Daily Market Report
10 May 2023

The optimism around the US dollar remained well and sound in the first half of the week and it seems to have been enough to keep the risk-associated universe well under pressure.
 
Against that, and while the USD Index (DXY) advanced to multi-day highs in the 101.80/85 band, EUR/USD flirted with monthly lows near 1.0940 in a context dominated by declining banking fears and the persevering move higher in US and German yields.
 
Indeed, investors’ concerns over a potential banking crisis appeared alleviated on Tuesday following the Fed’s Senior Loan Officer Survey, which acknowledged that current credit conditions are tighter and noted that banks might trim loans following concerns over a slower growth, which is seen propping up the view of a nascent recession. The survey also showed that the recent turmoil in the banking sector did not seriously affect credit conditions.
 
No (positive) reaction from the single currency to hawkish comments from ECB Board members Kazaks and Kazimir, who defended the continuation of the hiking cycle even after July. Same (no) reaction from the hawkish intervention from NY Fed J. Williams, who said that the Fed said nothing that it's done raising rates at the time when he ruled out rate cuts this year. Williams sees inflation at 3.25% in 2023 and around 2% by 2025.
 
The euro docket was empty, while second-tier releases in the US saw the NFIB Business Optimism Index ease to 89 in April and the IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index deflate to 41.6 in May.
 
Further south of the May low of 1.0941 (May 2, 9), EUR/USD could dispute the weekly lows of 1.0909 (April 17) and 1.0831 (April 10). While the latter is underpinned by the temporary 55-day SMA (1.0828), the provisional 100-day SMA coincides with the April low at 1.0788 (April 3). On the off chance that this locale is penetrated, the minor level at 1.0712 (March 24) could incite an expected trial of the March low at 1.0516 (March 15) preceding moving toward the 2023 low at 1.0481 (January 6). On the other hand, spot is currently aiming for the 2023 high of 1.1095 (April 26), with the 1.1100 round number serving as the next target. Looking forward, assuming that the pair keeps on rising, the week by week top at 1.1184 (March 31, 2022) will become an integral factor, trailed by one more round level at 1.1200. The daily RSI slipped back below the 50 level.
 
Resistance levels: 1.1053 1.1095 1.1184 (4H chart)
 
Support levels: 1.0941 1.0909 1.0831 (4H chart)

USD/JPY set aside the BoJ-induced knee-jerk to the 134.70 region during early trade and reclaimed the area beyond 135.00 the figure on the back of another positive performance of the greenback as well as the persistent uptick in US yields across the curve.
 
Back to the BoJ, Governor K. Ueda testified before Parliament early in Asian trade hours that he intends to end the YCC program and then begin shrinking the balance sheet whenever the inflation outlook demonstrates that a sustained 2.0% inflation is possible.
 
In the Japanese bond market, the JGB 10-year yields showed no signs of life and remained confined to the multi-week range bound theme above the 0.40% level.
 
In the domestic calendar, Household Spending contracted at an annualized 1.9% in March and 0.8% vs. the previous month.
 
The continuation of the recovery faces the initial resistance level at the 200-day SMA at 137.00, before the May peak of 137.77 (May 2) and the 2023 top of 137.91 (March 8). Further gains could enable a revisit to the weekly highs of 139.89 (November 30, 2022) and 142.25 (November 21, 2022). On the contrary, if the losses persist, the pair is expected to test the weekly low of 133.01 (April 26), which is supported by the interim 100-day SMA at 132.82 and precedes the minor level at 132.01 (April 13). Below that, the April low of 130.62 (April 5), the March low of 129.63 (March 24), and the February low of 128.08 (February 8) are all situated. The next target on the downside is the 2023 low of 127.21 (January 16). The everyday RSI advanced marginally to the 55 region.
 
Resistance levels: 135.29 137.77 137.91 (4H chart)
 
Support levels: 133.49 133.01 132.01 (4H chart)

Following an earlier drop to the 1.2580/75 band, GBP/USD managed to regain some balance and reclaimed the 1.2600 barrier and beyond towards the end of Tuesday’s session, ending up the day with humble gains.
 
