 50 bp move.
At the October meeting, there was a 50/50 split over whether the BoC would raise rates by 50 or 75 bp, and the Bank opted for the more conservative move. With the Canadian economy showing signs of slowing down amidst an uncertain global outlook, a modest 25-bp hike would make sense. Still, it must be remembered that inflation remains very high at 6.9% and the BoC has shown that it is willing to keep the rate pedal on the floor if necessary. If the BoC goes for the 50 bp increase, it would be viewed as a hawkish surprise which would likely boost the Canadian dollar.
What can we expect from the BoC in 2023? The terminal rate is projected at around 4.5%, which would mean several more rate hikes early in the New Year. Of course, rate policy will be heavily dictated by key data such as employment, consumer spending and inflation. In addition, the BoC will want to keep pace (or close to it) with the Federal Reserve, which is widely expected to raise rates by 50 bp next week.
USD/CAD is testing resistance at 1.3619. Above, there is resistance at 1.3762
There is support at 1.3502 and 1.3359
USD/CAD rises as retail sales slipThe Canadian dollar is in positive territory on Tuesday. In the North American session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3400, down 0.39%.
The Canadian consumer was not in a spending mood in September, as retail sales declined by 0.5%, following a 0.4% gain a month earlier. The forecast stood at -0.4%. Core retail sales fell by 0.7%, worse than the consensus of -0.4% and the prior reading of 0.5%. Despite the weak data, the Canadian dollar has managed to post gains today, thanks to a broad US dollar pullback.
The drop in retail sales will put a damper on expectations of a 50-basis point hike at the December meeting, as the Bank of Canada will likely deliver a modest 25-bp hike. Inflation, the bank's number one priority, remains very high at 6.9%, as the BoC's aggressive rate-hike cycle is yet to show results. The benchmark rate is currently at 3.75%, and like the Federal Reserve, there's more life remaining in the current rate-tightening cycle. The BoC is closely monitoring employment and retail sales data, as strong numbers will make it easier for the bank to continue hiking as policy makers look for that elusive peak in inflation.
The recent US inflation report triggered a wave of exuberance, sending equity markets higher and the US dollar on a nasty slide. Investors became more confident that Fed was close to a pivot in its aggressive policy and risk sentiment soared. The Fed has pushed back hard, with Fed members delivering hawkish statements and projections, which has chilled risk appetite and stabilized the US dollar. Fed member Mary Daly weighed in on Monday, stating that inflation remained unacceptably high and projecting that the fed funds rate will peak at 4.75%-5.00%.
USD/CAD tested resistance at 1.3455 earlier in the day. Next, there is resistance at 1.3523
There is support at 1.3341 and 1.3218
EUR/USD eyes ECB rate decisionEUR/USD is in a holding pattern ahead of today's ECB rate meeting. In the European session, the euro is trading at 1.0068, down 0.16%.
The ECB holds its policy meeting later today, amidst difficult economic conditions in the eurozone. Inflation jumped to 9.9% in September, up sharply from 9.1%. The manufacturing and services sectors are in decline and confidence levels are low. The markets have priced in a 0.75% hike and there has even been talk of a jumbo full-point increase. Could the ECB surprise with a lower-than-expected hike of 0.50%? Earlier this week, the Bank of Canada (BoC) and Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) both delivered smaller hikes than expected, at 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively. The message from both central banks is that they are close to ending their rate-tightening cycles and expect inflation to peak in the next several months.
Will the ECB follow suit? It's possible but unlikely. The ECB only entered the tightening game in July, and the current benchmark of 1.25% remains out-of-sync with inflation, which is close to double-digits and the ECB needs to be aggressive if it hopes to beat inflation. The benchmark rates are much higher in Canada (3.75%) and Australia (2.60%) and have slowed economic growth, while the ECB's low benchmark rate has not had the same effect. Still, the weak eurozone economy could tip into recession as a result of sharp rate hikes, which means that a 0.50% hike cannot be completely discounted. We can expect some movement from EUR/USD in response to the ECB decision - an increase of 0.75% or 1.00% will be bullish for the currency, while a 0.50% hike would disappoint investors and likely send the euro lower.
