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USD/CAD eyes Canada, US job reportsIt's a busy day in both Canada and the US, with both countries releasing July employment reports. It wasn't so long ago that US nonfarm payrolls was eagerly anticipated and was the most important event of the week. The NFP often had a significant impact on the movement of the US dollar. That has changed in the new economic landscape of red-hot inflation and central banks raising interest rates practically every month. The NFP has been overshadowed as the media breathlessly reports new inflation records and the threat of a recession. Still, the NFP remains an important indicator and a surprise reading can still shake up the markets. The July NFP is expected at 250 thousand, following a surprisingly strong June release of 372 thousand. A weak reading will raise concerns about a recession, which would likely see US yields and the US dollar fall. Conversely, a stronger than expected number would probably boost yields and the US dollar, as a stronger labour market would allow the Fed to remain hawkish regarding rate policy. The markets have priced in an inflation peak and the Fed winding up its rate-tightening cycle, which has sent the US dollar on a hasty retreat. Fed policy makers have been pushing back, sending out the message this week that there are more large hikes on the way as inflation is not yet under control. A strong NFP reading would reinforce the Fed's message and provide some support for the US dollar. Canada will also publish employment data later today. The economy is expected to have created 20.0 thousand jobs in July, after a decline of 43.2 thousand in May. A stronger-than-expected reading should boost the Canadian dollar, while an underperformance could result in the currency losing ground. As well, Canada releases Ivey PMI. The indicator slumped to 62.2 in June, down from 72.0, and is expected to slow to 60.3. A surprise reading could have an impact on the direction of USD/CAD in the North American session. USD/CAD is putting pressure on 1.2899. Above, there is resistance at 1.3002 USD/CAD has support at 1.2741 and 1.2686
by OANDA
NZD slides, employment report nextThe New Zealand dollar has reversed directions today and recorded sharp losses. NZD/USD is trading at 0.6285, down 0.75% on the day. Risk appetite has fallen, with US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's controversial trip to Taiwan sending risk appetite lower. The New Zealand dollar has followed the Aussie, which has plunged around 1.5% today. As well, NZD/USD is under pressure from NZD/JPY, which is down 1% today due to safe-haven flows to the Japanese yen. New Zealand releases the employment report for Q2 on Wednesday. The labour market has been solid but unspectacular - in each of the last two quarters, Employment Change climbed by a negligible 0.1%, while the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.2%. Employment Change is expected to rise to 0.4% and the unemployment rate is forecast to tick lower to 3.1%. With the markets expecting only a slight change in the second quarter, I don't expect the New Zealand dollar to react unless the forecasts are wide off the mark. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand continues to grapple with soaring inflation, which rose to 7.3% in Q2, up from 6.9% in Q1. The central bank has raised rates to 2.50%, but with inflation well above the inflation target of around 2%, rates will have to keep rising in order to reel in inflation. The RBNZ is also concerned about inflation expectations, which if left unchecked will strengthen inflation and exacerbate the Bank's efforts to curb inflation. Inflation Expectations accelerated for eight straight quarters and hit 3.29% in Q1, up from 3.27% and a 31-year high. We'll get a look at Inflation Expectations for Q2 next week, and if the current trend continues and the reading accelerates, it will put further pressure on the RBNZ to respond with a large rate hike at the August 17th meeting. NZD/USD is putting strong pressure on support at 0.6271. Below, there is support at 0.6213 There is resistance at 0.6350 and 0.6408
by OANDA
Pound yawns as inflation climbsThe British pound is almost unchanged today, as GBP/USD trades at the 1.2000 line. UK inflation rose in June to its highest level since 1982, as the cost-of-living crisis has moved from bad to worse. Headline CPI hit 9.4% YoY, up from 9.1% in May and a notch above the consensus forecast of 9.3%. Core CPI dipped from 5.9% to 5.8%, matching the forecast. The UK employment report yesterday was stronger than expected, and together with the sizzling inflation numbers, there is strong pressure on the BoE to accelerate rate hikes. A strong labor market means that the economy should be able to withstand higher rate increases - the BoE has been ultra-cautious, raising rates a mere 0.25% five consecutive times. Clearly, that extent of rate tightening won't be enough to make a dent in inflation, which is approaching 10%. BoE Governor Bailey hinted in a speech yesterday that a 0.50% salvo was on the