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Forex - USD/CHF weekly outlook: December 31 - January 4

Published 12/30/2012, 06:35 AM
Updated 12/30/2012, 06:35 AM

Investing.com - The U.S. dollar ended Friday’s session little changed against the Swiss franc in holiday-thinned trade, as negotiations between U.S. lawmakers in Washington aimed at resolving the looming fiscal cliff crisis continued to influence market sentiment.

USD/CHF hit 0.9182 on Friday, the pair’s highest since December 18; the pair subsequently consolidated at 0.9136 by close of trade, 0.41% lower for the week.

The pair was likely to find support at 0.9094, Thursday’s low and resistance at 0.9182, Friday’s high.

Trading volumes were thin as many investors already closed books to lock in profit before the end of the year, reducing liquidity in the market and increasing the volatility.

Market players remained focused on developments surrounding the fiscal cliff in the U.S., approximately USD600 billion in automatic tax hikes and spending cuts due to come into effect on January 1 unless Democrats and Republicans agree how to cut the deficit.

U.S. President Barack Obama met with congressional leaders at the White House Friday afternoon, but both sides failed to reach an agreement ahead of the looming year-end deadline.

The gathering included House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, both Republicans, as well as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, both Democrats.

The House of Representatives is due to return to Washington on Sunday. The Senate will be in Sunday as well to try to reach a last-ditch agreement.

Without a deal, the U.S. could fall back into recession and drag much of the world down with it.

On the data front, the National Association of Realtors said Friday that U.S. pending home sales rose 1.7% in November, above expectations for a 1% increase.

A separate report showed that Chicago's purchasing managers' index rose to 51.6 in December, from a reading of 50.4 the previous month, beating expectations for a rise to 51.0.

In the euro zone, Italy saw borrowing costs edge higher at an auction of five- and- ten-year government bonds, amid uncertainty ahead of national elections in February.

Rome sold EUR3 billion of 10-year bonds at an average yield of 4.48%, up from 4.45% last month. The country also auctioned EUR2.87 billion of five-year debt at a yield of 3.26%, compared to 3.23% a month earlier.

Adding to investors’ jitters, revised data showed that France’s economy grew by a meager 0.1% in the third quarter, down from an initial estimate for growth of 0.2%. The euro zone’s second largest economy shrank 0.1% in the second quarter, unchanged from the previous estimate.

In the week ahead trading volumes are expected to remain light, with many markets closed for the New Year’s holiday. 

Meanwhile, U.S. is to publish its closely-watched monthly jobs report on Friday, as investors attempt to gauge the strength of the country’s economic recovery.

Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets. The guide skips Monday, as there are no relevant events for that day.

Tuesday, January 1

Markets in the U.S. and Switzerland will remain closed in observance of New Year’s Day.

Wednesday, January 2

Markets in Switzerland will remain closed for a bank holiday.

In the U.S., the Institute of Supply Management is to produce a report on manufacturing growth, a leading indicator of economic health.

Thursday, January 3

Switzerland is to publish its KOF economic barometer, designed to predict the future direction of the economy, as well as a report on manufacturing activity.

Later Thursday, the U.S. is to release a report on ADP nonfarm payrolls, as well as its weekly government report on initial jobless claims. In addition, the Federal Reserve is to publish the minutes of its most recent policy-setting meeting.

Friday, January 4

The U.S. is to round up the week with official data on nonfarm payrolls, the foremost gauge of job creation, as well as data on the overall unemployment rate.

The country is also to release official data on factory orders, crude oil stockpiles and natural gas inventories. In addition, the ISM is to produce a report on service sector activity.

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