EUR/USD

The Euro strengthened against the US Dollar in the New York session yesterday, closing 0.3% higher at 1.0939.

At GMT 0600, the Euro is trading at 1.0914 against the US Dollar, 0.22% lower from the New York close.

The Euro hit a high of 1.0969 and a low of 1.0892 against the US Dollar in the New York session.

In technical indicators, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence has crossed above its signal line and the Relative Strength Index has crossed above 50.http://x-profit.com/

Swedish retail

Swedish retail sales 0.7% vs. 0.3% forecast

Retail sales in Sweden rose more-than-expected last month, official data showed on Tuesday.

In a report, SCB – Statistics Sweden said that Swedish Retail Sales rose to a seasonally adjusted 0.7%, from 0.1% in the preceding month whose figure was revised down from 0.2%.

Analysts had expected Swedish Retail Sales to rise 0.3% l

Canada stocks

Canada stocks lower at close of trade; S&P/TSX Composite down 0.42%

Canada stocks were lower after the close on Monday, as losses in the Healthcare, IT and Industrials sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Toronto, the S&P/TSX Composite fell 0.42%.

The best performers of the session on the S&P/TSX Composite were Surge Energy Inc. (TO:SGY), which rose 14.40% or 0.540 points to trade at 4.290 at the close. Meanwhile, Sherritt International Corporation (TO:S) added 7.34% or 0.16 points to end at 2.34 and First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (TO:FM) was up 6.61% or 1.16 points to 18.70 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. (TO:PRE), which fell 6.96% or 0.27 points to trade at 3.61 at the close. Concordia Healthcare (TO:CXR) declined 5.18% or 4.81 points to end at 88.00 and Penn West Petroleum Ltd. (TO:PWT) was down 4.75% or 0.14 points to 2.81.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Toronto Stock Exchange by 751 to 694 and 191 ended unchanged.

The S&P/TSX 60 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/TSX Composite options, was up 3.10% to 13.30.

Gold for June delivery was up 2.25% or 26.40 to $1201.40 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in June fell 0.76% or 0.43 to hit $56.72 a barrel, while the June Brent oil contract fell 0.87% or 0.57 to trade at $64.71 a barrel.

CAD/USD was up 0.76% to 0.8268, while CAD/EUR rose 0.64% to 0.7596.

The US Dollar Index was down 0.18% at 96.90.

EURUSD

EURUSD

The EURUSD trades in a wide range with some resistance found below 1.0950. Prices are trading marginally above the daily 20 SMA and the MACD is currently flat. A breakdown below 1.0850 may encourage a further decline towards 1.0700.

Commodity Spotlight

Commodity Spotlight

The sharp decline in equity markets which have encouraged further safe-haven attention continues to grant a false lifeline to Gold bulls who have found it increasingly difficult to break above the $1110 resistance. Despite Fridays unexpectedly soft retail sales which weakened the USD and consequently sent Gold prices surging, this commodity remains fundamentally bearish in the bigger picture. The impressive US jobs report for December combined with more recent upbeats comments from senior spokespeople of the FED suggesting that US rates could be increased again this year should encourage bearish investors to send prices lower.Forex Bonus is free. From a technical standpoint a daily close back below $1075 should open a path towards $1060.

Crude oil extends decline following Iran’s sanctions lift

A renewed wave of risk aversion rippled through the global stock markets at the end of another unstable week as an incessant decline in oil prices and recurrent fears around slowing global growth activated a sharp selloff across the board. This selloff continued into the new trading week as Asian stocks concluded depressed with Japanese and Australian shares on the brink of joining China in a bear market, while ongoing concerns around Beijing’s inability to revive it owns economic growth capped gains on the Shanghai Composite Index. These anxieties have trickled down to European stocks which have ventured deep into the red territory and the contagion may drag American equities in the same negative direction. With overall confidence in the global economy quite low, more declines may be expected throughout stocks as risk adverse investors scatter away from riskier assets.

Iran’s return into the heavily saturated international oil markets following the sanctions lift has attributed to WTI oil prices crashing to fresh 12 year lows at $28.60 during trading on Monday. The growing speculations around Iran pumping as much as 500,000 bdp of crude oil into the oversupplied markets continues to haunt investor attraction while other recurrent fears such as slowing demand for the commodity has sabotaged any opportunity for a recovery in value. With OPEC deciding last December against cutting production despite the steep declines in oil prices, most investors are betting that the cartel follows the same decision in future meetings in an attempt to prevent Iran from re-attaining lost market share and this should leave prices vulnerable to further losses.

WTI remains fundamentally bearish and with still no signs of an emergency meeting forthcoming, sellers may be encouraged to attack prices towards $25.00. From a technical standpoint, previous support at $30 may become a dynamic resistance which should invite a further decline towards the lows of August 2003 at $25.

The Eurozone is currently under immense pressure and has been in a constant bout with stubbornly low inflation while the perpetually depressed economic growth in Europe has put the European Central Banks credibility on the line. Falling commodity prices and slowing global growth continue to attribute to the factors which have sabotaged the ECB’s 2% inflation target and it seems likely the central bank may be forced to slash forecasts as investors lose faith in the ability of policymakers. It is widely expected that the ECB will keep rates unchanged on Thursday during the press conference while Mario Draghi to reiterate his dovish view on the health of the Eurozone in an attempt to talk down the Euro.

On Tuesday, the focus will be turned towards the high-risk China GDP report which is largely expected to show the Chinese economy decelerating further in the final quarter of 2015 following the slowdown in industrial productions and weaker trade. A China GDP release below 6.9% may install further woes over the global economy and elevate fears around the Peoples Bank of China (PBoC) stepping in to implement more aggressive monetary policy measures as in attempt to promote stability.

Crude Oil Hits $29.04 – Possible Bottom!

On December 18th with WTI Crude Oil at $34.55 per barrel, NIA predicted that it would bottom in January between $29.04 and $30.15 per barrel. WTI Crude Oil is down this morning to $29.04 per barrel, which puts it at the low end of NIA’s bottom prediction range.With gold up this morning to $1,091.60 per oz, the Gold/WTI Crude Oil Ratio is now up to a new all-time high of 37.59.

Historically, WTI Crude Oil has become extremely undervalued anytime the Gold/WTI Crude Oil Ratio rises above 27. Since 1968, the Gold/WTI Crude Oil Ratio has peaked at multi-year highs of above 27 on six occasions. On average, over the following 12 months, WTI Crude Oil has experienced a USD price increase of 103.04%!