European session

After starting the week with sharp losses, the Japanese yen has settled down. In the European session, USD/JPY is showing limited movement, trading at 138.66. Japanese data improves Japan posted solid numbers today, as retail sales and industrial production both improved in July. Retail sales climbed 2.4% YoY in July, (vs 1.5% in June), above the forecast of 1.9%. Significantly, household spending stayed strong, despite high inflation due to rising energy and food prices. Industrial production surprised with a gain of 1.0% MoM (vs. -0.5% forecast), after a huge 9.2% gain in June. Two straight months of gains point to strong pent-up demand and an easing in supply line disruptions. As well, the consumer confidence index rose to 32.5 in August (vs. 31.0) up from 30.2 in July. Consumer confidence remains weak, but the index improving for the first time in three months is welcome news. The host of positive numbers is an indication that the Japanese economy, although fragile, continues to recover, in large part due to pent-up demand following the easing of Covid restrictions. Still, the economy has a long way to go before the Bank of Japan will join its counterparts and tighten policy. The BoJ is primarily focused on stimulating the economy, and inflation remains much, much lower than what we’re seeing elsewhere. With the BoJ vigilantly maintaining its yield control, the Japanese yen remains at the mercy of the US/Japan rate differential, and higher US yields of late have pushed USD/JPY close to the 139 level. We could see the yen fall to 140 in the short-term, with no indication that Japan’s Ministry of Finance has any appetite to intervene and support the yen. Later today, the US releases the ADP Employment report. The market consensus for August stands at 288 thousand, which would be a strong improvement from the July gain of 128 thousand. This event could cause some brief volatility in the dollar, but it is not a reliable indicator for Friday’s non-farm employment report. In fact, NFP is expected to fall to 300 thousand, down from July’s massive gain of 528 thousand. . USD/JPY Technical USD/JPY is testing support at 1.3822. The next support line is at 137.01 1.3891 and 1.4012 are resistance lines This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.

On Monday, the GBP/USD pair managed to show even lower volatility than the EUR/USD pair, with only 37 pips. Therefore, there is no point in analyzing the movements because there simply weren't any.     The entire day was characterized by absolute flatness, which is not surprising given the complete absence of fundamental and macroeconomic events, as well as the status of a holiday in the US.   The downward trend remains intact, so nothing has changed for the pound and the dollar: the latter should continue to rise. There are currently no trend lines or channels due to the weak movement, but there is no doubt about the downtrend.     If you tried really hard you could find one signal on the 5-minute chart. At the beginning of the European trading session, the pair technically bounced off the range of 1.2351-1.2367 but failed to move down even by 20 pips, which is not surprising considering the overall volatility of 37 pips.   Beginners could have opened a short position based on this signal, but by the start of the US session, the pair hardly moved, so the trade could have been closed practically anywhere with zero profit. Trading tips on   Tuesday: As seen on the 30M chart, the GBP/USD pair continues to trade lower, but in the past few days, we have observed more low-volatility flatness than trending movement. We continue to expect further decline as we believe that the pound has not fallen sufficiently strong yet.   The key levels on the 5M chart are 1.2171-1.2179, 1.2245-1.2260, 1.2351-1.2367, 1.2420, 1.2470, 1.2507-1.2520, 1.2597-1.2616. When the price moves 20 pips in the right direction after opening a trade, a stop loss can be set at breakeven. On Tuesday, there are no important events or reports scheduled in the UK or the US.   We are in for another completely dull day. Volatility may be low again, and there may be a lack of intraday trending movement. Basic rules of the trading system: 1) The strength of the signal depends on the time period during which the signal was formed (a rebound or a break). The shorter this period, the stronger the signal. 2) If two or more trades were opened at some level following false signals, i.e. those signals that did not lead the price to Take Profit level or the nearest target levels, then any consequent signals near this level should be ignored. 3) During the flat trend, any currency pair may form a lot of false signals or do not produce any signals at all. In any case, the flat trend is not the best condition for trading. 4) Trades are opened in the time period between the beginning of the European session and until the middle of the American one when all deals should be closed manually. 5) We can pay attention to the MACD signals in the 30M time frame only if there is good volatility and a definite trend confirmed by a trend line or a trend channel. 6) If two key levels are too close to each other (about 5-15 pips), then this is a support or resistance area.   How to read charts: Support and Resistance price levels can serve as targets when buying or selling. You can place Take Profit levels near them. Red lines are channels or trend lines that display the current trend and show which direction is better to trade. MACD indicator (14,22,3) is a histogram and a signal line showing when it is better to enter the market when they cross.   This indicator is better to be used in combination with trend channels or trend lines.   Important speeches and reports that are always reflected in the economic calendars can greatly influence the movement of a currency pair.   Therefore, during such events, it is recommended to trade as carefully as possible or exit the market in order to avoid a sharp price reversal against the previous movement. Beginners should remember that every trade cannot be profitable.   The development of a reliable strategy and money management are the key to success in trading over a long period of time.    

The GBP/USD pair exhibited identical movements on Friday. It remained flat during the European trading session and experienced a decline during the American session. Therefore, there is no need to repeat the details. The strengthening of the US currency was naturally triggered by the Nonfarm Payrolls report, which significantly exceeded expectations.   However, the downward trendline (the second one) was previously breached, technically making the current trend upward. Nevertheless, we still don't see any reasons for the British currency to show growth in the medium-term perspective, so we expect a new decline in the pair. There were no important publications or events in the UK, and the pair demonstrated logically consistent movements on Friday.     On the 5-minute chart, the trading signals on Friday were not the best due to the flatness during the first half of the day. Only one signal was formed during that time, which was a buying signal near the level of 1.2520, and it should have been closed with the opening of the American trading session, as important data was expected to be released in the US, which could have caused the pair to move in any direction.   Immediately after the release of the data, a buying signal was formed in the range of 1.2507-1.2520, but it should have been ignored as the values of the US reports clearly favored the dollar. However, the next selling signal could and should have been traded. Eventually, the price dropped to the level of 1.2445, where short positions should have been closed. The profit amounted to approximately 40 pips.     Trading tips on Monday:   As seen on the 30M chart, the GBP/USD pair has ended its downward trend and started a new upward trend in the short-term perspective. We believe that the pound has not fallen enough to form a new strong uptrend, but the market may have a different opinion. There will be limited important statistics next week, so we recommend studying higher charts to understand the potential direction of the price. The key levels on the 5M chart are 1.2171-1.2179, 1.2245, 1.2307, 1.2386, 1.2445, 1.2507-1.2520, 1.2597-1.2616, 1.2659, 1.2697. When the price moves 20 pips in the right direction after opening a trade, a stop loss can be set at breakeven. On Monday, the UK has only scheduled the release of the Services PMI, which may provoke a reaction. In the US, there will also be business activity indices in the service sector, including the ISM index, which is considered important.   1) The strength of the signal depends on the time period during which the signal was formed (a rebound or a break). The shorter this period, the stronger the signal. 2) If two or more trades were opened at some level following false signals, i.e. those signals that did not lead the price to Take Profit level or the nearest target levels, then any consequent signals near this level should be ignored. 3) During the flat trend, any currency pair may form a lot of false signals or do not produce any signals at all. In any case, the flat trend is not the best condition for trading. 4) Trades are opened in the time period between the beginning of the European session and until the middle of the American one when all deals should be closed manually. 5) We can pay attention to the MACD signals in the 30M time frame only if there is good volatility and a definite trend confirmed by a trend line or a trend channel. 6) If two key levels are too close to each other (about 5-15 pips), then this is a support or resistance area.   How to read charts: Support and Resistance price levels can serve as targets when buying or selling. You can place Take Profit levels near them. Red lines are channels or trend lines that display the current trend and show which direction is better to trade. MACD indicator (14,22,3) is a histogram and a signal line showing when it is better to enter the market when they cross.   This indicator is better to be used in combination with trend channels or trend lines. Important speeches and reports that are always reflected in the economic calendars can greatly influence the movement of a currency pair. Therefore, during such events, it is recommended to trade as carefully as possible or exit the market in order to avoid a sharp price reversal against the previous movement. Beginners should remember that every trade cannot be profitable. The development of a reliable strategy and money management are the key to success in trading over a long period of time.  

