|

USD/CAD holds weaker below 1.2300 handle, Fed decision eyed

The USD/CAD pair continued with its struggle to move past the 1.2300 mark and traded with a mild bearish bias on Wednesday. 

The pair struggled to gain any follow through traction and has failed build on Monday's strong recovery move. Even on Tuesday, it managed to recover early losses to 1.2255 level but once again was rejected near the above mentioned handle. 

On Wednesday, crude oil prices recovered part of previous session's slide, supported by Tuesday's bullish API report, and was seen benefitting the commodity-linked currency - Loonie. 

This coupled with a mildly softer tone around the US Dollar, always backed by retracing US Treasury bond yields, further collaborated to the pair's offered tone through early European session. 

Meanwhile, a typical pre-Fed caution trade has helped limit further losses, at least for the time being. Currently trading around 1.2280 level, investors now look forward to the much awaited outcome from a two-day FOMC meeting for some fresh directional impetus. 

   •  US: Sep FOMC meeting in focus today - Westpac

Ahead of the key even risk, the EIA report on weekly US crude oil inventories would help traders grab some short-term trading opportunities.

Technical levels to watch

Immediate support remains near 1.2255-50 area, below which the pair could drift back to the 1.2200 handle before eventually dropping to test its next support near the 1.2175-70 region.

On the flip side, a follow through buying interest beyond the 1.2300 handle might continue to confront fresh supply near the 1.2340 region, which if cleared could extend the recovery move towards the 1.2400 handle.

Author

Haresh Menghani

Haresh Menghani is a detail-oriented professional with 10+ years of extensive experience in analysing the global financial markets.

More from Haresh Menghani
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD looks sidelined around 1.1850

EUR/USD remains on the back foot, extending its bearish tone and sliding towards the 1.1850 area to print fresh daily lows on Monday. The move lower comes as the US Dollar gathers modest traction, with thin liquidity and subdued volatility amplifying price swings amid the US market holiday.

GBP/USD flirts with daily lows near 1.3630

GBP/USD has quickly given back Friday’s solid gains, turning lower at the start of the week and drifting back towards the 1.3630 area. The focus now shifts squarely to Tuesday’s UK labour market report, which is likely to keep the quid firmly in the spotlight and could set the tone for Cable’s next move.

Gold battle around $5,000 continues

Gold is giving back part of Friday’s sharp rebound, deflating below the key $5,000 mark per troy ounce as the new week gets underway. Modest gains in the US Dollar are keeping the metal in check, while thin trading conditions, due to the Presidents Day holiday in the US, are adding to the choppy and hesitant tone across markets.

Bitcoin consolidates as on-chain data show mixed signals

Bitcoin price has consolidated between $65,700 and $72,000 over the past nine days, with no clear directional bias. US-listed spot ETFs recorded a $359.91 million weekly outflow, marking the fourth consecutive week of withdrawals.

The week ahead: Key inflation readings and why the AI trade could be overdone

It is likely to be a quiet start to the week, with US markets closed on Monday for Presidents Day. European markets are higher across the board and gold is clinging to the $5,000 level after the tamer than expected CPI report in the US reduced haven flows to precious metals.

XRP steadies in narrow range as fund inflows, futures interest rise

Ripple is trading in a narrow range between $1.45 (immediate support) and $1.50 (resistance) at the time of writing on Monday. The remittance token extended its recovery last week, peaking at $1.67 on Sunday from the weekly open at $1.43.