rss

Weekly market roundup: Bitcoin surges up and trade tension declines

What drove markets this week

BitcoinThe dollar has generally made some gains this week against various currencies. These movements came after fairly good data from the USA as well as the signing of a first stage trade deal between the USA and China.

Some of the biggest news in forex markets this week came from central banks. Both the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) cut rates against expectations. The CBRT was first yesterday morning, cutting its one-week

repo rate from 12% to 11.25% compared with the consensus expectation of 11.5%.

Then the SARB also cut its repurchase rate to 6.25% yesterday afternoon, another decision that defied expectations. In a rare display of agreement among central bankers, the SARB’s

monetary policy committee voted unanimously to cut by 0.25%.

Shares reacted eagerly to news of the preliminary Sino-American trade deal, with US500 continuing its rapid gains since Monday’s open. Many European indices and shares also reached new all-time highs.

Bitcoin-dollar, daily

Bitcoin chartBTC-USD has surged up even more in the second half of the week. Current levels around $8,900 are the highest for about two months. The red trendline here is based on the weekly chart, starting from last summer’s highs around $13,000.

We can clearly see that price has broken out upward from this trendline, facing little resistance from the 100-period simple moving average.

The first major hurdle for the bulls here is likely to be the 200-day moving average. This is expected to be a strong area that could well resist testing at least temporarily. The 61.8% Fibonacci retracement area which price is currently testing could also function as a resistance.

Technical indicators here give a very strong overbought signal. Price closed the last three days completely outside the upper deviation of Bollinger Bands (50, 0, 2).

The slow stochastic (15, 5, 5) is also clearly within the upper trigger zone. These factors would suggest that a retracement to some degree is likely within the next few periods.

American light oil, four-hour

American light oil chart

USOIL’scorrection appears to have paused for now. The large losses from last week’s nine-month highs were driven mainly by the decline of military tension between the USA and Iran in Iraq. Now, though, the signing of the first stage deal between China and the USA has given crude a significant fundamental boost.

As China is the world’s biggest consumer of crude oil, the outlook for the Chinese economy often influences the price of the commodity.

The regular data for crude were somewhat incompatible this week. The API’s stock change announced a gain of 1.1 barrels per million, but the EIA’s stock change read negative 2.55 million on Wednesday night.

USOIL didn’t react very strongly to either release, so we might expect that trade and Chinese data could continue as key drivers next week as well.

From a technical standpoint, the conditions seem to be there for oil to continue its overall uptrend from Q4 2019. Momentum to the downside has dried up this week while buying volume remains fairly high.

The most important resistances in the short term are likely to be the three moving averages, with the 200-period SMA probably the most important of these.

Dollar-yen, four-hour

USDJPY chart

USD-JPY has been somewhat less volatile this week while continuing to make some gains overall in the aftermath of decent data from the USA. Annual inflation and core inflation on Tuesday both printed 2.3% in line with expectations, the former beating the previous figure by 0.2%.

American retail sales came in at 0.3% yesterday afternoon in line with the consensus, but November’s release was revised upward slightly.

The charts look positive for dollar-yen but buying saturation could limit any ongoing gains. Price remains above all three of the usual moving averages, with the faster 50 SMA completing a golden cross of the slower two on Wednesday afternoon GMT.

On the other hand, volume remains very low, and the slow stochastic is still slightly inside the overbought zone.

It seems that most traders are waiting for key releases next week to provide some momentum, up or down. The Bank of Japan’s meeting on Tuesday morning and Japanese inflation late on Thursday evening are expected to bring some more direction to USD-JPY.

US equities close higher again with a strong finish to cap a great week

US equity performance on Friday

  • S&P 500 up 13 points to 3329 or +0.4%
  • DJIA +0.2%
  • Nasdaq +0.3%
On the week:
  • S&P 500 +1.9%
  • DJIA +1.8%
  • Nasdaq +2.3%
The gains have been non-stop in large caps but it hasn’t been quite the same party in small and mid-caps. I’ll be watching the Russell 2000 in the weeks ahead as it approaches resistance.
US equity performance on Friday

FOMC October monetary policy meeting minutes due this week – preview

Coming up on Wednesday 20 November 2019 at 1900 GMT

  • US Federal Reserve meeting minutes
These are likely to further add  to the Fed’s view that the downside risks to the US economy have pulled back a little
  • Expect to hear of data dependence
  • Also expect to hear from the minutes that it’d take a “material reassessment” of the economic outlook for the Fed to move on another interest rate cut – this was the key takeaway comment from Powell.
Coming up on Wednesday 20 November 2019 at 1900 GMT 

Economic data coming up in the European session

German ZEW survey data for November in focus

Comic 12-11

Good day, everyone! Hope you’re all doing well as we look to get things going in the session ahead. So far today, the dollar is seen holding steady as major currencies are keeping within decent ranges still for the most part.

The kiwi has been dragged lower though after NZ data disappointed ahead of the RBNZ monetary policy decision tomorrow. Odds of a 25 bps rate cut are now at ~76% compared to the ~60% seen yesterday.
Looking ahead, the risk mood will once again be a key focus amid some data points to move things along during the session.