No macro data scheduled for release on Tuesday. Only relatively unimportant reports on retail sales in the European Union and the Construction PMI in the UK can be highlighted.     However, it should be noted that the Construction PMI will be released in its second estimate, so there is practically no chance of a market reaction. Only if the actual value deviates significantly from the forecast, which rarely happens in second estimates. As for the retail sales report, it is not a particularly important one. If there is any reaction, it will be minimal.     There are no scheduled fundamental events for Tuesday, not even ones that are of secondary importance. Both currency pairs are currently in a suspended state as it is not entirely clear which direction they will move in this week. In the medium term, both pairs are expected to resume their decline, while in the short term, the downtrends have been broken, making a rise more likely. The fundamental and macroeconomic backdrop this week is very weak, so the movements can be weak and non-trending.     General conclusions: There will be hardly any important events on Tuesday, so we expect low volatility and weak intraday trend movements. There is a minimal probability that the market will react to the two reports mentioned earlier, but it is indeed very weak. It is unlikely that we will get an answer about the current trend in the market by Tuesday.   Basic trading rules: 1) The strength of the signal depends on the time period during which the signal was formed (a rebound or a break). The shorter this period, the stronger the signal. 2) If two or more trades were opened at some level following false signals, i.e. those signals that did not lead the price to Take Profit level or the nearest target levels, then any consequent signals near this level should be ignored. 3) During the flat trend, any currency pair may form a lot of false signals or do not produce any signals at all. In any case, the flat trend is not the best condition for trading. 4) Trades are opened in the time period between the beginning of the European session and until the middle of the American one when all deals should be closed manually. 5) We can pay attention to the MACD signals in the 30M time frame only if there is good volatility and a definite trend confirmed by a trend line or a trend channel. 6) If two key levels are too close to each other (about 5-15 pips), then this is a support or resistance area.   How to read charts: Support and Resistance price levels can serve as targets when buying or selling. You can place Take Profit levels near them. Red lines are channels or trend lines that display the current trend and show which direction is better to trade. MACD indicator (14,22,3) is a histogram and a signal line showing when it is better to enter the market when they cross. This indicator is better to be used in combination with trend channels or trend lines. Important speeches and reports that are always reflected in the economic calendars can greatly influence the movement of a currency pair. Therefore, during such events, it is recommended to trade as carefully as possible or exit the market in order to avoid a sharp price reversal against the previous movement. Beginners should remember that every trade cannot be profitable. The development of a reliable strategy and money management are the key to success in trading over a long period of time.  

Rising rates and rising stock markets aren't usually a combination that sits comfortably with a lot of investors but that's exactly what we saw last week, with European markets enjoying their best week in over 2 months, while US markets and the S&P500 enjoying its best week since March.     One of the reasons behind this rebound is a belief that Chinese demand may well pick up as the authorities there implement stimulus measures to support their struggling economy.   There is also a belief that despite seeing the Federal Reserve deliver a hawkish pause to its rate hiking cycle and the ECB deliver another 25bps rate hike last week, that we are close to the peak when it comes to rate rises, even though there is a growing acceptance that interest rates aren't coming down any time soon.     We did have one notable outlier from last week and that was the Bank of Japan who left their current policy settings unchanged in the monetary policy equivalent of what could be described as sticking one's fingers in one's ears and shouting loudly, and pretending core inflation isn't already at 40-year highs.   This week, attention turns to the Swiss National Bank, as well as the Bank of England, who are both expected to follow in the ECB's footsteps and hike rates by 25bps.   The UK especially has a big inflation problem, with average wages up by 7.2% for the 3-months to April, the Bank of England, not for the first time, has allowed inflation expectations to get out of control. This was despite many warnings over the last 18-months that they were acting too slowly, even though they were the first central bank to start hiking rates.     We heard over the weekend from former Bank of England governor Mark Carney that this state of affairs wasn't surprising to him, and that Brexit was partly to blame for the UK's high inflation rate and that he was proved correct when he warned of the long-term effects back in 2016.   Aside from the fact that UK inflation is not that much higher than its European peers, Carney's intervention is a helpful reminder of what a poor job he did as Bank of England governor. At the time he warned of an economic apocalypse warning that growth would collapse and unemployment would soar, and yet here we are with a participation rate at near record levels, and an economy that isn't in recession, unlike Germany and the EU, which are.     The reality is that two huge supply shocks have hit the global economy, firstly Covid and then the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and that the UK's reliance on imported energy and lack of gas storage which has served to magnify the shock on the UK economy.   That would have happened with or without Brexit and to pretend otherwise is nonsense on stilts. If anything is to blame it is decades of poor energy policy and economic planning by successive and existing UK governments. UK inflation is also taking longer to come down due to the residual effects of the energy price cap, another misguided, and ultimately costly government policy.   Carney is probably correct about one thing, and that is interest rates are unlikely to come down any time soon, and could stay at current levels for years.   This week is likely to be a big week for the pound, currently at 14-month highs against the US dollar, with markets pricing in the prospect of another 100bps of rate hikes. UK 2-year gilt yields are already above their October peaks and at 15-year highs, although 5- and 10-year yields aren't.     This feels like an overreaction and while many UK mortgage holders are looking at UK rates with trepidation, this comes across as overpriced. It seems highly likely we will get one rate rise this week and perhaps another in August, but beyond another 50bps seems a stretch and would be a surprise.        With some US markets closed for the Juneteenth public holiday, today's European session is likely to be a quiet one, with a modestly negative open after US markets finished the end of a positive week, with their first daily decline in six days.       EUR/USD – pushed up to the 1.0970 area last week having broken above the 50-day SMA at 1.0880. We now look set for a move towards the April highs at the 1.1095 area. Support comes in at the 50-day SMA between the 1.0870/80 area.     GBP/USD – broken above previous highs this year at 1.2680 last week as well as moving above the 1.2760a area which is 61.8% retracement of the 1.4250/1.0344 down move. This puts us on course for a move towards the 1.3000 area. We now have support at 1.2630.      EUR/GBP – broken below the 0.8530/40 area negating the key reversal day last week and opening up the risk of further losses towards the 0.8350 area. Initial support at the 0.8470/80 area. Resistance at 0.8620.     USD/JPY – continues to push higher and on towards the next resistance at 142.50 which is 61.8% retracement of the 151.95/127.20 down move. Support now comes in at 140.20/30      FTSE100 is expected to open 35 points lower at 7,608     DAX is expected to open 92 points lower at 16,265     CAC40 is expected to open 34 points lower at 7,354   By Michael Hewson (Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets UK)  

