Weekly FX forecast from NordFX

[Julia NordFX]

Generalized Forex Forecast for 2-6 February 2015​

Generalizing in a table the opinions of 35 analysts from world leading banks and broker companies as well as forecasts based on different methods of technical and graphical analysis, the following can be expected:
- EUR/USD will continue its downward tendency to the 1.1100 mark, although the opinions of analysts were divided almost equally: a third predict growth for the pair, a third – its fall and a third – a sideways trend;
- the situation with GBP/USD is similar while bearish tendencies look more convincing in this case;
- there is no consensus about the USD/JPY pair this week either among analysts or among indicators, something that happens very rarely. Here the choice is between a sideways movement and the pair’s long-time tendency towards the range of 119.00-121.00, which it is very likely to reach after all;
- both analysts and indicators predict USD/CHF to return to the level of last autumn, with strong volatility too, intraday fluctuations reaching 150 and even 200 points.

As for the last week’s forecast:
- we predicted EUR/USD to fall to 1.1100 and possibly go up to 1.1380-1.1460. It did happen, just in the reverse order – first the pair slipped down to the 1.1094 mark, rebounded to 1.1420, then calmed down and entered a sideways trend with the upper boundary of 1.1380;
- as predicted for the start of the week, GBP/USD rebounded upwards and way more than expected. As a result, another attempt by the pair to fall to the low of 1.4900 failed and the pair was thrown off to the level of the beginning of the week – 1.4986;
- as anticipated, the USD/JPY pair tried to reach its nearest target of 119.00 but weakened at the level of 118.66, took a break and entered a sideways trend;
- USD/CHF was set on partially winning back its Black Thursday losses – it rushed upwards and quickly achieved the predicted level of 0.9000, stayed there for three days and then dashed even higher, soaring up by almost 300 points and reaching the 0.9285 mark by Friday.

Roman Butko, NordFX

 

[Julia NordFX]

Generalized Forex Forecast for 4-8 May 2015​

First, a few words regarding last week’s forecast:
- the forecast for EUR/USD was fulfilled by exactly 50%. As promised, at the start of the week the pair strived to the top boundary of the corridor, which was defined by the highs of March and April. However, after that, instead of rebounding and going downwards, the pair rushed further upwards and reached the level of February;
- GBP/USD was much more docile – it was rising for the first few days of the week but towards the end, as predicted, it rapidly rolled downwards and finished the five days where it had taken off;
- USD/JPY was predicted to continue its sideways trend and rise to around 120.80-122.00, which happened with 100% accuracy. The pair’s sideways movement with a 120.28 high is clearly seen on the H4 and D1 charts;
- on the contrary, the analysts’ forecast for USD/CHF turned out to be 100% inaccurate. The pair was expected to mirror the movements of EUR/USD and it did. Precisely due to this, USD/CHF went downwards, reaching the level of February just like EUR/USD.

***​

Now about the forecast for the coming week. Generalizing in a table the opinions of 35 analysts from world leading banks and broker companies as well as forecasts based on different methods of technical and graphical analysis, it can be suggested that:
- the EUR/USD pair will be in a sideways trend with fluctuations in the range of 1.1100-1.1430, although the pair may fall to 1.0800, returning to the low of last week;
- the majority of the analysts think that GBP/USD will also be in a sideways trend in the boundaries from 1.5000 to 1.5300. This forecast is supported by the discordance in the indicator readings;
- like last week, most of the analysts and 82% of the indicators presume that USD/JPY will try to consolidate in the range of 120.00-122.00, the high for the coming five days being at 121.50. On the other hand, 8% of the analysts predict a sharp rebound downwards and a fall to the level of 117.00;
- finally, USD/CHF is most likely to take after EUR/USD, same as last week. If the latter moves downwards, USD/CHF, mirroring EUR/USD, will go upwards to 0.9500. With this, if you calculate the mean maximum and minimum based on all the forecasts, the pair should finish the next week exactly at the same level it had started, i.e. at 0.9335.
Roman Butko, NordFX

 

[Julia NordFX]

05.05.2015 06:40 GMT

A Slight Hike on Markets

On Monday, the world’s financial markets closed mainly on the rise, with the exception of the commodity market where the price of oil dropped a little.

In Europe as such, the British FTSE 100 grew 0.36 percent to 6985.95 points on Friday. On Monday, there was no trading on the London exchange due to a holiday. Also on Monday, the German DAX 30 advanced 1.57 percent up to 11,634.34 points, and the French CAC 40 gained 0.84 percent reaching 5,088.82 points.

European investors’ sentiment was influenced by the news about an interim agreement between Greece and its lenders.

The Russian market was closed for May Day holidays on Monday.

In the USA, the Dow Jones grew 0.26 percent to 18,070.40 points, the S&P 500 gained 0.29 percent up to 2,114.49 points, and the NASDAQ added 0.23 percent getting to 5,016.93 points.

Oil prices, however, posted a slight drop yesterday. The NYMEX price of WTI oil futures for June went down by $0.22 and reached $58.93 a barrel. On London’s ICE, the cost of Brent oil futures for June delivery was down by $0.01 ending up at $66.45 a barrel.

On the Forex market, EUR/USD is returning to the breakthrough point in the double bottom pattern on the daily chart. The pair may start moving up again from 1.0970.

Anna Gorenkova
NordFX Analyst

 

[Julia NordFX]

06.05.2015 07:30 GMT

Russian Equity Gains Due to Oil Price Rise Over Holidays​

Yesterday world financial markets closed mixed. European indices posted a drop – Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.84 percent to 6,927.58 points, Germany’s DAX slumped 2.51 percent down to 11,327.68 points, and France’s CAC 40 dropped 2.12 percent down to 4,974.07 points.

At the same time, Russia’s equity soared up, taking a cue from rising oil prices and ruble strengthening over the holidays. Thus, the MICEX index advanced 1.98 percent up to 1,721.80 points while the RTS index shot up by 4.24 percent altogether and reached 1,072.93 points.

In the USA, the Dow Jones fell 0.79 percent to 17,928.20 points, the S&P 500 shed 1.18 percent down to 2,089.46 points, and the NASDAQ dropped 1.55 percent down to 4,939.33 points.

