Euro Leads Majors with ECB Around the Corner, US NFPs Tomorrow

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By Christopher Vecchio, DailyFX Currency Analyst

Price action has been mostly mixed on Thursday though trading in the pre-North American hours has resulted in a modest push upwards by high beta currencies and risk-correlated assets, led by declines by the Japanese Yen and the US Dollar. The optimism is mostly European-centric, with the Euro leading, followed closely by the British Pound and the Swiss Franc, despite the fact that equity markets remain skewed lower and Italian and Spanish bond yields have inched higher the past few hours.

The main event on today's docket is the European Central Bank Rate Decision, although no new efforts are expected to be set forth. Instead, we are looking to President Mario Draghi's press conference, which could offer new insight into the conditions necessary to take part of the Outright Monetary Transactions (OMTs), the bond-buying program designed to work hand-in-hand with the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) to stem the crisis.

Any commentary suggesting that the ECB remains prepared to act or rhetoric that suggests the 2013 budget set forth by Spain is sufficient for the ECB will be largely supportive of the Euro and high beta currencies. In fact, given the stall by many of the major pairs - AUDUSD, EURUSD, GBPUSD - at critical support, optimism spurred by the ECB could provoke a solid bounce ahead of tomorrow's crucial US Nonfarm Payrolls report for September.

Taking a look at credit, peripheral European bond yields are mixed but higher, despite the Euro's strength. The Italian 2-year note yield has increased to 2.197% (+4.7-bps) while the Spanish 2-year note yield has increased to 3.161% (+4.6-bps). Likewise, the Italian 10-year note yield has decreased to 5.067% (-1.8-bps) while the Spanish 10-year note yield has increased to 5.786% (+3.0-bps); higher yields imply lower prices.

RELATIVE PERFORMANCE (versus USD): 10:42 GMT

EUR: +0.33%

CHF:+0.28%

GBP:+0.26%

CAD:+0.18%

NZD:+0.10%

AUD:+0.03%

JPY: -0.09%

Dow Jones FXCM Dollar Index (Ticker: USDOLLAR): -0.14% (+1.00% past 5-days)

ECONOMIC CALENDAR

The economic docket is fully saturated today, with key events out of Europe in the early-North American trading hours headlining the calendar on Thursday. At 07:45 EDT / 11:45 GMT, the EUR European Central Bank Rate Decision will be announced and it is widely expected that the key interest rate will be on hold at 0.75%. ECB President Mario Draghi's Press Conference at 08:30 EDT / 12:30 GMT should also provide some additional volatility for traders, though we're not expecting anything major or new at the presser - compared to last time, when the OMTs were announced, this one could be a real 'snoozer.' Also at 08:30 EDT / 12:30 GMT is the release of the USD Initial Jobless Claims (SEP 29) report, which is expected to show that last week's outperformance was more or less a fluke.

After North American trading begins, at 10:00 EDT / 14:00 GMT, the USD Factory Orders (AUG) report is due, and following the disappointing Durable Goods Orders report from last week, another contraction is expected. A miss wouldn't surprise here. Finally, at 14:00 EDT / 18:00 GMT, the USD Federal Reserve Releases the Minutes from the September 13 FOMC Meeting, and while little ground breaking information is expected, we will see how divided the Fed really was over QE3.

TECHNICAL OUTLOOK

EURUSD:

More consolidation and drift higher has kept our outlook unchanged. Yesterday we noted that "[as long as the 200-DMA holds], we look towards the 61.8% Fibo retracement (February 2012 high to the July 2012 low) at 1.2934 again." Indeed, this is playing out, with the pair moving back towards the weekly highs at 1.2965/70. Resistance lays there, 1.3000, 1.3145, and 1.3165/75 (September high). Support comes in at 1.2915/20 (5-EMA), 1.2870/75 (20-EMA), and 1.2820/30 (200-DMA, late-April swing high).

USDJPY:

Yesterday I said "We're back to 78.10/20, and a daily close above eyes resistance at 78.40/60 (50-EMA), 78.80/90 (100-DMA, descending trendline off of the April 20 and June 25 highs), and 79.20/30 (200-DMA, September high). Should price close at or below 78.10/20, support comes in at 77.90, 77.40/45 (September 28 low), 77.65/70 (June 1 low) 77.45/50, and 77.10/15 (September low)." Today the USDJPY has held in the 78.40/60 zone, a level that was pivotal in August. With descending TL resistance overhead, further upside price action is likely capped.

GBPUSD:

The GBPUSD closed below major support yesterday, 1.6100/20 (20-EMA, descending trendline off of April 2011 and August 2011 highs, ascending trendline off of August 2 and August 31 lows), though there's been no follow through thus far today. As noted yesterday, "A break below suggests a move to 1.5970/75 (former channel resistance off of June 20 and August 23 highs), and 1.5770/85 (late-August swing lows. Resistance comes in at 1.6165/80 (late-September and early-October intraday swing levels), 1.6260 (the former April swing highs by close) and 1.6300 (by high)."

AUDUSD:

After setting fresh October lows early in trade on Thursday, the pair has rebounded and is working on a Doji candlestick now, a sign of indecision, and after a major downturn, perhaps a signal for a short-term correction. The levels noted yesterday hold: "Resistance comes in at 1.0275, 1.0330, 1.0405/25 (mid-August swing lows), and 1.0470/85 (former intraday swing levels). Support comes in at 1.0160/75 (mid-July and early-September swing levels), 1.0100/10, and 1.0000."

SPX500:

The SPX500 remains in a very gradual uptrend off of the June 1 low, and more recently has found itself trading in a tighter ascending channel the past ten-weeks. Since early-August, the 20-EMA has been strong support, with no two consecutive closes below occurring. We also note that over this time frame the daily RSI has not moved below 50. The SPX500's resilience in the face of a stronger US Dollar leads me to believe that another run at the highs is around the corner. Resistance comes in at 1458/60, 1475, and 1498/1504. Support comes in at 1443/45 (20-EMA), 1425 (the 61.8% Fibo retracement on June 2012 low to September 2012 high), 1420/22 (50-EMA).

GOLD:

Gold's consolidation the past few weeks has been necessary from a technical perspective, in order to clear out some of the short-term congestion faced given overbought conditions. It is important to consider that the sharp ascending trendline off of the August 15 and August 31 lows has held, now reinforced by the 20-EMA at 1750/55, also former intraday swing lows throughout mid-September. However, the sharp uptrend has brought Gold into the very important 1785/1805 zone, where former highs were set in November 2011 and February 2012. If this resistance breaks, a move to 1840 shouldn't be ruled out. Another failure at 1785/1805 would likely result in a pullback to 1750/55.

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, DailyFX Currency Analyst

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