Rising rates and rising stock markets aren't usually a combination that sits comfortably with a lot of investors but that's exactly what we saw last week, with European markets enjoying their best week in over 2 months, while US markets and the S&P500 enjoying its best week since March.     One of the reasons behind this rebound is a belief that Chinese demand may well pick up as the authorities there implement stimulus measures to support their struggling economy.   There is also a belief that despite seeing the Federal Reserve deliver a hawkish pause to its rate hiking cycle and the ECB deliver another 25bps rate hike last week, that we are close to the peak when it comes to rate rises, even though there is a growing acceptance that interest rates aren't coming down any time soon.     We did have one notable outlier from last week and that was the Bank of Japan who left their current policy settings unchanged in the monetary policy equivalent of what could be described as sticking one's fingers in one's ears and shouting loudly, and pretending core inflation isn't already at 40-year highs.   This week, attention turns to the Swiss National Bank, as well as the Bank of England, who are both expected to follow in the ECB's footsteps and hike rates by 25bps.   The UK especially has a big inflation problem, with average wages up by 7.2% for the 3-months to April, the Bank of England, not for the first time, has allowed inflation expectations to get out of control. This was despite many warnings over the last 18-months that they were acting too slowly, even though they were the first central bank to start hiking rates.     We heard over the weekend from former Bank of England governor Mark Carney that this state of affairs wasn't surprising to him, and that Brexit was partly to blame for the UK's high inflation rate and that he was proved correct when he warned of the long-term effects back in 2016.   Aside from the fact that UK inflation is not that much higher than its European peers, Carney's intervention is a helpful reminder of what a poor job he did as Bank of England governor. At the time he warned of an economic apocalypse warning that growth would collapse and unemployment would soar, and yet here we are with a participation rate at near record levels, and an economy that isn't in recession, unlike Germany and the EU, which are.     The reality is that two huge supply shocks have hit the global economy, firstly Covid and then the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and that the UK's reliance on imported energy and lack of gas storage which has served to magnify the shock on the UK economy.   That would have happened with or without Brexit and to pretend otherwise is nonsense on stilts. If anything is to blame it is decades of poor energy policy and economic planning by successive and existing UK governments. UK inflation is also taking longer to come down due to the residual effects of the energy price cap, another misguided, and ultimately costly government policy.   Carney is probably correct about one thing, and that is interest rates are unlikely to come down any time soon, and could stay at current levels for years.   This week is likely to be a big week for the pound, currently at 14-month highs against the US dollar, with markets pricing in the prospect of another 100bps of rate hikes. UK 2-year gilt yields are already above their October peaks and at 15-year highs, although 5- and 10-year yields aren't.     This feels like an overreaction and while many UK mortgage holders are looking at UK rates with trepidation, this comes across as overpriced. It seems highly likely we will get one rate rise this week and perhaps another in August, but beyond another 50bps seems a stretch and would be a surprise.        With some US markets closed for the Juneteenth public holiday, today's European session is likely to be a quiet one, with a modestly negative open after US markets finished the end of a positive week, with their first daily decline in six days.       EUR/USD – pushed up to the 1.0970 area last week having broken above the 50-day SMA at 1.0880. We now look set for a move towards the April highs at the 1.1095 area. Support comes in at the 50-day SMA between the 1.0870/80 area.     GBP/USD – broken above previous highs this year at 1.2680 last week as well as moving above the 1.2760a area which is 61.8% retracement of the 1.4250/1.0344 down move. This puts us on course for a move towards the 1.3000 area. We now have support at 1.2630.      EUR/GBP – broken below the 0.8530/40 area negating the key reversal day last week and opening up the risk of further losses towards the 0.8350 area. Initial support at the 0.8470/80 area. Resistance at 0.8620.     USD/JPY – continues to push higher and on towards the next resistance at 142.50 which is 61.8% retracement of the 151.95/127.20 down move. Support now comes in at 140.20/30      FTSE100 is expected to open 35 points lower at 7,608     DAX is expected to open 92 points lower at 16,265     CAC40 is expected to open 34 points lower at 7,354   By Michael Hewson (Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets UK)  

FX Daily: Dollar trapped between inverted curves and rallying equities There has been little follow-through from the dollar selling we saw late last week. Currently, global markets present a curious picture of steeply inverting yield curves – which occasionally forewarn recession – but bid equity markets. Which market has it right? We tend to think the dollar will come lower in the second half, but again timing is everything.   USD: Dollar trapped in the middle of inverted curves and risk rally FX markets are relatively quiet following yesterday's public holiday in the US. Risk assets are marginally softer after Chinese authorities only cut the 5-year Loan Prime Rate by 10bps – disappointing those looking for more aggressive support from lower mortgage rates to China's property sector. USD/CNH pushing back up to 7.18 has kept USD/Asia bid and provides a mildly bullish undercurrent to the dollar as the European session gets underway. Softening the lens a little we see the dollar trapped between two stories and reflected in its 2% gains against the yen and 2% losses against sterling and commodity currencies over the last month. Those two stories are: i) steeply inverting yield curves as central banks try to squeeze inflation out of economies and ii) rallying equities on the view that recessions will be mild (perhaps because of low unemployment). Our big picture call here is that US disinflation comes through in the third quarter, bearish US yield curve inversion switches to bullish steepening, and the dollar falls more broadly. But we are not there yet. Back to the short term, there is only second-tier US data today in the form of housing starts and we have the Fed's James Bullard speaking at 1230CET today. He is one of the most hawkish Fed governors, but not an FOMC voter this year. Presumably, he may shed some light on why the Fed could hike by another 50bp this year (consistent with the latest Dot Plots), but that may not move the dollar needle much. DXY is to trade well within a 102.00-103.00 range and expect USD/JPY to continue nudging higher. It increasingly looks as though Japanese authorities will be called into FX intervention again near the 145 level.