On the NYMEX, the price of June futures for WTI oil rose by $1.47 and made $60.40 a barrel. On London’s ICE, the June future for oil of mark Brent went up by $1.07 and reached $67.52 a barrel.

Yesterday on the global currency market, the euro gained ground against the dollar. Today EUR/USD continues to go up. In case the chart pattern is completed, the pair can get to 1.14.

Anna Gorenkova
NordFX Analyst

 

[Julia NordFX]

08.05.2015 07:30 GMT

EUR/USD Is Correcting​

Yesterday world financial markets posted mixed results again. In Europe, the FTSE 100 fell 0.67 percent to 6,886.95 points, the DAX grew 0.51 percent to 11,407.97 points while the САС 40 shed 0.29 percent down to 4,967.22 points.

Russia’s indices went down following oil prices – the MICEX index dropped 1.59 percent to 1,686.98 points, and the RTS index fell 0.51 percent to 1,060.73 points.

In the USA, the Dow Jones added 0.46 percent making 17,924.06 points, the S&P 500 grew 0.38 percent to 2,088 points, and the NASDAQ advanced 0.53 percent up to 4,945.54 points.

Thursday evening oil prices went down. The NYMEX price of WTI oil futures for June dropped by $1.71 and reached $56.59 a barrel. On London’s ICE, the price of the Brent oil future for June was down by $2.03 and got to $65.74 a barrel.

On the global currency market, EUR/USD was slightly short of the 1.14 target and is experiencing a downward correction. Nonetheless, in case of favorable macroeconomic data, the pair may reach 1.1470.

Anna Gorenkova
NordFX Analyst

 

[Julia NordFX]

GENERALIZED FOREX FORECAST FOR 11 – 15 MAY 2015
«BINGO!” AND BLACK BEARS​

As usual, first a few words regarding last week’s forecast:
- for the EUR/USD pair the forecast was fulfilled by no less than 100%. We supposed that the EUR/USD pair would experience a sideways trend and a possible descent to the 1.0800 mark. This is what actually ended up happening, as on Tuesday the pair fell into the 1.0700÷1.0850 zone and stayed there for approximately one hour before determinedly rising in order to finish the week at exactly the same mark as the mark it started from;
- the GBP/USD pair was strictly abiding by our “guidelines” of a sideways move all week until Thursday evening, maintaining an even narrower range than we originally supposed. However, this was followed by the announcement of the British election results, which surprised not only politicians but also financiers, resulting in the pair soaring up by more than 200 points
- Regarding the USD/JPY pair, the majority of both analysts and indicators asserted that the pair would keep strengthening in the area above 120.00. On the other hand, a rather tight-numbered opposition was foretelling a rapid downwards rebound. The result was that both groups proved to be right, as at the start of the week “bulls” were propping the pair up, not letting it fall below the arranged 120.00 line. However, they then weakened and passed on their influence to the “bears”. Zoologists claim that Japanese black bears prefer steep mountainous terrain, which, judging by the way the pair impetuously descended, is hard to disagree with. However, by the end of the week, the pair once again climbed upwards, returning to the 119.70 point, which it has been fluctuating about since the end of March.
- The USD/CHF forecast maintained that the pair would continue following in the wake of EUR/USD, acting as a mirror image of its “older sister”. Therefore, , looking at last week’s charts we can now shout “Bingo!”, since the forecast proved to be 100% accurate.

***​

Now on to the forecast for the upcoming week. Aggregating the opinions of 35 analysts from the world’s leading banks and brokerage firms, as well as forecasts, which were based on an extremely diverse range of technical and graphical analytical methods, we can presume that:
- The EUR/USD pair will most likely continue occupying a sideways trend with fluctuations about the 1.1230 mark. At the very least, this is the conclusion we arrived at after looking at the neat split between expert opinions: ↑ - 22%, → - 3%, ↓- 19%, ↔ (raised hands) – 56%. A similar situation occurs with indicator showings: ↑ - 35%, → - 17%, ↓- 48%. The main levels of support 1.1060, 1.0850 and 1.0650, whilst the main levels of resistance are 1.1290 and 1.1440;
- For the GBP/USD pair an absolute majority of indicators (87%. ) on both H4 and D1 foretell growth. Analysts’ opinions, however, diverge (↑ - 25%, → - 9%, ↓- 22%, ↔ – 44%. ). Since the pair has already reached quite a high level of 1.5600, there exists a significant probability that the pair will attempt to barge through the resistance and settle in the 1.5475÷1.5785 zone. However, a failure to do so and an ensuing descent to the 1.5000 support level can also be predicted with a similarly high probability.
- As for the USD/JPY pair, expert opinions and indicator predictions also diverge (experts: ↑ - 7%, → - 22%, ↓- 26%, ↔ – 45%, indicators: ↑ - 60%, → - 17%, ↓- 23%. ). However, both are satisfied with a Pivot Point level of 119.70, support at the 119.20, 188.75 and 119.20 levels and resistance at 120.05, 120.30 и 120.85;
- Regarding the near future of the USD/CHF pair, however, both analysts and indicators are in harmony: more than 75% of the former and 56% of the latter agree that the pair should rise and settle in the 0.9300÷0.9400 corridor. The next support level is 0.9190 and the next resistance level is 0.9500.

Roman Butko, NordFX

 

[Julia NordFX]

13.05.2015 08:10 GMT

Drop in European Equity Due to Greek Situation

Yesterday world financial markets closed mixed. In particular, European stock markets slumped following the interim meeting of the Eurogroup and the Greek government. According to media reports, both parties still couldn’t reach an agreement on key issues. In this light, the FTSE 100 fell 1.37 percent to 6,933.80 points, the DAX dropped 1.72 percent to 11,472.41 points, and the CAC 40 shed 1.06 percent down to 4,974.65 points.

On Russia’s stock market, the MICEX index fell 0.23 percent to 1,704.62 points whereas the RTS index grew 1.01 percent finishing the trading session at 1,070.19 points.

In the USA, the Dow Jones declined by 0.2 percent to 18,068.23 points, the S&P 500 shed 0.29 percent down to 2,099.12 points, and the NASDAQ fell 0.35 percent down 4,976.19 points.