table at the August meeting. The BoE has essentially thrown in the towel in the fight against inflation, hoping that the elusive inflation peak will appear sometime later this year. The Bank expects inflation to hit 11% before easing lower. Wage growth declined sharply in the three months to May to 6.2%, down from 6.8%. With inflation rising and wage growth falling, consumers are getting hammered and the risk of a recession is high. Still, as far as the BoE is concerned, inflation remains enemy number one, and a recession is a price the central bank is willing to pay in order to reel in runaway inflation. The BoE has weathered a lot of criticism over its handling of inflation, and a 0.50% increase at the August meeting would help restore some credibility and show that the Bank is determined to stamp out inflation. GBP/USD continues to test resistance at 1.2018. Above, there is resistance at 1.2167  There is support at 1.1889 and 1.1740
by OANDA
Aussie edges up after strong US retail salesThe week wrapped up on a high note, as June US retail sales beat expectations. The headline and core readings both accelerated in June, with solid gains of 1.0%. This indicates that US consumers are still spending despite the toll that higher inflation and higher rates are taking on disposable income. The strong retail sales report will raise expectations that the Fed will be content to raise rates "only" by 0.75%, rather than a full 1.00% at the next meeting. When the markets have a chance to digest the numbers on Monday, risk appetite will likely rise, which could push the US dollar lower. China's economy slowed down in the second quarter, which is no real surprise given the Covid-zero policy which resulted in mass lockdowns. The economy posted a small gain of 0.4% YoY, missing the estimate of 1.0% (4.8% prior). On an annualized basis, GDP contracted by 2.6%, worse than the forecast of -1.5% (+1.4% prior). These weak numbers were offset by a strong bounce in retail sales, which jumped 3.10% in June, crushing the estimate of -0.3% (-6.7% prior). If China can avoid further lockdowns in key cities such as Shanghai, we can expect GDP to rebound in Q3. The health of China's economy is critical for Australia, as China is its biggest trading partner. An excellent employment report earlier this week on Thursday has raised concerns that the RBA may need to accelerate its rate-tightening cycle and consider larger rate increases. The economy gained 88.8 thousand new jobs, blowing the estimate of 30.0 thousand out of the water. As well, the unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, down from 3.9% and below the 3.8% estimate. The RBA has been raising rates aggressively, but even so, the cash rate is still at a low 1.35%, and clearly the RBA will have to hike sharply to make a dent in inflation, which is running at 5.1%. We'll get a look at CPI for the second quarter at the end of July. AUD/USD is putting pressure on resistance at 0.6782. Next, there is resistance at 0.6839 There is support at 0.6706 and 0.6649
by OANDA
Aussie slammed after RBA hikeThe Australian dollar is sharply lower on Tuesday. In the European session, AUD/USD is trading at 0.6796, down 1.0% on the day. The RBA delivered a 0.50% rate hike for a second straight month, bringing the cash rate to 1.35%. The central bank has now hiked by 1.25% since May, marking the fastest series of moves since 1994. This aggressive stance didn't do anything for the volatile Australian dollar, which has plunged over 1% today. There had been some uncertainty as to whether the RBA would hike by 0.25% or 0.50%. However, when Governor Lowe warned that inflation could hit 7% by the end of the year, the markets priced in a 0.50% move. The Australian dollar's sharp fall is surprising, as I would have expected the 0.50% hike to provide the currency with a short-lived jump. The Aussie's woes appear to be part of a risk-off move in the currency markets, with the US dollar posting broad gains today. The RBA's 0.50% hike is a vote of confidence in the Australian economy by the RBA, as Lowe is betting that the economy is resilient enough to withstand a sharp increase in rates. Employment is at a low rate of 3.9%, job vacancies are at record highs and consumer demand remains robust. The housing sector has been hit by higher borrowing costs, which will likely dampen household spending in the coming months. Lowe has admitted that there is a "narrow path" between tightening enough to curb inflation or being too aggressive and causing a recession. Attention will now shift to the Australian inflation report for Q1, which will be released in the last week of July. Inflation is expected to continue to accelerate, with a peak in inflation remaining elusive. The markets have priced in another 0.50% hike in August and expect the cash rate to hit 3% or even higher by the end of 2022. AUD/USD is testing support at 0.6849, followed by support at 0.6732 There is resistance at 0.6933 and 0.7050
by OANDA
1
