📌 Shift from Yen Strength to Dollar Strength: Changing Market Trend

📌 Shift from Yen Strength to Dollar Strength: Changing Market Trend

✅ Market Overview

The market has shifted from early yen strength to dollar strength today.

• Japan’s GDP exceeded expectations, prompting speculation of an additional rate hike by the BOJ, leading to yen buying.
• However, Fed Governor Waller’s statement of “not supporting a rate cut” turned the market in favor of dollar buying.
• The RBA cut rates by 25bps, but since it was a hawkish cut, the Australian dollar remained resilient.
• A highly volatile market with rapid shifts in currency strength and weakness.

📌 Key Forex Market Points for Today

🎯 1. USD/JPY

📈 Direction: Recovered to 152 level
🔎 Movements:

• Dropped to 151.24 in the morning but rebounded to 152.22 following Waller’s statement.
• With rate cut expectations receding, the dollar is likely to maintain a strong stance.
  📌 Key Focus: If the NY Fed Manufacturing Index surprises to the upside, further gains may follow.

🎯 2. EUR/USD

📉 Direction: Lacking clear direction
🔎 Movements:

• Concerns over weak economic sentiment in the Eurozone are weighing on the euro.
• With rising dollar demand, the battle around the 1.05 level is expected to continue.
  📌 Key Focus: The German ZEW Economic Sentiment Index (February) could set the direction.

🎯 3. AUD/USD

📈 Direction: Holding firm
🔎 Movements:

• The RBA cut rates by 25bps but did not signal further cuts.
• Market perceived this as a “hawkish rate cut,” leading to a firm AUD.
  📌 Key Focus: Can the 0.64 level hold as support?

🎯 4. GOLD (XAU/USD)

📉 Direction: Correction phase
🔎 Movements:

• With reduced Fed rate cut expectations, gold is facing selling pressure.
• User has also taken a short position in gold, expecting a correction.
  📌 Key Focus: Monitoring for a potential decline towards 1950 USD.

📌 Key Events Today

📅 NY Fed Manufacturing Index (February)

• Market Forecast: -2.0 (Expected to improve from -12.6 previously)
• Range: -10.0 to +3.2, with a wide spread of estimates
• Key Point: A volatile indicator, significant deviation from expectations could drive sharp market moves.

📅 Other Economic Indicators:

• UK Employment Report (January)
• German ZEW Economic Sentiment Index (February)
• Canada CPI (January)

📅 Key Central Bank & Government Speeches:

• Holzmann (Austrian Central Bank Governor)
• Bailey (BoE Governor)
• Daly (San Francisco Fed President)
• Barr (Fed Vice Chair)

📌 Summary

🔹 A volatile market with rapid shifts in currency strength and weakness.
🔹 The dollar remains strong as rate cut expectations fade.
🔹 The Australian dollar is holding firm post-RBA decision.
🔹 Gold faces selling pressure; monitoring for a move toward 1950 USD.
🔹 NY Fed Manufacturing Index will be a key driver for the dollar’s direction today.

📌 Conclusion: Looking to buy the dollar on dips if significant selling occurs. Continuing to monitor the correction phase in gold for further downside opportunities.