There is resistance at 1.0095 and 1.0154
0.9924 and 0.9814 are the next support levels
USD/CAD Outlook (26 October 2022)The USDCAD retraces from the recent high to trade at the 1.3660 support level. This move lower is driven by the weakness of the DXY and also respects the downward trendline.
Tomorrow, the Bank of Canada is due to release its decision with regards to the interest rates. Markets are expecting an increase of 75bps to take the interest rate to a high of 4.00%
The last interest rate hike on the 7th of September saw the USDCAD fall briefly. This is a likely scenario again, with the price likely to fall toward the 1.35 support level.
CADJPYHello traders,
As it comes to CADJPY, I see that after the positive CAD news on Friday, this pair has been sold hard.
I see a break of Trend line and support zone and I can see a Friday closure at retest price action. Perhaps the pair might go up for a bit, but this will indicate nice short opportunities to the previous support zones.
Note: The Bank of Japan perfoms an intervention to mitigate the YEN's depreciation. So, Yen may buy from now on invalidating last year's falling performance.
Good luck!
Strength To Strength DXY: Loonie Set To Depreciate Further With another crucial resistance broken at 1.37200, the Loonie seems to be on a gradual path to depreciation against the greenback. With FED aggressively raising rates to tame inflation, we can expect the DXY to get stronger and stronger near-term. No different analysis applies to USDCAD, as the Loonie is likely set to depreciate both technically and fundamentally against the USD.
Looking at the technical picture, the crucial resistance at 1.37200 was breached as the weekly candle closed above it convincingly. With this having taken place, the next resistance that is upcoming is present at 1.40500. For complete information on the levels, have a look at the main chart for in-depth observation.
Trade Safe & Cautiously. Cheers
USD/CAD eyes 130, retail sales nextThe Canadian dollar is lower for a third straight day. In the European session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.2984, up 0.29% on the day.
The US dollar has rebounded this week against the majors, including the Canadian dollar. USD/CAD is on the verge of breaking above the 1.30 line, which has held firm since July 18th. A weak Canadian retail sales report later today could send the Canadian dollar into 130-territory. Retail sales for July is expected to slow to 0.3% MoM, down sharply from the 2.2% gain in June. Core retail sales is projected to drop to 0.9% MoM, down from 1.9%.
Canadian consumers have been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis, and a natural response has been to cut down on spending. This could prove a major headache for the economy, as domestic demand is a key driver of growth. Canada's inflation has been heading toward double-digits, but as in the US, inflation dropped in July. Canada's CPI slowed to 7.6% YoY, down from 8.1% in June, which marked a 40-year high. However, CPI common, a core CPI indicator, rose to 5.5% YoY in July, up from 5.3% in June. This is the Bank of Canada's preferred gauge and means that the BoC, like the Fed, is not planning any U-turns in policy. We'll have to wait for additional data to determine if headline inflation has peaked or whether the July release was a one-time blip. Even if inflation is easing, it is expected to fall very slowly, which means that consumers will feel the economic pain for some time to come.
The BoC meets again next month, and the markets are expecting a 50 basis point increase, with a 25% of a 75bp hike. In July, the central bank surprised the markets with a super-size 100bp increase, the first G-7 country to deliver such a large rate hike in the post-Covid era.
There is resistance at 1.3040 and 1.3131
USD/CAD has support at 1.2909 and 1.2818
NZD/CAD: Bullish Reversal runningNZD/CAD: Bullish Reversal running
> breakout of bearish trendchannel
> Higher-high-higher-low sequence established
> weekly high broken to the upside
> 200er MA in H4 protecting downside
> next downward trendline fard away
> POC volume below current levels
The setup can potentially pull back a little before advancing. As we are Wall Street Swing Traders, our Stop Losses are far (see SL zone) to give our trades room to breath.