RBA minutes state that the rate hike decision was close China’s central bank trims key lending rates The Australian dollar has hit a bump in the road and is down 1% this week. In the European session, AUD/USD is trading at 0.6795, down 0.80% on the day.   RBA minutes – rate decision was close The Reserve Bank of Australia has a habit of surprising the markets. The RBA’s rate hike earlier this month was a shocker, as the markets had expected rates to remain unchanged. The minutes of the meeting, released today, indicated that the decision was “finely balanced” between a pause and a hike. In support of a pause, members noted that the sharp increases in rates raised the possibility of the economy stalling. In the end, however, concerns over persistent inflation won the day as the Bank voted to hike rates by 0.25%. The takeaway from the dovish minutes is that the RBA was very close to taking a pause and will be open to holding rates at the July meeting, depending on the data, especially inflation. The Australian dollar has fallen sharply today as investors have lowered their expectations over future rate hikes. The RBA has backed up hawkish words with action, raising rates to 4.1%, the highest level since 2011. Still, inflation has been stickier than expected, and headline inflation jumped in April from 6.3% to 6.8%. The core rate fell from 6.9% to 6.5%, but that is incompatible with the target of 2%. The RBA has projected that inflation will not fall to 2% until mid-2025, which means more hikes are likely, barring a sharp drop in inflation. China’s central bank announced on Tuesday that it was cutting key lending rates, in a move to boost investment and consumption. The post-pandemic recovery has been slow, and soft demand for exports has been bad news for Australia, as China is a key trading partner. China posted 4.5% growth in the first quarter, which was better than expected, but key indicators such as retail spending and industrial output missed expectations in May. . AUD/USD Technical 0.6772 is under pressure in support. Below, there is support at 0.6668 0.6836 and 0.6940 are the next resistance lines        

Eurozone and German PMIs weakened in June EUR/USD fell as much as 110 pips on Friday EUR/USD has taken a tumble on Friday. In the European session, the euro is trading at 1.0885, down 0.64%. The euro fell as low as 1.0844 earlier in the day. Later today, the US releases ISM Services PMI. The consensus stands at 54.0 for June, following 54.9 in May. The services sector is in solid shape and the ISM Services PMI has posted four straight readings over the 50 level, which separates expansion from contraction.     Eurozone, German PMIs fall in June Eurozone PMIs for June pointed to weaker activity in the services and manufacturing sectors. The Services PMI eased to 52.4, down from 55.1 in May and below the consensus of 54.5 points. The Manufacturing PMI fell to 43.6, down from the May reading of 44.8 which was also the consensus. Germany, the largest economy in the eurozone, showed a similar trend, with Services PMI falling from 54.7 to 54.1 and Manufacturing PMI dropping from 43.5 to 41.0 points. The 50 line separates contraction from expansion. The takeaway from these numbers is that the eurozone economy is cooling down. Business activity is still growing but at a weaker pace, while the manufacturing recession has deepened. The eurozone economy is yet to recover after negative growth in the past two quarters, as the ECB’s aggressive tightening makes its way through the economy. At first glance, the weak PMI readings should be good news for the ECB, which is trying to dampen economic growth in order to wrestle inflation back down to the 2% target. However, inflation remains very high at 6% and further tightening could tip the weak eurozone economy into a recession. The ECB’s efforts to push inflation lower have been made more difficult, as unemployment is at historic lows and wage growth is high. Germany, the bloc’s largest economy, isn’t the power locomotive that it once was and is still in recovery mode. The ECB has signalled that it will hike rates in July and another increase could be coming in September unless inflation decelerates more quickly.  

USD/JPY climbs above 143 Japan’s core CPI remains above 3%   The Japanese yen has stabilized on Friday after falling close to 1% a day earlier.  In the European session, USD/JPY is trading at 143.05, down 0.04%. Earlier, USD/JPY touched a high of 143.45, the highest level since early November 2022. On the data calendar, the US releases ISM Services PMI later today. The consensus stands at 54.0 for June, following 54.9 in May. The services sector has posted four straight readings over the 50 level, which separates expansion from contraction.     Japan’s core inflation higher than expected Japan continues to grapple with high inflation and core CPI for May was higher than expected. With inflation around 3%, other central banks would love to trade places with the Bank of Japan, but Japan’s inflation remains above the 2% target and has become an issue for the central bank after decades of deflation.   Nationwide core CPI, which excludes fresh food but includes energy items, climbed 3.2% in May y/y, down from 3.4% in April but above the consensus of 3.1%. What was more worrying was the “core-core index”, which excludes fresh food and energy, jumped 4.3% in May, up from 4.1% in April. This was above expectations and marked the highest level since June 1981.     Core CPI has now remained above the BoJ’s inflation target of 2% for 14 consecutive months. This puts into question the BoJ’s stance that cost-driven inflation is temporary and therefore there is no need to tighten monetary policy. Inflation risks are tilted to the upside and the BoJ will find it more difficult to defend its ultra-loose policy if inflation pressures don’t ease.   The BoJ maintained its policy settings at last week’s meeting and has no plans to tighten interest rates anytime soon. This puts the BoJ at odds with other major central banks, which have been aggressively tightening rates in order to curb inflation. The US/Japan rate differential has been widening as the Fed raises rates while the BoJ stands pat. This has sent the yen sharply lower, raising concerns that the government could intervene in the currency markets in order to prop up the yen.   The Ministry of Finance stunned the global financial markets in September and October when it intervened, at a time when the yen had fallen below the 150 line. The yen hasn’t fallen quite that low, but I would expect to hear louder verbal intervention out of Tokyo if the yen falls below 145.     USD/JPY Technical USD/JPY tested support at 142.82 earlier. The next support level is 142.07 There is resistance at 143.83 and 144.27  

