FX Traders’ weekly EURUSD fundamental & technical picture, this week’s market drivers that could change it- the bullish, the bearish and likely EURUSD direction. New drama feeding old drivers

The following is a partial summary of the conclusions from the fxempire.com weekly analysts’ meeting in which we cover outlooks for the major pairs for the coming week and beyond.

Summary

1. Technical Outlook: Edging towards trend topping and reversing, key levels to watch and why.
2. Fundamental Outlook: New developments feeding the same drivers – EU data, Fed rate revelations, and all else matter only insofar as they influence speculation on the likelihood, extent, and type of ECB easing.
3. What To Watch: Further Fed signals of low rates for longer term, elections, US GDP, etc.
4. Trader Positioning: Our sample group continues to make a classic beginners mistake.

TECHNICAL OUTLOOK

This week we again minimize our usual discussion of overall risk appetite per our sample of leading global stock indexes. For the past 3 weeks they haven’t helped us forecast EURUSD moves:

• The EURUSD has ceased tracking these indexes and has been falling for the past 3 weeks as it moves with its bearish specific fundamental drivers, rather than overall risk appetite, and it is likely to continue to do so this week. See the fundamental outlook section below for specifics.  
• Indeed, the leading US and European indexes are moving higher, as increasingly dovish looks from both the Fed and ECB benefit stocks, while the fading expectations for USD rate increases create distinct problems for the EUR, as we discuss below.

EURUSD Weekly Technical Outlook: Edging Towards Trend Topping & Reversing

EURUSD Weekly Outlook: Edging Towards A Trend Reversal-Drivers, Ramifications, How To Profit

EURUSD Weekly Chart October 6, 2013 to Present

KEY: 10 Week EMA Dark Blue, 20 WEEK EMA Yellow, 50 WEEK EMA Red, 100 WEEK EMA Light Blue, 200 WEEK EMA Violet, DOUBLE BOLLINGER BANDS: Normal 2 Standard Deviations Green, 1 Standard Deviation Orange. Green downtrend line from EURUSD peak of July 2008 to present, green uptrend line from August 2012 to present.

Source: MetaQuotes Software Corp, www.fxempire.com, www.thesensibleguidetoforex.com

01 May. 24 21.2

Key Take-Aways Weekly Chart: Why EURUSD Trend Change Could Be Imminent

The 1.37 and 1.3650 support areas broke down leaving the pair to test deeper support, and to close the week at 1.3630

While the pair remains in its 15 week trading range, it’s barely hanging on at the low of that range. It remains at the lower edge if its neutral double Bollinger ® band zone.  With Friday’s close below the 1.365 support level for the second straight day, that level looks broken. The next big support zone is around 1.36 -1.355, buttressed by five layers of converging support:

–The round 1.355 figure itself

–The green uptrend line dating from mid-2012

–The 50% Fibonacci retracement of the downtrend from mid-2011 to mid-2012.

–The 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the bigger downtrend from July 2008 to June 2010

–Most importantly, the psychologically critical 50 week (aka 200 day) EMA in the 1.355 zone. For many medium and longer term traders, when something breaks below its 200 day moving average, that’s the time to exit longs and open short positions.

As we’ve said before, a confirmed close below 1.35 (we allow for some wiggle room) is our signal that the pair has topped out for now and that the uptrend dating from mid-2012 is over for now.

Actually, the odds favor more downtrend as soon as we get into the double Bollinger® Band sell zone, which begins around 1.36. This is a key level for all forex investors, as a new EURUSD downtrend will provide potent fuel for a USD rally against its other counterparts, for reasons we’ve discussed here.

Then the only question would be whether it’s going to test deeper support around 1.345 -1.34 (where both its 100 and 200 week EMAs reside) or settle into a new flat trading range centered around the 1.355 zone.

FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: THE BALANCE OF BULLISH VS. BEARISH

Summary

New events continue to reinforce the same fundamentals behind the downtrend of the past two weeks:

Speculation About A Bigger ECB Stimulus Package – Now Driven By Falling US Rates

ECB President Draghi’s hints of possible rate cuts were what started the EURUSD’s downtrend after the last ECB meeting. Ongoing speculation about the new stimulus, fed by continued poor EU economic data last week, kept that speculation thriving, and was the prime driver of the EURUSD downtrend last week. This past week we had yet another new development to expand expectations about the likelihood and extent of ECB easing.

THE big story of the past week, has been the recent accelerated drop in US interest rates, and new evidence this past week that they will remain lower and for longer than previously believed. While the implications of this trend are profound for many global asset markets, arguably none is more affected than currency markets, and especially that of the EURUSD. Although lower USD rate expectations should be bullish for the EUR and thus the pair, ironically the effect is the opposite. Because the ECB wants to lower the EUR, the news of a weaker USD is new fuel for speculation that the ECB will need a bolder stimulus program than previously expected in order to drive the EUR lower relative to the USD (and other major EUR counterparts). See below for a quick summary, and our special report on this for full details, as well as our weekly global market preview post here.

