Dollar Sets Sights on 1.25; Risk of Sharp Euro Rally Remains Though

Published February 27th, 2009 - 07:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

-Euro at center of 1.25-1.30 range
-USDJPY reverses off of Fibonacci resistance
-GBPUSD tests 1.41 support
-USDCAD risk moved up to 1.2350





Euro / US Dollar


For now, I am sticking with the count that treats the consolidation since late January as a triangle, which would place the drop from that triangle as wave 5 in the 5 wave decline from the December high.  Under this count, a low is in at 1.25 and price is headed higher in order to more fully correct the decline from 1.47.  If 1.25 is broken, then there is the possibility that the decline from 1.33 is an ending diagonal as wave 5.  Reward to relative risk is high for bulls at this point, irrespective of which count is correct.  Still, until the picture clears, I do not feel safe being long.


US Dollar / Japanese Yen


The USDJPY has weakened following the test of the 50% retracement of the decline from 110.71.  The advance to 98.75 may have completed a 3 wave advance from 87.09 that is the beginning of a larger, choppy correction.  Former resistance at 94.67 is potential support.  Staying below


British Pound / US Dollar


The GBPUSD is putting 1.41 to the test.  The count on the daily, which shows 5 waves down from the 2007 high, indicates that risk of a sharp advance is high.  Coming under 1.41 exposes measured support at 1.38.  The trend is down as long as price is below 1.4389.  There is short term resistance at 1.4223.


US Dollar / Swiss Franc


Expectations are for the USDCHF to decline to at least 1.13.  This is where the ending diagonal began, which are usually fully retraced.


US Dollar / Canadian Dollar


As I’ve favored the last few weeks, the triangle that has been underway since October is probably complete at 1.2020.  The breakout scenario is favored as long as price is above 1.2348.  Coming under there would require a reassessment of the short term pattern.


Australian Dollar / US Dollar


I am zooming out to the daily in order to highlight the long term bearish implications from the 5 wave drop and subsequent 3 wave rally (since July 2008).  The corrective rally from the October 2008 low ended right at the former 4th wave, which is typical of corrections.  The pattern since the October low can also be categorized as a head and shoulders continuation.  Coming under the February 2 low at .6245 would mark a break of the neckline and focus would then shift to the October low of .60.  A word of warning to bears though, staying above .6245 keeps the larger range intact and there is risk of a rally that exceeds .6857 prior to resumption of the downtrend.


New Zealand Dollar / US Dollar


The NZDUSD has declined impulsively (5 waves) since its 2008 high and that decline was followed by a 3 wave rally (from the November low).  The drop from .6090 is viewed as beginning of the next bear leg.  Price may exceed .5454 in order to complete a corrective advance from below .50 prior to resumption of the larger bear trend.



Jamie Saettele publishes Daily Technicals every weekday morning (930 am EST), COT analysis (published Monday mornings), technical analysis of currency crosses throughout the week (EUR on Tuesday, JPY on Wednesday, GBP on Thursday, AUD on Friday), and the DFX Trend Index every day after the NY close.  He is also the author of Sentiment in the Forex Market.
 
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