The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, is trading flat ahead of the US employment report due later. Markets are leaving aside for a few hours inflation woes, which were the main theme throughout this week. Those concerns are moving now to the background while Asian equities are set to close off this week with a five-day losing streak.The US economic calendar is quite interesting on Friday, with the December Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) release and the January University of Michigan preliminary reading. Expectations for the NFP reading range from 100,000 e to 268,000. Expect any print below 100,000 to trigger substantial US Dollar (USD) weakness, while a print near or above 268,000 will trigger more US Dollar strength.
Daily digest market movers: Here comes NFP
- Nonfarm Payrolls headline data is expected to show 160,000 new workers against the 227,000 in November.
- The Unemployment Rate is expected to remain stable at 4.2%.
- The monthly Average Hourly Earnings are expected to ease a touch to 0.3% in December from the previous 0.4%.
US Dollar Index Technical Analysis: Counting down to Trump’s presidencyThe US Dollar Index (DXY) is entering its last ten days of trading under President Joe Biden before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The question will be how much downside there is, given the general consensus that Trump’s policies will be inflationary and drive the US Dollar higher. Expect buyers to come in and quickly push the DXY back up, even with a weaker Nonfarm Payrolls release. On the upside, it is key that the green ascending trend line can hold as support, although that is often not the scenario going forward. If the DXY can head and break above the 110.00 psychological barrier, 110.79 becomes the next big level. Once beyond there, it is quite a stretch to 113.91, the double top from November 2023.On the contrary, the first downside barrier is 107.35, which has now turned into support. The next level that might halt any selling pressure is 106.52, with the 55-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 106.72 reinforcing this region of support. US Dollar Index: Daily ChartMore By This Author:Gold Price Draws Attention Amidst Swelling Global Inflation Woes EUR/USD Consolidates Around 1.03 As Bond Market Gets Stressed Over Inflation Gold Price Tests Resistance While US Yields Sprint Higher