USDZAR
1H2023 USD/ZAR (weekly timeframe)Background (a quick look back): The rand's covid recovery, on the back of the Fed’s QE infinity policy and a strong commodities rally, ended in June 2021 after the rand managed to pull the pair to a low of 13.40. The rand got hit by a quick one-two in the middle of 2021 as the DXY found support around 90.00 and the local riots in July which saw the local unit tumble to 16.40 by November. This created the first major impulse wave.
The rand managed to pull the pair to a low of 14.40 in 1Q2022, but the party ended when the Fed started its current interest rate hiking cycle at the end of the quarter. Platinum prices also topped out at $1156/oz in the beginning of March 2022. The hiking cycle, external geo-political, global recession, local energy uncertainties and a 28% decline in platinum prices (from March to September) pulled the pair into a 5-wave rip tide (orange channel) to a yearly high of 18.60.
The final quarter of 2022 saw the rand stage an ABC corrective pattern which allowed the local unit to pull the pair onto the 38.2% Fibo retracement rate of 16.86. The main factors which supported the rand’s recovery was the DXY which fell off its high of 114 in September and the price of platinum which bottomed at $825/oz in the same month. Platinum has since gained roughly 32% and closed on a high of $1088/oz in the first week of January 2023.
Present (where to next): The rand managed to pull the pair onto the critical 61.8% Fibo retracement level of 16.80 from the covid recovery (green) in the first week of January 2023 after a stronger than expected non-farm payrolls report sent the DXY and US 10-year yields tumbling. The critical support range between 16.40 (top of impulse wave 1 and 50% orange Fibo retracement) and 16.80 will give an indication for the rand’s trajectory in 1H2023. The 50-week MA rate of also sits satisfyingly in this range at 16.47.
Support: A break below 16.80 will allow the rand to test the 50-week MA and the bottom of the support range at 16.40, the top of the major first wave. A break below the support range will invalidate the major 5-wave impulse wave which could see the pair fall between the orange 61.8% Fibo retracement rate of 15.88 and the 50% green retracement rate of 16.09. The best-case scenario for the local unit in my opinion is an appreciation onto the 200-week MA rate of 15.61 (this move does not seem highly likely now since the Fed is only expected to ease/pause its hiking cycle in the 2H2023).
Resistance: The first resistance rate which needs to give way for continued rand weakness sits at 17.30, the top of the orange third wave. A break above 17.30 will allow the pair to climb to the top of the corrective wave B at 17.96 and the psychological rate of 18.00. A close above 18.00 will confirm the fifth impulse wave to the covid high of 19.35.
Technical indicators: The weekly RSI is still trending upwards since hitting the oversold range in June 2021 and is current at a neutral level of 49.21 which is rand negative. The weekly MACD is currently holding a sell signal which is rand positive but the gap between the 12 and 26 EMA’s seems to be closing.
(SA is the world's leading platinum producer and the rand behaves like a commodity currency hence the emphasis on platinum price action in the description)
aFew Trendline basics ♧"A overview in the definition and importance of using trendlines , consolidation and breakouts in trading"
-Understand the basics of drawing trendlines, identifying consolidation and support and resistance levels. Get familiar with connecting highs and lows and forming a trendline or reconize consolidation.
-Run with the runners by understanding market momentum.
Identify runners and follow their trend and use other tools for identifying presure on the runners (such as RSI4) and manage the risk while trading in profit.
-Trading the reversal of the breakout as a cycle and understand the breakout and its significant counter value. Identify the breakout and entry points. Recognize the signs of a reversal and exit the position to trade the reversal to the breakout.
In this lecture, i hope to cover the basics of drawing trendlines, how to identify runners and trade with them, and how to trade the reversal of the breakout as a cycle.
By the end of the lecture, you should have a solid understanding of how to use trendlines to your advantage in your trading strategy.
" Trendlines are lines drawn on a chart that connect two or more price points, used to identify trends and potential trading opportunities. Knowing these basics of drawing trendlines, identifying runners, and trading the reversal of the breakout can be a powerful tool when traders look to identify trends and determine entrys & exits points and potential trading opportunities."
There are three types of trendlines: uptrend, downtrend, and horizontal (or sideways) trendlines.
