The Australian dollar rose in early trading after the strong jobs numbers. According to the statistics bureau, the country’s unemployment rate dropped from 5.8% in February to 5.6% in March. This decline was better than the median estimate of 5.7%. In the same period, the participation rate jumped from 66.1% to 66.1% as the economy added more than 70,000. Analysts polled by Reuters were expecting the economy to add just 35,000 jobs. These numbers show that the country’s economy is still robust and set to have a strong rebound.
US stocks soared after the strong earnings from major banks. In a report, JP Morgan reported a profit of $4.50 a share as revenue jumped to $33.12 billion. The company’s profitability rose because of some of the reserves that it released. It also experienced a boom in its fixed income, currencies, and commodities (FICC) business. The same trend happened at Goldman Sachs, which reported a 47% trading revenue jump. Other banks could have a similar performance as they start releasing some of the hefty provisions they added last year.
The economic calendar will have some key events today. In Europe, companies like Germany, France, and Italy will publish their latest consumer inflation data. These numbers will come two days after the US released strong inflation numbers. Later today, the US will publish its retail sales and initial jobless claims data. Analysts expect that sales jumped in April as the economy continued to reopen. In Turkey, the Central Bank will deliver its rate decision. It will be the first for the new governor, who has expressed some dovish sentiments before.
EUR/USD
The EUR/USD is hovering near its highest level in weeks ahead of the US retail sales numbers. It is trading at 1.1976, which is slightly above the 25-day and 15-day moving averages. It is also slightly above the 50% Fibonacci retracement level while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has moved to the overbought level of 70. The pair will likely keep rising as bulls target the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level at 1.2040.
AUD/USD
The AUD/USD pair jumped to a multi-week high of 0.7747 after strong jobs numbers. On the four-hour chart, the price has moved above the 25-day moving average. It has also moved above the neckline of the inverted head and shoulders pattern. In technical analysis, this pattern is usually a bullish sign. Oscillators have also risen while the price has moved above the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level. Therefore, the pair may keep rising as bulls target the 50% retracement at 0.7768.
USD/JPY
The USD/JPY pair declined to a low of 108.85. On the four-hour chart, the price has moved below the short and longer-term moving averages. Similarly, oscillators have also dropped, in a sign that there is more selling pressure. It has also moved below the ascending trendline. Therefore, the pair may keep falling as bears target the next key support at 107.50.
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EUR/USD treads water just above 1.0400 post-US data
Another sign of the good health of the US economy came in response to firm flash US Manufacturing and Services PMIs, which in turn reinforced further the already strong performance of the US Dollar, relegating EUR/USD to the 1.0400 neighbourhood on Friday.
GBP/USD remains depressed near 1.2520 on stronger Dollar
Poor results from the UK docket kept the British pound on the back foot on Thursday, hovering around the low-1.2500s in a context of generalized weakness in the risk-linked galaxy vs. another outstanding day in the Greenback.
Gold keeps the bid bias unchanged near $2,700
Persistent safe haven demand continues to prop up the march north in Gold prices so far on Friday, hitting new two-week tops past the key $2,700 mark per troy ounce despite extra strength in the Greenback and mixed US yields.
Geopolitics back on the radar
Rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine caused renewed unease in the markets this week. Putin signed an amendment to Russian nuclear doctrine, which allows Russia to use nuclear weapons for retaliating against strikes carried out with conventional weapons.
Eurozone PMI sounds the alarm about growth once more
The composite PMI dropped from 50 to 48.1, once more stressing growth concerns for the eurozone. Hard data has actually come in better than expected recently – so ahead of the December meeting, the ECB has to figure out whether this is the PMI crying wolf or whether it should take this signal seriously. We think it’s the latter.
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