Forex Market Update
The greenback is trading mostly higher against its key peers on the last day of 2013, in a thin trade, with investors finding little fuel to push the trade higher. However, the USD weakened yesterday after pending home sale in the US showed a slight increase in November, although the modest uptick fell well short of market estimates.
The Euro ticked lower against the USD to $1.3777, losing grasp of the $1.3800 level it held on the previous day, while the British Pound edged higher, amid rising expectations that the UK economy would perform strongly during 2014. For the year, the Euro is expected to gain around 4.0% against the dollar, while the Pound headed to an annual increase of around 2.4%.
In a noteworthy development, the Greek Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, announced yesterday that the nation will leave its bailout programme in 2014 without needing a third aid package and insisted that citizens could look to 2014 with confidence.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Yen is trading higher against the USD this morning. In the midst of pro-active policies from Japan’s government and central bank, the Yen has dropped sharply over the past year, with dollar up 22.0% against the currency.
The Canadian Dollar and the Australian Dollar also headed for a yearly loss, falling around 7.0% and 14.0%, respectively, against the greenback. However, the Aussie edged higher this morning against the USD, after economic data indicated that private sector credit in Australia in November rose at the same pace as the previous month, but the annual pace accelerated by a level last seen in October 2012.
EUR USD
This morning at 10:40 GMT, the EUR is trading at 1.3777 against the USD, 0.17% lower from the New York close, in a relatively thin trading session this morning. The greenback remained supported amid economic optimism in the US, fuelling speculations that the US Federal Reserve might bring in further alterations in its bond purchases during 2014. Further in the week, investors are likely to keep a close tab on a slew of manufacturing PMI reports across the Euro zone, slated to release on Thursday. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 1.3813 and a low of 1.3759. Yesterday, the EUR traded 0.21% higher against the USD in the New York session, and closed at 1.3800.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 1.3745 and first resistance at 1.3814.
GBP USD
At 10:40 GMT, the GBP is trading at 1.6536 against the USD, 0.14% higher from the New York close, amid hopes that the UK’s economy would continue to recover robustly in 2014. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 1.6547 and a low of 1.6474. Yesterday, the British Pound traded 0.22% higher versus the Dollar in the New York session, and closed at 1.6512.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 1.6482 and first resistance at 1.6569.
USD JPY
The USD is trading at 104.99 against the JPY at 10:40 GMT this morning, 0.14% lower from the New York close. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 105.17 and a low of 104.86. In the New York session yesterday, the USD traded 0.09% lower against the JPY, and closed at 105.13.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 104.81 and first resistance at 105.22.
USD CHF
This morning at 10:40 GMT, the USD is trading at 0.8904 against the Swiss Franc, 0.27% higher from the New York close. With a void of economic releases today, market participants are likely to gauge the last batch of macroeconomic data from the US to determine the trading trend in the pair. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 0.8912 and a low of 0.8865. In the New York session yesterday, the USD traded 0.21% lower against the CHF, and closed at 0.8880.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 0.8870 and first resistance at 0.8928.
USD CAD
At 10:40 GMT, the USD is trading at 1.0644 against the CAD, marginally lower from the New York close. Amid no major releases in Canada in the first half of January 2014, the Loonie traders would look for global news for further guidance. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 1.0658 and a low of 1.0636. Yesterday, the USD traded 0.61% lower against the CAD in the New York session, and closed at 1.0647.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 1.0612 and first resistance at 1.0698.
AUD USD
The AUD is trading at 0.8916 against the USD, at 10:40 GMT this morning, 0.16% higher from the New York close. In economic news, private sector credit in Australia rose 0.3% (MoM) in November. Traders would wait for the performance of the manufacturing index released by the AIG, slated to release tomorrow, to gauge the business conditions in the Australian manufacturing sector. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 0.8951 and a low of 0.8898. AUD traded 0.33% higher against the USD in the New York session, and closed at 0.8902.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 0.8868 and first resistance at 0.8957.
Gold
At 10:40 GMT, Gold staged a modest rebound this morning trading at $1202.00 per ounce, 0.43% higher from the New York close. However, the precious metal was still heading for its biggest annual decline in more than three decades, as investors continue to lose faith in the precious metal as a hedge against inflation and an alternative investment after the US Federal Reserve announced plans to trim in its monthly bond purchases. This morning, Gold traded at a high of $1203.77 and a low of $1194.88 per ounce. In the New York session yesterday, the yellow metal traded 0.55% lower, and closed at $1196.85.
Gold has its first support at $1194.61 and first resistance at $1209.09.
Silver
Silver is trading at $19.53 per ounce, 0.27% lower from the New York close, at 10:40 GMT this morning. This morning, Silver traded at a high of $19.70 and a low of $19.40. Silver traded 0.29% lower against the USD in the New York session, and closed at $19.58.
Silver has its first support at $19.34 and first resistance at $19.77.
Crude Oil
At 10:40 GMT, Oil is trading at $98.92 per barrel, 0.30% lower from the New York close on the final trading day of the year, on signs of Libyan export resumption. Traders paid passing attention to the news that China may raise Iranian oil imports in 2014. Ahead in the day, the API is due to release its weekly oil inventory report, while the more-closely watched EIA report have been postponed to Friday due to the New Year’s Day holiday. This morning, Oil traded at a high of $99.39 and a low of $98.84. Yesterday, Oil traded 0.54% lower in the New York session, and closed at $99.23.
It has its first support at $98.38 and first resistance at $99.92.
Economic Snapshot
UK’s Lloyds business barometer rose at a slower pace in December
The Lloyds business barometer in the UK rose to a reading of 48.0 in December, compared to a rise of 50.0 recorded in the previous month.
Australia’s private sector credit climbed less than anticipated in November
On a monthly basis, private sector credit in Australia advanced 0.3% in November, compared to a similar increase recorded in the preceding month. Markets were expecting private sector credit to climb 0.4% in November.