EUR/USD:
Weekly Gain/Loss: +0.38%
Weekly Close: 1.1393
Weekly perspective:
The single currency staged a reasonably decisive recovery over the course of last week, breaking a two-week bearish phase. Further buying, however, may be challenging. Less than 100 pips overhead resistance is seen priced in at 1.1465, which, as you can probably see, brings with it a nearby cloned trend line resistance (extended from the high 1.2413).
Daily perspective:
A closer reading on the daily timeframe adds a proven base of resistance circulating around the 1.1455 region. What’s appealing here, other than the fact the level capped upside three times in November and is closely linked to the weekly resistance mentioned above at 1.1465, is the merging Fibonacci resistances: a 61.8% and a 38.2% at 1.1469 and 1.1443, respectively.
H4 perspective:
Friday’s session witnessed the euro advance against its US counterpart, following substandard US employment data. US non-farm payrolls added 155k to the economy in November, falling sharply from the 250k (revised to 237k) addition seen in October and posting significantly below the 198k consensus. The US unemployment rate held steady at 3.7% and wages rose at a monthly pace of 0.2% in November, though came in below the 0.3% anticipated by the market.
Try as it might, though, the H4 candles failed to muster enough oomph to breach its 1.14 handle, and concluded the day/week forming a strong bearish pin-bar formation. Since November 29, the unit has been carving out a consolidation between November’s opening level at 1.1314 and 1.14. Note in between this range we also have December’s opening level coming in at 1.1350.
Areas outside of the current consolidation fall in at a Quasimodo resistance drawn from 1.1464 and the round number 1.13.
Areas of consideration:
Having seen both weekly and daily action poised to challenge their respective resistances (1.1465/1.1455), the research team notes to keep an eye out for a possible break above 1.14. A H4 close above this number followed up with a successful retest (stop-loss orders can be sited under the rejecting candle’s tail) would likely be enough evidence to justify an intraday long, targeting daily resistance seen at 1.1455.
If our analysis proves to be accurate and price action explores higher ground above 1.14, a high-probability shorting opportunity also exists around the H4 Quasimodo resistance mentioned above at 1.1464. This is due to where it is positioned on the higher timeframes. Traders either have the choice of waiting for additional candlestick confirmation to form and entering based on the selected structure, or simply entering at 1.1464 and positioning stop-loss orders above the apex of the H4 Quasimodo (1.1472). Without seeing the approach, 1.14 appears to be a logical starting point in terms of take-profit targets.
Today’s data points: Limited.
GBP/USD:
Weekly Gain/Loss: -0.28%
Weekly Close: 1.2729
Weekly perspective:
For the last five weeks sterling has registered losses, with four of those weeks involving a demand area at 1.2589-1.2814. As you can see, since striking the zone, price action has failed to produce anything meaningful to the upside, consequently reflecting a bleak tone at the moment. Traders, therefore, may want to pencil in the 2017 yearly opening level at 1.2329 in the event we push for lower ground.
Daily perspective:
In conjunction with weekly movement, daily flow suggests the pair might want to explore lower levels within the walls of the said weekly demand area. The Quasimodo support seen at 1.2635 remains an appealing barrier. Aside from 1.2635 fusing with trend line support (taken from the low 1.1904), the approach, should we trade lower, will form by way of an ABCD bullish pattern (red arrows) terminating just south at 1.2614.
H4 perspective:
Friday witnessed the GBP/USD exchange rate spike to highs of 1.2790, following a largely disappointing US jobs report. Despite some day-to-day volatility the British pound has remained consolidating in an increasingly restrictive range between 1.28 and 1.27 since the beginning of last week. It may also be worth noting that within the current consolidation November/December’s opening levels at 1.2767 and 1.2765 are visible.
A breakout above the aforesaid range could lead to price action swiftly exploring ground as far north as 1.29. This is due to the lack of active supply between 1.28/1.29. Beneath 1.27, on the other hand, traders likely have their crosshairs fixed on the daily Quasimodo support highlighted above at 1.2635.
