Daily Market Analysis from ForexMart

GBP/USD. September 14, 2020 – Pound is weakly correcting after falling the day before

On Monday, the GBP/USD pair is recovering after falling to local lows last week. The pound dropped to 1.2760 on Thursday, recovering to 1.2850 today.

The pressure on the British currency continues to be exerted by the growing likelihood of the UK leaving the EU in a «tough» scenario, without a trade deal. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues to criticize the European authorities, only exacerbating the situation.

For example, today it became known that the politician accused the EU of a food blockade of Great Britain. Moreover, last week the British authorities passed a law on the border of Northern Ireland, which cancels last year's agreements with Brussels. All this uncertainty around Brexit is putting strong pressure on the sterling exchange rate, and the currency is unlikely to be able to recover to its recent highs in the near future.

GBP/USD. September 15, 2020 – Pound recovers moderately after long decline

Although the GBP/USD pair remains in a downward trend, it has been showing signs of recovery since the beginning of this week, responding to the positive British statistics. The current quote for the pair is 1.2890.

The UK released several economic reports this morning to support the pound. In particular, in July the growth of the average wages amounted to -1.0% against the forecast of -1.3%. The number of applications for unemployment benefits also fell in August. The actual number of requests was 73.7 thousand, while the forecasts assumed an increase to 100 thousand. Unemployment remained at the same level of 4.1%.

At the same time, the US dollar is under pressure from the protracted dispute in the US Congress over the issue of an additional package of monetary stimulus measures. In the evening hours, you should pay attention to the data on industrial production in the United States. Experts predict a slowdown in the decline in production from -8.2% to -6.1%, which may support the dollar.

The RSI indicator continues to rise towards the resistance zone, which signals the continued growth of the pound to the level of 1.29 and subsequent consolidation in this area.

Brent. September 16, 2020 – Oil market is growing again

Oil prices are rising for the second day in a row. The current Brent quotation is $41.40 per barrel.

The reason for the strengthening was the suspension of oil and gas production in the United States due to hurricane Sally in the Gulf of Mexico. The current estimate for the total loss of production is between 3 and 6 million barrels of oil in about 11 days.

Additional support to prices was provided by yesterday's report from the American Petroleum Institute (API), which showed a decrease in oil reserves in the United States by 9.5 million barrels, to 494.6 million. Analysts predicted an increase in reserves by 1.3 million barrels.

The dynamics of the oil market also depends on the results of the two-day meeting of the US Federal Reserve System. If the event provides support for the dollar, oil prices are expected to show a correction.

USD/CAD. September 16, 2020 – Canadian dollar rises moderately in anticipation of inflation data

On Wednesday, the USD/CAD pair is moderately declining from the level of 1.3200. The current quote of the pair is 1.3160.

Statistics released yesterday from the US and Canada turned out to be weak. In the United States, data on industrial production were presented, the volume of which fell from 3.5% to 0.4% in August. The forecast assumed a reduction to 1.0%. Canada shared data on manufacturing sales, which fell from 23.0% to 7.0%.

Today you should pay attention to the results of the two-day meeting of the US Federal Reserve. Investors do not expect changes in interest rates or the course of monetary policy, policy, but the subsequent press conference of Jerome Powell will be of interest. The head of the Fed should comment on the issue of further interest rate cuts.

In Canada, a block of data on the dynamics of consumer prices will be published today. Market participants expect inflation to rise from 0.1% to 0.3%, which may provide some support to the Canadian dollar.

EUR/USD. September 17, 2020 – The dollar strengthened after the meeting of the US Federal Reserve, but not for long

Yesterday, the results of the two-day meeting of the US Federal Reserve became known, which provided significant support to the dollar. In the evening hours, the quotes of the EUR/USD pair fell to the level of 1.1735. However, on Thursday the euro managed to make up for all the losses and return to the level of 1.1800.

