A Twist In Prospects Of The Trade Dispute Sees Safe Havens Finding Support

 | Nov 06, 2019 08:15

Market Overview

Once again, it is developments in the US/China trade story overnight which are helping to shape the outlook for today’s trading. Newsflow around the dispute has been broadly positive, but with occasional smatterings of caution. China are seemingly beginning to push for rolling back of the tariffs on $125bn worth of goods into the US. Whilst this has the potential to be another good news story in the process, there is a reticence amongst traders as news of the US response to this is waited. It is unlikely to be a make or break for Phase One, but could it set the tone for Phase Two of the negotiations?

The dollar gained sharply yesterday as the ISM Non-Manufacturing beat expectations. Also comments from one of the main doves on the FOMC (albeit non-voting) Neel Kashkari that current policy was “modestly accommodative”. However, this overnight talk in the South China Morning Post has just pulled the brakes on the move. Gold and the yen are finding a degree of support again around key levels, whilst Treasury yields are also lower in early moves. US equities have also just had some of the wind taken out of them in all-time high ground. If this view continues, there could be a degree of near term profit-taking.

Wall Street closed with mixed caution yesterday, with the S&P 500 -0.1% lower at 3075 whilst US futures are flat today. This has left mixed moves in Asia, with the Nikkei +0.2% but Shanghai Composite -0.6%. In Europe there is a sense of slippage too, with the FTSE 100 Futures -0.3% whilst DAX Futures are -0.1%.

In forex, the mild risk aversion is benefitting an outperforming JPY, whilst the commodity currencies are dropping back with AUD and NZD underperforming. In commodities, the mild risk negative outlook is helping gold to find some support today, even as silver is slightly weaker. Oil has also slipped back by around half a percent.

The final services PMI data across the euro area is the main focus on the economic calendar today. At 09:00 GMT there is no expectation for any changes to the flash reading for the Eurozone final Services PMI at 51.8 (51.8 flash, 51.6 final September). The Eurozone final Composite PMI is also expected to be unrevised at 50.2 (50.2 flash October, 50.1 final September).

The EIA Crude Oil Inventories is at 1530GMT which is expected to show another inventory build of +2.7m barrels (+5.7m barrels last week).

There will also be an eye out for a couple of Fed speakers today. Charles Evans (voter mild dove) is at 1300GMT whilst John Williams (NYSE:WMB) (voter, centrist) is at 14:30 GMT. These two could be considered interesting gauges for sentiment on the committee.

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Chart of the Day – EUR/AUD

The euro recovery took a real hit yesterday and at the least, the bulls have lost their way. This in combination with a more solid looking Aussie means that EUR/AUD is selling off. A three week downtrend has formed and a downside break below support at 1.6095 hits a seven week low. The break also re-opens the key low at 1.5890, whilst initial support is at 1.6015. Momentum indicators are increasingly corrective, with the RSI under 40 (having failed at 60 again), whilst MACD lines are finding traction below neutral and Stochastics are negatively configured. This all points to rallies being seen as a chance to sell now. There is immediate resistance now 1.6095/1.6120, whilst the three week downtrend comes in at 1.6150 today. The resistance of the near term pivot at 1.6200 is key resistance now.