GBPUSD: THE RUN DOWN & HOW TO TRADE - FOMC & UK EU REFERENDUM 1This article is a tradable summary of all of the indepth GBP$ analysis i have done recently - I aim to give you a conclusive opinion and trading plan. SEE PART 2 ALSO
I suggest you check out ALL of the relevant articles that i attach to this post so that this post makes sense
In a nutshell i am heavily short GU, about 8-9/10 @1.44/5 (@1.41 only 2/10) - so i advise shorting ANY pullbacks we get to >1.44 in the coming weeks.
- Also SHORT EU is a good trade as IMO it is heavily over brought, and hasnt priced any of the fundamental supply/demand stimulus ( e.g. EU is trading at levels higher since the dec 15th hike, March ECB cut and UK EU Ref uncertainty pricing) which all should have depressed the market lower. Thus short EU might be the better play if we dont get any GU pullbacks, since EU still has alot of downside to factor in imo.
Volatility
- The best indicator for dis-ciphering what the market has in store for GU and EU imo is implied volatility, since it uses options (actual demand/ supply of the market) to predict what the volatility will be in the future.
- Currently EU and GU on Friday both traded in their 2 year 99th and 100th percentile implied vol reading at 14.78% and 16.15 respectively.
- Furthermore, GU's IV has been trading higher everyday this week and has set new 52wk highs everyday. The volatility (time horizon) curve is severely fattened/ steepened around the next 2 weeks due to the up coming e.g.
23.55% 16.5% 16.15% 13.75% 10.25%
1m fwd 1wk fwd current 1wk ago 1m ago
- Hence, and as you can see, now (or last week or the week before that) is the time to get on the curve for GU downside since volatility has been rising and is projected, to rise into the FOMC and UK EU Ref - before tailing off quite considerably (3m fwd at 16%, 6m fwd at 13.25%).
- In addition to this we are seeing Historical Vol trade relatively flat - indicating that GU price action hasn't yet fully priced in the potential future event volatility, meaning we can expect large legs downwards in the future, since HV isnt at extremely high levels (as pictured), there is certainly room for price action vol to move higher, thus there is room for GU to trade heavily bid and shed a several more 100pips.
- Further we have seen a negative shift in Risk Reversals for GU and EU - GU the most extreme now with 1wks at -1 and 1m at -7.6 (EU -0.1 and -0.45). Risk Revs (RR) look at the Supply/Demand of OTM Call/Put options and RR is the difference between the vol of calls minus puts.. GU RR is currently growingly negative at -1 and -7.6, implying that puts are trading much more expensive than calls as their demand is higher.
GU puts are more expensive as investors over the next 1wk-1m period are increasingly demanding downside GU exposure or want to hedge their underlying length MORE than they want upside call exposure. From this skewed options market demand for puts (rather than calls) we can observe that GU downside is net what the market is positioning for, and therefore, GU downside/ short is ALSO what we should consider playing in the spot market.
Increasing volatility and decreasing RR supports SHORT positions as; 1. investors dont want to hold assets that have increased vols (it is seen as increased uncertainty and risk) and 2. investors are increasingly purchasing put options which at some level DOES represent investor sentiment in the spot market also - these are why i advise getting short if you haven't already, asap for GU to play the volatility.
Ukvote
GBPUSD: THE RUN DOWN & HOW TO TRADE - FOMC & UK EU REFERENDUM 2I suggest you check out ALL of the relevant articles that i attach to this post so that this post makes sense
SEE PART 1 ALSO
GBPUSD historical Price Action
The findings of previous the attached "Price action history posts" led to the conclusion that referendum history clearly wasn't repeating itself however IMO because this is the case it has opened up massive opportunities - for example;
- Price Action for the SUR sold off a massive 1000pips 8 weeks before the vote, then recovered 400pips 2wks leading into the vote in 2014 - such price action didnt present much trading opportunity since the risks were priced so early, many retail investors missed the big move and probably made heavy losses by shorting in the 2wks into the event when the market actually rose.
