|

USD/CNH: Risks are skewed to the downside – OCBC

USD/CNH continued to drift lower, thanks to recent news from politburo about ramping up support and also taking cues from daily fixing guidance. Policymakers continue to manage the daily fix, setting it below 7.20 and at times, even lower, when USD was even trading stronger. USD/CNH was last at 7.2519 levels, OCBC’s FX analysts Frances Cheung and Christopher Wong note.

Daily momentum turns bearish

“Fixing pattern suggests that PBoC is doing whatever it takes to not only restraint the RMB from over-weakening but also to guide its bias and direction. Tariff may hurt RMB when it happens but that may be a story for 2025 after Trump inauguration. In the interim, we would keep a look out for the China’s CEWC meeting on 11-12 December.”

“Expectations are building up for stimulus support after politburo vowed to stabilise property and stock markets. Officials also pledged to ramp up ‘extraordinary counter-cyclical policy adjustment’ to support the economy and it also announced that it will embrace a “moderately loose” strategy for monetary policy in 2025. Follow-up policy action is crucial, and bear in mind markets are impatient. We caution that any delay in concrete policy action may setup a case for disappointment (again).”

“For now, we remain cautiously hopeful. And that would imply some support for Asian FX, including CNH, KRW, TWD, SGD and MYR. Daily momentum turned bearish while RSI fell. Risks are skewed to the downside. Support at 7.2340 (23.6% fibo retracement of Sep low to Dec high), 7.2040 9200 DMA), 7.18 levels (38.2% fibo, 50 DMA). Resistance at 7.27 levels.”

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

More from FXStreet Insights Team
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD keeps the rangebound trade near 1.1850

EUR/USD is still under pressure, drifting back towards the 1.1850 area as Monday’s session draws to a close. The modest decline in spot comes as the US Dollar picks up a bit of support, while thin liquidity and muted volatility, thanks to the US market holiday, are exaggerating price swings and keeping trading conditions choppy.
 

GBP/USD flirts with daily lows near 1.3630

GBP/USD has quickly given back Friday’s solid gains, turning lower at the start of the week and drifting back towards the 1.3630 area. The focus now shifts squarely to Tuesday’s UK labour market report, which is likely to keep the quid firmly in the spotlight and could set the tone for Cable’s next move.

Gold battle around $5,000 continues

Gold is giving back part of Friday’s sharp rebound, deflating below the key $5,000 mark per troy ounce as the new week gets underway. Modest gains in the US Dollar are keeping the metal in check, while thin trading conditions, due to the Presidents Day holiday in the US, are adding to the choppy and hesitant tone across markets.

AI Crypto Update: Bittensor eyes breakout as AI tokens falter 

The artificial intelligence (AI) cryptocurrency segment is witnessing heightened volatility, with top tokens such as Near Protocol (NEAR) struggling to gain traction amid the persistent decline in January and February.

The week ahead: Key inflation readings and why the AI trade could be overdone

It is likely to be a quiet start to the week, with US markets closed on Monday for Presidents Day. European markets are higher across the board and gold is clinging to the $5,000 level after the tamer than expected CPI report in the US reduced haven flows to precious metals.

XRP steadies in narrow range as fund inflows, futures interest rise

Ripple is trading in a narrow range between $1.45 (immediate support) and $1.50 (resistance) at the time of writing on Monday. The remittance token extended its recovery last week, peaking at $1.67 on Sunday from the weekly open at $1.43.