The firmer tone in the greenback initially weighed on Sterling and sponsored the early bearish move in Cable, although the current positive mood around the quid seems to have limited the downside somewhat and keep spot on the positive side.
 
Moving forward, the British pound should face heightened volatility in light of the upcoming BoE meeting on April 11, where the central bank is expected to raise the policy rate by 25 bps.
 
In the UK docket, April results showed the BRC Retail Sales Monitor improved 5.2% from a year earlier, while the House Price Index tracked by Halifax dropped 0.3% MoM and rose 0.1% YoY. Additionally, BBA Mortgage Rate climbed to 7.41% (from 7.22%).
 
Immediate support for GBP/USD can be found at the May low of 1.2435 (May 2) seconded by the weekly low of 1.2344 (April 10). If this level is breached, it could lead to a test of the interim 55-day SMA at 1.2296, followed by the April low at 1.2274 (April 3). Further downward movement might cause the pair to drop to the significant 200-day SMA at 1.1952, and potentially even reach the 2023 low of 1.1802 (on March 8). Conversely, Cable reached a new high for the year 2023, hitting 1.2668 (May 8). Currently, buyers are directing their attention towards the 200-week SMA of 1.2865, as well as the psychological level of 1.3000. The daily RSI ticked lower to the vicinity of 61.
 
Resistance levels: 1.2639 1.2668 1.2772 (4H chart)
                                                                  
Support levels: 1.2577 1.2547 1.2435 (4H chart)

AUD/USD halted the 6-day positive streak and returned to the mid-0.6700s on turnaround Tuesday.
 
Further strength in the greenback and the mixed performance in the commodity galaxy weighed on the Aussie dollar despite the marked recovery in prices of the iron ore.
 
In addition, discouraging readings from the Chinese trade balance results also collaborated with the bearish tone in the pair and bolstered the corrective move from Monday’s peaks past 0.6800.
 
In Oz, last Retail Sales rose at a monthly 0.4% in what was the sole release on Tuesday. On another front, Treasurer Chalmers reported powerful monetary figures in the yearly spending plan estimates, as he sees a 0.2% of GDP surplus for the ongoing monetary year 2022-2023 and a 0.5% of GDP deficit in the 2023-2024 financial year.
 
AUD/USD faces an immediate support at the key 200-day SMA at 0.6725 prior to the temporary 55-day SMA at 0.6690. Further weakness could see the chance of a decrease towards the April low of 0.6573 (April 28), prior to reaching the lowest point in 2023 of 0.6563 (March 10) before the weekly low of 0.6386 (November 10, 2022) and the November 2022 low of 0.6272 (November 3). Just the opposite, the next point to watch for is the May high of 0.6803 (May 8) just before the weekly top at 0.6805 (April 14). Beyond that, the key round level of 0.7000 could be a potential target, followed by the weekly peak of 0.7029 (February 14) and the highest point in 2023 of 0.7157 (February 2). The daily RSI dropped to the proximity of 57.
 
Resistance levels: 0.6803 0.6920 0.7029 (4H chart)
 
Support levels: 0.6746 0.6688 0.6640 (4H chart)

Gold prices ignored the move higher in the greenback and another positive session in US yields across the curve and added to Monday’s gains, revisiting the $2030 region, or 2-day highs.
 
As a matter of fact, traders re-positioned in the precious metal ahead of the key release of US inflation figures on Wednesday, where market consensus expects inflation pressures to have retreated further in April, which should in turn bolster the idea of a Fed’s pause in June.
 
On the off chance that the cost of gold keeps on rising, it will confront obstruction at a few levels. The principal obstacle will be at the 2023 high of $2067 (May 4), followed intently by the 2022 pinnacle of $2070 (March 8) and before the all-time top of $2075 (August 7, 2020). Then again, if the yellow metal encounters a dip under the week after week low of $1969 (April 19), it could fall towards the April low of $1949 (April 3), which seems reinforced by the interval 55-day SMA at $1948 and comes in front of the temporary 100-day SMAs at $1913. In the event of additional drawback, the yellow metal might withdraw to the March low of $1809 (March 8) and ultimately to the 2023 low of $1804 (February 28).
 
