After trading again lower on Friday and closing 0.52% lower, the US Dollar Index (USDX), which measures the performance of the Dollar against six other major currencies, started to recover on Monday morning.
Gold pushed higher above the $1,200 level on Friday supported by the continued Dollar weakness, but then moderately retraced on Monday as the Fed Chairman reiterated his central bank’s policy of rate hikes. Oil traded higher with the US Baker Hughes Oil Rig Count being reported down by 9 operating oil rigs on Friday.
Equities continued to move higher with among other factors possible progress in trade talks, such as between the US and China and Mexico improving sentiment. While central bankers at the meeting in Jackson Hole as expected mentioned bumps in trade as one concern for the economy, no statement of a policy change was heard of as the Fed Chairman Powell mentioned that he expects the US economy to sustain its recent strength.
Cryptocurrencies traded mixed over the weekend, with Bitcoin trading clearly above the $6,500 level as investors are not giving up hope that the SEC might review its ruling of not clearing proposed Bitcoin ETFs last week.
On Monday in France the number of jobseekers will be released and in Brazil data on the Current Account level and Foreign Direct Investment. The Dallas Fed releases its Manufacturing Business Index.
EUR/USDThe EUR/USD reached a new 3-weeks high at the start of the trading week after central bankers at their meeting in Jackson Hole voiced concerns about the developments in global trade (i.e. new restrictions/tariffs) and the independence of central banks. However the Fed Chairman Powell reiterated that his central bank will stick to the path of raising interest rates, despite earlier criticism by the US president Trump.
On Monday in Germany the influential IFO Survey on Current Conditions, Economic Sentiment and Business Expectations will be released. In the US the Chicago Fed National Activity index (CFNAI) is due.
Pivot:1.159Support:1.1591.55551.1525Resistance:1.1651.16751.17Scenario 1:long positions above 1.1590 with targets at 1.1650 & 1.1675 in extension.Scenario 2:below 1.1590 look for further downside with 1.1555 & 1.1525 as targets.Comment:the RSI is mixed with a bullish bias.
The Nikkei (Japan 225) continued to trade higher for the fifth consecutive trading session in a row on Monday after the index also closed for the fifth time higher on a weekly basis, driven by positive sentiment in the US as strong demand from the US also drives the Japanese economy.
The National Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July, released on Friday indicated an inflation of 0.9% (previous 0.7%), well above the expected levels.
Fast Retailing (+1.36%) pushed again higher to a new one month high, closer to the recent all-time high, as it was announced that its brand Uniqlo would open a store in H&M’s home market of Sweden, following the company’s move against its competitor’s Inditex’s Zara in Spain last year.
On Thursday in Japan Retail Sales numbers for July will be released and then on Friday Unemployment Rate and Industrial Production statistics, followed by the Tankan and CAPEX statistics on Saturday.
Pivot:22580Support:225802243022310Resistance:229302305023200Scenario 1:long positions above 22580.00 with targets at 22930.00 & 23050.00 in extension.Scenario 2:below 22580.00 look for further downside with 22430.00 & 22310.00 as targets.Comment:the RSI shows upside momentum.
Oil continued to edge higher, reaching a new 3 weeks high on Friday, as the Baker Hughes Oil Rig Count for the US was seen lower at 860 operating oil rigs, down from previously 869 oil rigs the week before.
In Mexico it was reported that the new president Obrador will suspend oil auctions for at least two years and is set to review many contracts already awarded due to concerns about corruption. It was also reported that the president will seek to support the state-owned company Pemex.
On Tuesday the American Petroleum Institute (API) will release oil stockpile figures, followed by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday.
Pivot:68.9Support:68.2567.9567.3Resistance:68.969.369.65Scenario 1:short positions below 68.90 with targets at 68.25 & 67.95 in extension.Scenario 2:above 68.90 look for further upside with 69.30 & 69.65 as targets.Comment:the RSI is mixed to bearish.
The S&P 500 (US 500) continued to push higher towards new record high levels and even extended its gains in early trading on Monday. The reports that the US and Mexico were close to conclude their renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) further improved sentiment.
Especially companies in the chip industry (US Semiconductor ETF +1.48%) had an overall strong performance during trading on Friday, while bank (US Banks ETF -0.30%) stocks lagged behind.
Dropbox (-4.59%) shares traded lower over concerns what will happen as the post-IPO lock-up period expired, where after people with stakes in the company before it went public are allowed to sell their earlier acquired stocks.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) (+0.96%) continues to dominate the headlines as late on Friday, after markets closed CEO Elon Musk announced on Tesla’s blog that the company would remain a publicly traded and the only weeks earlier announced move to go private would not happen, citing feedback from investors and challenges in the process.
The earning season is mostly over, but a few companies are still going to release their quarterly earnings with Salesforce this Wednesday and Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) next week on Thursday.
Pivot: 2874 Support: 2874 2865 2860.5 Resistance: 2892 2897 2902 Scenario 1: long positions above 2874.00 with targets at 2892.00 & 2897.00 in extension. Scenario 2: below 2874.00 look for further downside with 2865.00 & 2860.50 as targets. Comment: the RSI shows upside momentum. A break above 2874 would trigger a rise to 2892.