Yen Buoyant as Russian Fears Mount; FOMC Decision in Focus -- Asia Daily Forex Outlook

        The following are projected trading ranges and outlooks for nine major currency pairs today:
        (Ranges are calculated using recent high and lows and technical analysis - Fibonacci levels, trendlines and moving averages.)
        USD/JPY--to consolidate with bearish bias after hitting one-month low 115.56 Tuesday as markets await 1900 GMT Federal Reserve interest rate decision: Fed could drop its pledge to hold rates steady for a "considerable time," taking a step toward raising short-term U.S. interest rates in the middle of next year. USD/JPY undermined by flows to haven JPY and unwinding of JPY-funded carry trades amid increased risk aversion (VIX fear gauge rose 15.43% to 23.57, S&P 500 closed 0.85% lower at 1,972.74 overnight) as fears mount over Russian economic collapse and its contagion on emerging markets, while below-forecast HSBC flash China December manufacturing PMI of 49.5 and drop in oil prices to five-and-a-half year lows Tuesday--Nymex crude hit $53.60/bbl, its cheapest since May 6, 2009--stoke concerns over slowing global economy. USD/JPY also weighed by Japan exporter sales; weaker dollar sentiment (ICE spot dollar index last 87.94 versus 88.43 early Tuesday) on surprise 1.6% on-month drop in U.S. November housing starts (versus forecast +2.9%), larger-than-expected 5.2% decrease in building permits (versus forecast -0.5%), weaker-than-expected Markit flash U.S. December manufacturing PMI of 53.7 (versus forecast 56.0); lower U.S. Treasury yields (10-year at 2.064% versus 2.116% late Monday). But USD/JPY losses tempered by demand from Japan importers; Bank of Japan's large-scale monetary easing policy; caution ahead of Federal Reserve's monetary decision. Other data: 2350 GMT Japan November provisional trade statistics, 0600 GMT Japan November revised machine tool orders, 1330 GMT U.S. November CPI (forecast -0.1%). Daily chart negative-biased as MACD & stochastics bearish, five-day moving average below 15-day moving average and declining. Support at 115.56 (Tuesday's low); breach would target 115.44 (Nov. 17 low), then 114.88 (Nov. 12 low), 113.84 (Nov. 10 low) and 113.59 (55-day moving average). Resistance at 117.75 (hourly chart), then at 118.01 (Tuesday's high); breach would expose upside to 119.13-119.21 band (Monday's high-Friday's high), then 119.55 (Thursday's high), 119.92 (Dec. 10 high), 121.00 (Dec. 9 high) and 121.86 (seven-year high hit Dec. 8).
        EUR/USD--to consolidate with bullish bias after hitting high near-one-month high 1.2570 Tuesday as markets await U.S. FOMC interest rate decision. Euro sentiment boosted by stronger-than-expected rise in Germany ZEW economic sentiment indicator to 34.9 in December from November's 11.5 (versus forecast +18.0); stronger-than-expected Markit Germany flash December manufacturing PMI of 51.2 (versus forecast 50.2); stronger-than-expected Markit eurozone flash December composite PMI of 51.7 (versus forecast 51.5) and manufacturing PMI of 50.8 (versus forecast 50.5). EUR/USD also underpinned by weaker dollar sentiment. But EUR/USD gains tempered by expectations for more aggressive stimulus measures by the European Central Bank in coming months; euro sales on soft EUR/JPY cross amid increased investor risk aversion; euro sales on retreating EUR/GBP cross. Data and event focus: Greek parliament votes on new president; 1000 GMT eurozone November final harmonised CPI (forecast -0.2% on-month, +0.3% on-year). Daily chart positive-biased as MACD and stochastics bullish, five-day moving average above 15-day moving average and advancing. Resistance at 1.2570-1.2575 (Tuesday's high-Nov. 20 high); breach would target 1.2599 (Nov. 19 reaction high), then 1.2770 (Oct. 29 reaction high). Support at 1.2434 (Tuesday's low), then at 1.2414 (Monday's low); breach would target 1.2384 (Friday's low), then 1.2370-1.2362 band (Thursday's low-Dec. 10 low), 1.2292 (Dec. 9 low), 1.2247-1.2239 band (Dec. 8 low-Aug. 10, 2012 low) and 1.2132 (Aug. 2, 2012 low).
        AUD/USD--to consolidate with bearish bias after hitting four-year low 0.8197 Tuesday as markets await U.S. FOMC interest rate decision. AUD/USD undermined by Aussie sales on soft AUD/JPY cross amid increased investor risk aversion; concerns over slowing Chinese economy after weaker-than-expected HSBC flash China December manufacturing PMI of 49.5 (versus forecast 50.0); Aussie sales on soft AUD/NZD cross; weak commodity prices (CRB spot index closed down 0.95% at 238.75 Tuesday); recent jawboning against Aussie exchange rate from RBA officials. But AUD/USD losses tempered by weaker dollar sentiment. Data focus: 2330 GMT Australia October Westpac-Melbourne Institute indexes of economic activity, 0000 GMT Australia December vacancy report. Daily chart negative-biased as MACD bearish; five- and 15-day moving averages declining; stochastics stays suppressed at oversold levels. Support at 0.8197 (Tuesday's low); breach would expose downside to 0.8086 (June 8, 2010 reaction low), then 0.8065 (May 25, 2010 swing low) and psychological 0.8000 line. Resistance at 0.8274 (Monday's high); breach would temper negative near-term view, targeting 0.8287 (10-day exponential moving average), then 0.8298 (Friday's high), 0.8375 (Thursday's high), 0.8392 (Dec. 5 high), 0.8429 (Dec. 4 high) and 0.8466 (Dec. 3 high).
