Euro rallies on hope of bank rescue

The euro is headed for a test of $1.40 against the greenback, on the hope that European banks will be re-capitalized after taking a haircut on the PIIGS bonds. There still appears to be some confusion — I suspect deliberate — as to who will pay, with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble suggesting that banks first attempt to raise money from investors. Given the current state of financial markets, private investment will be scarce and European taxpayers are likely to end up with sizable stakes in a number of banks. Expect resistance at $1.40 to be followed by another test of support at $1.30*.

EURUSD

* Target calculation: 1.40 – ( 1.50 – 1.40 ) = 1.30

The pound is similarly headed for resistance at $1.60. Respect would signal another test of $1.53.

GBPUSD

* Target calculation: 1.53 – ( 1.60 – 1.53 ) = 1.46

Canada’s Loonie and the Aussie dollar both benefited from a surge in commodity prices. Expect the CADUSD to find resistance at parity, followed by another test of support at $0.94.

CADUSD

* Target calculation: 1.00 – ( 1.06 – 1.00 ) = 0.94

The Aussie will find resistance between $1.02 and the descending trendline. Respect is likely and would indicate another test of $0.94.

AUDUSD

* Target calculation: 1.02 – ( 1.10 – 1.02 ) = 0.94

The Aussie has formed a broad double bottom against its Kiwi counterpart. AUDNZD breakout above $1.28 would signal a primary advance to $1.32*.

AUDNZD

* Target calculation: 1.28 + ( 1.28 – 1.24 ) = 1.32

Support is holding firm on the dollar-yen cross — with assistance no doubt from the BOJ. Expect a narrow range between 76 and 78.

USDJPY

The South African rand is testing support at R7.70 against the greenback, after penetrating its rising trendline. Probably because of all the visitors returning early from the Rugby World Cup. 🙂 Apparently they have invited the referee to run a series of clinics in South Africa on his novel interpretation of the forward-pass rule. I suggest that he decline — it could get violent. Failure of support would offer a target of R7.00*

USDZAR

* Target calculation: 7.70 – ( 8.40 – 7.70 ) = 7.00

Euro-Zone Industrial Production Rises – WSJ.com

Industrial production across the 17 countries that share the euro increased at an unexpectedly strong pace in August and for the second straight month.The increase is partly a result of big output increases in Ireland and Portugal, two countries that received bailouts from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.The European Union’s official statistics agency Eurostat said Wednesday industrial production rose by 1.2% from a month earlier and was up 5.3% from a year earlier.

via Euro-Zone Industrial Production Rises – WSJ.com.

Pound joins Euro slide

Apologies. I messed up the links at the bottom of the Trading Diary newsletter. For the correct link click here. Correct links are also available on the Trading Diary web page and under Recent Posts in the right margin of this page.

The euro retraced to test resistance at $1.34 but is likely to continue in its downward trend channel. Reversal below $1.3150 would test our target of $1.30*. 63-Day Momentum declining below zero confirms the primary down-trend.

EURUSD

* Target calculation: 1.40 – ( 1.50 – 1.40 ) = 1.30

The pound has been dragged lower by the euro-zone crisis. Breach of support at $1.53 would offer a target of the 2010 low at $1.43.

GBPUSD

The Swiss National Bank Is Taking A Very Big Risk

The bottom line is that in August Swiss reserves rose by CHF 115b. A monthly increasing of 50% (Staggering). Domestic liquidity (sight deposits) rose an (unbelievable) 390% (CHF 49b to CHF 191B). This information covers the period when SNB bet the farm in an effort to stabilize/weaken the CHF.

……So far, the actions by the SNB have been successful. The key EURCHF rate has been steadily above the 1.20 level. The folks in Zurich/Basel are touting the SNB action as a big success. It might be a bit early to celebrate

via The Swiss National Bank Is Taking A Very Big Risk.

NEIN, NEIN, NEIN, and the death of EU Fiscal Union – Telegraph Blogs

Bundestag president Norbert Lammert said yesterday, lawmakers had a nasty feeling that they had been “bounced” into backing far-reaching demands. This can never be allowed to happen again. He warned too that Germany’s legislature would not give up its fiscal sovereignty to any EU body.

…..Something profound has changed. Germans have begun to sense that the preservation of their own democracy and rule of law is in conflict with demands from Europe. They must choose one or the other.

via NEIN, NEIN, NEIN, and the death of EU Fiscal Union – Telegraph Blogs.

Frau Merkel, it really is a euro crisis – Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

The reason this crisis keeps grinding ever deeper is because the euro itself is a machine for perpetual destruction. The currency is fundamentally warped and misaligned. It spans a 30pc gap in competitiveness between North and South. Intra-EMU current account deficits have become vast, chronic, and corrosive. Monetary Union is inherently poisonous.

The countries in trouble no longer have the policy tools — interest rates, QE, liquidity, and exchange rates — to lift themselves out of debt-deflation. Just as they had few tools to prevent a catastrophic credit bubble during the boom. Their travails were caused in great part by negative real interest rates set by the ECB (irresponsibly) for German needs.

via Frau Merkel, it really is a euro crisis – Telegraph Blogs.

Dollar rise as euro falls

The euro is testing short-term support against the greenback at $1.35/1.34. 63-Day Momentum (declining below zero) reminds we are in a primary down-trend. Failure of support would signal a decline to $1.30*.

EURUSD

* Target calculation: 1.40 – ( 1.50 – 1.40 ) = 1.30

The dollar has benefited from safe haven demand, commencing a primary advance as the euro falls. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum crossed to above zero, confirming the primary up-trend. Further retracement to test the new support level at 76.00 is likely, but respect would demonstrate strong buying support.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 76 + ( 76 – 73 ) = 79

EU Super-Bailout Option Slips Away – WSJ

Financial markets rallied around the globe Monday as investors saw the first glimpse of real hope for containing the European debt crisis. Problem was that the lead advocates of the deal, the IMF’s Christine Lagarde and the European Commission’s Olli Rehn, are bureaucrats who don’t have to answer to electorates every few years.

Decidedly not on board were the actual governments of the 17 euro-zone nations. Euro-zone finance ministers came home from Washington doubting they could sell more risk to voters already grumbling at past and present tax money being put behind insolvent state treasuries in Greece, Portugal and Ireland.

via EU Super-Bailout Option Slips Away – The Source – WSJ.

European Crisis Primer: Where Things Stand – WSJ

The crucial talks between the European Union-European Central Bank-International Monetary Fund “Troika” with the Greek government remain on hold as Greece pulls together another six billion euros in cuts and taxes to hit its promised 2011 target. At stake is the next eight-billion-euro bailout payment, without which Greece goes broke within weeks.

via European Crisis Primer: Where Things Stand – Real Time Economics – WSJ.