Dollar continues to ease on rate cut expectations.

CURRENCY TRADING SUMMARY – 25 FEBRUARY 2008


U.S. Dollar Trading (USD) ended the week lower across the board on growing recession fears. In a quiet end to the week in terms of data the greenback eased as traders added to bets that the Federal Reserve will look to cut rates on the 18th of March by as much as 50 bps. In U.S. share markets the NASDAQ was up by 3.57 points (+0.16%) whilst the Dow Jones was also up slightly by 96.72 points (+0.79%). Crude oil edged higher once again, falling short of the $100 target, up by US$0.83 a barrel to US$99.06. Looking ahead, key data is in the form of US Existing Home Sales, with economists forecasting a decline to 4.8 mln for the month of January, from the previous 4.89 mln.

The Euro (EUR) rallied on the back of EURJPY crosses heading to a five week high of 159.58 on Thursday. In what was otherwise a dour session, the EURUSD traded with a low of 1.4786 and a high of 1.4863 before closing the day at 1.4824 in New York. ECB president Trichet is scheduled to testify in front of Parliament on Monday

The Japanese Yen (JPY) traded at a week high versus the USD on the back of easing equity markets. As a result the JPY ceased eight successive session of decline versus the Euro and traded at its strongest level against the USD since Feb 12. Overall the USDJPY traded with a low of 106.69 and a high of 107.57 before closing the day at 106.92 in the New York session.

The Sterling (GBP) strengthened versus the Euro and Dollar on Friday as robust UK retail data the previous session eased expectations about the extent of monetary easing likely from the Bank of England. Overall the GBPUSD traded with a low of 1.9607 and a high of 1.9709 before closing the day at 1.9684 in the New York session.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) failed to break key 92 cent levels for much of the Asian session before heading to a week high of 0.9240 in Europe. Despite profit taking the AUD was able to return its day highs on higher stock prices at the close of New York. Overall the AUDUSD traded with a low of 0.9168 and a high of 0.9252 before ending the day at 0.9252. In Other news neighboring currency the New Zealand Dollar tested record 22 year highs of 0.8109 on Friday trading at a high of 0.8103

The Czech Koruna (CZK) rose to a record against the Euro and posted a fifth weekly gain on speculation the central bank will raise interest rates. Policy makers have raised the rate 1.25 percentage points to 3.75 percent over the past 10 months. “The Czech story is really very positive,” said Nicholas Kennedy, an emerging-market currency strategist at 4Cast Ltd. in London. “Everyone's looking for a reason to pull back but it's not giving them a reason.” It has been the world's best-performing currency against the Euro this year, gaining 6 percent. The Czech currency also advanced to 16.916 per dollar, from 17.168 on Feb. 15. Overall the USDCZK traded with a low of 16.837 and a high of 16.98.

Gold (XAU) fell from a record, as declining energy and commodity prices eased inflation concerns that had spurred demand for the precious metal as a hedge. Despite easing, XAU ended the week up 4.2% overall, the biggest weekly advance since November 2007. XAU traded with a low of 936.20 and a high of 949.40.


Euro – 1.4835
Initial support at 1.4702 (Feb 21 low) followed by 1.4611 (Feb 18 low). Initial resistance is now located at 1.4863 (Feb 22 low) followed by 1.4956 (Feb 1 high).

Yen – 107.20
Initial support is located at 106.73 (Feb 22 low) followed by 106.35 (Feb 11 low). Initial resistance is now at 107.57 (Feb 22 high) followed by 108.67 (38.2% retracement of the 114.66 to 104.97 decline)

Pound – 1.9690
Initial support at 1.9611 (Feb 22 low) followed by 1.9363 (Feb 20 low). Initial resistance is now at 1.9709 (Feb 22 high) followed by 1.9738 (Feb 14 high)

Australian Dollar – 0.9235
Initial support a 0.9113 (Feb 20 low) followed by 0.9005 (Feb 15 low). Initial resistance is now at 0.9252 (Feb 22 high) followed by 0.9331 (Nov 8, 2007 high)

Gold – 944.70
Initial support at 906.1 (Feb 19 low) followed by 896.50 (Feb 7 low). Initial resistance is now at 954.60 (Feb 21 high) followed by 970.73 (Bull channel resistance)

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Forex Forecasting

Basic Forex forecast methods: Technical analysis and fundamental analysis

This article provides insight into the two major methods of analysis used to forecast the behavior of the Forex market. Technical analysis and fundamental analysis differ greatly, but both can be useful forecast tools for the Forex trader. They have the same goal - to predict a price or movement. The technician studies the effect while the fundamentalist studies the cause of market movement. Many successful traders combine a mixture of both approaches for superior results.


Technical analysis
Technical analysis is a method of predicting price movements and future market trends by studying charts of past market action. Technical analysis is concerned with what has actually happened in the market, rather than what should happen and takes into account the price of instruments and the volume of trading, and creates charts from that data to use as the primary tool. One major advantage of technical analysis is that experienced analysts can follow many markets and market instruments simultaneously.

Technical analysis is built on three essential principles:

1. Market action discounts everything! This means that the actual price is a reflection of everything that is known to the market that could affect it, for example, supply and demand, political factors and market sentiment. However, the pure technical analyst is only concerned with price movements, not with the reasons for any changes.

