- USD/CAD reversal accelerates post Jobs data – threat is lower sub-1.3385
- Check out our 3Q projections in our Free DailyFX USD Trading Forecasts
- Join Michael for Live Weekly Strategy Webinars on Mondays at 12:30GMT
The US Dollar pared early-week gains today as weak NFPs / strong Canada jobs data fueled a reversal off key resistance in USD/CAD. These are the updated targets and invalidation levels that matter on the USD/CAD charts heading into the close of the week.
New to Forex Trading? Get started with this Free Beginners Guide
USD/CAD Daily Price Chart
Technical Outlook: In my previous USD/CAD Weekly Technical Outlook we noted that the immediate advance was vulnerable as price approached, “a key resistance zone at 1.3375-1.3435- a region defined by the 50% retracement of the 2016 decline, the June swing highs and the 2017 yearly open.”
USD/CAD registered a high at 1.3445 before reversing sharply with strong Canadian employment data today further accelerating the decline. Note that we’ve been marking ongoing momentum divergence and highlights the risk for deeper losses here near-term. Initial support rests with the October channel with a break below the monthly opening-range low at 1.3160 shifting the focus back towards the slope support confluence / 100-day moving average at 1.3083/90.
Learn how to Trade with Confidence in our Free Trading Guide
USD/CAD 240min Price Chart
Notes: A closer look at Loonie price action shows the pair trading within the confines of the ascending slope series we’ve been tracking in USD/CAD since October and further highlights this week’s reversal off confluence resistance. Initial support now rests at with the lower parallel / 61.8 % retracement at 1.3269 – we’re looking for a reaction here – watch the weekly close.
Even the most seasoned traders need a reminder every now and then- Avoid these Mistakes in your trading!
Bottom line: USD/CAD is testing upslope support here and IF broken, would keep the near-term short-bias in play targeting the monthly range lows and more significant slope support. From a trading standpoint, look to reduce short exposure on a drop towards 1.3269 – If price is heading lower, rallies should be capped by the 1.3375/85 resistance zone. I’ll favor fading near-term rallies while below this threshold for now, targeting a move towards the 1.31- handle.
For a complete breakdown of Michael’s trading strategy, review his Foundations of Technical Analysis series on Building a Trading Strategy
USD/CAD Trader Sentiment
- A summary of IG Client Sentiment shows traders are net-short USD/CAD - the ratio stands at -3.39 (22.8% of traders are long) – bullishreading
- Traders have remained net-short since October 9th; price has moved 3.9% higher since then
- Long positions are12.8% lower than yesterday and 34.6% lower from last week
- Short positions are 19.1% lower than yesterday and 12.7% higher from last week
- We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests USD/CAD prices may continue to rise. Yet traders are less net-short than yesterday but more net-short from last week and the combination of current positioning and recent changes gives us a further mixed USD/CAD trading bias from a sentiment standpoint.
See how shifts in USD/CAD retail positioning are impacting trend- Learn more about sentiment!
---
Relevant USD/CAD Data Releases
Economic Calendar - latest economic developments and upcoming event risk.
Active Trade Setups
- Gold Price Outlook: XAU/USD Consolidation- Breakout Imminent
- NZD/USD Price Outlook: Pending Bull Flag Breakout in Kiwi
- AUD/USD Outlook: Aussie Searches for Support after Failed Breakout
- EUR/USD Price Outlook: Euro Threatens Breakout– Levels to Know
- Written by Michael Boutros, Currency Strategist with DailyFX
Follow Michael on Twitter @MBForex or contact him at mboutros@dailyfx.com
