USD/CAD daily chart with support and resistance lines on it. Click to enlarge:
USD/CAD showed little movement last week, but the pair tested the 1.33 line. There are three events in the upcoming week, including the monthly GDP release. Here is an outlook for the highlights and an updated technical analysis for USD/CAD.
It was a busy week for Canadian releases. Manufacturing Sales fell by 1.2% in May, the second decline in two months. On the inflation front, CPI rebounded with a gain of 0.5% in July, easily beating the estimate of 0.1%. Core CPI, which excludes the most volatile items which comprise CPI, posted a gain of 0.3%. The week wrapped up with retail sales data. Core retail sales rebounded with a sharp gain of 0.9%, crushing the estimate of -0.1%. Retail sales came in at zero, above the estimate of -0.3%.
Is the U.S. heading into a recession? There are disturbing signs that this could indeed be the case. Some analysts are predicting that third-quarter growth could drop to just 1.5%, and the August Manufacturing PMI set off some alarm bells, falling into contraction territory for the first time since September 2009. Although the reading of 49.9 was just a shade lower than the previous reading of 50.0, a reading in contraction territory makes the headlines and causes jitters among investors. As well, this marks the seventh successive month that the index has lost ground. There wasn’t much relief in the services sector, as the services PMI slowed to 50.9, down from 52.2 a month earlier.
The Fed minutes provided details of the July meeting, in which the Fed cut rates by 25 basis points, the first rate cut in 10 years. FOMC members said that the cut was intended to stimulate inflation and business investment. The Fed was deeply divided over the July cut, with two members in favor of no change, while another two sought a 1/2 percentage cut. With economic conditions looking cloudy, investors are braced for up to three more rate cuts this year, possibly as early as September.
- Current Account: Thursday, 12:30. Canada’s current account deficit ballooned to C$17.3 billion in the first quarter, the highest in four quarters. Still, the reading was below the estimate of C$18.1 billion. We will now receive the reading for Q2.
- GDP: Friday, 12:30. Canada’s economy has been slowing and dropped to 0.2% in May. If GDP continues to struggle, the BoC may have to consider a rate cut to stimulate economic activity. The estimate for June is 0.1%.
- RMPI: Friday, 12:30. The Raw Materials Price Index has declined for two successive months, pointing to weakness in inflation. The June reading of -5.9% was the sharpest monthly decline in 2019. July is expected to bring better news, with an estimate of 1.6%.
* All times are GMT
USD/CAD Technical Analysis
Technical lines from top to bottom:
We start with resistance at 1.3665, which was the high point in 2018. 1.3565 is next.
1.3445 has held in resistance since the first week of June. This is followed by 1.3385.
1.3350 has held steady since mid-June.
1.3265 remained relevant this week. It starts the new trading week as a weak support level.
1.3175 is the next line of support.
1.3125 (mentioned last week) has held in support since the end of August. 1.3048 follows.
1.2916 is the final support level for now.
I remain bullish on USD/CAD
The Canadian dollar has not registered a winning week since early July, and the headwinds could continue for minor currencies like the loonie. Fears of a recession in the U.S. have dampened risk appetite, and the ongoing U.S.-China trade war will not help matters;
Further reading:
- EUR/USD forecast – for everything related to the euro.
- GBP/USD forecast – Pound/dollar predictions
- USD/JPY forecast – analysis for dollar/yen
- AUD/USD forecast – projections for the Aussie dollar.
- Forex+ weekly forecast – Outlook for the major events of the week.
Safe trading!
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