Today market outlook

[Zerologic]

The increase in gold prices was limited, profit-taking due to easing geopolitical risks.

The price of gold on Friday experienced a recovery, but profit-taking resulted in a gold sell-off bringing the price down. Gold drew a bull candle with a high of $2665, a low of $2633 close at $2650.

The price of gold last week tried to recover after the drop on November 25. However, gold's upward movement was limited by being swallowed by the previous bearish candlestick. The reduction in geopolitical risk tension between Israel and Hezbollah, which reached a ceasefire agreement, was one of the reasons gold fell 3% daily.

On the other hand, the weakening USD provided support for gold, helping XAU/USD maintain its gains in the middle of the week. The USD Index (DXY) fell to 105.615, extending its previous decline.

According to the US Census Bureau Durable Goods Orders increased by 0.2% MoM in October, missing market expectations of 0.5%. Meanwhile, the US Department of Labor announced that Initial Jobless Claims fell to 213k in the week ended November 23 from 215k in the previous week. The Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) Price Index, the Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of inflation, rose 2.3% year-on-year, up from 2.1% in September and line with market consensus, while Annual core PCE inflation edged up to 2.8% from 2.7%.

Today investors will focus on US PMI data, ISM Manufacturing PMI is expected to rise to 47.7 from the previous 46.5.

 

[Zerologic]

CHFJPY extends losses ahead of Swiss CPI release

CHFJPY price yesterday drew a bearish candle extending its previous decline. Yesterday the price formed a high of 170,353, a low of 168,197, closed at 168,709.

On a weekly time frame, the decline starting at the end of October indicates the strengthening of the Japanese Yen against the Swiss franc.

The Japanese Yen currency tends to strengthen against other currencies including the USD and Euro. A stronger-than-expected rise in inflation in Tokyo in November, boosting expectations of the Bank of Japan's interest rate hike at next month's policy meeting.

Japan's capital spending implied lower investment than expected and was much lower than previous data. Meanwhile, the Final Manufacturing PMI showed data as expected at 49.0, the same as the previous data revision.

Apart from investors focusing on Swiss CPI data, today they will also focus on American JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) data which is expected to rise to 7.49M from the previous 7.44M.

Meanwhile, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, the Swiss CPI has experienced a downward graph with data at the end of October at 0.6% from the previous 0.8%. The decline in inflation may be a consideration for the central bank to cut interest rates. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) interest rate is now 1% from the previous 1.25% updated on September 26.

 

[Zerologic]

AUDUSD moves in a range ahead of the release of ADP data

Yesterday the AUDUSD pair drew a bearish candle with a high of 0.65129, a low of 0.64426, and closed at 0.64734 on FXOpen. In the three weeks of movement, this pair tends to create a movement pattern in the range of 0.64336 - 0.65493.

On the fundamental front, the Australian dollar got a boost from gains in Australian exports such as copper prices, while iron ore prices also continued their ongoing recovery, albeit at a slower pace. On the other hand, the threat of US tariffs on China and doubts about the effectiveness of China's stimulus are predicted to be obstacles to Australia's commodity-driven economy.

The RBA seems to still be cautious about interest rates and maintained interest rates at 4.35% in November, it seems they are still concerned about the economic slowdown that shapes its policy. Australia's annual inflation rate fell to 2.8% in the third quarter of 2024 from 3.8% in the second quarter. The declining inflation trend gives the RBA expectations of lowering interest rates in 2025.

Furthermore, the Australian Dollar is also overshadowed by the possibility of a Fed interest rate cut. According to the CME group's Fedwatch tool, the possibility of the Fed reducing interest rates by 25 basis points is 70.3%, while the possibility of interest rates remaining unchanged is only 29.7%. This cut may indirectly provide support to the Australian dollar.

Today we are waiting for Australian GDP data, which is projected to rise 0.5% from the previous 0.2%. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports GDP rose 1.5% in 2023-24 and The Australian economy rose 0.2% in seasonally adjusted chain volume measures.

Today will also be the release of the ADP Non-Farm Employment Change which often has a high impact on the market which is predicted to fall by 152k from the previous 233k.

