,

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

GBP

• The BoE left interest rates unchanged as expected at the last meeting
  with no dovish language as they reaffirmed that they will keep rates high for
  sufficiently long to return to the 2% target.
• Governor Bailey pushed back against rate cuts
  expectations as he said that they cannot state if interest rates have
  peaked.
• The employment report showed job losses in December and
  lower than expected wage growth.
• The UK CPI beat expectations across the board, which is
  going to reinforce the BoE’s neutral stance.
• The UK PMIs showed the Manufacturing sector falling
  further into contraction while the Services sector continues to expand.
• The latest UK Retail Sales missed expectations across the
  board by a big margin as consumer spending remains weak.
• The market expects the BoE to start
  cutting rates in Q2.

JPY

• The BoJ kept its monetary policy unchanged at the last meeting with interest
  rates at -0.10% and the 10 year JGB yield target at 0% with 1% as a reference
  cap.
• Governor Ueda repeated once again that they won’t
  hesitate to take easing measures if needed and that they are not foreseeing
  sustainable price increases unless wage growth picks up.
• The latest Japanese CPIshowed that inflationary pressures
  are easing although they remain well above the BoJ’s 2% target.
• The latest Unemployment Rate remained unchanged near cycle lows.
• The Japanese Manufacturing PMI fell further into contraction but
  the Services PMI ticked higher remaining in expansion.
• The latest Japanese wage data missed expectations by a big margin
  and as a reminder the BoJ is focusing on wage growth to decide whether to tweak
  its monetary policy.
• The Tokyo CPI, which is seen as leading indicator
  for National CPI, eased further but the Core-Core measure remains stuck at
  cycle highs.
• The market expects the BoJ to hike
  in Q2.

GBPJPY Technical Analysis –
Daily Timeframe

On the daily chart, we can see that GBPJPY broke
through the key resistance zone
around the 184.40 level and after a retest, extended the rally to new highs
with the hot UK CPI report today increasing the bullish momentum. The buyers
will look for dip-buying opportunities while the sellers should lean on the
cycle high around the 188.68 level to position for a drop back into the 178.00
handle.

GBPJPY Technical Analysis –
4 hour Timeframe

On the 4 hour chart, we can see that the price has
been diverging with the
MACD which is
generally a sign of weakening momentum often followed by pullbacks or
reversals. In this case, we might see a pullback into the trendline where we
can also find the confluence with the
50% Fibonacci retracement level
and the red 21 moving average. The
sellers, on the other hand, will want to see the price breaking lower to
position for a drop into the 184.40 support and target a break below it.

GBPJPY Technical Analysis –
1 hour Timeframe

On the 1 hour chart, we can see more
closely the current price action with the spike higher following the UK CPI
release. We can also see the key support zone around the 186.00 handle
highlighted by the green box. That’s where the buyers will have a better risk
to reward setup, while the sellers will know if they could start to position
for much lower prices in case we see a break.

Upcoming Events

Today, we will get the US Retail Sales and
Industrial Production data, while tomorrow we will see the latest US Jobless
Claims figures. On Friday, we conclude the week with the Japanese CPI, the UK
Retail Sales and the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment survey.

This article was written by FL Contributors at www.forexlive.com.

• Prior +2.4%
• Core CPI +3.4% vs +3.4% y/y prelim
• Prior +3.6%

No changes to the initial estimates and with a slight easing of core prices from November to December, it still keeps the ECB on track. However, the real challenge will be starting from this year, as the disinflation process may not be as linear a trajectory as seen in 2023.

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

• Disinflation is happening, is strong and will continue
• Monetary conditions should adjust but awaiting data first to confirm disinflation outlook

This just reaffirms the current ECB stance of being data-dependent. Amid all the pushback by policymakers though, traders are still well convinced of a April rate cut at this stage. The odds of that are no longer fully priced in but are still sitting at ~94% currently.

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

The euro and pound are trading little changed against the dollar on the session now, while other major currencies are still looking fairly sluggish against the greenback. Cable rose to a high of 1.2675 earlier after the UK inflation data but has pared that advance to 1.2640 levels currently.

For now, the dollar remains in charge with USD/JPY especially keeping higher by 0.4% at 147.75 and still angling for a break above its 100-day moving average (red line):

USD/CAD is seen up 0.2% to 1.3523, still keeping a break above its own 200-day moving average of 1.3480. Meanwhile, the antipodean currencies are also struggling amid a more defensive risk mood and poor China data from earlier. AUD/USD is down 0.6% to 0.6545 while NZD/USD is down 0.4% to to 0.6113 and inching closer towards a test of its own 200-day moving average at 0.6092.

The bond market remains mostly steady so far today with 10-year Treasury yields flattish at 4.065%. Equities are still struggling hard with European indices holding well over 1% losses across the board while S&P 500 futures are down 0.5% currently.

In other markets, gold is down 0.4% to $2,019 while Bitcoin is also marked down by 1.5% to $42,770 on the day.

It’s all still to play for in trading today, with US retail sales data coming up later. That is set to be the next key hurdle for markets to work through. A stronger report there will solidify chances of a soft landing in the economy, while reaffirming added flexibility for the Fed to play around with the timing of a policy pivot.

