Dollar Bouncing, Risk Mildly Positive After Second Presidential Debate

 | Oct 10, 2016 10:58

Market Overview

The dollar bulls have just had some of their recent profits shaved on the back of a slightly weaker than expected Non-farm Payrolls report on Friday. This looked to take some of the shine off the bull run which has been having such a big impact across major markets. The US is on public holiday today for Columbus Day whilst markets are also waking up to the implications of the second Presidential Debate in which there was no clear winner. However, the fact that Donald Trump was unable to claw back ground after a weekend of lurid headlines, would have been taken as slightly risk positive, but also mildly dollar positive too. However, as shown with the Mexican Peso, which some are calling the “Trump Trade”, the reduced threat of a Trump Presidency is a key factor in the movement on some emerging markets trades. Sterling remains under pressure as the volatility continues and concerns over a hard Brexit and the flash crash show no signs of receding quite yet. Equity markets in Europe have started mildly higher too, despite a mixed performance on Asian markets and a slightly weaker close on Wall Street on Friday.

Forex markets show the dollar is actually clawing back some losses, with the underperformance of sterling still an issue after Friday’s flash crash. With China back from a week long holiday, gold has found some support today with around $7 higher, with a rebound in silver too. The oil price started to dip back on Friday and this move has continued today on suggestions that Non-OPEC countries may not follow the example of the OPEC production cut.

There are no major economic events today.

Lucky 8 – FX Trader of the Year 2016 competition update

I am now moving on to look at a new set of Lucky 8 instruments for Week 2 of our competition that we are running throughout October. I will be giving daily updates on how the Lucky 8 instruments of the week are performing.

  • GBP/USD – The market is yet to settle from the huge volatility but $1.2470 is a barrier and bearish momentum is likely to continue to weigh on Cable. A further slide back towards a low from Friday at $1.2223 could easily be seen. (See below for more detail).
  • NZD/USD – The break below $0.7220 completed a top pattern on the daily chart that means the bears are in corrective control within the uptrend channel. The neckline at $0.7220 will also now be the basis of resistance and rallies be seen as a chance to sell. The hourly chart shows $0.7200 is a basis of resistance near term and Friday’s unwind has helped to renew downside potential. Expect a retest of $0.7107.
  • EUR/GBP – The incredible moves on Friday and subsequent reaction means that higher lows are continuing with £0.8958 and £0.8995 as the market looks to continue towards £0.9100 for further gains. The 21 hour moving average is a basis of support. Losing £0.8900 would change the outlook.
  • EUR/AUD – The upswing on the daily Stochastics suggests that near term momentum is positive for continued pressure on 1.4780. The mild positive bias on the hourly chart suggests that corrections will be bought into. Support at 1.4680 protects 1.4650.
  • USD/ZAR – The sequence of higher lows in the past couple of weeks and the advancing daily Stochastics suggests that a drift higher is on and little corrections should be bought into. However the pivot support on the hourly chart around 13.685 needs to hold.
  • FTSE 100 – The corrections are being bought into and building from the support at 7000 the bulls will be looking for another attempt at 7122 the all-time high. The key support this week will be the previous breakout at 6955.
  • WTI Oil – Have the bulls now lost control? The support at $49.00/$49.35 needs to hold to prevent a drop back towards $48.30. The resistance is building back up around $50.00 once more. (See below for more detail).
  • Cocoa (CCc1) – Since June, Cocoa has been posting a series of lower highs and lower lows. Last week’s high at 2848 adds to resistance below 2876 and 2934. The daily momentum indicators have unwound to cross lower with renewed bear potential (especially the Stochastics). Expect a retest of 2708 with rallies a chance to sell.
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EUR/USD

The market once more effectively used the key medium term supports on Friday to embark upon a rally that unwound the market back towards the near term pivot within the range at $1.1200 which is once again a magnet for prices and is now a basis of resistance. The strong bull candle that followed Thursday’s sell-off was a reaction that would have given the bulls confidence, but in effect the move simply unwound the previous weakness and changes the outlook very little. The outlook remains very much one of consolidation and although the initial support at $1.1120 was breached early on Friday the long term pivot level at $1.1100 once more acted as a basis of support. The converging trendlines are now beginning to put the squeeze on and now sit at $1.1100/$1.1250. Momentum indicators have a neutral configuration with a marginal bearish bias, but are nothing to suggest an imminent break will be seen.