First Trading Session of March Sees a Move into Risk

Nigel Frith
1 Euro and 1 GBP coins next to each other

Monday the 1st of March

Equity Markets Rebound

Global equity markets couldn’t maintain their upward momentum during February but have started the new month in a positive mood. Markets in Japan, Australia, China and Hong Kong all posted positive returns overnight. Japanese manufacturing grew at the fastest pace in two years.

The potential for upward price movements extends beyond the current dip attracting value investors.

Forecasts of UK economic growth released at the weekend had a more positive tone, and Rishi Sunak’s budget on Wednesday the 3rd of March could include additional stimulus measures.

US stock futures look set to continue the trend, and before market open, Nasdaq 100 index futures were trading 1.5% higher than Friday’s close.

 

NAS100 Daily Price Chart – A strong start to March – Is it different this time?

NAS100 Graph showing a small rise in price after a large drop in late February

Source: Pepperstone

The rise in equity markets can be partly attributed to House of Representatives members spending some of the weekend passing President Joe Biden’s $1.9trn stimulus package.

Market Reports to look out for on Monday include:

  • February’s final read for Markit’s US manufacturing PMI due to be released on Monday at 9:45 a.m. Eastern Time.
  • US construction spending data for January is due out later at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

 

GBPUSD & EURUSD

Both of the European currencies have seen a slight price drop over the last week. Sterling is down -0.33% and the euro by -0.55%. The dollar’s strength doesn’t yet suggest a break of the long-term downtrend in DXY, and this could reflect the currency pairs consolidating before further upward moves occur. Trading volumes in both currencies are on the slide.

GBPUSD Daily Price Chart – Consolidation?

GBPUSD Chart showing small drop in price after consistent trend upwards

Source: Pepperstone

 

EURUSD Daily Price Chart – Consolidation?

EURUSD price chart showing some volatile price changes before dipping

Source: Pepperstone

GBPUSD

Sterling is still showing relative strength compared to the euro. The vaccine rollout in the UK continues without hitting any significant snags. Reports over the weekend stated that 20m Brits have now had at least one dose of the jab.

GBPUSD – The case for the upside:

Target 1: 1.3985

Target 2: 61.8% retracement at 1.4069

 

GBPUSD – The case for the downside:

Autochartist has picked up bearish sentiment on the hourly chart.

GBPUSD price on a downwards trend

Source: Pepperstone

Target 1:  Low of 28th Feb at 1.392

Target 2:  Lower trend line, currently below 1.380

EURUSD

Wedge pattern on the daily chart is coming to the end of its funnel. Low trading volumes suggest price could continue to trade within the current pattern and a burst of activity and break out of either line signalling the start of the next price trend.

EURUSD Price Chat showing a change of stabilisation

Source: Pepperstone

EURUSD – The case for the upside:

Target 1: Resistance at 1.2110

Target 2: Upper daily trend line at 1.2199

Target 3: February high / Year to date high at 1.22430

 

EURUSD – The case for the downside:

Target 1: Lower trend line, prices below 1.2029

Target 2: February low / Year to date low at 1.19522

Bond Yields Fall

Completing the circle and confirming a move into riskier asset groups, US bond yields slipped in the first trading session of March.

The yield on the benchmark US 10-yr Treasury note fell to 1.429% at 3:50 a.m. Eastern Time.

 

If you want to know more about this topic, or have been scammed by a fraudulent broker, please contact us at [email protected]


Nigel Frith

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