 

[Zerologic]

Silver rises when gold is sideways

Gold and Silver are often in line as their movements are correlated with each other, but yesterday there was a slight difference in the price patterns of these two precious metals.

Silver rises drawing a long body bull candle with a long wick at the bottom of the candle. Price formed a low of 30,457 from open 31,088, high 31,472 closed at 31,287, while gold tends in a sideways market.

The soaring Silver price was in line with US ADP Employment Change data released yesterday showing the actual data was lower than expected. The agency reported that the private sector hired 146k new workers, slightly missing estimates of 150k but significantly lower than the previous release of 184k, revised down from 233k.

On the other hand the dollar index DXY was slightly up at 106.720 from 106.090, although this was a limited increase near the middle band line.

Another factor is the geopolitical risk that the Iranian and Israeli ceasefire still has the potential to fail. According to Reuters, an internal Hamas statement reported that the group had information that Israel intended to carry out a hostage rescue operation similar to Israel's nuseirat operation in June in Gaza.

Investors today will focus on Fed Chair Powell Speaks which can provide an overview of the Fed's future interest rates. According to the CME group's Fedwatch tool, the Fed may cut interest rates by 25 basis points at 77.5% while the probability of interest rates remaining unchanged is 22.5%.

Apart from focusing on Powell's speech, investors today are also waiting for US Unemployment Claims data which is predicted to increase by 215k from the previous 213k.

 

[Zerologic]

US jobless claims rise, EURUSD soars

EURUSD yesterday drew a bullish candle with a long body almost without a shadow. Price formed a low of 1.05080, a high of 1.05896, closed at 1.05880, and managed to cross the middle band line from the lower side.

Previously the pair was trading in the range of 1.04607 and consolidated for two days in a narrow space. However, the US unemployment claims data released yesterday has sent this pair soaring.

The data showed that US individual's unemployment claims were 224k, higher than the forecast and previous release of 215k. Weak US jobless claims data has renewed concerns about worsening labor demand.

While the dollar index (DXY) seems to be weakening due to higher-than-expected unemployment claims data, the DXY fell from 106,371 to a low of 105,699.

Next today, investors will focus on other important US economic data which is predicted to have a significant impact on the market, NFP, Unemployment Rate, and Average Hourly Earnings.

Investors will be paying close attention to US Average Hourly Earnings data for cues about the current status of wage growth which is forecast to fall 0.3% from the previous 0.4%.

Furthermore, Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) is expected to increase by 218k from the previous 12k, while the Unemployment Rate is projected at 4.1%, the same as the previous revision.

Meanwhile, the Fed is expected to reduce interest rates gradually. According to the CME group's Fedwatch tool, the probability of the Fed reducing interest rates by 25 basis points at the Fed meeting on December 18 is 70.1% while the probability of interest rates remaining unchanged is only 29.9%.

 

[Zerologic]

Gold prices are still in the range above $2600 when the US NFP is higher than forecast.

The price of gold during weekend trading drew a Doji candle which indicated an indecision market. Price formed a low $2613 high of $2645 closed at $2632 near the open price of $2631. Gold has tended to move sideways in a range above $2600 since November 26.

On Friday after the US NFP release showed actual data was greater than expected, gold prices dropped. The precious metal fell as a labor market report showed that the number of new workers hired was higher than expected. The report showed that the economy added 227k new workers, greater than the forecast of 218k. Meanwhile, the unemployment Rate rose to 4.2%, higher than the forecast of 4.1%.

Growth in the US labor market increases expectations of the Fed reducing interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.25%-4.50%. According to the CME group's Fedwatch Tool, the Fed's probability of reducing interest rates by 25 basis points is 85.1% while the probability of interest rates remaining unchanged is 14.9%. Meanwhile, Average Hourly Earnings edged up 0.4% from the expected 0.3% but were still stable from the previous month's revision of 0.4%.

On the other side, he dollar index (DXY) was at 105.970 slightly up from a low of 105.420. The dollar index began to decline on November 22 from 108,071 to its lowest point today at 105,420.

From a geopolitical risk perspective, gold prices received support from the shaky ceasefire in the Middle East. Hezbollah and Israel tensions have heated up again, with each side blaming the other for violating the terms of the ceasefire.

