Archive for March 2009

USD to CAD – Daily Candlestick Chart 31st March 2009

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
USD to CAD 31st March 2009 - Daily Chart

USD to CAD 31st March 2009 - Daily Chart

As I suggested in yesterday’s post the weekly hammer candle in the usd to cad chart did indeed provide the impetus for yesterday’s wide spread up bar which closed above all three moving averages but just failing to breach the 1.2650 region and closing marginally below on the day.   This is a significant area as it is a relatively strong area of resistance and for this move to continue we will need to see this broken in the next few days and it is interesting to note from this morning’s trading that this level has held once again but whether this continues to be the case for the remainder of the day, we will have to wait and see.

Items of fundamental news on the economic calendar relating to the Canadian Dollar included the GDP, RMPI and IPPI of which the first was the most significant and which came in worse than expected at -0.7% against a forecast of -0.6%.  This indicated an economy in contraction and indeed was the sixth straight month in a row that we have seen such figures being released largely as a result of a slump in car production and falling construction activity.  Manufacturing fell by 3.1% as a result of fewer cars being produced and construction fell by a similar figure of 3.0%.  As the 8th biggest economy in the world Canada is now facing its first recession since 1992, a situation not helped by falling exported commodity prices such as oil.   This was followed by the RMPI which is an acronym for raw materials price index which came in substantially better than expected at 1.7% against a forecast of 0.2%.  This is generally considered a leading indicator as higher costs are generally passed on directly to the consumer.  The final data set was for IPPI which is the industrial product price index which came in on target at 0.4%.

We now await the Chicago PMI data and, more importantly, the CB consumer confidence figures for the US which are due out shortly which are covered in more detail on my euro to dollar site.

My trading suggestion for today remains the same in that we may have to wait a few more days for any bearish pattern to resume but that there is still some momentum left from last week’s hammer candle and you will find possible trades in the 5 and 10 minute charts.  Remember to buy on any dips and, in particular, look for hammer candles to go long and shooting star candles to exit.

In the meantime you can keep up with all the latest live currency charts, latest currency news and fundamental news by simply following the relevant links.  Also you are looking for a good ECN broker again just click on the link.

USD CAD – Daily Candle Chart 30th March 2009

Monday, March 30th, 2009
USD to CAD - Daily Candle Chart 30th March 2009

USD to CAD - Daily Candle Chart 30th March 2009

The week ended on the daily candle chart for the usd to cad with an up bar with the close of the day marginally above the 9 day moving average which came as no great surprise following the three consecutive small doji candles.  This up move has followed through in this morning’s trading although it is interesting to note that the high of the day, so far, has failed to breach the significant 40 day moving average and is currency falling back below both this and the 14 day moving average suggesting that his may only be a short term reversal in the longer term bear trend.  However, it is interesting to note that looking at the weekly chart we now have a small hammer candle which suggests we may see a move higher this week before the bearish pattern continues in the longer term.

There is no fundamental news in the economic calendar of any significance today relating to the usd to cad pair although tomorrow and the remainder of the week sees the release of a series of numbers for both Canada and the US, all of which need to be viewed against the backdrop of the G20 meeting.  On a personal note I think it is a disgrace that for this summit Canada has been relegated to tier 2 status given that it is one of the few countries in the global economy to have a sound banking sector based on prudent and sensible lending criteria.  In addition as a leading energy sector player I find it bizarre that they are not accorded tier 1 status.  Indeed if rumor is to be believed the G20 could soon become the G2 – ie the US and China!! (rant over!!)

Given all the factors this week coupled with the trading range that we are now seeing with the convergence of moving averages and with prices in the midst of a heavy consolidation area personally I would not be looking to trade this pair until later in the week when the picture may be a little clearer.

In the meantime you can keep up with all the latest live currency charts, latest fundamental news and details on an excellent ECN broker, simply following the relevant links.

USD to CAD – Daily Candle Chart 27th March 2009

Friday, March 27th, 2009
USD to CAD Daily Candle Chart - 27th March 2009

USD to CAD Daily Candle Chart - 27th March 2009

There is little to add to our analysis of this pair and yesterday’s candle which was a perfect doji cross simply reinforces the general picture of the likelihood of a continuing period of sideways movement and consolidation prior to a move a lower which we should see in due course.  This is further emphasized by the 9 day moving average now crossing over the 40 day – a dead cross. My only slight concern at the moment looking at the weekly chart is the tweezer bottom which is now forming over the last 2 weeks and we may see prices rise temporarily before they fall.

Given the somewhat contradictory signals and next week’s heavy list of fundamental news items in the economic calendar which includes Canada’s GDP, a whole host of numbers from the US, non farm payroll on Friday and the build up the G20 meeting my advice is to step aside for today.

You can keep up to date with the latest live currency charts, latest currency news and fundamental news but simply following the relevant links.