Areas of consideration:
A H4 close above 1.28 – coupled with a retest as support in the shape of a bullish candlestick formation (entry/stop parameters can be defined according to this pattern) – is likely enough evidence to condone a long towards 1.29.
A H4 close under 1.27 that’s also accompanied by a retest by way of a bearish candlestick structure is likely enough to sell, targeting the daily Quasimodo support mentioned above at 1.2635.
Longer term, nonetheless, focus remains drawn towards the daily Quasimodo support at 1.2635 for potential longs. The fact this level is positioned within the current weekly demand, and fuses with a daily ABCD correction point as well as a trend line support, marks a reasonably strong buy zone for future use.
Today’s data points: MPC Member Cunliffe Speaks; UK GDP m/m; UK Manufacturing Production m/m.
AUD/USD:
Weekly Gain/Loss: -2.43%
Weekly Close: 0.7198
Weekly perspective:
Despite a healthy start to the week following the G-20 meeting ending with a 90-day truce between the US and China, the AUD/USD failed to overthrow notable resistance priced in at 0.7371 and spent the remainder of the week grinding south. Down almost 200 pips in the shape of a near-full-bodied bearish candle, the market concluded the session touching gloves with the 2017 yearly opening level at 0.7199.
Daily perspective:
Supporting the 2017 yearly opening level, daily structure offers a demand base at 0.7164-0.7224. Having seen this area hold price action higher once already in late November, however, traders might want to pencil in the possibility of this zone giving way to a fakeout towards nearby support coming in at 0.7151.
H4 perspective:
In spite of the H4 candles momentarily spiking to highs of 0.7240 on the back of a weaker-than-expected US employment report Friday, price failed to decisively overthrow October’s opening level at 0.7229. This eventually brought the market back to its 0.72 handle into the closing stages of the week. Hovering directly beneath 0.72 is a Quasimodo support coming in at 0.7182. This level remains fresh (has yet to be tested) and may be worthy of a bounce higher this week. Another point to bear in mind is the RSI indicator is currently displaying an oversold reading.
Areas of consideration:
With weekly action seen nursing recent losses around a notable support: the 2017 yearly opening level at 0.7199, along with daily price shaking hands with demand at 0.7164-0.7224 (albeit a potentially fragile zone), buyers may still have a hand in this fight.
Ultimately, though, we do believe a stop run beneath 0.72 will occur on the H4 to bring in buyers at the H4 Quasimodo support level mentioned above at 0.7182. A rebound from this level that prints a H4 close above 0.72 (stop-loss orders can be sited under the breakout candle’s tail) would be a good indication of buyer intent to at least October’s opening level at 0.7229. Beyond here, eyes are likely fixed on H4 resistance priced in at 0.7277, followed by the 0.73 handle.
Today’s data points: Limited.
USD/JPY:
Weekly Gain/Loss: -0.84%
Weekly Close: 112.68
Weekly perspective:
Since the beginning of November, the weekly candles have been capped between supply at 115.50-113.85 and the 2018 yearly opening level at 112.65. Beyond this level, demand coming in at 110.38-111.48 is on the radar, whereas a break above the current supply has the 2017 yearly opening level to target at 116.97.
In view of the market concluding trade a few pips above 112.65, a phase of buying may materialize this week.
Daily perspective:
In support of weekly price advancing higher, daily movement recently checked in with a trend line support (etched from the low 109.77). The question, nevertheless, is whether the ascending line will succumb to a fakeout play towards nearby support carved from 112.11, or continue advancing north from current price.
H4 perspective:
A quick recap of Friday’s movement on the H4 timeframe reveals the unit attempted to extend gains out of demand at 112.19-112.36, though failed to reach the 113 handle. Influenced by an overall disappointing US job’s report, the candles rotated from highs of 112.92 and concluded the day unchanged.
Areas of consideration:
Although the higher timeframes show scope for a push higher, defining an entry point on the H4 timeframe is proving troublesome at current price. With that being the case, the research team will only consider this a buyers’ market should the unit retest the H4 demand area mentioned above at 112.19-112.36, or whipsaw through this area and draw in buyers from 112 (red arrows). The latter will likely trip stop-loss orders beneath the said H4 demand and, therefore, provide liquidity for bigger money to get involved.
