IC Markets Asia Fundamental Forecast | 6th December 2023
What happened in the US session?
The ADP Non-farm Employment Change data will be released today. It provides an early employment growth, it is a leading indicator of consumer spending.
There were two high impact news yesterday.
Firstly we have the ISM Services PMI data, a leading indicator of economic health, as businesses react quickly to market conditions. Actual results were 52.7, better than the forecasted of 52.2.
The Jobs Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) was also released yesterday, the data can impact the market as job openings are a leading indicator of overall employment. Data released was 8.73M, less than the forecasted of 9.31M, the dovish result could affect the US dollar index (DXY) negatively.
What does it mean for the Asia Session?
The DXY is likely to be affected by the dovish JOLTS data, DXY could potentially have a bearish reversal. The ADP Non-farm Employment Change data will be released later today. It provides an early employment growth, it is a leading indicator of consumer spending.
The Dollar Index (DXY)
Key news events today
ADP Non-farm Employment Change (1.15pm GMT)
What can we expect from DXY today?
The DXY could possibly turn bearish due to the dovish results from JOLTS. DXY price has fallen from a high of 103.85 during the US session, showing signs of bearish reversal. We can expect volatility in the markets due to the high impact news release later on during the day.
Central Bank Notes:
- The Federal Funds Rate target range remained unchanged at 5.25% to 5.50% for the second meeting in a row.
- The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2.0% over the longer run.
- The Committee will continue to assess additional information and its implications for monetary policy.
- In determining the extent of additional policy firming that may be appropriate to return inflation to 2.0% over time, the Committee will take into account the cumulative tightening of monetary policy, the lags with which monetary policy affects economic activity and inflation, and economic and financial developments.
- Next meeting runs from 12 to 13 December 2023.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Weak Bearish
Gold (XAU)
Key news events today
ADP Non-farm Employment Change (1.15pm GMT)
What can we expect from Gold today?
Gold fell sharply to a low of $2,020/oz after hitting an all time high. However, we could expect Gold to bounce off the support level at $2,009/oz, if the US news turns out to be negative for the DXY.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Weak Bearish
The Australian Dollar (AUD)
Key news events today
GDP Quarterly Data (12.30am GMT)
What can we expect from AUD today?
The Aussie has been falling sharply during the US session, after hitting a high at 0.6690. GDP Growth rate data is 0.3% lesser than forecasted, we could expect Aussie to continue falling, breaking past a support level at 0.6541
Central Bank Notes:
- The RBA increased the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.35%, the first increase in five meetings.
- Inflation in Australia has passed its peak but is still too high and is proving more persistent than expected a few months ago.
- Whether further tightening of monetary policy is required to ensure that inflation returns to target in a reasonable timeframe will depend upon the data and the evolving assessment of risks.
- Next meeting is on 6 February 2023.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Medium Bearish
The Kiwi Dollar (NZD)
Key news events today
No major news events.
What can we expect from NZD today?
The Kiwi has fallen from a resistance at 0.6223, and we can expect the Kiwi to bounce off the support level at 0.6130.
Central Bank Notes:
- The Monetary Policy Committee kept the OCR unchanged at 5.50% for the third meeting in a row.
- The Committee agreed that the OCR needs to stay at a restrictive level to ensure that annual consumer price inflation returns to the 1 to 3% target range and to support maximum sustainable employment.
- While supply constraints in the economy continue to ease, inflation remains too high.
- Spending needs to remain subdued to better match the economy’s ability to supply goods and services, so that consumer price inflation returns to its target range.
- Next meeting is on 28 February 2024.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Medium Bullish
The Japanese Yen (JPY)
Key news events today
No major news events.
What can we expect from JPY today?
The USD/JPY currency pair hit a high of 147.254 during the US session last night, and it is showing signs of recovery from the major drop previously. The USD/JPY has been recovering during the Asia session, and could continue to rise towards a resistance level at 149.035 after bouncing off a support level at 146.122.
Central Bank Notes:
- The Bank will continue with QQE with Yield Curve Control, aiming to achieve the price stability target of 2.0%, as long as it is necessary for maintaining that target in a stable manner.
- The Bank of Japan decided on the following measures:
- Yield curve control: Negative interest rate of -0.1% on policy-rate balances and purchase of Japanese government bonds to keep 10-year JGB yields at around 0% while regarding the upper bound of 1.0% for 10-year JGB yields as a reference in its market operations.