0730 GMT – Bank of France October industry sentiment indicator
Prior release can be found here. A general indication of sentiment towards the French industrial sector, not a major release by any means.

0930 GMT – UK September average weekly earnings
0930 GMT – UK September ILO unemployment rate
0930 GMT – UK October jobless claims change, claimant count rate
Prior report can be found here. Despite firmer wages data as of late, it hardly matters much as the BOE continues to find itself trapped amid the Brexit drama. The dovish tilt last week reaffirms such sentiment so the release later should mean little in the grand scheme of things for the pound.
1000 GMT – Germany November ZEW survey current situation, expectations
Prior release can be found here. Expectation is for a bit of a rebound in sentiment as US and China looks to be headed towards a “Phase One” deal. However, the overall outlook of the German economy remains bleak with a recession still very likely.
1100 GMT – US October NFIB small business optimism index
Prior release can be found here. This is an index which measures the opinion of small businesses on the economic conditions in the country. A minor data point.
That’s all for the session ahead. I wish you all the best of days to come and good luck with your trading!

64 points : Traders Reality Wisdom

Knowledge only becomes wisdom if it is transferred and applied. I have compiled 65 of the best
tweets that focus on the psychology of trading. This is beneficial for those who would rather refer
to this document in their spare time, maybe print it off and have it near their trading desk?
Enjoy…
1. It’s so important to understand what is meant by failure? Failure occurs when you lack
knowledge, even if you have the knowledge and still fail…well I guess determination and
perseverance come into play.
2. If you are prepared to study an indicators entry and exit criteria, why would you assume
that is all that is needed to make money. Pay more attention to the function of how the
market works. Then you will realise that indicators alone are not sustainable.
3. You have to build calluses in your mind. The tough conditioning of losses builds a
character that eventually develops a discipline of awareness and embraces uncertainty.
Train your mind to lose, perform to win…
4. The development of a irrational trading mind starts with the traders lack of conviction on
their preferred trading personality. It’s paramount to your progression that you establish
your trading personality.
5. Most new traders are back testing how their method will perform. Most new traders
neglect to train the mind which = emotional imbalances?
6. A Trader that boasts of his victories, tends to be hiding his losses. Entertain the Trader
that talks of losses for he has been humbled.
7. I used to take losses and be angry. Then I accepted one important element in trading. I
HAVE NO CONTROL OF UNCERTAINTY.
8. Believe Me When I Tell You…Unless You Accept Uncertainty, You Will Forever Have
Expectations That Will Lead You To Losses. Learn Acceptance.
9. Some Are Happy To Accept Reality Of Being Correct But Not If Wrong. This Battle In Our
Mind Will Forever Obstruct Our Progression as Traders
10. Losses are Gold to every trader.
11. An Old Saying Can Be Related To This “Observe Your Enemies (Emotions) They
Highlight Your Faults.
12. Many Hide From Losses. Little Do They Know, Losses Are The Key To Changing And
Becoming Aware Of What Needs To Be Done To Improve.
13. Trade for the moment, for the dwelling on expectation of a move is sure to upset and
damage Trading moral.
14. The market will never teach you how to win. It will teach you how to become one with
your mind. The battle is in our minds
15. Never Start Your Trading Week Convincing Yourself How Much Money You Are Going
To Make. Focus On Trading Well. The Money Will Come…
16. Rule Of Sales: Customer Is Always Right Rule Of Trading: Market Is Always Right!
17. Taking Time Away From The Markets Creates Transparency In Your Mind To Correct
Behaviours That Sabotaged Your Trading
18. Your philosophy is the determining factor to your trading success
19. The minute that we change our minds and stop giving power to the past, the with its
mistakes loses power over us.
20. Our brains use biological mechanisms to translate expectations of what we want to
perceive…Manage these mechanisms to trade mindfully.
21. Why Get Mad If Your Indicators Give You A False Signal? There Is No Indicator That
Factors The Unknown.
22. Never be excited to trade…This will set you up to avoid taking losses…More importantly
feeding The Ego.
23. It is through adversity, are you then able to reset your mind and focus on forming new
habits to overcome the self limiting beliefs.
24. There’s no greater wisdom than of those who tell you not to make a mistake.I guess the
smart learns from himself.The wise learns from others.
25. The only factors that MM rely on is Fear and greed of retail traders. Not to forget that they
make the market. So they can see all orders and simply send price in that direction to get
their orders filled
26. Does your imagination as a profitable trader hinder your approach to trading
successfully? Do not be fooled by short term success.
27. A Trader Will Continue To Encounter The Dark Perils Of Trading… It Is Only When He
Accepts That He Is Allowed To Be Wrong, He Is Then Free
28. Trading is about the expression of one’s character to manage their behaviour through the
chaos of the financial markets. Only when he is one with his mind he expresses his true
ability as a mindful trader
29. Let’s Face It…Trading Is Like This…Some Will, Some Won’t, So What!!!! Next Trade. If
you understand this…You free your mind of expectation
30. It’s Really About Taking Your Profits And Accepting Your Losses. Everything Else That
Intervenes Is Bad For The Trading Soul.
31. Trading Safely Is Like The Habit Of Driving Safely, Always Pay Attention, Whether You