Oil prices posted a rise, however. On the NYMEX, the price of WTI oil futures for June went up by $1.5 and made $60.75 a barrel. On London’s ICE, the Brent oil future for June rose by $1.95 and reached $66.86 a barrel.

On the Forex market, EUR/USD is experiencing some correction at this point. Nevertheless, the prospects of moving up to 1.1470 still remain.

Anna Gorenkova
NordFX Analyst

 

[Julia NordFX]

14.05.2015 07:40 GMT

Euro Began to Go Up

Yesterday the world’s financial markets closed mainly on the decline. In Europe, the FTSE 100 grew 0.23 percent to 6,949.63 points, the DAX dropped 1.05 percent down to 11,351.46 points, and the CAC 40 fell 0.26 percent to 4,961.86 points.

In Russia, the MICEX index shed 1.31 percent down to 1,682.26 points while the RTS index advanced 1.12 percent up to 1,082.21 points.

In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.04 percent to 18,060.49 points, the S&P 500 shed 0.03 percent down to 2,098.48 points whereas the NASDAQ added 0.11 percent making 4,981.69 points.

Oil prices also went down yesterday. The NYMEX price of WTI oil futures for June dropped by $0.25 and reached $60.50 a barrel. On London’s ICE, the cost of Brent oil futures for June delivery was down by $0.05 and made $66.81 a barrel.

On the Forex market, EUR/USD went up and is moving towards the afore-mentioned target of 1.1470.

Anna Gorenkova
NordFX Analyst

 

[Julia NordFX]

Generalized Forex Forecast for 18-22 May 2015​

Let us start with a few words about the forecast for last week, which turned out to be quite accurate overall:
- the prediction for EUR/USD was that most probably the pair would stay in a sideways trend with fluctuations around the line of 1.1230, which did happen in fact. At first, EUR/USD went downwards, then returned to its Pivot Point, after which the bulls gained strength and began to persistently push the pair towards the upper boundary of the corridor. The level of 1.1440 was set as the final bastion of resistance, and the pair tried to break through it all Friday long. However, it failed and finished the five days in this very zone;
- one of the possibilities for GBP/USD was breaking through the resistance level of 1.5600, which was also supported by 87% of the indicators. The breakthrough happened already on Tuesday, and then the pair tried several times to rise above the upper boundary of the corridor – 1.5785. It didn’t succeed, though, and so settled down finishing at 1.5727;
- the Pivot Point for USD/JPY was set at 119.70, which was confirmed – the pair crossed it twice during the week, having stayed exactly in the average values of the specified corridor 118.75-120.30;
- USD/CHF turned out to be the only pair regarding which both analysts and indicators were only partly right. At first, everything seemed to go as planned – the pair began to grow and tried to consolidate above 0.9300. However, on Tuesday, in a powerful spurt, the pair broke through the support line and went down sharply to the low of a week ago.

***

Now regarding the forecast for the coming week. Generalizing the opinions of 35 analysts from world leading banks and broker companies, as well as forecasts based on different methods of technical and graphical analysis, we can note the surprising unanimity of the analysts who predict growth for all four pairs. Such forecasts always raise strong suspicions because some of the pairs are generally characterized by multi-directional rather than direct correlation:
- for EUR/USD the opinions of the experts are as follows: ↑ – 40%, → – 3%, ↓ – 6%, ↔ (at a loss) – 51%. The indicators provide similar readings: ↑ – 83%, → – 17%, ↓ – 0%. However, graphical analysis shows that the pair has almost completed the Inverted Hat pattern and has to form just the second brim of the hat. Thus, it can be assumed that this week EUR/USD will hold in a sideways corridor of 1.1070-1.1530, and, after a small rise, the pair is expected to have a relatively strong rebound downwards;
- the D1 chart clearly shows that GBP/USD has reached the upper boundary of the corridor (1.5800) where it stayed for a month and a half at the end of last year. The pair is very likely to linger in the range of 1.5500-1.5815 for some time again. Therefore, despite the vast majority of the analysts and 91% of the indicators pointing to growth, one can expect prevailing bearish tendencies and the pair’s rebound downwards;
- the opinions of the experts and the readings of the indicators for USD/JPY diverge (the experts: ↑ – 42%, → – 3%, ↓ – 3%, ↔ – 52%; the indicators: ↑ – 26%, → – 4%, ↓ – 70%). Hence, the level of 119.40, at which the pair finished the previous five days, can be considered as a Pivot Point, and the readings of the indicators on the H1 timeframe and smaller can give further guidance. Support will at 119.20, 118.90, 118.75 and 118.50; resistance – 119.60, 119.90, 120.00 and 120.30;
- as for the near future of USD/CHF, the data for both analysts and indicators are similar to USD/JPY (the experts: ↑ – 40%, → – 6%, ↓ – 4%, ↔ – 50%; the indicators: ↑ – 17%, → – 9%, ↓ – 74%). At the same time, as USD/CHF is in an inverse correlation with EUR/USD, it may go up at least to around 0.9290-0.9380. In the case this forecast is not fulfilled, the support levels will be 0.9110, 0.9075 and 0.8980, resistance – 0.9500.

Roman Butko, NordFX

 

[Julia NordFX]

18.05.2015 07:10 GMT

Euro Reached Its Target Level​

Last Friday European markets closed in the red whereas Russian and US markets posted a rise.

In Europe, the British FTSE 100 fell 0.18 percent to 6,960.49 points, the German DAX dropped 0.98 percent down to 11,447.03 points, and the French CAC 40 shed 0.71 percent down to 4,993.82 points.

In Russia, due to corporate reports and strengthening of the ruble, the MICEX index grew 0.8 percent to 1,691.05 points, and the RTS index gained 0.86 percent going up to 1,063.94 points.

In the USA, the Dow Jones added 0.11 percent making 18,272.56 points, the S&P 500 grew 0.08 up to 2,122.73 points while the NASDAQ fell 0.05 percent to 5,048.29 points.

The NYMEX price of WTI oil futures for June dropped by $0.19 and got to $59.69 a barrel. On London’s ICE, the June future for oil of mark Brent went up by $0.11 and made $66.81 a barrel.