This way, we are achieving an unusually high success rate. I have included the past entries with the WSI H/L Wall Street system in the chart, as usual.
Feel free to reach out with any questions or comments.
Meikel & Your Team WSI
PS :
Join our stream tomorrow! The link will follow shortly in the comments.... See you there!
Yen tumbles to 139The Japanese yen has been pummeled today by the US dollar. USD/JPY is currently trading at 139.22, up 1.29% on the day.
The US dollar is showing broad strength today, and for the yen that has meant a new 20-year low, as USD/JPY touched 139.39 earlier in the day. The symbolic 140.00 line is within striking distance, and it would certainly be memorable if the yen breaks 140 right after the euro broke below the parity line for the first time since 2000.
There has been a parade of central banks announcing higher rates in the past day, notably the Bank of Canada, which surprised the markets with a massive 100bp increase, and the Bank of Korea, which raised rates by 50bp. This has put the Bank of Japan's loose policy further out of sync with the global trend of tightening, and this appears to be weighing on the yen.
On Monday, the yen slid around 1%, triggering a response from Japan's Finance Minister Suzuki, who expressed his concern about the exchange rate at a meeting with US Treasury Secretary Yellen. We have seen this jawboning from Suzuki before, but the likelihood of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) intervening in the currency markets to prop up the ailing yen are remote. We have seen the yen cross the 120 and 130 lines without incident, and there is nothing magical about the 140 level either.
I would note that there are mixed signals emanating from the MOF and the Bank of Japan, which lead me to believe that no intervention is being planned. Governor Kuroda reiterated on Monday that the central bank would take additional monetary easing steps as necessary in order to boost the fragile economy. Kuroda has said on occasion that a weak yen has its advantages, and it seems unlikely that a 140 yen will trigger any change in policy from the BoJ. There are no guarantees, of course, but I would submit that the MoF and BoJ have bigger worries than a weak Japanese yen.
USD/JPY has support at 135.82 and 135.06
There is resistance at the round number of 140.00, followed by 142.14
CADCHF short setup ahead of BoCI believe that the expected increase in rates from the BoC tomorrow has already been priced into the pair, I opened a sell limit around the 0.618 fib retracement considering the volatility that might happen tomorrow. COT shows bearish strength increasing for CAD while CHF remains on the bullish side.
Today’s Notable Sentiment ShiftsCAD/BoC – The Bank of Canada opened the door to a more aggressive pace of tightening at their June meeting, stating it was prepared to act “more forcefully” if needed to tame inflation, even as it went ahead with a historic second consecutive 50-basis-point rate hike, taking the Overnight Rate to 1.5%.
The BoC reasoned that “the risk of elevated inflation becoming entrenched has risen. The Bank will use its monetary policy tools to return inflation to target and keep inflation expectations well-anchored.” They added that rates could go above the 2%-3% neutral range for a period, if needed.
Bank of Canada hints at half-point hikeThe Canadian dollar has been on a nasty slide, falling around 2% since Thursday. There are no Canadian releases until GDP on Friday, which means that US releases during the week will have a significant impact on the movement of USD/CAD.
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem can usually be counted on for using clear and understandable language, which I'm always grateful for, as I vividly recall trying to decipher Alan Greenspan's Fedspeak years ago. Unlike Greenspan, Macklem wants the markets to actually understand what he's saying. The BoC delivered a 0.50% hike earlier this month, the largest increase in over 20 years. Macklem remains in hawkish mode and said on Monday that additional 0.50% increases were being considered. The markets expect the BoC to tighten at a fast pace - a 0.50% has been priced in for the June meeting, with a slight possibility of a massive 0.75% hike.