- Uptrend lines connect 2 a 3 higher bulls (uprising bars),
- Downtrend lines connect 2 or 3 lower bears (downsetting bars)
- High & Lows trendlines connect high with hights and Low with lows
- Horizontal trendlines occur when the price remains relatively flat.
• Drawing the trendline and understand the basic is by identifying at least two points on a chart and draw a line that connects them. The line should be drawn along the slope of the trend, either up or down.
• Highs and lows trendlines are realized by connecting highs with highs and lows with lows. You should draw a line that runs along the top of the highs. When connecting lows, you should draw a line that runs along the bottom of the lows.
• Support levels are price points where demand for an asset (EURUSD) is strong enough to prevent the price from falling further, while Resistance levels are price points where supply is strong enough to prevent the price from rising further.
Run with the runners and understand the market momentum.
Market momentum is the strength of the current trend in a market and the momentum can be positive (upward trend) or negative (downward trend).
Runners are assets with strong positive or negative momentum trends. Traders can identify runners by looking for assets with strong upward price movement, high trading volume, and positive news or market hype.
Tools for identifying runners are the use of technical analysis tools such as moving averages, relative strength index (RSI4), and trendlines.
Managing risk while trading with runners is the way traders gain profit. Stop-loss orders should be set and avoid trading with too much leverage is necesary to manage risk while trading with runners.
Trade the reversal of the breakout as cylce. Understand the breakout and its significance when they occure as an asset's price moves beyond a key support or resistance level, indicating a potential trend reversal and identify potential breakouts and entry points by the use of trendlines and technical analysis indicators to take entrys and exits.
Recognizing the signs of a reversal as they occur when an asset's price movement changes direction, signaling a change in trend. Signs of a reversal may include a change in momentum, a break in a trendline, or negative news or market sentiment. Exit the trend for trading the reversal of the breakout should be accomlplished throught soul desire, set profit targets and or the use of a trailing stop-loss orders to manage the risk or take profit while trading the reversal of a breakout.
"Support and Resistance & Consolidation"
A consolidation occurs when the price of an asset moves within a range, between a defined level of support and resistance. Consolidations can provide traders with opportunities to identify potential breakouts and to trade with runners as they move the price towards the breakout level.
Support levels are price points where demand for an asset is strong enough to prevent the price from falling further, while Resistance levels are price points where supply is strong enough to prevent the price from rising further.
"Trendlines can be drawn to connect the highs and lows of the price movement during the consolidation period.
These will form the upper and lower boundaries of the consolidation range."
"Technical analysis tools such as Bollinger Bands, RSI, and Moving Averages can be used to confirm the consolidation and identify potential breakout levels."
During consolidations, runners can be identified by looking for assets with a consistent pattern of higher lows or higher highs.
Traders can buy when the price is moving towards the resistance level and sell when the price is moving towards the support level. You should set stop-loss orders and avoid trading with too much leverage to manage risk while trading in consodilations ranges.
Potential breakout levels can be identified by looking for price movements that break through the upper or lower boundaries of the consolidation range.
Traders can enter a long or short position once the price breaks out of the consolidation range.
Stop-loss orders can be placed below the support level for a long position or
above the resistance level for a short position.
Managing risk while trading the breakout is through a set profit targets and or use of trailing stop-loss orders to manage risk when trading the breakout as breakouts are reasons why traders intent to spot and run with runners , without jumping the gun.
"Recap the lecture by knowing the basics of drawing trendlines, identifying runners, and trading the reversal of the breakout."
The basics of identifying consolidations, trading with runners during,
the 3 trends, consolidations and trading the breakout
..all may provide traders with opportunities to identify potential profitable Forex trades and trade with runners as they move the price more than often.
"Traders use it as a powerful tool to identify trends and potential trendline breakout trading opportunities!"
• HappyForexTradingJournal
J
UPDATE USDZAR Still on track to the first target R19.80We posted this trade alert around 24 April saying, we have bad news for the South African rand.
The trade is still on track to the first target at R19.80.
Once it surpasses, it'll need to consolidate move in a sideways range before the next breakout.
Hopefully, it won't be up again.
But anyways, the demand is strong for the USD against the ZAR and we can do nothing but wait.
USDZAR - the rand finding friends hard to come by The ZAR (South African rand) has come up on the radar as sellers have dominated and a true buyers strike ensues. We’re seeing longer-dated South African govt bonds sell off aggressively, with yields on 25yr government debt rising above 12.5% and the highest levels since 2020.