On the global currency market, EUR/USD has almost reached the earlier mentioned target of 1.1470 (just short of a couple of points). Now the pair is facing quite a big obstacle – the long-term MA on the daily chart and horizontal resistance at 1.1476. The pair may experience a considerable correction here and even roll back to 1.12.

Anna Gorenkova
NordFX Analyst

 

[Julia NordFX]

19.05.2015 08:20 GMT

EUR/USD Reached 1.12 Rate

Yesterday world financial markets closed mixed. In Europe as such, the British FTSE 100 grew 0.12 percent to 6,968.87 points, the German DAX advanced 1.29 percent up to 11,594.28 points, and the French CAC 40 gained 0.37 percent up to 5,012.31 points.

On the Russian floors, the MICEX index fell 0.76 percent to 1,678.55 points whereas the RTS index posted a slight rise of 0.07 percent making 1,075.47 points.

In the USA, the Dow Jones grew 0.14 percent to 18,298.88 points, the S&P 500 added 0.3 percent reaching 2,129.20 points, and the NASDAQ picked up 0.6 percent getting to 5,078.44 points.

On the NYMEX, the cost of June futures for WTI oil went down by $0.26 and made $59.43 a barrel. On London’s ICE, the price of Brent oil futures for June was down by $0.54 and reached $66.27 a barrel.

Yesterday on the Forex market, EUR/USD started to pull back from the daily MA and reached 1.12 today.

Anna Gorenkova
NordFX Analyst

 

[Julia NordFX]

Generalized Forex Forecast for 25-29 May 2015
​

First, a few words about the forecast for the past week. We then regarded with suspicion the analysts’ opinions that unanimously predicted growth for all four pairs, and our doubts were justified:
- taking into account graphical analysis and an almost complete Inverted Hat pattern, it was suggested that on drawing the second brim of the hat, EUR/USD would sharply go downwards to 1.1070, which happened in fact;
- the forecast for GBP/USD was also fulfilled 100%. The pair predictably bounced off the upper boundary of the corridor and finished near the corridor’s lowest mark – 1.5500;
- over the last few months it was often said that USD/JPY would try to reach the height of 122.00. However, all that time the pair couldn’t pass the level of 120.50. Finally, the long awaited breakthrough happened, and the pair almost reached the coveted peak, finishing the week at 121.55;
- considering USD/CHF movements, we predicted a rise to at least 0.9290-0.9380. The pair quickly completed the set task and between Tuesday and Friday it remained in this corridor. Only at the end of the week did the pair move further up, taking after the US Consumer Price Index.

***

Now regarding the forecast for the coming week. Generalizing the opinions of 35 analysts from world leading banks and broker companies, as well as forecasts based on different methods of technical and graphical analysis, the following can be said:
- it very well may be that EUR/USD’s story with the second brim of the Inverted Hat isn’t over yet. Judging by the experts’ opinions (↑ – 42%, → – 6%, ↓ – 52%), it can’t be ruled out that the pair will go up, although almost all the indicators point towards its fall (↑– 9%, → – 9%, ↓ – 82%). The level of 1.1000 may become a very strong support for the pair, from which it will move upwards. If the pair manages to overcome the resistance around 1.1110, it will enter into a sideways trend of 1.1110-1.1400 and continue to draw the hat pattern. On the other hand, if the indicators are right and EUR/USD, having broken through the support at 1.1000, goes down, it may reach the zone of 1.0660-1.0800;
- GBP/USD also appears to have reached a strong support level of 1.5500. The analysts each have their own opinion (↑ – 38%, → – 32%, ↓ – 30%), so do the indicators – on the H4 timeframe the consensus is for a downward movement, on D1 – for a rise. Thus, we’ll venture to suggest that in the next few days the pair will be fluctuating in the 1.5500-1.5800 range;
- the opinions of the experts also diverge regarding the future of the USD/JPY pair (↑ – 38%, → – 12%, ↓ – 50%). The indicators, however, are clearly on the side of the bulls (↑ – 91%, → – 9%, ↓ – 0%), which most probably will rely on the support of 120.70 and push the pair up to 122.00. The second strong support level will be 120.20;
- a strong inverse correlation between USD/CHF and EUR/USD has been mentioned repeatedly in the forecasts, which is why there are two possible scenarios for USD/CHF: the first is a rise to a very strong resistance level of 0.9500 followed by a rebound downwards; the second is a fall starting already on Monday. In this case, support will be at the levels of 0.9370 (weak) and 0.9300 (main).

Roman Butko, NordFX

 

[Julia NordFX]

Generalized Forex Forecast for 1-5 June 2015​

Let us start with a review of the forecast for the previous week:
- two scenarios were suggested for EUR/USD. One of them, supported by 52% of the analysts and 82% of the indicators, came true – the pair broke through the strong support at 1.1000, reached the zone of 1.0800 and, after a rebound, on Friday returned to where it had started – the level of 1.1000, which has now changed from support to resistance;
- there was total discord regarding GBP/USD among both analysts and indicators last week. Yet this pair also behaved decisively by immediately breaking through the strongest support at 1.5500 and running stepwise to the level below – the next support around 1.5300;
- the forecast for USD/JPY was fulfilled and even exceeded expectations. The pair was predicted to go up to 122.00 while it actually managed to rise above 124.00, reaching the high of July 2007;
- the behavior of USD/CHF has become very predictable lately – a strong mirror correlation with EUR/USD. Something similar took place last week – USD/CHF was expected to rise to a very strong resistance level of 0.9500 followed by a rebound downwards, which did happen.

