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Fundamental Forecast For the Week Ahead: USD/ZAR, GBP/ZAR, EUR/ZAR

Fundamental Forecast For the Week Ahead: USD/ZAR, GBP/ZAR, EUR/ZAR

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USD/ZAR Chart

South African Rand (ZAR) Analysis:

  • Emerging market currencies continue general decline
  • USD/ZAR, GBP/ZAR & EUR/ZAR rise on dollar safety appeal
  • Jackson Hole Symposium, US Core PCE data and SA unemployment data prop up the main risk events for the week ahead
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Emerging Market Currencies Continue Decline – ZAR Focus

Emerging markets have been in decline since June this year but have dropped off more aggressively this last week. This as evidenced by the JP Morgan Emerging Market FX Index chart below:

Chart prepared by Richard Snow, Refinitiv

Recent events in SA, mainly the looting of shops and subsequent cabinet reshuffle, have not done the Rand any favors as the country looks to attract foreign direct investment as one of the strategies to grow the local economy.

Key Technical Levels: Bullish USD/ZAR, GBP/ZAR & EUR/ZAR

USD/ZAR

This last week saw considerable depreciation in the ZAR against the dollar, surrendering around 3.34% (taken at 18:00 CAT, Friday). A noticeable move was witnessed on Thursday which continued into Friday but later that day retraced off the intra-day high above 15.38.

This coming week could see a retracement towards the 15.00 psychological level but much of this depends on the level of USD appeal as riskier markets such as EM markets and major equity markets also experienced a sizeable sell off.

15.38 remains the most relevant level of resistance if the current trend is to continue with 15.57 and 15.70 the further upside resistance targets.

USD/ZAR Daily Chart

USD/ZAR Chart

Chart prepared by Richard Snow, IG

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GBP/ZAR

GBP/ZAR experienced much of the same as the pair almost reached 21.00, a level not seen since March this year - representing a 1.7% weekly advance as of 18:00 CAT on Friday. Price action looks to be nestled between 21.00 and 20.50 with the 38.2% Fib level of 20.7750 (drawn from the April 2020 high o the June 2021 low) creating the most immediate level of support. Once more, we could see a retracement of last weeks bullish move towards 20.50.

Should the bullish momentum continue into the coming week, 21.00 becomes the next hurdle followed by the 50% Fib at 21.3370

GBP/ZAR Daily Chart

GBP/ZAR Chart

Chart prepared by Richard Snow, IG

EUR/ZAR

EUR/ZAR rose by 2.62% for the week (18:00 local time, Friday) coming just short of the psychological 18.00 level. The pair has quite a long way to go to get to 18.30 and could find resistance at 18.20 should the bullish momentum continue into next week. A retracement of the bullish advance highlights the zone of resistance between 17.75 and 17.80 (purple area) before 17.50 props up a more solid level of support which looks some distance away.

EUR/ZAR Daily Chart

EUR/ZAR Chart

Chart prepared by Richard Snow, IG

Risk Events in the Week Ahead

For all market-moving data releases and events see the DailyFX Economic Calendar

Next week’s major talking point will be the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium where we are likely to see an appearance from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank, Jerome Powell. Market participants will no doubt dissect every word he says after the FOMC minutes this week provided more support towards the inevitable tapering exercise.

However, a recent poll conducted by Reuters still favors an announcement of future tapering only in September with the first round of tapering only starting early next year.

Interest rates affect FX markets because the unwinding of accommodative monetary policy in the US typically leads to eventual increases in the interest rate, which makes US dollar interest-bearing investments more attractive. From a risk-reward perspective – the safer dollar will earn a higher return (yield) than before and may be viewed more favorable when compared to the higher yielding but riskier ZAR.

Source: Reuters

Interestingly enough, US PCE data comes out midway through the symposium, which further supports the hypothesis that any announcements regarding tapering are more likely to happen at the September FOMC meeting or even later. The only hard hitting ZAR data release next week is the unemployment figure.

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--- Written by Richard Snow for DailyFX.com

Contact and follow Richard on Twitter: @RichardSnowFX

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

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