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May 6th 2022: Sterling Looking to $1.24 Resistance?

By:
Aaron Hill
Published: May 5, 2022, 19:59 UTC

A retest of $1.24 (and the H1 Quasimodo support-turned resistance at $1.2421) could prove to be a welcomed resistance on the H1 for GBP/USD.

May 6th 2022: Sterling Looking to $1.24 Resistance?

In this article:

Charts: Trading View

(Italics: Previous Analysis)

EUR/USD Technical Analysis:

US Treasury yields rising across the curve—refreshing multi-year pinnacles—and the US Dollar Index (USDX) advancing more than 1 per cent as major US equity indexes plunged depressed any upside attempt on EUR/USD Thursday.

Technically, recent downside should not surprise.

Thus far, weekly Quasimodo supports between $1.0467 and $1.0517 have offered little to persuade buyers to commit. One factor likely discouraging any meaningful buying is the current downtrend, dominant since the beginning of 2021. Adding to this, seen clearly from the monthly timeframe, the overall vibe has been to the downside since topping in April 2008. Territory beneath current weekly supports calls attention towards the $1.0340 2nd January low (2017).

Aiding the bearish setting, of course, is price action on the daily timeframe retesting the lower side of the pandemic low of $1.0638 (March 2020) which established convincing resistance on Thursday. Consequent to this, the currency pair revisited two 100% Fibonacci projections between $1.0494 and $1.0526, echoing the possibility of a push for Quasimodo support coming in at $1.0377. In terms of the relative strength index (RSI), In spite of Thursday’s tumble, the indicator’s value recently exited oversold territory, following a near-test of indicator support at 21.87 late April.

Elsewhere, H4 generated a to-the-pip test of prime resistance from $1.0680-1.0640 in recent movement, an area accompanied by a 38.2% Fibonacci retracement at $1.0649 and a 1.272% Fibonacci projection at $1.0646. Continued interest to the downside could witness the $1.0471 28th April lows taken and a subsequent decline to daily Quasimodo support mentioned above at $1.0377.

A closer reading of price action on the H1 timeframe reveals Asia spent the session navigating territory north of $1.06, with European traders pulling the pair south of the psychological number in early trade. Following a brief retest of the aforementioned level, a one-sided drop emerged to shake hands with $1.05 (stationed just above Quasimodo support from $1.0481).

Technical Outlook:

Based on chart studies, exploring under $1.05 is perhaps in the offing. With an absence of support until $1.04, further downside could be seen. Traders, however, are likely to seek additional confirmation beneath $1.05 given weekly and daily supports still in play. A retest of $1.05 as resistance may add confidence, for example.

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AUD/USD Technical Analysis:

Demand for US yields and the greenback, as well as recent talk of additional rate hikes from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, weighed on AUD/USD Thursday. Ahead of the 200-day simple moving average at $0.7281, the currency pair printed a near-full bodied bearish candle, indicating a test of a familiar decision point at $0.6964-0.7040 on the daily timeframe.

As noted in previous writing, this area represents the ‘last line of defence’ for the weekly timeframe’s prime support at $0.6948-0.7242. Undeniably, April’s movement places the weekly timeframe’s prime support in question, reopening the risk of a return to weekly support at $0.6673 and neighbouring 50.0% retracement at $0.6764.

Supporting the possibility of further bearish pressure is the long-term direction:

The monthly timeframe has portrayed a downtrend since August 2011, indicating the pullback (February 2022 to current) on the weekly timeframe has likely been viewed as a ‘sell-on-rally’ theme and not a ‘dip-buying’ opportunity within the 2020 advance from pandemic lows of $0.5506 (march 2021).

Out of the H4 timeframe, action rejected a Quasimodo support-turned resistance level at $0.7246 and, in recent hours, landed within striking distance of the 1.272% H4 Fibonacci projection at $0.7057 and a deep 88.6% Fibonacci retracement from $0.7048 (purple).

Below here points to the $0.6968 28th January low. What we’re seeing from the H1 scale, nonetheless, was an aggressive stop-run above $0.7250 to connect with an area of resistance made up of a 1.618% Fibonacci projection at $0.7267 and a 38.2% Fibonacci retracement at $0.7246. As you can see, follow-through selling made it south of $0.71 to within reach of H1 support from $0.7075. Lower, support is found at $0.7038.

Technical Outlook:

Longer term, the daily timeframe’s decision point at $0.6964-0.7040 is vulnerable, with the H1 timeframe possibly looking beyond support at $0.7075 to at least support at $0.7038.

