As the UK approaches the July 4th general election, the Labour Party is set to end the Conservatives' 14-year rule. According to the latest BBC poll tracker, Labour leads by 20 points, with 41% of the vote, while the Conservatives hold 21%, and Reform UK is at 16%.
Labour's pledge to improve EU relations could strengthen the pound by reducing Brexit-induced...
GOLD (SPOT) – technical overview
The 2019 breakout above the 2016 high at 1375 was a significant development, opening the door for fresh record highs and this next major upside extension into the 2500-3000 area. Setbacks should now be well supported above 2000 on a monthly close basis.
R2 2451 – 20 May Record high – Strong
R1 2388 –7 June high – Medium
S1...
Investors are bracing for a series of political events in the coming weeks, beginning with Thursday’s debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican Nominee Donald Trump, and extending to elections in France and the United Kingdom.
Thursday's debate is expected to offer contrasts between Biden's and Trump's economic visions (in-between personal jabs)....
Net short position in the Canadian dollar is at their largest since data collection began in 1986. As of June 11, non-commercial accounts increased their net short positions in the Canadian dollar to 129,493 contracts, up from 91,639 the previous week, data from LSEG and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed
The Bank of Canada (BoC) become the...
USDCAD – technical overview
Above 1.3000 signals an end to a period of longer-term bearish consolidation and suggests the market is in the process of carving out a more significant longer-term base. Next key resistance now comes in up into the 1.4000 area. Setbacks should be very well supported down into the 1.3000 area.
R2 1.3847 – 16 April/2024 high –...
In the UK, inflation data expected tomorrow is projected to fall to 2% in May, down from 2.3% in April. This would mark the first time since April 2021 that inflation has hit the Bank of England’s 2% target. However, a positive inflation report is unlikely to result in a rate cut at Thursday’s meeting, especially with an election on July 4th. Markets are pricing...
US SPX 500 – technical overview
Longer-term technical studies continue to look quite extended, begging for a deeper correction ahead. At the same time, the latest bullish breakout to a fresh record high beyond the 2024 high opens the door for the next measured move upside extension targeting the 5650 area. Key support comes in at 5194.
R2 5500 – Round Number –...
Bank of America anticipates diverging monetary policy paths between the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) after their respective June meetings, with the RBA seen as one of the last major central banks to cut interest rates.
The Wall Street bank's view was reinforced by robust Australian labor market data, suggesting potential for...
RBA decision: Will the Aussie Dollar break out?
A potentially interesting week awaits the Aussie dollar, with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) expected to hold its interest rate unchanged. Money markets price around a 97% chance for rates to remain at the current level and only a 3% probability of a 25-basis point cut.
Last week, ANZ became the first of...
NZDUSD – Technical Overview
The overall pressure remains on the downside, with the market stalling on attempts to move up into the 0.6500 area. However, there are indications that the market may be attempting to establish a longer-term base. To alleviate medium-term downward pressure and support this prospect, a break back above 0.6500 is necessary. A monthly...
The European Central Bank (ECB) initiated its cutting cycle last week on June 6. Expectations are that ECB policymakers are in no hurry to follow this first cut with a second one.
Next week, we will see how much of a hurry the Bank of England (BOE) is to follow the ECB.
A Reuters poll of 65 economists indicates the BOE is likely to wait until August to cut...
Japan's wholesale inflation surged in May at the fastest annual rate in nine months, data revealed yesterday, indicating that a weak yen may be exerting upward pressure on prices by increasing the cost of raw material imports. Producer prices in Japan rose 2.4% year-on-year in May 2024, up from 1.1% in April, surpassing market expectations of a 2% rise.
This...
A high number of European Central Bank (ECB) officials are making public speeches in the 24 before the Fed rate decision this week Wednesday that could help or hinder the EUR/USD.
Also, thrown in the mix now is French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call for a snap local election after the results of the EU Parliament elections, adding to market...
The U.S. Federal Reserve is anticipated to maintain the federal funds target range at 5.25%-5.5% when officials conclude their two-day meeting on Wednesday. Investors will be scrutinizing the statement to learn when the central bank might eventually reduce its rate and the potential frequency of such cuts this year.
Market expectations suggest a possible rate...
The US federal Reserve is not the only major central bank making an interest rate decision this week. So too, will the nonconformist Bank of Japan (BOJ).
In its April policy meeting, the BOJ highlighted upside risks to inflation and indicated readiness to adjust monetary policy, if necessary, although it expects to maintain its current policy for the time being....
While closely related, US inflation and the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions can impact the market with varying intensity. The Fed aims to avoid surprising the market, whereas inflation is unpredictable. Consequently, the market is confident that the Fed will neither hike nor cut rates at the upcoming meeting. However, inflation forecasts are often...
Given the increasing likelihood that the ECB will cut rates before the Fed, further EUR/USD depreciation could be anticipated in the coming days/ weeks. A move below the 100-day moving average would have traders looking toward the 200-day moving average of 1.0853.
However, weaker jobs data from the US this week is tempering this expectation, which means some...
Trump and Hunter Biden Trials
Former U.S. President Donald Trump was convicted last week on all counts of falsifying business records. Trump faces sentencing in one month’s time on July 11. Each of the 34 felony counts could result in up to four years in prison, although first-time offenders (or ex-presidents) like Trump are rarely incarcerated.
Meanwhile, a...
