Interested In our Analyst’s Longer-Term Oil Outlook, be sure to sign up for our free oil guide here.
Talking Points:
- USD/CAD Technical Strategy: Drop Through 21-DMA Would Encourage CAD Buying
- Price slowed down at key 1.4140-1.4200 Zone of Support
- US Dollar Strength in Question & Worth Watching
The Story in USDCAD – Underlying Markets May Be Turning
Friday’s close below 1.4150, near the 21-dma, has forced many USD/CAD bulls out of their positions. A near 550 pip drop from Wednesday’s high have traders on high-alert for a turn as many now turn neutral in the short term. The highly correlated WTI Crude Oil market posted its strongest 2-day rally since the initial move off the late 2008-low at $32.40bb to end last week rising over 18%. Now, the risk for USD/CAD traders is for a deeper-than-initially anticipated downturn that could cut into the rally that started on October 15 at 1.28311. Overall, the bullish view on USD-CAD would be encouraged should signs of a base form around the 21-DMA at 1.4170 to re-enter a long position. A continuation of last week’s move taking us through the 21-DMA would invalidate the upside views for the now.
This week, traders will look to Federal Reserve for confidence in Monetary Policy path and direction in the US Dollar after the Bank of Canada tempered expectations for easing. The view commonly held right now by many is that a confident Fed is Bullish USD and, therefore, bullish USDCAD. A statement that would not the Fed is no longer looking to hike rates in 2016, which isn’t expected, would be a dovish outcome and particularly US Dollar negative that would likely take USDCAD below the 21-DMA.
Key Levels after the Plunge
The focal point on the chart is currently at the 21-dma at 1.4169. Below the 21-DMA, two levels should be in focus for short-term traders selling USD/CAD or longer-term bulls look for levels to hold for bullish sentiment to remain. First, the 2016 YTD low at 1.3811 and second, the 7-month channel support and trendline off the lows, as well as the 100-DMA & 61.8% retracement of the October-January range near 1.3450/1.3564. A strong turn off these levels higher should turn attention to WTI Crude Oil, which has been inversely correlated with USD/CAD. A sustained move higher in WTI Crude Oil would turn the focus toward medium-term support on USD/CAD.
Sentiment Beginning to Favor CAD Bulls
When looking at sentiment, Crowd Sentiment Extremes Have Plummeted on USD/CAD relative to recent positioning, which shows that traders do not think USD/CAD is as overbought as they once did. On the sentiment chart below, you will also notice that there are the fewest number of USD/CAD bears since early December. We use our SSI as a contrarian indicator to price action, and the fact that the majority of traders are short still gives a signal that the USDCAD may continue higher. However, a flip into positive territory would warn of a larger trend shift.
USD/CAD Speculative Sentiment Index as of 1/25/2016
Interested In Learning the Traits of FXCM’s Successful Traders? If So, Click Here
T.Y.
original source
