Sive Morten
Special Consultant to the FPA
- Messages
- 18,648
Fundamentals
(Reuters) - The dollar fell on Friday in choppy trading after the U.S. employment report showed a smaller-than-expected rise in wages last month despite strong jobs gains, likely prompting the Federal Reserve to be less aggressive in raising interest rates this year.
The greenback has struggled amid concerns about the Trump administration's preference for a weak dollar. It posted its worst January in percentage terms in 30 years.
This week, the trend continued to be lower, with the greenback down 2.3 percent against the yen in its worst weekly performance since late July.
The dollar index has ended lower for six consecutive weeks.
Further compounding the dollar's anemic trend this year was Friday's report showing that January non-farm payrolls rose by 227,000 jobs, the largest gain in four months. But the unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.8 percent and wages increased modestly, suggesting there was still some slack in the labor market that would keep inflation in check.
As a result, Fed fund futures priced in a less than 10 percent chance of a rate hike in March on Friday after the jobs data, according to the CME Group's FedWatch. Rate futures have instead priced in a June hike, with a probability of more than 60 percent.
"It was largely the consideration of low wage growth that put a significant damper on the outlook for near-future Fed rate hikes," said James Chen, head of research at Forex.com in Bedminster, New Jersey, adding that average hourly earnings reflect labor and consumer inflation.
Average hourly earnings rose just 0.1 percent, lower than the market's forecasts for a 0.3 percent increase. There was also a downward revision to the December wage growth.
The jobs report's dovish implications were reinforced late on Friday by Chicago Fed President Charles Evans, who said he favors gradual rate hikes.
In late trading, the dollar index, which tracks the greenback versus six top currencies, was flat to slightly lower at 99.776.
Against the yen, the dollar was down 0.1 percent at 112.70 yen. The euro, meanwhile, was up 0.2 percent against the dollar at $1.0775.
January's U.S. non-manufacturing index also showed a reading of 56.5, slightly lower than the market's 57.0 forecast.. But the number remained higher than the 54.9 average for the whole of 2016, according to High Frequency Economics.
"A little lower then expected, but still fairly strong," said Jim O'Sullivan, High Frequency's chief U.S. economist. "The data suggests good upward momentum."
Donald Trump’s job just became harder
by Fathom Consulting
Released last week, the advance estimate of 2016 Q4 GDP showed that the US economy grew at an annualised pace of 1.9% last quarter, 0.2 percentage points above our below-consensus forecast.
As the chart highlights, domestic demand was robust: personal consumption and stockbuilding both made large positive contributions to growth. Consumers are confident and businesses appear to be building their inventories in anticipation of a stronger economy.
A widening in the trade deficit, by contrast, subtracted 1.7 percentage points from real GDP growth; imports jumped 8.3% (SAAR) and exports dropped 4.3%. The latter can be partly explained by a reversal of a one-off surge in US soybean exports in Q3, while solid domestic demand and currency appreciation offer explanations for the former.
Looking ahead, we expect both domestic demand and the US dollar to remain strong, complicating the new administration’s goal of narrowing the US trade deficit.
Today guys, we will make a research on Australian Dollar. Since it has relation as to gold and other commodities markets as to Forex - picture that we see there right now could become a prophecy for other markets. And it could happen so that AUD stands first in queue of other currencies, that could show the same dynamic later.
As AUD has strong relation to commodities - it has tighter link with real global economy, since any fluctuations in global commodity demand makes an impact on AUD as well. Thus, as commodities have turned to growth - could it mean some global growth in production and new spiral of inflationary growth in global economy? This is really possible. Right now we see big changes in geopolitical balance and global order. We expect big shifts in EU economy and changing old system of economical relations with turning of EU economy to East and involving Russia, China, India, Middle East as whole economic space. This will take time of course to happen, but changes come step by step.
As you understand such big cracks and changes and new vector in global economy could significantly boost demand on commodities and new breath of restructuring could bring inspiration and icrease in global production. That's why picture that we see right now on AUD could become the first bird and hint on going process, due to special tight relation of AUD and commodity markets.
