|

USD/CNH: Range play continues after PBOC rate decision

  • USD/CNH's week-long consolidation continues as PBOC keeps rates unchanged, as expected. 
  • The uptick in the S&P 500 futures looks to be weighing over the US dollar. 
  • Lingering Indo-China border tensions are likely to cap gains in CNH.

USD/CNH is trading in the narrow range of 7.0595 to 7.0970 for the seventh straight day on Monday. 

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) kept one-year and five-year loan prime rates unchanged at 3.85% and 4.65%, respectively. The bank was expected to keep rates unchanged and the decision has so far failed to influence the offshore Chinese yuan (CNH). 

However, the central bank raised the daily yuan fix to 7.0865 early Monday from Friday's fix at 7.0913. In addition, the S&P 500 futures have erased the early losses and the risk currencies like the AUD are gaining ground against the greenback. 

The yuan, therefore, could soon chalk out some gains against the US dollar. The USD/CNH pair is currently trading largely unchanged on the day at 7.0750. The US stock futures gapped lower in early Asia, pushing the greenback higher, as Germany and US registered a faster rise in the coronavirus cases over the weekend.

Traders need to keep an eye on headlines related to the Indo-China border tensions and escalation of tensions could put pressure on the offshore Yuan. 

As per media reports, there has been no disengagement between India and China and both sides are enhancing ground and air assets in theatre. 

Technical levels

    1. R3 7.1074
    2. R2 7.0958
    3. R1 7.0875
  1. PP 7.0759
    1. S1 7.0676
    2. S2 7.056
    3. S3 7.0477

Author

Omkar Godbole

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

More from Omkar Godbole
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD turns negative near 1.1850

EUR/USD has given up its earlier intraday gains on Thursday and is now struggling to hold above the 1.1850 area. The US Dollar is finding renewed support from a pick-up in risk aversion, while fresh market chatter suggesting Russia could be considering a return to the US Dollar system is also lending the Greenback an extra boost.

GBP/USD change course, nears 1.3600

GBP/USD gives away its daily gains and recedes toward the low-1.3600s on Thursday. Indeed, Cable now struggles to regain some upside traction on the back of the sudden bout of buying interest in the Greenback. In the meantime, investors continue to assess a string of underwhelming UK data releases released earlier in the day.

Gold plunges on sudden US Dollar demand

Gold drops markedly on Thursday, challenging the $4,900 mark per troy ounce following a firm bounce in the US Dollar and amid a steep sell-off on Wall Street, with losses led by the tech and housing sectors.

LayerZero Price Forecast: ZRO steadies as markets digest Zero blockchain announcement

LayerZero (ZRO) trades above $2.00 at press time on Thursday, holding steady after a 17% rebound the previous day, which aligned with the public announcement of the Zero blockchain and Cathie Wood joining the advisory board. 

A tale of two labour markets: Headline strength masks underlying weakness

Undoubtedly, yesterday’s delayed US January jobs report delivered a strong headline – one that surpassed most estimates. However, optimism quickly faded amid sobering benchmark revisions.

Aster Price Forecast: Demand sparks on Binance Wallet partnership for on-chain perpetuals

Aster is up roughly 9% so far on Thursday, hinting at the breakout of a crucial resistance level. Aster partners up with Binance wallet for the second season of the on-chain perpetuals challenge.