Market Sentiment Improves, but Only Temporarily

European and US equities rebounded yesterday, as a South African doctor said that the symptoms of the new COVID variant were so far mild. However, today, Moderna’s CEO said that there may be a material drop in vaccine effectiveness against the new strain, reviving concerns. Today, Fed Chair Powell testifies before the Senate Banking Committee, and we are eager to find out whether the new COVID variant will affect the Fed’s future course of action. Eurozone’s preliminary inflation data for November are also due to be released.

EU and US Equities Rebound, but Appetite Deteriorates Again Today in Asia

The US dollar traded higher against the majority of the other major currencies on Monday and during the Asian session Tuesday. It gained versus NZD, AUD, and CAD in that order, while underperformed versus CHF, EUR, and JPY.

The strengthening of the US dollar and the other safe havens, yen and franc, combined with the weakening of the risk-linked Kiwi, Aussie, and Loonie, suggests that markets may have continued trading in a risk-off manner following Friday’s sell-off. However, turning our gaze to the equity world, we see that this was not the case. EU and US indices were a sea of green, though sentiment deteriorated again today in Asia.

We believe that the rebound during the EU and US sessions may have been triggered by comments from a South African doctor that symptoms of the Omicron COVID variant were so far mild and could be treated at home. Later in the day, US President Joe Biden said that fresh lockdowns due to the new variant were off the table for now, adding to the investor relief. In our view, all this shows how sensitive market participants still are when it comes to the coronavirus and its new variant. We believe that this will be the main theme for a while more. With that in mind, we are very reluctant to say that market concerns have diminished, and that yesterday’s rebound is the beginning of a long-lasting recovery. Any new negative headline has high chances of resulting in another leg of massive selling. Indeed, at the time of writing, news hit the wires that Moderna CEO said that there will be a material drop in vaccine effectiveness against Omicron. We believe that following the subdued sentiment during the Asian session, this could result in further deterioration, and we see the case for European and US indices to reverse south as early as today.

DAX — Technical Outlook

The German DAX index traded slightly higher yesterday, but today, the index’s futures tumbled again, suggesting that more selling may be looming, as early as today. This was reflected in our cash index, which fell slightly below Friday’s low of 15030. Although it rebounded back above that line, the price structure remains of lower lows and lower highs, and thus, we would consider the short-term picture to still be negative.

We believe that another attempt below 15030 could result in a slide towards the 14815 barrier, which is marked as a support by the low of October 6th. If the bears are not willing to stop there, then a break lower could extend the fall towards the 14515 territory, defined by the lows of March 23rd and 24th.

In order to start examining whether the bulls have gained full control, we would like to se a strong recovery back above 15745, marked by the inside swing low of November 24th. The index will already be well above the downside resistance line taken from the high of November 19th, and we may see advances towards the high of November 25th, at 15965. Another break, above 15965, could encourage extensions towards the 16090 barrier, marked by the inside swing low of November 19th, or the peak of November 22nd, at 16205.

Fed Chief Powell Testifies, Eurozone CPIs Enter the Spotlight

Yesterday, besides headlines surrounding COVID, we also got Powell’s testimony which he will present before Congress today and Wednesday. The Fed Chief expressed concerns over the Omicron variant, saying that it muddies the outlook. Although he did not refer directly to the Fed’s monetary policy plans, he said that the new strain poses downside risks to the employment and economic activity, and also increases uncertainty for inflation. We will closely monitor today’s Q&A session after he testifies before the Senate Banking Committee, for clearer clues as to how the new variant can affect the Fed’s future course of action. According to the Fed funds futures, markets still expect the first rate increase to be delivered in August, and if Powell keep that option on the table, the dollar could resume its latest uptrend against most of its major peers, especially the risk-linked ones. However, deep declines could be possible in case Powell suggests that he and his colleagues should adopt a more cautious stance moving forward. We will get to hear from several other Fed officials during the week, including Vice Chair Richard Clarida, and we are eager to find out whether they have changed their minds or not.

Today, ahead of Powell’s testimony, we get Eurozone’s preliminary inflation numbers for November. The headline rate is forecast to have risen to +4.4% yoy from +4.1%, while the HICP excluding energy and food rate is expected to have just ticked up to +2.2% yoy from +2.1%. That said, bearing in mind that Germany’s harmonized rate jumped to +6.0% yoy, we see the case for the headline rate of the bloc as a whole to rise by more than anticipated as well. However, with Europe adopting new restrictions due to the fast-spreading coronavirus and its new variant, we don’t expect ECB officials to start thinking tightening monetary policy anytime soon. After all, underlying inflation is expected to stay slightly above the Bank’s objective of 2%, while President Lagarde has repeatedly highlighted that tightening monetary policy now to rein in inflation could choke off the euro zone’s recovery. On top of that, ECB Executive member Isabel Schnabel said yesterday that the central bank believes inflation peaked in November, which adds to the narrative that it is premature for the Governing Council to start thinking about interest-rate hikes. Therefore, even if the euro extends its latest recovery due to higher-than-expected numbers, we will not call for a bullish reversal. We will class this as a corrective advance.

EUR/USD — Technical Outlook

EUR/USD traded slightly higher yesterday, after it hit support at 1.1258. After breaking the downside lien taken from the high of November 9th, the rate is now forming higher lows above the upside line drawn from the low of November 24th. Although in the bigger picture it remains below the longer-term downside line taken from the high of May 25th, the technical chart suggests that there is room for some further recovery for now.

A clear break above Friday’s high, at 1.1330, will confirm a forthcoming higher high and may initially target the peak of November 18th, at 1.1375. Another break, above 1.1375, could extend the advance towards 1.1432 or 1.1465, where another break could allow the bulls to shoot for the 1.1524 zone. That zone acted as a strong floor between October 6th and November 5th, before being violated by the bears on November 10th.

The outlook may turn back to negative upon a dip below 1.1258. This will confirm a forthcoming lower low on the 4-hour chart and may pave the way towards the low of November 24th, at 1.1185. If the bears are not willing to stop there, then we could see them pushing towards the 1.1100 territory, defined as a support by the low of June 1st.

As for the Rest of Today’s Events

Besides Powell’s testimony and Eurozone’s inflation data, we also have Canada’s GDP for Q3. Expectations are for the qoq annualized rate to have rebounded to +3.0% from -1.1%, which combined with a decent employment report on Friday, may increase speculation for a rate hike by the BoC soon. Remember that at their latest gathering, Canadian policymakers unexpectedly ended their QE program, maintaining an optimistic stance. Having said all that though, it remains to be seen whether the Omicron variant will be a reason for changing plans.

Tonight, during the Asian session, Australia releases its GDP data for Q3, with the forecasts pointing to a 2.7% qoq contraction after a 0.7% expansion the previous quarter. Despite market participants anticipating around three rate hikes next year, the RBA has been adamant that the timing suggested by market pricing is not the appropriate one. Therefore, a negative GDP rate would add more credence to the Bank’s view that the earliest year for hiking rates may be 2023, and thereby add more pressure to the Aussie, which, as a risk-linked currency, we expect to also feel the heat of a deteriorating broader market sentiment.

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