Dollar decline could face tests from month-end flows and OPEC meeting outcome

USD: Month-end flows, OPEC and China risks

The dollar extended its decline this week, with the DXY index now down over 3% month-to-date. Markets continue to expect the Fed rate hike cycle to have ended, but without a recession for now. This soft-landing expectation has pushed the markets towards the centre of the USD smile where economy is neither too hot not too cold, and the USD trades lower as market participants flock to riskier assets. Seasonality also adds downside to the dollar – going into the end of the year. The table below shows that dollar has fallen by an average of 1.5% in December over the last six years.

From a data perspective, focus this week is on PCE data, Fed’s preferred inflation gauge that will continue to reaffirm the disinflation rhetoric. Consensus is looking for October PCE to slow to 0.1% MoM from 0.4% previously. For core as well, PCE is expected to cool to 0.2% MoM or 3.5% YoY – that falls below the Fed’s year-end target of 3.7%. This should broadly continue to be dollar negative, as the bar for an upside surprise is large. If actual numbers come in below expectations, risks of dovish re-pricing remain and that could make DXY index test key support below 103.

Fed’s Beige Book will likely highlight the case for a slowing economy, but nothing too spark more aggressive rate cut pricing for next year. However, four factors need to be on watch for any reversal in dollar to happen:

1. Month-end flows could result in tactical USD buying by exporters and corporates
2. The delayed OPEC+ meeting could bring an extension and expansion of supply cuts, raising fears of sustained rise in oil prices and questioning the disinflation narrative
3. Much of the USD decline so far has come on the back of gains inn yuan, but the China recovery will face the test of economic data once again this week as PMIs are due on Thursday.
4. Low volatility continues to spur momentum in carry trades, and that is a dollar positive.

This could suggest that the dollar downside remains for the end of the year, but not without risks. Overall, dollar will likely remain range-bound for now, until sharper US economic downturn or clearly dovish Fed commentary comes out. Watch for support at 103, break of which could expose 61.8% fibo retracement at 102.50.

Market Takeaway: Bearish picture intact for dollar through year-end, but pockets of support likely. Only a break below 101.625 in DXY will put the focus firmly on the downside.

NZD: RBNZ decision due tomorrow

Procyclical currencies have been strong in the current risk-on environment. NZDUSD rallied above the 200DMA and the psychological 0.61 barrier this week, but the rally cooled today with the RBNZ rate decision coming due tomorrow.

New Zealand Q2 CPI at 5.5% remains well above RBNZ’s 1-3% target range but inflation expectation has eased. That gives room to RBNZ to continue to stay on hold, keeping policy rate unchanged at 5.5%. However, the Bank will need to maintain the optionality for further rate increase to push NZD higher in a new trading range. If RBNZ stays dovish, we could see NZDUSD reverse back lower towards the 38.2% fibo retracement level at 0.6018. A dovish outcome could also bring AUDNZD back closer to 1.08 after RBA Governor Bullock stuck a hawkish tone today.

Saxo’s intraday positioning for Monday (27/11) saw over a 1,000 trades in NZDUSD with 56% on the long side. NZDJPY saw a 62% long positioning while GBPNZD was 48% long.

XAUUSD: Top intraday FX instrument at Saxo

Our commodity strategist Ole Hansen has been talking about the potential for a Santa rally in Gold and Silver. We also hosted a webinar today on the drivers of Gold and instruments to trade it for our institutional clients. Turns out, spot Gold was the highest traded FX instrument on the Saxo platform across offices on Monday. Fed pivot and a weaker dollar have been key drivers for the rally in Gold this month, and the precious metal has cleared key $2010 level to rise to six-month highs. Focus is now on $2,070, highs seen in 2022 and early 2023, and next catalyst will likely be a firmer outlook for Fed rate cuts which can boost ETF holdings.

Market Takeaway: XAUUSD has broken bullish and only a break below $1960 could reverse the uptrend.