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

The dollar continues to stay strongly bid in European trading today and that is pitting the antipodean currencies at the lows for the day up against the greenback. AUD/USD is down 1% to 0.6595 currently and NZD/USD down 0.8% to 0.6150 as both currency pairs are seeing a major breakdown on the week. They are both trading to fresh five-week lows now and eyeing a steeper drop. Here’s a look at both charts:

There are similarities to both charts but the scale of the drop in AUD/USD looks to be more intense, as the pair now draws closer towards a test of its 200-day moving average (blue line) at 0.6581 next. As for NZD/USD, the drop today carries over the technical breakdown that was preluded already in trading yesterday here. As mentioned then:

„In any case, the fall now looks to potentially move away from the 23.6 Fib retracement level at 0.6228 and could angle towards the 38.2 Fib retracement level at 0.6141 as the next technical test.“

Adding to the technical setback for NZD/USD is a drop below its own 100-week moving average at 0.6213. That will give sellers an added edge to keep the downside momentum on the week going.

For trading today, the softer risk tone in markets is not really helping with the mood for the aussie and kiwi. European indices are lower across the board while S&P 500 futures are down 0.5% on the day currently.

Add that to higher yields and the potential technical breaches in other dollar pairs as well, and that is all setting up for a likely further decline in both AUD/USD and NZD/USD in the short-term.

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

USD

• The Fed left interest rates unchanged as expected at the last meeting with a shift in
  the statement that indicated the end of the tightening cycle.
• The Summary of Economic Projections showed a
  downward revision to Growth and Core PCE in 2024 while the Unemployment Rate
  was left unchanged. Moreover, the Dot Plot was revised to show three rate cuts
  in 2024 compared to just two in the last projection.
• Fed Chair Powell didn’t push back against the strong dovish pricing
  and even said that they are focused on not making the mistake of holding rates
  high for too long.
• The latest US CPI slightly beat expectations but analysts
  expect the Core PCE to print at 0.2% M/M again following the CPI data.
• The US PPI missed expectations across the board
  supporting the disinflationary impulse.
• The labour market continues to soften although Initial Claims keep on hovering around cycle lows while
  Continuing Claims are ranging at a higher level.
• The latest ISM Manufacturing PMI beat expectations, while the ISM Services PMI missed by a big margin.
• The hawkish Fed members have been leaning
  on a more neutral side lately.
• The market expects the Fed to start cutting rates
  in March 2024.

CAD

• The BoC kept the interest rate steady at
  5.00% as expected at the last meeting with
  the usual caveat that it’s prepared to raise the policy rate further if needed.
• BoC Governor Macklem recently has been leaning on a more
  neutral side and even started to talk about rate cuts although he remains
  uncertain on the timing.
• The latest Canadian CPI beat expectations across the board with
  the underlying inflation measures remaining elevated, which should give the BoC
  a reason to wait for more data before considering rate cuts.
• On the labour market side, the latest report missed
  expectations although wage growth spiked to the highest level since 2021.
• The Canadian PMIs continue to fall
  further into contraction as the economy keeps on weakening amid restrictive
  monetary policy.
• The market expects the BoC to start
  cutting rates in March 2024.

USDCAD Technical Analysis –
Daily Timeframe

On the daily chart, we can see that USDCAD broke
through the key trendline and
extended the rally into the 1.35 handle. This breakout opened the door for a
move into the swing high resistance around
the 1.36 handle. The buyers will look for dip-buying opportunities on the lower
timeframes while the sellers will want to see the momentum changing before
piling in more aggressively.

USDCAD Technical Analysis –
4 hour Timeframe

On the 4 hour chart, we can see that we have an
upward trendline now that will define the current uptrend. From a risk
management perspective, the buyers will have a much better risk to reward setup
around the trendline where they will also find the red 21 moving average for confluence. The sellers,
on the other hand, will want to see the price breaking lower to invalidate the
bullish setup and position for a drop into new lows.

USDCAD Technical Analysis –
1 hour Timeframe

On the 1 hour chart, we can see that we
have another minor trendline that should offer a good support for the buyers with
the red 21 moving average for extra confluence. If the price were to break
lower, the sellers will pile in and target the major upward trendline around
the 1.34 handle.

Upcoming Events

Today, we have the Canadian CPI report on the agenda
and later in the day all eyes will be on Fed’s Waller as the market will be
eager to see if he decides to pushback against the aggressive rate cuts
expectations. Tomorrow, we will get the US Retail Sales report while on
Thursday we will see the latest US Jobless Claims figures. On Friday, we
conclude the week with the Canadian Retail Sales data and the University of
Michigan Consumer Sentiment survey.

This article was written by FL Contributors at www.forexlive.com.

• Chinese economy has rebounded and moved upward
• Economy had estimated growth of 5.2% in 2023, higher than target of 5%
• Economy is making steady progress, can handle ups and downs in its performance
• Overall trend of long-term growth has not changed

When it comes to China, typically whatever number that is touted by top officials will be the certified statistical figure at the end of the day. And I don’t expect this to be any different, especially with Li making such remarks amid an international audience in Davos. In any case, there are big challenges for the Chinese economy looking to this year, with deflationary pressures and the fallout from the property market crisis still reverberating.

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

• Prior 12.8
• Current conditions -77.3 vs -77.0 expected
• Prior -77.1
• Expectations 15.2
• Prior 12.8

The reading marks an improvement in German economic sentiment, with the expectations reading showing yet another decent bump higher. ZEW notes that the more upbeat take is due to more than half of the respondents assuming the ECB will cut interest rates in the first half of this year. Adding to that is two-thirds of respondents also anticipating rate cuts by the Fed in the next six months as well.

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

The epicenter is one that strikes on land, though the maximum seismic intensity is 5- this time around (the town of Shika is the one most impacted). It’s been two weeks already and still, there is ongoing earthquakes and aftershocks hitting the Western Japan region so far in the new year. This one isn’t of much impact but it is something to at least be informed about just in case. From before:

• Magnitude 7.6 earthquake hits Japan
• Aftershocks continue in Ishikawa as magnitude 4.6 earthquake reported
• Magnitude 6.0 earthquake reported in Western Japan region

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.