        NZD/USD--to consolidate as markets await U.S. FOMC interest rate decision. NZD sentiment boosted by 2.4% rise in Fonterra's GDT Price Index at latest GlobalDairyTrade auction. NZD/USD also supported by weaker dollar sentiment; Kiwi demand on soft AUD/NZD cross; NZD-USD interest differential. But NZD/USD upside limited by Kiwi sales on soft NZD/JPY cross amid increased investor risk aversion; contagion from weak Aussie. Daily chart mixed as MACD histogram bars turned positive, but stochastics neutral. Support at 0.7719-0.7718 (Tuesday's low-Monday's low); breach would expose downside to 0.7659 (Dec. 10 low), then 0.7606 (two-and-a-half year low hit Dec. 9), 0.7451 (June 1, 2012 swing low) and 0.7367 (Nov. 25, 2011 swing low). Resistance at 0.7848 (Tuesday's high, matching Friday's high); breach would target 0.7870 (Thursday's high), then 0.7889 (Dec. 2 high), 0.7910 (Dec. 1 high) and 0.7926 (Nov. 27 high).
        GBP/USD--to consolidate with bullish bias after hitting near-three-week high 1.5785 Tuesday as markets await U.S. FOMC interest rate decision. GBP/USD supported by weaker dollar sentiment; sterling demand on retreating EUR/GBP cross. But GBP sentiment dented by softer-than-expected U.K. November CPI of -0.3% on-month, +1.0% on-year (versus forecast -0.1% on-month, +1.2% on-year). GBP/USD gains also tempered by sterling sales on soft GBP/JPY cross amid increased investor risk aversion. Data focus: 0930 GMT U.K. unemployment rate in 3 months to October (forecast 5.9%), U.K. November jobless claimants (forecast -20,000); 0930 GMT U.K. December Bank of England MPC meeting minutes. Daily chart tilting positive as MACD bullish; stochastics reverting to bullish mode; five-day moving average staged bullish crossover against 15-day moving average. Resistance at 1.5785 (Tuesday's high); breach would target 1.5825 (Nov. 27 reaction high), then 1.5870 (55-day moving average), 1.5944 (Nov. 11 reaction high) and 1.6021 (Nov. 5 high). Support at 1.5713 (hourly chart), then at 1.5608-1.5599 band (Tuesday's low-Monday's low); breach would target 1.5539 (Dec. 8 low), then 1.5504 (Sept. 2, 2013 low), 1.5426 (Aug. 28, 2013 reaction low) and 1.5205 (Aug. 7, 2013 low).
        USD/CHF--to consolidate with bearish bias after hitting high near-one-month low 0.9552 Tuesday as markets await U.S. FOMC interest rate decision. USD/CHF weighed by weaker dollar sentiment; spillover from stronger euro sentiment on the franc; flows to haven CHF amid increased risk aversion. But USD/CHF losses tempered by franc sales on soft CHF/JPY cross; ultra-loose Swiss National Bank's monetary policy. Data focus: 1000 GMT Switzerland December ZEW-Credit Suisse indicator of economic sentiment. Daily chart negative-biased as MACD & stochastics bearish; five-day moving average below 15-day moving average and declining. Support at 0.9552 (Tuesday's low); breach would target 0.9530 (Nov. 19 reaction low), then 0.9439 (Oct. 29 reaction low, near 100-day moving average), 0.9395 (Oct. 21 low) and 0.9358 (Oct. 15 reaction low). Resistance at 0.9658 (Tuesday's high), then at 0.9682 (Monday's high); breach would target 0.9699 (Friday's high), then 0.9710 (Thursday's high), 0.9723 (Dec. 10 high), 0.9778 (Dec. 9 high) and 0.9818 (one-and-a-half year high hit Dec. 8).
        USD/CAD--to consolidate with bearish bias as markets await U.S. FOMC interest rate decision. USD/CAD undermined by weaker dollar sentiment. But CAD sentiment dented by larger-than-expected 0.6% on-month drop in Canada October manufacturing shipments (versus forecast -0.3%). USD/CAD losses also tempered by weak oil prices (Nymex crude hit five-and-a-half year low $53.60/bbl Tuesday); loonie sales on soft CAD/JPY cross amid increased investor risk aversion. Data focus: 1330 GMT Canada October wholesale trade. Daily chart still positive-biased as MACD bullish; stochastics stays elevated at overbought levels; five- and 15-day moving averages advancing. Support at 1.1604 (Tuesday's low), then at 1.1545 (Monday's low); breach would target 1.1512 (Friday's low), then 1.1449 (Thursday's low), 1.1430 (Dec. 10 low), 1.1394 (Dec. 9 low) and 1.1374 (Dec. 5 low). Resistance at 1.1672 (Monday's high); breach would expose upside to 1.1724 (July 8, 2009 reaction high), then 1.1814 (May 18, 2009 high).
        (MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires

