Weekly Review: The S&P and NASDAQ once again hit all time highs during the week starting Monday 14 July. Which is a sign of confidence despite the ongoing external threats (tariffs / Middle East). I've noticed the current earnings season wasn't approached with as much trepidation as recent earnings seasons have been. Of course, that could come crashing down as companies continue to report over the next couple of weeks.
Once again, the currencies didn't quite react in accordance with the overall 'positive risk environment'. As each of the 'risk off currencies' offers their own separate challenges:
Ever since the recent NFP data, the USD had been strong, the FED continues to maintain a view for a 'slow pace of rate cuts' and US data backs up that view. Particularly this week's retail sales data, even CPI, although relatively benign, wasn't soft enough to warrant a 'FED pivot' towards a more dovish stance. The USD spent most of the week on the front foot, although the 'higher for longer' narrative was put to the test when the president once again offered his views on Mr Powell. Also FED board member WALLER chipped in with some dovish comments. Currently, it's up in the air as to how many more rate cut the FED will implement before year end (if any). The narrative at the July FOMC meeting could go a long way to determine the dollar's direction for the rest of the summer. But ultimately, it'll be the data that decides.
Recently, I've been encouraged by the re-emergence of JPY weakness. This past week, I put any periods of JPY strength down to profit taking before this weekends election. I need to do some reading regarding the implications of the result. But I'm 'hopeful' that over the coming weeks and months the 'old fashioned, JPY short 'risk on trade', will be prevalent.
The CHF continues to have a mind of it's own. It could be tracking EUR strength, it could be the article I read about gold, it could be SNB intervention, It could be random, or something I'm not aware of. Ultimately, until I'm comfortable the CHF is back in correlation with the risk environment, my preference is to short the JPY instead.
In other news, disappointing AUD data took the shine off the hawkish RBA. But I still view the AUD as a good 'risk on' long.
I'll begin the new week with an open mind. My preference remains for 'risk on' trades. But it's a case of keeping up to date with all of the narratives, if momentum aligns with logic and a narrative. And you feel comfortable with a stop loss and profit target, place the trade. But, be aware that the narrative the market is focused on can change from day to day.
On a personal note, it was a week of two trades. A post US CPI 'risk on' AUD JPY long. The trade stopped out. And as discussed during the week, it was one of those situations where if I would have been at the charts and hour later, I would have traded a different pair. That's life.
The second trade was AUD USD long. Post WALLER'S dovish comments, I felt the USD short momentum could continue. On my account the trade hit profit by the skin of its teeth before reversing. Again, that's life. Sometimes you get good luck, sometimes you get bad luck. I feel it's important to acknowledge good luck, as we often only focus on the bad luck we have.
The USD is finely poised and I'm intrigued to see where the data and rate cut narrative takes it over the coming weeks.
Results:
Trade 1: AUD JPY -1
Trade 2: AUD USD +1.2
Total = +0.2%
