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China resumes business after a 3-day Lunar New Year holiday. The BoC says they may stay away from tightening for the time being after raising rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, a move that may give the Fed pressure to follow suit. The dollar firmed up in the mid-European trading session ahead of the highly anticipated US GDP data release.
USDJPY appreciated by +0.22% ahead of the US GDP data. Later in the New York session, the US gross domestic product figures will be released as analysts have laid expectations of a drop in the growth rate in the fourth quarter. The data will be released along with Initial jobless claims, core durable goods orders, and new home sales. The pair maintained a 4-day low at 129.00 and may need to break above 131.50 for further upside traction.
GBPZAR fell -0.24% ahead of South Africa’s interest rate decision. Annualized rates of producer prices in South Africa dropped to 13.5% against a survey of 14.1% in December together with month-on-month rates at 0.0% vs 0.4% anticipated. This however failed to pull down the rand as investors expect an interest rate hike of 50bps from the South African Reserve Bank later today. The pair is capped by 21.26 to the upside on the day and may retest 20.800 in the near term.
EURCAD pared yesterday’s gains by -0.11% after the Bank of Canada raised interest rates by 25bps although they signalled a dovish stance concerning their next meetings. On the topic of interest rates, the ECB will be meeting next week, and expectations are that they are continuing on the tightening path to tame inflation. Wholesale sales in Canada will be released later today. The pair tanked from 1.4643 December 2021 highs and may revisit 1.4500 and 1.4600 psychological lows.
European stocks trimmed gains in mid-session trading after a strong handover from Asian shares as upbeat quarterly results from European corporates eased worries of stubborn inflation. The UK100 was flat at +0.02% after establishing a high at 7775. The index may continue down if the 7730 low fails to hold. CAC40 soared by +0.65% trading between a 7080 low and a 7100 high on the day. The DAX was down -0.14% after a rejection at 15200. Lows at 14900 and 14688 remain key areas to watch.
US stock futures traded higher as expectations of a slower pace by the Fed loom ahead of the Fed meeting. The S&P 500 futures were +0.28% higher from the 4012 low and may be capped by a 4160 high. DJIA futures gained +0.11% from 33700 with a bullish cap at 34000. Bears may however revisit 32900 in the near term. Nasdaq100 futures nursed Wednesday’s wounds by +0.60% from the 11800 intraday low. An extended leg higher may be challenged by 12200.
Additionally, XAUUSD dipped by -0.63% as the greenback firms ahead of us GDP data. The non-yielding precious metal trimmed 3-day gains from the $1950 resistance. A softer landing by the Fed may buoy gold prices to $2000 if $1960 is breached.
