Forex Market Update
This morning, the greenback is trading mostly lower against most of the major currencies.
The EUR is trading higher against the USD despite data revealing that the Euro-zone Sentix inventor confidence unexpectedly fell to a 3 month-low reading in May and after the European Commission slashed its inflation-outlook and growth forecast of the Euro-zone economy for 2014 and 2015 while adding that it sees low risk of deflation in the economy.
The JPY gained ground against its US counterpart as lackluster Chinese manufacturing PMI data spurred demand for safe-haven assets. Meanwhile, the JPY further received support after the BoJ Governor, Haruhiko Kuroda played down risks of the recent sale-tax hike on the growth of the Japanese economy and projected economic recovery to resume in the third quarter.
During the weekend, the Dallas Fed President, Richard Fisher expressed optimism on the growth of the US economy as the US private-sector payrolls rose. He further stated that the US Fed would only consider raising its interest rate after it ends its bond-buying program, which according to him, could likely happen in October.
In Friday’s New York session, the greenback traded lower against the key currencies. However, earlier the USD rose after official data showed that unemployment rate in the US fell to its lowest level since 2008 in April and that the economy added more-than-expected 288K new jobs, last month.
EUR USD
This morning at 9:40 GMT, the EUR is trading at 1.3876 against the USD, slightly higher from the New York close. Earlier today, the Sentix inventor confidence in the Euro-zone deteriorated to a 3-month low level in May while producer prices in the region declined at a slower pace in March. Separately, the European Commission, in a report, slashed its inflation forecast for the Euro-zone economy for the second time this year. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 1.3883 and a low of 1.3866. On Friday, the EUR traded 0.30% higher against the USD in the New York session, and closed at 1.3871.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 1.3830 and first resistance at 1.3902.
GBP USD
At 9:40 GMT, the GBP is trading at 1.6875 against the USD, marginally higher from the New York close, in a holiday-thin trading session. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 1.6884 and a low of 1.6869. On Friday, the British Pound traded 0.11% higher versus the Dollar in the New York session, and closed at 1.6869. Late Friday, the BoE’s Dy. Governor, Jon Cunliffe suggested that it would be dangerous to ignore the soaring house prices in the UK economy as it could pose the greatest threat to the nation’s financial stability.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 1.6837 and first resistance at 1.6899.
USD JPY
The USD is trading at 101.95 against the JPY at 9:40 GMT this morning, 0.28% lower from the New York close. The JPY rose amid strong demand for safe-haven assets and as the BoJ Governor, Haruhiko Kuroda’s optimistic view on Japan’s recovery dampened speculation for additional stimulus measure by the BoJ. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 102.26 and a low of 101.90. In the New York session on Friday, the USD traded 0.53% lower against the JPY, and closed at 102.24.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 101.53 and first resistance at 102.70.
USD CHF
This morning at 9:40 GMT, the USD is trading at 0.8777 against the Swiss Franc, marginally lower from the New York close. In economic news, the UBS Swiss real estate bubble index slightly edged down to 1.22 points in the first quarter, snapping six previous quarters of advances. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 0.8783 and a low of 0.8773. In Friday’s New York session, the USD traded 0.51% lower against the CHF, and closed at 0.8781.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 0.8749 and first resistance at 0.8823.
USD CAD
At 9:40 GMT, the USD is trading at 1.0974 against the CAD, slightly lower from the New York close. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 1.0985 and a low of 1.0959. On Friday, the USD traded tad lower against the CAD in the New York session, and closed at 1.0978.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 1.0937 and first resistance at 1.1009.
AUD USD
The AUD is trading at 0.9267 against the USD, at 9:40 GMT this morning, flat from the New York close. Data released overnight showed that building approvals in Australia registered its fifth monthly fall in the past half year in March while the AiG performance of services index remained in the contraction territory for a second consecutive month in April. During the session, the pair traded at a high of 0.9291 and a low of 0.9259. AUD traded 0.51% higher against the USD in the New York on Friday, and closed at 0.9267.
The pair is expected to find its first support at 0.9216 and first resistance at 0.9305.
Gold
At 9:40 GMT, Gold is trading at $1314.10 per ounce, 0.86% higher from the New York close, on short-covering and amid strong demand for safe-haven assets following fresh violent outburst in Ukraine. This morning, Gold traded at a high of $1315.20 and a low of $1299.70 per ounce. In the New York session on Friday, the yellow metal traded 1.31% higher, and closed at $1302.90. The SPDR Gold Trust reported that its holdings fell for third straight session to 782.85 tons on Friday.
Gold has its first support at $1287.53 and first resistance at $1327.93.
Silver
Silver is trading at $19.69 per ounce, 0.71% higher from the New York close, at 9:40 GMT this morning. This morning, Silver traded at a high of $19.74 and a low of $19.49. Silver traded 1.99% higher against the USD in Friday’s New York session, and closed at $19.55, tracking gains in gold prices and amid a weakness in the US Dollar.
Silver has its first support at $19.15 and first resistance at $19.98.
Crude Oil
At 9:40 GMT, Oil is trading at $100.35 per barrel, 0.60% higher from the New York close, as escalating violence in Ukraine weighed on the supply-outlook of the commodity from the region. However, gains in the commodity were capped after HSBC reported that China's manufacturing sector contracted for a fourth consecutive month in April. This morning, Oil traded at a high of $100.44 and a low of $99.70. On Friday, Oil traded marginally higher in the New York session, and closed at $99.76.
It has its first support at $99.60 and first resistance at $100.77.
Economic Snapshot
Euro-zone PPI dropped in line with market expectations in March
The producer price index (PPI) in the Euro-zone fell 0.2% (MoM) in March, in line with market estimates and compared to a similar drop recorded in the previous month.
EC lowered its Euro-zone growth and inflation forecasts for 2015
The European Commission (EC) indicated that the Euro-zone GDP would rise 1.7% for 2015, lower than its February projection of a 1.8% expansion. The EC has also slashed its inflation forecasts for the Euro-zone for 2014 and 2015 to 0.8% and 1.2%, respectively, from the 1.0% and 1.3% it had forecast in February.
Euro-zone Sentix investor confidence fell unexpectedly in May
The Sentix investor confidence index in the Euro-zone dropped to a level of 12.8 in May, compared to a reading of 14.1 reported in the previous month. Market had expected the index to rise to a level of 14.2 in May.
Switzerland’s UBS real estate bubble index eased in the Q1 2014
The UBS real estate bubble index decreased to a reading of 1.22 in Q1 2014, from a level of 1.23 in the previous quarter.
Australia building approvals fell in March
On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, building approvals in Australia dropped 3.5% in March, compared to a revised 5.4% decrease in the previous month.
Australia’s inflation gauge rose in April
According to the TD Securities – Melbourne Institute, on a monthly basis, inflation gauge in Australia rose by 0.4% in April, compared to a 0.2% rise recorded in the previous month.
China Market manufacturing PMI rose less than the preliminary estimate in April
Markit Economics reported that the final manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) in China increased to a reading of 48.1 in April, less than the flash estimate of 48.3 and compared to a level of 48.0 in March.
Good trades.