Daily Market Analysis By FXOpen

[FXOpen Trader]

Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 5.25% Amidst Global Economic Dynamics

In a move that marks the third consecutive instance, the Bank of England has opted to maintain its benchmark interest rates at 5.25% on the 14th of December. While this decision deviates from the recent trend of relentless interest rate increases, it falls short of a rate cut, emphasising the central bank's cautious approach to monetary policy.

The Bank of England's choice to hold interest rates steady comes as a nuanced response to the prevailing economic climate. In a departure from the trajectory of continuous rate hikes that have characterised the central bank's policy during the course of 2022 and early 2023, the decision to maintain the status quo hints at maintaining conservatism and continuing to aim for the target 2% inflation for 2024.
Echoes of the Federal Reserve's Conservative Measures

In parallel to the current stance of the United States Federal Reserve, the Bank of England is embracing highly conservative measures by keeping borrowing rates relatively high. Despite the inflation rate in the UK being significantly lower than its double-figure peak over a year and a half ago at the onset of this policy, the central bank remains steadfast in its commitment to a conservative monetary approach.

MPC's Forward Guidance

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) justifies its decision by emphasising the need for continued restrictive borrowing conditions. While the inflation rate has experienced a substantial decline from its earlier peaks, the MPC asserts that the current inflation level remains above the target of 2% set for 2024. This forward guidance underscores the Bank of England's commitment to carefully navigating the delicate balance between economic growth and inflation control.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

AMZN: Stock Price Ends Year Stronger Than S&P 500

Amazon shares are up approximately 79% year to date in 2023, outperforming the S&P 500. This reflects the company's strong fundamentals:

→ Amazon's third-quarter results beat Wall Street estimates, helped by growth in its cloud and advertising businesses. According to Barchart, analysts are forecasting AMZN's earnings growth of 35% in fiscal 2024, as well as revenue growth of 11%.

→ Positive forecasts are associated with the activation of retail trade. In the past three months alone, the SPDR S&P Retail ETF has gained 16.4%, significantly outpacing the S&P 500's 6.8% gain over the same period, according to FactSet data. Therefore, AMZN could benefit significantly from the holiday shopping season.

→ Analysts are praising the prospects of the Prime platform, which will soon broadcast games involving 40 major league teams in baseball, basketball and hockey.

The chart shows that the AMZN stock price is moving steadily within the ascending channel (shown in blue). Wherein:

→ the price quickly rebounded from its lower border at the end of October - a sign of strong demand;
→ the price is able to stay in the upper half of the channel, using its median line as support and forming rising lows in December;
→ at the beginning of the new week, the price exceeded the psychological level of USD 150, setting a high of the year.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

Market Analysis: Gold Price Eyes Breakout, Crude Oil Price Recovers

Gold price gained traction and climbed above the $2,030 resistance level. Crude oil price is recovering, and it could climb further higher toward the $78 resistance.

Important Takeaways for Gold and Oil Prices Analysis Today

• Gold price started a decent increase from the $1,975 zone against the US Dollar.
• A connecting bullish trend line is forming with support near $2,030 on the hourly chart of gold at FXOpen.
• Crude oil prices rallied above the $71.00 and $73.00 resistance levels.
• There is a key bullish trend line forming with support near $73.00 on the hourly chart of XTI/USD at FXOpen.

Gold Price Technical Analysis

On the hourly chart of Gold at FXOpen, the price found support near the $1,975 zone. The price formed a base and started a fresh increase above the $1,990 level.

There was a decent move above the 50-hour simple moving average. The bulls pushed the price above the $2,030 resistance zone. Finally, the bears appeared near $2,045, A high is formed near $2,046.99 and the price is now consolidating gains.

There was a minor move below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,015 swing low to the $2,046 high. The RSI is still stable above 50 and the price could aim for more gains. Immediate resistance is near the $2,045 level.

The next major resistance is near the $2,050 level. An upside break above the $2,050 resistance could send Gold price toward $2,065. Any more gains may perhaps set the pace for an increase toward the $2,080 level.

Initial support on the downside is near the 50-hour simple moving average or $2,030. There is also a connecting bullish trend line forming with support near $2,030. The trend line is close to the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,015 swing low to the $2,046 high.

