FOREX NEWS: US DOLLAR TAKES A BIG HIT. ALL EYES ON POUND FOR RETAIL SALES RELEASE
EUR/USD
Forex News: The Euro continued to strengthen and the pair showed another bullish session, moving above the long term resistance located at 1.1120. Despite the overextended condition of the pair, the buyers remained in control.
Technical Outlook
Since the latest move up started, only one candle was bearish and the pair climbed strongly, without any form of retracement lower. The Relative Strength Index and Stochastic are extremely overbought and this would normally call for a pullback but the US Dollar totally lacks strength, making us anticipate further advances north for the pair. The previous resistance at 1.1120 – 1.1100 may turn into support, while to the upside the next level of importance is 1.1240.
Fundamental Outlook
At 12:30 pm GMT the U.S. Unemployment Claims are released, showing the number of people who asked for unemployment related benefits. A higher number than the forecast 240K usually weakens the US Dollar and the opposite is true for a lower number but this indicator has a low-to-medium impact, mostly because it is released every week.
GBP/USD
British jobs data matched analysts’ expectations but US Dollar selling pushed the pair higher, into the top of the channel, at 1.2990.
Technical Outlook
The pair is facing a strong resistance at 1.2990 – 1.3000. If this area can be surpassed, we expect to see a move into 1.3050, followed by 1.3100 but we cannot rule out a bounce lower from the current resistance. However, the weakness showed by the US Dollar against most of its counterparts makes us anticipate a break of the level and a continuation higher.
Fundamental Outlook
The British Retail Sales are today’s highlight, released at 8:30 am GMT and expected to show a change of 1.2% compared to the previous -1.8%. Sales made at retail levels represent the major part of consumer spending and usually a higher number strengthens the currency, because it shows increased economic activity.