Southafricanrand
The rand is going up FINALLY! Target R15.92 - With confusion!Rounding Top (Scallop) has formed on the daily chart.
The price has broken below the neckline which signals bearish for USD
Also the moving averages are almost looking good.
21 > 7 >200 - Bearish
First target R15.92
The correlation between the Rand and the JSE stocks have somewhat reversed as of late. When stocks rise, the rand tends to strengthen and vice versa.
Now this makes sense in a way that a stronger rand means more buying power for consumers and more confidence in the economy.
However, we are a HIGH export country where we export in US dollars. As the heavy weightings of the JSE is with resources, we used to fall with a weakening US dollar.
Also, we tend to mirror the S&P500 and the DOw Jones as it's a leading indicator.
So the question we need to ask is... Is America signalling that we are in for massive downside again soon and this has just been a bull trap for us buyers.
OR is this the change in correlation where the JSE will continue up despite what happens in America and the US Dolla.
I Hope the latter.
Things aren't as they always seem.
USDZAR Short-term Sell signal and long-term level to watch.The USDZAR pair continues to confirm our break-out trade strategy as by breaking above the previous Resistance Zone we discussed on September 06, while holding the 1D MA50 (blue trend-line) as Support, it activated our buy signal and hit the -1.0 Fibonacci target and the 2.0 Fib extension (green dotted line) of the long-term Channel:
We will continue this successful approach, which right now gives a new short-term sell signal targeting roughly -7.00% from the recent top, below the 1D MA50 at the bottom of the Channel Up (green) that started on the April 13 Low. This is around 17.300.
If however the MACD on the 1W time-frame makes a Bearish Cross as on January 17 2022, we will use the 1D MA50 as Resistance and target even lower the 1D MA200 (orange trend-line). Take profit when the MACD makes a Bullish Cross.
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USDZAR Critical Resistance. Levels to buy and sell.The USDZAR pair broke above its former Resistance Zone since our last analysis on June 29:
The 1.382 Fibonacci extension target was hit and yet another break-out approach turned out to be successful. With the 1D MA50 (blue trend-line) supporting since August 17, we will continue to adopt a break-out trading perspective. A 1D candle close above the 17.4400 High, will be a break-out buy signal yet again, targeting the -1.0 Fibonacci extension, which happens to be on the 2.0 Fib of the Channel. As you see, after every High break-out, the pair has always reached (or came close to) the -1.0 Fib ext.
On the other hand, a break below the Channel Up that started after the April 12 Low, will be a sell break-out signal towards the 0.0 Fib level, i.e. the bottom of the long-term Channel.
See how the MACD on the 1W time-frame remains bullish, having a sequence similar to that of June - November 2021.
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USDZAR Pull-back or break-out buyThe USDZAR pair has been trading within a Fibonacci Channel since June 07 2021, with one break-out to the 1.382 extension. At the moment it is supported by the 1D MA50 (blue trend-line) and is attempting to break a Lower Highs trend-line. A closing above it should be enough to test the Resistance Zone. Only a break above the 1.0 Fib can justify further buying as a break-out signal to the 1.382 Fib extension again. Until then, it is safer to wait for a pull-back, which is common for these Lower Highs (dashed line) patterns within the Channel. Either above the 0.786 retracement level or near the bottom of the Channel.
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Is the South African Rand forging its own path against the USD?The exotic pair of the U.S. Dollar to South African Rand (USD/ZAR) has not correlated strongly with other USD pairs since this year.
In fact, the USD is down 1.3% against the ZAR since the beginning of the year, all the while, the USD index has been super bullish, up 6.1% YTD.
While performing better than the GBP, EUR, and other major partners, the USD is still trading just under last November’s high. With the seasonal tendency of the USD to weaken over the Northern hemisphere’s summer months in combination with the strong trend-bucking Rand, Is it looking unlikely that the USD will take out those highs over the coming months?
A main reason for the ZAR’s strength is the interest rate hikes emanating from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). Just last Thursday the SARB raised rates to 4.75% with a 50 basis point hike, which is the highest single increase South Africa has seen since 2016. It appears that the announcement was already priced in to the USDZAR since there was little volatility that followed. Several more aggressive rate hikes are expected from the SARB with at least another 50 basis point rise over 2022, and 100 basis points over 2023.
USDZAR technical perspective
On the charts, we can see the pair is floating just below the high created in November 2021. Just this month we've seen a new range created, to which the Fibonacci tool is anchored. There is also an Elder's Force Index (EFI) indicator on the bottom window. This indicator is concerned with the previous day’s opening and closing prices in relation to volume. Overbought and oversold conditions can be ascertained when the indicator moves above or below the zero line.
At the time of this writing, the USDZAR is sitting above on the 78.6% retracement level, with the EFI below the zero line. If the price is going to take out last November’s high, then we will need to see a sustained support at this level. Ever the contrarian, the USDZAR may disregard the oversold EFI confluence and continue on its path below the 78.6% level..