If there is a downside break below the $2,030 support, the price might decline further. In the stated case, the price might drop toward the $2,008 support.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

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EURUSD Pair May Rise Despite Bank Predictions of Bearish Trend

During the middle of 2023, the EURUSD pair witnessed a steady decline that lasted until October, reflecting a prolonged period of challenges for the euro against the US dollar. Since then, there has been a glimmer of hope in the market. Despite the recent correction, the market has hinted at a potential continuation of the uptrend over the past five days.

Over the weekend, the EURUSD pair, which had slumbered at the high of 1.0890, experienced a notable rise to 1.10 by Tuesday midway through the London trading session. As the new week began, the euro maintained its upward trajectory, standing at 1.10 as trading commenced this morning. While some analysts cautiously labelled this movement as a 'rally,' it is evident that there has been a discernible shift in sentiment for the EURUSD pair.

HSBC's Bearish Prediction

Adding an interesting layer to the unfolding narrative, Tier 1 interbank FX dealer HSBC has released its predictions for the most traded currencies in 2024. The bank's outlook for the EURUSD pair is notably bearish, projecting a trading level of around 1.02 by the end of 2024. While such predictions are speculative and subject to change, they introduce an element of anticipation for traders and investors navigating the currency markets.

It's essential to note that HSBC's forecast raises echoes of the latter part of 2022 when the EURUSD pair experienced a significant decline, breaching parity and reaching 0.97 by the end of September, reaching 0.9535 at one point on September 29. Whether a similar scenario will unfold in 2024 remains uncertain, with the consensus around central bank monetary policy playing a pivotal role.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

S&P 500: Worst Day since September


The S&P 500 fell 70.02 points, or 1.47%, to 4,698.35 yesterday, according to Dow Jones Newswires. This is the largest one-day point decline since Thursday, September 21, 2023.

Of the 500 stocks in the index, only 19 closed in the green. Of these, Google shares, as the company announced plans to reorganize its advertising department, which employs 30 thousand people.

From a fundamental perspective, there were no obvious triggers that carried enough weight to cause the sharp decline. Moreover, the Consumer Confidence indicator was published yesterday, which showed that consumer confidence has increased the most since the beginning of 2021.

From the point of view of behavioral psychology and technical analysis, the sharp decline has reasonable explanations:

→ from the low of late October to the beginning of yesterday's session, the S&P 500 index grew by 16%. This is an impressive rally, fueled by expectations of easing inflation and interest rate cuts in 2024. A significant correction is a logical development of events.



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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

USD/CAD, AUD/USD, EUR/USD Analysis: Commodity Currencies Testing Important Marks

The penultimate five-day trading period of the past year turned out to be quite successful for commodity currencies. Thus, the AUD/USD pair is approaching the July extremes of this year, the USD/CAD pair has broken through the support at 1.3400, and the NZD/USD pair has confidently strengthened above 62. At the same time, European currencies failed to move above strategic levels and are slightly adjusted against the dollar.

USD/CAD

The USD/CAD currency pair lost more than 200 pips last week and strengthened below the alligator lines on higher time frames. The likelihood of a change in the vector of monetary policy by the American Federal Reserve is contributing to the strengthening of the downward trend in the pair. Yesterday, data on the US consumer confidence index for December was published, showing positive dynamics: 110.7 versus 103.8. This fundamental impulse allowed the pair’s buyers to find support at 1.3310 and rebound to 1.3370, but so far no upward dynamics have been observed.

Today at 16:30 GMT+3, it is worth paying attention to the publication of US GDP data for the third quarter. Also, at this time, the core Canadian retail sales index for October will be published. In addition to the data already mentioned, weekly figures on the number of applications for unemployment benefits in the United States will be released.

On the daily and weekly USD/CAD charts, the price is below the alligator lines, the AO and AC oscillators are red, which additionally indicates sales. The downward scenario may be cancelled if the price confidently consolidates above 1.3460-1.3500.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

Market Analysis: GBP/USD Aims Fresh Increase While EUR/GBP Rallies

GBP/USD is attempting a fresh increase from the 1.2610 zone. EUR/GBP is gaining pace and might extend its rally above the 0.8700 zone.