Resistance levels: $2067 $2070 $2075 (4H chart)
 
Support levels: $1999 $1969 $1949 (4H chart)
 

Silver followed its cousin gold and printed decent gains well north of the $25.00 mark per ounce on Tuesday, leaving behind at the same time two daily pullbacks in a row.
 
The uptick in the grey metal came in contrast to the firm session in the greenback and the persistent move higher in US yields across the curve. In addition, hopes of another soft print from the US inflation figures on Wednesday also seem to have underpin the upside bias in silver.
 
At the same time, the Gold/Silver Ratio picked up extra pace and added to the optimism seen at the beginning of the week, although a test/surpass of the key 80.00 yardstick remained elusive.
 
In the event that silver prices experience an increase, the initial level of resistance to watch for would be the highest point of 2023, which was recorded at $26.12 (May 5). This is followed by the peak reached in April 2022, at $26.21 (April 18). The next resistance point is the high from 2022 at $26.94 (March 8), just before reaching the round level of $27.00. On the flip side, the first level of support comes at the weekly low of $24.49 (April 25). Subsequently, the temporary 55-day and 100-day SMAs at $23.47 and $23.36, respectively, serve as additional support levels. The following contention emerges at the 200-day SMA at $21.79, followed by the minor support at $21.47 (March 16).
 
Resistance levels: $25.73 $26.08 $26.66 (4H chart)
 
Support levels: $25.33 $25.14 $24.55 (4H chart)

The recent uptrend in crude oil prices was halted on Tuesday in response to omnipresent demand concerns, this time exacerbated following disheartening results from the Chinese trade balance during April, while unease around the banking sector and a potential economic slowdown also added to the sour mood among traders.
 
Without a doubt, costs of the WTI quickly eroded initial losses on the back of supply disturbances coming from rapidly spreading fires in the Canadian region of Alberta, as they stayed wild and took steps to keep further oil shut in.
 
Following the closing bell in Wall St, the API will report on weekly US crude oil inventories in the week ended on May 5th ahead of the DoE’s official report on Wednesday.
 
The price of crude oil has been facing continuous downward pressure despite some recent gains. In particular, the price of WTI has reached a new low for 2023, dropping to $63.73 per barrel on May 4. If the December 2021 bottom of $62.46 (December 2) is reached, oil prices could fall further towards the key $60 level. By contrast, oil prices may face resistance from occasional upward movements, confronting resistance at the weekly high of $79.14 (April 24), close to the critical $80 level. If oil surpasses this resistance, the 200-day SMA of $81.03 could come into play. Above this level, prices could target the 2023 peak of $83.49 (April 12), before reaching the November 2022 high of $93.73 (November 7).
 
Resistance levels: $73.65 $76.88 $79.14 (4H chart)

Support levels: $63.61 $62.42 $61.72 (4H chart)

The bearish sentiment dominated the mood among investors and motivated the three major US stock indices to trade on the defensive on Tuesday.
 
Indeed, rising cautiousness ahead of the release of US inflation figures measured by the CPI on Wednesday in combination with discouraging projections from many blue chip companies collaborated with the downtick in equities and kept buyers at bay.
 
All in all, the Dow Jones retreated 0.11% to 33581, the S&P500 deflated 0.35% to 4123 and the tech-reference Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.53% to 12191.
 
The Dow Jones is supposed to experience opposition as it keeps on recuperating. The main obstacle it will confront is the May top of 34257 (May 1), trailed by the 2023 pinnacle of 34342 (January 13) and the December 2022 high of 34712 (December 13). The outperform of the last option could propel the index to possibly arrive at the April 2022 high of 35492 (April 21). Notwithstanding, in the event that the Dow encounters a downfall, it might find support at the May low of 32967 (May 4), trailed by the key 200-day SMA at 32724. Further south, the 2023 low at 31429 (March 15) may offer extra help prior to arriving at the 2022 low at 28660 (October 13). The day-to-day RSI receded to the sub-51 area.
 
Top Performers: Salesforce Inc, Boeing, Travelers

Worst Performers: Intel, 3M, Nike

Resistance levels: 34257 34334 34712 (4H chart)

Support levels: 33325 32937 31805 (4H chart)