Aussie eyes RBA minutesIt was a roller-coaster week for the Australian dollar, with much of the volatility driven by central bank rate moves. AUD/USD ended the week with a huge decline of 1.62% but has started the week in positive territory. Last week's releases indicate that the labour market remains robust and that inflation expectations are accelerating. Australia's employment report for May, released on Thursday, indicated that the labor market remains strong. The economy created 60.6 thousand jobs, crushing the estimate of 25.0 thousand (4.0 thousand prior). The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9%. On the inflation front, inflation expectations rose sharply to 6.7% in June, up from 5.0% in May. Will RBA reveal its hand in the minutes? The RBA is undoubtedly carefully monitoring employment and inflation data, and both of these releases lend support for the central bank to continue raising rates - the employment market is strong enough to handle tighter policy, while the spectre of unanchored inflation expectations is a red flag that the RBA cannot ignore. Policy makers are willing to take the risk that higher rates could tip the economy into recession if that is the price to pay for lower inflation, which is seen as a huge danger to the economy. The RBA will be in the spotlight on Tuesday, with the release of the minutes from the meeting earlier in June. At that meeting, the RBA shocked the markets with a rate increase of 0.50%, bringing the cash rate to 0.85%. Most analysts had expected a 0.25% hike. Even with the super-size hike, the RBA has some catching up to do, with a cash rate still below 1.0%. The markets will be hoped to glean some insights from the minutes as to the direction of RBA rate policy. Any signals that the RBA plans to hike again by 0.50% should result in gains for the Australian dollar. AUD/USD is testing resistance at 0.6952. Above, there is resistance at 0.7052 There is support at 0.6834 and 0.6734
by OANDA
Aussie sinks as risk sentiment slidesThe week ended with a disappointing US inflation report. Headline inflation in May rose to 8.6% YoY, up from 8.3% in April. Core inflation eased to 6.0%, down from 6.2%, but that was little comfort for the markets, which are showing signs of panic over entrenched inflation. The result was that risk appetite fell, sending the US dollar surging against the major currencies. With no sign of an inflation peak, it's clear that the Federal Reserve will have to keep its foot pressed to the floor when it comes to upcoming rate hikes. This makes it likely that the Fed will deliver 50-bp hikes in June, July and September. Just a couple of weeks ago the Fed signalled it would take a break in September, but that now seems a luxury it can't afford, given that inflation hasn't eased. There have been calls for the Fed to deliver a massive 75-bps salvo at Wednesday's meeting, but such a shock move seems unlikely, especially in the current turbulent economic environment. If Fed Chair Powell is looking to send a hawkish message to the markets, he could hint at the meeting press conference that a 75-bp increase is on the table if inflation doesn't ease. Such a warning would likely boost the US dollar. There are some key releases out of Australia this week, kicking off with NAB Business Confidence on Tuesday. The indicator slowed to 10 points in May, down from 16 in April. If the downtrend continues, the Australian dollar could continue to lose ground. This will be followed by Westpac Consumer Sentiment on Wednesday and the May employment report on Thursday. AUD/USD is testing support at 0.6973, followed by support at 0.6902 There is resistance at 0.7181 and 0.7110
by OANDA
1
NZ dollar steady after solid jobs reportThe New Zealand dollar is in positive territory on Wednesday, as the currency looks for its first winning session since April 20th. The New Zealand labour market remains robust, as confirmed by the Q1 employment report. The unemployment rate remained at a record low of 3.2%, matching expectations. Employment growth fell to 2.9%, (3.1% exp.), which was down from the 3.5% gain in Q1. What was perhaps more significant was wage growth, which climbed to 3.1% YoY, its highest level since 2008. The RBNZ places great weight on wage growth and this upswing will raise pressure on the central bank to deliver another 0.50% rate hike at the May 25th meeting, which would bring the Official Cash Rate to 2.0%. Inflation hit 6.9% in the first quarter and the RBNZ is determined to curb inflation expectations, which like CPI, continues to accelerate. The RBNZ delivered a 0.50% in April and has telegraphed the markets that more tightening is needed. Despite the RBNZ's hawkish stance, the New Zealand dollar has been steamrolled by its US cousin. NZD/USD plunged 6.88% in the month of April, even with the 0.50% rate hike in April. The Fed holds its policy meeting later today, with a 0.50% rate increase a virtual certainty. Such a move will be highly significant, as it would mark the Fed's largest rate increase in 20 years and demonstrates that the Fed is committed to reducing inflation, which has hit 40-year highs. The half-point increase has been priced in, but what remains uncertain is the tone of the rate statement and how aggressively will the Fed scale back its balance sheet (quantitative tightening). If the Fed delivers a hawkish message to the markets in addition to the rate hike, the US dollar will likely respond with gains. There is support at 0.6391 and 0.6325 We find resistance at 0.6519 and 0.6585