Important Takeaways for GBP/USD and EUR/GBP Analysis Today

• The British Pound is trading in a bullish zone above 1.2600 against the US Dollar.
• There was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at 1.2640 on the hourly chart of GBP/USD at FXOpen.
• EUR/GBP started a fresh increase above the 0.8620 resistance zone.
• There is a major bullish trend line forming with support near 0.8640 on the hourly chart at FXOpen.

GBP/USD Technical Analysis

On the hourly chart of GBP/USD at FXOpen, the pair started a downside correction from the 1.2760 zone. The British Pound traded below the 1.2700 zone against the US Dollar.

A low was formed near 1.2611 and the pair is now attempting a fresh increase. There was a break above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the 1.2761 swing high to the 1.2611 low. Besides, there was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at 1.2640.

The pair is now trading above the 50-hour simple moving average and 1.2680. On the upside, the GBP/USD chart indicates that the pair is facing resistance near the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the 1.2761 swing high to the 1.2611 low at 1.2685.

The next major resistance is near the 1.2705 level. If the RSI moves above 60 and the pair climbs above 1.2705, there could be another rally. In the stated case, the pair could rise toward the 1.2760 level or even 1.2790.

On the downside, there is a major support forming near 1.2600. If there is a downside break below the 1.2630 support, the pair could accelerate lower. The next major support is near the 1.2610 zone, below which the pair could test 1.2550. Any more losses could lead the pair toward the 1.2500 support.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

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[FXOpen Trader]

Solana Is the Fourth Largest Cryptocurrency by Capitalisation. But for How Long?

2023 turned out to be a good year for cryptocurrencies, especially given the depressing mood that reigned at the end of 2022.

From the beginning of 2023:

• Bitcoin increased in price by more than 150% – including due to rumours related to the approval of applications for a Bitcoin ETF;
• Ethereum rose by approximately 85%.

But what has been particularly impressive is the progress made by the Solana project. This is a decentralised blockchain platform, which is characterised by high speed and scalability — they are achieved through the use of a unique architecture based on the Proof-of-History (PoH) protocol. In 2023, Solana became the first blockchain platform to reach 50,000 transactions per second. And a number of large investment funds, such as Grayscale and CoinShares, have added SOL to their portfolios.

SOL is a token that is used to pay for transactions and services on the Solana platform. It can also be used for staking to help support the network. The SOL/USD rate in 2023 has increased by more than 1000%!

At the same time, SOL now ranks 4th in terms of capitalisation of cryptocurrencies — after BTC, ETH, and the USDT stablecoin. December was the month when the price of the SOL token exceeded the psychological level of USD 100 for the first time since April 2022 (the historical high reached in the fall of 2021 exceeds the USD 250 level for SOL).

But will the price be able to stay above USD 100?

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

2023 In Review: A Look Back At The Highlights Of The Year

The year 2023 commenced after two years of economic uncertainty and heavy inflation across Europe and North America, home to leading financial markets, with major currencies such as the euro and the US dollar, and financial hubs including London, New York, Chicago, Frankfurt, and Toronto.

These continents, where major stock exchanges operate and the S&P 500, NASDAQ, and FTSE 100 indices represent the top stocks of the top listed companies in Britain and the US, witnessed a dynamic interplay of economic recovery, inflation challenges, and policy adjustments.

The European and North American economies had spent 2023 recovering from a sustained period of inflation and cost of living issues (Britain and mainland Europe), and in the US, yet more bank collapses and a close call with state insolvency as the US Government had to raise the debt ceiling to stop it defaulting on its existing commitments, highlighting the country's huge national debt.

Inflation did decline during 2023, but central bank policy on both sides of the Atlantic favoured continued increases in interest rates, despite the US inflation going down from 11% in mid-2022 to around 3.1% now, and the British inflation rate is 3.9% now whereas it was also in double figures during 2022. Now, we move on to looking at specific markets.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

Market Analysis: Dollar Corrects in Thin Market

The American currency is strengthening slightly after Christmas. Thus, the pound/US dollar currency pair retreated from the recent high just above 1.2700 and the US dollar/yen pair found support at 142.00. The euro/US dollar pair is trying to retest Friday’s high at 1.1040. Both the Australian and Canadian currencies continue to rise against the dollar.