German consumer sentiment falls ECB’s Lagarde will participate in a panel discussion on policy   EUR/USD has edged lower on Wednesday. In the European session, EUR/USD is trading at 1.0939, up 0.20%.   German consumer confidence dips The German GfK Consumer Sentiment report found that consumer confidence is expected to fall in July to -25.4, down from a downwardly revised -24.4 in June. The report noted that the German consumer is reluctant to spend due to economic uncertainty, and high inflation has eroded the purchasing power of households. The consumer confidence release comes on the heels of the German Ifo Business Climate index, which fell from 91.7 to 88.5 in June. This missed expectations and marked the index’s lowest level this year. The weak confidence numbers highlight a persistent lack of confidence in the German economy.   The ECB, which continues to signal that more rate hikes are coming, finds itself between a rock and a hard place. The Bank’s number one priority is curbing inflation, which will require more rate hikes. However, tightening too quickly runs the risk of choking economic activity and tipping the German economy into a recession. How far will the ECB go in raising interest rates? Investors hope to get some clues from ECB President Lagarde later today when she participates in a panel on policy at the ECB bank forum in Sintra. Lagarde said on Tuesday that eurozone inflation remains too high and reiterated that ECB policy “needs to be decided meeting by meeting and has to remain data-dependent.”   In the US, Tuesday’s strong releases were further proof of a solid economy. Durable Goods Orders and New Home Sales were higher and beat expectations, and Conference Board Consumer Confidence jumped in June from 102.5 to 109.7, its highest level since January 2022. These strong releases will provide support for the hawkish Fed, which is expected to raise rates in July and again in September or October.   EUR/USD Technical EUR/USD is putting pressure on support at 1.0916. Next, there is support at 1.0822 1.0988 and 1.1082 are the next resistance lines    

Lagarde signals ECB rate hike in July Germany releases inflation report later on Thursday Eurozone inflation report follows on Friday EUR/USD is unchanged on Thursday and is trading at 1.0912 in the European session,   German CPI  Germany releases the June inflation report later today. Inflation in the eurozone’s largest economy fell to 6.1% in May, down sharply from 7.2% in April. Much of the decline, however, was driven by lower energy prices. Inflation is expected to head higher, with a consensus of 6.3%. If CPI surprises to the downside, the euro could get a boost.   Lagarde signals rate hike in July Investors were hoping to gain some insights this week from ECB President Lagarde, who hosted the ECB Bank Forum in Sintra. There really wasn’t anything new in her remarks, which may have been disappointing to some. One could make the argument that Lagarde is being consistent in her message to the markets and used the Sintra meeting to reiterate the ECB’s intent to raise rates at the July 27th meeting, unless there is an unexpected drop in inflation, in particular the core rate. Lagarde stated on Wednesday that the central bank is not considering a pause in July as things currently stand. At the same time, Lagarde has some wiggle room, as she has said each rate decision will be data-dependent. The ECB has an entire month before the next meeting, and if core inflation slides or the eurozone economy takes a turn for the worse, the ECB could pause, arguing the conditions were appropriate for holding rates steady. Lagarde & Co. will get a look at eurozone inflation data on Friday. Headline inflation is expected to fall to 5.6% in June, down from 6.1% in May. Core CPI is projected to rise from 5.3% to 5.5%.   EUR/USD Technical EUR/USD is putting pressure on resistance at 1.0916. This is followed by 1.0988 1.0822 and 1.0750 are providing support    

Europe set for flat open, as RBA stays on hold         Yesterday saw a snoozy start to July for European markets with an initially positive open giving way to a mixed session, with US markets only opening for a short time ahead of the US Independence Day holiday today.     US markets finished their shortened trading session making some modest gains, but interest was relatively low-key with the latest ISM manufacturing numbers for June pointing to continued weakness in that part of the US economy.     On a more positive note, if you can call it that, the weak prices paid component of the data showed that inflationary pressure has continued to ease and as such might offer the hope that a July rate hike from the Fed could well be the last one before a lengthy pause.     European manufacturing PMIs also exhibited similar weakness in their respective components, with varying degrees of contraction, however there was a common theme running through them, which was declining output, as well as falls in new orders.     In the UK numbers we also saw reports of falling input costs due to lower fuel costs, commodity price decreases, and improvements in supply chains. Average output prices also fell for the first time since April 2016. These trends would appear to suggest that for all the hawkish narrative coming from central bankers that a wave of disinflation is working its way through the global economy, and that if they aren't careful, they could end up over tightening at a time when inflation is already on a downward path.     That said, central banks biggest problem is that they are so wedded to their 2% inflation target that rather than accepting the fact it may take years to fall back to that level, they risk breaking something in order to get it back there quicker.     Earlier this morning the Reserve Bank of Australia took the decision to follow up its surprise 25bps rate hike of last month, by deciding to keep rates on hold, albeit with the same hawkish bias as last month. The central bank statement went on to say that inflation was still too high and that more tightening may well be required.     With meetings occurring on a monthly basis the bank appears to have decided to wait and see the effects recent rate hikes have had on the wider economy, as well as waiting to see what other central banks do later this month, even though we pretty much know that further rate hikes are coming from the likes of the Federal Reserve and ECB.     With the labour market looking strong, services inflation still looking sticky it remains unlikely that we've seen the terminal rate yet for the Australian dollar, with markets pricing at least another 38bps of hikes by year end, although this number could come down.     Today's European session looks set to be a quiet one with the US off for the 4th July holiday, and little in the way of economic data ahead of tomorrow's services PMI numbers for June which are likely to make for better reading from an economic resilience point of view.           EUR/USD – continues to find support in and around the 1.0830/40 area and 50-day SMA, with resistance remaining at the 1.1000 area. A break below the lows last week opens the way for a potential move towards 1.0780.     GBP/USD – while above the 50-day SMA at 1.2540, as well as trend line support from the March lows, bias remains higher for a move back to the 1.3000 area. Currently have resistance at 1.2770.       EUR/GBP – finding support between 0.8570/80 area, with resistance at the 50-day SMA which is now at 0.8663. Behind that we have 0.8720. Below 0.8560 targets 0.8520.     USD/JPY – slipped back to the 144.00 area yesterday before rebounding but has so far held below 145.00. The key reversal day remains intact while below 145.20.  A break below 143.80 targets a move back to the 142.50 area. Above 145.20 opens up 147.50.      FTSE100 is expected to open unchanged at 7,527     DAX is expected to open 19 points higher at 16,100     CAC40 is expected to open unchanged at 7,386     By Michael Hewson (Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets UK)

