US Dollar Index looks cautious around 101.70 ahead of NFP

DXY trades without a clear direction near 101.70.

Activity in US yields remain muted and near Thursday’s close.

US Nonfarm Payrolls, Unemployment Rate next of note in the docket.

The greenback alternates gains with losses around the 101.70 region when measured by the US Dollar Index (DXY) on Friday.

US Dollar Index remains vigilant ahead of Payrolls

Market participants remain vigilant ahead of the publication of the key May’s Nonfarm Payrolls later on Friday, motivating the index to hover around the 101.70 zone amidst the generalized lack of direction in the global markets.

Activity in the US cash markets show the same performance so far, with yields along the curve looking consolidative in the upper end of the weekly range.

As indicated, Nonfarm Payrolls for the month of May are due later in the NA session seconded by the Unemployment Rate and the ISM Non-Manufacturing. Additionally, the final Services PMI is also due followed by the speech by FOMC’s Governor L.Brainard (permanent voter, centrist).

What to look for around USD

The dollar came under pressure in the past session and returned to the area below the 102.00 mark against a cautious backdrop ahead of the release of May’s labour market figures.

Renewed weakness in the dollar came in response to the rising perception that inflation might have peaked in April, which in turn supports the idea that the Fed may not need to be as aggressive as market participants expect when it comes to raising the Fed Funds rates.

In the meantime, the Fed’s divergence vs. most of its G10 peers coupled with bouts of geopolitical effervescence, higher US yields and a potential “hard landing” of the US economy are all factors still supportive of a stronger dollar in the next months.

Key events in the US this week: Nonfarm Payrolls, Unemployment Rate, Final Services PMI, ISM Non-Manufacturing (Friday).

Eminent issues on the back boiler: Powell’s “softish” landing… what does that mean? Escalating geopolitical effervescence vs. Russia and China. Fed’s more aggressive rate path this year and 2023. US-China trade conflict. Future of Biden’s Build Back Better plan.

US Dollar Index relevant levels

Now, the index is retreating 0.01% at 101.72 and faces the next contention at 101.36 (55-day SMA) followed by 101.29 (monthly low May 30) and then 99.81 (weekly low April 21). On the upside, a break above 102.73 (weekly/monthly high June 1) would open the door to 105.00 (2022 high May 13) and finally 105.63 (high December 11 2002).

WANT TO DIRECT TALK OUR MARKET EXPERT CONTACT MONEY LIFE RESEARCH

GBP/USD Price Analysis: Inverted Flag confirms more downside, 1.2400 eyed

The greenback bulls challenge the demand zone, which is placed in a 1.2548-1.2570.

An Inverted Flag formation advocates a follow-up sell-off after a topsy-turvy move.

A death cross, represented by the 50- and 200-period EMAs add to the downside filters.

The pound bulls have displayed a subdued performance in the entire Asian session amid the unavailability of any potential trigger. A phase of topsy-turvy moves in the cable is witnessed after a sheer downside move from a high of 1.2600. The asset experienced intense selling pressure after slipping below the critical support of 1.2558.

On an hourly scale, the GBP/USD pair has formed an Inverted Flag chart pattern that indicates further downside after a rangebound move. Usually, an Inverted Flag dictates the initiation of fresh shorts by those investors, which prefer to execute positions after the establishment of a downside bias. The cable is hovering near the demand zone placed in a 1.2548-1.2570.

A death cross has been displayed by the 50- and 200-period Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) at 1.2555, which signals more pain ahead.

Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14) is oscillating in a bearish range of 20.00-40.00, which adds to the downside filters.

Should the asset drops below Wednesday’s low at 1.2459, the greenback bulls will get strengthened and will drag the asset towards May 20 low at 1.2438. A breach of the latter will open room for more downside to near the round-level support at 1.2400.

On the contrary, an upside move above Tuesday’s high at 1.2630 will trigger an initiative buying action, which will drive cable towards May’s high at 1.2667, followed by the round-level resistance at 1.2700.

