Talking Points:
- US Dollar Drops Alongside US Treasury Yields Amid Post-FOMC Correction
- Thin Liquidity Conditions Create Knee-Jerk Volatility Risk in Holiday Trade
- Markets Unlikely to Find Direction in US Jobless Claims, Japan CPI Releases
The US Dollar resumed its post- FOMC downward correction in overnight trade after brief respite in yesterday’s session, falling to the lowest level in a week against an average of its top counterparts. The move played out alongside a drop in front-end US Treasury yields, hinting profit-taking on the “Fed tightening” theme into the year-end is the likely catalyst driving price action.
Looking ahead, the Christmas holiday will see most top financial markets shuddered through next week. Indeed, trading volumes for FX futures contracts tracking the major currencies have been dropping since mid-month, hinting at larger market-wide dynamics. This is likely to make for near-standstill in the final 48 hours of the trading week.
It ought to be noted however that the drop in participation may amplify knee-jerk volatility in the event that unexpected headline risk catches markets unprepared. In fact, last week’s BOJ rate decision was a case in point. With that in mind, traders would be wise to tread carefully despite apparent calm.
A handful of economic data releases will cross the wires into the week-end, with weekly US jobless claims figures as well as Japan’s labor market and inflation reports are on tap. Both ought to pass with little fanfare. Claims numbers are unlikely to single-handedly change anything about investors’ Fed policy outlook. Meanwhile, the BOJ’s reluctance to actually expand stimulus despite this month’s tinkering with the policy mix undermines CPI figures’ market-moving potential.
Gauge Trends and Spot Reversals in the Major Currencies with DailyFX SSI
Asia Session
GMT | CCY | EVENT | ACT | EXP | PREV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
23:00 | AUD | Conf. Board Leading Index (MoM) (OCT) | -0.1% | - | -0.3% |
23:50 | JPY | BOJ Minutes for November Meeting | - | - | - |
04:00 | JPY | BOJ’s Kuroda Speaks in Tokyo | - | - | - |
European Session
GMT | CCY | EVENT | EXP | PREV | IMPACT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
09:30 | GBP | BBA Loans for House Purchase (NOV) | 46000 | 45437 | Low |
Critical Levels
CCY | Supp 3 | Supp 2 | Supp 1 | Pivot Point | Res 1 | Res 2 | Res 3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EUR/USD | 1.0739 | 1.0826 | 1.0869 | 1.0913 | 1.0956 | 1.1000 | 1.1087 |
GBP/USD | 1.4702 | 1.4783 | 1.4827 | 1.4864 | 1.4908 | 1.4945 | 1.5026 |
--- Written by Ilya Spivak, Currency Strategist for DailyFX.com
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