- HOWEVER, the market for the UER has been trading sideways/ directionless (with a slight upwards bias) for over 16wks only gaining from 1.41-1.45, with many candles failing to hold onto their extreme high/lows - simply open-close at median levels which further confirms the lack of conviction; this has meant that GU now trades considerably ABOVE lows at 1.38 which means there is clear room for a down trend to emerge and thus we can be confident/ safe in taking SHORTS on the pair at levels signif above the 1.38, as we can assume that the market will seek out the recent 1.38 lows if a downtrend does emerge - theres a clear and nearby target for a downtrend.
Fundamentals and Summary
- FOMC has started its hike cycle, GU is extremely sensitive to US rates and shed well over 1000pips in the run up and after the December FOMC meeting (compared to the EURO who still trades above hike levels). Thus we can assume that future rate increases, or the speculation that they will increase, will continue to price GU lower.
The UK BOE isnt likely to raise Rates until late 2017/2018 as our economy (CPI 0.3% vs US 1.1%/ Core 1.2% vs US 2.1%), thus this Monetary Policy divergence theme is likely to continue for sometime, consequently devaluing GBP consistently lower and lower in the future, as it has done before, which gives me confidence in this part of the trade.
Furthermore, in the short term the UK EU Referendum will serve as uncertainty that will undoubtably drive GU down in the near term - regardless of the result as the uncertainty WILL drive rational investors from holding sterling.
- I like being short sterling over the short and long term as the CB Policy divergence, imo, will serve as a consistent underlying seller of GBP over the next 1/2 years whilst the UK EU Ref provides us near term downside pressure.
ALSO, being short sterling into the Ref and into future FOMC meetings means you benefit from the carry of the "event tail risks" e.g. you are positively exposed to any probabilisticly unlikely, but possible, events - which would be extremely profitable e.g. if UK vote to leave EU you have downside already placed on GBP or if FOMC steepen the hiking curve we are positioned to benefit.
- As discussed earlier, over the weekend i thought using CHF or JPY to combine with short GBP or EUR may be effective as 1. CHF and JPY both havent priced lower as heavily as USD (relatively more downside value available). 2. By being long CHF/JPY on the basis of being short GBP because of Brexit risks, you are able to hold the risk-off assets which make the trade 2-way e.g. you collect the GBP Brexit uncertainty selling AND the JPY/CHF buying as investors flee to safety - such 2-way trades create exponentially more downside momentum since you have TWO drivers.
TRADING STRATEGY: SELL/ FADE ANY PULL BACKS IN A PYRAMID e.g. 3@1.450, 2@1.445 & 1@1.44!
SL: 1.48 - holding until June 23/24th, or 27th of July for all 2 X FOMC and the BREXIT REF event volatility carry
TP: Fed hike = <1.38; Fed Hawk = 1.40; Brexit uncertainty = <1.40; Brexit YES = < 1.345. Brexit & Hike = <1.30
PRICE ACTION ANALYSIS - GBPUSD: SCOTTISH UK VS UK EU REFERENDUMThis article compares the price and technical analysis of GBPUSD in the 10-weeks leading into the two events in order to gain an execution-able advantage going into the UK EU Referendum taking place on the 23rd June 2016.
Price Action and Trends
Scottish UK REF - 10 weeks = 14.July.14 to 18.Sep.14
- The first 8 of the 10 weeks GU traded extremely bid, selling off 1000pips from 1.7000 to 1.6000 . GU failed to make any significant recoveries during this period - signifying an extremely strong down-trend.
- at the end of the down trend and coming into the REF, GU recovered 40% from 1.6000 on the 9th Sep, to 1.64000 on the 18th Sep (event vol highs at 1.6580). The sell off the proceeded to continue after the event, selling off back to 1.5900 by week 12/13.
- Price action remained significantly below the 50 & 20 VWMA throughout the 10-week period and after the event - confirming the strong down-trend.
UK EU REF - 10 weeks = 18.April.16 to 23.June.15
- Since the bottom formed on 29th Feb at 1.3850, GU has been trading in an up trend, forming marginally higher highs and higher lows. However, the uptrend has turned into sideways action in the last 3-4 weeks as GU has failed to make new highs of any significance and is failing to make higher lows - and the high-low range is tightening.
in the last 10 weeks GU has risen 330 pips from 1.4270 to 1.4500 close-close and has had a range of 600 pips - 1.4170 to 1.4770. In the last 5 Weeks however GU traded flat closed to close at 1.4500, with a range of 400pips 1.4340 to 1.4730 illustrating the tightening range, sideways movement and end to the trend - the market is sleeping and is waiting for a stimulus to break in a direction.
