Forex News Analysis by LiteForex

AUD/USD: pair is falling

Current trend
Yesterday the pair continued falling amid strengthening since the beginning of the week US Dollar.
The Dollar was supported by growing tensions in the Middle East between Saudi Arabia and Iran. In addition, the pair is under pressure amid slowing Chinese economy. The Caixin China Services PMI for December that was published on Wednesday showed a decline in the index from 51.2 to 50.2 points that was significantly worse than economists predicted. Furthermore, the AiG Performance of Services Index in Australia fell in December from 48.2 to 46.3 points.

Support and resistance
Bollinger Bands on the daily chart is turning horizontally while the price range is widening. At the same time, the indicator formed a signal for correctional growth as the price has left the lower border of the range. MACD is falling and giving a very strong sell signal. Stochastic is in the oversold zone and trying to turn sideways, thus indicating a possibility of an upward correction.
The indicators recommend waiting for clearer trading signals.
Support levels: 0.7042 (local low), 0.7015, 0.6981 (end of September low), 0.6936 (29 September low), 0.6908 (4 September low).
Resistance levels: 0.7068 (local high), 0.7100 (psychologically important level), 0.7128, 0.7158, 0.7183, 0.7200 (5 January high), 0.7234, 0.7259.

Trading tips
Long positions can be opened after the price rebound from the level of 0.7015 (with the appropriate indicators signals) with targets at 0.7130, 0.7160, 0.7200 and stop-loss at 0.6960. Validity – 2-3 days.
Short positions can be opened after the breakdown of the level of 0.7015 with the target at 0.6900 and stop-loss at 0.7070. Validity – 2-3 days.

EUR/USD: technical analysis
EUR/USD, D1
On the daily chart, the pair is correcting down from the middle MA of Bollinger Bands as it bounced off the top border of a descending channel. The price remains below the EMA130 and EMA65, both directed slightly down. The RSI failed to retest its end of December resistance and turned down. The Composite is about to test its longer MA.
EUR/USD, H4
On the 4-hour chart,the pair is falling from the upper MA of Bollinger Bands after it broke out the line few days ago.The price remains on the level with the EMA130 and EMA65 that are horizontal. The RSI bounced off the overbought zone and falling. The Composite is about to test its longer MA. The MFI turned down suggesting short-term buying pressure is falling.
Key levels
Support levels: 1.0834 (short-term trendline), 1.0798 (December lows), 1.0708 (local lows).
Resistance levels: 1.0939 (upper border of the channel), 1.0993 (local highs), 1.1059 (December highs).
Trading tips
Short positions can be opened from the level of 1.0824 with the target at 1.0743 and stop-loss at 1.0865. Validity – 1-2 days.
Long positions can be opened from the level of 1.0944 with the target at 1.0991 and stop-loss at 1.0926. Validity – 1-2 days.

XAU/USD: general review

Current trend
Gold continues strengthening amid economic crisis in China, where within the first few minutes of trade the CSI300 index fell by almost 7% thus forcing the authorities to stop operations on the stock market.
In addition, markets are worried about Chinese exchange reserves that in 2015 shrank by 512 billion Dollars. According to experts, the biggest chunk of it was spent trying to artificially support of the Yuan. The Chinese government also introduced limits on Dollar purchases thus trying to stabilise the national currency.
Therefore, due to falling oil prices and instability in China the gold is likely to keep strengthening in the near terms.

Support and resistance
Support levels: 1097.66.
Resistance levels: 1112.97.

Trading tips
Long positions can be opened from the level of 1100.00 with the target at 1147.00 and stop-loss at 1090.00.

NZD/USD: general review

Current trend
Yesterday the pair was in an upward correction after a significant fall of the previous week.
The pair is pressured by slowing Chinese economy, strengthening Dollar that found a significant support after the publication of strong macroeconomic statistics on the US labour market last Friday, and falling dairy prices.

Support and resistance
On the 4-hour chart, the pair is trading in the lower Bollinger band. Moving averages with 50, 100 and 144 periods remain above the price and directed down indicating a descending trend in the pair. MACD histogram is in the negative zone while its volumes remain unchanged. ADX suggest a fall in the pair, DI lines directed down.
Support levels: 0.6505 (lower MA of Bollinger Bands, last week lows).
Resistance levels: 0.6593, 0.6679, 0.6715, 0.6771, 0.6834, 0.6859, 0.6881.

Trading tips
Short positions can be opened from the level of 0.6540 with the target at 0.6510 and stop-loss at 0.6560. Validity – 1 day.
Pending buy orders can be placed at the level of 0.6510 with the target at 0.6560 and stop-loss at 0.6500. Validity – 1 day.

AUD/USD: pair in correction

Current trend
The pair is in correction after a significant fall of the begging of the year.
The pair was supported by today’s data on Trade Balance from China that came out better than expectations and slightly calmed worries on the market regarding the Chinese economy.
At the same time, the pair remains under pressure amid strengthening US Dollar, falling commodities’ prices and still continuing crisis on the Chinese stock market.
Tomorrow attention needs to be paid to data on the Australian labour market for December. The Unemployment Rate is expected to increase from 5.8% to 5.9%.