As it’s impossible to decipher which zone will react, if any, traders are urged to wait and see if additional bullish candlestick confirmation emerges before pulling the trigger (entry/stop parameters can be defined according to this pattern). In terms of take-profit targets, the 113 handle appears a logical starting base, shadowed by H4 resistance at 113.23.
Today’s data points: Limited.
USD/CAD:
Weekly Gain/Loss: +0.66%
Weekly Close: 1.3321
Weekly perspective:
USD/CAD bulls remained on the offensive last week, increasing its value by an additional 80 pips. Support at 1.3223 remains in the fold and now, thanks to recent buying, so is a nearby supply at 1.3540-1.3387 (houses the 2017 yearly opening level within at 1.3434). Both the support and supply carry equal weight, according to our research team.
Daily perspective:
Similar to weekly structure, daily price is visibly capped between resistance coming in at 1.3387 (essentially represents the underside of weekly supply) and support drawn from 1.3260. A decisive push above the aforesaid resistance likely unlocks the door towards resistance priced in at 1.3533 (not seen on the screen), whereas a breach of the current support level has demand at 1.3127-1.3176 in sight.
H4 perspective:
Friday’s volatile moves between 1.3400-1.3255 were prompted by starkly contrasting Canadian vs. US jobs reports, at least in headline terms. The former added a stellar 94k+ to its tally vs. a mere 10.5k consensus, with the latter adding 155k jobs to the economy, significantly below the 198k consensus. Couple this with an upsurge in crude oil prices, Friday’s session ended in negative territory, despite reclaiming 1.33+ status into the close.
Areas of consideration:
Well done to any of our readers who managed to take advantage of Friday’s move lower, as a retest to the underside of 1.34 was a noted move to keep eyes on.
Going forward, we see this a difficult market to buy intraday until H4 resistance at 1.3329 is engulfed. A close above here likely clears the pathway north back up to around 1.34. In fact, a H4 close above 1.3329 that’s followed up with a retest as support (preferably in the shape of a bullish candlestick configuration as this helps define entry/stop levels) is of interest this week, knowing we also have room to stretch higher on the higher timeframes to at least 1.3387 after bouncing from daily support mentioned above at 1.3260.
Today’s data points: Gov. Council Member Lane Speaks.
USD/CHF:
Weekly Gain/Loss: -0.81%
Weekly Close: 0.9896
Weekly perspective:
In form of a robust bearish engulfing candle printed just south of the 2016 yearly opening level at 1.0029, the USD/CHF market declined in excess of 80 pips last week. According to weekly structure, additional selling could materialize this week having seen the next support target not come into play until the 2018 yearly opening level at 0.9744.
Daily perspective:
The weekly timeframe’s bearish vibe is also echoed on the daily timeframe after meeting strong selling opposition off resistance at 0.9986. The level, as you can see (yellow), boasts incredibly strong historical significance. The only difference between the weekly/daily timeframes is daily movement shows its next downside target falls in relatively close by at 0.9866-0.9830 in the form of a support area.
H4 perspective:
Fuelled by a lower-than-expected US employment report Friday, the US dollar ceded ground to its Swiss counterpart. Despite a reasonably strong defensive posture Thursday off 0.99, recent selling tugged price action under the round number into the close.
Beneath 0.99, the research team has underlined support at 0.9854 as a potential downside target, though let’s keep in mind price action could find support ahead of this number at 0.9866: the top edge of the daily support area.
Areas of consideration:
With the higher timeframes signifying further selling, as well as a mild close printing under 0.99, further downside is likely in store. As long as H4 price remains defensive beneath 0.99 and preferably retests the underside of the number as resistance, this, according to the overall technical picture, is likely sufficient enough to justify a sell (stop-loss orders can be positioned above the rejecting candle’s wick), targeting the top edge of the daily support area mentioned above at 0.9866 as an initial take-profit zone.
Today’s data points: Limited.