COT Report
CFTC data shows bullish sentiment on AUD. Net speculative position has turned to positive. At the same time position is far from total saturation and has pretty much room to grow more. Open interest rises together with speculative position. This indicates bullish sentiment and support existed trend on the market.
Technicals
Monthly
Situation on monthly chart has changed drastically in January. Only in late December we've talked that probably AUD will form butterfly "buy" and drop to YPS1 as more agressive Fed policy is expected. Now as you can see - Aussie is skyrocketed in January and mostly has erased former setup, as current action looks not normal for ordinary butterfly shape...
We suspect there are other driving factors for AUD right now exist. Thus, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed a trade surplus of A$3.51 billion ($2.68 billion) in December, handily outpacing forecasts of A$2.2 billion, as surging commodity prices showered the resource-rich nation in cash.
50% mismatch between expectations and real data makes us think that these driving factors are not just minor fluctuations or occasions. This is strong and fargoing processes, but they haven't got maximum power yet. They are just starting, as it was first such big jump in Australia trade surplus...
At the same time, recent NFP data still shows that US economy doesn't show agressive job growth and inflation. Thus, first rate hike right now is expected only in June. This makes fiscal headwing for AUD a bit weaker.
By looking at technical picture - market has shown deep 5/8 retracement after all-time AB=CD pattern has been completed. On a way down AUD also has completed lightning bolt AB-CD pattern and 5/8 Fib support is also Agreement support.
Now price is coling around this Fib support level. In January AUD has moved above Yearly pivot point. Together with recent CFTC data this points on strong long-term bullish sentiment on market.
Although AUD has stuck a bit on a way up - our DRPO Buy pattern theoretically is valid still. Thus, it seems next destination point on monthly chart is 50% Fib resistance and YPR1 at 0.81 area. Trend is bullish here, market is not at OB.
So, may be it would be better to limit our horizon by just 0.81 area and to be honest Iscare a bit to look farer, but if there is indeed big shifts in global economy and new global growth stage is starting - AUD could get huge bonuses...
Weekly
This chart indicates large reversal pattern - H&S. Overall action was a bit dramatic around it, as market was not able to break neckline at first touch and forms right "double bottom" shoulder. Now neck line is borken and right shoulder takes shape of butterfy "Sell" pattern. Trend is bullish here, but AUD has reached weekly OB level.
Price stands above MPP. As you can see as H&S AB-CD target as butterfly targets envelop 0.81 area. This confirms that 0.81 probably is medium term target:
Daily
On daily chart I was watching possible DRPO "Sell" pattern, as AUD has reached weekly neckline and I thought that it could be formed here. I talked about particular this pattern when in our videos mentioned that AUD has interesting setup but it has not been confirmed yet...
But, AUD has not formed DRPO and even more - jumped higher. First on trade balance statistics, second - on US NFP data. As a result in has returned back in previous rectangle consolidation and formed upside reversal swing. Usually when market returns in previously abandoned consolidation it leads to either action inside it and moving to opposite border, or even - opposite breakout. In our case this breakout should happen in upward direction.
At the same time, right now AUD stands at weekly OB and could show some technical retracement on coming week:
4-hour
So, retracement in area of WPS1 and 0.7565 Fib level looks reasonable. It will be unwelcome any drop below K-area, since it will be also outside of daily rectanlge range.
Conclusion:
So, AUD has very interesting long-term setup. Patterns that we have here look attractive and promising. At the same time major purpose of this research is an attempt to shed some light on global process that stands under cover and that are not yet reflected by statistics. Right now we see only first signs of these process as statistics usually has 3-9 months lag.
If AUD indeed shows first signs of global shifts due its strong relation with commodities - soon we should get the same action on other assets and currencies. This is major conclusion that we make from this analysis today.
The technical portion of Sive's analysis owes a great deal to Joe DiNapoli's methods, and uses a number of Joe's proprietary indicators. Please note that Sive's analysis is his own view of the market and is not endorsed by Joe DiNapoli or any related companies.