The energy shortage continues to take a toll on economics and talk of increasing stagflation risks will typically attract currency sellers – the April CPI print (due 24 May) could be important in determining if the SA central bank (SARB) is indeed ready to pause in its hiking cycle, with SARB policy meeting due 25 May. Geopolitical issues are also weighing to an extent with the US ambassador to SA accusing the country of supplying arms to Russia.
Favour buying weakness in USDZAR into 19.05.
4h USDZARSupport at 18.21, which coincides with 50-day MA and 61.8% Fibo is holding support. A failed break below 18.21 will allow the pair to retest the resistance range between 18.48 and 18.55. A break below 18.21 will however see the pair slide back between the support range between 18.00 and 18.10.
For a more detailed analysis see the linked idea.
Q. Why when the FED raises interest rates does the rand weaken?A. Whenever you think about a country raising interest rates, we need to consider what happens to investors and where they are more likely to deposit their money.
So, as we are expecting an increase in interest rates this month from the FED, there are a few reasons why we can expect the rand to weaken further:
Here are three to consider…
Reason #1: Investors flock to the US Dollar
When the US Federal Reserve raises interest rates, it becomes more attractive for investors to hold or buy US-dollar denominated assets.
That’s because they know they’ll receive a higher rate when they invest in it.
This will also lead to a rise in the US dollar and a drop in smaller currencies (like the rand).
Reason #2: US Dollar is still the fat cat of reserve currencies
A rise in US interest rates may lead to higher borrowing costs globally.
This is because the US dollar is still the world's primary reserve currency.
When we think of gold, Bitcoin and other precious metals, we think of how it’s priced in US dollars.
The problem with this, is that emerging market countries, like South Africa, will
face higher debt-servicing costs as the US interest rates continue to move up.
And this could continue to put pressure on their economies which will lead to a depreciation in the rand.
Reason #3: South Africa is still a big exporter
Also, South Africa remains one of the major exporters of commodities.
And the value of the rand is linked to fluctuations in commodity prices.
So, when US interest rates rise, this leads to a stronger US dollar. And can
cause commodity prices to drop (as they are generally priced in US dollars).
As South Africa is a major commodity exporter, the lower commodity prices would have a negative impact in SA’s export revenue – which can in turn weaken the rand further.
Pre-FOMC; When in doubt, zoom out.It is guaranteed to be a volatile week given the stacked economic calendar. Tonight, the Fed is expected to hike interest rates by 25bps, and on Friday we have the always highly anticipated US non-farm payroll data.
As per my previous idea, I got the timing wrong for my expected move to 18.55 but I’m still holding my buy orders in placed around the 18.21 level which coincides with the 50-day MA and the black 61.8% Fibo retracement rate. The rand was on the backfoot yesterday which saw the pair push up into the red resistance range between 18.50 and 18.55. The dollar is however weaker across the board this morning which is allowing the rand to pull the pair lower towards the navy-blue downward channel’s neckline. It seems as if the pair broke out of this downward channel but don’t rule out a retest of the upper neckline of this channel (support range between 18.28 and 18.33).
A break below this support range will allow the pair to re-test 18.21. 18.21 is a critical support level, a break below will invalidate my expected move above 18.55 and will allow the rand to pull the pair into the blue support range between 18.00 and 18.10.
The resistance rates to watch sit between 18.50 and 18.60. A break above this range will confirm my expected 5-wave impulse and the test of the yearly high at 18.71.
The daily indicators are rand negative. The MACD is holding a buy signal while the RSI still has plenty room to move higher before sliding into overbought ranges.
Fundamentals (latest US data prints):
The writing is on the wall for a stagflation environment over the next 3-5 years. The latest US GDP print for the 1Q2023 came in at 1.1%, down from 2.6% QoQ. It is clear that the US and the Fed won’t avoid a recession or the “soft landing” bs they refer to. But wait there’s more, the recent interest rate cycle has not managed to contain inflation, gasp, with the latest PCE price index rising by 4.2% in 1Q2023, up from 3.7%. A low growth inflationary environment does not bode well for risk assets such as the rand and the recent fragilities in the US banking sector will only increase investor risk-off sentiment. All these factors are rand negative.