by OANDA
Australian dollar falls on US retail salesAustralia's employment report was respectable, and the Australian dollar's reaction was muted. The economy created 17.9 thousand new jobs in March, down from 77.4 prior and shy of the estimate of 40.0 thousand.  The unemployment rate remained at a sizzling 4.0%, the lowest since 2008. Today's numbers are unlikely to shed much light on the timeline for the RBA's expected rate hike. The Bank stayed on the sidelines at the April meeting, but the change in language in the rate statement was enough to convince the markets that a rate-hike cycle is imminent. Inflation is soaring, and the strong economic fundamentals indicate that the economy can handle a series of rate hikes. What is standing in the way of a May hike is the Australian general election on May 21st. The RBA will be reluctant to make a move in the middle of an election campaign, although the record books indicate that the central bank did raise rates in November 2007 in the midst of an election. The Australian dollar fell early in the North American session, after the release of US March retail sales. The US dollar has posted broad gains, as investors were relieved that the retail sales were within expectations, despite soaring inflation. Core retail sales actually beat the consensus of 1.0% MoM, with a gain of 1.1%. This was up nicely from 0.6% in February. The headline figure came in at 0.6% (0.8% prior). This was just shy of the 0.5% estimate. The US dollar also received some help from Preliminary UoM Consumer Sentiment, which improved to 65.7 in April, up sharply from 59.4 in March. The Expectations Index surged, pointing to renewed consumer confidence. AUD/USD faces resistance at 0.7605 and 0.7750 There is support at 0.7371 and 0.7282
by OANDA
What 3 events will traders be watching this week? 31 Jan- 05 FebThis week’s 3 events will concentrate on US employment numbers. The released figures could bolster or work against the strength found in the USD since the beginning of the year. For instance, the NZD and EUR have quickly dropped in value against the USD and are currently at a multi-month low against the greenback. Depending on this week’s numbers, the GBP, CAD, and AUD, which are presently floating close to 1-month lows, may soon be joining the NZD and EUR at values not seen since mid-2020. Wednesday and Thursday, February 02 and 03: Wednesday: Jolts Job DEC Thursday: ADP Employment Change JAN Two highly anticipated precursors to Friday’s Non-farm Payrolls report are released over Wednesday and Thursday this week. The first, the JOLTS Job Openings for December, is expected to remain close to record highs with 10.5 million jobs advertised across the US. Employers are seemingly experiencing difficulty holding onto their workforce, with job quits matching recorded highs and labour force participation struggles to budge from 40-year lows. While the JOLTS Job Openings report is limited in its impact on forex and stocks, it does help set the tone for the following two more appreciable job reports. The second, the ADP Employment Change for January, is estimated to report the lowest number of new jobs added to the US private sector since February 2021, with the consensus forecasting 200K. The typically slow start to the year, if forecasts are accurate, will sit in stark contrast to December’s (2021) 800K jobs, which shocked analysts who were expecting less than half this number at the end of last year. Saturday, February 05: Non-farm Payrolls JAN Non-farm Payrolls JAN is forecast to report 155K jobs added to the US economy in January, representing a marked slowdown in jobs growth, but in line with what has been seen with the past few months. Last month’s report for December 2021 delivered 199K jobs, while November 2021 reported 249K jobs. Disappointing Non-farm Payrolls may no longer have the same impact it once did, as investors appear content with the slowing job growth, and negative pressure on the USD typically fails to eventuate after such an event. While job growth is slowing, it should be noted that wage pressure is rising, which could be a good thing for US consumer spending and optimism for the US economy in general.
by BlackBull_Markets
EURUSD Non Farm Payroll Catalyst?Non-Farm Payroll numbers are due today, after a strong decline EURUSD has settled into a consolidation/bear flag formation. I've been watching for a breakout of this range for a while now and while the structure of the flag has changed, the overarching idea is the same - looking for a break below the range to continue the larger trend. Non-Farm Payroll tends to bring with it spikes of volatility and can often be the catalyst to begin a new trend or new leg of a trend, which is what we're watching out for today.
