|

NZD/USD bears are vulnerable to a squeeze

  • NZD/USD bears are in the market but a correction could be underway soon. 
  • The US Dollar is firm again on central bank divergence themes. 

NZD/USD is trading a touch lower on Thursday as the US dollar continues to make tracks to the upside on yet more positive data this week as an improvement to last week's. At the time of writing, NZD/USD is down some 0.1% after falling from a high of 0.6102 to a low of 0.6050 so far. 

Weekly Initial Jobless claims that decreased 26,000 to a seasonally adjusted 239,000, the largest drop in 20 months and below the expectation of 265,000 by economists polled by Reuters. Federal Reserve's Chair Jerome Powell also indicated the central bank is likely to resume its rate hike path and this is weighing on NZD.

''Bond markets have been far more volatile, and FX price action has been comparably tame by comparison, with gains in equities and oil preventing the USD from totally dominating,'' analysts at ANZ Bank explained.

''US data has been impressive and may keep the USD elevated for longer than many are forecasting, but as yesterday’s ANZBO survey showed, confidence is recovering here too, so the outlook for the Kiwi could is very nuanced,'' the analysts added. '' The AUD has been a big driver of late, and in the absence of specific NZ drivers, will be key again as we head into the Reserve Bank of Australia meeting on Tuesday.''

NZD/USD technical analysis

The monthly chart shows the price has broken the support structure that is now acting as resistance.  Therefore, lower levels can be expected for the month ahead. 

The weekly chart shows the price rejected fully by the resistance and a downside extension could be on the cards on a break of 0.6060 old support looking left. 

The daily chart's downside impulse may have more to run but a Fibonacci drawn on the current range sees the 50% and 61.8% ratio aligned with prior supports. 

Author

Ross J Burland

Ross J Burland, born in England, UK, is a sportsman at heart. He played Rugby and Judo for his county, Kent and the South East of England Rugby team.

More from Ross J Burland
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD flirts with daily highs, retargets 1.1900

EUR/USD regains upside traction, returning to the 1.1880 zone and refocusing its attention to the key 1.1900 barrier. The pair’s slight gains comes against the backdrop of a humble decline in the US Dollar as investors continue to assess the latest US CPI readings and the potential Fed’s rate path.

GBP/USD remains well bid around 1.3650

GBP/USD maintains its upside momentum in place, hovering around daily highs near 1.3650 and setting aside part of the recent three-day drop. Cable’s improved sentiment comes on the back of the Greenback’s  irresolute price action, while recent hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill also collaborate with the uptick.

Gold clings to gains just above $5,000/oz

Gold is reclaiming part of the ground lost on Wednesday’s marked decline, as bargain-hunters keep piling up and lifting prices past the key $5,000 per troy ounce. The precious metal’s move higher is also underpinned by the slight pullback in the US Dollar and declining US Treasury yields across the curve.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP in choppy price action, weighed down by falling institutional interest 

Bitcoin's upside remains largely constrained amid weak technicals and declining institutional interest. Ethereum trades sideways above $1,900 support with the upside capped below $2,000 amid ETF outflows.

Week ahead – Data blitz, Fed Minutes and RBNZ decision in the spotlight

US GDP and PCE inflation are main highlights, plus the Fed minutes. UK and Japan have busy calendars too with focus on CPI. Flash PMIs for February will also be doing the rounds. RBNZ meets, is unlikely to follow RBA’s hawkish path.

Ripple Price Forecast: XRP potential bottom could be in sight

Ripple edges up above the intraday low of $1.35 at the time of writing on Friday amid mixed price actions across the crypto market. The remittance token failed to hold support at $1.40 the previous day, reflecting risk-off sentiment amid a decline in retail and institutional sentiment.