(Reuters) - The dollar fell on Friday in choppy trading after the U.S. employment report showed a smaller-than-expected rise in wages last month despite strong jobs gains, likely prompting the Federal Reserve to be less aggressive in raising interest rates this year.
The greenback has struggled amid concerns about the Trump administration's preference for a weak dollar. It posted its worst January in percentage terms in 30 years.
This week, the trend continued to be lower, with the greenback down 2.3 percent against the yen in its worst weekly performance since late July.
The dollar index has ended lower for six consecutive weeks.
Further compounding the dollar's anemic trend this year was Friday's report showing that January non-farm payrolls rose by 227,000 jobs, the largest gain in four months. But the unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.8 percent and wages increased modestly, suggesting there was still some slack in the labor market that would keep inflation in check.
As a result, Fed fund futures priced in a less than 10 percent chance of a rate hike in March on Friday after the jobs data, according to the CME Group's FedWatch. Rate futures have instead priced in a June hike, with a probability of more than 60 percent.
"It was largely the consideration of low wage growth that put a significant damper on the outlook for near-future Fed rate hikes," said James Chen, head of research at Forex.com in Bedminster, New Jersey, adding that average hourly earnings reflect labor and consumer inflation.
Average hourly earnings rose just 0.1 percent, lower than the market's forecasts for a 0.3 percent increase. There was also a downward revision to the December wage growth.
The jobs report's dovish implications were reinforced late on Friday by Chicago Fed President Charles Evans, who said he favors gradual rate hikes.
In late trading, the dollar index, which tracks the greenback versus six top currencies, was flat to slightly lower at 99.776.
Against the yen, the dollar was down 0.1 percent at 112.70 yen. The euro, meanwhile, was up 0.2 percent against the dollar at $1.0775.
January's U.S. non-manufacturing index also showed a reading of 56.5, slightly lower than the market's 57.0 forecast.. But the number remained higher than the 54.9 average for the whole of 2016, according to High Frequency Economics.
"A little lower then expected, but still fairly strong," said Jim O'Sullivan, High Frequency's chief U.S. economist. "The data suggests good upward momentum."
Donald Trump’s job just became harder
by Fathom Consulting
Released last week, the advance estimate of 2016 Q4 GDP showed that the US economy grew at an annualised pace of 1.9% last quarter, 0.2 percentage points above our below-consensus forecast.
As the chart highlights, domestic demand was robust: personal consumption and stockbuilding both made large positive contributions to growth. Consumers are confident and businesses appear to be building their inventories in anticipation of a stronger economy.
A widening in the trade deficit, by contrast, subtracted 1.7 percentage points from real GDP growth; imports jumped 8.3% (SAAR) and exports dropped 4.3%. The latter can be partly explained by a reversal of a one-off surge in US soybean exports in Q3, while solid domestic demand and currency appreciation offer explanations for the former.
Looking ahead, we expect both domestic demand and the US dollar to remain strong, complicating the new administration’s goal of narrowing the US trade deficit.
Today guys, we will make a research on Australian Dollar. Since it has relation as to gold and other commodities markets as to Forex - picture that we see there right now could become a prophecy for other markets. And it could happen so that AUD stands first in queue of other currencies, that could show the same dynamic later.
As AUD has strong relation to commodities - it has tighter link with real global economy, since any fluctuations in global commodity demand makes an impact on AUD as well. Thus, as commodities have turned to growth - could it mean some global growth in production and new spiral of inflationary growth in global economy? This is really possible. Right now we see big changes in geopolitical balance and global order. We expect big shifts in EU economy and changing old system of economical relations with turning of EU economy to East and involving Russia, China, India, Middle East as whole economic space. This will take time of course to happen, but changes come step by step.
As you understand such big cracks and changes and new vector in global economy could significantly boost demand on commodities and new breath of restructuring could bring inspiration and icrease in global production. That's why picture that we see right now on AUD could become the first bird and hint on going process, due to special tight relation of AUD and commodity markets.
