Yesterday’s trade saw USD/ZAR within the range of 10.8665-11.0008. The pair closed at 10.9025, losing 0.56% on a daily basis.
At 7:41 GMT today USD/ZAR was up 0.22% for the day to trade at 10.9282. The pair touched a daily high at 10.9427 at 7:00 GMT.
Fundamental view
United States
Consumer inflation
The annualized index of consumer prices (CPI) in the United States probably slipped to 1.9% in August from 2.0% in July, according to market expectations. In monthly terms, the CPI probably remained flat last month, following a 0.1% gain in July. The all items index registered its smallest seasonally adjusted increase since February in July, according to the report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The indexes for shelter and food gained, but were partially offset by drops in the energy index and the index for airline fares. The food index increased 0.4% in July, with the food at home index also gaining 0.4% after a flat performance in June. The drop in the energy index was the first since March and came as a result of declines in the indexes of all the major energy components.
The CPI is based on a basket of goods and services bought and used by consumers on a daily basis. In the United States the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) surveys the prices of 80 000 consumer items in order to calculate the index. The latter reflects prices of commonly purchased items by primarily urban households, which represent about 87% of the US population. The Bureau processes price data from 23 000 retail and service businesses.
The CPI includes sales taxes, but excludes income taxes, prices of investments such as stocks and bonds and sales prices of homes.
The annualized Core CPI, which excludes prices of food and energy, probably remained unchanged at 1.9% in August. It is usually reported as a seasonally adjusted figure, because consumer patterns are widely fluctuating in dependance on the time of the year. The Core CPI is a key measure, because this is the gauge, which the Federal Reserve Bank examines in order to adjust its monetary policy. The Fed uses the core CPI, because prices of food, oil and gas are highly volatile and central bank’s tools are slow-acting. In case, for example, prices of gas surge considerably, this could lead to a high rate of inflation, but the central bank will not take action until this increase affects prices of other goods and services.
If the CPI tends to approach or comes in line with the inflation objective, set by the Federal Reserve and considered as providing price stability, or 2%, this will usually support demand for the US dollar. However, quite high rates of inflation (well above central bank’s inflation target) can be harmful to economy and as a result, this may lead to the loss of confidence in the local currency.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is to release the official CPI report at 12:30 GMT.
Current Account
The deficit on US current account probably widened to 114.6 billion USD during the second quarter of the year, according to the median forecast by experts, from 111.16 billion USD in Q1. If so, this would be the largest deficit figure since Q2 2012.
The current account reflects the difference between a nation’s savings and its investments. It is the sum of the balance of trade, net current transfers (cash transfers) and net income from abroad (earnings from investments made abroad plus money sent by individuals working abroad to their families back home, minus payments made to foreign investors).
A current account surplus indicates that a country’s net foreign assets have increased by the respective amount, while a deficit suggests the opposite. A country with a surplus on its current account is considered as a net lender to the rest of the world, while a current account deficit puts it in the position of a net borrower. A net lender is consuming less than it is producing, which means it is saving and those savings are being invested abroad, or foreign assets are created. A net borrower is consuming more than it is producing, which means that other countries are lending it their savings, or foreign liabilities are created. Therefore, a contracting surplus or a widening deficit on the current account of a nation usually has a bearish effect on its currency.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis is expected to release the official data at 12:30 GMT.
NAHB Housing Market Index
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index probably increased to a reading of 56 in September from 55 in August. It is based on a monthly survey in regard to current home sales and expected sales in the coming six months. Values above the key level of 50 indicate that housing market conditions are good. Therefore, higher than projected readings would provide support to the US dollar. The official data is scheduled for release at 14:00 GMT.
Federal Reserve policy decision
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will probably keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged within the range 0-0.25% for a 45th consecutive meeting. In addition, the FOMC members will probably reduce the pace of monthly asset purchases by another $10 billion to $15 billion, according to the median forecast by experts.
In a speech during the Economic Symposium in Jackson Hole, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen introduced the possibility of an interest rate hike earlier than expected, if US labor market conditions continue to improve or the rate of inflation increases at a faster pace.
The minutes of Federal Open Market Committee meeting, conducted in July, revealed that the tightening of monetary policy may occur sooner than anticipated and would give warning on any changes well before interest rates rise. According to extracts from the minutes: ”With respect to monetary policy over the medium run, participants generally agreed that labor market conditions and inflation had moved closer to the Committee’s longer-run objectives in recent months, and most anticipated that progress toward those goals would continue. Moreover, many participants noted that if convergence toward the Committee’s objectives occurred more quickly than expected, it might become appropriate to begin removing monetary policy accommodation sooner than they currently anticipated.”
”In their discussion of monetary policy in the period ahead, members judged that information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in June indicated that economic activity rebounded in the second quarter. Household spending appeared to be rising moderately, and business fixed investment was advancing, while the recovery in the housing sector remained slow.”
Investors and traders keep a close eye on the FOMC’s policy decisions. After each of the eight FOMC meetings, an announcement is made regarding the decision by Fed to increase, decrease or maintain the federal funds rate. The FOMC will announce its official decision on policy at 18:00 GMT. In case the central bank’s policy makers cut the monthly asset purchases, this would certainly bolster demand for the greenback.
At 18:30 GMT Fed Chair Janet Yellen is scheduled to take a statement. In her public statements so far, Yellen demonstrated a more moderate tone, while upholding the view that economic recovery should be supported by an accommodative monetary policy.
South Africa
Annualized retail sales in South Africa probably rose at a pace of 0.3% in July, according to market expectations, following a flat performance in the preceding month. In monthly terms, retail sales dropped 0.4% in June, after a 0.9% increase in May.
The retail sales index provides key information in regard to consumer spending trend in a shorter term.
Statistics South Africa conducts a monthly survey of the retail trade industry, encompassing retail enterprises. This survey is based on a sample, drawn from the 2004 Business Sample Frame (BSF), which includes businesses registered for value-added tax (VAT) and income tax. Retail trade sales include value added tax (VAT).
In case sales rose more than anticipated, this would have a bullish effect on the rand. The official data is expected to be released at 11:00 GMT.
Technical view
According to Binary Tribune’s daily analysis, the central pivot point for the pair is at 10.9233. In case USD/ZAR manages to breach the first resistance level at 10.9800, it will probably continue up to test 11.0576. In case the second key resistance is broken, the pair will probably attempt to advance to 11.1143.
If USD/ZAR manages to breach the first key support at 10.8455, it will probably continue to slide and test 10.7890. With this second key support broken, the movement to the downside will probably continue to 10.7114.
The mid-Pivot levels for today are as follows: M1 – 10.7502, M2 – 10.8174, M3 – 10.8845, M4 – 10.9517, M5 – 11.0188, M6 – 11.0860.
In weekly terms, the central pivot point is at 10.9138. The three key resistance levels are as follows: R1 – 11.1389, R2 – 11.2547, R3 – 11.4798. The three key support levels are: S1 – 10.7980, S2 – 10.5729, S3 – 10.4571.
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