Tag: US GDP growth

Doubts And Fears Still Loom For The Dollar

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Growth momentum is back in America? That is what investors believe after the positive surprise from the latest US GDP release. The second US GDP release for Q4 2015 was revised higher to 1% from 0.7%. Core PCE Inflation was also encouraging, reflecting a 1.67% rate of inflation. But while data from the last quarter has certainly been less anaemic, Dollar bulls shouldn’t pop the champagne just yet. Doubts over the current quarter continue to exist. Risks still loom and hurdles need to be cleared before we get another move higher.

What Looms On The Dollar?

Of course, I continue to reiterate that the Dollar’s long-term trajectory is still up. However, there are soft patches along the way because even the US economy can’t always perform well. And when those soft patches occur the FX market will be filled with doubt and the Dollar will dip again.

Then, when once again it becomes clear the US economy is still the outpacing its peers, confidence will return. And with that, we will get another bullish wave. But as long as there is doubt the Dollar will find it hard to break into new highs. Continue reading "Doubts And Fears Still Loom For The Dollar" →

Dollar Takes A Plunge; Where Will It Land?

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Undoubtedly, this February will be remembered as painful for the dollar. Investors have long awaited the opportunity to short the greenback after a prolonged period of steep gains. When US growth came out surprisingly weak, FX traders pounced, taking the dollar on a brutal roller coaster ride.

Then we had Janet Yellen’s testimony, which suggested banks should be prepared for negative interest rates. Many considered that a hit below the belt as investors were betting on more rate hikes. So now, they’ve got to get ready for negative interest rates? No one was prepared for that remark, despite Yellen’s suggestion that it was only a remote possibility. Of course, now, the million dollar question is, how low can the dollar go?

Short Term Dollar Outlook

As with all corrections, the first catalyst is always about momentum. The question of whether that will lead to a wider correction is fundamental. But what about the imminent target? That’s driven by technical momentum. So what do the technicals say?

Daily Chart of the U.S. Dollar Index
Chart courtesy of Netdania.com

As seen in the Dollar index chart above there are two key levels in this correction. The first is our resistance level at 100. The Dollar index has been attempting to break this level for a while now, though without success. When the Dollar index failed, it was really only a matter of time before the correction would come. And so as it did. Continue reading "Dollar Takes A Plunge; Where Will It Land?" →