ECB rate decision and US NFPs awaits the ailing rand Since my previous idea on the ZAR the SA budget speech ended in shambles after a failed attempt to increase VAT for 15% to 17% and the latest SA CPI figure crept higher to 3.2% in January. In terms of international relations, the vibe between the US and SA has continued sour which also does not bode well for the ailing rand.
The above-mentioned factors strengthened the support rate at 18.30 and the pair has climbed back above the 50-day MA at 18.59. A host of strong data prints from the US and a bounce in the DXY also did not do the rand any favors at the back end of last week.
The headlining events for this week is the ECB interest rate meeting and the NFPs for February. Market expectations are for the ECB to cut rates from 2.9% to 2.65%. The ECB has held a more dovish stance than the Fed since the rate cutting cycle began and if it’s more of the same on Thursday, I expect the DXY to find strong footing which will not be rand positive. Additionally, a strong NFP print will also support a stronger dollar.
Technically the pair does seem to be overbought on shorter timeframes however on the daily the RSI does have room to move higher which could allow the rand to slip further towards the psychological resistance at 19.00 if the above-mentioned events play out against the rand’s favor. A failed break below the 50-day MA will be the first indicator that the rand’s early year recovery has hit the wall, paving the way for a re-test of 19.00.
USDZAR trade ideas
USDZAR-SELL sgtrategy 6 hourly chartthe pair has indeed moved higher as expected, but more than I thought would be possible on a short-term basis. now we have reach near 18.7000 almost, and declined near 18.6000. We are trading above regression channel and this suggest caution, and since slightly overbought, think sell strategy might make sense at this moment in time.
Strategy SELL @ 18.6350-18.6975 and take profit near 18.4750 for now.
USDZAR-NEUTRAL BUY strategy 6 hourly chartNo change in view. The pair is locked in within a very large range, and its trailing one-way or another. The tendency is upwards I think, based on stochastic and other indicators (not shown). The fisher form is negative, but not in a directional zone.
Strategy is RANGE TRADE or buy near 18.3850-18.4050 and take profit near 18.5450 for now.
USDZAR-NEUTRAL BUY 6 hourlyThe issue is we are in a tug of war, and no clear directions at all. The 6-horuly always was positive, even when we were lower at 18.3150 area, and it stayed true to that. Now we are touching cloud resistance, but in fact we are not positive overall as long below 18.6700 which is the longer term resistance right now.
Strategy is NEUTRAL range but slight BUY bias.. BUY @ 18.3850 -18.4150 and take profit near 18.5450... but I prefer to stay out of it.
USDZAR-NEUTRAL SELL 90MIN chartThe pair is locked in within a tight range, and also within a wider range, that lies between 18.1350 and 18.6000. The 6 hourly is somewhat positive as a note, but the shorter time frames show potential pressure downward. I am non committed as i do not see the need, as it is not very clear picture. However, my viewpoint is of a slightly weaker pair in coming sessions.
Strategy SELL near 18.3850 - 18.4350 range and take profit near 18.2750 for now. Near the lower end of the channel, BUY strategies may be the way to go.
USDZAR-NEUTRAL BUY strategy 3 hourly chartThe regression channel has ample room either way, and we are close to support level 18.3000 and a break below suggest 18.1100 direction.
The overall view is still a chance for higher levels, but 18.4675 needs to be challenged to see 18.5850 again. For the reasons stated am NEUTRAL with buying bias. I wish to add we are completing also (b) wave and it seems not clear as yet on its completion.
Strategy BUY 18.3150 - 18.3450 and take profit @ 18.5350 (but watch if we break the resistances mentioned). I never state SL levels, as this is individual decision, and of course we are in need of a proper risk management and leverage strategy to ensure we become or remain profitable.
USD/ZAR Buying Opportunity🔹 Entry Zone: Around 18.307
🔹 Take Profit 1: 18.354
🔹 Take Profit 2: 18.390
🔹 Take Profit 3: 18.439
🔹 Stop Loss: Below 18.266
Analysis:
USD/ZAR is currently sitting at a strong support level, where price has previously bounced multiple times. This area has shown buying interest, indicating a potential reversal.
🔹 The RSI is oversold, suggesting possible bullish momentum ahead.
🔹 Price is forming a double bottom structure, which often signals a trend reversal.
🔹 If buyers step in at this level, we could see a move towards the next key resistance zones at 18.39 and 18.44.
As always, risk management is key—watch for confirmations before entering!