WANT TO DIRECT TALK OUR MARKET EXPERT CONTACT MONEY LIFE RESEARCH

Gold Price Analysis: XAU/USD slides back under 200DMA as buck/yields rise ahead of key US data releases

Gold is trading around $1830, having dropped back below its 200DMA as the buck/US yields rise pre-key US data releases.

Gold bulls want to see evidence of weakening US growth/inflationary pressures and a paring of Fed tightening bets.

As the rise in longer-term US bond yields enters its third day, with the 10-year yield now up around 17 bps versus last week’s lows around 2.70%, and as the US Dollar Index’s recovery from this week’s multi-month lows extends, spot gold (XAU/USD) prices have not surprisingly come under pressure. XAU/USD was last trading around the $1830 per troy ounce mark, below its 200-Day Moving Average at $1840 and taking losses on the week to around 1.1%.

Key upcoming US economic data is in focus, the most important release being Friday’s May labour market report, though traders will also closely scrutinised Wednesday’s ISM Manufacturing PMI survey that is slated for release at 1400GMT. Gold bulls want to see evidence that inflationary pressures are backing off, meaning people will be watching the Prices Paid subindex of Wednesday’s ISM PMI survey and the wage growth component of Friday’s jobs report.

Any such evidence will lessen the pressure on the Fed to tighten monetary policy settings quite so aggressively beyond the planned 50 bps rate hikes at the June and July meetings. Gold bulls will also want to simultaneously see evidence of a slowing US economy, as this further spurs the demand for safe-haven assets (like gold) and reduces pressure on the Fed to hike. In the best-case scenario of weak/less inflationary data in the coming days, if that also spurs a drop once again in the US dollar/US yields, XAU/USD might well recover back to the north of its 200DMA and the $1850 mark.

WANT TO DIRECT TALK OUR MARKET EXPERT CONTACT MONEY LIFE RESEARCH

GBP/USD needs to clear 1.2660 to extend its bullish rally

GBP/USD has lost its traction but managed to hold above the 1.26 level. The pair needs to clear 1.2660 to remain bullish.

Cable needs to flip 1.2660 into support to attract buyers

“The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index for May and the Housing Price Index data for March will be featured in the US economic docket. In case investors are reminded of the negative impact of inflation on consumer confidence, Wall Street's main indexes could come under bearish pressure and make it difficult for GBP/USD to gather bullish momentum.”

“In case cable breaks below 1.26 (psychological level, static level), the next immediate support aligns at 1.2570 (200-period SMA, 50-period SMA). If that latter support fails, this could be seen as a significant bearish development and open the door for additional losses toward 1.2540 (former resistance, static level).”

“The pair needs to settle above 1.2630 (ascending trend line) and clear 1.2660 (static level) to test 1.27 (static level, psychological level).”

WANT TO DIRECT TALK OUR MARKET EXPERT CONTACT MONEY LIFE RESEARCH

Gold PriceGold Price Forecast: Battle lines well-defined for XAUUSD amid light trading 

Gold Price is supported above $1,850 amid holiday-thinned trading.

US dollar remains on the defensive amid a risk-on market mood.

XAUUSD is struggling amid a bunch of healthy resistance and support levels.

Gold Price is giving a part of its early gains but appears supported amid holiday-thinned market conditions. The US dollar is seeing a dip-buying demand, despite the risk-on trading on global stocks. Investors continue assessing the China covid easing optimism and subsiding aggressive Fed’s tightening bets against signs of slowing in the US economy. Therefore, gold price is seen fluctuating between gains and losses while defending the $1,850 barrier. The EU Summit on Ukraine crisis is closely followed, as Russia’s oil embargo is likely to be part of EU sanctions package. These developments could affect the broader market sentiment, significantly impacting the dollar and XAUUSD price.

WANT TO DIRECT TALK OUR MARKET EXPERT CONTACT MONEY LIFE RESEARCH Forecast: Battle lines well-defined for XAUUSD amid light trading 

Gold Price is supported above $1,850 amid holiday-thinned trading.

US dollar remains on the defensive amid a risk-on market mood.

XAUUSD is struggling amid a bunch of healthy resistance and support levels.