NZD/USD is down 1% China’s Caixin Mfg. PMI contracted in July The New Zealand dollar continues to show sharp volatility early in the week. In Tuesday’s European session, NZD/USD is trading at 0.6142, down 1.06%. The decline has wiped out the gains the New Zealand dollar made on Monday when it rose 0.85%. China’s Caixin Mfg. PMI declines China’s recovery has been bumpy, and this week’s PMIs didn’t bring any good news. The Caixin Manufacturing PMI for July declined for the first time in three months, falling from 50.5 to 49.2 and missing the consensus estimate of 50.3 points. On Monday, the official PMIs pointed to weak activity, with manufacturing coming in at 49.3 and non-manufacturing at 51.5 points. The 50.0 line divides expansion from contraction. The weak Caixin Manufacturing PMI has sent the New Zealand dollar sharply lower on Tuesday. China is a key trading partner for New Zealand and the New Zealand dollar is sensitive to Chinese economic releases. New Zealand’s labour market has been tight, which has interfered with the central bank’s efforts to bring inflation back to the 2% target. We’ll get a look at the second-quarter employment report on Wednesday, and the data may not be to the Reserve Bank’s liking. Employment Change is expected to rise by 0.5%, compared to 0.8% in Q1. The unemployment rate is projected to inch higher to 3.5% in the second quarter, up from 3.4% in the first quarter. There aren’t many tier-1 releases ahead of the Reserve Bank’s meeting on August 16th, which makes Wednesday’s employment report doubly important. If, as expected, the data shows that the labour market is robust, it will support the Reserve Bank raising rates. Conversely, a weak employment report would be a reason for the central bank to take a pause from raising rates. In the US, the manufacturing data reaffirmed weakness in the sector. The ISM Manufacturing PMI for July improved from 46.0 to 46.4 but missed the estimate of 46.8. ISM Manufacturing Employment slipped to 44.4, down from 48.1 and shy of the estimate of 48.0 points.     NZD/USD Technical NZD/USD has pushed below support at 0.6184. Below, there is support at 0.6093 0.6246 and 0.6337 are the next resistance lines  

BoJ Summary of Opinions takes note of higher inflation US job report a mixed bag The Japanese yen has started the week in negative territory. In the European session, USD/JPY is trading at 142.36, up 0.42%. BoJ says monetary easing to continue Inflation continues to be a key issue for the Bank of Japan, although it is much lower than in other major economies, at around 3%. Still, inflation is above the Bank’s 2% target and this continues to raise speculation that the BoJ will have to tighten policy sooner or later. The BoJ has pushed back against talk that it will tighten, and when the central bank recently made its yield curve control (YCC) more flexible, Governor Ueda was careful to stress that the step did not represent a move towards normalization. Against this backdrop, the BoJ released its Summary of Opinions earlier today. The members reiterated the necessity to keep an ultra-easy monetary policy in place, but some members noted that inflation and wages could continue to increase. One opinion went as far as to state that 2% inflation “in a sustainable and stable manner seems to have clearly come in sight” and urged the BoJ to make YCC more flexible. This BoJ internal conversation could be a signal that policy makers are slowly acknowledging that inflation, which has been above the 2% target for months, may be sustainable. That would mark a sea change in the BoJ’s thinking and could have major ramifications on the exchange rate. The US employment report for July was a mix. Nonfarm payrolls were soft at 187,000, despite a banner ADP release which fuelled expectations of a breakout nonfarm payrolls release. Job growth is slowing, but the unemployment rate ticked lower to 3.5% down from 3.6%, and wage growth stayed steady at 4.4%.  

Overview of macroeconomic reports There are hardly any important reports on Friday. The euro area will release its final assessment of inflation for July, which is unlikely to differ from the preliminary assessment. Therefore, we do not expect any reaction to this data. The UK will publish a retail sales report, which is not that important. Therefore, we do not expect a strong market reaction to this report. Therefore, there will be no important events on Friday, and both pairs will likely continue their relatively weak movements. The pound is in a sideways channel, and the euro is in a weak downtrend.   Overview of fundamental events There is absolutely nothing to highlight among the fundamental events. No speeches by officials of the Federal Reserve, Bank of England, or the European Central Bank. Therefore, the market will focus on the macro data, but there are hardly any of those as well. It seems that we are in for another muted day.   Bottom line On Friday, we are expecting rather boring trades. We don't expect strong movements from either the pound or the euro, but that does not mean that they will not happen. Take note that the market can trade without reference to the fundamental and macroeconomic background. Main rules of the trading system: The strength of the signal is calculated by the time it took to form the signal (bounce/drop or overcoming the level). The less time it took, the stronger the signal. If two or more trades were opened near a certain level due to false signals, all subsequent signals from this level should be ignored. In a flat market, any currency pair can generate a lot of false signals or not generate them at all. But in any case, as soon as the first signs of a flat market are detected, it is better to stop trading. Trades are opened in the time interval between the beginning of the European session and the middle of the American one when all trades must be closed manually. On the 30-minute timeframe, you can trade based on MACD signals only on the condition of good volatility and provided that a trend is confirmed by the trend line or a trend channel. If two levels are located too close to each other (from 5 to 15 points), they should be considered as an area of support or resistance. Comments on charts Support and resistance levels are levels that serve as targets when opening long or short positions. Take Profit orders can be placed around them. Red lines are channels or trend lines that display the current trend and show which direction is preferable for trading now. The MACD (14,22,3) indicator, both histogram and signal line, is an auxiliary indicator that can also be used as a source of signals. Important speeches and reports (always found in the news calendar) can significantly influence the movement of a currency pair. Therefore, during their release, it is recommended to trade with utmost caution or to exit the market to avoid a sharp price reversal against the previous movement. Beginners trading in the forex market should remember that not every trade can be profitable. Developing a clear strategy and money management is the key to success in trading over a long period of time.  

AUD/USD close to 9-month lows China fails to cut 5-year LPR   The Australian dollar is steady at the start of the new trading week. In the European session, AUD/USD is unchanged at 0.6404. It’s a very quiet week for Australian releases, with no tier-1 releases. On Wednesday, Australia releases services and manufacturing PMIs for August. Services and manufacturing both contracted in July, with readings below the 50.0 level. The Aussie has hit a rough patch and has reeled off five straight losing weeks against the US dollar, sliding over 400 basis points in that period. The economic picture in China continues to deteriorate, and this has been a major reason for the Australian dollar’s sharp deterioration. China is Australia’s number one trading partner, and when China sneezes there’s a good chance Australia will catch a cold. China’s economic data has been pointing downward and the world’s second-largest economy is experiencing deflation. Last week, Evergrande, a huge Chinese property developer, filed for bankruptcy in New York, raising fears of contagion to other parts of the economy. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) responded to the economic slowdown with a surprise cut to the one-year medium-term lending rate. The central bank was expected to follow up with cuts to the one-year and five-year loan prime rates (LPR). On Monday, the PBOC trimmed its one-year LPR from 3.55% to 3.45%, but surprisingly, did not lower the 5-year LPR, a key lending rate that affects mortgages. Lower lending rates are intended to boost credit demand, but the central bank’s lukewarm move is unlikely to provide much of a boost to China’s ailing economy. That does not bode well for the struggling Australian dollar, and if China’s economy continues to show signs of weakening, I would expect the Australian dollar to continue losing ground.   AUD/USD Technical AUD/USD is putting pressure on resistance at 0.6431. Next, there is resistance at 0.6496 There is support at 0.6339 and 0.6274  