The Open Markets Committee of the Federal Reserve System decided to leave the parameters of monetary policy unchanged. The key rate was kept at the historically minimal level – in the range of 0-0.25% per annum. At the same time, most Fed leaders expect the rate to remain in the current range until the end of 2023.

The ultra-soft monetary policy will continue until unemployment drops to estimated levels and inflation accelerates to 2%.

The Central Bank also improved its forecasts for GDP and unemployment for 2020: from -6.5% to -3.7% and from 9.3% to 7.6%. Jerome Powell noted that over the past two months, the US economy has been recovering faster than expected.

Today you should pay attention to the data on inflation in the euro area. Experts forecast a decline from 0.4% to -0.2%. And this will already become the official recognition of Europe's slide into deflation. The states will provide data on the number of applications for unemployment benefits. Experts expect further growth in the number of applications.

GBP/USD. September 18, 2020 – The pound is recovering from yesterday's decline

The pound sterling is showing signs of strengthening and is trading just below the 1.3000 level. Yesterday, after the release of the minutes of the Bank of England, the British currency came under pressure and fell to 1.2860. The regulator decided to keep the base interest rate at 0.1%, and the program of asset repurchase from the market – at 745 billion pounds.

At the same time, the Central Bank noted that it is ready to consider the possibility of reducing rates to the negative area, if necessary.

The pair changed direction after the release of data on the number of applications for unemployment benefits in the United States. Fresh numbers turned out to be worse than forecast: the figure fell to 860 thousand against expectations of a reduction to 850 thousand.

Additional support to the pound today was provided by the report on retail sales, the volume of which increased by 0.8% in monthly terms (better than expected) and by 2.8% in annual terms.

The RSI indicator is moving almost horizontally, which means that it will be difficult for the pound to overcome the resistance level of 1.30. During the day, the GBP/USD pair will continue to fluctuate at current levels.

Brent. September 21, 2020 – The oil market began to recover

Oil prices recovered more than 10% last week and Brent quotes returned to the area above $42 per barrel. The current quotation of the asset is $42.40. The weekly high was $43.78 per barrel. Experts believe that the «bullish» rally to the $45 area may resume.

The prices were supported by data on changes in oil reserves in the United States, as well as restrictions on production in the Gulf of Mexico caused by the hurricane season. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), oil reserves in the United States fell 4.4 million barrels, exceeding the forecast for a decline of 1.8 million barrels.

In the US, the active hurricane season continues. To date, due to the threat of Hurricane Sally in the Gulf of Mexico, the work of 27.48% of oil production capacities has been suspended.

An additional driver of price growth was the outcome of the OPEC + meeting, during which the participants in the energy pact reaffirmed their commitment to the current agreement. Earlier, the organization reduced the production cut from 9.7 million barrels per day to 7.7 million, starting in August. At the same time, countries that had not previously completed the deal in full, pledged to compensate for excess production in the coming months.

EUR/USD. September 22, 2020 – Euro continues to weaken

The European currency continues to weaken against the US dollar, falling to the level of 1.1690. The current quote for the EUR/USD pair is 1.1700. The main pressure on the European currency is exerted by the increase in the number of cases of coronavirus in Europe, which creates a risk for the introduction of new quarantine measures in the region.

Additional pressure on the euro rate came from the speech of the head of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde. She stated the need to carefully study the macroeconomic reports of the euro area, as the economic recovery is uneven and unstable. In the evening hours today, you should pay attention to the speech of the head of the Fed D. Powell.

The RSI indicator maintains momentum for further decline. The forecast for tomorrow assumes attempts to consolidate the dollar below the level of 1.17.

GBP/USD. September 23, 2020 – Pound weakly strengthens from 1.2700

The GBP/USD pair continues to decline against the dollar, falling to 1.2670 for the first time since late July. The current quote for the pair is 1.2730.

