- The Pound continues to be the month’s best performing currency and attempts to break resistance levels as the currency rises close to a 12-month high.
- Goldman Sachs beats earnings and revenue expectations boosting banking stocks. Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Wells Fargo stocks increase.
- The Dow Jones outperforms the NASDAQ and SNP500 on Monday. Goldman Sachs and Caterpillar were the best performers.
- Federal Reserve Chairman advises economic growth likely to slow and employment to become more balanced.
GBPUSD – Economists Expect The UK Economy To Perform Better Than Previous Expectations.
The GBPUSD, after increasing in value for 2 consecutive weeks, finds itself close to a 12-month high and closer to its traditional value prior to COVID and PM Truss. The British Pound has been the best performing currency of July and has risen in value against all major currencies. The US Dollar has been one of the worst performing, but traders may also benefit from glancing at the weakest which currently are the NZD and JPY.
Technical analysis in recent days has been pointing towards an upward trend as the price trades above the 75-Period EMA and 100-Period SMA. Fundamental analysis is also supporting a weaker Dollar as a rate cut becomes certain for September 2024.
Though, the price over the past two trading days has struggled to increase above the 1.29897 resistance level. The exchange rate has failed to break this level on 3 attempts and mainly formed a psychological price for investors. However, this will largely depend on today’s US Retail Sales and tomorrow’s UK inflation rate.
Analysts believe the UK inflation rate will fall from 2.00% to 1.9%, which is below the Bank of England’s target. Nevertheless, the regulator will be happy to allow inflation to fall slightly below due to the cost-of-living crisis of the past 3 years. The Bank of England’s rate decision will take place on August 1st, and an interest rate cut will become more likely if inflation falls to 1.9%. Currently, most economists expect a rate adjustment.
A rate cut traditionally is bad for the currency, however, it can make the economy more attractive for foreign investors. However, investors should note, currency traders will simultaneously price in a cut from the Fed. The Chicago Exchange for the first time fully prices in a rate cut for September.
For the US Dollar, the latest developments continue to point towards slower economic growth and unemployment rising slightly higher. Yesterday’s Empire State Manufacturing Index again read lower than expectations. In addition to this, Jerome Powell, the Fed Chairman, also reaffirmed this is also the Central Bank’s expectations. Whereas the analysts expect the UK economy to rebound faster than previous years. Analysts also note that the US Bond Yields trade 24-points lower, which is known to be negative for the Dollar.
Therefore, many fundamental factors also indicate a GBPUSD bullish trend. However, in the short-term technical analysis will be key. Traders may opt to keep buy trades short term unless strong momentum indicates a break above the key resistance level which is close. However, if a retracement is to continue, price action points towards the retracement falling down to 1.29238.
USA30 – The Dow Jones Outperforms All Indices!
The Dow Jones, which traditionally is less prone to trends, was the best performing index on Monday. Yesterday, it rose to an all-time high after increasing for 3 consecutive weeks. The bullish trend has partially been due to the market pricing in an interest rate cut for September but also earnings data from the banking sector.
Goldman Sachs is the latest bank to release their quarterly earnings report. The bank’s earnings were slightly higher than previous expectations, but lower than the previous quarter. Revenue beat Wall Street’s expectations by 2.89%. As a result, stocks from the banking sector rose in value helping the bullish trend of the Dow Jones.
However, investors are concerned regarding comments from key economists and the Fed’s Chairman. The recent forward guidance is lower economic growth and higher unemployment. This can be concerning for the stock market if economic data weakens, and leading companies provide similar guidance. Another concern is that only 55% of the Dow Jones’s 30 stocks rose in value. Though, the 55% that rose saw stronger volatility.
Today UnitedHealth Group will release their earnings report. Currently, analysts believe the earnings will more or less be similar to the previous quarter. UnitedHealth Group is the index’s most influential stock and is likely to create volatility. However, this may also potentially be a retracement, not necessarily a guaranteed upward trend.
Michalis Efthymiou
Market Analyst
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