2. Prices move in trends Technical analysis is used to identify patterns of market behavior that have long been recognized as significant. For many given patterns there is a high probability that they will produce the expected results. Also, there are recognized patterns that repeat themselves on a consistent basis.

3. History repeats itself Forex chart patterns have been recognized and categorized for over 100 years and the manner in which many patterns are repeated leads to the conclusion that human psychology changes little over time.


Forex charts are based on market action involving price. There are five categories in Forex technical analysis theory:

Indicators (oscillators, e.g.: Relative Strength Index (RSI)
Number theory (Fibonacci numbers, Gann numbers)
Waves (Elliott wave theory)
Gaps (high-low, open-closing)
Trends (following moving average).


Some major technical analysis tools are described below:

Relative Strength Index (RSI):
The RSI measures the ratio of up-moves to down-moves and normalizes the calculation so that the index is expressed in a range of 0-100. If the RSI is 70 or greater, then the instrument is assumed to be overbought (a situation in which prices have risen more than market expectations). An RSI of 30 or less is taken as a signal that the instrument may be oversold (a situation in which prices have fallen more than the market expectations).

Stochastic oscillator:
This is used to indicate overbought/oversold conditions on a scale of 0-100%. The indicator is based on the observation that in a strong up trend, period closing prices tend to concentrate in the higher part of the period's range. Conversely, as prices fall in a strong down trend, closing prices tend to be near to the extreme low of the period range. Stochastic calculations produce two lines, %K and %D that are used to indicate overbought/oversold areas of a chart. Divergence between the stochastic lines and the price action of the underlying instrument gives a powerful trading signal.

Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD):
This indicator involves plotting two momentum lines. The MACD line is the difference between two exponential moving averages and the signal or trigger line, which is an exponential moving average of the difference. If the MACD and trigger lines cross, then this is taken as a signal that a change in the trend is likely.

Number theory:
Fibonacci numbers: The Fibonacci number sequence (1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34...) is constructed by adding the first two numbers to arrive at the third. The ratio of any number to the next larger number is 62%, which is a popular Fibonacci retracement number. The inverse of 62%, which is 38%, is also used as a Fibonacci retracement number.

Gann numbers:
W.D. Gann was a stock and a commodity trader working in the '50s who reputedly made over $50 million in the markets. He made his fortune using methods that he developed for trading instruments based on relationships between price movement and time, known as time/price equivalents. There is no easy explanation for Gann's methods, but in essence he used angles in charts to determine support and resistance areas and predict the times of future trend changes. He also used lines in charts to predict support and resistance areas.

Waves
Elliott wave theory: The Elliott wave theory is an approach to market analysis that is based on repetitive wave patterns and the Fibonacci number sequence. An ideal Elliott wave patterns shows a five-wave advance followed by a three-wave decline.

Gaps
Gaps are spaces left on the bar chart where no trading has taken place. An up gap is formed when the lowest price on a trading day is higher than the highest high of the previous day. A down gap is formed when the highest price of the day is lower than the lowest price of the prior day. An up gap is usually a sign of market strength, while a down gap is a sign of market weakness. A breakaway gap is a price gap that forms on the completion of an important price pattern. It usually signals the beginning of an important price move. A runaway gap is a price gap that usually occurs around the mid-point of an important market trend. For that reason, it is also called a measuring gap. An exhaustion gap is a price gap that occurs at the end of an important trend and signals that the trend is ending.

Trends
A trend refers to the direction of prices. Rising peaks and troughs constitute an up trend; falling peaks and troughs constitute a downtrend that determines the steepness of the current trend. The breaking of a trend line usually signals a trend reversal. Horizontal peaks and troughs characterize a trading range.

Moving averages are used to smooth price information in order to confirm trends and support and resistance levels. They are also useful in deciding on a trading strategy, particularly in futures trading or a market with a strong up or down trend.

The most common technical tools:

Coppock Curve is an investment tool used in technical analysis for predicting bear market lows.

DMI (Directional Movement Indicator) is a popular technical indicator used to determine whether or not a currency pair is trending.

Unlike the fundamental analyst, the technical analyst is not much concerned with any of the "bigger picture" factors affecting the market, but concentrates on the activity of that instrument's market.

Fundamental analysis
Fundamental analysis is a method of forecasting the future price movements of a financial instrument based on economic, political, environmental and other relevant factors and statistics that will affect the basic supply and demand of whatever underlies the financial instrument. In practice, many market players use technical analysis in conjunction with fundamental analysis to determine their trading strategy. One major advantage of technical analysis is that experienced analysts can follow many markets and market instruments, whereas the fundamental analyst needs to know a particular market intimately. Fundamental analysis focuses on what ought to happen in a market. Factors involved in price analysis: Supply and demand, seasonal cycles, weather and government policy.

The fundamentalist studies the cause of market movement, while the technician studies the effect. Fundamental analysis is a macro or strategic assessment of where a currency should be trading based on any criteria but the movement of the currency's price itself. These criteria often include the economic condition of the country that the currency represents, monetary policy, and other "fundamental" elements.

Many profitable trades are made moments prior to or shortly after major economic announcements.


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