USD/JPY

A block of data from Japan published this morning contributed to a slight strengthening of the USD/JPY pair, as the incoming fundamentals turned out to be quite weak. Thus, the core consumer price index (CPI) from the Bank of Japan decreased to 2.7% against the forecast of 3.00%. The price index for corporate services also fell: 2.3% versus 2.4%. Also in the red zone was the ratio of vacancies to applicants: 1.28 to 1.30. Today at 21:00 GMT+3, it is worth paying attention to the publication of data on the auction for the placement of 2-year US Treasury notes.

On the daily and weekly USD/JPY chart, the pair is below the alligator lines, the priority is to sell on the breakdown of the lower fractal at 140.90. We can consider cancelling the downward scenario if the price confidently consolidates above 145.00.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

EUR/USD Extends Rally While USD/JPY Revisits Support

EUR/USD gained bullish momentum above the 1.0985 resistance. USD/JPY is declining and showing bearish signs below the 142.85 level.

Important Takeaways for EUR/USD and USD/JPY Analysis Today

• The Euro remained in a bullish zone and climbed above the 1.0985 resistance zone.
• There is a key bullish trend line forming with support near 1.1020 on the hourly chart of EUR/USD at FXOpen.
• USD/JPY is trading in a bearish zone below the 143.40 and 142.85 levels.
• There was a break above a major bearish trend line with resistance near 142.25 on the hourly chart at FXOpen.

EUR/USD Technical Analysis

On the hourly chart of EUR/USD at FXOpen, the pair started a fresh increase above the 1.0930 zone. The Euro climbed above the 1.0985 resistance zone against the US Dollar.

The pair even settled above the 1.1020 resistance and the 50-hour simple moving average. Finally, it tested the 1.1040 resistance. A high is formed near 1.1044 and the pair is now consolidating gains.

If there is a downside correction, the pair might test the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the 1.0929 swing low to the 1.1044 high at 1.1020. There is also a key bullish trend line forming with support near 1.1020 and the 50-hour simple moving average.

The next major support is near the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the 1.0929 swing low to the 1.1044 high at 1.0985.

If there is a downside break below 1.0985, the pair could drop toward the 1.0930 support. The main support on the EUR/USD chart is near 1.0910, below which the pair could start a major decline.

On the upside, the pair is now facing resistance near 1.1040. The next major resistance is near the 1.1065 level. An upside break above 1.1065 could set the pace for another increase. In the stated case, the pair might rise toward 1.1120.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

Brent Oil Price Reaches New December High

Financial markets are experiencing a traditional decline in trading activity associated with the holiday period. Notable events:

the S&P-500 and NASDAQ-100 stock indices updated their maximum for the year after the holiday Monday, thereby confirming the idea that the decline on Wednesday, September 20, was in the nature of a correction. Santa and his rally do not disappoint.
The dollar index drops to six-month lows due to expectations of an interest rate cut in March 2024.
The price of oil reached a new high in December.

The rise in oil prices is caused by geopolitical tensions:

WSJ: Iran-backed militias fire at US bases in the Middle East.
Bloomberg: Continued Houthi attacks on shipping and US strikes on targets in Iraq raise the risk of the war expanding in the Middle East.
Reuters: The war in Gaza will last several months. Concerns about the spread of the conflict are growing.
Barron's: Dispute between Venezuela and Guyana could threaten oil production and higher prices.

If military action disrupts the production and supply of oil, this could sharply increase its price.

The XBR/USD chart shows that:

the price is still in a downtrend (as shown by the red channel);
moving within the ascending channel (shown in blue) in December, the price has reached the upper limit of the red channel, and is now in a vulnerable position.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

FTSE 100 Continues Pre-holiday Rally: Is 8000 in Sight?

Almost a year ago, the FTSE 100, which is a prestigious index comprising the most prestigious blue-chip stocks of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, hit 8,000 points for the first time in history.

The euphoria that accompanied this historic breakthrough in mid-February 2023 echoed a similar response in 2021 when the index broke the 7,000 barrier for the first time ever. However, the brief venture above the 8,000 mark was relatively short-lived, and since then, the FTSE 100 index has languished anywhere between the mid-7,200 range up to the 7,700s during the last three quarters of this year.

Before the markets made their annual break for the holiday season that has just passed, the FTSE 100 index began to show a steady upward climb, which has been relatively consistent since October 27's low point of 7,259 at FXOpen.

