Forex Trading

Riskier currencies made significant jumps in overnight trading, as positive news from the US economy led to renewed optimism in the global economic recovery. The most recent US Trade Balance and Unemployment figure both came in better than expected, and led to gains for the Canadian and Australian dollars. Still, the news was not enough to help the euro, which took some losses against the US dollar.



USD - Dollar Slowly Moving Away from Record Lows against JPY

The greenback has been slowly moving away from the 15-year low it recently hit against the Japanese yen. The USD/JPY pair has gone up over 65 pips since yesterday morning, and was largely helped by the positive US trade balance and unemployment figures. Currently the pair is trading around the 84.25 level. The positive news also helped the dollar gain on the euro. The EUR/USD pair has dropped close to 90 pips from yesterday's high and is currently trading around the 1.2675 level.

As we close out the week, traders can expect heavy volatility from the GBP/USD and USD/CAD pairs. While there is no US news scheduled to be released today, the UK PPI Input figure and the most recent Canadian employment data is likely to affect their respective dollar pairs. The USD/CAD in particular could see heavy volatility, following yesterday's trading. The pair dropped over 80 pips throughout the day, before bouncing back to its current level of 1.0326.

Next week, USD traders will want to prepare themselves for a batch of significant news that is likely to impact the dollar. This includes the latest retail sales report as well as the PPI and CPI figures. Whether or not the dollar can maintain its small gains on the euro and yen is yet to be seen, but significant market movements are assured.

EUR - EUR Fails to Gain From Positive US Data

The euro was not able to take advantage of the return to risk taking yesterday, following a batch of positive news from the US economy. Analysts attribute this to persistent concerns in the euro-zone banking sector. Still, it seemed odd that the return to risk taking did not help the ailing European currency.

EUR/USD has continued to drop in overnight trading, while EUR/JPY has remained relatively steady since yesterday afternoon. Furthermore, the EUR/AUD pair has dropped close to 160 pips since yesterday, and is currently trading around the 1.3710 level.

Today, traders will want to pay attention to the news coming out of the UK and Canada. Both are forecasted to show marked improvements in their respective economies, which may further fuel investor risk taking. This would typically lead to gains for the euro, but with pessimism in the euro-zone still dominating the market, that remains to be seen.

JPY - Yen Takes Losses against USD and GBP in Overnight Trading

The return to risk taking did not help the yen yesterday, as it decreased sharply against the UK pound and US dollar. USD/JPY has been slowly moving up from its record lows and is holding steady around the 84.25 level. GBP/JPY has gone up close to 100 pips in trading since yesterday afternoon, and is currently at the 129.70 level.

Today, in addition to the news being released from Canada and the UK, yen traders will want to pay attention to any indication that the Bank of Japan may be moving in to limit further yen growth in the forex marketplace. Recent yen gains have hurt Japan's export based economy, leading to increased speculation that the government will move in to devalue the currency. Should this occur, traders can assume that the JPY will see heavy losses against its main currency rivals.

Crude Oil - Crude Oil Sees Correction after US Data Released

Crude oil started yesterday's session by taking heavy losses, but following a report showing US oil stockpiles unexpectedly dropped last week, was able to rally in evening trading. The latest US Crude Oil Inventory figure showed that stockpiles dropped by 1.9 million barrels. Typically a drop in supplies is an indicator of increased demand among the world's biggest energy consuming nation; the United States.

Crude prices have gone up some 86 pips since yesterday evening, and currently stand at around the 74.75 level. Today, traders will want to pay particular attention to the Canadian news set to be released. News from Canada typically impact commodity prices, in particular oil. Should the latest employment figure, set to be released at 11:00 GMT, come in as expected, oil prices could rally in afternoon trading.

Technical News

EUR/USD

The EUR/USD has gone increasingly bearish yesterday, and currently stands at the 1.2670 level. The daily chart's Slow Stochastic supports this currency cross to fall further today. However, the 4-hour chart's RSI signals that a bullish reversal will take place today. Entering the pair when the signs are clearer seems to be the wise choice today.

GBP/USD

The pair has recorded much bearish behavior. However, the technical data indicates that this trend may reverse anytime soon. For example, the daily chart's MACD signals that a bullish reversal is imminent. An upward trend today is also supported by the hourly chart's Slow Stochastic. Going long with tight stops may turn out to pay off today.

USD/JPY

The pair has been range-trading for a while now, with no specific direction. The Daily chart's Slow Stochastic providing us with mixed signals. The 4 hour charts do not provide a clear direction as well. Waiting for a clearer sign on the hourlies chart might be a good strategy today.

USD/CHF

The typical range trading on the 4-hour chart continues. The 8-hour chart RSI is floating in neutral territory. However, the pair currently sits near the bottom border of the daily chart's RSI, suggesting an upward correction may be imminent. Going long with tight stops may turn out to be a good strategy today.

CAD/CHF

This pair's sustained upward movement has finally pushed its price into the over-bought territory on the 4-hour chart's RSI. Not only that, but there actually appears to be a bearish cross on the Slow Stochastic pointing to an imminent downward correction. Forex traders have the opportunity to wait for the downward breach on the hourlies and go short in order to ride out the impending wave.

Article Source - Encouraging US News Leads to Renewal in Risk Taking