Crude Oil Ends Freefall, but Is It Back in the Black?

In the early stretch of December, the WTI Crude Oil market experienced a sudden and substantial downturn, sending shockwaves through the financial landscape. From a robust $77.71 per barrel on November 29, the value plunged to just over $69.64 per barrel on December 6 at FXOpen. Analysts, in response to this decline, have employed dramatic language, with some describing the situation as a 'freefall.'

While the recent dip below the $70 mark raised concerns, a mild recovery has been observed, closing trading yesterday on the US market at $71.40 per barrel at FXOpen. Although this figure still falls short of the late November high, it highlights the current volatility in the oil market.

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Market Analysis: GBP/USD Dips While USD/CAD Could Extend Gains

GBP/USD is moving lower from the 1.2650 resistance. USD/CAD is rising and might aim for more gains above the 1.3620 resistance.

Important Takeaways for GBP/USD and USD/CAD Analysis Today

• The British Pound started a fresh decline below the 1.2615 support zone.

• There is a key bearish trend line forming with resistance near 1.2565 on the hourly chart of GBP/USD at FXOpen.

• USD/CAD is showing positive signs above the 1.3580 support zone.

• There was a break above a major bearish trend line with resistance near 1.3585 on the hourly chart at FXOpen.

GBP/USD Technical Analysis

On the hourly chart of GBP/USD at FXOpen, the pair started a fresh decline from the 1.2650 zone. The British Pound traded below the 1.2615 support to move into further a bearish zone against the US Dollar.

The pair even traded below 1.2565 and the 50-hour simple moving average. Finally, the bulls appeared near the 1.2515 level. A low was formed near 1.2514 and the pair is now attempting a recovery wave.

Immediate resistance on the upside is near a key bearish trend line at 1.2565 or the 50-hour simple moving average. It is close to the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the 1.2615 swing high to the 1.2514 low.

The first major resistance on the GBP/USD chart is near the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the 1.2615 swing high to the 1.2514 low at 1.2590.

A close above the 1.2590 resistance might spark a steady upward move. The next major resistance is near 1.2640. Any more gains could lead the pair toward the 1.2700 resistance in the near term.

Initial support sits near 1.2540. The next major support sits at 1.2515, below which there is a risk of another sharp decline. In the stated case, the pair could drop toward 1.2440.

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Will the BoE Reduce Interest Rates or Not? Markets Appear Nonchalant

The Bank of England is expected to keep interest rates at the current level at tomorrow's meeting and is not actively pursuing further increases in the near future. More intriguingly, economists are now contemplating the possibility of a reduction in interest rates in the upcoming new year. This development, if realised, could carry noteworthy implications for both the British public and businesses.

The potential shift in policy is anticipated to be welcomed by a broad spectrum of the British populace, encompassing both commercial entities and private individuals. The prospect of reduced interest rates holds the promise of easing financial burdens, particularly on mortgage payments. Such a scenario would likely translate into increased disposable income for the public, empowering them to resume previous spending patterns. Simultaneously, businesses could find relief as lower interest rates would facilitate easier servicing of monthly commitments, allowing for redirected funds towards development, growth, and expansion initiatives.

Comparisons with the economic landscape of the United States reveal distinctive differences in approach. While both the UK and the US faced challenges of inflation surges, the UK's inflation rate, though reduced, remains at a level of just over 5.6%. In contrast, the US has achieved a lower inflation rate of 3.2%. Despite this, the Bank of England is diverging from the US policy trajectory by contemplating a departure from further interest rate hikes.

A key metric distinguishing the two economies is the national debt, with the UK presenting a substantially lower debt level on both a percentage and per capita basis. Furthermore, the absence of financial institution collapses, a contrast to events in the US earlier in the year, contributes to a relatively more stable financial environment in the UK.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

Market Analysis: Powell's Speech Weakens USD

Yesterday, the Federal Reserve published a unanimous decision to leave the base rate unchanged for the third time in a row, which coincided with the expectations of most market participants. At the conference that followed, Powell's rhetoric was not as harsh as before. According to him:

→ economic activity is slowing, but the labor market remains strong;

→ inflation is still high, the Fed is committed to achieving the 2% target;

→ rates may rise if the US economy grows above expectations;

→ during discussions within the Fed, the topic of lowering rates becomes more relevant.

As a result, the increasingly clear prospect of rate cuts weakened the dollar greatly:

→ increased currency price relative to USD. The pound rose in price from the important support of 1.25, which we wrote about yesterday.