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USD/JPY Technical Analysis:

The Japanese yen fell sharply on Thursday as demand for safe-haven assets diminished, consequently underpinning a USD/JPY bid. From a technical standpoint, the weekly picture remains unchanged:

Weekly support remains obvious at ¥125.54 and, interestingly, there’s scope for further gains to as far north as ¥135.16: 28th January high (2002) on the weekly scale. However, traders and investors are still urged to pencil in the possibility of a retest of ¥125.54 prior to viewing a ¥135.16 attempt.

Technical action on the daily timeframe ruptured the upper boundary of a flag pattern, drawn from a high of ¥129.41 and a low of ¥127.80, on 28th April. Assuming price overcomes supply at ¥131.93-131.10, traders will be looking to a take-profit objective of approximately ¥136.63 (drawn by extending the pole’s distance and adding this to the breakout point).

Note that this profit objective sits above the weekly timeframe’s ¥135.16 high. In terms of the relative strength index (RSI), the indicator’s value is seen attempting to exit overbought territory. It’s important to recognise that any decisive exit from the overbought area forms a double-top pattern (neckline stationed around the 66.78 31st March low and peaks were established from indicator resistance at 87.52) and could lead the indicator to familiar support at 40.00-50.00 (a temporary oversold zone since May 2021).

However, an important caveat is the RSI can remain overbought for prolonged periods in uptrends and cause a number of false bearish signals.

H4 Quasimodo resistance-turned support at ¥128.72 welcomed price yesterday, bolstering H1 price around the ¥129 psychological figure. Note that H1 action came within range of testing a clear Fibonacci cluster around ¥128.60 before venturing higher. Heading into US hours, the pair reclaimed ¥130+ status and is now poised to reach ¥131.

Technical Outlook:

According to the charts, scope is seen to reach as far north as ¥131 on the H1 scale. Engulfing the latter will also help confirm bullish intent which may result in daily price taking on supply at ¥131.93-131.10.

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GBP/USD Technical Analysis:

A somewhat divided Bank of England (BoE) raised its official Bank Rate by a quarter of a percentage point on Thursday, lifting the interest rate to 1 per cent in what many view as another ‘dovish hike’. This witnessed the British pound plummet versus the US dollar, dropping more than 2 per cent.

You may recall that the weekly timeframe’s technical landscape projected the possibility of further downside in the weeks to come. Here’s where we left the weekly chart in Thursday’s technical briefing:

Sterling plunged to mid-2020 lows versus a broadly stronger US dollar last week, wiping out 2 per cent on the GBP/USD. The ongoing sell-off had weekly price elbow beneath support at $1.2719, a level that may form resistance in the coming weeks. What’s technically interesting on the weekly chart is the absence of clear support until reaching a Quasimodo formation at $1.2164, in a market demonstrating a clear downside bias from February 2021 tops ($1.4241) and a long-term downtrend since late 2007 tops at $2.1161.

Meanwhile on the daily timeframe, price is on the doorstep of Quasimodo support at $1.2334, with the relative strength index (RSI) attempting to pencil in a bottom around oversold territory. Should additional selling emerge, the weekly timeframe’s Quasimodo support offers a reasonable downside objective.

Across the page on the H4 scale, the current Quasimodo support on the daily timeframe is commanding attention, alongside H4 resistance priced in at $1.2441. Interestingly, below the daily base is another Quasimodo support on the H4 as far south as $1.2186. The technical framework on the H1 timeframe dropped to within close proximity of $1.23 before chalking up a modest bottom around $1.2325ish. Upstream, the radar is directed towards $1.24 and neighbouring Quasimodo support-turned resistance at $1.2421.

Technical Outlook:

Daily Quasimodo support at $1.2334 is in play and could attract a recovery move today. However, knowing the weekly timeframe exhibits scope to tunnel lower to $1.2164, a retest of $1.24 (and the H1 Quasimodo support-turned resistance at $1.2421) could prove to be a welcomed resistance on the H1. Alternatively, breaking through $1.23 might draw breakout selling.

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DISCLAIMER:

The information contained in this material is intended for general advice only. It does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. FP Markets has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information as at the date of publication. FP Markets does not give any warranty or representation as to the material. Examples included in this material are for illustrative purposes only. To the extent permitted by law, FP Markets and its employees shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising in any way (including by way of negligence) from or in connection with any information provided in or omitted from this material. Features of the FP Markets products including applicable fees and charges are outlined in the Product Disclosure Statements available from FP Markets website, www.fpmarkets.com and should be considered before deciding to deal in those products. Derivatives can be risky; losses can exceed your initial payment. FP Markets recommends that you seek independent advice. First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd trading as FP Markets ABN 16 112 600 281, Australian Financial Services License Number 286354.

About the Author

Aaron Hillcontributor

Aaron graduated from the Open University and pursued a career in teaching, though soon discovered a passion for trading, personal finance and writing.

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