Now, with the markets reopening this week, the FTSE 100's upward direction has continued to demonstrate buoyancy, and the possibility of reaching the lofty heights of 8,000 points is once again being openly discussed by market participants.

As the London trading session opened this morning, the FTSE 100 index jumped from 7,715 to 7,742 at FXOpen, giving further weight to opinions in mainstream media last week that a revisitation of the 8,000 mark may be in sight.

The reasons for this rally are being viewed by many analysts and commentators in a very basic form, largely centred on the possibility that central banks in Western continents, in which the main headquarters of companies listed in London and included in the FTSE 100 index, may reduce their interest rates as the talks about ending the prolonged policy of increasing them over recent years in an attempt to counter inflation.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

ETH/USD Analysis: New Record of the Year

Today, the price of Ethereum exceeded the level of 2,440 per token, thereby setting a new high for 2023. It is noteworthy that the price of Bitcoin did not support the bullish sentiment, continuing to fluctuate around the USD 43,000 level for the fifth day.

What is the reason for the growth of ETH/USD from a fundamental point of view? There is no obvious trigger in the media, so we can only make assumptions:

→ market participants considered ETH an undervalued asset against the backdrop of the growth of Bitcoin and Solana;

→ perhaps buyers assume that after the expected approval of applications for the BTC ETF, the ETH ETF story will be next?

→ Santa's rally and the positive sentiment associated with it.

From a technical point of view, the price of ETH/USD moved up beyond the balance period “B”, where the forces of supply and demand were balanced. The bullish momentum was maintained, with upward momentum above the 2,333 level attracting followers and forcing short sellers to take losses. According to on-chain analytical platforms, in just one hour, at the peak of growth, USD 14 million of bearish positions were liquidated on cryptocurrency exchanges—there was a short squeeze in the market to some extent.

What's next? Will the price be able to form a new balance period “C”, which will be above the period “B” (similar to the trend “A” → “B”)?

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

European Stock Index Shows Signs of Weakness

As the comparison chart shows, the ESX50 lags behind the US500. And this trend has been observed since mid-December, a period when central banks around the world published interest rate decisions and set expectations for the future. The divergence suggests that Europe's central bankers are in no rush to join the US turn to lower interest rates — even as investors continue to insist that they will have to accept easier monetary policy soon enough.

According to Bloomberg, after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signalled that the focus is now on lowering borrowing costs, colleagues from Frankfurt to London said that a further slowdown in inflation cannot be taken for granted. That is, for now in Europe, policy easing is not yet on the agenda.

“We should absolutely not lower our guard,” European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde told reporters in December, while her Bank of England counterpart Andrew Bailey noted there was “still work to be done” in the fight to rein in consumer prices.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

Brent Crude Oil Dips Back Below $80 Mark Despite Middle East Escalation

The commodities market is a wide-ranging and varied one, largely because the different physical products represent different uses. Oil is one of those rare commodities that is an actual consumable item, and due to its nature as a staple raw material for fuel production, combined with its concentration within certain countries that extract and sell it, its value is often intrinsically linked to geopolitical events and economic circumstances.

Currently, Brent Crude Oil is under some degree of observation by analysts and market participants due to its steadily decreasing value which has been consistent for the most part over the past two and a half months since the beginning of the war, which is taking place in the Middle East, a contrary pattern to what may be expected, when ordinarily circumstances like this cause increases.

Historically, oil prices across the board have been dramatically affected by wars involving Israel and its neighbouring countries, largely because many of the OPEC countries which supply oil globally are Middle Eastern nations and members of the Arab League.

For example, in 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, the OPEC nations imposed an oil embargo against the United States in an attempt to reverse the decision by the US government to supply weapons and funding to the Israel Defense Forces, resulting in fuel rationing and the imposition of a 55 miles per hour speed limit, as well as spiralling oil prices.

Despite the discourse from many OPEC countries relating to the current political situation and the escalation of war between Israel and the Gaza Strip, the price of Brent Crude Oil has actually decreased over recent days. During these recent days, there has been further escalation to the extent that other surrounding nations may begin a campaign against Israel.

On December 26, Brent Crude Oil was trading at $80.50 per barrel at FXOpen; however, by the next day, it returned to below the $80 per barrel mark and hit $79.15 at FXOpen at the end of trading yesterday before a slight rebound in the very early hours of the morning to $79.52 at FXOpen.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

Market Analysis: AUD/USD and NZD/USD Regain Strength

AUD/USD is moving higher and might climb further above 0.6870. NZD/USD is also rising and could extend its increase above the 0.6370 resistance zone.

