- USD/CAD tests near-term bullish trend resistance ahead of key Canada data
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USDCAD broke above near-term downslope resistance late last week with the subsequent rally now approaching initial resistance targets. The focus remains higher while above near-term structural support but heading into tomorrow’s Canada Employment report, the immediate upside bias may be at risk.
USD/CAD Daily Price Chart
Technical Outlook: In my analyst pick earlier this week I noted that a USD/CAD, “breakout of a near-term descending channel formation has fueled a rally in the pair with advance now approaching a key area of near-term resistance at 1.2579-1.26. This region is defined by the 2018 open, the 38.2% retracement & the 100-day moving average and converges on the 50-line of this near-term ascending pitchfork.”
Price is now testing this level as resistance as daily momentum struggles to mount 60. The immediate long-bias may be vulnerable while below this level near-term. A breach / daily close above this resistance threshold would constitute a break of the monthly opening-range and would be needed to keep the long-bias intact.
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USD/CAD 240min Price Chart
Notes: A closer look at price action sees Loonie trading within the confines of an ascending pitchfork formation extending off the January lows with the rally now resting confluence resistance around the 1.26-handle. A breach above this threshold (daily close) would keep the long-bias in play targeting the 61.8% retracement at 1.2663 backed by the upper median-line parallel around ~1.2715.
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Interim support rests at the median-line / 1.2500/07 with a break below this level risking a larger setback towards the weekly opening-range lows / lower 50-line at 1.2398. Bottom line: USD/CAD is testing a near-term inflection point and we’ll be looking for a definitive reaction tomorrow to offer further guidance. From a trading standpoint, I’ll favor fading strength tomorrow should price spike into the upper parallel OR look to short bounces with a break below the median-line / 1.25.
For a complete breakdown of Michael’s trading strategy, review his Foundations of Technical Analysis mini-series
USD/CAD IG Client Sentiment
- A summary of IG Client Sentiment shows traders are net-long USDCAD- the ratio stands at +1.56 (60.9% of traders are long) – bearish reading
- Retail has remained net-long since Jan 25th; price has moved 1.4% higher since then
- Long positions are 2.2% lower than yesterday and 11.9% lower from last week
- Short positions are 0.8% higher than yesterday and 18.1% lower from last week
- We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests USDCAD prices may continue to fall. Retail is less net-long than yesterday but more net-long from last week and the combination of current positioning and recent changes gives us a further mixed USDCAD trading bias from a sentiment standpoint.
See how shifts in USD/CAD retail positioning are impacting trend- Click here to learn more about sentiment!
Relevant USD/CAD Data Releases
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Other Setups in Play
- GBP/USD Bears to Face BoE- Levels to Know for Super Thursday
- EUR/USD Down but Not Out as Prices Approach Bullish Trend Support
- The Return of Volatility: Weekly Technical Outlook
- AUD/USD Price Rally Vulnerable Ahead of FOMC, NFP
- Written by Michael Boutros, Currency Strategist with DailyFX
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