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USD/CAD Rates to Watch with US GDP Report on Tap

USD/CAD Rates to Watch with US GDP Report on Tap

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Canadian Dollar Talking Points

USD/CAD tags a fresh monthly low (1.3330) ahead of the update to the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report, and current market conditions may keep the exchange rate under pressure as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) establishes a downward trend in July.

USD/CAD Rates to Watch with US GDP Report on Tap

USD/CAD remains on the cusp on testing the June low (1.3315) following the Federal Reserve interest rate decision as the central bank sticks to the same script and retains a dovish forward guidance for monetary policy.

It seems as though the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will continue to utilize its lending facilities along with its asset purchases to combat the economic shock from COVID-19 as Chairman Jerome Powell and Co. vow to “increase our holdings of Treasury and agency mortgage-backed securities at least at the current pace.”

Image of DailyFX economic calendar for US

Looking ahead, the update to the US GDP report may force the FOMC to retain the current policy throughout the remainder of the year as the economy faces the biggest contraction since the data series began in 1947, with the growth rate projected to tumble a record 34.1% in the second quarter following the 5.0% decline in the first three-months of 2020.

In turn, the Fed’s balance sheet looks poised to climb back above $7 trillion as the FOMC remains “committed to using our full range of tools to support the economy in this challenging time,” and current market conditions may carry into August as the crowding behavior in the US Dollar persists.

In fact, the IG Client Sentiment continues to reflect a net-long US Dollar bias, with retail traders net-long USD/CAD since mid-May even though the exchange rate filled the price gap from March.

Image of IG Client Sentiment for USD/CAD rate

The latest update shows 64.47% of traders are net-long USD/CAD, with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.81 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 4.90% higher than yesterday and 22.74% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 2.14% lower than yesterday and 22.62% lower from last week.

The rise in net-long positions suggests retail traders are looking for a potential reaction to the March low (1.3315) amid the behavior seen in June, while the decline in net-short interest could be attributed to profit-taking behavior as the exchange rate tags a fresh monthly low (1.3330) going into the end of July.

With that said, the June low (1.3315) remains on the radar for USD/CAD as the exchange rate extends the decline from earlier this month, and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) may show the bearish momentum gathering pace if the indicator registers an extreme reading like the behavior seen during the previous month.

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USD/CAD Rate Daily Chart

Image of USD/CAD rate daily chart

Source: Trading View

  • Keep in mind, the USD/CAD correction from the 2020 high (1.4667) managed to fill the price gap from March, with the decline in the exchange rate pushing the Relative Strength Index (RSI) into oversold territory for the first time since the start of the year.
  • Nevertheless, USD/CAD reversed from the March low (1.3315) in June, with both price and the RSI carving an upward trend during the month, but the bullish formations have been largely negated as the exchange rate snapped the range bound price action from earlier this month.
  • In turn, the March/June low (1.3315) sits on the radar, but need a break/close below the Fibonacci overlap around 1.3290 (61.8% expansion) to 1.3320 (78.6% retracement) to open up the 1.3250 (23.6% expansion) area.
  • However, lack of momentum to test the March/June low (1.3315) may push USD/CAD back towards the 1.3440 (23.6% expansion) to 1.3460 (61.8% retracement) region as the RSI appears to be flattening out ahead of oversold territory, with the next area of interest coming in around 1.3510 (38.2% expansion) to 1.3540 (23.6% retracement).
  • Nevertheless, will keep a close eye on the RSI as it establishes a downward trend in July, with a break below 30 likely to be accompanied by a further decline in USD/CAD like the price action seen in June.
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--- Written by David Song, Currency Strategist

Follow me on Twitter at @DavidJSong

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

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