        December 16, 2014 18:31 ET (23:31 GMT)

        EUR/JPY--to consolidate with bearish bias after hitting high one-month low 144.96 Tuesday as markets await Federal Reserve interest rate decision. EUR/JPY undermined by increased risk aversion; Japan exporter sales. But EUR/JPY losses tempered by demand from Japan importers. Daily chart negative-biased as MACD & stochastics bearish; five-day moving average below 15-day moving average and declining. Support at 144.96 (Tuesday's low); breach would target 144.75 (Nov. 17 low), then 144.27 (Nov. 14 low), 143.19 (Nov. 12 low) and 142.40 (55-day moving average). Resistance at 147.02 (Tuesday's high); breach would expose upside to 148.45 (Monday's high), then 148.86 (Dec. 9 high), 149.79 (Dec. 8 six-year high) and psychological 150.00 line.
        EUR/GBP--to consolidate in lower range after hitting near-one-month high 0.8006 Tuesday. Daily chart still positive-biased as MACD & stochastics bullish; five-day moving average above 15-day moving average and advancing. Support at 0.7931 (Tuesday's low), then at 0.7903 (Monday's low); breach would target 0.7864-0.7856 band (Friday's low-Dec. 9 low), then 0.7835-0.7828 band (Dec. 8 low-Dec. 3 low), 0.7794 (Nov. 12 low), 0.7781 (Oct. 2 low) and 0.7758-0.7753 (Sept. 30 reaction low-July 23, 2012 swing low). Resistance at 0.8006 (Tuesday's high); breach would target 0.8027 (Nov. 20 high, near 200-day moving average), then 0.8039 (Nov. 19 reaction high), 0.8046 (Oct. 15 reaction high) and 0.8065 (Sept. 10 reaction high).
        Write to Jerry Tan at jerry.tan@wsj.com
        This is a financial news and information service. It is provided in general terms and does not take account of or address any individual user's position. To the extent that this article includes suggestions as to various possible investment strategies which users might consider, it does so in only general terms without reference to the personal factors which should determine any user's investment decisions. Nothing contained in this service constitutes personalized investment advice. Dow Jones does not warrant the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information in this article, and any errors shall not be made the basis for any claim against Dow Jones. The author does not invest in the instruments or markets cited in this article. This article does not constitute or form part of any invitation or inducement to buy or sell any security.
        (END) Dow Jones Newswires

        December 16, 2014 18:31 ET (23:31 GMT)

#Yen
#FOMC_Decision
#AsiaDailyForexOutlook
#FOMC_Rate
#GBP
#JPY
#USD
#JerryTan

0 Response to "Yen Buoyant as Russian Fears Mount; FOMC Decision in Focus -- Asia Daily Forex Outlook"

Thanks for give comment.