- At the start of the 10 week period, Price bullishly crossed the 50 & 20 VWMA and has stayed above since, confirming an up trend. The 20 period, however, has been trading choppy, illustrating the low trend/ direction and the significant pull-backs.
Comparisons
1. The Scot REF priced GU over 1000 pips lower in the 10 week period, in a decisive downward move - however, this UK EU event has failed to do anything similar and has actually done the opposite by rising in the last 10 weeks, currently trading up 300 pips.
- Why? imo there is only 2 reasons why there has been such a big difference in the price action.
1. The reason GU isnt pricing downward is because GU already priced/ factored in Brexit uncertainty into the downside we saw between december 18th.15 to March 2nd.16, which took us from 1.5300 to 1.3800 which is a whopping 1500+pips lower - this was likely FOMC hike driven but given the extent of the move, it is highly likely that brexit was included in the price lower - hence why we are not seeing a move now - the UK REF is already in the price.
2. The less likely reason is that GU isnt pricing the move because 1). the market has been scared stiff by the uncertainty, and people simple arent willing to take risk either way thus explaining why price is trading flat/sideways. or 2) GU is planning on making a significant run to the downside in the next two weeks where it could shed 1000 pips if it falls back to 1.3800; or even 700 pips if it moves to 1.4000 which isnt that far off of the 1000pip Scot Ref move.
The technical indicators are just mirror a function of price thus I will not read into the technicals much - obviously the Scot Ref indicators spent much of the time depressed since the price was falling rapidly, whilst the UK EU Ref has been mixed - since the price is trading sideways.
*Look out for my upcoming article where i will discus what the above differences mean and what they imply price action will do in the next two weeks going into the UK EU Ref and FOMC.
PRICE ACTION ANALYSIS - GBPUSD: SCOTTISH UK V UK EU REFERENDUM 2This article compares the price and technical analysis of GBPUSD in the 10-weeks leading into the two events in order to gain an execution-able advantage going into the UK EU Referendum taking place on the 23rd June 2016.
Ranges
Scottish UK REF - 10 weeks = 14.July.14 to 18.Sep.14
- GU started the period at 1.7000 and closed the period at 1.64000, with highs at 1.7150 and lows at 1.6000 with a range of 1150pips.
- In the last 5 weeks (Aug.18th-Sep 18th) GU opened at 1.6730, closed at 1.6400 with highs at 1.6730 and lows at 1.6000 and a range of 730 pips - Close to open of 330pips
- In the last 5 weeks (Aug.1st-Sep5th 5wk comparison) GU opened at 1.6877, closed at 1.6300 with highs at 1.6877 and lows at 1.6277 and a range of 600pips.
- from week 10-13 GU shed the the Recovery/ No vote volatility gains, and traded from 1.6400 to 1.5900 with a range of 500 pips.
UK EU REF - 10 weeks = 18.April.16 to 23.June.15
- GU started the period at 1.4270 and closed at 1.4500 - range of 600 pips - 1.4170 to 1.4770.
-In the last 5 Weeks (5wk comparison) however GU traded flat open to close at 1.4500-10, but with a range of 400pips 1.4340 to 1.4730.
Comparisons
In general, the Scot Ref traded/closed much closer to its ranges than the UK EU Ref has to date e.g. in the "comparative" last 5wks, Scot Ref opened at 1.6877 (which was its high also) and closed at 1.6300 (only 30 pips from its range low at 1.6270) so GU ate 570/600pips of its range - illustrating that the Scot Ref had much more directional bias since it traded and held its extreme levels.
Where as the UK EU Ref comparative 5wk period, opened at 1.4500 and closed at 1.4510, but with a range of 1.4340 to 1.4730, so GU only managed to eat/commit to 10/400pips that it ranged - illustrating that the UK EU Ref has lot direction commitment and 0 trend, it is a sideways ranging market.
Technicals
Scottish UK REF - 10 weeks = 14.July.14 to 18.Sep.14
- RSI, STOCH and RVI sold off in the first weeks of the 10wk period, then remained severly under pressure for the remainder of the 8wk sell off - all of which failing to break 40 and posting lows of 13 with several <20s.
