USD Index Price Analysis: A drop to the 200-day SMA cannot be ruled out

• DXY breaks below the 106.00 support to clinch new multi-month lows.
• Immediately to the downside now emerges the 200-day SMA.

DXY quickly fades Monday’s bull run and refocuses on the downside, breaking below the 106.00 mark for the first time since mid-August.

If the selling bias gathers extra pace, then the index could dispute the critical 200-day SMA, today at 104.89.

Below this region, the dollar’s outlook should shift to negative.

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GBP/USD: Rally could extend to 1.1910 and 1.2000 – UOB

Extra upside in GBP/USD could revisit the 1.1910 and even 1.2000 in the short-term horizon, suggested Economist Lee Sue Ann and Markets Strategist Quek Ser Leang at UOB Group.

Key Quotes

24-hour view: “The deeply overbought rally in GBP from Friday appears to be overdone and GBP is unlikely to advance much further. For today, GBP is more likely to trade between 1.1725 and 1.1860.”

Next 1-3 weeks: “Despite surging by an outsized 4.08% last week, solid upward momentum suggests there is room for the rally in GBP to extend to 1.1910, possibly 1.2000. The upside risk is intact as long as GBP does not break below the ‘strong support’ level of 1.1660.”

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 EURUSD Price Analysis: Strong upside could see the August top revisited

• EURUSD accelerates the upside to the boundaries of 1.0300.
• The August top at 1.0368 emerges as the next target.

EURUSD adds to Thursday’s strong advance and flirts with the key barrier at the 1.0300 neighbourhood at the end of the week.

The continuation of the recovery looks the most likely scenario in the very near term. Against that, further upside could motivate the pair to challenge the August high at 1.0368 (August 10) ahead of the always relevant 200-day SMA, today at 1.0437.

In the longer run, the pair’s bearish view should remain unaltered while below the latter.

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 AUDUSD loses recovery momentum before testing 0.6500

• AUDUSD managed to erase its daily losses but lost its recovery momentum.
• US Dollar holds its ground amid cautious market mood.
• Investors will keep a close eye on Wall Street in the absence of high-impact data releases.

AUDUSD came under bearish pressure and dropped to a fresh daily low below 0.6450 during the Asian trading hours on Tuesday. Although the pair managed to erase its daily losses in the European session, it lost its recovery momentum before reading 0.6500. As of writing, AUDUSD was virtually unchanged on the day at 0.6478.

Eyes on US stocks

Earlier in the day, the data from Australia showed that the National Australia Bank's Business Conditions Index declined to 22 in October from 25 in September. Additionally, the Business Confidence Index fell to 0 from 5. Combined with the disappointing sentiment data, the risk-averse market environment forced AUDUSD to continue to push lower.

In the meantime, the US Dollar Index holds in positive territory near 110.50 after having registered modest losses on Monday. Nevertheless, US stock index futures are up between 0.35% and 0.6% on the day and a positive opening in Wall Street could allow risk flows to dominate the action in financial markets.

The NFIB Business Optimism Index in the US declined to 91.3 in October from 92.1 in September but this data failed to trigger a noticeable market reaction.

Later in the session, the IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index for November will be the only data featured in the US economic docket. The US Mid-Term Elections will also take place but the outcome is likely to be finalized toward the end of the week. 

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GBP/USD remains stuck between two key DMAs ahead of central banks’ bonanza

• GBP/USD starts November on the right footing amid USD weakness, risk flows.
• Fed and BOE are set to hike policy rates by 75 bps each this week.
• Cable is likely to extend range play between 100 and 50DMAs.

GBP/USD is consolidating the rebound above 1.1500 so far this Tuesday, kicking off November on the right footing. Investors brace for the critical Fed and BOE rate hike decisions, with both the central banks set to announce 75 bps rate increases later this week.

Ahead of the central banks’ bonanza, investors are breathing a sigh of relief, thanks to the FX market repositioning and the rally in Chinese stocks. The risk-on market environment is boding well for the higher-yielding pound sterling at the expense of the safe-haven US dollar.

Attention turns towards the US ISM Manufacturing PMI release, although not much reaction is expected on the data release unless the figure disappoints expectations by a wide margin. Meanwhile, the UK S&P Global Final Manufacturing PMI improved to 46.2 in October vs. 45.8 expected and the first reading of 45.8.

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GBP/USD could now test the 1.1760 level – UOB

GBP/USD remains firm and could extend the upside momentum to the 1.1760 region in the next weeks, suggest Market Strategist at UOB Group Quek Ser Leang and Economist Lee Sue Ann.