Early in the European session, gold (XAU/USD) is trading around 1,894.45, above the 21 SMA, and below the 200 EMA located at 1,904. On the H1 chart, we can see that gold broke the bearish trend channel formed since August 8 and it is expected to consolidate above 1/8 Murray located at 1,890 in the next few hours.     If this scenario occurs, then the instrument could reach the 200 EMA located at 1,904 or go up to 2/8 Murray located at 1,906. 10-year US Treasury yields are trading above 4.3% as investors expect the Fed to continue raising interest rates in September 2023. Bonds and gold are inversely correlated. Since these are overbought, a fall in bonds is expected in the next few days, so it will be seen as an opportunity to buy gold.   We can see that gold is overbought according to the 1-hour chart. Hence, we could expect a technical correction to occur in the next few hours towards the 1,888 area and then from there, a technical rebound could follow.   In case the XAU/USD pair continues to rise, we could expect it to reach 1,906. We could use this opportunity to sell. The eagle indicator is showing an overbought signal. We expect gold to reach the 1,888 level and this will give us an opportunity to buy at a low price. Conversely, a sharp break below the low reached so far around 1,885, could be seen as a continuation of the downward movement. Therefore, the instrument could reach 1,875 and finally 1,867.  

NZD/USD posts strong gains on Tuesday New Zealand retail sales are expected to decline by 2.6%   The New Zealand dollar has posted strong gains on Tuesday. In the European session, NZD/USD is trading at 0.5959, up 0.55%. On the data calendar, New Zealand retail sales are expected to decline by 2.6% q/q in the second quarter, compared to -1.4% in Q1. The New Zealand dollar has gone on a dreadful slide since mid-July, falling as much as 500 basis points during that spell. The current downswing has been driven by weak global demand and jitters over China’s economy, which is showing alarming signs of deterioration. Chinese releases have been pointing downward recently. Exports and imports have fallen, manufacturing activity is weak and the world’s second-largest economy is experiencing deflation. Last week, Evergrande, a huge Chinese property developer, filed for bankruptcy in the United States, raising fears of contagion to other parts of the economy. It wasn’t long ago that the Chinese ‘miracle’ was being touted as an economic powerhouse on the global stage, but now the world’s second-largest economy is in deep trouble and is dragging down global growth. An interesting silver lining is that deflation in China could help lower inflation worldwide, which would be good news for the Fed, ECB and other central banks that are battling to push inflation lower. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has responded in recent days to the economic slowdown with some cuts to lending rates, but surprisingly, has not trimmed the five-year loan prime rate, which has a major impact on mortgages. The PBOC’s lukewarm move to the economic crisis could mean China’s economy will continue to sputter, and that is bad news for the New Zealand dollar, as China is by far New Zealand’s largest trading partner. If Chinese releases continue to head lower, we can expect the New Zealand dollar to continue losing ground.   NZD/USD Technical NZD/USD has pushed above resistance at 0.5941 and is putting pressure on resistance at 0.5978. There is support at 0.5885 and close by at 0.5848  

The price of gold rebounded and recovered after yesterday's minor sell-off. It's trading at 1,901 at the time of writing and it seems determined to hit new highs if the Dollar Index drops deeper. You knew from yesterday's analysis that Gold announced a potential reversal. Today, the services and manufacturing figures should move the rate. The Eurozone, German, and UK data should bring action in the European session. Later, the US Flash Manufacturing PMI is expected at 48.9 points versus 49.0 points in the previous reporting period, while Flash Services PMI could be reported at 52.1 points in August and below 52.3 points in July. Furthermore, the US New Home Sales and the Canadian retail sales data could have an impact as well. Poor economic data should lift XAU/USD. In my opinion, only better-than-expected US data could force the price to drop again.   XAU/USD retested the ascending pitchfork's lower median line (LML) and now it has reached the 1,903 static resistance again. As long as it stays above the LML, Gold could extend its upwards movement. Still, only a valid breakout through 1,903 activates further growth. XAU/USD Outlook! A bullish closure above 1,903 could be seen as a buying signal as XAU/USD may approach and reach new highs.      

Early in the European session, gold is trading around 1,936.52, below the high reached at 1,938.13, and below 4/8 Murray. Yesterday, the US consumer confidence data showed a worsening of sentiment. This survey displayed concerns among consumers about the prices of groceries and gasoline in particular. This negative data for the US dollar affected Treasury yields which caused a strong rally in gold, breaking the 200 EMA located at 1,925.     According to the 4-hour chart, we can see that gold is trading within an uptrend channel. It is expected to continue moving there until it reaches the daily resistance zone located at 1,943. According to the 4-hour chart, we can see that the Eagle indicator reached the 95-point area which signals an imminent technical correction. It is likely to happen in the next few hours if XAU/USD falls below 4/8 Murray. The metal could reach the 200 EMA located at 1,925 and could even drop as low as 3/8 Murray at 1,921.   Given that the trend remains bullish, we could expect a rally in the next few hours and gold could continue its rise. In case of a break above 1,945, gold could reach 5/8 Murray located at 1,953. This level could serve as a strong rejection. Up to that level, the instrument is considered overbought which could also be seen as a clear signal to sell. On the other hand, if gold falls below 1,937 (4/8 Murray), we could see a clear signal to sell which will give us an opportunity to take profits around the bottom of the uptrend channel located at 1,917. The daily pivot point is located at 1,930.   If gold trades around this price level of 1,930, we could expect an accumulation or consolidation in the next few hours. Below 1,930, we could see a clear signal to sell. Conversely, above this level, a technical bounce could be triggered. Our trading plan for the next few hours is to sell gold below 1,937. In case there is a pullback around 1,943, we could sell with the target at 1,920. The Eagle indicator is in an overbought zone which supports our bearish strategy.  

Australian inflation falls to 4.9% US GDP expected to rise to 2.4% The Australian dollar has edged lower on Wednesday after sharp gains a day earlier. In the European session, AUD/USD is trading at 0.6473, down 0.10% on the day.   Australia’s inflation slips to 4.9% There was good news on the inflation front as July CPI fell to 4.9% y/y, down from 5.4% in June and below the consensus estimate of 5.2%. Inflation has now fallen to its lowest level since February 2022. Core inflation, which has been stickier than headline inflation, gained 5.8% in July, down from 6.1% in June. The markets are widely expecting the Reserve Bank of Australia to hold rates at the September 5th meeting and the drop in the headline and core inflation readings could well cement a pause. Inflation remains well above the RBA’s 2% target, but it is an encouraging sign that inflation continues to move in the right direction.   Soft US numbers send Aussie sharply higher The Australian dollar sparkled on Wednesday, climbing 0.80% and hitting a one-week high. The uptick was more about US dollar weakness than Aussie strength, as the US posted softer-than-expected consumer confidence and employment data on Wednesday. US consumer confidence took a hit as the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index fell to 106.1 in July. This was a sharp drop from the August reading of 116.0 and marked a two-year low. JOLTS Job Openings fell to 8.82 million in July, down from 9.16 million in June and well off the estimate of 9.46 million. This was the sixth decline in the past seven months, another sign that the strong US labour market is showing cracks.