The main pressure on the British pound comes from the uncertainty over Brexit. The date of the country's withdrawal from the EU is approaching, but the parties have failed to reach agreements on many issues, and a «hard» Brexit scenario is becoming more and more likely.

Additional pressure on the British currency is exerted by a sharp deterioration of the epidemiological situation in the UK. Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday announced new restrictive measures and advised companies to move their employees to work remotely. Most likely, the country will face a new lockdown with the shutdown of enterprises, which will once again cause huge damage to the British economy.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey made a speech yesterday. He stated that negative rates are an important tool in the regulator's arsenal, but that their introduction will take time and technical preparatory work. Thus, the head of the Bank of England signaled a possible transition of monetary policy from zero to negative rates.

EUR/USD. September 23, 2020 – Euro is recovering after yesterday's fall

During yesterday's day, the EUR/USD pair dipped to the level of 1.1670, the current quote of the pair is 1.1710. The pressure on the European currency is exerted by the worsening epidemiological situation with regard to Covid-19 in the eurozone and the UK. The British Prime Minister announced new restrictive measures and invited companies to transfer as many workers as possible to remote work.

In addition, the dynamics of the pair is also affected by the strengthening of the dollar, which rose after the statement of Charles Evans about the possibility of moving to raising rates earlier than planned.

Yesterday's speeches by J. Powell and C. Lagarde increased the volatility in EUR/USD trading. Powell noted that the US banking system is holding up well during the pandemic, but there is much work to be done to restore the economy in the future and the prospects for the banking sector have not been determined. Today the head of the Fed will speak in the House of Representatives, and on Thursday – in the Senate Banking Committee.

The head of the ECB, in turn, said at yesterday's speech that the regulator is closely monitoring the rate of the single European currency. Today, the euro was supported by data from Germany, where the index of business activity in the manufacturing sector rose better than expected – to 56.6 points (the forecast assumed that the indicator would remain at the level of 52.2).

EUR/USD. September 24, 2020 – Euro is trading in the area of ​​local lows

On Thursday, the euro remains in a weak position and hovers around 1.1640. The pressure on the currency is exerting strong demand for the dollar as a «safe» asset amid a rise in the number of new cases of coronavirus in the world. According to experts, in Germany, Spain, Portugal and other countries, daily incidence records are being updated.

The dollar rallies even as the preliminary September Markit index of US services PMI declines. The indicator was 54.6 points against the previous value of 55.0. At the same time, the official data on this indicator reflected a slight improvement and showed an increase to 53.5 points from the previous 53.1.

At the same time, the euro was under pressure today from the data on the business climate from IFO in Germany. The index rose to just 93.4 points, while the forecasts assumed growth to 93.8. In the afternoon, you should pay attention to the data on applications for unemployment benefits in the United States. The number of applications is expected to decrease from 860 thousand to 845 thousand. If the forecasts justify themselves, the dollar will receive additional support, since such data signal a further recovery of the labor market.

EUR/USD. September 25, 2020 – The dollar is confidently moving to new highs

The EUR/USD pair continues to decline on Friday, and the euro runs the risk of renewing local minimums in the 1.1620 area during the day. The current quote for the pair is 1.1635.

The main support for the dollar, driving its growth, comes from the need of global investors for «safe» assets, as more countries mark the signs of a second wave of coronavirus. At the same time, market participants ignore the relatively weak American statistics. According to yesterday's data, the number of applications for unemployment benefits showed an increase to 870 thousand from the previous level of 866 thousand. The forecast was more optimistic and assumed a decrease in the indicator to 845 thousand.

The dollar showed some weakening yesterday, as investors' appetite for risky assets increased amid resumption of talks on additional stimulus for the US economy in the amount of $2.2 trillion.

Today we should pay attention to the publication of the US report on orders for durable goods for August, where the indicator could have increased by 1.1% m/m after earlier growth by 11.4% m/m. Macroeconomic publications are not expected in the euro area, so the dynamics of the EUR/USD pair will depend on data from the United States.