Daily Market Analysis from ForexMart

Brent. June 02, 2020 – Oil grows amid recovery in demand

The oil market continues to grow: Brent quotes on Tuesday reached $39.55 per barrel. Support for prices is provided by a recovery in demand amid a softening of quarantine measures, as well as a reduction in oil production by key oil-producing regions of the world under the OPEC+ deal.

OPEC+ video conference will take place on Thursday, in the framework of which the heads of countries will discuss the extension of previously reached agreements. Saudi Arabia is in favor of extending the terms of the agreement, however, some countries, including Russia, are not ready to extend the reduction in production after June.

The price of Brent is rising, despite the deterioration in relations between Beijing and Washington. The day before, China announced a temporary halt to imports of certain types of agricultural products from the United States, including soybeans. Such a move could further aggravate the contradictions between the two countries and call into question current and potential trade relations.

EUR/USD. June 03, 2020 – Euro overcomes 1.12 level for the first time since early March

An optimistic atmosphere prevails on global markets, and the euro has reached 1.1200. Demand for risky assets is growing as market participants focused on the prospects for business recovery after the coronavirus pandemic, despite ongoing riots in the United States.

In addition to the general weakening of the US dollar in the Forex market, the impact on the euro is expected by tomorrow's meeting of the ECB, according to which the regulator can increase the program for the purchase of financial assets by 500 billion euros and extend this program after 2020.

Today, you should pay attention to the ISM index of business activity in the US services sector for May and data on the labor market from ADP. Analysts predict an increase in the number of repeated applications for unemployment benefits after a sudden decrease last week. Moreover, a new record value is predicted - 26,690 thousand. These data can put further pressure on the exchange rate of the American currency.

GBP/USD. June 04, 2020 – Sterling rises from 1.25

In the morning hours, the British currency continued to recede paired with the dollar, but the «bears» failed to overcome the level of 1.25. The current quotation of the pair GBP/USD is 1.2535. The pressure on sterling was exerted by statements by the Bank of England that it was necessary to be ready for Brexit without a trade transaction in transition. The regulator intends to prepare the financial system in the country for probable risks and economic stresses.

Yesterday, the UK released data on business activity in the service sector: the indicator unexpectedly rose from 13.4 to 29.0 points. However, these data did not support the British pound.

The US dollar, on the contrary, strengthened after the release of data on the labor market from ADP: the number of people employed in the country fell by only 2.7 million people, while experts forecast that this figure would fall by 9 million people.

EUR/USD. 05.06. Euro keeps growing momentum

The euro strengthened at the end of the week, reaching 1.1390. However, in the morning hours, the pair shows a decline to the level of 1.13 as part of the correction. Yesterday, the European Central Bank announced that it intends to support the economy in all available ways, including increasing the volume of the PEPP program by 600 billion euros per month (about $ 1.35 trillion). The program was extended until June 2021.

The regulator also noted the risk of lowering core inflation in 2020 to 0.9%, which is too little for the European region. Therefore, stimulating the economy can last not only until the summer of next year.

Today, you should pay attention to statistics on the US labor market. The unemployment rate, at a record high of 14.7%, could rise to even more frightening levels – 19.5%. Last month, the number of jobs decreased by 20,500 thousand, now it can decrease by another 4,870 thousand. And this picture looks extremely pessimistic for the American currency.

EUR/USD. June 08, 2020 – US dollar gets support from labor market data

EUR/USD is falling at the beginning of a new trading week. The current quote of the instrument is 1.1275. The US dollar was supported by data on the US labor market: the unemployment rate in the country in May was 13.3% compared to 14.7% in April. These statistics turned out to be much better than the forecast suggesting an increase in the indicator to the level of 19.8%.

The number of jobs outside the agricultural sector increased during the reporting period by 2.5 million, the forecast assumed a decline of 8 million. The data for April were simultaneously revised to deteriorate to -20.687 million from -20.537 million. The average hourly wage in May fell by 1% m/m, which turned out to be worse than the forecast suggesting growth by the same amount.

Today is calm in terms of the release of important macroeconomic statistics. Of interest will only be the speech of the ECB President Christine Lagarde.