Key Quotes

24-hour view: “While we expected GBP to strengthen yesterday, we were of the view ‘1.1600 is unlikely to come into view for now’. In other words, we did not expect the strong surge that sent GBP to a high of 1.1639. Upward momentum is still strong and GBP is likely to rise further, albeit likely at a slower pace. Resistance levels are at 1.1700 and 1.1760. The latter level is unlikely to be challenged today. Support is at 1.1590 but only a break of 1.1540 would indicate that GBP is not strengthening further.”

Next 1-3 weeks: “When GBP was trading at 1.1300 two days ago (25 Oct), we noted that it is mildly supported and could edge higher. After GBP soared, we highlighted yesterday (26 Oct, spot at 1.1460) that the strong boost in momentum is likely to lead to further strength. We indicated that the next resistance is at 1.1600. GBP took out 1.1600 in London trade yesterday and surged to a high of 1.1639. The price action suggests GBP is still strong and is likely to strengthen further. The next level to monitor is at 1.1760. The GBP strength is intact as long as it does not break the ‘strong support’ at 1.1440 (level was at 1.1310 yesterday).”

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 EUR/JPY Price Analysis: Room for extra upside near term

• EUR/JPY adds to Thursday’s gains and prints new highs.
• Further upside could target the 149.80 region in the short term.

EUR/JPY extends the optimism seen in the second half of the week and advances to new cycle highs around 147.60 on Friday.

Considering the current price action in the cross, the door still looks open to extra upside. That said, the immediate target now emerges at the December 2014 high at 149.78 (December 8).

In the short term the upside momentum is expected to persist while above the October lows near 141.00.

In the longer run, while above the key 200-day SMA at 136.85, the constructive outlook for the cross should remain unchanged.

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GBP/USD to tick down but unlikely to dive below the 1.05-1.07 support zone – Standard Chartered

How likely is it for GBP/USD to break below parity? Economists at Standard Chartered expect cable to edge lower but remain above the 1.0500-1.0700 area.

GBP/USD could see a retest of 1.14 and even 1.16 in the near-term

“While upward momentum could see a retest of 1.14 and even 1.16 over the next few days, we expect cable to edge lower in the coming weeks, with 1.0700 and 1.0500 as key near-term supports.”

“Disappointment on potential rollback or budget proposals could raise the risk of a test of parity, but we believe GBP/USD may struggle to break below the 1.0500-1.0700 region where it should stabilise.”

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EUR/USD Price Analysis: Rising bets for a drop to 0.9630

EUR/USD fades part of the post-CPI sharp upside on Friday.

Next on the downside now comes the weekly low near 0.9630.

EUR/USD gives aways most of its recent advance to the area just above the 0.9800 mark at the end of the week.

The continuation of the pullback appears on the cards and carries the potential to challenge the recent weekly low at 0.9631 (October 13) in the short-term horizon.

In the longer run, the pair’s bearish view should remain unaltered while below the 200-day SMA at 1.0576.

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EUR/USD could tumble close to the 0.90 level before year-end – MUFG

EUR/USD has dipped under 0.97. Economists at MUFG Bank expect the pair to inch closer to the 0.90 level before the Federal Reserve pauses its hike cycle.

The risks are firmly to the downside

“Over the near-term, the risks are firmly to the downside and we expect a period of further US dollar strength as financial market conditions worsen as asset prices correct further to the downside. This will help push inflation expectations further lower.” 

“The key for any broad turn in US dollar strength must be a pause in the tightening cycle. We suspect the Fed will pause after hiking in December which should allow some EUR/USD correction from levels closer to 0.9000.”

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GBP/USD: Vulnerable to a break of parity later this year – ING

There has been a loose discussion in the market about the prospect of GBP/USD hitting parity for some months. Economists at ING believe that the pair could break under 1.00 this year.

EUR/GBP can make a run towards the March 2020 high of 0.95

“At this stage, we think UK authorities will probably just have to let sterling find its right level. The UK has a reserve currency so it can always issue debt – it’s just a question of the right price.”

“We are still bullish on the dollar this year as Fed leads the deflationary charge and global growth slows. That means GBP/USD is now vulnerable to a break of parity later this year, while – quite unexpectedly – EUR/GBP can make a run towards the March 2020 high of 0.95, with outside risk to the 2008 high of 0.98.”

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EUR/USD could stage a recovery if it manages to flip 0.9880 into support

EUR/USD recovered modestly during the European trading hours. The pair needs to reclaim 0.9880 to extend the rebound.

