Forex FOREX PRO WEEKLY, December 17-21, 2018

Sive Morten

Special Consultant to the FPA
Messages
18,531
Fundamentals

So, as usual, market has appeared to be wiser than any of us. Twice we've changed the context and twice market turned it 180 degrees by surprising impact on external factor which you have to be a prophet to predict, as these factors were outside of economy or technical analysis.

As Reuters reports, Friday turn has happened as worrisome political and economic news outside the United States drove a strong bid for the safety of the greenback.

The Chinese yuan fell after data showed China’s retail sales in November grew at the slowest pace since 2003 and industrial output marked its weakest growth in nearly three years. The offshore yuan shed 0.36 percent to 6.9025 per dollar.

The euro fell as the euro zone’s two largest members showed signs of a slowdown.

Sterling weakened as traders worried that British Prime Minister Theresa May was struggling to secure assurances from the European Union over her Brexit withdrawal deal after she survived a confidence vote earlier this week.

“The dollar is not so much rallying as much as everyone else is falling,” said Boris Schlossberg, managing director of FX strategy at BK Asset Management in New York.

The greenback’s appeal grew following upbeat data on U.S. retail sales and industrial output in November.

The dollar’s gains were limited by bets the Federal Reserve might soon pause in raising interest rates after a widely expected hike next week of a quarter point, to 2.25-2.50 percent.

“The market is sceptical about the U.S. economy and whether the Fed would hike further after December,” Schlossberg said.

The greenback was also held back by the probability of a partial U.S. government shutdown as President Donald Trump and federal lawmakers disagree over funding for a border wall, analysts said.

The euro was down 0.43 percent at $1.13045 after German data showed private-sector expansion slowed to a four-year low in December and French business activity unexpectedly contracted.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi told European Union leaders growth was weaker than previously forecast and urged them to go forward with reforms of the euro zone, one official told Reuters.

“I interpret this as caution that we already know is perpetual in the ECB’s thinking,” said Juan Perez, senior currency trader at Tempus, Inc in Washington.

Worries about the European economy were also stoked by uncertainty whether May could convince the British parliament to approve her Brexit deal.

Recent COT report doesn't show direct change in sentiment. Hedgers have increased positions in both sides, while speculators slightly have increased longs, but this increase is too small. While open interest have increased significantly - more than 40K contracts, this change is mostly neutral and belongs to hedgers. Thus, here we can't say that investors take position on definite side.
upload_2018-12-15_13-20-39.png


The one thing that we could say is we're coming to Christmas holidays . Next week all eyes will be on Fed, what they will say about US economy. Turmoil in EU, mostly in France hardly will calm down, so tensions will hold through holidays. Due risk aversion and long holidays preparation demand for safe haven currencies could rise more. Thus, since we do not have any inner direction due some fundamental driving factor, market could follow to technical preparation to holidays. Besides, on a background of ECB statement, any Fed statement probably will sound more hawkish.

upload_2018-12-15_13-26-27.png

Source: cftc.gov
Charting by Investing.com



Another important problem for EU is Italian national debt. With closing of QE, demand for government debt should gradually decrease. As Italy has 130% GDP national debt, it could get some problems with liquidity, budget deficit. They already have difficulties to agree budget with Brussels. Besides, as it is widely expected US and maybe even global recession somewhere around 2020, Italy problem could exacerbate more.
Fathom consulting brings interesting update on this subject.

Although they continue to be volatile, Italian spreads have dipped below 300 basis points in recent days amid speculation that the country’s government may be willing to cut a budget deal with the EU. Indeed, according to Fathom’s proprietary indicator, the market-implied probability of a default by the Mediterranean sovereign edged down to 14.8% in November.

18_12_07_Alpha_Now-Euro-area-market-implied-probability-of-default.jpg


As Fathom noted to clients last week, the market’s initial reaction to the coalition’s fiscal plans had perhaps caused Italian bonds to overshoot relative to their fundamental value.

However, with Italy’s debt-to-GDP ratio still above 130%, there remains a risk that a significant and sustained fiscal expansion could see the country’s already elevated level of debt spiral out of control. Added to this, analysis carried out as part of Fathom’s latest quarterly forecast suggests that, as the pool of public debt grows, fiscal policy becomes far less potent.

The challenge may be greater for present-day Italy (compares to Belgium), which has a near-zero trend rate of growth and faces the prospect of a US-led recession in 2020. That being said, the government continues to benefit from relatively cheap funding costs with bond yields close to 3% — significantly below their long-term average.

18_12_07_Alpha_Now-Italy-GDP.jpg


Technicals
Monthly


December month shows very small range and has no impact on monthly picture at all. Here we mostly wait for clarity - either downside breakout and start action to 1.08 and later to 1.03 or ability of the EUR to hold above 1.12 and turning up. Market stands at wide support area between major 5/8 Fib level and YPP, which also natural support/resistance area.