USDZAR Pull-back in Summer but bullish end-of-yearThe USDZAR pair is replicating the previous Cycle of 2016-2019 and right now is at the final Accumulation Phase before the rally to a blow-off top. What the comparison suggests, based also on the 1W RSI (attention the price action is on the 1D time-frame though), is that we may soon see a pull-back towards roughly 15.100 to September and then a strong finish to the year above 17.000.
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USDZAR end of Q1The rand has held up resiliently against the dollar during this recent patch of geopolitical tension largely due the rise in commodity prices, particularly precious metals. Risk-assets, such as equities and the rand, received strong bids following the Fed rate hike and going forward I don't see the rand depreciating rapidly from further Fed rate hikes as the year progresses. While we're on the topic of interest rates, I believe hikes are priced in and the rand's carry trade appeal is still very strong (SA 10-year yield = 9.785% vs US = 2.388%).
SA's trade balance surplus has however slipped from R29 billion in December to R3.55 billion in January and the forecast for February is expected to climb higher to R16.50 billion which is fundamentally rand positive.
Let's get techi:
The rand has pulled back 50% of its 2H2021 losses and the 50% fibo rate of 14.79 is the next support rate to watch (just a reminder I use a log scale chart and my Fibo retracements are also based on the log scale). A break below 14.79 will open the gates for a move lower towards the 61.8% Fibo retracement at 14.45 and the 23.6% Fibo retracement from the rand's 2020 recovery. I do however expect the rand to give back a bit and for the support at 14.79 to hold some strength. The RSI seems to be losing some downward momentum and the stochastic indicator is currently trading deep in the oversold zone (rand overbought). A pullback towards the 50-day MA of 15.20 and the 200-day MA of 15.05 is looking plausible but I expect the critical resistance rate of 15.15 to hold its ground. A failed break back above 15.15 will leave the window open for further rand strength. A break above 15.15 will however see the rand slip to 15.40 against the dollar.
There is also a looming death cross on the pair (50-day MA crossing below the 200-day MA) which will be rand positive.
To summarise, I see the pair moving into the zone between 14.35 and 14.60 as Q2 progresses.
USDZAR - NeutralWhat are the factors affecting the USD / ZAR this week?
Risk sentiment will play a large part in the USD / ZAR . Last week saw traders pull away from safer currencies such as the USD, indicating a risk-on sentiment was prevalent in the market. Over last week, coinciding with the start of November, the USD depreciated by 1.427% against the ZAR, squeaking below the 15.000 precipice.
There are no hugely critical economic reports due from South Africa this week. However, next week the ZAR may be under pressure after announcing the Inflation rate YoY (October). Inflation is expected to increase by .2 percentage points to 5.2%, further pulling away from the South African Reserve Bank’s midpoint inflation target of 4.5%.
Next week, US economic data might be worth watching, including Inflation Rate YoY (October) on Wednesday and JOLTS Job Openings (September) on Friday. Inflation in the US is predicted to get as high as 5.8% in the October reading, up from 5.4% in September. The JOLTS Job Openings should hopefully show some sign that the tight labour market in the US is beginning to loosen.
What Affects The USD/ ZAR This Week?Since we last checked in on the South African Rand (ZAR) in June 2021, the currency was appreciating toward multi-year highs of 13.37 ZAR per US dollar, previously not seen since January 2019. In the proceeding five months, leading up to the present, the USD has staged a comeback against the South African currency and is now level with the average exchange value for the first two months of 2021.
Some wild swings occurred during the revival in the USD / ZAR, with many value-overshoots forcing quick corrections. That is to say, bullish sentiment didn’t last long without a bearish retracement with this pair. For the most part, retracements have been hugging close to the Fib levels.
What are the factors affecting the USD / ZAR this week?
Risk sentiment will play a large part in the USD / ZAR. Last week saw traders pull away from safer currencies such as the USD, indicating a risk-on sentiment was prevalent in the market. Over last week, coinciding with the start of November, the USD depreciated by 1.427% against the ZAR, squeaking below the 15.000 precipice.
There are no hugely critical economic reports due from South Africa this week. However, next week the ZAR may be under pressure after announcing the Inflation rate YoY (October). Inflation is expected to increase by .2 percentage points to 5.2%, further pulling away from the South African Reserve Bank’s midpoint inflation target of 4.5%.
Next week, US economic data might be worth watching, including Inflation Rate YoY (October) on Wednesday and JOLTS Job Openings (September) on Friday. Inflation in the US is predicted to get as high as 5.8% in the October reading, up from 5.4% in September. The JOLTS Job Openings should hopefully show some sign that the tight labour market in the US is beginning to loosen.
What to do with the rand?? for a South African citizen, global assets are essential given the fact that the South African market only constitutes around 1% of the global market whilst the South African economy constitutes 0.4% of the global economy. Simply put, South African need exposure to assets which are susceptible to short term movements in the Rand.
The chart shows the ZAR/USD exchange rate in blue and the local financial index in orange. For the most part they tend to have a negative correlation. In other words, if the rand strengthens, South African financials tend to do well and vice versa.