Support and resistance
A breakout of the level of 0.7070 (ЕМА200 on the hourly chart, ЕМА50 on the 4-hour chart) would send the pair towards 0.7100 (December lows), 0.7145 (ЕМА200, ЕМА144 on the 4-hour chart), 0.7200 (upper border of a descending channel on the 4-hour chart).
On the 4-hour chart, OsMA and Stochastic signal purchases, and start turning up on the daily chart as well.
Support levels: 0.6980, 0.6910.
Resistance levels: 0.7070, 0.7100, 0.7145, 0.7200, 0.7290.

Trading tips
Pending sell orders can be placed at the level of 0.6970 with targets at 0.6910, 0.6880, 0.6810 and stop-loss at 0.7010.
Pending buy orders can be placed at the level of 0.7080 with targets at 0.7110, 0.7145, 0.7200, 0.7300 and stop-loss at 0.7030.

EUR/USD: general review

Current trend
The EUR/USD pair continues strengthening.
Today, data on the labour market is due to be published in the US. Continuing Jobless Claims are expected to fall to 2.215 million that could support the US Dollar.
Also today, Fed’s Bullard speech is due regarding perspectives for the American economy. Experts do not expect interest rates to be mentions in the speech, thus strong reaction on the market is unlikely.

Support and resistance
In the short-term, the pair is expected to grow to its resistance at the level of 1.0965 where it is going to reverse down.
Support levels: 1.0714.
Resistance levels: 1.0965.

Trading tips
Open short positions from the level of 1.0965 with the target at 1.0825 and stop-loss at 1.1000.

AUD/USD: general review

Current trend
Yesterday the pair significantly strengthened amid falling US Dollar that was pressured after the publication of poor data on Jobless Claims in the US. At the same time, despite increased Home Loans in Australia, that usually supports the AUD the pair is falling today.
Today extra attention needs to be paid to data on Retail Sales in the US. According to forecasts, the index will fall to 0.0% that might pressure the USD.

Support and resistance
On the daily chart, the pair is trading near the lower MA of Bollinger Bands. Moving averages with 50, 100 and 144 periods remain above the price and directed down indicating a downward trend in the pair. MACD histogram is in the negative zone and its volumes are slowly growing.
Support levels: 0.6935, 0.6910, 0.6880, 0.6830, 0.6800.
Resistance levels: 0.6983, 0.7015, 0.7068, 0.7135, 0.7194.

Trading tips
Open short positions after the price consolidation below the level of 0.6860 with the target at 0.6800 and stop-loss at 0.6890.
Long positions can be opened form the level of 0.6935 with the target at 0.7000 and stop-loss at 0.6900.

EUR/USD: pair is growing

Current trend
In the end of last week, the pair strengthened.
The Euro was supported on Friday by poor macroeconomic statistics from the US, where Retail Sales for December fell by 0.1%, while economists predicted a zero change. Retail Sales excluding Autos shrank by 0.1%, against a forecasted growth of 0.2%. In addition, Industrial Production data showed a decline of 0.4%, instead of a predicted growth of 0.2%. December, thus, was the third consecutive month of the decline of the index.

Support and resistance
Bollinger Bands on the daily chart is moving horizontally, while the price range tends to narrow. MACD is slowly growing and giving a very weak buy signal. Stochastic is turning horizontally as it significantly moved away from the overbought zone.
The indicators recommend waiting for clearer trading signals.
Support levels: 1.0900 (local low), 1.0867, 1.0795 (7 January low), 1.0762, 1.0710 (5 January low), 1.0673, 1.0638, 1.0600.
Resistance levels: 1.0946 (local high), 1.1000 (psychologically important level), 1.1059 (15 December high), 1.1100, 1.1153.

Trading tips
Long positions can be opened after the price reverse near the level of 1.0867 (with the appropriate indicators signals) with the target at 1.1000 and stop-loss at 1.0800. Validity – 2-3 days.
Short positions can be opened after the breakdown of the level of 1.0867 with the target at 1.0710 and stop-loss at 1.0940. Validity – 2-3 days.

EUR/USD: general analysis

Current trend
The EUR/USD pair is trading below the key resistance level of 1.1000. The European currency remains under pressure from a range of fundamental factors.
France’s economy is facing difficulties and needs additional monetary support of about 2 billion euros, according to a preliminary estimate. Unemployment rate, which is more than 10%, and domestic security are seen as the key issues for the French government. At the same time, the President stated the current situation will not affect tax rate and amount of social benefits.
Today, attention needs to be paid to Consumer Price Index data, released in Germany. If the indicator comes in below 0.3%, ECB might have to introduce additional stimulus measures that will add pressure on the European currency.

Support and resistance
Support level: 1.0825.
Resistance level: 1.1000.

Trading tips
Long positions can be opened from the level of 1.1000 with the target at 1.1140 and stop-loss at 1.0950.
Short-term short positions can be opened after the breakdown of the level of 1.0850 with the target at 1.0800.

XAU/USD: general review

Current trend
The price of gold remains below the level of 1097.66 where it was trading on high volumes last Friday.
According to forecasts, production of gold is declining due to the absence of new fields that could lead in the long-term to increase in the price. In 2016, its output could shrink by 3%. In addition, the price is supported by instability in the Middle East and continuing fall in oil prices.
At the same time, the price remains under pressure due to a likeliness of monetary policy tightening in the US that strengthens the Dollar.

Support and resistance
Support levels: 1071.17.
Resistance levels: 1097.66.

Trading tips
Long positions can be opened from the level of 1097.66 with the target at 1112.47 and stop-loss at 1090.00.