Daily Fundamental ForexTime ( FXTM )

EM Currencies hit by risk aversion; Pound dives on delayed Brexit vote






Emerging market currencies are poised to remain in the firing line this week as ongoing trade tensions, Brexit uncertainty, depressed equity markets and turmoil in France cripple investor confidence.

The unfavourable market conditions are already boosting appetite for the safe-haven Dollar, which will most likely translate to further pain and punishment for EM currencies. With concerns over plateauing global growth and geopolitical risk leaving sentiment extremely fragile, risk aversion has the potential to become a major theme in the near term.

In the currency markets, the Chinese Yuan weakened against the Dollar mostly due to trade tensions. An appreciating Dollar weighed on the local currency further with the USDCNY trading marginally above 6.908 as of writing. With trade tensions seen weighing on the Yuan but strengthening the Dollar, the USDCNY has scope to challenge 6.923 in the near term.

Chaos in Commons as May delays Brexit vote

The British Pound was treated without mercy by bearish investors on Monday after UK Prime Minister Theresa May abruptly postponed a parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal.

Appetite towards Sterling instantly diminished following the news with the GBPUSD crashing to levels not seen since April 2017. A strong sense of uncertainty over the various scenarios that could happen regarding Brexit is likely to leave investors extremely uneasy and edgy. As the week progresses market players will be pondering whether May has the ability to renegotiate with Brussels in a bid to save the deal? If she will face a leadership vote or the possibility of a second referendum. With Brexit chaos in the House of commons raising the likelihood of a no-deal scenario, the near-term outlook for the Pound points to further downside.

In regards to the technical picture, the GBPUSD is heavily bearish on the weekly charts. The downside momentum could send prices below 1.2500. Bears remain in firm control below the 1.2700 resistance level.






Currency spotlight – Dollar

The Dollar staged an impressive rebound as trade tensions and Brexit related uncertainty sent investors sprinting to the safe-haven currency.

Although the Dollar has scope to extend gains on safe-haven flows, the upside is poised to face headwinds in the form of fading Fed hike expectations. With November’s disappointing US jobs report reinforcing expectations over the Federal Reserve taking a pause of rate hikes next year, Dollar bulls are at threat of running of inspiration in the medium term. Focusing on the technical picture, the Dollar Index has scope to hit 97.50 this week.

Daily Fundamental ForexTime ( FXTM )

Temporary trade truce provides additional boost to risk






Just a few days after Fed Chairman Jerome Powell unexpectedly signaled that the Federal Reserve is turning dovish, investors received further positive news over the weekend after a temporary ceasefire between Washington and Beijing regarding trade tensions was announced after the G-20 summit in Argentina.

The two-hour dinner between senior authorities from both the United States and China, including President Trump and President Xi, that led to the announcement of a temporary trade truce was of greater importance than the G-20 communique which stated that the WTO needs to be reformed to improve its function. What was delivered over the dinner was not a breakthrough, neither a long-term solution for the ongoing trade war between the largest two economies, but a 90-day window to improve relations. Introduction of new tariffs are now shelved, and trade talks will intensify over the next three months. This outcome seems to be an optimistic one from the two leaders and more than what was priced into markets beforehand, meaning that this is enough to boost sentiment and risk-on trade.

Chinese stocks rose more than 3% and the S&P 500 futures surged 1.7% at the time of writing. While bulls seem to be well in control for now, investors need to know that what was achieved is only a short-term relief to markets. Whether this will be translated into longer-term advances depends on the path of negotiations over the next three months. For now, one obstacle has been removed, but all longer-term risks remain there.

Canada joins Saudi Arabia and Russia in managing production

The risk-on rally sent Brent Oil above $62 early Monday. The U.S.-China trade truce is not the only source of support for prices, but signals of another production cut from Russia and Saudi Arabia seem to be the key factor. OPEC’s official meeting will be held on Wednesday and markets are expecting to see a substantial production cut after Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country’s cooperation on Oil supplies with Saudi Arabia would continue. Another surprising announcement came from the government of Alberta on Sunday stating a cut of 325,000 barrels a day for three months starting in 2019. Given this combination of factors, Oil prices are likely to have bottomed out for 2018, but a confirmation is needed when OPEC and non-OPEC members meet in Vienna on December 6.

Dollar heads south

The demand for riskier assets sent the Dollar lower against most developed and emerging market currencies. The Dollar index fell back below 97 with commodity currencies AUD and CAD being the best performing ones. The Chinese Yuan also broke a three-week trading range to trade 0.8% higher against the Greenback. This relief rally may continue for the next couple of days, unless surprising negative news arises.