Now regarding the forecast for the coming week. Generalizing the opinions of 35 analysts from world leading banks and broker companies as well as forecasts based on different methods of technical and graphical analysis, the following can be said:
- the majority of experts (↑ – 69%, → – 12%, ↓ – 19%) predict a steady rise for the EUR/USD pair. The technical indicators on the H4 timeframe concur. Yet on D1 they show the opposite – a downward movement. Furthermore, the systems of graphical analysis clearly draw a rebound downwards from the strong level of resistance 1.1000 to at least last week’s support around 1.0800. In fact, this appears to be a most likely scenario;
- there’s a real clash between the analysts and the indicators regarding the forecast for GBP/USD. Most of the former are for a rise (↑ – 61%, → – 15%, ↓ – 24%) whereas the latter predict a fall (↑ – 17%, → – 8%, ↓ – 75%). Considering that last week, contrary to the expectations, instead of rebounding off the support of 1.5500, GBP/USD broke through it, the pair can be expected to hold out in the range of 1.5250-1.5500 for at least a week this time. Already on Monday or Tuesday it should be clear whether the pair will take a timeout or continue its fall to 1.5000;
- both experts (↑ – 57%, → – 14%, ↓ – 29%) and indicators (↑ – 78%, → – 18%, ↓ – 4%) foretell USD/JPY to rise further to the next symbolic high of 126.00, which the pair reached last all of 15 years ago. This historic charge may turn out not so easy to execute, and the pair may have to keep charging, pushing off the support in the area of 123.20-123.60;
- yet again, there is nothing original for USD/CHF – an inverse correlation with EUR/USD and no independent escapades. The most probable scenario is a rebound from 0.9400 to 0.9540. Or alternatively, a fall to 0.9280.

Roman Butko, NordFX

 

[Julia NordFX]

Generalized Forex Forecast for 8-12 June 2015​

First, a review of last week’s forecast:
- the majority of experts (↑ – 69%, → – 12%, ↓ – 19%) predicted a stable rise for EUR/US. The technical indicators on the H4 timeframe concurred. However, the systems of graphical analysis drew a downward rebound to the level of resistance at 1.1000. The rebound did happen, though not as strong as expected – the pair rolled down by 100 points and then, validating the experts’ opinion, moved upwards again reaching the strong resistance level of 1.1280-1.1300;
- the forecast for the GBP/USD pair was fulfilled 100%. It was predicted that despite the obvious gravitation towards the 1.5000 mark, the pair would spend the whole week in a sideways trend, which happened. The pair ended up where it had started the week – around 1.5270;
- the forecast for USD/JPY was also 100% accurate. It was expected that when assailing the height of 126.00, the pair would stage charge after charge, pushing off the support around 123.60. There were three such charges the previous week, and only on Friday did the pair break through the Japanese defence line at 124.60, almost reaching the target after a powerful surge;
- nothing original was predicted for the USD/CHF pair – an inverse correlation with EUR/USD and two possible scenarios: the first being a rebound from 0.9400 upwards, the alternative being a fall to 0.9280. The pair managed to execute both scenarios, after which it returned to the start mark of 0.9400.

Now regarding the forecast for the coming week. Generalizing the opinions of 35 analysts from world leading banks and broker companies, as well as forecasts based on different methods of technical and graphical analysis, the following can be said:
- an absolute majority of the experts and the indicators (61%) predict that EUR/USD will complete Friday’s correction and continue to move up to 1.1500. It should be noted, however, that the very same experts agree that in July-August the pair ought to move back down to at least 1.0400-1.0500. According to graphical analysis, on Monday the pair should grow to the level of 1.1190 and then dash downwards to 1.1000;
- the clash between the analysts and the indicators regarding the future of GBP/USD continues. Most of the former (77%) are for the pair’s rise while the latter (100%) are for its fall. Considering that last week the pair was in a sideways trend, it can be assumed that this week the pair will be fluctuating around the axis of 1.5270, remaining in a 1.5150-1.5450 range. On a larger timeframe, the pair can be expected to return to the area of 1.5000;
- last Friday, USD/JPY already arrived at the level of June 2007, and the next record high will be 135.00 where the pair was in the winter of 2002. However, for this purpose the pair must first take hold around 126.00. The technical indicators offer two possible Pivot Points – 124.30 and 125.40. It seems more probable that 124.30 will become a support level for USD/JPY, leaning on which the bulls will push the pair upwards to the area of 126.70-127.40;
- 70% of the experts, 61% of the H4 indicators as well as the systems of graphical analysis predict that USD/CHF will rise to at least 0.9530. The main support level should be at 0.9340, to which the pair may descend at the start of the week in order to shoot upwards then.

Roman Butko, NordFX

 

[Julia NordFX]

Crownless Krone
Currency Basket 2015-2016: How to Avoid Financial Setbacks
Causes and Effects of Black Thursday

Without question, the reliability of a currency concerns not only representatives of the IMF, central banks and other systemically important financial institutions but anyone deciding what country’s banknotes will at the very least safeguard their savings and ideally increase them.

For the past five or six years, currency ratings have been topped mostly by the Norwegian krone and the Swiss franc rather than by the US dollar or the euro. Back in 2008, HSBC analysts declared the Norwegian krone the most stable currency in the world. The same was said about the Swiss franc by nearly all world leading experts.

In 2011, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) reaffirmed its commitment to the minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20 per euro and was prepared to buy foreign currency extensively in order to maintain it. Thus, taking into account the average interest rate Libor, the pair was supposed to be trading at 1.22-1.24 in the medium term. Rumor had it that the SNB might raise the EUR/CHF rate to 1.3-1.4 due to a sluggish economic situation in Switzerland.

Over the recent years, the Swiss National Bank kept the established rate. On 12 January 2015, SNB vice president Jean-Pierre Danthine officially called the cap on the franc a cornerstone of the country’s monetary policy. But already on Thursday, 15 January, catching the majority of financial market players off guard, the SNB decided to abandon all the restrictions for the currency market. As a result, the franc soared up almost instantaneously, even up to 30 percent at a time, which hasn’t happened for the past 25 years.