Short
by HayeTrading
25
Canadian dollar calm ahead of job reportsThe Canadian dollar is on a holding pattern ahead of key Canadian and US employment reports later today. Currently, USD/CAD is trading just above the 1.27 line. It could be an active North American session for the Canadian dollar, with the release of Canada's job creation numbers and the US nonfarm payrolls. Expectations are low for the Canadian data, with a forecast of just 27 thousand new jobs in December, after a robust gain of 153 thousand in November. There is plenty of anticipation around the nonfarm payroll release, however, especially after the monster ADP release earlier this week. The ADP gain of 807 thousand was double the consensus of 400 thousand, but historically, ADP has not been a reliable gauge of nonfarm payrolls. The forecast for NFP is around 425 thousand, and a release below 250 thousand or above 550 thousand could shake up the US dollar. Investors are starting to get nervous now that a Fed rate hike could be only a few months away, and the timeline for the first rate hike could be impacted by the strength of the nonfarm payroll release. A strong gain would strengthen the likelihood of a March hike, while a soft NFP could delay lift-off of a hike, which could lead to a rotation out of US dollars. In determining when to start hiking, policymakers will be looking not only at the strength of the recovery but also at inflationary pressures. The Fed has abandoned its view that inflation is 'transitory' and this week's FOMC minutes indicated that policymakers viewed inflation risks to the upside and are also concerned about the very tight job market. The minutes also stated that the Fed is considering scaling back its balance sheet as another brake on the economy. The markets took note, with 10-year bonds rising above 1.70% and CME FedWatch pegging the likelihood of a March hike above 70%. USD/CAD is testing resistance at 1.2784. Above, there is resistance at 1.2929 There are support levels at 1.2558 and 1.2477
by OANDA
BoE Ends The Year With A Hike! (20 December 2021)Surprise rate hike! The Bank of England (BoE) delivered an interest rate hike of 0.15% during their monetary policy announcement last Thursday. Out of the nine committee members, eight voted for a rate hike while one voted for rate to remain unchanged at the previous 0.10%. All nine members voted for no change of corporate bond purchases at £20 billion and UK government bond purchases at £875 billion, totaling £895 billion. With an almost unanimous decision to hike interest rate as opposed to the previous meeting whereby only two members voted for a rate hike, it seems like the committee members are downplaying the impact of the COVID Omicron variant despite the recent spike in Omicron cases in the UK. Reasons behind the hike The first motivating factor for the BoE to hike interest rate is the resilient job market. To the surprise of the central bank, there was no concrete evidence that the ending of the UK furlough scheme in September led to a weakening in the labour market. Instead, the latest data released by the Labour Force Survey indicated that unemployment rate has fallen to 4.2% in the three months to October and that 257,000 jobs were added into the economy in November, thus showing little impact from the exiting of the furlough scheme. Moreover, the central bank’s committee highlighted during the November’s meeting that if future employment data were to be in line with its projection, it will be necessary for rate hikes to take place in order to tone down inflation and maintain it at the BoE’s 2% target. And during the meeting last week, the central bank deemed that the condition has been met, thus an interest rate hike is warranted. Another motivating factor for the rate hike is the recent strong inflation that has caught the attention of the UK Finance minister, leading to the exchange of open letters between him and BoE Governor Bailey. In November, prices in the UK rose to a 10-year high level of 5.1% and is expected to remain around the same level throughout the winter period and peak around 6% in next April. Being the first G7 central bank to carry out an interest rate hike, we can certainly expect the next hike to come as soon as February 2022 since inflation is on the way to triple the central bank’s 2% target.