EU data underperforms

Last week’s EU economic data continues to add to ECB easing expectations.

• The big EU economic news was Thursday’s EU PMIs. German and EU PMI’s mostly came in below forecasts (except for the German flash services survey, which beat forecasts) but still above 50, meaning that services and manufacturing for Germany and the EU overall are still expanding. However France’s manufacturing and services PMIs were not only well below expectations, they weren’t even over 50, showing a modest contraction in manufacturing and services after modest increases in the prior two months. It is worrisome that the EU’s #2 economy is sputtering at a time when recent GDP figures showed most of the EU stagnant or contracting.
• The EU current account also missed (18.8 bln vs. 24.2 bln forecasted) on Wednesday, as did German PPI, fueling fears that even Germany is not immune from deflation.
• The last big EU data point of the week was Germany’s Ifo business climate survey, which also missed expectations. The news sent the pair to 10 week lows, as it appeared to put June ECB rate cuts beyond any further doubt, after Germany’s Bundesbank had recently been muttering about how neither rate cuts, nor Bundesbank support for them, were assured.

Bond Yields Falling: One bright spot was that Spain was able to sell 10 year bonds at lower yields than the prior auction (2.97% vs. 3.06%), and so did Germany.

Technical Support Levels Contain The Downtrend

Just as we noted last week, the downtrend once again stopped near the next major support zone around 1.36, which is buttressed by multiple support indicators, like the uptrend line dating from mid-2012 as well as the 50 week EMA and a few Fibonacci retracements as noted above. Last week the 1.37 area held, the week before, the 1.375 zone.

When Will The Downtrend Stop?

Each of the past three weeks has brought new bad data and new developments to expand expectations for the likelihood and size of an ECB easing package to be announced at the June 5^th meeting, rate statement and press conference.

If no major new bad news hits the pair, or overall risk appetite, AND the pair can stay over its 200 day/50 week EMA (a critical psychological support level around 1.355) then there won’t be any reason to tempt tests of deeper support. We don’t expect any further pressure on the EUR from the ECB. It’s likely that the market has already fully priced in ECB actions, thanks to the recent unequivocal ECB signals. Also, as we discuss below, the likely mix of stimulus steps is not likely to include anything like a US-style QE program that could radically devalue the EUR.

However as we’ve said repeatedly in recent weeks, if the pair breaks that level and makes a confirmed move below the 1.35 zone, it’s time to call a top to the uptrend. The question then becomes whether the pair flattens out or starts to test deeper levels.

Typically, a confirmed break below the 200 day moving average suggests further downtrend ahead. The fact that a confirmed move below 1.36 already puts into the EURUSD double Bollinger® band sell zone suggests that the pair will already be on its way down before it even hits the 1.355-1.350 area of the 200 day moving average. One it’s in that area, the odds favor more downside as the technical damage alone becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that prompts selling.

FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK

Last week I noted that the week’s scheduled economic calendar events were unlikely to provide much in the way of new, lessons or market moving events. That proved true. The biggest lesson was from non-calendar events, as discussed below.

Rising Expectations For Long Term Low Rates: Explanation, Ramifications, How To Profit

The biggest lesson of the week, arguably of the year thus far, is the shift in US interest rate expectations. This is huge, because as we’ll describe below, it affects almost all major global markets and asset classes.

First, look what’s been happening to yields on the benchmark 10 year US Treasury Notes.

 

Bloomberg.com

(via Business Insider)

06 May. 22 18.54

Despite the presumed recovery that is supposed to bring higher rates, they’ve been falling, especially recently. Why, and why the recent sudden dive?

Here are the most likely reasons, each of which we cover in detail in our special report here.

1. Leaks From Bernanke “Private” Dinners: Low Rates For Much Longer Than Expected
2. FOMC’s Incoming New Governors: Strengthening Yellen’s Dovish Hand
3. An Unwinding of Short Positions That Forces Bond Prices Up And Yields Down

Ramifications And Guidelines For Profiting

As for the EURUSD, the US’s greater economic strength (see our weekly preview here and our special report here for more on that) continues to suggest the USD will eventually rise against the EUR and thus drive the pair lower. However it’s becoming less clear when, if ever, that rate advantage will materialize.

Over the next 6 months to a year, speculation on rates and related market reactions all depend on the data and the Fed’s record at long term forecasting isn’t any better than anyone else with their resources (not amazing) as it’s hard to model an entire economy. A bet on a rates bouncing is tempting.

Top Likely EURUSD Market Movers: What To Watch   

In addition to the above, monitor news on the following developments.

How Will The ECB Ease?

A Fed-style asset purchase program (aka QE) is more complicated and controversial for the ECB, so it’s widely expected to stick to one or a combination of 3 possible types of rate cuts.