The primary driver for the BoC's aggressive stance is, of, course, the surge in inflation. The BoC is committed to wrestling inflation down from its highest level in 30 years, with the challenge of raising rates enough to curb inflation without bringing the economy to a screeching halt. The BoC is also keeping an eye on what's happening down south with the Federal Reserve. With the US also grappling with soaring inflation, the Fed may deliver 0.50% hikes as well, and this will likely propel the US dollar higher. The BoC doesn't want to see the Canadian dollar get pummelled and with rates set to go as high as 3% by year's end, the BoC should be able to keep in sync with the Fed, which will help the Canadian currency keep pace with the US dollar. With the BoC aggressively raising rates and oil prices around the 100-dollar mark, the outlook for the Canadian dollar is positive.
USD/CAD has support at 1.2632 and 1.2537
There is resistance at 1.2804 and 1.2899
Canadian dollar jumps as CPI surgesThe Canadian dollar is up sharply on Wednesday, as Canada's inflation report was hotter than expected. In the North American session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.2519, down 0.74% on the day.
Canada's CPI for March jumped 6.7% YoY, a full percentage point higher than the 5.7% gain in February. On a monthly basis, inflation rose 1.4%, up from 1.0% prior. Both the annual and monthly figures were the highest since January 1991. Inflationary pressures are not just increasing, but are widespread across economic sectors. Fuel, food, durable goods, restaurants, air travel - you name it and prices have moved in one direction - up.
The upswing in inflation is a worrying trend for the BoC, and given the tight labor market and solid growth in the economy, we could be treated to a second straight 0.50% rate increase at the June meeting. At last week's meeting, the central bank raised rates from 0.50% to 1.00%. The Canadian dollar moved higher, as investors liked the oversize rate hike as well as the BoC's announcement that it would scale back its balance sheet. The BoC appears to be in sync with the Federal Reserve, as the BoC's rate-tightening cycle could see rates rise as high as 3% but the end of the year. This should help the Canadian dollar keep pace with a Fed-powered US dollar, at least with regard to monetary policy.
We saw 0.50% rate hikes from the BoC and RBNZ last week and the Fed is likely to follow suit at its May meeting, given that US inflation is galloping along at a 40-year high. FOMC member Bullard is even suggesting that a massive 0.75% hike is a possibility. This stance is not Fed policy, but with talk of a 0.75% increase, a 0.50% move is looking less dramatic, and might not shake up the markets, which have been fed a steady diet of hawkish statements from Fed members over the past few weeks.
USD/CAD has broken below resistance at 1.2533. Below, there is support at 1.2451
There is resistance at 1.2605 and 1.2687
Canadian dollar flat, CPI nextIt has been a quiet week for the Canadian dollar, despite the crisis between Ukraine and Russia, which has captivated the world's attention. The lack of movement could change on Wednesday, as Canada releases the inflation report for February.
Canada's CPI looked weak in December, with a reading of -0.1% m/m. However, inflation is expected to have jumped in January, with a consensus of a strong gain of 0.6%. A reading within expectations would indicate that high inflation remains alive and well and will put pressure on the Bank of Canada to take aggressive action in order to curb inflation.
BoC Governor Tiff Macklem has said that more rate hikes are coming in order to lower inflation to the central bank's 2% target, but other than that hasn't provided any guidance. Macklem has maintained that inflation is transitory and will ease in the second half of the year but he may have to adjust his stance, as we saw with Fed Chair Powell, if inflation continues to accelerate.
The crisis on the Ukraine/Russia border remains a powder keg that could explode at any time. Somewhat surprisingly, this major geopolitical development has not affected the Canadian dollar, which is a minor currency that is sensitive to risk sentiment. That could change if there are dramatic moves in the next few days, such as a Russian invasion, which could see the currency tumble, or a Russian troop withdrawal from the border, which would be bullish for the Canadian dollar.
