Following big falls in some risk-sensitive assets on the back of North Korea tensions, a number of global stock indices and dollar currency pairs ended the session with impressive reversal-looking technical patterns as the dip buyers evidently stepped in to take advantage of the lower prices (see the technical outlook section below).
For obvious reasons, all the focus is on the OPEC meeting. As we pointed out the possibility yesterday, oil prices have bounced back very strongly today on renewed hopes that oil ministers will, after all, be able to hammer out a deal later on to limit crude production.
USDJPY is trending higher on its 1-hour chart, moving above an ascending trend line connecting the latest lows of price action. Price is currently testing this support area, which lines up with the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level and the 100 SMA dynamic inflection point.
As we highlighted the possibility on Monday, gold took a big plunge below the psychologically-important and support level of $1300 per ounce yesterday. The breakdown triggered further follow-up technical selling, causing gold to fall for a time below $1270 per ounce.
After twelve sessions of pain for gold bugs yesterday the bulls attempted to arrest the fall of gold after hitting a low $1,277.40.
The United States reports 139,000 private-sector jobs in February.
Breaking News – ADP Report
The weak tone of yesterday’s session indicates that oil prices may move toward the lower end of the two-week consolidation near $89.00 in the near-term. Focus will be on DOE inventories and ADP payrolls today, which may offer modest pressure. Pressure could also come from a lack of investment moving into energy markets at the start of Q4, concerns over global growth, and a slow pace of reform in Spain and Greece. Support may be found from favorable car sales reported yesterday, and relative strength in the euro. We’d look for prices to test support at $88.95 (Sep 26th low) over the next few days.
– Market optimism fades and suggests more USD strength – Widespread calls for a break lower in Eur/Usd – Key economic data and political risk ahead – Focus for now on monthly US employment data Although we have seen no clear breakouts in most of the major currencies, and although the Euro still remains locked in a very well defined 1.3000-1.3500 consolidation (that has defined trade for much of 2012),
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