TheNews

- U.S. Advance Retail Sales to Rebound After Holding Flat in April.
- Household Spending Has Failed to Meet Market Forecast the Last Five Straight Prints.

Trading the News: U.S. Advance Retail Sales

A 1.2% rebound in U.S. Retail Sales may increase the appeal of the greenback and highlight a more bearish outlook for EUR/USD as the Fed remains on course to normalize monetary policy in 2015.

What’s Expected:




Why Is This Event Important:

Signs of a stronger recovery may encourage the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to adopt a more hawkish tone at the June 17 interest rate decision, and expectations for higher borrowing-costs may spur a resumption of the long-term bullish USD trend as the central bank moves away from its easing cycle.

Expectations: Bullish Argument/Scenario

Release	Expected	Actual
Consumer Credit (APR)	$16.000B	$20.541B
Average Hourly Earnings (YoY) (MAY)	2.2%	2.3%
Non-Farm Payrolls (MAY)	226K	280K

The pickup in job/wage growth along with the ongoing expansion in private-sector credit may encourage a marked rebound in household consumption, and an upbeat print may trigger a bullish reaction in the greenback as it boosts interest rate expectations.

Risk: Bearish Argument/Scenario

Release	Expected	Actual
Consumer Price Index ex Food & Energy (YoY) (APR)	1.7%	1.8%
Personal Consumption (1Q P)	2.0%	1.8%
U. of Michigan Confidence (MAY P)	95.9	88.6

Nevertheless, retail sales may continue to disappoint amid easing discounts paired with waning consumer confidence, and another weaker-than-expected report may drag on the dollar as it raises the for a further delay in the Fed’s normalization cycle.

How To Trade This Event Risk

Bullish USD Trade: U.S. Retail Sales Rebounds 1.2% or Greater

• Need red, five-minute candle following a positive print to consider a short EUR/USD trade.
• If market reaction favors a bullish dollar trade, sell EUR/USD with two separate position.
• Set stop at the near-by swing high/reasonable distance from entry; look for at least 1:1 risk-to-reward.
• Move stop to entry on remaining position once initial target is hit; set reasonable limit.

Bearish USD Trade: Household Spending Continues to Disappoint

• Need green, five-minute candle to favor a long EUR/USD trade.
• Implement same setup as the bullish dollar trade, just in reverse.

Potential Price Targets For The Release
EURUSD Daily

• EUR/USD appears to be stuck in a long-term wedge/triangle formation following the failed attempt to test the February high back in May; remains at risk for range-bound prices as market participants weigh the outlook for monetary policy.
• Interim Resistance: 1.1510 (61.8% expansion) to 1.1532 (February high)
• Interim Support: 1.0970 (38.2% expansion) to 1.1000 (50% retracement)

Impact that the U.S. Retail Sales report has had on EUR/USD during the previous month

Period	Data Released	Estimate	Actual	Pips Change (1 Hour post event )	Pips Change (End of Day post event)
APR 2014	05/13/2014 12:30 GMT	0.2%	0.0%	+52	+86

U.S. Retail Sales unexpectedly held flat in April following a revised 1.1% advance the month prior. A deeper look at the report showed a 2.2% decline in department stores sales, which was accompanied by a 0.7% decline in gasoline receipts, while discretionary spending on clothing increased another 0.2% after climbing 0.9% in March. The ongoing in private-sector consumption dragged on the greenback, with EURUSD clearing the 1.1300 handle to end the North American trade at 1.1353.

--- Written by David Song, Currency Analyst and Shuyang Ren


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