Bullish bounce?USD/ZAR is reacting off the pivot and could bounce to the 1st resistance.
Pivot: 18.4638
1st Support: 18.3048
1st Resistance: 18.6315
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USDZAR-NEUTRAL SELL strategy 9-hourly chartI feel we are near the lower end of the price, but am finding some reasons of some further downside before higher to be seen again. the GANN SQ has room lower, and we have broken support at 18.3450 area, but not convincingly as yet. that is why am NEUTRAL with some sell inclination short term.
Near 18.2000 will be more confident on a BUY.
Strategy range 18.2050-18.4750 for now. Likely SELL into rally for now until we see a dedfinate change.
SA budget speech and CPI in focusThe rand posted gains for the second consecutive week last week off the back of broad based dollar weakness which allowed the local unit to hold the pair below the 50-day MA rate of 18.48. The dollar weakness came as a surprise last week given the higher than expected US CPI print of 3.3%, for the fourth consecutive month, coupled with Powell’s hawkish tone at his testimony before congress.
There are no major data prints his week so focus will shift to the local side of things with the SA annual budget speech and the local CPI numbers for the month of January in focus.
CPI in SA is currently well below the SARB’s midpoint target of 4.5% after the December CPI came in at 3.0%, up from 2.9% in November which has many calling for a more accommodative monetary policy stance from the SARB. The SA budget side of things are also positive with treasury revenue collections expected to come in higher than initial projections which will allow treasury to issue fewer bonds to the market this calendar year. Both the lower SA inflation environment and improved revenue collection will provide some support for the rand in the current turbulence of the dollar. I will update this idea with more detail on the SA budget after the budget speech.
For this week the key support level to watch is 18.30 while the key resistance is the 50-day MA of 18.48. A break below 18.30 will see the rand pull the pair out of the current upward channel and towards the 200-day MA support of 18.11. A break below 18.11 will invalidate all my previous ideas calling for a move to 19.35. A move towards 18.11 could be a bear trap which is why I’m moving my invalidation rate from 18.30 to 18.11.
Upward movement Dollar Rand has been bearish all week, but this seems to ceasing as there may be a slight shift of momentum. As long as price action is above 18.4500 it'll likely erase, this week's bearish momentum.
This is because price action is failed to continue to the downside by breaking this barrier. However if price action does settle below 18.4500, then the bearish move will continue.
USDZAR Analysis: A Buy Setup in FebruaryThe USDZAR daily timeframe for February presents an "open low" structure, indicating a potential BUY SETUP . This structure signifies that the market has maintained a bullish sentiment, starting with low prices early in the month and showing an upward trajectory. Traders should note this trend and align their strategies accordingly, as it suggests strong buyer activity. February’s price action offers opportunities for long positions, supported by additional technical indicators confirming the market’s direction.
A significant confirmation of buyers’ presence in the market came with today’s TDI (Traders Dynamic Index) cross. The TDI cross, a widely-used momentum indicator, reflects strengthening bullish momentum. This confirmation aligns with the ongoing bullish structure, giving traders confidence in pursuing long positions on USDZAR. Such setups are especially valuable for traders monitoring currency pairs with volatile price movements like USDZAR.
Adding further support to the buy setup is the presence of a clear bullish divergence. This divergence began forming on Friday, January 24th, and continues through the current market low. Divergences between price action and momentum indicators often signal potential reversals or continuation of trends. In this case, the bullish divergence reinforces the likelihood of price moving higher, aligning with the broader market structure.
For precision in trade execution, traders should look for buy entries on lower timeframes. This strategy ensures optimized entry points while minimizing potential drawdowns. Target zones for profit-taking are critical for a structured trade plan. The first take-profit target for USDZAR is set at 18.59211 , providing an initial benchmark for closing partial positions or locking in profits. The second take-profit target, slightly higher at 18.67943 , offers a secondary level for maximizing gains as the bullish trend unfolds.
Proper risk management remains a cornerstone of successful trading. Traders should assess their risk-to-reward ratios carefully, setting stop-loss levels to protect against unexpected market reversals. Managing position sizes relative to account equity is essential for mitigating potential losses while capitalizing on this promising USDZAR buy setup.
$USDZAR short idea This week's price movements seems to favour bearish momentum from the USDXXX pair, however the outlook remains two sided. With the CPI event and fed speech after NY open, we're bound to see significant changes in the market. Points of interest remains 18.57986, 18.49814, 18.35750 and 18.23590.