Indirect technical factors point on market's weakness, as EUR can't jump out from strong support within more than 5-6 months and just lays upon it. Trend stands bearish here.

Monthly situation shortly could be described as indecision with light gravitation to the downside.
eur_d_17_12_18.png


Weekly

So, guys another bearish grabber has been formed this week. Now we have three of them. Market stands in tight range for almost two months. From technical point of view, weekly patterns has a dominant role over daily and intraday ones. While market stands below 1.15 - they keep bearish scenario possible and any bullish scenario on lower time frames will be under risk of failure.

Grabber target suggests drop below recent lows and probable reaching of at least 1.1185 major 5/8 Fib support. Here we have also divergence with Dollar Index. Grabbers stand there as well, but Dollar index has formed new top recently, while EUR is not.
eur_w_17_12_18.png


Daily

On Friday our triangle was broken down, daily grabber has been erased. This lets us turn again to our former scenario of possible downside AB=CD pattern with 1.12 target. Potentially we could either "222" Buy or Butterfly pattern, depending on what market will do around recent lows and whether will be any attempt to take them out:
eur_d_17_12_18.png


On Dollar Index this picture looks more attractive as butterfly and AB-CD targets stand closer to each other.

In fact bearish area is wide and lets market fluctuate in big range - up to 1.15 area. While market was showing bullish scenarios last week - all of them were under pressure of weekly bearish context, and have failed at the end.

Intraday

Here we have relatively safe context for taking short position. Triangle was broken down, sell-off stands with very good pace. We have a lot of downside targets as above 1.12 as below it. Here on 4H we see that as OP target as butterfly 1.27 still stand intact. As market stops slightly above it - next week it will gravitate down to complete. Upside retracement has good target - re-testing of broken trend line around 1.1340 area:
eur_4h_17_12_18.png


On 1H chart we have mostly the same patterns but of a smaller scale. Stop has happened as EUR touched minor XOP and 1.27 butterfly target. Here as well - price shows fast drop and major XOP as well as 1.618 stand untouched. They stand in the same 1.1250 area. Fib levels shows good K-resistance of 1.1335-1.1345 which coincides with line of triangle that has been broken.
eur_1h_17_12_18.png


In current circumstances it is difficult to foresee what targets beyond 1.1250 market could hit, but this is secondary question right now. What is really good - that we could take short position with relatively small risk.

Conclusion:

Sentiment analysis shows that market doesn't have clear direction by far as no big change in position of investors have happened. Still, we suggest that EUR will be under pressure till the end of the year due technical factors - long holidays, political uncertainty in Germany, unrest in France that spreading over EU should trigger risk aversion and demand for safe haven currencies. This makes us gravitate more to bearish action within few weeks of moderate pace. Our 1.1185 major Fib support could be reached in December.


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.
 
Important update on EUR.

I believe I finally have right wave count for EUR. I think this is most probable scenario to happen. EUR is bullish, just currently in bearish retracement which I expect to finish in 1.1235-1.1255 zone. I am saying that 1.1266 support will be broken, but that does not change bullish story for EUR. 1.1213 support is vital! All stops should be places under it, not above it.

4H:

View attachment 40782

15 MIN:

View attachment 40783

How to trade this?

First position: sell entry in zone 1.1330-1.1340, SL=1.1401, TP zone = 1.1240-1.1255
Second position: buy entry in zone = 1.1240-1.1270, SL=1.1212, TP zone = 1.1525-1.1750

Update on EUR.

My main wave count proved correct so far. Wave 4 was deeper to upside then expected, but key resistance 1.1401 held and price resumed downside action in wave 5, which has 5 waves inside, and I believe we are about to finish wave 4 which has ABC structure, and is expanded flat. I expect bearish wave 5 of wave 5 to resume immediately on Monday, and to end in 1.1218-1.1255 zone where true bullish action can be reestablished, and complex retracement in wave 2 would be finished, so that bullish wave 3 can start.

4H CHART:

EURUSDkH4.png


15MIN CHART:

EURUSDkM15.png


How to trade this?

First position: Sell entry in zone 1.13-1.1320, SL=1.1360, TP zone = 1.1240-1.1255
Second position: Buy entry zone = 1.1240-1.1255, SL=1.1212, TP zone = 1.1585-1.1750

To sum up: I believe EUR is bullish, just complex, long lasting correction in bearish wave 2 unfolds which brings confusion. As long as 1.1213 support holds, I stay bullish.
 
Fundamentals

So, as usual, market has appeared to be wiser than any of us. Twice we've changed the context and twice market turned it 180 degrees by surprising impact on external factor which you have to be a prophet to predict, as these factors were outside of economy or technical analysis.

As Reuters reports, Friday turn has happened as worrisome political and economic news outside the United States drove a strong bid for the safety of the greenback.