by GH_Lee
1
Aussie extends losses, job data nextIt has been a rough week for the Australian dollar, which has is down close to 2 per cent this week. AUD/USD is currently trading at 0.7232, down 0.28% on the day. Australia releases key employment data early on Thursday, and the forecast is not encouraging. The economy is expected to have shed 42.5 thousand in July, after a gain of 29.1 thousand in June. The unemployment rate is projected to tick upwards to 5.0%, up from 4.9%. Wage growth data was released today, with Q2 showing a gain of 0.4%, down from 0.6% in the previous two quarters. With much of Australia under lockdown due to the outbreak of the delta variant of Covid, employment numbers could get worse and send the Australian dollar lower. The currency has fallen 1.9% this week and earlier today fell to a 10-month low. Unless the upcoming job numbers are stronger than expected, it could continue to be a rough week for the Australian dollar. The Federal Reserve will host a summit in Jackson Hole next week, and the meeting will be closely watched for any signals regarding a taper, possibly at the December meeting. Fed Chair Powell has taken great pains to telegraph his plans and keep the market in the loop. A tapering of the asset purchase program would be a massive move, and the Fed would make sure to clearly notify the markets of its plans at Jackson Hole or at the September meeting. With investors on the alert for a tapering signal, and an upsurge in Covid sapping confidence in the global recovery, sentiment towards the safe-haven US dollar should remain strong. AUD is testing resistance at 0.7402. Close by, there is resistance at 0.7431. On the downside, 0.7225 is fluid in support. Below, there is support at 0.7103
by OANDA
July PMI For 4 Major Economies (26 July 2021)Last Friday, IHS Markit released the preliminary PMI data for four major economies. Below are the key points from the individual reports. United States Services sector slowed down to a 5-month low pace due to labour shortages. Manufacturing sector expanded at record high pace. Prices of goods and services remained steep as firms pass on the high costs to consumers. Total employment growth eased to 4-month low. Business confidence declined to 7-month low mainly due to rising inflation, labour and material shortages, as well as rising concerns over the pandemic. Europe Services sector expanded at the fastest pace in 15 years due to reopening of economy from the lifting of COVID restrictions. Manufacturing sector expanded at a slightly reduced pace due to supply constraints, which led to an increase in backlogs of work. Employment continues to rise sharply. Prices for goods and services rose as demand surpassed supply. Business confidence declined to 5-month low as concerns over the COVID Delta variant grow. United Kingdom Business activities in the UK slowed down considerably due to shortages of workers and raw materials. Backlogs declined due to a slowdown in business activities. Business and consumer confidence fell due to the pandemic and Brexit-related difficulties with export sales. Employment growth eased to the slowest level since March. Australia Services sector slipped into contraction for the first time in 11 months. Renewed COVID restrictions caused by the spread of Delta variant affected demand and output in Australia. Decline in demand in the services sector led to a decline in work outstanding. Manufacturers continue to report shortages of supply, leading to an increase in work outstanding. Employment in both the services and manufacturing sectors continue to grow.
TVC:DXY
by GH_Lee
Gold bears battle key horizontal support ahead of US ADP dataGold justifies a downswing from 100-DMA and a 61.8% Fibonacci retracement break around $1,757 during early Wednesday. It should, however, be noted that a horizontal line from mid-March could test the bears around $1,755 amid nearly oversold RSI conditions, suggesting a corrective pullback. Failing to do so will make the quote vulnerable to decline towards the April 13 low of $1,723 before directing the gold bears to the yearly bottom surrounding $1,675. Though, the $1,700 threshold may offer an intermediate halt during the fall. During the anticipated bounce, also the much-needed before Friday’s US NFP, 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level of $1,768 will act as an immediate hurdle before the 100-DMA near $1,792. Although gold buyers may gain conviction beyond $1,792, the $1,800 threshold and May 13 low, as well as February 23 top, respectively around $1,808 and $1,816, could test the metal’s further upside. Overall, gold prices brace for a bounce but today’s US ADP Employment Change data for June becomes the key as it’s a precursor to Friday’s Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP).