Brent. June 09, 2020 – Oil declines due to several factors

Oil quotes show a decrease from yesterday's highs above the level of $43 to $40 per barrel. The oil market is weakening, despite the extension of the OPEC+ deal until the end of July and the decision to increase production cuts by countries that have not fully fulfilled their obligations in the past months (Iraq, Nigeria, Kazakhstan). Analysts suggest that the pressure on oil prices was caused by doubts of market participants about the success of the new deal.

An additional negative impact on Brent quotes was made by statements by the Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia that the Persian Gulf countries, which intended to reduce production by another 1.18 million barrels per day, no longer plan to extend this reduction after June.

Moreover, Mexico refused to reduce production in its country and, on the contrary, intends to resume production after five months of downtime due to the civil war in the country.

The current Brent quote is $40.11 per barrel. Analysts note that price reductions will continue in the near future, as the news on the extension of the OPEC+ deal has already been fully taken into account in quotes.

GBP/USD. June 10, 2020 – Sterling approaches 1.28

The British currency continues to grow, approaching the level of 1.2800. Sterling was supported by data from BRC, according to which retail sales in May increased by 7.9% year on year against 5.7% a month earlier.

Additional support for the British currency was provided by high demand for risky assets. Investors are increasing long positions in the stock markets, commodity market and the market for high-yield currencies, as the yield on US government bonds is below 1%.

Tonight you should pay attention to the outcome of the meeting of the US Federal Reserve, which is likely to confirm its intention to maintain low interest rates for a long period of time. And for risky assets, this will be another good signal.

Thus, the British currency will continue to grow to an area above 1.28. The RSI indicator rushed up, which confirms this scenario.

EUR/USD. June 11, 2020 – Euro weakly declining from 1.14

The EUR/USD pair is consolidating at 1.14. The dollar was supported by the results of the meeting of the Federal Reserve, according to which the regulator kept the rate in the target range of 0-0.25% per annum and gave fairly clear signals about maintaining full-scale stimulation for as long as required.

At the same time, the Fed shared forecasts for US GDP: experts expect a contraction of the economy by 6.5% this year, and the unemployment rate may reach 9.3%, rather than 3.5%, as previously expected. However, these data did not exert any visible pressure on the exchange rate of the American currency.

Today, you should pay attention to the producer price index in the US for May and the number of initial applications for unemployment benefits. Experts predict a gradual decrease in the number of calls – both primary and repeated. If these forecasts are confirmed, then it will be possible to speak not about improving the situation, but at least about the beginning of stabilization in the American labor market. And this can provide significant support to the dollar.

EUR/USD. June 15, 2020 – Euro moves away from highs

The euro remains under pressure after falling to 1.12 at the end of last week. The current quotation of the EUR/USD pair is 1.1240. Today, the macroeconomic calendar is almost empty, the main events of the United States and the eurozone will be held later this week.

Today, attention should be paid only to inflation data in Italy: consumer prices in the country in May fell by 0.2% after a zero change in April. This suggests that the third eurozone economy has already faced deflation, which could push the ECB to further soften the parameters of its monetary policy.

The dollar was supported by data on consumer confidence from the University of Michigan: the index rose in June to 78.9 points against the May mark of 72.3. The restoration of the indicator signals that the «bottom» of consumer sentiment has already been passed. However, fears of the second wave of the US epidemic continue to be a risk factor for the US currency.

EUR/USD. June 16, 2020 – Dollar resumes its growth

Yesterday, the EUR/USD pair appreciably strengthened, reaching the level of 1.1350. However, on Tuesday, the euro began to decline to 1.1300. Before the US dollar was under pressure amid a fall in the levels of ten-year government bond yields and a general improvement in investor risk appetite.

However, the decline was replaced by strengthening after the publication of data on business activity in the manufacturing sector of New York in June: the index was -0.2 points against the May value of -48.5. This means that business and production are gradually returning to life.

Today you should pay attention to the statistics block from Europe. Germany and the eurozone will present reports on the business sentiment index from ZEW in June, experts predict a noticeable improvement in both cases. The day will end, most likely, with a weakening dollar after the publication of the report on retail sales: the rate of decline should accelerate from -21.6% to -32.6%.