Skip to Content
News & Analysis at your fingertips.

We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
You can learn more about our cookie policy here, or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site. See our updated Privacy Policy here.

Free Trading Guides
Subscribe
Please try again
Select

Live Webinar Events

0

Economic Calendar Events

0

Notify me about

Live Webinar Events
Economic Calendar Events

H

High

M

Medium

L

Low
More View More
S&P 500 Forges Strong Recovery from the Precipice, Dollar Unmoved by Taxes

S&P 500 Forges Strong Recovery from the Precipice, Dollar Unmoved by Taxes

Talking Points:

  • From the verge of clear head-and-shoulders pattern breakdowns, US equities forged dramatic recovery rallies this past session
  • Top headline this past session was US tax policy passing through the House, but the impact wasn't registered in the Dollar
  • Carry trades and Yen crosses have deviated from broad risk trends, while Ripple has seen headlines to out quaffed Bitcoin

We are half way through the fourth quarter. See what the DailyFX analysts' forecasted for the Dollar, Euro, equity indexes and more through the end of the year? Download the 4Q forecasts on DailyFX.

The major US equity indexes were on the verge of turning their months-long bull tide - at least temporarily. Yet, just as the S&P 500 was positioning for a reversal on a clearly formed head-and-shoulders pattern, the bulls swept in to crush the bears' ambitions. On the back of six consecutive bearish opening gaps (one of only six such instances in the past decade), the benchmark index posted a positive jump and the second largest daily rally in two months. Given the breadth and depth of complacency, US equities would serve as one of the best indicators that a systemic shift in confidence had occurred should they truly turn. Instead, we found similar patterns across the other benchmark indices and the Nasdaq Composite would push to a record high. Among other risk-oriented assets that found their footing from provocative technical developments; global equities posted more restrained bounces, the VIX reversed from a large wedge resistance and the HYG junk bond ETF posted its biggest bullish gap since March to jump back above its reversal 'neckline'.

Amid this wide-spread risk trend reprieve, there was a notable stray among the usual suspects: carry trade. The Deutsche Bank Carry Harvest index posted one of its largest bearish gaps in months to an 18-month, intraday low. That would in turn translate into weakness for the Yen crosses with USD/JPY in particular sliding back from from 114.50 resistance. I am still fond of this pair should an anti-Dollar sentiment prevail but full-tilt risk aversion would be the more capable driver for a genuine bear swing. Speaking of the Greenback, the day's top event risk managed to leverage little reaction from the currency. The House of Representatives passed its own version of tax reform and the standard arguments of corporate tax cuts translating into economic expansion have been applied. On this point, there is significant debate over the extent of benefit this confers on the economy; but there is little doubt on what the implications are for the deficit. The United States debt load will swell in the early years of such a programs adoption. That carries significant risks for the Dollar and US investment based on Treasuries.

Across the other major currencies, the Euro seemed to overlook ECB Member Nowotny's views that the local currency would continue to rise over the coming years. EUR/USD, EUR/GBP and other Euro crosses found little encouragement. Perhaps ECB President Draghi will offer more conviction - for better or worse. Central bank speak was also a feature of the Pound's landscape. The top brass at the Bank of England offered a collective view that Brexit presented considerable uncertainty and wage growth was a critically absent component of a robust economy. It is looking less and less likely that GBP/USD will be divining a clear and strong trend any time soon. Outside the traditional currency set, commodities offered little speculative refuge with oil consolidating above 55 and gold making no effort to stage any sort of trend. In crytocurrency, Bitcoin managed to surge to a fresh record high, but Ripple was the coin whose volatility that truly stood out. News that American Express and Santander were looking to use Ripple's blockchain network to clear international payments added yet another infusion of legitimacy. We look across the market for opportunities gained and lost in today's Trading Video.

To receive John’s analysis directly via email, please SIGN UP HERE

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

DISCLOSURES