Zooming back to the present, yesterday’s trading saw the DXY close lower after it touched a three-week high of 102.409. The DXY is firmly on the backfoot this morning and is currently back below the 102 handle in the lead up to the Fed hike. There were also some peculiar moves in the US bond market in yesterday’s session in the lead up to today’s Fed rate decision. US bond yields cratered as the US 10-year yield fell from 3.575% to 3.429% while the shorter dated 02-year yield fell back below 4%.
USDZAR update pre-US GDP resultsThe pair is currently testing the top of the blue downward channel. A break above 18.40 will allow for a move higher north of 18.50 while a break below 18.21 will invalidate this move higher.
I’m personally positioning myself for more rand weakness and a move north of 18.50 given the current risk-off back drop. My strategy is to place buy limit orders around the 18.21 support rate (small green box). I doubt the pair will break above the downward channel in today’s session given the highly anticipated US GDP results which will only be released tomorrow. SA markets will also be closed tomorrow which will increase the volatility in the pair’s price action.
In my previous USDZAR idea I predicted that the pair would climb higher to test the resistance rate around 18.50 if it were to break above 18.33. The resistance rate at 18.33 however held its ground and the pair fell below the support rate of 18.11 which invalidated my previous idea. Since then, the rand managed to pull the broad-based weaker dollar all the way down onto the psychological rate of 18.00. The pair bounced aggressively off the 61.8%n fibo retracement rate of 18.01 in the last week which is indicative of a double bottom at this rate and the start of a 5-wave impulse.
Fundamentally it's difficult to gauge the risk sentiment in the markets but the action in yesterday’s session is pointing to a fear trade. The both the US02year and US10year yield fell more than 10 basis points while the DXY climbed roughly 0.6% in yesterday’s session. This rush towards the safety of the bond market was largely driven by weak earnings results from the US banking sector. Tomorrow’s US GDP results will be imperative to the Fed rate hike expectations which seems to be fading given the fragilities in the US banking sector and the ongoing US debt ceiling debacle. Given this backdrop risk-off sentiment seems to have the upper hand which is rand negative.
There are however some rand positive factors. The first is the SARB’s aggressive inflation fight. The SARB released their monetary policy review yesterday and inflation expectations remain well above the SARB’s 3-6% target band. This means the SA repo rate will remain high even after the SARB’s aggressive cumulative 150 basis point hike from the past three MPC meetings. The SARB’s nominal repo rate is currently at 7.75% which is rand positive given the carry trade appeal it creates for the rand. Another positive factor is the strong platinum price which has risen roughly 25% since February this year. High commodity prices strengthen the SA trade balance which is rand positive (the rand tends to behave like a commodity currency).
In terms of technical indicators, the daily MACD indicator has crossed to a buy signal and the RSI, currently at 56, has room to move higher before hitting overbought zones. The shorter 1H and 4H time frames are however sitting in overbought zones which has me expecting a bit of a pull back towards 18.21 before the pair moves higher. The rate of 18.21 is the 38.2% fibo retracement rate which coincides satisfyingly with the pairs 50-day MA. The DXY is also pulling back in early morning trade which could give the battered rand some room to breathe.
usdzar h8 c*h setup strong upside buy/hold setup🔸Hello guys, let's review the 8 hour chart for USDZAR today. Speculative C&H setup in
progress. right now pullback/correction mode until mid may 2023.
🔸Price fractal is defined by cup structure (completed already), and the handle pattern.
handle pullback/correction in progress now. will complete later near 17.80.
🔸Recommended strategy for USDZAR bulls. Buy/hold after pullback completes near
17.80. conservative TP bulls is 19/20, although this may extend a lot higher beyond 20.00.
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USDZAR pre-SA CPIThe support level of 18.01 held its ground last week and the rand has been on the backfoot so far this week. The pair climbed to a high of 18.33 (the support turned resistance on the 23.6% Fibo level) on Monday. Although the rand managed to pull the pair lower onto the 50% Fibo level at 18.11, I believe there is further losses on the cards for the rand as the week progresses.
The latest CPI results for SA will be released in a few minutes which could be a catalyst for another move higher toward the red range between 18.46 and 18.54. Fundamentally the rand weakness looks poised to continue. The upbeat China GDP - and industrial production results released earlier this week failed to generate investor optimism and global metal prices as well as oil prices are starting to cool which are all rand negative factors. In terms of the DXY, the broad-based dollar strength has gained some traction since Friday’s aggressive push higher.
