EUR/USD stays in lows near 1.1020 ahead of US data
The shared currency has resumed its bearish note at the end of the week, with EUR/USD navigating the area of daily lows around 1.1020.The pair has lost upside momentum after yesterday?s bull run to the 1.1055/60 band, now returning to the low-1.1000s following a pick up in the demand for the US dollar.Speculations of a rate hike by the Federal Reserve at its meeting in December continue to grow bigger and remains the exclusive source of USD strength for the time being.The recent FOMC minutes highlighted the ?data dependent? stance of the Committee albeit it gave a strong signal that Fed Funds could tick higher by year-end. In that regard, and later in the NA session, US Retail Sales for the month of September are to be published along with the flash gauge of Consumer Sentiment tracked by the Reuters/Michigan Index.Investors will also look for clues on monetary policy at today?s Boston Fed Conference, where Boston Fed E.Rosengren (voter, dovish) and Chair J.Yellen are due to speak.The pair is now losing 0.35% at 1.1019 and a break below 1.1001 (7-month support line) would target 1.0950 (low Jul.27) en route to 1.0909 (low Jun.24). On the other hand, the next up barrier is located at 1.1173 (200-day sma) followed by 1.1240 (resistance line off 2016 high) and finally 1.1279 (high Sep.26).

GBP/USD recovery stalls once again near 1.2215
The GBP/USD pair failed another attempt to sustain above 1.22 handle, as the pound ran through fresh offers after less upbeat BOE credit conditions survey.The bears tightened their grip on the GBP last minutes, capping the recovery in the major ahead of 1.22 handle, as the sentiment around the pound was dampened following the release of the BOE credit conditions survey, which revealed that Brexit looks to have hit demand for UK mortgages. Moreover, the worse-than expected UK construction output data also collaborate to the bearish momentum seen in the GBP/USD pair. Additionally, increased nervousness ahead of speeches from BOE Forbes and Governor Carney also keeps the bulls at bay.Later in the NA session, we have the US retail sales data and FOMC member Rosengren?s speech, which will be followed by Fed Chair Yellen?s speech, with markets awaiting fresh hints on the Fed?s rate hike outlook.The pair finds immediate resistances placed at 1.2262/63 (daily high), 1.2300 (round number) and 1.2365 (daily R2). While supports are lined up at 1.2168 (daily low) and 1.2130 (Oct 13 low) and below that at 1.2086 (Oct 11 low).

USD/JPY extends upward trajectory, hits fresh session high
The USD/JPY pair maintained strong bid tone and extending the momentum further beyond, has now risen to a fresh session high level of 104.25.Positive opening in the European equity markets added to the buoyant sentiment led by upbeat Chinese inflation data and is driving investors away from the perceived safety of the Japanese Yen.Meanwhile, the greenback continues to gain traction as market seem convinced that the Fed would eventually move towards raising interest rates by the end of this year and helped the pair to resume its near-term bullish trajectory following Thursday's corrective dip to 100-day SMA resistance break, now turned strong support. The CME group's FedWatch Tool is currently pricing-in 60% probability of a Fed move in December. Going forward, today's US macro releases that include monthly retail sales, PPI and Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment, and speeches from Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren and Fed Chair Janet Yellen would drive the pair during US trading session. In the meantime, the prevalent risk-on sentiment might continue to drive the pair higher during European session."On the downside, support comes in at the 103.00 level where a break if seen will aim at the 102.50 level. A cut through here will turn focus to the 102.00 level and possibly lower towards the 101.50 level. Its daily RSI is bearish and pointing lower suggesting further weakness. On the upside, resistance resides at the 104.00 level. Further out, we envisage a possible move towards the 104.50 level. Further out, resistance resides at the 105.00 level with a turn above here aiming at the 105.50 level. On the whole, USDJPY looks to pullback further."

USD/CAD flirting with 200-DMA important support
Having posted a session high at 1.3220, the USD/CAD pair lost its upside momentum and erased all of its tepid recovery gains to currently trade with mild negative bias.Currently hovering around 200-day SMA, near 1.3195-90 band, the pair attempted a recovery following Thursday's sharp slide from above 1.3300 handle, weekly highs, led by recovery in crude oil prices and a corrective pause in the US Dollar.With Friday's release of upbeat Chinese inflation data, the greenback resumed its bullish momentum and helped the pair to rebound from the very important 200-day SMA. The recovery momentum, however, turned out to be short-lived amid renewed buying interest surrounding crude oil, which boosted demand for the commodity linked currency loonie.Traders on Friday will focus on US economic data along with speeches from FOMC member Eric Rosengren and the Fed Chair Janet Yellen for fresh impetus, while oil price dynamics continuing to influence sentiment around the major. On a sustained weakness below 1.3185 (200-day SMA), the pair seems to accelerate the slide immediately towards 1.3165-60 support area before heading towards weekly low support near 1.3140 level. On the flip side, any recovery attempt back above 1.3200 handle might now confront resistance near 1.3220 (session high) above which the pair seems to make a fresh attempt towards reclaiming 1.3300 handle.

USD/CHF fast approaching 0.9900 handle
After a corrective pause on Thursday, the USD/CHF pair resumed with its near-term bullish momentum and is now heading back towards 0.9900 handle. Currently trading around 0.9885-90 area, the pair caught fresh bids around 0.9855-50 support area and has now erased major part of Thursday's corrective slide from 2 1/2 month high level above 0.9900 handle. The pair is also benefitting from increasing prospects of an imminent Fed rate-hike action by the end of this year, which continues to drive the greenback higher and the overall US Dollar Index inching back closer to seven-month high touched on Wednesday. Traders on Friday will focus on US economic releases that include - monthly retail sales, PPI and Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment, along with the Fed Chair Janet Yellen's speech, in order to grab trading opportunities. Immediate upside hurdle remains around 0.9900 handle, which if cleared decisively is likely to boost the pair immediately towards July swing high resistance near 0.9950-55 region before attempting a move towards parity mark.On the downside, 0.9850 now seems to have emerged as immediate support below which the corrective move could get extended towards 0.9820-15 horizontal support en-route 200-day SMA support near 0.9790 region.

Gold reverses Thursday?s tepid recovery gains
After failing to extend its rebound and facing rejection at the very important 200-day SMA, Gold retreated on Friday and has now reversed Thursday's tepid recovery gains. Currently trading around $1256 level, renewed buying interest around the greenback, as measured by the overall US Dollar Index, is weighing on dollar-denominated commodities - like gold. Increasing odds of an eventual Fed rate-hike decision by the end of 2016 has been the key factor driving the greenback higher and restricting any swift recovery for the non-yielding yellow metal.Meanwhile, revival in investor risk-appetite, following upbeat Chinese inflation data, is further denting the precious metal's safe-haven demand and has led to near-term consolidative phase following a sharp slide in the previous two week and drop below 200-day SMA strong support. Today's US economic releases, which include - monthly retail sales, PPI and Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment, following by the Fed Chair Janet Yellen's speech would provide fresh impetus for the commodity's next leg of movement during US trading session.From current levels, $1252-50 area seems to protect immediate downside below which the commodity is likely to head back towards last week's swing low support near $1241 level. Meanwhile on the upside, $1262-63 (200-day SMA) remains immediate strong hurdle, which if conquered is likely to lift the metal beyond $1270 resistance towards its next major barrier near $1275-77 area.



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