Good Morning Traders,

As of this writing 5 AM EST, here’s what we see:

US Dollar: Down at 96.080 the US Dollar is down 160 ticks and trading at 96.080.
Energies:
October Crude is down at 46.19.
Financials:
The Dec 30 year bond is up 10 ticks and trading at 157.18.
Indices: The Dec S&P 500 emini ES contract is down 10 ticks and trading at 1972.25.
Gold:
The October gold contract is trading down at 1136.70. Gold is 9 ticks lower than its close.

Initial Conclusion

This is not a correlated market. The dollar is down- and crude is down- which is not normal but the 30 year bond is trading higher. The Financials should always correlate with the US dollar such that if the dollar is lower then bonds should follow and vice-versa. The indices are down and Crude is trading down which is not correlated. Gold is trading down which is not correlated with the US dollar trading down. I tend to believe that Gold has an inverse relationship with the US Dollar as when the US Dollar is down, Gold tends to rise in value and vice-versa. Think of it as a seesaw, when one is up the other should be down. I point this out to you to make you aware that when we don’t have a correlated market, it means something is wrong. As traders you need to be aware of this and proceed with your eyes wide open.

All of Asia traded higher with the exception of the Hang Seng which traded lower. As of this writing all of Europe is trading higher.

Possible Challenges To Traders Today

- Trade Balance is out at 8:30 AM EST. This is major.

- IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism is out at 10 AM EST. This is major.

Currencies

Yesterday the Swiss Franc made it’s move at around 8:30 AM EST with no economic news in sight. The USD hit a low at around that time and the Swiss Franc hit a high. If you look at the charts below the USD gave a signal at around 8:30 AM EST, while the Swiss Franc also gave a signal at just about the same time. Look at the charts below and you’ll see a pattern for both assets. The USD hit a low at around 8:30 AM EST and the Swiss Franc hit a high. These charts represent the latest version of Trend Following Trades and I’ve changed the timeframe to a Renko chart to display better. This represented a shorting opportunity on the Swiss Franc, as a trader you could have netted 20 plus ticks on this trade. We added a Donchian Channel to the charts to show the signals more clearly. Remember each tick on the Swiss Franc is equal to $12.50 versus $10.00 that we usually see for currencies.

Charts Courtesy of Trend Following Trades built on a NinjaTrader platform

Pre-Market Global Review

Pre-Market Global Review

Bias

Yesterday we said our bias was to the upside as the USD, Bonds and Gold were all trading lower and typically this is a bullish signal. The markets didn’t disappoint as the Dow rose 304 points and the other indices rose as well. Today we aren’t dealing with a correlated market and our bias is neutral.

Could this change? Of Course. Remember anything can happen in a volatile market.

Commentary

Yesterday we simply followed our rules for Market Correlation and deciphered an upside day. The markets didn’t disappoint. Typically some traders have the philosophy of one day up, the next day down. We don’t subscribe to such logic but rather analyst each day as it comes because each day will bring new opportunities. Of course it didn’t hurt that the former Fed Chief Ben Bernanke claimed that he didn’t think the economy could handle a 100 basis point increase in rates. He seems to feel that this could serve to weaken the economy, not strength it. Funny, we’ve been saying the same all along…

Trading performance displayed herein is hypothetical. The following Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) disclaimer should be noted.

Hypothetical performance results have many inherent limitations, some of which are described below. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown.

In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any particular trading program. One of the limitations of hypothetical performance trading results is that they are generally prepared with the benefit of hindsight.

In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account for the impact of financial risk in actual trading. For example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading program in spite of trading losses are material points which can also adversely affect actual trading results.

There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all of which can adversely affect actual trading results.

Trading in the commodities markets involves substantial risk and YOU CAN LOSE A LOT OF MONEY, and thus is not appropriate for everyone. You should carefully consider your financial condition before trading in these markets, and only risk capital should be used.

In addition, these markets are often liquid, making it difficult to execute orders at desired prices. Also, during periods of extreme volatility, trading in these markets may be halted due to so-called “circuit breakers” put in place by the CME to alleviate such volatility. In the event of a trading halt, it may be difficult or impossible to exit a losing position.

Recommended Content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

USD/JPY flat-lines below 151.50 after soft Japanese CPI data

USD/JPY flat-lines below 151.50 after soft Japanese CPI data

USD/JPY stays defensive below 151.50 after the release of a soft Japan's CPI report and mixed Industrial Production and Retail Sales data on Friday. Japanese verbal intervention also weighs on the pair amid the holiday-thinned conditions on Good Friday. US PCE inflation awaited. 

USD/JPY News

AUD/USD buyers lack vigor above 0.6500 amid Good Friday trading lull

AUD/USD buyers lack vigor above 0.6500 amid Good Friday trading lull

AUD/USD is trading listlessly above 0.6500 in the Asian session amid light trading on Good Friday. The Aussie pair shrugs off encouraging comments from China's FX regulator, as price action remains subdued ahead of the US PCE inflation data. 

AUD/USD News

Gold flirts with record highs above $2,230, all eyes on US PCE data

Gold flirts with record highs above $2,230, all eyes on US PCE data

Gold price flirts with record highs around $2,230 during the Asian session on Friday. The uptick of yellow metal is bolstered by the safe-haven flows amidst growing economic concerns and the prospect of interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve.

Gold News

Optimism price could fall as nearly $90 million worth of OP tokens is due flood markets

Optimism price could fall as nearly $90 million worth of OP tokens is due flood markets

Optimism volatility has shrunk in the ours leading to the network’s cliff unlock. It joins the likes of dYdX and Sui, which have similar events on their calendars. As token unlocks are often considered bearish catalysts, investors should brace for a reaction after the event.

Read more

Will they won’t they cut rates is the question of Q2?

Will they won’t they cut rates is the question of Q2?

There has been some significant push back from Fed and Bank of England members around the timing of rate cuts, and the Bank of Japan still haven’t physically intervened in the FX market to stem yen weakness although they are threatening to do so.

Read more

Majors

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures