According to the minutes of the monetary policy meeting of the Board of Reserve Bank of Australia from 4th November, the bank decided to leave the interest rate unchanged at 2.5%. This decision was influenced by the worries related to what the bank described as “considerable uncertainty to the outlook for the Chinese property market and the broader implications for the Chinese economy”. This is understandably a major worry to Australia as China is the most important trading partner for the Australians. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth was expected to stay below the trend during the years 2014 and 2015 with some acceleration expected in 2016. Low interest rates support the economic activity, but the spare capacity in the labour force mean that inflationary pressures stay low. The Australian dollar is still overvalued in light of most estimates and according to the bank “the exchange rate was offering less assistance than would normally be expected in achieving balanced growth in the economy”. Based on the above, the Reserve Bank of Australia, like so many other central banks, would like to see their currency at lower levels. This means that they are not likely to increase interest rates in the foreseeable future. Still, compared to Europe the Australian economy is so much more robust and therefore a better bet from an investment point of view. This and the interest rates differential means that the Australian dollar is likely attract more money than the euro in the long run. However, at the moment we have a short to medium term technical setup that seems to favour the euro.
EURAUD, Weekly
In September the pair found buyers at a historical support from 2011 that coincided with a rising trend line. Since EURAUD has now created a higher low at the beginning of November I am betting that it will eventually move higher. The pair is currently trying to push through a resistance area between 1.4592 and 1.4706. If we will see a move lower from this resistance, I expect the weekly high of 1.4440 (see the daily chart below) to provide support and help to create a new higher low in EURAUD. This in turn would support the view that the pair is indeed going to move higher. Once this resistance area has been penetrated, the next target is a weekly high at 1.5022.
EURAUD, Daily
Daily chart supports the picture gained from the weekly. The Stochastic Oscillator is entering into overbought territory and EURAUD has reached the resistance area and seems to be creating a shooting star. However, it has also created a slightly higher low above the support at 1.4223 suggesting some underlying strength. At the moment the pair is still in a range mode and therefore might provide opportunities at both ends of the range. At the time of writing we have signs of momentum reversal and we should obviously trade accordingly as long as the pair stays in the range.
EURAUD, 240 min
EURAUD has countered resistance and we are seeing momentum reversal happening. The first potential level for short exits and long entries would be either the weekly high at 1.4440 or the 1.4376 intraday support. This level has recently been acting both as a support and as a resistance. Again, look for hammers to confirm your entries and exits at these levels. Obviously the low end of the range at 1.4223 is another key area.
Conclusion:
EURAUD has now created a weekly higher low at the beginning of November and I am betting that it will eventually move higher. The pair is currently trying to push through a resistance between 1.4592 and 1.4706 but has encountered resistance and is forming a daily shooting star. If there is a move lower from this resistance I would expect the weekly high of 1.4440 or the 1.4376 intraday support to give the price a new higher low and help it to move higher. We have had some short signals at current levels (the resistance). Should the price move lower I will be focusing on potential buy signals at the weekly high of 1.4440 or at the intraday level of 1.4376. As my medium term bias is on the long side I would be more careful with the short trades and trade the long side with an expectancy of longer lasting moves.
Disclaimer: Nothing in this communication contains, or should be considered as containing, an investment advice or an investment recommendation or a solicitation for the purpose of purchase or sale of any financial instrument.
Janne Muta
Chief Market Analyst
HotForex