Who were the losers? In fact, there were many:
■ Firstly, it’s the SNB itself, whose assets were kept mainly in dollars and euros. As these currencies depreciated, the bank sustained a loss of about 60 billion.
■ Secondly, Switzerland’s economy was dealt quite a heavy blow. According to national stock market data, on Thursday, 15 January, the Swiss Market Index (SMI), comprising 20 largest companies, dropped 8.67 percent. One of the country’s main revenue items is exports. Swiss goods aren’t generally cheap, and if, for instance, Swiss chocolate becomes more expensive even by 15 percent, it will quickly start giving way to French and Belgian chocolate. The same applies to medicines and other export products. In Jean-Pierre Danthine’s words again, exporters may come short of 5 billion francs. On top of it, the share of tourism might contract whereas it currently stands at 7 percent of Switzerland’s GDP.
■ Thirdly, steep losses were sustained by those who had taken out Swiss franc loans as they got more expensive by 20 percent overnight. In France, for one, such contracts made 50 percent. Millions of private borrowers in other countries were affected by that turn of events – they considered the franc the most stable currency and thus believed that Swiss franc mortgages would be the most secure.
■ Deutsche Bank lost nearly €130 million due to the exchange rate, about the same as the US group Citibank in Europe and Barclays.

John Gordon, a leading analyst with international brokerage NordFX comments, “The exchange rate plunged so swiftly that brokers simply couldn’t close positions fast enough and those who traded against the franc suffered huge losses. The consequences for the Forex market were very grave, and hundreds of thousands of people worldwide said goodbye to their capitals.”

The next logical questions are why all that happened and who benefitted from it?

Some analysts tend to believe it was a plot by financiers (like what George Soros did with the British pound on Black Wednesday 1992). To prove it, they refer to a recoil 20 minutes after the fall of the dollar and euro rates – the profits gained by the initiators of the crash. They say that the initiators actually skimmed a 20 percent profit in just a few minutes!

Despite the fact that such a recoil did happen, most international experts hold a different view of the event. According to Alessandro Bee, a strategist at J. Safra Sarasin AG in Zurich (one of the oldest banks in Switzerland), the Swiss National Bank didn’t see any future for the franc rate cap, considering the strong US dollar and quantitative easing ahead in the eurozone.

Pick your reason (a possible Grexit, imminent ECB plans or the UK’s in-out EU referendum), the euro itself is facing a serious crisis and soon – so much so that, in Swiss bankers’ opinion, there’s just no time to contrive smart moves. Therefore, regardless of the losses, they decided to unpeg the franc from the euro. Otherwise, the sinking ‘euro Titanic’ would inevitably pull down the Swiss economy in its wake. Switzerland’s GDP certainly looks impressive with its $600 billion but, in comparison with the EU’s total GDP of 15,669 billion, it’s just too small to keep the euro afloat.

“What occurred has once more proved that it’s hardly possible to find an absolutely quiet and all-around sheltered haven for one’s savings,” says John Gordon from NordFX. “For instance, see what happened to the exchange rates of two of the most stable currencies supposedly. On January 15th, the Norwegian krone fell against the Swiss franc by over 17 percent. Krone investors lost majorly. Recently, I’ve come to realize once again that only a multi-currency basket can provide real capital protection. As for its makeup for the upcoming year or two, I wouldn’t concentrate on Norway’s krone. It’s just too dependent on oil prices and has dropped against the US dollar by about 25 percent over the past year alone. So, despite the Black Thursday developments, I still wouldn’t get rid of euros but actually stick with the classic combination – euros, US dollars and Swiss francs.

NordFX analysts believe that these three currencies aim at exchange rate parity around 1.0000, and the formation of such a congruent triangle should become the main trend for the next 6 months to a year. By the way, it’s not just our opinion but according NAB (National Australia Bank) forecasts, the EUR/USD exchange rate will reach 1.0000 already by this December and stay around it till at least the summer of 2016. Besides, SNB vice chairman Bruno Gehrig assured that the Swiss Central Bank would carry out large-scale interventions in order to curb growth of the domestic currency. To sum up, the tri-currency basket may not yield spectacular profits but, in any case, will help to prevent any tangible setbacks by acting like a gyroscope in a stable position regardless of the fluctuations on financial markets.”

 

[Julia NordFX]

Generalized Forex Forecast for 15-19 June 2015

First, a few words about the forecast for the past week:
- most experts and technical indicators (61%) predicted that EUR/USD would rise further to 1.1500. The pair indeed went up, quickly reached a very strong level of resistance in the zone of 1.1280-1.1300 and then rolled back, repeating the scenario of the first week of June and finishing the five days at 1.1260;
- last week saw a continued battle between the analysts and indicators regarding the future of GBP/USD. The former, for the most part (77%), were for the pair’s rise, the latter – for its fall. Looking at the chart, you can see how convincing the victory of the experts turned out to be – climbing up at an angle of 45 degrees, the pair reached the symbolic mark of 1.5550 by Friday;
- USD/JPY apparently decided that it was ascending too fast and, instead of the expected continuation of growth, made a swift nosedive, turning the 123.80 support level into resistance;
- USD/CHF was expected to fall to 0.9340 at the beginning of the week and then rebound upwards. The pair indeed went down but, dashingly breaking through the level of 0.9340, changed it from support to a Pivot Point under somewhat prevailing bearish tendencies.

Now regarding the forecast for the coming week. Generalizing the opinions of 35 analysts from world leading banks and broker companies, as well as forecasts based on different methods of technical and graphical analysis, the following can be concluded:
- the majority of the experts (71%) predict that EUR/USD may fall to 1.1050, assuming the pair’s monthly sideways trend will be in a 1.1050-1.1350 corridor. The indicators on H4 and D1 also support the idea of a sideways trend with Pivot Points on the line of 1.1260. With this, they don’t rule out the pair may rise at the start of the week;
- as for the future of GBP/USD, the analysts are at a total loss (↑ – 29%, → – 29%, ↓ – 42%). The indicators however are clearly (83%) for the pair’s rise to the level of 1.5680. Support is around 1.5440 – if you consider graphical analysis, the pair is bound to fall to this level first;
- there’s no unanimity among the experts about USD/JPY either. The summary of their forecasts produces a 122.45-125.00 corridor with a Pivot Point at 123.50. On the D1 timeframe, the indicators totally agree with the analysts. As for the indications on H4, they show a possible fall to the bottom boundary of the corridor early in the week;
- as for the USD/CHF pair, 67% of the experts predict its rise at least to the main level of resistance of the previous week around 0.9400. In case the pair manages to break through this defence line, its next target will become 0.9500. However, the indicators on H1, H4, D1 and even W1 persistently assert the opposite, giving a distinct advantage to the bears. Acting usually as a third force, graphical analysis has sided with the human mind this time – it shows the pair’s rise to 0.9400 first and then its return to support at 0.9300 or 0.9250.