→ gold rose in price, again rising above the psychological level of $2,000 per ounce, as we expected in the analysis of December 5;

→ US stock indices rose in price.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

GBP/USD, EUR/USD, USD/CAD Analysis: The Dollar Falls Sharply after the Fed Meeting

The American currency, having strengthened after the release of inflation data in the United States, fell sharply against almost all leading currencies yesterday. The reason for the sharp weakening of the dollar was most likely the updated median forecast of FOMC members for the dynamics of interest rates over the next few years, which does not assume a further increase in the base interest rate. As expected, the American regulator left the rate at the same level; in addition, several Fed members expect at least three rate cuts in 2024. On such news, the euro/dollar pair tested 1.0900, the pound/dollar pair consolidated above 1.2600, and the dollar/Canadian pair broke through support at 1.3500.

GBP/USD

The British currency, having tested 1.2500 after the announcement of the results of the Fed meeting, strengthened by more than 100 points in just a few hours. However, today, the situation may change dramatically. At 15:00 GMT+3, there will be a meeting of the Bank of England, at which, according to analysts, the rate will also remain at the same level. Moreover, if it turns out that less than three members of the Bank of England vote for a rate hike, the pair could return to recent lows at 1.2500.

On the daily GBP/USD chart, the price has consolidated above the alligator lines; the pair may rise above the upper fractal at 1.2720 and continue rising. Cancellation of the upward scenario can be considered if it consolidates below 1.2500.

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EUR/USD: Price Is Again Testing Psychological Level of 1.10

An eventful news background creates increased volatility in financial markets.

Unlike the Fed, whose rhetoric is becoming softer, Europe's central banks are sticking to plans to maintain tight policies. The ECB said yesterday that policy easing was not even discussed at its two-day meeting, the Bank of England said rates would remain high for an "extended period," and Norway's central bank even raised rates.

This caused the pound and euro to rise sharply yesterday against a weakened USD.

However, today is the day of publication of PMI indices in Europe, which show that the economy in Europe is in a difficult situation, as the values are below = 50:
→ French Flash Manufacturing PMI: actual = 42.0, expected = 43.3, previously = 42.9;
→ German Flash Services PMI: actual = 48.4, expected = 49.1, previously = 49.6.

The publication of PMI values today led to a sharp depreciation of the euro against the dollar, thus a correction occurred after a rally of two days.

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Interest Rate ETF Diversifies Trading Portfolio at Poignant Time

Electronic trading has never been so advanced. Recently, a wave of demand for diverse instruments has emerged among many traders, and in keeping with such a demand, FXOpen has added 19 new exchange traded funds (ETFs), which are tradable on the TickTrader platform as CFDs on an over-the-counter basis.

One of the 19 ETFs which have been launched by FXOpen is the Global X Interest Rate Hedge ETF, under the ticker symbol RATE.

This ETF is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) via the NYSE's Arca system, which is the venue's electronic communication network (ECN) that is used for matching orders as opposed to the NYSE's physical and electronic stock exchange on which specific stocks of companies are traded.

The Global X Interest Rate Hedge ETF is an actively managed exchange-traded fund crafted to hedge against rising long-term interest rates. There has been a degree of volatility in the Global X Interest Rate Hedge ETF over recent weeks; therefore, its debut onto the market on the TickTrader platform is poignant.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

USD/JPY and NIKKEI React to Bank of Japan Decision

This morning, the Bank of Japan decided to leave interest rates unchanged at -0.10%. Its head, Kazuo Ueda, stated that:
→ the chances that the current ultra-loose monetary policy will change in January are very small;
→ further decisions of the Bank of Japan will be based on incoming economic information.

Thus, rumors that the Bank of Japan might raise rates from the negative zone did not come true. As a result, the NIKKEI index rose to November highs, and the yen weakened.

The 4 hour USD/JPY chart shows that:
→ The price forms a downward channel (shown in red). The strengthening of the yen against the US dollar, observed since November, was caused by both rumors related to the Bank of Japan and the prospect of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
→ The lower border of the channel pushed the price upward on December 7, indicating support at 141.65.

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Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 5.25% Amidst Global Economic Dynamics

In a move that marks the third consecutive instance, the Bank of England has opted to maintain its benchmark interest rates at 5.25% on the 14th of December. While this decision deviates from the recent trend of relentless interest rate increases, it falls short of a rate cut, emphasising the central bank's cautious approach to monetary policy.

The Bank of England's choice to hold interest rates steady comes as a nuanced response to the prevailing economic climate. In a departure from the trajectory of continuous rate hikes that have characterised the central bank's policy during the course of 2022 and early 2023, the decision to maintain the status quo hints at maintaining conservatism and continuing to aim for the target 2% inflation for 2024.
Echoes of the Federal Reserve's Conservative Measures

In parallel to the current stance of the United States Federal Reserve, the Bank of England is embracing highly conservative measures by keeping borrowing rates relatively high. Despite the inflation rate in the UK being significantly lower than its double-figure peak over a year and a half ago at the onset of this policy, the central bank remains steadfast in its commitment to a conservative monetary approach.

