Just before the start of the London session, the EUR/USD rate breaks through the level of 1.1930. The New Zealand dollar (0.5%) and the Japanese yen (0.5%) are fighting for the name of the strongest gaining counterparts, which pushes the USD / JPY to the level of 112.80. At the far end, there is a pound sterling with 0.3% gain. The prospect of a lack of political reshuffles leaves the scenario of an attack by GBP / USD at a round level of 1.3500.
On Thursday 28th of December, the event calendar is light in important data releases, but during the US session, there is data worth of keeping an eye on: Unemployment Claims, Continuing Claims, Goods Trade Balance, Chicago Purchasing Manager Index and Crude Oil Inventories.
EUR/USD analysis for 28/12/2017:
Investors' attention was drawn to the latest estimates of the consumers' mood index by Conference Board. Based on newly published data, there is a more solid deterioration in sentiment than it would appear from the median forecasts by Bloomberg (consensus: 128.0 pts, previously: 128.6 pts). The index's drop to the level of 122.1 points is primarily the collapse of the prospects assessment (99.1 pts, previously: 111.0 pts), which partially melts the optimism, supported, among others, by the clearly sharpened trajectory of retail sales. On the other hand, on the US real estate market, the index of signed purchase contracts for a home rose unexpectedly by 0.2%. (consensus: -0.5%), thus complementing a series of good news flowing from both the secondary and primary market.
There are not many important data from the Eurozone today, but the pack of the US data later in the day might get the rates moving a little, especially if the data will be worse than expected.
Let's now take a look at the EUR/USD technical picture at the H4 time frame. The market is testing the technical resistance zone at the level of 1.1941 and the momentum is strong, so another leg up is expected. The level of 1.1961 is the line in the sand for the bears, because any violation of this resistance will lead to the further rally towards the level of 1.2000.
Market Snapshot: USD/CAD testing the lower range of the zone
The price of USD/CAD has reversed from the level of 1.2919 and now is testing the range zone at the level of 1.2618, which is a 61% Fibo retracement as well. Any extension of the drop would lead to the test of the important support zone between the levels of 1.2598 - 1.2556.
Market Snapshot: Gold takes no prisoners
The price of Gold is rallying towards the next technical resistance at the level of $1,298, but the market conditions are overbought. The nearest technical support is seen at the level of $1,288.Moreover, there is a slight gap to fill up between the levels of $1,275 - $1,277.