The event driven recovery between the 9th sep to 18th sep however helped the technicals recover to 50 levels.
- Historical vol, traded in an uptrend during the first 8wk selloff from 2 to 11, before falling slightly during the recovery and spiking again to 10-12 around the REF date due to event volatility.
UK EU REF - 10 weeks = 18.April.16 to 23.June.15
- RSI and RVI have been bullish, trading in the upper 60% all of the time, with several "overbrought" conditions arising at 70.
- Historical vol has traded relatively flat, ranging between 6-12 with it ticking up in recent times to trade above 10 on most days now.
- Stoch oscillated throughout the period, with a bias to the downside, showing two oversold conditions of <20, illustrating the bullish trend as it was the little pullbacks that caused these conditions.
* See the first article in this series (linked to this article)
*Look out for my upcoming article where i will discus what the above differences mean and what they imply price action will do in the next two weeks going into the UK EU Ref and FOMC .
PRICE ACTION ANALYSIS - GBPUSD: SCOTTISH UK VS UK EU REFERENDUMThis article compares the price and technical analysis of GBPUSD-0.27% in the 10-weeks leading into the two events in order to gain an execution-able advantage going into the UK EU Referendum taking place on the 23rd June 2016.
Ranges
Scottish UK REF - 10 weeks = 14.July.14 to 18.Sep.14
- GU started the period at 1.7000 and closed the period at 1.64000, with highs at 1.7150 and lows at 1.6000 with a range of 1150pips.
- In the last 5 weeks (Aug.18th-Sep 18th) GU opened at 1.6730, closed at 1.6400 with highs at 1.6730 and lows at 1.6000 and a range of 730 pips - Close to open of 330pips
- In the last 5 weeks (Aug.1st-Sep5th 5wk comparison) GU opened at 1.6877, closed at 1.6300 with highs at 1.6877 and lows at 1.6277 and a range of 600pips.
- from week 10-13 GU shed the the Recovery/ No vote volatility gains, and traded from 1.6400 to 1.5900 with a range of 500 pips.
UK EU REF - 10 weeks = 18.April.16 to 23.June.15
- GU started the period at 1.4270 and closed at 1.4500 - range of 600 pips - 1.4170 to 1.4770.
-In the last 5 Weeks (5wk comparison) however GU traded flat open to close at 1.4500-10, but with a range of 400pips 1.4340 to 1.4730.
Comparisons
In general, the Scot Ref traded/closed much closer to its ranges than the UK EU Ref has to date e.g. in the "comparative" last 5wks, Scot Ref opened at 1.6877 (which was its high also) and closed at 1.6300 (only 30 pips from its range low at 1.6270) so GU ate 570/600pips of its range - illustrating that the Scot Ref had much more directional bias since it traded and held its extreme levels.
Where as the UK EU Ref comparative 5wk period, opened at 1.4500 and closed at 1.4510, but with a range of 1.4340 to 1.4730, so GU only managed to eat/commit to 10/400pips that it ranged - illustrating that the UK EU Ref has lot direction commitment and 0 trend, it is a sideways ranging market.
Technicals
Scottish UK REF - 10 weeks = 14.July.14 to 18.Sep.14
RSI, STOCH and RVI sold off in the first weeks of the 10wk period, then remained severly under pressure for the remainder of the 8wk sell off - all of w
hich failing to break 40 and posting lows of 13 with several <20s. The event driven recovery between the 9th sep to 18th sep however helped the technicals recover to 50 levels.
Historical vol, traded in an uptrend during the first 8wk selloff from 2 to 11, before falling slightly during the recovery and spiking again to 10-12 around the REF date due to event volatility.
UK EU REF - 10 weeks = 18.April.16 to 23.June.15
RSI and RVI have been bullish, trading in the upper 60% all of the time, with several "overbrought" conditions arising at 70.
Historical vol has traded relatively flat, ranging between 6-12 with it ticking up in recent times to trade above 10 on most days now.
Stoch oscillated throughout the period, with a bias to the downside, showing two oversold conditions of <20, illustrating the bullish trend as it was the little pullbacks that caused these conditions.
*Look out for my upcoming article where i will discus what the above differences mean and what they imply price action will do in the next two weeks going into the UK EU Ref and FOMC .