Daily F.X. Analysis, September 04 – Top Trade Setups In Forex – Brace for U.S. NFP Figures! 

On the news front, the eyes will be on the U.S. ADP Non-farm payroll figures, which may drive price action during the New York session today. Besides, the U.S. Crude Oil Inventories will remain in highlights as economists expect a slight draw in U.S. oil stocks that may drive buying in WTI crude oil.

Economic Events to Watch Today  

EUR/USD – Daily Analysis

The EUR/USD pair was closed at 1.18513 after placing a high of 1.18644 and a low of 1.17888. Overall the movement of the EUR/USD pair remained flat yet bullish throughout the day. After dropping for two consecutive days, the EUR/USD pair extended its losses in the first half of the day but reversed its direction and started posting gains in the late trading hours.

After reaching a 2-years peak level, the EUR/USD pair saw subsequent profit-taking that weighed on its prices and dragged it down. However, on Thursday, the pair’s extra downside pressure was due to the strong U.S. dollar amid better than expected economic data.

The Unemployment Claims from the United States last week dropped to 881K from its previous forecast of 955K and supported the U.S. dollar. The less unemployment claim benefits mean more people rejoined their jobs during the last week in the U.S. and raised hopes for a quick economic recovery.

Moreover, from the European side, at 12:15 GMT, the Spanish Services PMI in August dropped to 47.7 from the forecasted 48.0 and weighed on the shared currency Euro. At 12:45 GMT, the Italian Services PMI for August also dropped to 47.1 from the expected 49.4 and weighed on Euro. AT 12:50 GMT, the French Final Services PMI dropped to 51.5 from the projected 51.9 and weighed on Euro.

However, at 12:55 GMT, the German Final Services PMI rose to 52.5 from the expected 50.8and supported Euro. At 13:00 GMT, the Final Services PMI for the whole bloc in August also rose to 50.5 and showed an expansion against the expectations of 50.1 and supported the Euro that added further in the EUR/USD pair’s gains. At 14:0 GMT, the Retail Sales data from Eurozone dropped to -1.3% in July against the anticipated 1.3% and weighed heavily on Euro.

Most data from Europe on Thursday came in against the local currency and took the pair EUR/USD to its five days lowest level on Thursday. However, in the late trading session, the pair managed to reverse its track and started posting gains. On the other hand, on Thursday, a survey showed that the Eurozone’s rebound from its deepest economic downturn was weakened in August as some countries in the E.U. suffered more than others from the restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the virus.

On Thursday, France’s government detailed its 100 billion euro stimulus plan to erase the coronavirus crises’ economic impact over two years. The billions of euros were lined up in public investments, subsidies, and tax cuts. This added pressure on the single currency Euro and the pair dropped in the first session.

Meanwhile, the countries that rely heavily on tourism like Italy, Spain, and Greece saw a large contraction in the services PMI on Thursday as travel restrictions were put in place to stop the coronavirus spread.

Apart from that, the EUR/USD pair was also under pressure on Thursday because of the latest comments from the Chief ECB Economist, Philip Lane, who said that authorities have started to become uncomfortable with the single currency’s recent appreciation. This not only triggered the profit-taking but also hopes for a new stimulus measure from the European Union to ease the rally of EUR currency. However, the pair EUR/USD managed to find support at the ending hours of Thursday’s trading session as the selling pressure was eased ahead of the NFP data from the U.S.

Daily Technical Levels

Support	Pivot	Resistance
1.1802	1.1834	1.1879
1.1757		1.1911
1.1726		1.1956

EUR/USD– Trading Tip

As expected, the EUR/USD bounced off over the support level of 1.1795, and now it’s heading further higher until the next target of 1.1890. The pair may find an immediate resistance at 1.1860 level. Conversely, the EUR/USD may find support at 1.1808 and 1.1780 levels. NFP will determine further price action in the pair. 

GBP/USD – Daily Analysis

The GBP/USD pair was closed at 1.32804 after placing a high of 1.33584 and a low of 1.32424. Overall the movement of the GBP/USD pair remained bearish throughout the day. The British Pound fell for a second straight day on Thursday and threatened to reverse the 3-week winning streak on the Bank of England’s rising expectations of negative interest rates.

Recently, the Governor of Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has said that the central bank could adopt the worst-case scenario’s negative interest rate policy. The scenario pointed towards the second wave of coronavirus and failure to reach a post-Brexit trade deal with the E.U.

According to Andrew Bailey, the use of negative interest rates would be strong in the worst-case scenario instead of using bond buying or quantitative easing, which are considered the central bank’s preferred tools.

He added that the fears of the second wave of coronavirus affected the recovery pace as the key parts of economy operations were under their normal level. He said that he was worried about the weak economic activity in London.

Bailey also highlighted that there was still a huge amount of uncertainty around the effects that the crisis would have on the economy long term. These concerning comments from bailey weighed on a single currency Pound and kept the GBP/USD pair under pressure on Thursday.