- Medium- to long-term inflation expectations have risen moderately. Even as actual inflation decelerates, inflation expectations are expected to rise moderately toward the end of the projection period, with the output gap turning positive and changes in firms’ wage- and price-setting behaviour and in labour-management wage negotiations. This will likely lead to a sustained rise in prices accompanied by wage increases.
- Japan’s economy is likely to continue recovering moderately for the time being, supported by factors such as the materialization of pent-up demand, although it is expected to be under downward pressure stemming from a slowdown in the pace of recovery in overseas economies.
- Next meeting is on 19 December 2023.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Weak Bullish
The Euro (EUR)
Key news events today
No major news events.
What can we expect from EUR today?
The EUR/USD currency pair hit a low of 1.0793 during the US session, and we can expect the EUR/USD currency pair to continue being on the upside temporarily. We could see the EUR/USD falling further towards a resistance level at 1.0664.
Central Bank Notes:
- The ECB kept the three key interest rates unchanged.
- Inflation is still expected to stay too high for too long, and domestic price pressures remain strong.
- The Governing Council’s past interest rate increases continue to be transmitted forcefully into financing conditions.
- The Governing Council will continue to follow a data-dependent approach to determining the appropriate level and duration of restriction.
- Next meeting is on 14 December 2023.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Weak Bearish
The Swiss Franc (CHF)
Key news events today
No major news events.
What can we expect from CHF today?
The USD/CHF currency pair hit a high of 0.8750 during the US session, and is currently in a range during the Asia session. The USD/CHF could possibly rise higher as price could rise towards a pullback resistance level at 0.8764, recovering from the drop in the past few weeks. Since the CHF CPI showed a negative result of -0.2%, we could expect the USD/CHF to become bullish.
Central Bank Notes:
- The SNB unexpectedly kept the policy rate unchanged at 1.75% in September.
- Inflation forecasts remain unchanged at 2.2% for both 2023 and 2024 while it was lowered from 2.1% to 1.9% for 2025.
- SNB predicts modest growth for the rest of the year due to subdued foreign demand, loss of purchasing power from inflation, and stricter financial conditions.
- The projection for GDP growth this year remained unchanged at 1.0%.
- Next meeting is on 14 December 2023.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Weak Bullish
The Pound (GBP)
Key news events today
Construction PMI (9.30am GMT)
BOE Gov Bailey Speaks (11.00am GMT)
What can we expect from GBP today?
There are two major new events happening later today, the Construction PMI data will provide insight on the economic health. If data released is positive, we could expect the Pound to turn bullish.
BOE Governor Andrew Bailey is due to hold a press conference about the Financial Stability Report today, more hawkish than expected result is good for the currency. We can expect volatility in the markets due to the high impact news release later on during the day.
Central Bank Notes:
- The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 6-to-3 to maintain its Official Bank Rate at 5.25%.
- Three members preferred to increase the Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points to 5.5%.
- CPI inflation remains well above the 2% target, but is expected to continue to fall sharply, to 4¾% in 2023 Q4, 4½% in 2024 Q1 and 3¾% in 2024 Q2.
- This decline is expected to be accounted for by lower energy, core goods and food price inflation and, beyond January, by some fall in services inflation.
- The mean projection for CPI inflation is 2.2% and 1.9% at the two and three-year horizons respectively.
- Next meeting is on 14 December 2023.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Medium Bearish
The Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Key news events today
BOC Rate Statement (3.00pm GMT)
Overnight Rate (3.00pm GMT)
Ivey PMI (3.00pm GMT)
What can we expect from CAD today?
We can expect volatility in the markets due to the high impact news release later on during the day. The BOC Rate Statement will be released later today, it contains the outcome of the BOC decision on interest rates and the economic outlook.
Central Bank Notes:
- The Bank of Canada held its target for the overnight rate at 5.0%, for the second meeting in a row.
- Canada’s economy has weakened with growth forecast for 2023 lowered to 1.2% from 1.8%
- Economic growth is expected to continue to be weak, growing 0.9% and 2.5% in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
- The Bank expects CPI inflation to average around 3.5% through the middle of 2024 before gradually easing to 2.0% in 2025.
- However, the near-term path for CPI is higher because of energy prices and ongoing persistence in core inflation.
- Next meeting is on 6 December 2023.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Weak Bullish
Oil
Key news events today
No major news events.
What can we expect from Oil today?
Concerns about demand and skepticism about OPEC+ cuts cause oil to drop to a nearly five-month low of $72.15.
WTI Oil prices increased by 39 cents to $73.43,, while Brent Oil increased by 34 cents to $78.37 per barrel.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Weak Bullish