The Chinese yuan fell after data showed China’s retail sales in November grew at the slowest pace since 2003 and industrial output marked its weakest growth in nearly three years. The offshore yuan shed 0.36 percent to 6.9025 per dollar.

The euro fell as the euro zone’s two largest members showed signs of a slowdown.

Sterling weakened as traders worried that British Prime Minister Theresa May was struggling to secure assurances from the European Union over her Brexit withdrawal deal after she survived a confidence vote earlier this week.

“The dollar is not so much rallying as much as everyone else is falling,” said Boris Schlossberg, managing director of FX strategy at BK Asset Management in New York.

The greenback’s appeal grew following upbeat data on U.S. retail sales and industrial output in November.

The dollar’s gains were limited by bets the Federal Reserve might soon pause in raising interest rates after a widely expected hike next week of a quarter point, to 2.25-2.50 percent.

“The market is sceptical about the U.S. economy and whether the Fed would hike further after December,” Schlossberg said.

The greenback was also held back by the probability of a partial U.S. government shutdown as President Donald Trump and federal lawmakers disagree over funding for a border wall, analysts said.

The euro was down 0.43 percent at $1.13045 after German data showed private-sector expansion slowed to a four-year low in December and French business activity unexpectedly contracted.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi told European Union leaders growth was weaker than previously forecast and urged them to go forward with reforms of the euro zone, one official told Reuters.

“I interpret this as caution that we already know is perpetual in the ECB’s thinking,” said Juan Perez, senior currency trader at Tempus, Inc in Washington.

Worries about the European economy were also stoked by uncertainty whether May could convince the British parliament to approve her Brexit deal.

Recent COT report doesn't show direct change in sentiment. Hedgers have increased positions in both sides, while speculators slightly have increased longs, but this increase is too small. While open interest have increased significantly - more than 40K contracts, this change is mostly neutral and belongs to hedgers. Thus, here we can't say that investors take position on definite side.
View attachment 40804

The one thing that we could say is we're coming to Christmas holidays . Next week all eyes will be on Fed, what they will say about US economy. Turmoil in EU, mostly in France hardly will calm down, so tensions will hold through holidays. Due risk aversion and long holidays preparation demand for safe haven currencies could rise more. Thus, since we do not have any inner direction due some fundamental driving factor, market could follow to technical preparation to holidays. Besides, on a background of ECB statement, any Fed statement probably will sound more hawkish.

View attachment 40805
Source: cftc.gov
Charting by Investing.com



Another important problem for EU is Italian national debt. With closing of QE, demand for government debt should gradually decrease. As Italy has 130% GDP national debt, it could get some problems with liquidity, budget deficit. They already have difficulties to agree budget with Brussels. Besides, as it is widely expected US and maybe even global recession somewhere around 2020, Italy problem could exacerbate more.
Fathom consulting brings interesting update on this subject.

Although they continue to be volatile, Italian spreads have dipped below 300 basis points in recent days amid speculation that the country’s government may be willing to cut a budget deal with the EU. Indeed, according to Fathom’s proprietary indicator, the market-implied probability of a default by the Mediterranean sovereign edged down to 14.8% in November.

18_12_07_Alpha_Now-Euro-area-market-implied-probability-of-default.jpg


As Fathom noted to clients last week, the market’s initial reaction to the coalition’s fiscal plans had perhaps caused Italian bonds to overshoot relative to their fundamental value.

However, with Italy’s debt-to-GDP ratio still above 130%, there remains a risk that a significant and sustained fiscal expansion could see the country’s already elevated level of debt spiral out of control. Added to this, analysis carried out as part of Fathom’s latest quarterly forecast suggests that, as the pool of public debt grows, fiscal policy becomes far less potent.

The challenge may be greater for present-day Italy (compares to Belgium), which has a near-zero trend rate of growth and faces the prospect of a US-led recession in 2020. That being said, the government continues to benefit from relatively cheap funding costs with bond yields close to 3% — significantly below their long-term average.

18_12_07_Alpha_Now-Italy-GDP.jpg


Technicals
Monthly


December month shows very small range and has no impact on monthly picture at all. Here we mostly wait for clarity - either downside breakout and start action to 1.08 and later to 1.03 or ability of the EUR to hold above 1.12 and turning up. Market stands at wide support area between major 5/8 Fib level and YPP, which also natural support/resistance area.

Indirect technical factors point on market's weakness, as EUR can't jump out from strong support within more than 5-6 months and just lays upon it. Trend stands bearish here.

Monthly situation shortly could be described as indecision with light gravitation to the downside.
View attachment 40806

Weekly

So, guys another bearish grabber has been formed this week. Now we have three of them. Market stands in tight range for almost two months. From technical point of view, weekly patterns has a dominant role over daily and intraday ones. While market stands below 1.15 - they keep bearish scenario possible and any bullish scenario on lower time frames will be under risk of failure.

