background image background image background image

NY Open: Is the USDCAD sell-off overdone?

Forex 4 minutes to read
MO
Michael O’Neill

FX Trader, Loonieviews.net

Summary:  USDCAD traders are waiting on tomorrow's Bank of Canada outing, but policy hawks and CAD bulls are likely to be disappointed.


USDCAD traders are biding their time until tomorrow’s Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Report, interest rate statement and Governor Poloz’s press conference. USDCAD was trading at 1.3270 just before the December 5 rate announcement. It touched 1.3660 on December 27 thanks to a combination of falling oil prices and the belief that the BoC had flipped to a dovish policy stance after a Poloz speech on December 6. 

USDCAD broke support at 1.3550 last Thursday, then accelerated lower yesterday when pivotal support in the 1.3330-50 area gave way. The sell-off coincided with a 12% rally in WTI from January 2. The move was that much sweeter because the discount applied to Alberta’s chief crude export, Western Canada Select (WCS), which narrowed from US dollar $29.50 to $10.50 on Monday (as per Bloomberg)

Poloz’s December 6 speech was deemed dovish in part because he warned that falling crude prices would have a meaningful impact on the macroeconomy.

Those expecting Poloz to flip back to a somewhat hawkish monetary policy may be sorely disappointed. WTI prices are well below the levels they were at in December when he last stated his concerns. Canada's central bank has said on numerous occasions that it is not concerned with “short-term” economic volatility as it has a much longer view horizon.

While recent oil and Canadian dollar price action may be welcome, they will take great pains to be neutral.

USDCAD has support at 1.3270 and 50% Fibonacci retracement support from the October low at 1.3220.

Wall Street added to yesterday’s gains in early trading this morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.11% as of 14:00 GMT, buoyed by upbeat expectations from the US/China trade talks. The rally, however, is far from entrenched. There are many areas which could trigger renewed selling including concerns over a prolonged US government shutdown. President Trump will address the nation tonight. His penchant for hyperbole and wild statements may curtail activity today.

The US dollar inched higher in New York, perhaps because traders believed that yesterday’s dollar sell-off might have been premature. This morning’s JOLTS survey showed another drop in job openings.
USDCAD
Chart: USDCAD 4-hour.  Source: Saxo Bank
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.