OANDA:XAUUSDLong
by MTradingGlobal
1
Canadian dollar rebounds, retail sales nextThe Canadian dollar has reversed directions on Thursday and posted gains. In the North American session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.2076, down 0.46% on the day. On the fundamental front, the Canada ADP employment report for April posted a sharp gain of  351.3 thousand, after a sizzling read of 634.8 thousand in March. The week wraps up with Canada retail sales in March on Friday (12:30 GMT). The consensus is for a respectable gain of 2.3%, after an impressive read of 4.8% in the previous release. The FOMC minutes from the April policy meeting were somewhat surprising. The minutes stated that Fed policymakers were open to begin considering a taper of bond purchases over the upcoming meetings. This development spooked Wall Street and pushed the dollar higher, on fears that the Fed could begin to tighten policy as early as next month. The admission that the Fed is open to tapering was in marked contrast to the constant message that Fed members have been sending out at practically every public appearance, with a reiteration that the Fed had no plans to taper its massive QE programme for the foreseeable future. The Fed has dismissed the uproar in the markets over a surge in inflation in April, insisting that a jump in inflation was transitory. Now it appears that Fed member Robert Kaplan, who made headlines recently when he urged the Fed to consider discussing tapering, is not a lone voice in the wilderness. At the same time, it should be remembered that the Fed officials are not saying that it plans to taper, rather that they are open to debate the subject. USD/CAD faces resistance at 1.2190 and 1.2275. The pair is testing support at 1.2034. Below, there is support at 1.1963.
by OANDA
Aussie slides on soft consumer confidenceThe Australian dollar has reversed directions on Wednesday and recorded considerable losses. In the European session, AUD/USD is trading at 0.7750, down 0.52% on the day. Investors gave the Aussie a thumbs down on Wednesday after Westpac Consumer Sentiment fell 4.8% in May. The trend of improving consumer confidence over the past three months was broken. Still, a review of the Westpac report shows a "glass half full" approach, as the report notes that the index dropped from 118.8 to 113.1, its second-highest print since April 2010. The RBA will hold a policy meeting on June 1, and the central bank will announce its plans for Yield Curve Control (YCC) and QE. The Westpac report says that the bank remains committed to monetary stimulus and this means that QE will be extended for a further A$100 billion in September, and YCC policy will shift from April 2024 to November 2o24. The bank has repeatedly said that it has no plans to tighten policy prior to 2024. The market will be treated to a dump of Australian data on Thursday. Consumer Inflation Expectations is first up (1:00 GMT), with a consensus of 3.6%, up from 3.2%. This indicator is closely watched as inflation expectations can translate into actual inflation, so a strong gain would be a signal that inflationary pressures are growing. The highlight will be Employment Change (1:30 GMT), with a small gain of 15.0 thousand expected, down from 70.7 thousand. Australia also releases Manufacturing and Services PMIs (23:00 PMI). Both sectors are in good shape, a testament to the strong Australian economy. Manufacturing PMI is projected at 59.8 and Services at 58.9, which are well into expansionary territory. The 50-level separates contraction from expansion. AUD/USD faces resistance at 0.7887 and 0.7990. On the downside, there are support levels at 0.7684 and 0.7584.
by OANDA
New Zealand dollar tumbles, job data nextThe New Zealand dollar has posted strong gains on Tuesday. In the North American session, NZD/USD is trading at 0.7133, down 88% on the day. We continue to see significant volatility from the New Zealand dollar. The currency ended the week with sharp losses of 1.18%, as strong US data lifted the US dollar. NZD/USD started the week with strong gains, but these have been erased on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the pair dropped to a low of 0.7115, its lowest level since April 14th. Investors are keeping an eye on the New Zealand employment report (22:45 GMT), which is released each quarter. Employment Change is expected to rise by 0.3% in Q1, down from 0.6% in the fourth quarter. The unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 4.9%. A gain in Employment Change would be impressive, given that the tourist season was a shambles without any tourists allowed into New Zealand. Unless the consensus is well off the mark, the upcoming employment numbers are unlikely to have much effect on the New Zealand dollar. The Federal Reserve remains committed to an accommodative policy, and this was reiterated at last week's FOMC meeting, where Fed Chair Powell stated that it was premature to talk about tapering its QE program. On Monday, Powell noted that the economy was doing better but was "still not out of the woods" and that the recovery was marked by racial and education gaps. The Fed's stance is not uniform, and Fed Governor Robert Kaplan, a non-voting member, made headlines on Friday when he said that Fed needed to have a conversation about tapering. As well, the market does not appear convinced that tapering is a long way off, given the strong numbers we are seeing from the US economy. If Friday's nonfarm payroll print exceeds one million (the forecast stands at 975 thousand), the Fed may come under pressure to consider tapering sooner than it expected. NZD/USD is putting pressure on support at 0.7113. This is followed by support at 0.7064. There is resistance at 0.7249 and 0.7336
