Safe Haven Dollar Recovery Shows No Sign Of Let Up As Risk Appetite Continues

 | Sep 24, 2020 08:19

h5 Market Overview

Momentum is really taking hold in this risk off, dollar rally now. In the last few days there has been a real shift in outlook, with the fears mounting over the implications of COVID second waves in countries across Europe and the US. Safe haven flows continue and the US dollar is benefitting from that. The significant dollar negative positioning that has developed over the past few months is driving traders into a short-covering dollar rally now. The comments of Fed chair Powell have hardly helped to stem the tide either. Powell noted yesterday that fiscal support for the economy is vital in the battle against the impact of the pandemic. However, it seems increasingly unlikely that Congress will be able to agree anything this side of the Presidential election in November. That is not good for risk and helps to further fuel this flood back into the dollar. UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Sunak (finance minister) is though expected to announce new fiscal measures for the UK today, but it is in the US Congress where markets would really take notice. Fed chair Powell speaks once more today, this time with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin too. Will Mnuchin signal some much needed fiscal response?

Wall Street closed sharply lower once more, with the S&P 500 -2.3% down at 3237. US futures continue this selling pressure today with the E-mini S&Ps -0.5%. Asian markets were also lower overnight, with the Nikkei -1.1% and Shanghai Composite -1.6%. European markets show no signs of changing this trend either with FTSE futures -1.2% and DAX futures -1.4%. In forex, it is risk negative , USD positive again, with JPY the main outperformer as AUD and NZD suffer. In commodities, selling pressure continues to see silver plummet further, whilst gold remains under pressure from the dollar strength. Oil has dopped back -1% early today.

There is a European bias to the economic calendar today. With SNB monetary policy first up at 0830BST, there is no change expected to the deposit rate of -0.75%. Then the German Ifo Business Climate is at 0900BST, with a mild improvement to 93.8 in September (from 92.6 in August), driven by improvements in both expectations and current conditions. Later in the session the US New Home Sales are at 1500BST and are expected to reduce by around -1.2% to 890,000 in August (from 901,000 in July.

For a final time this week Fed chair Jerome Powell testifies before the Senate Banking Committee at 1500BST along with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin about the CARES Act. Once more, any clarity on Fed monetary policy could drive volatility. There is another Fed speaker today too, with John Williams (NYSE:WMB) (centrist) at 1900BST. We also note that Bank of England Governor Bailey is speaking at 1500BST, with the focus still on the potential for negative rates.

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Chart of the Day – Silver

Precious metals have come under huge downward pressure in the past few sessions, with silver getting pummelled. As we always say, silver is “like gold on steroids”. Silver has plunged through the support after support with huge bearish candles. Support at $26 was first to go but this has now quickly been followed by a move below the $22.25/$23.40 support band of the late July consolidation and early August spike low. Moving so quickly below the Fibonacci retracements of the big bull run $11.62/$29.84 too we see bigger downside targets open. The market has paid almost no regard to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement at $22.88 and now the 50% Fib at $20.73 is on. The next real price support is not until $18.35/$19.45. The risk is also that given the huge volatility to the downside, that intraday rallies can be equally as volatile. The old support band $22.25/$23.40 is now resistance. A move above $24.65 is needed to suggest any real rally of any substance is forming.