MPC's Forward Guidance

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) justifies its decision by emphasising the need for continued restrictive borrowing conditions. While the inflation rate has experienced a substantial decline from its earlier peaks, the MPC asserts that the current inflation level remains above the target of 2% set for 2024. This forward guidance underscores the Bank of England's commitment to carefully navigating the delicate balance between economic growth and inflation control.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

Market Analysis: Gold Price Eyes Breakout, Crude Oil Price Recovers

Gold price gained traction and climbed above the $2,030 resistance level. Crude oil price is recovering, and it could climb further higher toward the $78 resistance.

Important Takeaways for Gold and Oil Prices Analysis Today

• Gold price started a decent increase from the $1,975 zone against the US Dollar.

• A connecting bullish trend line is forming with support near $2,030 on the hourly chart of gold at FXOpen.

• Crude oil prices rallied above the $71.00 and $73.00 resistance levels.

• There is a key bullish trend line forming with support near $73.00 on the hourly chart of XTI/USD at FXOpen.

Gold Price Technical Analysis

On the hourly chart of Gold at FXOpen, the price found support near the $1,975 zone. The price formed a base and started a fresh increase above the $1,990 level.

There was a decent move above the 50-hour simple moving average. The bulls pushed the price above the $2,030 resistance zone. Finally, the bears appeared near $2,045, A high is formed near $2,046.99 and the price is now consolidating gains.

There was a minor move below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,015 swing low to the $2,046 high. The RSI is still stable above 50 and the price could aim for more gains. Immediate resistance is near the $2,045 level.

The next major resistance is near the $2,050 level. An upside break above the $2,050 resistance could send Gold price toward $2,065. Any more gains may perhaps set the pace for an increase toward the $2,080 level.

Initial support on the downside is near the 50-hour simple moving average or $2,030. There is also a connecting bullish trend line forming with support near $2,030. The trend line is close to the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,015 swing low to the $2,046 high.

If there is a downside break below the $2,030 support, the price might decline further. In the stated case, the price might drop toward the $2,008 support.

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S&P 500: Worst Day since September

The S&P 500 fell 70.02 points, or 1.47%, to 4,698.35 yesterday, according to Dow Jones Newswires. This is the largest one-day point decline since Thursday, September 21, 2023.

Of the 500 stocks in the index, only 19 closed in the green. Of these, Google shares, as the company announced plans to reorganize its advertising department, which employs 30 thousand people.

From a fundamental perspective, there were no obvious triggers that carried enough weight to cause the sharp decline. Moreover, the Consumer Confidence indicator was published yesterday, which showed that consumer confidence has increased the most since the beginning of 2021.

From the point of view of behavioral psychology and technical analysis, the sharp decline has reasonable explanations:

→ from the low of late October to the beginning of yesterday's session, the S&P 500 index grew by 16%. This is an impressive rally, fueled by expectations of easing inflation and interest rate cuts in 2024. A significant correction is a logical development of events.

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Market Analysis: GBP/USD Aims Fresh Increase While EUR/GBP Rallies

GBP/USD is attempting a fresh increase from the 1.2610 zone. EUR/GBP is gaining pace and might extend its rally above the 0.8700 zone.

Important Takeaways for GBP/USD and EUR/GBP Analysis Today

• The British Pound is trading in a bullish zone above 1.2600 against the US Dollar.

• There was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at 1.2640 on the hourly chart of GBP/USD at FXOpen.

• EUR/GBP started a fresh increase above the 0.8620 resistance zone.

• There is a major bullish trend line forming with support near 0.8640 on the hourly chart at FXOpen.

GBP/USD Technical Analysis

On the hourly chart of GBP/USD at FXOpen, the pair started a downside correction from the 1.2760 zone. The British Pound traded below the 1.2700 zone against the US Dollar.

A low was formed near 1.2611 and the pair is now attempting a fresh increase. There was a break above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the 1.2761 swing high to the 1.2611 low. Besides, there was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at 1.2640.

The pair is now trading above the 50-hour simple moving average and 1.2680. On the upside, the GBP/USD chart indicates that the pair is facing resistance near the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the 1.2761 swing high to the 1.2611 low at 1.2685.

The next major resistance is near the 1.2705 level. If the RSI moves above 60 and the pair climbs above 1.2705, there could be another rally. In the stated case, the pair could rise toward the 1.2760 level or even 1.2790.

On the downside, there is a major support forming near 1.2600. If there is a downside break below the 1.2630 support, the pair could accelerate lower. The next major support is near the 1.2610 zone, below which the pair could test 1.2550. Any more losses could lead the pair toward the 1.2500 support.

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Disclaimer: This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.