Roman Butko, NordFX

 

[Julia NordFX]

Generalized Forex Forecast for 22-26 June 2015

First, let’s review last week’s predictions:
- the forecast for the EUR/USD pair for the previous five days was based on the assumption of a monthly sideways trend in the range of 1.1050-1.1350 with Pivot Points along 1.1260. With that, the possibility of a rise at the start of the week was not excluded. Until Wednesday, EUR/USD followed the forecast to the letter but later, due to the news from the US Federal Reserve, it shot upwards, breaking through the level of resistance at 1.1350. Then, however, the pair quickly returned to the mentioned range and finished the week near its upper boundary;
- the analysts and the indicators were certain that GBP/USD would grow to 1.5680. Before that, according to graphical analysis, the pair was supposed to fall to the support level around 1.5440. That actually happened – on Monday the pair fell to 1.5487 and then went upwards, reaching the target upper boundary by Wednesday. Later on, the news from England and the USA started to actively push the British pound even higher, which resulted in the pair reaching the level of last December;
- despite the reports from the USA, the USD/JPY pair managed to remain in the mentioned range of 122.45-125.00 with the Pivot Point at 123.50, fulfilling the forecast 100%;
- in the standoff between the analysts and the indicators about the future of USD/CHF, the latter came out to be right, supported by graphical analysis. As predicted, the pair first went up and then dropped down, reaching the support level at 0.9250. Then, due to the very same news from the USA, the pair decisively broke through it and turned the support into the upper level of a sideways trend.

Now regarding the forecast for this week. Summarizing the opinions of 35 analysts from world leading banks and broker companies, as well as forecasts based on different methods of technical and graphical analysis, the following can be put forward:
- the absolute majority of the experts tend to believe that EUR/USD will remain in the monthly sideways trend and thus will have to fall to its bottom boundary around 1.1200 and even further to 1.1160. Graphical analysis confirms this. The indicators are definitely (74%) against all of the above. Most likely, the pair’s movements early in the week will make it clear which of the forecasts should be trusted;
- the indicators show just one thing for GBP/USD – only an upward movement. The analysts, in turn, are again at a loss: ↑ – 33%, → – 12%, ↓ – 55%. Graphical analysis as an arbitrator supports the pair’s entering into a sideways trend and a fall to the levels of the beginning of May. Support will be around 1.5800 and 1.5740;
- most experts (60%), indicators (52%) and even graphical analysis agree that GBP/USD should first fall to 121.50-122.00 but their further forecasts diverge. Even with graphical analysis, there is an antagonism – the H4 timeframe clearly shows a rebound upward and a 122.00-124.50 sideways corridor while D1 pulls the pair further down to support at 120.00, the level off which the pair may rebound and rise even above 126.00;
- all forecasts of the experts regarding the USD/CHF pair continue to spin around 0.9250. At first, it was support, then became resistance, and now the experts consider it a Pivot Point. Yet the indicators propose a slightly lower Pivot Point around 0.9180-0.9200. In both cases the talk is about a sideways trend, the difference being that in the former case, the boundaries are set in the range of 0. 9080-0. 9390 while in the latter, upper resistance will be about 0.9250.

Roman Butko, NordFX

 

[Julia NordFX]

Yuan 2020: Buy or Sell?

A recent report by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) says that China’s national currency got firmly established in the top 5 of the most used currencies of the world’s economy. Moreover, the share of yuan payments globally has been rising sharply and exceeded 2 percent. Even more impressive is the value of yuan transactions in international trade – one of these days it will surpass 10 percent.

Over the past five years, the yuan has turned into a major regional currency, primarily due to China’s trade integration with the main developing markets. In East Asia, there’s actually a bloc of countries that have pegged their national currencies to the yuan more than to the US dollar. They include Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and South Korea.

The*Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) forecasts that by 2020 China will become the world’s second largest economy and Chinese population’s purchasing power will basically catch up with that of the United States.

HSBC experts echo the EIU opinion, albeit with an important reservation – The yuan is set to become a major world currency quite soon. However, it doesn’t mean that the yuan will replace the US dollar as a dominant reserve currency. Instead, it will help to create a more comprehensive system of reserve currencies, with the dollar, the euro and the yuan playing their respective part.

Pundits from the Peterson Institute for International Economics (Washington, USA), one of the most renowned think tanks focused on international economics, say that the yuan would need 10 to 15 years to turn into a full-fledged reserve currency alongside the US dollar. Towards this end, China has to carry out a number of reforms and first of all open up the foreign and finance sectors of its economy.

Standard Chartered finance gurus differ on this and believe that by 2020 China won’t just catch up with the US economy but overtake it.

NordFX leading analyst John Gordon weighs in, “With this said, the key question is whether China’s government would want to deal with all the issues pertaining to turning the yuan into a global currency. On the one hand, China is obviously interested in becoming less dependent on the dollar but, on the other hand, it can be achieved only by loosening restrictions on its foreign exchange and capital markets at the very least. The fixed exchange rate shields the yuan from external speculative attacks. What will happen if this protection goes down and the yuan trades freely? Would China really want to see this rather risky process through?”

It’s no secret that from the very start of his first presidential term Barack Obama tried to put pressure on the Chinese government to quit devaluing the yuan rate artificially. But if the yuan is traded freely, Chinese products will get much more expensive, which, in turn, will hurt their competitiveness abroad and substantially change China’s export-orientated economy. Will Chinese leadership venture on this path?

“At NordFX, we closely watch everything related to financial markets, – continues John Gordon. – Judging by the latest rhetoric, Chinese authorities sound very decisive. It would suffice to recall that Yi Gang, Director of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange and Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China, announced that China had already started talks with the IMF about including the yuan into the global reserve currency basket in the near future.”

According to this high-ranking official, the yuan meets all IMF requirements at this time. Hence, it appears that the issue has to do more with politics rather than economy.