Important Takeaways for AUD USD and NZD USD Analysis Today

• The Aussie Dollar started a fresh increase above the 0.6760 and 0.6800 levels against the US Dollar.
• There is a bullish flag forming with resistance near 0.6845 on the hourly chart of AUD/USD at FXOpen.
• NZD/USD is gaining bullish momentum above the 0.6320 support.
• There is a short-term contracting triangle forming with support near 0.6320 on the hourly chart of NZD/USD at FXOpen.

AUD/USD Technical Analysis

On the hourly chart of AUD/USD at FXOpen, the pair started a fresh increase from the 0.6725 support. The Aussie Dollar was able to clear the 0.6760 resistance to move into a positive zone against the US Dollar.

There was a close above the 0.6800 resistance and the 50-hour simple moving average. Finally, the pair tested the 0.6870 zone. A high is formed near 0.6869 and the pair is now consolidating gains.

There was a minor move below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the 0.6724 swing low to the 0.6869 high.

On the downside, initial support is at 0.6820. The next support could be the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the 0.6724 swing low to the 0.6869 high at 0.6800. If there is a downside break below the 0.6800 support, the pair could extend its decline toward the 0.6760 zone.

Any more losses might signal a move toward 0.6660. On the upside, the AUD/USD chart indicates that the pair is now facing resistance near 0.6845. There is also a bullish flag forming with resistance near 0.6845.

The first major resistance might be 0.6870. An upside break above the 0.6870 resistance might send the pair further higher. The next major resistance is near the 0.6920 level. Any more gains could clear the path for a move toward the 0.7000 resistance zone.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

USD/JPY Analysis: Outlook for 2024

The Japanese yen has been one of the worst performing currencies over the past couple of years. The situation could improve in 2024, writes WSJ.

The yen has lost about 20% against the dollar since the end of 2021, underperforming other major currencies. The reason is that Japan's central bank kept interest rates ultra-low while most of its peers raised them aggressively. This was possible because it did not grow so rapidly in Japan. Japan's core inflation rate, which does not include fresh produce, was 2.5% in November. Although this is already above its 2% inflation target, the Bank of Japan is reluctant to raise interest rates too quickly for fear of a hit to the economy.

But the situation may change in 2024. The central bank has already made several changes to its “yield curve control” policy in the bond market. And the yen has risen about 7% against the dollar since mid-November, partly because traders expect the Bank of Japan to continue reforms. On the other hand, the dollar may weaken, including due to the expected easing of Fed policy.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

 

[FXOpen Trader]

The Dollar Stopped Falling

The US dollar is trying to win back losses, trading at 100.800 in USDX, however, key statistics on the labour market were negative: the number of initial applications for unemployment benefits amounted to 218.0k, much higher than 206.0k a week earlier and the expected 210.0k, as a result of which the total number of citizens receiving government assistance increased from 1.861 million to 1.875 million, putting pressure on the US currency. Market participants expect an adjustment in monetary policy from the US Federal Reserve, and also hope for a threefold reduction in borrowing costs next year. According to a CNBC survey of 300 leading investors, most expect the transition to dovish rates to begin in the second half of 2024, with some predicting it will begin in March.

EUR/USD

The EUR/USD pair is trading in the main range of 1.1083-1.1060, with the price trying to resume growth after a correction the day before, when it retreated from six-month highs at 1.1138. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1145, a break higher could trigger a rise towards 1.1177. On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1066, a break below could take the pair towards 1.1000.

The euro quotes were put under pressure by the continuing uncertainty regarding further actions (by the ECB) in the field of monetary policy. Previously, it was assumed that the European regulator, like the US Federal Reserve, would begin a cycle of easing monetary policy, but recent comments by ECB board member Robert Holtzman have somewhat changed these forecasts. The day before, in an interview with Bloomberg, the official said that it was too early to talk about the beginning of a reduction in borrowing costs in the region, while admitting that the measures taken by the department led to a noticeable weakening of inflation. The potential for the EUR/USD pair to resume its upward dynamics after the Christmas holidays remains.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.