FX Breakout Monitor: Daily direction changes the norm FX Breakout Monitor: Daily direction changes the norm FX Breakout Monitor: Daily direction changes the norm

FX Breakout Monitor: Daily direction changes the norm

Forex 5 minutes to read
John J. Hardy

Head of FX Strategy

Summary:  NZD weakens sharply on a dovish RBNZ – suddenly looking at a downside break level after poking at resistance. Elsewhere, currencies can’t decide what to do on the conflicting signals of clear safe haven seeking in sovereign bond markets while equities zig and zag.


For a PDF copy of this edition, click here.

Yesterday we discussed the case of whiplash that was dealt in JPY crosses on the sharp weakening of the yen after Friday’s rally. Today’s session saw another direction change, with the powerful bid in sovereign bond markets driving fresh yen resilience and dogging trend traders’ hopes for a clear direction.

Elsewhere, the NZD sagged badly overnight on a dovish broadside from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand which brings the bank’s guidance more in line with other central banks around the world. As we discus below, this takes AUDNZD suddenly close to resistance just after a long string of fresh new lows for the cycle.

As well, sentiment in EM was weak today, especially in TRY (Turkish lira) with liquidity drying up as tom/next rolls have spiked as high as 1,000% annualised (yes, one-thousand percent) today, driven by Turkish authorities punishing short TRY positions ahead of this weekend’s election.
 
Breakout signal tracker

Our latest position, a EURAUD short promptly found a bottom and then backed up sharply as the AUD suffered collateral damage on the huge sell-off in NZD overnight on the RBNZ’s dovish turn. Whether the sell-off move can get back on track will likely rely on a further improvement in risk sentiment, and today’s developments leave us none the wiser. The losses will only pile up for breakout traders if every directional feint reverses…
Source: Saxo Bank

Today’s FX Breakout monitor

Page 1: The strength in sovereign bonds sees EURJPY poking near the downside breakout level today. Elsewhere, note that AUDNZD is nearly back at a 19-day highs just a couple of session after testing 19-day lows – more below. And EURCHF poked below the key cycle low area around 1.1200.

Source: Saxo Bank

Page 2: A hold into the close above the break levels in USDZAR looks tempting for a long position as we discuss below. Elsewhere, AUDJPY has reversed nearly all of yesterday’s gains and change direction sharply for the third time in just a few sessions.

Source: Saxo Bank

Chart: AUDNZD

AUDNZD is looking at a 19-day high today just a couple of sessions after poking to new lows for the cycle on the RBNZ’s dovish guidance. Trading against a former trend is difficult, but a move back above 1.0500 would suggest that the lows are in for this pair for at least a try back to the 1.0700 area.

Source: Saxo Bank

Chart: USDZAR

This is a chart we brought up a couple of days ago and the upside break signal looks technically compelling on a close above 14.50-55 today – we’ll have a look at the price action into today’s close and early tomorrow for more guidance.

Source: Saxo Bank

REFERENCE: FX Breakout Monitor overview explanations

The following is a left-to-right, column by column explanation of the FX Breakout Monitor tables.

Trend: a measure of whether the currency pair is trending up, down or sideways based on an algorithm that looks for persistent directional price action. A currency can register a breakout before it looks like it is trending if markets are choppy.

ATR: Average True Range or the average daily trading range. Our calculation of this indicator uses a 50-day exponential moving average to smooth development. The shading indicates whether, relative to the prior 1,000 trading days, the current ATR is exceptionally high (deep orange), somewhat elevated (lighter orange), normal (no shading), quiet (light blue) or exceptionally quiet (deeper blue).

High Closes / Low Closes: These columns show the highest and lowest prior 19- and 49-day daily closing levels.  

Breakouts:
The right-most several columns columns indicate whether a breakout to the upside or downside has unfolded today (coloured “X”) or on any of the previous six trading days. This graphic indication offers an easy way to see whether the breakout is the first in a series or is a continuation from a prior break. For the “Today” columns for 19-day and 49-day breakouts, if there is no break, the distance from the current “Quote” to the break level is shown in ATR, and coloured yellow if getting close to registering a breakout.

NOTE: although the Today column may show a breakout in action, the daily close is the key level that is the final arbiter on whether the breakout is registered for subsequent days.

Quarterly Outlook 2024 Q3

Sandcastle economics

01 / 05

  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Invest wisely in Q3 2024: Discover SaxoStrats' insights on navigating a stable yet fragile global economy.

    Read article
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain inflation and evolving monetary policies.

    Read article
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynamics echo 2021's rally.

    Read article
  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperform in Q3 2024.

    Read article
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities in Q3 2024.

    Read article
Disclaimer

The Saxo Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website is not intended to and does not change or expand on this. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-hk/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

None of the information contained here constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument, or to make any investments. Saxo does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information nor for any loss arising from any investment made in reliance of this presentation. Any opinions made are subject to change and may be personal to the author. These may not necessarily reflect the opinion of Saxo or its affiliates.

Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited
19th Floor
Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower
12 Queen’s Road Central
Hong Kong

Contact Saxo

Select region

Hong Kong S.A.R
Hong Kong S.A.R

Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited (“Saxo”) is a company authorised and regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. Saxo holds a Type 1 Regulated Activity (Dealing in Securities); Type 2 Regulated Activity (Dealing in Futures Contract); Type 3 Regulated Activity (Leveraged Foreign Exchange Trading); Type 4 Regulated Activity (Advising on Securities) and Type 9 Regulated Activity (Asset Management) licenses (CE No. AVD061). Registered address: 19th Floor, Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower, 12 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong.

Trading in financial instruments carries various risks, and is not suitable for all investors. Please seek expert advice, and always ensure that you fully understand these risks before trading. Trading in leveraged products may result in your losses exceeding your initial deposits. Saxo does not provide financial advice, any information available on this website is ‘general’ in nature and for informational purposes only. Saxo does not take into account an individual’s needs, objectives or financial situation. Please click here to view the relevant risk disclosure statements.

The Saxo trading platform has received numerous awards and recognition. For details of these awards and information on awards visit www.home.saxo/en-hk/about-us/awards.

The information or the products and services referred to on this site may be accessed worldwide, however is only intended for distribution to and use by recipients located in countries where such use does not constitute a violation of applicable legislation or regulations. Products and services offered on this website are not directed at, or intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity residing in the United States and Japan. Please click here to view our full disclaimer.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. AppStore is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.