• The lending rate:  Currently at 75 bp and marks the top of its interest rate corridor. A lower lending rate, under current conditions, might minimize the volatility of overnight rates (EONIA).
• The re-finance. Currently at 25 bp and below the current policy setting, the ECB provides as much funds at this rate as banks want, limited only by how much acceptable collateral a bank has. The consensus is for a 10-15 bp cut. The ECB also could extend the period for which is it willing to provide unlimited funds. Although EONIA has traded above the refi rate, a lower refi rate might produce a modest reduction in overnight rates.
• The deposit rate. It’s currently 0%, and there is speculation that the ECB could set it at -25 bp, which would amount to a tax banks for leaving excess reserves at the ECB. This is the most controversial option because it has some secondary effects and has never been used over such a large currency area. Banks are likely to pass on the negative rates to customers, which would encourage large depositors to move funds elsewhere if they’re large enough to have that option, thus eliminating the added liquidity this option is supposed to provide by encouraging banks to lend. As we’ve noted before, coming ECB stress tests are a strong incentive for banks to retain cash or deploy it in only the most conservative ways, thus defeating the purpose of the negative deposit rate and making its costs outweigh its benefits.

Why This Matters: The Key Take-Aways

With rates already low, the first two options are unlikely to have much impact.

The third option is more radical and with coming bank stress tests may not help increase liquidity, and may even lower it by causing big depositors to move funds elsewhere, or, to prevent that, to banks absorbing that cost and finding other ways of recouping that expense.

In sum, none of the above steps are likely to justify much more of a drop in the EUR, and so the coming stimulus steps expected at the June 5^th ECB meeting are likely already priced in.

Keep alert for news on these over the coming week.

Elections To Watch This Week

There are two election results this week that could move the EURUSD in particular, as well as the markets in general.

Results Of EU Parliamentary Elections

At a time when policy makers agree the EU needs a closer political union and more centralized economic control in Brussels, these elections are expected to yield a more anti-EU parliament more inclined to preserve and expand national sovereign powers of member states over their own economies, rather than to cede them.

As far as the EURUSD is concerned, the best result would be that these parties don’t gain enough clout to interfere with the centralized control and oversight that Germany and other nations demand in exchange for risk sharing.

The worst case would be a clear victory for the more nationalist parties that casts doubt on the EU’s ability to continue with needed integration. Remember, the current calm in the EU rests on the confidence in the EU created out of thin air by Mario Draghi’s 2012 promise to do whatever it takes to keep EU members economically stable and solvent, backed by his (untested) OMT program. If the elections erode that confidence, then it’s just a matter of time before markets actually test his resolve, as well as the OMT plan’s effectiveness.

Uncertainty about both the election results and the coming ECB easing has already sent spreads between peripheral bonds and German bonds to 2 month highs. A spike in those rates could further erode the confidence that supports the GIIPS nations’ recoveries.

Likely Impact On the EUR

If Euro-skeptic parties secure more than 25% of the seats in the 751-member Parliament, it could reduce confidence in the EU’s ability to progress towards needed greater political integration and risk sharing. However, because the near term effects would be hard to determine, we’d expect such a result to be only modestly negative for the EUR. Longer term, such a result could erode confidence in the EU’s longer term survival.

Ukraine Election

The reformist pro-Western Europe Petro Poroshenko is widely expected to win in the first round of elections. The big question therefore is whether Putin will honor his promise to “respect” the Ukraine vote results. If Putin continues to create chaos in the Ukraine, it would add pressure on the financial markets and the EUR.  Remember that the whole crisis began when Putin saw the former pro-Russian Ukraine government forced out and feared loss of another border ally.

Despite worsening violence in Ukraine, we’ve seen no signs of meaningful trade disruptions, with talk of further sanctions limited to luxury goods like Russian caviar and vodka.

Top Calendar Events To Watch

The top scheduled events this week are likely to be the election results for the EU parliament and Ukraine, US durable goods and preliminary GDP. Bank holidays could limit volatility if news is quiet, or exaggerate it if there are material surprises on those days. Top events are in boldface.

Sunday: EU parliamentary elections, ECB President Draghi speaks

Monday

No major economic calendar events AND both US and UK have bank holidays.

However Monday could prove volatile if markets are able to get a clear picture of the results from the Ukraine and European Parliament election results

Tuesday

EU:  ECB President Draghi speaks

US: Durable goods, S&P/CS composite-20 HPI, CB consumer confidence

Wednesday

EU: French consumer spending, German unemployment change, EU M3 money supply y/y, EU private loans y/y, Spain HPI q/q

Thursday

EU: French, German bank holidays, Italian 10 year bond auction

US: Preliminary Q2 GDP, weekly new jobless claims, pending home sales m/m

Friday

EU: German retail sales m/m

US: Personal spending m/m, Chicago PMI

Sample Retail Traders Positioning

 

Sample of retail forex traders EURUSD positioning as of May 23 2014

Source: Forexfactory.com

03 May. 24 23.05

Our real time sample of 566 retail traders, with an average holding period of 8 weeks, is (as a group) continuing to attempt to anticipate a EURUSD bounce before getting confirmation of it rather than ride the trend. Usually that’s a losing approach and a classic beginner’s mistake. Just saying.