Gold Price is giving a part of its early gains but appears supported amid holiday-thinned market conditions. The US dollar is seeing a dip-buying demand, despite the risk-on trading on global stocks. Investors continue assessing the China covid easing optimism and subsiding aggressive Fed’s tightening bets against signs of slowing in the US economy. Therefore, gold price is seen fluctuating between gains and losses while defending the $1,850 barrier. The EU Summit on Ukraine crisis is closely followed, as Russia’s oil embargo is likely to be part of EU sanctions package. These developments could affect the broader market sentiment, significantly impacting the dollar and XAUUSD price.

WANT TO DIRECT TALK OUR MARKET EXPERT CONTACT MONEY LIFE RESEARCH

Dow Futures Up 55 Pts; Core PCE Data in Focus

U.S. stocks are seen opening slightly higher Friday, rallying into the long weekend, helped by a reassessment of the Federal Reserve’s tightening bias as well as some strong retail sector earnings.

At 7 AM ET (1100 GMT), the Dow Futures contract was up 55 points, or 0.2%, S&P 500 Futures traded 14 points, or 0.3%, higher and Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 70 points, or 0.6%.

The main equity indices on Wall Street posted strong gains Thursday, with the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average closing over 500 points, or 1.6%, higher, while the broad-based S&P 500 gaining 2% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rising 2.7%.

These averages are on track to snap long losing streaks ahead of the Memorial Day holiday, with the Dow and S&P 500 both over 4% higher for the week and the Nasdaq Composite up 3.4% on the week.

Helping the better tone this week has been the take-away from the minutes of the last Federal Reserve meeting, which indicated that the central bank could slow down its tightening if it sees signs inflation is on a downward trend. 

This puts the spotlight on the release of the core personal consumption expenditure index, at 8:30 AM ET (1230 GMT), which is the Fed's preferred measure of inflationary trends. This is expected to fall to 4.9% on an annualized basis in April, from 5.2% the previous month.

A batch of strong earnings from the retail sector has also boosted market sentiment this week, with the likes of Macy’s (NYSE:M), Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM), Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR) and Dollar General (NYSE:DG) all posting healthy gains.

Retail earnings continue Friday, with Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) due to report, but there will also be attention on Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:ULTA), which reported better-than-expected quarterly results after the close Thursday, and Gap (NYSE:GPS), which slashed its full-year profit guidance. 

Workday (NASDAQ:WDAY) will also be in focus after missing earnings forecasts late on Thursday and giving disappointing guidance.

Oil prices edged lower Friday, consolidating around a two-month high on expected demand growth at the start of the summer driving season in the United States.

Also propping up the market is the continued expectation that the European Commission will eventually obtain the unanimous support of all 27 bloc member states for its proposed new sanctions against Russia, despite Hungary’s opposition to date.

By 7 AM ET, U.S. crude futures traded 0.4% lower at $113.67 a barrel, after gaining 3.4% during the previous session, while the Brent contract traded 0.4% lower at $113.70, after a gain of 2.7% on Thursday.

WANT TO DIRECT TALK OUR MARKET EXPERT CONTACT MONEY LIFE RESEARCH

Gold Price Forecast: XAUUSD bears eye $1,838 and $1,836 as next downside targets

Gold Price is back in the red, falling for the second straight day.

Less hawkish Fed minutes failed to impress gold bulls but not for long.

XAUUSD inches closer towards critical 200-DMA support ahead of US data.

Gold Price is feeling the pull of gravity after less hawkish FOMC minutes released on Wednesday offered a brief reprieve to XAU bulls. The bright metal is extending the retreat from two-week highs of $1,870, as the US dollar clings onto minor recovery gains amid a cautious risk environment. The precious metal, however, seems to find some comfort from falling Treasury yields, as investors digest the latest Fed minutes, which squashed hopes for a more than 50 bps rate hike in the coming months. Going forward, gold’s fate hinges on the key US GDP, Pending Home Sales and PCE data, as it could impact the central bank’s expectations.

WANT TO DIRECT TALK OUR MARKET EXPERT CONTACT MONEY LIFE RESEARCH