There are still hopes that a diplomatic solution can be reached and there have been reports of some Russian troops withdrawing from the border. The solution to the crisis is firmly in the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The West has no intention of supporting Ukraine militarily, so the key question is whether the threat of sanctions is enough to dissuade Putin from starting a war in central Europe.
USD/CAD faces resistance at 1.2818 and 1.2873
1.2679 is being tested in support for a second straight day. Below, there is support at 1.2595
Canadian dollar edges higherThe Canadian dollar has posted slight gains on Wednesday. There are no Canadian tier-1 events on the calendar this week, so we can expect US releases will have a magnified impact on the movement of the Canadian dollar this week.
With the Fed poised to launch a series of rate hikes starting in March and inflation surging in Canada, it's unlikely that the Bank of Canada will simply fold its hands. BoC Governor Tiff Macklem said as much when speaking to a Senate committee in Ottawa last week. Macklem said that additional interest rates are needed to lower inflation to the 2% target, with the number of hikes depending on economic developments. And after that? There hasn't been much guidance from the BoC, leaving the markets in the dark. Although Macklem was clear that additional rate hikes are on the way, his comments indicated that he still views inflation as transitory, saying that he expects inflation to ease in the second half of 2022. Macklem is speaking to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce today and any hints about rate moves could wake up the sleepy Canadian dollar.
In the US, the markets have priced in at least five rate hikes this year, but the Fed is still more dovish. Earlier in the day, Fed member Bostic said that he saw inflation easing shortly and said he expects 3-4 rate hikes this year. Bostic's remarks boosted risk appetite, as concerns that the Fed will tighten aggressively have eased.
US inflation continues to rise and the markets are bracing for an acceleration in January CPI. The consensus stands at 7.3%, which would be up from 7.0% in December. If inflation is within expectations or higher, the likelihood of a 50-basis point hike in March will increase. According to CME's FedWatch, the markets have priced in a 75% chance of a 25-bps rise and a 25% chance of a 50-bps hike at the March meeting.
USD/CAD faces resistance at 1.2818 and 1.2873
1.2679 is being tested in support for a second straight day. Below, there is support at 1.2595
Cdn. dollar rebounds after soft job dataThe Canadian dollar has started the week with strong gains, recovering after sharp losses at the end of the week. There are no Canadian tier-1 events on the calendar, so US numbers will have a magnified impact on the movement of the Canadian dollar.
The US nonfarm payrolls outperformed in spectacular style, posting a gain of 467 thousand jobs in January. Many analysts had projected a negative print, and the consensus of 125 thousand showed that expectations were quite low. With inflation at 40-year highs, wage pressures are rising. Average hourly earnings climbed 5.7% in January y/y, as workers seek higher wages due to the rise in the cost of living. The strong NFP report will keep the pressure on the Fed not to ease up on the rate pedal after the (widely expected) March liftoff.
It was a starkly different story north of the border, as the Canadian employment report for January was dismal. The economy shed 200.1 thousand jobs, after a gain of 78.6 thousand in November. The consensus stood at -117.5 thousand. The unemployment rate jumped from 6.0% to 6.5%, higher than the estimate of 6.2%.
The weak Canadian jobs reports, coupled with a massive NFP which has raised expectations of more rate hikes, was a double-whammy that sent the Canadian dollar sharply lower on Friday.
BoC Governor Tiff Macklem testified before a Senate banking committee in Ottawa last week, and his comments indicated that Macklem still views inflation as transitory, as he stated that the BoC expects inflation to ease in the second half of 2022. At the same time, Macklem was clear that additional interest rates are needed to lower inflation to the 2% target, with the number of hikes depending on economic developments. The BoC is widely expected to raise rates at its next meeting in early March, but similar to the Fed, there's lots of uncertainty about what happens after that. Macklem will speak on Wednesday and the markets will be looking for clues regarding future rate hikes.
USD/CAD faces resistance at 1.2818 and 1.2873
1.2679 was tested in support earlier in the day. Below, there is support at 1.2595