by OANDA
Pound surges, UK job data loomsThe British pound has soared at the start of the week. Currently, GDP/USD is trading at 1.3961, up 0.86% on the day. The British pound is on a torrid pace. The currency jumped 0.99% last week and has padded those gains on Monday. GBP/USD is closing in on the 1.40 level, which has psychological significance. This line has been tested several times this year, and breaking above it could provide the pound with further upside momentum. The US dollar is broadly lower on Monday, as the market appears to have internalized the Fed's message that any increase in inflation will be only temporary. This has led to a significant reduction in expectations of a rate hike in the near future, which has seen the pound, euro and yen register sharp gains against the greenback. As well, with a lack of data on Monday to direct the currency markets, the focus is on sentiment, which is risk-on. This is another factor which as contributed to the dollar's retreat on Monday. The UK releases key employment data for March on Tuesday (6:00 GMT). Wage growth is projected to remain strong at 4.7%, while unemployment rolls are expected to fall to 24.5 thousand, after a sharp gain of 86.6 thousand beforehand. With the UK continuing to ease lockdown rules, the April employment numbers could be significantly better. Taking a look ahead at the economic calendar, the UK releases CPI on Wednesday (6:00 GMT). The extended lockdown in the UK has led to significant pent-up demand, which is expected to result in higher inflation. The estimate for headline inflation in March stands at 0.8%, compared to the current level of 0.4%. Earlier in the day GBP/USD broke above resistance levels at 1.3898 and 1.3956. Above, there is resistance at 1.4070. On the downside, there is support at 1.3726.
by OANDA
Will Canada job report boost CAD?The Canadian dollar has reversed directions on Friday and recorded slight gains. Currently, USD/CAD is trading at 1.2592, up 0.25% on the day. It has been a relatively quiet day week for the pair, but that could change in the North American session, with the release of key employment numbers (12:30 GMT). Canada's economy continues to grapple with the Covid-19 crisis, and the country's vaccine rollout has been on the sluggish side. At the same time, the economy is slowly finding its footing, and the Bank of Canada expects positive growth in 2021. The labor market surged in February, adding 259.2 thousand jobs. The April estimate stands at 101.5 thousand, and if the reading is within expectations, there is a strong likelihood that the Canadian dollar will respond with gains. The Canadian dollar has looked sharp of late, gaining 1.38% against the greenback in March. The economic recovery in the US has helped rejuvenate Canada's export sector, with 75% of Canadian exports going to the US. As well, the improvement in the global economy has raised the risk appetite for minor currencies like the Canadian dollar. Another key factor that has boosted the currency is the Bank of Canada's announcement that it plans to taper its purchase of government bonds. The QE programme has been a key tool in keeping interest rates low during the Covid pandemic, and the move to reduce bond purchases would make Canada the first of the G-7 members to take such a step, which could occur as early as the next policy meeting on April 21st. In contrast, the Federal Reserve is not expected to taper QE before 2022. CAD has support at 1.2521. Below, there is support at 1.2465. There is a pivot point at 1.2584. On the upside, 1.2640 was under strong pressure during the week. This is followed by resistance at 1.2703.
by OANDA
US consumer confidence surges in March to one year highThe consumer confidence index increased to 109.7 in March from 90.4 in February, which beat the economists' forecast at 96.9 Consumers’ assessment of short term outlook on salaries, employment rate and commercial activities increased , with an optimism view on the domestic consumption market MM Analysis The consumer confidence index reached 109.7 in March, which echo with the increased number of University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey. Consumer's optimism derived from 3 main factors. 1. Increased vaccinations, which indicates a rebound on commercial activities 2. Labor market on the mend, i.e. decreasing Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims, increasing US Non-farm Payrolls, which would boost the retail and personal consumption growth 3. Transfer income from the American Rescue Plan In conclusion, strong consumption confidence and high saving rate would provide a strong support on economic recover, pushing up the US GDP
TVC:DXY
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