As far as the Forex market is concerned, the main factor here is exchange rate fluctuations. Debating a five-year investment horizon for the yuan, many analysts predict it would rise by 15-17 percent. However, Yi Gang’s interview with Bloomberg in Beijing highlights two important things. First and undeniable is that the Chinese currency has been very stable over the last few years, and the other and thought-provoking is the assurance that the yuan will remain as stable in the future.

What’s also noteworthy is three main directions of China’s policy singled out in a Financial Times article:
- China tends to purchase fewer US Treasurys;
- China broadens its overseas expansion program;
- promotion of the yuan as a global currency is encouraged as it gradually sets China free from the dollar.

The Financial Times article seems to imply that the era of boundless privileges for the USA as the emitter of the main global currency is coming to an end. It is going to be replaced by a dual currency world – the US dollar and the yuan. However, due to the fact the yuan exchange rate was, is and will be fixed by the Chinese government for a while, the profitability of long-term yuan investments is rather questionable. Nonetheless, considering limited and controlled volatility, short-term speculations may actually appeal to traders.

 

[Julia NordFX]

Generalized Forex Forecast for 6-10 July 2015

First, a few words about last week’s forecast:
- the predictions for EUR/USD turned out to be correct – a further sideways trend with an advantage for the bears that were expected to push the pair down to the 1.1035 support level. Even a formidable gap over the weekend didn’t get in the way. After the gap, the pair quickly recovered its initial standing and started to follow the forecast – it descended to a 1.1032 support level under bearish pressure and then, confirming the prediction about the sideways trend, slowly continued upward to month old rates;
- as for GBP/USD, the analysts put their foot into it this time. For the first half of the week, as predicted, the pair tried to stay in the sideways corridor but then rushed downwards, finishing at a strong support level around 1.5550;
- the experts and the indicators agreed that the bulls would have the upper hand with USD/JPY and would push it upwards. It would have happened but for the gap on the weekend. In fact, the bulls had to clear up the consequences of that fall and succeeded, for the record. Already by mid-week, the pair returned to the sideways corridor it had stayed in since the beginning of June;
- USD/CHF finished the week exactly at the predicted level of 0.9400, albeit with some delay.

Forecast for the upcoming week.
One can be certain that this week the results of the Greek referendum would have the final say on currency fluctuations. For this reason, it would stand to reason to focus on the opinions of analysts from world leading banks and broker companies rather than indicator readings this time round:
- 64% of the reviewed experts don’t foresee a bright future for the euro. They believe that EUR/USD should fall by 100-200 points at least. Only 18% of the analysts claim that the euro would rise to 1.1250. Interestingly enough, they include an expert from Greece. But even his short-term optimism is overshadowed by the long-term forecast that that by the end of the summer the pair should get to a 1.0500-1.0700 level;
- the opinions of the analysts about GBP/USD have split almost equally – 44% argue for its fall, 44% for its rise and 12% remain undecided. According to graphical analysis, the pair should descend to 1.5430-1.5500 by the middle of the week and then return to the 1.5550-1.5616 range;
- the experts, the technical indicators and graphical analysis stay unanimous that the Pivot Point for USD/JPY should be at 124.00, meaning that the pair is on the threshold of an upward leap to 125.00. Support can be at 122.00;
- the USD/CHF pair is expected to continue to fall but this time to 0.9330 and possibly even lower to 0.9280.

In conclusion, it’s worth mentioning again that the accuracy of this forecast largely depends on a rather small country called Greece. Therefore, it would make sense to not only wait for the referendum outcome but also for ensuing reactions on financial markets.

Roman Butko, NordFX

 

[Julia NordFX]

Generalized Forex Forecast for 13-17 July 2015

Let’s start with a review of last week’s forecast:
- regarding EUR/USD, 64% of the analysts expected the pair to fall by at least 100-200 points while 18% of the analysts claimed that the euro would rise to 1.1250. Following the news from Greece, both forecasts were fulfilled – the week started with a gap of 140 points, on Tuesday the drop made the mentioned 200 points, then the pair started to go up and reached 1.1215 by the end of the week;
- the predictions for GBP/USD were also correct. According to graphical analysis, the pair was supposed to go down to 1.5430-1.5500 mid-week and then return to the 1.5550-1.5616 marks. All of that happened indeed – GBP/USD descended to 1.5430 on Tuesday, reached its low of 1.5330 on Wednesday and then soared up to 1.5555;
- the experts, the technical indicators and the graphical analysis readings were only partly right about USD/JPY. Their forecast about the 122.00 support level held up for the first half of the week, after which the pair had a dive to 120.45. Then it made a U-turn, rushed upwards and ended up at the level of the beginning of the week, i.e. 122.75;
- the USD/CHF pair was expected to fall to 0.9330, and it did happen. After putting up resistance for a while, the pair crashed down at the end of the week. It was able to stay at the 0.9330 target jusе for one minute.

Forecast for this week. Summing up the opinions of 35 analysts from world leading banks and broker companies as well as forecasts based various methods of technical and graphical analysis, the following can be suggested:
- just like last week, fluctuations on the currency market will largely depend on the events in Greece. At the same time, most experts (62%) and indicators (53%) predict that the EUR/USD pair will rise and move to around 1.1365. Graphical analysis, in turn, indicates a possible sideways trend with support at 1.1000 and resistance at 1.1215;
- as for GBP/USD, the opinions of the analysts (54% vs 46%) and indicator readings (H4 for a rise, D1 for a fall) diverge. Graphical analysis promises a repeat of last week’s scenario – the pair falling to around 1.5350 and then rising to resistance at 1.5555. In case of a breakthrough, the target will be 1.5930;
- the experts, the technical indicators and graphical analysis are unanimous about USD/JPY returning to around 123.50. However, at the start of the week, a short-term fall to the support level of 122.00 can’t be ruled out;
- the opinions about USD/CHF are split, though the majority of the analysts (64%) believe that last Friday’s finishing level of 0.9380 will become the main resistance, off which the pair will be bouncing down towards 0.9330 or even lower to 0.9250. Graphical analysis, however, puts forward an alternative scenario with 0.9380 as support. The start of week is likely to reveal which of the two scenarios will actually play out.

Roman Butko, NordFX