Looking at the technical indicators, the 4H MACD is holding a weak buy signal while the RSI has plenty of room to move higher. The story is mostly the same on the daily timeframe with the MACD holding a buy signal and the RSI sitting around 51.50.
(See the linked idea for a longer-term view)
USDZAR 18.04960 +0.04% DAILY CHART BREAK DOWN FOR THE WEEK AHEADHELLO EVERYONE
HOPE EVERYONE IS DOING GOOD HAVING A GREAT WEEKEND.
HERE'S A LOOK AT POSSIBLE SCENARIOS THAT COULD PLAY OUT ON THE DOLLAR/ ZAR IN THE COMING WEEK.
USD/ZAR CLOSED LAST WEEK WITH SOME STRONG MOMENTUM TOWARDS THE DOWNSIDE SIGNALLING SO MOMENTUM SHIFT LEAVING BEHIND BEARISH FVG.
* We have swept previous week high and multiple day candle rejections at this level.
* Second candle being that big bearish momentum shift which probably created some market structure shift on lower time frames.
* Looking for a continuation of this move in this coming week even though we have some trendline liquidity build up.
- Looking for ZAR To take the previous lows for confirmation that we are bearish for the week.
- Tap in to the OB
* If we break below and close under the OB
- TARGET would be the FVG that is unmitigated before continuing to the upside.
lets see how it goes.
IF THIS IDEA ASSISTS IN ANY OR IF YOU LIKE THIS ONE
SMASH THAT LIKE BUTTON & LEAVE A COMMENT.
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* Kindly follow your entry rules on entries & stops. |* Some of The idea's may be predictive yet are not financial advice or signals. | *Trading plans can change at anytime reactive to the market. | * Many stars must align with the plan before executing the trade, kindly follow your rules & RISK MANAGEMENT.
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LOVELY TRADING WEEK TO YOU!
4h USDZAR updateYesterday’s pullback was a bit deeper than expected following the US initial jobless claims result. The US jobless claims came in higher than expected and coupled with the lower-than-expected US CPI results from earlier this week, markets are betting on a Fed rate pause sooner than initially anticipated. My record of trying to predict the Fed has been poor so I’ll just stick to my technical and fundamental analysis.
The rand managed to pull the pair onto the 61.8% fibo retracement rate at 18.01 following the jobless data from the US which was the second wave of the next 5-wave impulse. I expect the third wave to push the pair towards the resistance rate of 18.72 (the current yearly high). A break below 18.01 will however invalidate this expected move and the 5-wave impulse. The next resistance rates to keep an eye are 18.11, 18.21 and 18.33. A break above 18.33 will confirm the move to 18.71.
Technically on the 4h, the RSI bounced off the oversold zone and the MACD is rolling over and a cross-over buy signal seems imminent. The daily MACD is still holding a buy signal, all of which is rand negative. Additionally, the DXY is heavily oversold and a bounce in the broad-based dollar strength could create headwinds for the ZAR.
USDZAR next 5-waveThe USDZAR pair completed an ABC corrective wave at the end of March after the higher-than-expected 50bps rate hike from the SARB allowed the rand to pull the pair into the support range between the 50%- and 38.2% Fibo retracement rates at 17.68 and 17.92, respectively. Since the start of April, the dollar (DXY) has found some support in the range between 101.36 and 101.81 and as a result, has the rand on the ropes heading into the 2Q2023. The aggressive bounce out of the blue support range is indicative of a first impulse wave and I suspect this next 5-wave impulse will see the pair complete the 5th wave of its major cycle which will push the pair onto its 2020 peak at 19.35.
(Please see attached my previous idea for the 1H2023 for a wider view)
Technically there is a buy signal on the MACD indicator which is rand negative, and the daily RSI has room to move higher before hitting overbought zones.
Emerging market currencies to outperform G10 in 2023With the global economy showing more resilience and the Fed slowing its pace of tightening, we believe EM currencies can outperform relative to G10 peer currencies this year. Attractive real yields should result in market participants accumulating exposure to developing currencies, while our assumption for contained banking sector stresses should lead to improved risk appetite.
UZThe market has been favourable after the announcement of the consideration of one currency. Last week we saw the Dollar take a hit and the Rand gain a few muscles. With this we go in with a smile but with caution because our Repo Rate was also adjusted so the gains are not necessarily the best of options.