Yesterday, disagreements followed as the OPEC+ meeting was once again postponed, without any new date set. During the early hours of the Asian morning, the main event surrounded the RBA’s interest rate decision and the release of its statement. Other economic data is set to follow.
OPEC+ Postpones Meeting Again
On Friday, the energy alliance voted on a proposal to increase production by approximately 2mln barrels per day in the period between August and the end of 2021. But this is not something that the UAE was in favor of, so that’s why they blocked the proposal. This means that production will remain at current levels, which could suggest higher oil prices in the near term, as global demand continues to rise.
RBA Decision
During the early hours of the Asian morning, the main event surrounded the RBA’s interest rate decision and the release of its statement. At its June meeting, this Bank decided to keep its policy settings untouched and reiterated that at the July meeting, it will consider further bond purchases.
In the minutes of that meeting, it was revealed that officials’ decision will depend upon the Board’s goals for employment and inflation, as well as the likely effect of different options on the overall financial conditions. This morning, the RBA announced that it will:
- retain the April 2024 bond as the bond for the yield target and retain the target of 10 basis points
- continue purchasing government bonds after the completion of the current bond purchase program in early September, the purchases of which will be at the rate of $4 billion a week until at least mid-November
- maintain the cash rate target at 10 basis points and the interest rate on Exchange Settlement balances of zero per cent
The Bank also stated that the Australian economy is recovering much faster than it was initially expected. Households are showing financial stability, due to improvements in the labor market. However, one thing that remains unknown is how big the negative shock would be from the future effect of new virus outbreaks and lockdowns, which could follow after.
AUD/CHF – Technical Outlook
This morning, AUD/CHF managed to violate the upper side of the short-term range, where it has been trading from around the beginning of June. At the same time, the pair trades above a short-term tentative upside line, which is drawn from the low of July 2. If the rate continues to trade above that upside line and stays above the upper side of the above-mentioned range, which is roughly between the 0.6976 and 0.6983 levels, we will take a positive approach, at least for now.
A further push above the upper side of that range could bring the pair to the 0.7010 hurdle, marked by the high of May 20, where a slight hold-up may happen. However, if the buyers are still feeling comfortable, they might send AUD/CHF even higher, possibly targeting the 0.7033 level, which is the high of May 18.
On the other hand, if the previously discussed upside line breaks and the rate falls below the 0.6945 zone, marked near the highs of June 30 and July 1, that could temporarily spook the bulls from the field, as such a move might lead to a larger decline within that range.
AUD/CHF may travel to the 0.6923 obstacle, a break of which could set the stage for a test of the lower bound range. That area is between the 0.6893 and 0.6899 levels, marked by the lowest point of June and the current lowest point of July.
Other Economic Data
Apart from the RBA, during the European morning, we will receive the UK’s construction PMI number for June, which is expected to show up at 63.8, against the previous 64.2. Germany will release their ZEW economic sentiment figure for July. The initial forecast is for a decline from 79.8 to 75.2.
Later on in the day, the US will be coming back from a long weekend, as the US markets were closed yesterday due to their Independence Day. Before the US opening bell, we will receive the US services PMI number for June.
Also, there will be one economic data set, which will be carefully monitored, and that’s the ISM non-manufacturing PMI reading, also for June. The number is believed to have declined somewhat, going from 64.0 to 63.5.
That said, even if the actual figure shows up as forecasted, the reading would continue to be in expansionary territory, meaning that the non-manufacturing sector of the economy is doing well, overall.
If the reading is below forecast, this might have a slightly negative effect on the US dollar, but a positive effect on US equities, as it may keep the Fed away for a while from changing its current policy of supporting the economy. 
USD/CAD – Technical Outlook
After breaking below the short-term upside support line taken from the low of June 23, USD/CAD rushed lower, but found support near the 1.2308 hurdle, marked by the low of July 2. If the pair continues to trade below that upside line, there is a good chance we could see further declines. That said, we would still prefer to wait for a strong push below the 1.2308 zone first, in order to get comfortable with further declines.
If, eventually, the rate makes a deeper dive below that 1.2308 hurdle, this may invite more sellers into the game, possibly opening the door to lower areas. USD/CAD might drift to the 1.2272 zone, marked by the low of June 25, where a temporary hold-up could occur.
The pair may also test the 200 EMA on our 4-hour chart, however, if those obstacles fail to provide support and break, this could open the way for further declines. That’s when we will aim for the 1.2252 obstacle, or even for the 1.2204 level, marked by the high of June 15.
Alternatively, to consider a move higher, we would wait for the rate to climb back above the aforementioned upside line and then above the 1.2372 barrier, marked by yesterday’s high. This way, USD/CAD could get pushed to the 1.2427 hurdle, or even to the 1.2450 level, marked by the current highest point of July.
As for the rest of today’s events
The US will also produce its Markit composite PMI figure for June, which is also expected to have declined a bit, from the previous 68.7 to 63.9.