The Russian and Ukrainian wars create wider risks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that Russia was ready to use all means to prevent the West from achieving its goal of inflicting "strategic defeat" on the country.

Today gold traders will highlight economic data from China, which is a large gold importing country on a global scale. China will release CPI and PMI data which are expected to increase from the previous data revision.

 

[Zerologic]

AUDUSD rebounds ahead of RBA cash rate

Yesterday the AUDUSD pair drew a bullish candle with a long body and a rather long wick at the top of the candle indicating that after the price rally, there was quite a large selling action. Yesterday's AUDUSD price formed a high of 0.64715, a low of 0.63797, and closed at 0.64387.

The AUDUSD pair has been more in the direction of bearish sentiment in the long term since September 2024. The dollar index DXY is trading in a range near the middle band line, now DXY at 106.174 slightly up from 106.173

Australia's economy grew just 0.3% QoQ and 0.8% year-on-year, falling short of expectations, reviving speculation that the RBA will take a dovish stance at today's meeting. prices for key Australian exports such as copper rose to multi-week highs weak price action in iron ore.

China is expected to add additional stimulus after disappointing inflation figures in November. The Australian dollar is also facing potential challenges from the Fed's policy of providing gradual interest rate policies due to President Trump's protectionist policies. The Australian dollar also faces the challenge of China's economic slowdown. Meanwhile the Australian labor market with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.1% and 16k new jobs added in October.

The RBA will decide on interest rates today which is forecast to keep interest rates unchanged at 4.35%.

 

[Zerologic]

USDCAD is at a high level ahead of the BOC interest rate policy

USDCAD yesterday drew a small bullish candlestick near the upper band line. Price formed a high of 1.41948, a low of 1.41556, and closed at 1.41786 on FXOpen. USDCAD price is moving in the highest area this month.

The dollar index (DXY), which tracks the value of the USD against six major currencies, rose to a high of 106,637 from a low of 106,040. However, DXY is showing reduced volatility marked by deflated Bollinger bands.

CAD is still weak, one of the factors is investors still predict that the Bank of Canada (BoC) will cut interest rates again by 50 basis points (bp) to 3.25% from 3.75% at today's monetary policy meeting.

On the other hand, the Fed is also predicted to cut interest rates by 25 basis points (bp) to 4.25%-4.50% at its December 18 meeting according to the CME Fedwatch tool.

Apart from investors' focus on the BoC's interest rate policy, investors will also focus on US CPI data.

Economists expect the annual CPI to rise 2.7% from the previous 2.6%. Meanwhile, monthly CPI is expected to rise 0.3% from the previous 0.2%. Meanwhile, the core CPI is expected to be the same 0.3% as the previous revision.

Signs of easing price pressures will accelerate the Fed's dovish bet for next week's policy meeting. On the other hand, inflationary pressures that are still high will weaken them.

 

[Zerologic]

USDCHF moves up ahead of the SNB Policy Rate

The USDCHF pair yesterday drew a bullish candle with a small body extending the previous bullish candle. Price formed a high of 0.88542, a low of 0.88112, and closed at 0.88402.

The Swiss Franc weakened slightly following US inflation data which was in line with expectations. US Core CPI showed actual data at 0.3% as expected. Monthly CPI was also 0.3% as expected, higher than the previous 0.2%, and annual CPI was 2.7% as expected but higher than the previous period's 2.6%.

The US CPI is unlikely to change market expectations of the Fed cutting interest rates by 25 basis points on December 18, but reduces expectations of monetary easing next year which ultimately supports US government bond yields and sends the US dollar higher. According to the CME group's FedWatch tool, the probability of the Fed cutting interest rates by 25 basis points is 98.6% and the probability of interest rates remaining unchanged is only 1.4%.

The dollar index (DXY) which tracks the US dollar with six major currencies showed strength at 106.645 from a low of 106.268.

In Switzerland, the SNB is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points from 1.00% to 0.75% today and may leave the door open for further cuts in early 2025 given the weak inflation rate. A large rate cut, which is not completely undone, would shock the markets and hit the CHF.

Besides investors focus on SNB interest rates, they will also focus on US economic data, PPI, and Unemployment Claims, which are likely to have a broad impact on other foreign currencies including CHF.