COT Report
CFTC data shows bullish sentiment on AUD. Net speculative position has turned to positive. At the same time position is far from total saturation and has pretty much room to grow more. Open interest rises together with speculative position. This indicates bullish sentiment and support existed trend on the market.
Technicals
Monthly
Situation on monthly chart has changed drastically in January. Only in late December we've talked that probably AUD will form butterfly "buy" and drop to YPS1 as more agressive Fed policy is expected. Now as you can see - Aussie is skyrocketed in January and mostly has erased former setup, as current action looks not normal for ordinary butterfly shape...
We suspect there are other driving factors for AUD right now exist. Thus, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed a trade surplus of A$3.51 billion ($2.68 billion) in December, handily outpacing forecasts of A$2.2 billion, as surging commodity prices showered the resource-rich nation in cash.
50% mismatch between expectations and real data makes us think that these driving factors are not just minor fluctuations or occasions. This is strong and fargoing processes, but they haven't got maximum power yet. They are just starting, as it was first such big jump in Australia trade surplus...
At the same time, recent NFP data still shows that US economy doesn't show agressive job growth and inflation. Thus, first rate hike right now is expected only in June. This makes fiscal headwing for AUD a bit weaker.
By looking at technical picture - market has shown deep 5/8 retracement after all-time AB=CD pattern has been completed. On a way down AUD also has completed lightning bolt AB-CD pattern and 5/8 Fib support is also Agreement support.
Now price is coling around this Fib support level. In January AUD has moved above Yearly pivot point. Together with recent CFTC data this points on strong long-term bullish sentiment on market.
Although AUD has stuck a bit on a way up - our DRPO Buy pattern theoretically is valid still. Thus, it seems next destination point on monthly chart is 50% Fib resistance and YPR1 at 0.81 area. Trend is bullish here, market is not at OB.
So, may be it would be better to limit our horizon by just 0.81 area and to be honest Iscare a bit to look farer, but if there is indeed big shifts in global economy and new global growth stage is starting - AUD could get huge bonuses...
Weekly
This chart indicates large reversal pattern - H&S. Overall action was a bit dramatic around it, as market was not able to break neckline at first touch and forms right "double bottom" shoulder. Now neck line is borken and right shoulder takes shape of butterfy "Sell" pattern. Trend is bullish here, but AUD has reached weekly OB level.
Price stands above MPP. As you can see as H&S AB-CD target as butterfly targets envelop 0.81 area. This confirms that 0.81 probably is medium term target:
Daily
On daily chart I was watching possible DRPO "Sell" pattern, as AUD has reached weekly neckline and I thought that it could be formed here. I talked about particular this pattern when in our videos mentioned that AUD has interesting setup but it has not been confirmed yet...
But, AUD has not formed DRPO and even more - jumped higher. First on trade balance statistics, second - on US NFP data. As a result in has returned back in previous rectangle consolidation and formed upside reversal swing. Usually when market returns in previously abandoned consolidation it leads to either action inside it and moving to opposite border, or even - opposite breakout. In our case this breakout should happen in upward direction.
At the same time, right now AUD stands at weekly OB and could show some technical retracement on coming week:
4-hour
So, retracement in area of WPS1 and 0.7565 Fib level looks reasonable. It will be unwelcome any drop below K-area, since it will be also outside of daily rectanlge range.
Conclusion:
So, AUD has very interesting long-term setup. Patterns that we have here look attractive and promising. At the same time major purpose of this research is an attempt to shed some light on global process that stands under cover and that are not yet reflected by statistics. Right now we see only first signs of these process as statistics usually has 3-9 months lag.
If AUD indeed shows first signs of global shifts due its strong relation with commodities - soon we should get the same action on other assets and currencies. This is major conclusion that we make from this analysis today.
The technical portion of Sive's analysis owes a great deal to Joe DiNapoli's methods, and uses a number of Joe's proprietary indicators. Please note that Sive's analysis is his own view of the market and is not endorsed by Joe DiNapoli or any related companies.