The dollar could lose interest in case US stocks rebound

“In case Wall Street's main indexes gain traction after the opening bell, the dollar could deepen its downward correction and allow EUR/USD to continue to stretch higher.”

“0.9880 (former support, static level) forms initial resistance. If EUR/USD manages to rise above that level and starts using it as support, it could target 0.9900 (psychological level), 0.9950 (static level, 20-period SMA on the four-hour chart) and 0.9980 (100-period SMA).”

“On the downside, 0.9800 (psychological level, static level) aligns as first support ahead of 0.9750 (static level from October 2002) and 0.9700 (psychological level).”

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GBP/USD eases from daily top amid modest USD bounce from one-week low, holds above 1.1400

GBP/USD gains some positive traction on Tuesday, though the uptick lacks bullish conviction.

A goodish USD rebound from a one-week low turns out to be a key factor capping the upside.

Any meaningful downfall seems unlikely ahead of the FOMC and the BoE meetings this week.

The GBP/USD pair builds on the previous day's recovery move from the vicinity of mid-1.1300s, or its lowest level since 1985 and edges higher through the first half of trading on Tuesday. The pair stick to modest intraday gains through the early European session, though seems to struggle to capitalize on the move beyond mid-1.1400s and retreats a few pips from the daily peak.

A combination of factors assists the US dollar to attract some dip-buying following an early slide to a one-week low, which, in turn, acts as a headwind for the GBP/USD pair. Expectations that the Federal Reserve will stick to its faster rate-hiking cycle to tame inflation remain supportive of elevated US Treasury bond yields. In fact, the US central bank is widely expected to deliver another supersized 75 bps rate hike at the end of a two-day meeting on Wednesday.

Furthermore, the markets have been pricing in a small chance of a full 100 bps liftoff, which remains supportive of elevated US Treasury bond yields. The yield on the rate-sensitive two-year US government bond rose to its highest level since November 2007 and the 10-year Treasury note reached a level not seen since April 2011 on Monday. Apart from this, growing recession fears lend support to the safe-haven greenback and also contribute to capping the GBP/USD pair.

Market participants also seem reluctant to place aggressive bullish bets around the British pound amid a bleak outlook for the UK economy. This, to a larger extent, overshadows the prospects for more aggressive rate hikes by the Bank of England, which, so far, has failed to impress bulls or provide any meaningful impetus to the GBP/USD pair. The downside, however, seems cushioned as traders might prefer to move to the sidelines ahead of the key central bank event risks.

The Fed is scheduled to announce its monetary policy decision at the end of a two-day meeting on Wednesday. This will be followed by the BoE meeting on Thursday, which should help determine the next leg of a directional move for the GBP/USD pair. In the meantime, traders on Tuesday might take cues from the US housing market data, which along with the US bond yields and the broader risk sentiment, will drive the USD demand and provide some impetus to the major.

From a technical perspective the pair continues to rest on strong support from a the base of a multi-month falling channel at around the mid 1.13s, and it would require a daily close or open below the lower channel line for an acceleration of the bear trend. In the meantime – and prior to the main event risk of Wednesday's Fed meeting – traders are likely to content themselves with playing the bounce off this key support, scalping short runs as the market revolves.  

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Malaysia: BNM hikes rates again – UOB

Senior Economist Julia Goh and Economist Loke Siew Ting at UOB Group review the latest interest rate decision by the BNM.

Key Takeaways

“As widely expected, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) raised the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) today (8 Sep) by 25bps to 2.50%. This marks the third back-to-back rate hike since BNM started the hiking cycle in May this year as the economy recovered at a stronger pace. To date, BNM has hiked 75bps, which partly reversed the 125bps of rate cuts since the start of the pandemic in Jan 2020.”

“In the latest monetary policy statement (MPS), BNM continues to expect the domestic economy to expand, supported by private sector spending amid the transition to endemicity, positive labour market conditions, resumption of tourism activities and investments. However, BNM cautioned that external demand is expected to moderate amid softer global growth. BNM expects inflation to peak in 3Q22 before moderating thereafter amid abating base effects and easing global commodity prices.”

“BNM highlighted that there is no ‘pre-set course’ and the monetary policy committee (MPC) will continue to assess developments and their impact on domestic inflation and growth. BNM also reiterated that any adjustments will be done in a ‘measured and gradual’ manner. We think BNM may have signalled a temporary pause for rate hikes pending forward-looking growth and inflation dynamics. As such, we maintain our OPR target at 2.50% by year-end, and 3.00% by mid-2023. The next and final monetary policy meeting for the year is on 2-3 Nov.”

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