Moreover, the U.S. dollar also played an important role in keeping the currency pair GBP/USD on the downside on Thursday after the release of U.S. Unemployment Claims data.

At 17:30 GMT, the Jobless Claims from last week dropped to 881K from the forecasted 955K and supported the U.S. dollar. At 19:00 GMT, the highly awaited ISM non-Manufacturing PMI remained flat with the expectations of 47.0. The strong U.S. dollar then weighed on GBP/USD pair and extended its previous day losses.

Whereas, from the Great Britain side, at 13:30 GMT, the Final Services PMI for August dropped to 58.8 against the anticipated 60.1 and weighed on single currency Sterling. The already weak Sterling weighed on GBP/USD pair, and the pair posted losses on the day.

On the Brexit front, the E.U. chief negotiator Michel Barnier launched another attack on U.K.’s post-Brexit stance and said that the British government sought to have its cake and eat it. He accused the U.K. of failing to engage constructively in talks on the future relationship. He stressed the need to approve an agreement by the end of October to have time for ratification. Barnier claimed that despite the U.K.’s desire for independence from the E.U., in practice, the U.K. was seeking the status quo but without obligations. Barnier’s comments raised concerns over the Brexit deal and weighed on GBP that dragged the currency pair GBP/USD on the downside.

 Daily Technical Levels

Support	Pivot	Resistance
1.3228	1.3293	1.3344
1.3177		1.3409
1.3112		1.3460

 GBP/USD– Trading Tip

On Friday, the GBP/USD pair is trading bearish at 1.3308 level, set to test the support level of 1.3168 level. The Cable has already violated an upward trendline at 1.3375 level, which is already violated. On the lower side, the GBP/USD may drop further below 1.3358 until the 1.3263 level. The MACD is also supporting selling bias; therefore, we will be looking for selling trades below the 1.3355 level. 

USD/JPY – Daily Analysis

The USD/JPY pair was closed at 106.184 after placing a high of 106.551 and a low of 106.000. Overall the movement of the USD/JPY remained flat yet bullish throughout the day. The USD/JPY pair extended its bullish streak for the 4th consecutive day and rose to a high of 106.5 level on Thursday on positive U.S. jobless claims and services PMI data. However, the pair failed to remain higher and lost most of its daily gains in the late session as the Japanese Yen found demand as a safe-haven.

The U.S. stock market dropped sharply on Thursday, with S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite indexes down by 3.5% and 5.05%. The fall in equities was caused by the lack of progress in the next coronavirus stimulus package by the U.S. government and overdue correction.

Moreover, the US-Treasury yields for the 10-year note lost almost 5%, and the U.S. Dollar Index stayed in the positive territory near 92.8 level as the greenback continued to perform higher against its risk-sensitive rival currencies and helped the USD/JPY to limit its fall in the second session.

On the data front, at 17:30 GMT, the Unemployment Claims from last week were dropped to 881K from the projected 955K and supported the U.S. dollar that added further gains in the USD/JPY pair. 

The Revised Non-farm Productivity for the quarter raised to 10.1% from the forecasted 7.3% and weighed on the U.S. dollar. The Revised Unit Labor Costs for the quarter declined to 9.0% from the anticipated 12.0% and pressured on the U.S. dollar. The Trade Balance in July showed a deficit of 63.6B against the expectations of 58,2B deficit and weighed on the U.S. dollar. At 18:45 GMT, the Final Services PMI for August rose to 55.0 from the expected 54.8 and supported the U.S. dollar that added strength in the USD/JPY pair. At 19:00 GMT, the ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI remained flat with the expectations of 47.0 and had almost no effect on the U.S. dollar.

The decrease in Unemployment claim benefits and rise in Final Services PMI gave a push to U.S. dollar and USD/JPY pair gains on Thursday.

On the coronavirus front, 25.8 million people have been reported to be diagnosed from coronavirus globally. Almost 17 million people have been reported to be recovered, while more than 850,000 have reported as dead. On Wednesday, after easing the pandemic restrictions, India reported more than 78000 cases in a single day and surpassed the U.S. for a daily case record of coronavirus.

Australia saw the biggest drop in GDP for the quarter and was pushed into recession for the first time since 1991 amid a pandemic crisis and its effect on the economy. These lingering concerns over the coronavirus kept the safe-haven demand for Japanese yen on board and limited the USD/JPY pair’s gains.


 

Daily Technical Levels

Support	Pivot	Resistance
105.9300	106.2500	106.5000
105.6800		106.8200
105.3700		107.0700

USD/JPY – Trading Tips

On Friday, the USD/JPY currency pair is trading at 106.077with an immediate resistance level of 106.085 level. Bullish crossover of 106.085 level may drive further buying until the next resistance level of 106.570. On the lower side, the USD/JPY pair may find support at 105.800 and 105.500 levels. Let’s consider buying over 106.100 level as the MACD and RSI also suggest the same. Later today, the eyes will remain on the U.S. NFP figures. Good luck!