Grabber target suggests drop below recent lows and probable reaching of at least 1.1185 major 5/8 Fib support. Here we have also divergence with Dollar Index. Grabbers stand there as well, but Dollar index has formed new top recently, while EUR is not.
View attachment 40807

Daily

On Friday our triangle was broken down, daily grabber has been erased. This lets us turn again to our former scenario of possible downside AB=CD pattern with 1.12 target. Potentially we could either "222" Buy or Butterfly pattern, depending on what market will do around recent lows and whether will be any attempt to take them out:
View attachment 40808

On Dollar Index this picture looks more attractive as butterfly and AB-CD targets stand closer to each other.

In fact bearish area is wide and lets market fluctuate in big range - up to 1.15 area. While market was showing bullish scenarios last week - all of them were under pressure of weekly bearish context, and have failed at the end.

Intraday

Here we have relatively safe context for taking short position. Triangle was broken down, sell-off stands with very good pace. We have a lot of downside targets as above 1.12 as below it. Here on 4H we see that as OP target as butterfly 1.27 still stand intact. As market stops slightly above it - next week it will gravitate down to complete. Upside retracement has good target - re-testing of broken trend line around 1.1340 area:
View attachment 40809

On 1H chart we have mostly the same patterns but of a smaller scale. Stop has happened as EUR touched minor XOP and 1.27 butterfly target. Here as well - price shows fast drop and major XOP as well as 1.618 stand untouched. They stand in the same 1.1250 area. Fib levels shows good K-resistance of 1.1335-1.1345 which coincides with line of triangle that has been broken.
View attachment 40810

In current circumstances it is difficult to foresee what targets beyond 1.1250 market could hit, but this is secondary question right now. What is really good - that we could take short position with relatively small risk.

Conclusion:

Sentiment analysis shows that market doesn't have clear direction by far as no big change in position of investors have happened. Still, we suggest that EUR will be under pressure till the end of the year due technical factors - long holidays, political uncertainty in Germany, unrest in France that spreading over EU should trigger risk aversion and demand for safe haven currencies. This makes us gravitate more to bearish action within few weeks of moderate pace. Our 1.1185 major Fib support could be reached in December.


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.
Thank you Sive,
Great, to get these wonderful reports offered to us on a platter, all this for free -gratis -niks!
We are a very lucky bunch of people that can benefit from this and believe me Sive i do :)
Thank you for being in my life!
Thank you FPA
 
Update on EUR.

My main wave count proved correct so far. Wave 4 was deeper to upside then expected, but key resistance 1.1401 held and price resumed downside action in wave 5, which has 5 waves inside, and I believe we are about to finish wave 4 which has ABC structure, and is expanded flat. I expect bearish wave 5 of wave 5 to resume immediately on Monday, and to end in 1.1218-1.1255 zone where true bullish action can be reestablished, and complex retracement in wave 2 would be finished, so that bullish wave 3 can start.

4H CHART:

View attachment 40812

15MIN CHART:

View attachment 40813

How to trade this?

First position: Sell entry in zone 1.13-1.1320, SL=1.1360, TP zone = 1.1240-1.1255
Second position: Buy entry zone = 1.1240-1.1255, SL=1.1212, TP zone = 1.1585-1.1750

To sum up: I believe EUR is bullish, just complex, long lasting correction in bearish wave 2 unfolds which brings confusion. As long as 1.1213 support holds, I stay bullish.
Thank you Deltiold88,
For this interesting observation/analyses - am most keen to see if it will go to the high zone mentioned above in this holiday time, but stranger things have happened. Look forward to hearing from you again.
Much appreciated.
 
Looks like it wont be closed anytime soon. I see it going to 1.1120 then up to 1.2070.

Possible. My views are similar. Down to 1.11-1.1255 zone, then up to 1.1750-1.21 zone, then big down to 1.04-1.08, and then huge upside to over 1.50.
 
Hi Guys,

I'm going away for a few days (again) I am far from sure that I have a correct wave count down from 1.1442 but still have reason to suspect a wave 5 down towards 1.1190 at least and have my Take profit just short of that. But frankly if I were within reach of a desktop I would be anxiously monitoring my Kennedy Channels as I can't yet confirm my presumed wave 5 as an impulse.


Deltoid - I think you may want to check your wave count for 20th to 28th Nov. . You have this as a diagonal, which is a motive wave but not an impulse. The rule that Wave 3 can never be the shortest of waves 1,3,& 5 applies to both motive and impulse waves. My feed clearly shows that your wave 3 is the shortest - yours may be different although that is not apparent from your chart.. ;)
 

Attachments

  • EURUSDH4 ar 18 12 16.png
    EURUSDH4 ar 18 12 16.png
    50 KB · Views: 1
Back
Top