Dow Jones Industrial Average:
Weekly Gain/Loss: -4.52%
Weekly Close: 24430
Weekly perspective:
After coming within close proximity to a Quasimodo resistance at 26182 in recent sessions, the US equity index turned aggressively lower and reclaimed its 2018 yearly opening level at 24660 to the downside, erasing in excess of 1000 points. Despite this, the unit may find active buying reenter the market this week from a nearby support area coming in at 23963-24224. Failure to hold could lead to a move towards support at 23578.
Daily perspective:
Entering the later stages of last week witnessed price action retest trend line support (extended from the low 23055). On the condition this level fails to hold ground this week, Quasimodo support at 23766 (drawn from the month of April – not seen on the screen) and its converging trend line resistance-turned support (taken from the high 26670) are the next hurdles on the hit list.
H4 perspective:
A brief look at recent dealings on the H4 timeframe reveals the candles eventually drove to highs of 25111 following Friday’s dismal US employment numbers. Fading supply at 25182-24996 into early US hours, the index ended the day mildly paring losses just north of a Quasimodo support at 24279. Beyond here, there’s also a notable support level present nearby at 24137.
Areas of consideration:
In view of our technical reading, the higher-timeframe picture shows buying could enter the fold sometime this week, particularly off the weekly support area mentioned above at 23963-24224. With that being the case, traders are urged to keep a close eye on the green area shaded between the H4 Quasimodo support at 24279 and H4 support at 24137. Knowing this area houses the top edge of the said weekly support area and also has a close connection to the current daily trend line support, there are likely active buyers residing within this zone.
To help avoid being whipsawed out of a trade on a fakeout, the research team is advising to wait for additional candlestick confirmation before contemplating a long from 24137/24279. Not only will this show buyer intent, it’ll also provide entry/stop parameters. As for upside targets out of this zone, the underside of the 2018 yearly opening level on the weekly timeframe mentioned above at 24660 appears a logical starting point.
Today’s data points: Limited.
XAU/USD (Gold):
Weekly Gain/Loss: +2.14%
Weekly Close: 1248.1
Weekly perspective:
Over the course of last week, the precious metal crossed above a swing resistance at 1236.6 in strong fashion (now acting support). Should price continue to emphasize a bullish presence from here, resistance seen at 1260.8 is likely the next hurdle in view. What’s also interesting about this level from a technical perspective is it converges closely with an AB=CD bearish completion point (black arrows) and a 50.0% resistance value at 1263.4.
Daily perspective:
Along the same vein as weekly structure, daily movement overthrew resistance at 1236.9 (now acting support) last week, likely clearing the runway north towards channel resistance (etched from the high 1214.3). Note this ascending level also fuses reasonably closely with the weekly resistance mentioned above at 1260.8.
H4 perspective:
The yellow metal advanced strongly against its US counterpart Friday, up 0.87% on the day. Bolstered by less-than-stellar US job’s numbers, the H4 candles challenged supply at 1253.5-1248.8 going into the closing stages of the week. Should the market observe a pullback print from this area (supported by the RSI indicator displaying a divergence/overbought reading), support at 1239.8 rests nearby as the next logical downside target. Whether the current supply area will be enough to stand up to higher-timeframe buyers, who, as we know from the analysis above, has room to press as far north as weekly resistance at 1260.8, is difficult to judge.
Areas of consideration:
With higher-timeframe action exhibiting space to explore higher ground this week, selling from H4 supply at 1253.5-1248.8 is precarious. One way to overcome this is to wait and see if H4 price chalks up a bearish candlestick formation. That way, traders are able to observe whether there are sellers interested here or not. The other benefit of waiting for confirmation is the candlestick structure offers entry/stop parameters, though most traders will likely opt to position stop-loss orders above the supply zone itself.
Another scenario that may play out this week is an engulf of the said H4 supply zone followed by a pullback to the H4 support at 1239.8 for a rally towards weekly resistance at 1260.8. The break through H4 supply theoretically clears the majority of sellers out of the market, unlocking the pathway north to higher levels off 1239.8.
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