Analysis of GBP/USD 5M   GBP/USD also experienced a minor downward correction on Wednesday, while overall volatility reached 100 pips. This is already something to talk about. Unfortunately, during the European session, movements left much to be desired. In general, we witnessed a flat, and the pair only started to move normally during the U.S. session when three more or less significant reports were published in America. As we mentioned before, reports on durable goods orders and the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment turned out to be weaker than expected. However, the third report on initial jobless claims was better than the market's expectations. In our opinion, one positive report could not outweigh two negatives, so we believe that the British pound fell on Wednesday due to the pair's overbought condition. Speaking of trading signals, the flat condition during the European session did not bring any profit. During the first half of the day, four signals were formed around the level of 1.2520, and they were all false signals because the pair, essentially, stood still. Therefore, when the fifth signal was formed around the level of 1.2520 during the U.S. session, it should not have been executed. And the best movement of the day began at this time. Traders could open 1-2 trades in the morning, incurring a small loss, and could then work out the rebound from the level of 1.2445, which allowed them to offset this loss. However, there was no substantial profit.

It's early December, which means traders have very little time left before the start of the "dead season." The currency market will be active for a few more weeks before entering the Christmas-New Year lethargy. The EUR/USD pair is no exception here. Typically, life in the FX market slows down after the December meetings of the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank (on December 12-13 and 14, respectively). For some time, traders reflect on the outcomes of these meetings, but inevitably, "winter holidays" set in. The main feature of the upcoming week is the "silence" of the Fed officials. The so-called "blackout period" started on Saturday: for 10 days leading up to the Fed meeting, officials of the U.S. central bank generally do not speak publicly or grant interviews. Therefore, EUR/USD traders will be focused on economic reports. Let's take a look at the economic calendar and see what awaits us in the coming days.   Monday The first working day is traditionally quite empty for EUR/USD. During the European session, the Sentix investor confidence indicator will be published. This is a leading indicator as it measures investors' sentiment towards the eurozone economy. Since March 2022, the indicator has been in the negative territory, but in November, it showed positive dynamics, rising from -21.9 to -18.6. In December, experts expect a further improvement to -15.0. Also on Monday, ECB President Christine Lagarde is expected to speak. She will participate in a conference that includes a Q&A session. The head of the ECB may comment on the latest eurozone inflation data, although the theme of the meeting, let's say, does not lend itself to such questions (the conference is organized by the French Academy of Ethics and Political Sciences). During the U.S. session, a report on factory orders in America will be published. The volume of total orders is expected to decrease by 2.7% in October, while core orders are expected to increase by only 0.3%. Tuesday On Tuesday, the final estimates of the PMI data for November will be published. According to forecasts, they will coincide with the initial reports (in this case, the market will likely ignore this data). Traders will focus on the ISM Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which will be published during the U.S. session. This indicator has declined over the past two months, but according to most experts, it will rise to 52.5 points in November. However, if the index falls into the "red zone," the dollar will come under significant pressure. Let me remind you that the ISM Manufacturing Index published last week did not support the greenback. In November, it reached 46.7 points, against forecasts of an increase to 48.0 (the manufacturing index has been in contraction territory for the 13th consecutive month). In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will release data on the level of job vacancies and labor turnover. However, considering that the market is anticipating the Non-Farm Payrolls data later in the week, they will likely overlook Tuesday's report.   Wednesday At the start of the European session, we will learn about the October volume of industrial orders in Germany. In annual terms, the indicator has been in the negative territory since July, and judging by forecasts, the situation is not expected to improve in October (forecast -5.6%). The main report of the day will be announced during the U.S. session, which is the non-farm employment in the United States from ADP. This report is considered to play the role of a kind of "harbinger" ahead of the release of official data—although quite often these indicators do not correlate. Nevertheless, the ADP report can trigger increased volatility among dollar pairs, especially if it comes out in the green/red zone. According to experts, 120,000 non-farm jobs were created in November. If the figure falls below the 100,000 mark, the greenback may come under pressure. Also, U.S. data on labor cost will be published (final estimate). This indicator, for the first time since the beginning of 2021, dropped into negative territory in the third quarter. According to forecasts, the final estimate will be revised downwards (from -0.8% to -0.9%). On the same day, ECB Executive Board member Joachim Nagel (head of the Bundesbank) will speak. Before the release of the latest data on eurozone inflation, he voiced rather hawkish theses, allowing for additional interest rate hikes in the foreseeable future. We do not know whether his position will change in light of recent events.   Thursday On this day, we will learn the final estimate of the eurozone Q3 GDP data. According to forecasts, the final result should match the second estimate (-0.1%). During the U.S. session, weekly data on initial jobless claims will be published. Since mid-October, this indicator has fluctuated in the range of 210,000 to 220,000 (except for one week when the count jumped to 233,000). According to forecasts, for the upcoming week, the indicator will come in at 220,000, i.e., at the upper limit of the "established" range. Furthermore, secondary economic reports will be released (wholesale inventories - final estimate, and consumer credit), but they usually do not have any significant impact on the market.   Friday On the last day of the trading week, key U.S. labor market data for the month of November will be published. According to preliminary forecasts, the unemployment rate in November will remain at the October level, i.e., at 3.9%. The number of non-farm payrolls is expected to increase by 185,000 (after a 150,000 increase in October) – meaning the figure will once again fall short of the 200,000 mark. In the private sector, the number of employed is expected to grow by 155,000 (after a 99,000 increase in October). And the average hourly wage level is expected to demonstrate a downtrend again – down to 4.0% YoY (in this case, it will be the lowest value of the indicator since August 2021). Obviously, such a result will not benefit the dollar, especially amid a decrease in CPI, producer price index, and the core PCE index.   On the bullish side, we have the dovish comments from some of the Fed officials (Waller, Goolsby), conflicting signals from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, and a decline in key inflation indicators. On the bearish side, we have the eurozone inflation data. The "red tint" of the latest report put an end to the discussion about the ECB rate hike in the coming months. The euro lost its fundamental trump card, but, as we know, the EUR/USD pair can successfully rise only due to the dollar's weakness. For instance, on Friday, the bears tried to break through to the 1.08 level but eventually failed. In my opinion, in the medium-term perspective (until the release of the NFP data), traders will exercise caution (both sellers and buyers), trading on "neutral territory," i.e., in the range of 1.0850 – 1.0930 (lower and middle Bollinger Bands lines on the 4H timeframe, respectively).