Canadian Dollar Talking Points
USD/CAD struggles to preserve the advance from the previous month amid dismal data prints coming out of the US economy, and the exchange rate appears to be on track to test the September-low (1.3134) as the Federal Reserve comes under pressure to implement lower interest rates.
USDCAD September Low on the Radar Ahead of ISM Non-Manufacturing
USD/CAD may continue to respond to the weakening outlook for the US as the ISM Manufacturing survey slips to its lowest reading since June 2009, and updates to the Non-Manufacturing survey may keep the exchange rate under pressure as the gauge for service-based activity is expected to narrow to 55.2 from 56.4 in August.
In turn, the Atlanta Fed GDPNow model now forecasts the US economy to grow 1.8% in the third quarter of 2019 versus 2.1% on September 27, and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) may take additional steps to insulate the economy as Chairman Jerome Powell and Co. see the benchmark interest rate around 1.50% to 1.75% ahead of 2020.
It remains to be seen if the FOMC will reverse the four rates hikes from 2018 amid the growing dissent within the committee, but the central bank may come under increased pressure to insulate the US economy as President Donald Trump tweets “Fed rate too high,”
In contrast, the Bank of Canada (BoC) looks poised to retain the current policy the next meeting on October 30 as Deputy Governor Lawrence Schembri highlights that “Canadian economic data since July have surprised on the upside.”
In turn the BoC may continue to endorse a wait-and-see approach for monetary policy as the “economy is operating close to potential,” and Governor Stephen Poloz and Co. may keep the benchmark interest rate at 1.75% throughout the remainder of the year as “growth in the second quarter was strong and exceeded the Bank’s July expectation.”
With that said, USD/CAD may exhibit a more bearish behavior over the coming months amid the diverging paths for monetary policy, and recent price action brings the downside targets back on the radar as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) continues to track the bearish formation from August.
Sign up and join DailyFX Currency Strategist David Song LIVE for an opportunity to discuss potential trade setups.
USD/CAD Rate Daily Chart
Source: Trading View
- Keep in mind, the broader outlook for USD/CAD is no longer constructive as it clears the February-low (1.3068), with the break of trendline support fostering a bearish outlook for the exchange rate.
- At the same time, the rebound from the 2019-low (1.3016) appears to have stalled ahead of the Fibonacci overlap around 1.3410 (38.2% expansion) to 1.3420 (78.6% retracement), with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) offering a bearish signal as the oscillator snaps the bullish formation from July.
- More recently, the RSI tracks the downward trend from August, with USDCAD marking a failed run at the monthly-high (1.3383) amid the lack of momentum to push back above the Fibonacci overlap around 1.3280 (23.6% expansion) to 1.3330 (38.2% retracement).
- As a result, the break/close below 1.3220 (50% retracement) brings the 1.3120 (61.8% retracement) to 1.3130 (61.8% retracement) region on the radar, with the next area of interest coming in around 1.3030 (50% expansion).
Additional Trading Resources
Are you looking to improve your trading approach? Review the ‘Traits of a Successful Trader’ series on how to effectively use leverage along with other best practices that any trader can follow.
Want to know what other currency pairs the DailyFX team is watching? Download and review the Top Trading Opportunities for 2019.
--- Written by David Song, Currency Strategist
Follow me on Twitter at @DavidJSong.
