Monday 6 April 2020
Equity markets in Asia and early Europe have taken some positive stance on the "less deaths than expected" scenario from the UK,US and others but the reality check, for UK and GBP, at least, came wth news that PM Boris Johnson had been admitted to hospital for tests having failed to shrug off COVID 19 after 10 days.
Since that news though we've mostly seen risk-on sentiment prevail but markets remain fragile. Today's OPEC/Russia meeting on oil production has been postponed until Thursday. Another strange week ahead and caution advised as ever.
GBPUSD dipped to 1.2210 on the Boris news but has since rallied to 1.2323 on that better risk sentiment helped by GBPJPY demand but sellers, including me, prevailing again with a move back to 1.2280 but it remains a confused picture still for the moment. EURGBP has been up to 0.8863 (GBPEUR down to 1.1283) on the general GBP selling earlier but now back down testing 0.8780 (1.1390) again.GBPJPY found support at 132.30 but since been up to look at 134.50 amid some risk-on and USDJPY finding decent demand again to post to post 109.38.
I stay poised to sell GBP rallies overall and buy back in the dips as ever but patience continues to be a virtue and entry level key as always. Weker Construction PMI just out but no surprise.
USDJPY has found some decent dip demand again and now broken up through decent offers/res around 108.60 to post 109.38 helped by the better risk sentiment starting the week. EURJPY has rallied well from 117.00 to post 118.31 helped by the better risk sentiment and core pair dip demand but sellers still poised.EURUSD continues its up and down journey and now testing 1.0780 support again after capping at 1.0835.USDCHF has based around 0.9750 and since rallied to 0.9782 as I type as EURUSD falls and helped by some EURCHF dip demand still at 1.0540 with the SNB still in the frame as latest SNB sight deposit stats this morning prove.
AUDUSD has found support at 0.5990 and now rallied to look at 0.6060 helped by some AUDJPY demand and EURAUD selling. USDCAD has been up to 1.4260 only to fall back to look at that 1.4080 support line again this morning helped by firmer oil and CADJPY demand but corrections on all those three to post 1.4141. We saw some sharp weakening in the SA Rand on Friday afternoon after another downgrade and the currency remains under pressure still.
Fickle Forex markets ever prevailing so be ready to jump on moves with your orders as always. Caution advised as ever if you're not sure.
Lots going on right now, and the foreseeable future, so don't forget that I offer 1-2-1 menor how to make best use of the order boards and expiries, that you might need some further help with.
Let's continue to be careful out there in all things as ever. Staying safe must be our main priority still.
Interbank rates: 08.35 BST
GBPUSD 1.2305
EURUSD 1.0815
EURGBP 0.8803
GBPEUR 1.1360
GBPAUD 2.0313
GBPCAD 1.7349
GBPJPY 134.34
GBPZAR 23.3813
GBPHKD 69.5401
USDJPY 109.14
USDZAR 19.0315
EURJPY 118.11
EURCHF 1.0566
EURHKD 8.3979
AUDUSD 0.6060
USDCAD 1.4097
USDCHF 0.9763
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