Yesterday’s trade saw USD/CAD within the range of 1.3117-1.3186. The pair closed at 1.3153, shedding 0.15% on a daily basis. It has been the fifth drop in the past eleven trading days and also the most modest one since September 24th, when the pair lost 0.14%.
At 9:51 GMT today USD/CAD was gaining 0.26% for the day to trade at 1.3188. The pair overshot the upper range breakout level (R4), as it touched a daily high at 1.3194 at 9:30 GMT. It exceeded the high from Monday and was probably in for a test of 1.3200, Fridays high and also the highest level since October 2nd.
Today USD/CAD trading may be influenced by the macroeconomic releases listed below.
Fundamentals
United States
Durable Goods Orders
Durable goods orders in the United States probably dropped for a second straight month in September, down at a monthly rate of 1.1%, according to the median forecast by experts. In August orders were 2.3% lower from a month ago, a revision down from a 2.0% drop reported previously. It has been the sharpest monthly decline since December 2014, when orders were down 3.7%.
In August, excluding transportation, new orders remained virtually unchanged. Without taking into account defense, new orders slumped by USD 2.2 billion (1.0%) from a month ago. Transportation equipment, also down in August after two straight months of increases, dropped the most, by 5.8% to reach USD 78.7 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods were virtually unchanged at USD 243.2 billion in August, after a 1.0% climb in July. Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods dropped by USD 2.2 billion (0.2%) to reach USD 1,195.3 billion, following a 0.2% gain in July. Inventories of manufactured durable goods were almost unchanged at USD 401.4 billion, while non-defense new orders for capital goods slumped by USD 1.6 billion (2.0%) to reach USD 80.4 billion in August, according to data by the US Census Bureau.
Durable goods orders, as an indicator, gauge the strength of US manufacturing sector and represent a major portion of the nations factory orders. This is a closely watched report on manufacturing activity, because durable goods are the first type of goods to be affected by an economic downturn or upturn.
Durable goods are designed to last three or more years and encompass aircraft, automobiles and buses, cranes, machine parts, appliances etc. More than 85 industries are represented in the sample, which covers the entire United States. The logic behind this indicator is that consumers need to be very optimistic in order to buy an automobile in comparison with, for example, first necessities such as food or clothing. Therefore, durable goods are among the first goods, which a consumer may abstain from purchasing, in case overall economic activity begins to contract.
Durable goods orders, which exclude transportation, probably remained flat for a second straight month in September, according to expectations, following four successive months of increases. Large ticket orders, such as automobiles for civil use or aircraft, are not present in the calculation, as their value may be in a wide range. This way the index provides a more reliable information in regard to orders for durable goods.
In case the general index decreased at a faster-than-projected pace, this would have a strong bearish effect on the US dollar. The US Census Bureau is scheduled to release the official report at 12:30 GMT.
Services PMI by Markit – preliminary estimate
Activity in the US sector of services probably remained unchanged in October, with the corresponding preliminary Purchasing Managers Index coming in at a reading of 55.1. It has been the lowest index reading since June 2015, when the PMI stood at a final 54.8. In August the final seasonally adjusted PMI came in at 56.1, up from a preliminary value of 55.2. The PMI is based on data collected from a representative panel of more than 400 private sector companies, which encompasses industries such as transport and communication, financial intermediaries, business and personal services, computing & IT and hotels and restaurants. Values above the key level of 50.0 indicate optimism (expanding activity). In case, however, a slowdown in services sector activity is reported, this would have a moderate bearish effect on the US dollar. The preliminary data by Markit Economics is due out at 13:45 GMT.
CB Consumer Confidence Index
Confidence among consumers in the United States was probably little changed in October, with the corresponding index coming in at a reading of 102.9, according to expectations, from 103.0 in September. The latter has been the highest index value since January, when the gauge was reported at 103.8.
This indicator measures the level of individuals confidence in the US economic development. It is considered as a leading indicator, as it gives an early insight into consumer spending, which accounts for most of the nations GDP.
In case the index fell more than anticipated, this would have a strong bearish effect on the US dollar, as lower confidence suggests a lower willingness to spend and, respectively, a slower economic growth. The Conference Board research group is to publish the official index reading at 14:00 GMT.
Bond Yield Spread
The yield on Canada’s 2-year government bonds went as high as 0.535% on October 26th, after which it closed at 0.518% to lose 1.7 basis points (0.017 percentage point) compared to October 23rd. It has been the seventh drop in the past ten trading days.
The yield on US 2-year government bonds climbed as high as 0.650% on October 26th, or the highest level since October 9th (0.657%), after which it closed at 0.641% to lose 0.004 percentage point compared to October 23rd. It has been the seventh drop in the past eleven trading days.
The spread between 2-year US and 2-year Canadian bond yields, which reflects the flow of funds in a short term, expanded to 0.123% on October 26th from 0.110% on October 23rd. The October 26th yield spread has been the largest one since September 29th, when the difference was 0.145%.
Meanwhile, the yield on Canada’s 10-year government bonds soared as high as 1.508% on October 26th, after which it slid to 1.443% at the close to lose 6.3 basis points (0.063 percentage point) compared to October 23rd. It has been the sixth drop in the past ten trading days.
The yield on US 10-year government bonds climbed as high as 2.085% on October 26th, after which it slipped to 2.055% at the close to lose 3.2 basis points (0.032 percentage point) compared to October 23rd. It has been the sixth decrease in the past eleven trading days.
The spread between 10-year US and 10-year Canadian bond yields widened to 0.612% on October 26th from 0.581% on October 23rd. The October 26th yield difference has been the largest one since October 6th, when the spread was 0.614%.
Daily and Weekly Pivot Levels
By employing the Camarilla calculation method, the daily pivot levels for USD/CAD are presented as follows:
R1 – 1.3159
R2 – 1.3166
R3 (range resistance) – 1.3172
R4 (range breakout) – 1.3192
S1 – 1.3147
S2 – 1.3139
S3 (range support) – 1.3134
S4 (range breakout) – 1.3115
By using the traditional method of calculation again, the weekly pivot levels for USD/CAD are presented as follows:
Central Pivot Point – 1.3087
R1 – 1.3277
R2 – 1.3390
R3 – 1.3580
S1 – 1.2974
S2 – 1.2784
S3 – 1.2671
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