Strong Weak Analysis is a way to identify momentum in the FX market. Trend traders rely on spotting and riding momentum as it develops and looks to benefit from trends extending, as many do. It’s also worth noting when the strength of a trend is waning, which Strong Weak analysis can also benefit.
Each day will bring you an index of strong and weak currencies as identified via the methodology in our article, ‘How to Create a “Trading Edge”: Know the Strong and the Weak Currencies.’
Strong/ Weak Index October 12, 2017
Highlights:
-The British Pound avoided a bearish outside day in impressive fashion. Ahead of the US session, news that the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier went from saying talks were at a “deadlock,” to potentially offering the UK a 2-year ‘grace period’ where the EU may offer Britain a two-year transitional Brexit deal.The market saw a 100-pip+ swing and the price is now pushing in on the opening range highs in the 1.33/34 region. Markets are as politically driven as ever, and this swing helps to show that to be the case.
-A head-scratcher of a move in FX markets has been the strengthening of the Japanese Yen against the US Dollar. USD/JPY looks set to test the lowest levels of the month as USD weakness begins to emerge after rebounding sharply from September 8 to October 6. The environment for a weakening appears ripe as the snap election for October 22 in Japan where PM Abe is working to increase his party’s majority in the lower-house is looking increasingly assured. Such a move would likely bring out JPY sellers, and the market tends to price-in and act early on potential political developments like the almost-assured victory of Abe. Either way, JPY strength vs. the US Dollar will face a further test near the 200-MA on a 4hr chart near 111.20, which also aligns with prior price action support. One highly correlated market that has helped explain the lack of upside in USD/JPY is UST 10Yr note yields, which have failed to rise as markets doubt how much further the Fed will go in tightening the reference rate beyond the December hike.