We can see that the long-term trend for the rand is towards a weakening bias. In the short to medium term, movements in the rand impact the ability to show South African investors a good return on foreign assets. in other words the currency factor increases volatility for a Rand investor or at least someone who spends their money in Rands (retired investors).
South African financial are showing cheap valuations which discount the financial turmoil that South African consumers are facing. Therefore there's a low base effect which needs to be factored in (possible repricing of the shares). On the other hand SA financials are also discounting the fact that there ability to grow their earnings is perhaps less than desirable. Select financials are likely to be better performers based on the merits of their business however, from an overall financial wellness perspective, the index is not all that attractive over a 12-18 month period. The question is, will this help support a bottom range for the Rand at around R14 to the USD? If so, the risk of an extreme strengthening event hitting the rand is probably closer to 20% - 25%.
Does this potentially support the fact that the rand should be weaker in the next 12 - 18 months?
The clear and obvious unknown to this scenario is that if the commodity cycle continues and indeed accelerates, South Africa's income statement and balance sheet become marginally healthier and therefore could result in a re-rating in the Rand and local financials.
Its important to understand that it not about trading the rand but rather trying to quantify its downside risk from a Rand investor looking to offshore assets.
If one was able to close their eyes and forget the volatility in the currency, well then problem solved however, investor behaviour doesn't allow for that...
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South African Rand Follows ThroughThe Financial Post had the following to say to try to explain the fresh strength in the South African rand (USD/ZAR):
"With the local economy remaining weak and facing power cuts, the rand’s recent rally has been mainly on the back of global factors, including higher commodity prices which benefit resource-rich South Africa and expectations U.S. lending rates will stay lower for longer."
This explanation falls well short of the longer-range dynamics benefiting the rand on this foollow-through move for a longer USD/ZAR downtrend. Commodity prices are soaring, and South Africa is a direct beneficiary. More importantly, the South African central bank expressed great confidence in the economy in mid-April. I posted the following at the time including key economic charts:
South African Rand Boosted By Central Bank Confidence
Last November, the South African rand (USD/ZAR) finished reversing its pandemic related losses against the U.S. dollar. Along the way I pointed out the benefits of getting long the South African rand. This week, USD/ZAR dropped to levels last seen in January, 2020. The rand looks to strengthen further based on the confidence expressed by South Africa’s Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago in a recent Reuters interview.
In the interview, Kganyago expressed confidence that investors will remain interested in buying high-yielding South African bonds even as monetary policies start to normalize (higher rates) around the globe. Moreover, South Africa enjoys a real rate advantage over other emerging market countries given South Africa’s success in containing inflation. Higher bond yields attract capital inflows and boost the domestic currency.
The following quote convinced me of Kganyago’s determination to contain inflation:
“High inflation perpetuates inequality..Those who are rich can buy assets to protect themselves from inflation, they can buy shares and bonds and property. But those who are earning fixed incomes, whether a salary or a government social grant … if inflation erodes it you have to wait for the next increase.”
The South African Monetary Policy Forum
The Reuters interview likely came after the Reserve Bank released its April report monetary policy (the “Monetary Policy Forum”): the commentary in the interview supported themes from the report. The report reflected Kyganyago’s confidence. For example, here are some of the Reserve Bank’s main points:
Global recovery stronger on vaccination & stimulus
Domestic recovery on track, some sectors constrained
SA inflation well-contained… balanced risks
Gradual normalization with low inflation
{The South African Reserve Bank is confident in a future of well-contained inflation.}
I was most impressed with the strength in South Africa’s terms of trade. The country’s terms of trade broke out in late 2019 and has trended sharply higher since then. The trend managed to to stay strong through the pandemic with a slowing in Q4 of 2020. This overall strength bodes well for the post-pandemic recovery in South Africa.
{The prospects for the South African economy look good with an uptrending terms of trade.}
The Trade in the South African rand
The strong terms of trade particularly support a strong currency with surging commodity prices leading the way. Combining with a high yield, the South African rand is an attractive currency trade. I missed the last round of downward pressure on USD/ZAR, but I am on alert to fade the next bounce. Ideally, I can start a new position short USD/ZAR on another test of declining resistance at the 20-day moving average (DMA) and/or the 50DMA.
Be careful out there!
The Rand looks mostly overboughtThe strength in the rand is partly due to the high demand in commodities of which South Africa is a large exporter. It is also partly due to the fact that South African government bonds are offering high real yields compared to that of its peers. These factors feed the demand for the rand and thus resulting i a stronger currency. There is also the case of a potential weakening US dollar
As long as the real yields on South African bonds stay relatively high and liquid, coupled by the demand in the commodity cycle, the rand is likely to remain strong against the US dollar.
The signals suggest that the rand has for the most part, found a short term bottom at around R13.95. The Stochastic RSI suggests that the rand may fall back to around R13.85 before it climbs back to around R14.10.
Emerging market currencies are impossible to call but I'd bet that the rand should range between R13.95 and R14.20 over the next 2 weeks or so.
The irony is that the forces strengthening the rand are ignoring the South African centric risk factors.
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Please note, this idea is shared for educational and discussion purposes only and should not result in speculative investment decisions in any asset class.