Talking Points:
– Dollar forecast improves considerably as US Federal Reserve cuts policy easing
– Rising yields and relative safe-haven status should continue to benefit the currency
– Technical forecasts points to test of major multi-year USDOLLAR high

Want to trade with proprietary strategies developed by FXCM? Find out how here.

The fundamentals took a significant turn in the US Dollar’s favor at the end of 2014 when the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced the long-awaited – and to many, feared – Taper. There are a number of important implications to this change in monetary policy. First, if the central bank is comfortable enough to ease is unprecedented support program, it suggests that officials are confident about the outlook for the economy, employment and other critical metrics for the United States.

An outlook for robust and steady growth is particularly important when the dollar is held up against its major counterparts. For th Eurozone, capital inflow looking to take advantage of high yields as a holdover of the crisis has matured. For Japan, growth is seen as being uneven at best and there are concerns of lending bubbles in China. And, the emerging market is considered to be at the mercy of tepid developed world demand and exposed to any unforeseen jolts in global financial markets.

Dollar Index Stands to Gain from Yield Rebound
Data Source: Bloomberg, DailyFX Calculations

Another important implication of the Fed’s decision to moderate its stimulus program is the subsequent yield impact. A direct aim of the open-ended stimulus program was to lower longer-term lending rates which would encourage economic expansion. Yet, an unappealing side effect of low rates is a lower benchmark return on investments.

In the chart above, we see the Dow Jones FXCM Dollar Index (ticker = USDollar) alongside the US 2-year Treasury yield. Though many will refer to the 10-year note as their primary reference to benchmark return in the United States, this short-term tenor will be particularly important to watch for the performance of the greenback. As the central bank continues to wind down its QE3 program, the natural progression will be towards an eventual rate hike. According to the Committee’s forecasts, that first increase is expected in 2015 (within 2 years). And, if the British pound’s climb through the second half of 2013 is any indication, the FX market moves to price future yield changes well before they are actually realized.

A Rebound in Volatility Equals a Rebound in Risk and the Dollar

A shift in the Fed’s monetary policy approach and the implications for US market yields is something we would consider a ‘passive’ support. It will offer a steady but tame buoyancy that can be temporarily thrown off course by more dramatic developments. One of those uncertainties, however, can help the dollar.
Data Source: Bloomberg, DailyFX Calculations

There is considerable debate over whether the US capital markets are building into bubble-like conditions and what role the massive stimulus programs have played in supporting that dangerous swelling. Yet, when we gauge the forecast for growth, earnings, rates of return along with most of the traditional measures of fundamental value; there is a distinct disconnect. In the meantime, investors have had to resort to using record levels of leverage (according to the New York Stock Exchange margin debt levels) and investment in exceptionally risky markets (like junk bond ETFs) in order to make retruns that have any hope of keeping pace with the explosive pace of the S&P 500.

Given the Federal Reserve’s presence in the market, investors were comfortable with taking on this risk under the assumption that threatening market corrections would be quickly curbed by the central bank – leading to what is called ‘moral hazard’. Though with the shift from an ever-accelerating stimulus program to one that is slowly approaching a tightening regime, we will see the cost of that leverage and risky positioning increase. Any sharp increases in perceived risk – measured in volatility – could spur a wider deleveraging effort that sees capital repatriated to a safe haven like the US dollar.

In the chart above, we see that both short and medium-term volatility levels in the FX market are exceptionally low – a similar state for all the major financial markets. As the markets move out from under the Fed’s umbrella of protection, the balance between natural risk and reward will likely find many of the assets on the riskier end of the spectrum (equities, emerging markets, high-yield bonds, carry trade) ease while the US dollar gains. What makes this particularly interesting is that the extreme positioning means there is a risk of a hefty and perhaps panicked rebalancing. The more ‘fear’ there is in a capital market correction, the greater the dollar benefit. And an adjustment to the Taper with the return of liquidity in the New Year is a real threat.

US Dollar Technical Trading Strategy – A Reset Bull Trend?

The 2013 Q4 forecast noted that “within the confines of a larger bull market’, a confluence of technical support suggests that the decline is nearing completion or even complete…The decline from the July high would consist of 2 equal waves at 10449. Channel support is at about 10400 and in line with the March and April lows during the first week of October.” The USDOLLAR slipped to 10354 (March low was 10391) during the 3rd week of October before finding bottom. A healthy, nearly 4 month correction may have ‘reset’ the market for the next bull leg.

Chart Prepared by Jamie Saettele, CMT using Marketscope 2.0

-The decline from the July high ‘counts’ as a complex 7 wave correction. Corrective moves consist of 3 waves. A complex correction consists of multiple 3 wave corrections (in this case, 3 waves + 1 connecting wave + 3 waves = 7 waves).

-At the bottom, 13 week RSI just dipped under 40. On the way up in the first half of 2013, 13 week RSI was consistently above 70 and even reached 80 at the March high. This momentum profile is typical of RSI in bull markets; the indicator consistently registers ‘overbought’ readings but fails to register ‘oversold’ readings on declines.

-Possible resistance levels in the first quarter are the 61.8% retracement of the decline from the July high at 10759, the 8/30 high at 10812, the August high at 10897 and the 7/8 close at 10951. These levels are viewed as minor however. Ultimately, the next major stopping point is probably not until the 2010 high at 11274.
Strategy: Consider the bull trend firmly intact as long as price is above 10565 (December low).

New to Forex? Watch this video

Written by John Kicklighter, Chief Strategist and Jamie Saettele, CMT, Senior Technical Strategist for DailyFX.com

Disclaimer
DailyFX Market Opinions
Any opinions, news, research, analyses, prices, or other information contained in this report is provided as general market commentary, and does not constitute investment advice. DailyFX will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including without limitation to, any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on such information.

Accuracy of Information
The content in this report is subject to change at any time without notice, and is provided for the sole purpose of assisting traders to make independent investment decisions. DailyFX has taken reasonable measures to ensure the accuracy of the information in the report, however, does not guarantee its accuracy, and will not accept liability for any loss or damage which may arise directly or indirectly from the content or your inability to access the website, for any delay in or failure of the transmission or the receipt of any instruction or notifications sent through this website.

Distribution
This report is not intended for distribution, or use by, any person in any country where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation. None of the services or investments referred to in this report are available to persons residing in any country where the provision of such services or investments would be contrary to local law or regulation. It is the responsibility of visitors to this website to ascertain the terms of and comply with any local law or regulation to which they are subject.

High Risk Investment
Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to trade foreign exchange you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with foreign exchange trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any doubts.

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.Learn forex trading with a free practice account and trading charts from FXCM.
Source: Daily fx