Forex Strength and Comparison for Week 25 / 2017

In the Currency Strength table, the NZD was again the strongest currency while the GBP was again the weakest. There were significant changes last week with the CAD gaining 5 points. The JPY lost 4 points and the CHF 3 points. The other currencies remained around the same level of last week with a maximum change in strength of just 1 point.

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13 Weeks Currency Score Strength

The 13 Weeks Currency Strength and the 13 Weeks Average are provided here below. This data and the "13 weeks Currency Classification" are considered for deciding on the preferred range. Because it is not ideal nor desired to change the range for a currency every single week, we perform several checks to avoid this.

   1. First of all the strength over a period of the last 13 weeks is considered. See each row for more information.
   2. Next, the 13 weeks average is considered, see the last row called "Avg. 13 wks."
   3. The number of weeks that a currency was stronger than another currency can also be considered.
   4. The Technical Analysis (TA) Charts for each Time Frame could also be consulted.

For analyzing the best pairs to trade looking from a longer-term perspective the last 13 weeks Currency Classification can be used in support.
This was updated on 11 June 2017 and is provided here for reference purposes:
Strong: USD, JPY, CHF. The preferred range is from 6 to 8.
Neutral: EUR, GBP. The preferred range is from 4 to 5.
Weak: AUD, NZD, CAD. The preferred range is from 1 to 3.

When looking at the Average 13 wks. Score we can see that the NZD has a higher Score than the GBP. However, the NZD had only 5 stronger weeks compared to the GBP. If the NZD succeeds next week to have a higher Score again it may become a Neutral currency.
The USD is getting weaker and the Average 13 wks. Score is showing that also. It may become a Neutral currency also in the coming weeks.
The Average 13 wks. Score of the JPY and CHF are clearly strong despite the low score of last week. The Average 13 wks. Score of  the CAD is clearly weak despite the high Score of last week.

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Classification review

This week we take a look at 2 currencies which are close to change in Classification. The USD is showing values lately in the range of neutral currencies and it may become one in the coming weeks. The Avg. 13 wks. score is getting every week further away from the other Strong currencies.
The NZD had 4 weeks of strong performance but is not yet showing enough higher weeks compared to the EUR and GBP which are Neutral currencies. It it however close to become a Neutral currency in the coming weeks.Below you can see the Weekly Currency Score Chart with the 6 months' data as a reference.

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Currency Score Comparison

 "Comparison table" and the "Ranking and Rating list"

The Forex Currency Comparison Table compares each currency with its counterpart based on the Currency Score. For more information about the currency Score of this week, you can read the article "Forex Ranking, Rating and Score" which is published every week together with this article.
By using the comparison table directly below you can get a view without the volatility and statistics as opposed to the "Ranking and Rating list". Only the strength of each currency against the counterparts is analyzed by using the Technical analysis charts of the 4 Time Frames that are also used for the "Ranking and Rating List".
The information from the Comparison Table is the source for calculating the "Ranking and Rating List" where this list additionally uses the volatility and statistics for creating the best and worst performer in the list from number 1 to 28.

The information is published once a week and be aware that rates change during this period. The mentioned scores also change and different opportunities may show up. There are many ways to follow the rate changes. This can be done e.g. by looking at the charts and checking e.g. the Ichimoku and/or MACD in the Weekly and Daily chart. There are also many tools, apps and websites where the movement of trading rates of currencies is shown in different automated ways. This may be in pips or through percentage differences or by comparing the values of indicators like the RSI, Moving Averages, MACD, Ichimoku etc. On my blog a Heatmap is available that can be of use also.

Last week was exceptional with the Weak currencies being at the range of the Strong currencies and the Strong currencies being at the range of the Weak currencies. Based on this, it seems a difficult week for trading with the best opportunities for going long on the EUR and CHF and going short on the GBP.

"Comparison table" and the "Currency Score Chart"

The additional value of this table compared to the Currency Score table is that the Comparison Table compares the strength between the currencies of each pair. By subtracting the strength of the weaker currency from the stronger currency we have a way to compare each pair combination.
The comparison table provides a way to compare currencies from a longer-term perspective of 13 weeks and also simultaneously taking the current trend into account. By coloring the currencies in the X and Y axis according to their Classification we can show what the best combinations are. In doing this we apply 2 rules to make it clearer.

   1. First of all, only better-classified currencies in combination with weaker classified currencies are Approved when there is a Currency Score difference of at least 1 in the current week.
   2. The only exception is when 2 currencies are similarly classified but the Currency Score difference is equal to or more than 4.
   3. It means that each currency should be as far apart from each other as possible in the range from 1 to 8. The classification of the currencies in question may change in the longer term. By using the difference of 4 which is exact at the half of the range it seems a safe approach for trading 2 currencies which are similarly classified.
   4. Even though currencies may be in the same classification a currency may be in a weaker/stronger period and may even change its classification in the future. See the current classification for the coming period at the beginning of this article.

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Putting the pieces together

Based on the last "13 Weeks currency classification" and the "Currency Comparison Table" the most interesting currencies for going long seem to be the:
EUR and CHF.
These are Strong or Neutral currencies from a longer term perspective when looking at the last "13 Weeks currency classification".

For going short the same analysis can be done and the following currencies seem to fit best:
GBP.
These are Weak or Neutral currencies from a longer term perspective.

Currencies with a high deviation seem less interesting to trade because they are less predictable. A good example now is/are e.g. the:
NZD, CAD, USD and JPY.

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Besides this article, I also use the Forex "Ranking, Rating and Score" which is also available once a week on my blog. In the article "Ranking, Rating and Score" we look in more detail at the absolute position of the currencies and pairs.

It is recommended to read the page "Currency score explained", "Introduction to the FxTaTrader Forex Models" and "Statistics and Probabilities" for a better understanding of the article. If you would like to use this article then mention the source by providing the URL FxTaTrader.com or the direct link to this article. Good luck in the coming week.