Are Angry Or Happy, You Still Have To Drive (Trade) Safely. Habit Will Protect Your Car
(Capital)
32. Results orientated: in poker, you have no control of the outcome of the flop. You only
have the strength of your hand to go by. Acceptance and understanding of variance
sustains longevity. This is no different in trading
33. The beauty of trading is this. The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.
34. The only way you can really apply yourself when taking a trade is to not care…how do
you do it? Simple. Practise…like driving a car. Are you continuously conscious of
changing gears? No. Subconsciously you do it without hesitation. It’s the only way to
move forward.
35. Anyone that enters into the realm of trading usually has the perspective of “me against
the market”…The true reality is, it’s “ I Against I” before you confront the battle of trading,
confront the battle in your mind.
36. A mistake that traders make, one that took me a while to overcome was once I entered a
position,I turned from a trader into an investor…Biggest mistake you can make. If your
position is losing, get out, don’t “ride it” in hope it will return. Waiting to break even costs
money.
37. Trading same way you would on a roulette table: 1) you bet/trade 2) your number
hits/trade is profitable 3) you take your winnings/close trade. So why would you allow a
winning trade to turn into a loss. Take whatever is given by the market. You never knew it
would be a winner.
38. Admitting that you lose is the first step to transitioning as to why you lose. Many traders,
even myself, have struggled with accepting this. It’s only when enough money is lost that
you then decide, “to survive in this game, I have to accept it’s OK to be wrong”
39. When you decide to not allow your conflicts of the mind deter you from making
systematic and objective decisions, you will be taking the first step to becoming a trade
40. Once you detach from the money. You then become a trader. A trader thrives on the
process not the result. Being results oriented most likely guarantees expectations, which
definitely guarantees upsets and mistakes.
41. Many will learn from their mistakes, but few focus and study their behaviour when they
were right…Learning from mistakes saves you money…Learning from your wins, makes
you money.
42. A Retrace. The idea behind it is “oh it needs a break” or “it’s taking a breath”…that’s what
the MM want you to think. A retrace is a stop hunt for the market makers to suck in as
much liquidity as they can to fill their orders.Don’t be fooled.
43. When you learn to detach from what the market is fooling you to believe, you are then in
a position to take advantage of the market makers momentum. Get in and get out. The
market is no place for heros. You will get slaughtered.
44. The mind is a great thing. Funny how you place a trade and then all of a sudden the entry
you took does not seem to align with your analysis? Hindsight does that to you. But we
can avoid this by simply accepting what is and not focus on what it could be.
45. There were days when I felt compelled to trade. This was because I had FOMO. Fear of
missing out mindset is guaranteed to make you successfully lose each time you enter
into the market with this way of thinking. Cash is a position too.
46. If you really want to succeed in this game, you have to let go my friends. This game takes
no prisoners. It doesn’t care if you have £1m account or £1, to the market, it’s liquidity,
they will take it from you. Unless you learn to play the game.
47. The great thing about trading is, you only need to be right 50% of the time..there are
traders that are right less than 50% of the time and are profitable.???Money
Management and Mind Management
48. Be aware of the FOMC. This is a passport for the market makers to really take out areas
of liquidity for their own gain. If you have profited from today’s movements. Great…Don’t
give it back. Let the Dumb money get swallowed.
49. At some point you will develop the skill set to be able to close a losing position and re
enter. Avoid being results oriented, focus on the process of execution, if done correctly,
the results will always be positive.
50. Your objective as a trader is to survive. If you trade and win, great…Next trade. If you
lose and lose small, great…Next trade. It really is all about the process of entry to exit
and simplifying this behaviour by managing your emotional imbalances.
51. Avoid thinking like the herd. It pays to really focus on the behaviour of the one who
controls the herd. Then you will have you answer.
52. You will only improve your trading if you allow yourself to. The same way stands if you
close a losing position when your rules tell you too and close a winning position when
your rules tell you too. Become me aware of your behaviour, then you can grow.
53. It’s nothing to be afraid of…Losses are indefinite in this game…Just aim to keep them
small
54. Trading is all about gathering the wisdom of those who are prepared to share their
losses, their wins and determination to find the balance with their mind.
55. Who cares if you made a call and said price would hit a certain price area, are you a
genius? Have you developed a flawless consistently profitable indicator? Who cares!
Demonstrate your ability to manage risk effectively before you claim the title of “Trader”
56. If you feel the market is out to get you…your right…but the flip side, the market can be
very rewarding, it’s all down to perspective and mindset.
57. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that the current trade you have is the final one. There will
always be tomorrow.
58. It’s no secret, the market makers will manipulate price.They can also manipulate your
mind. If your thinking is irrationally based, then this is your greatest adversary. Fix your
thinking…Then you will see trading for what it is
59. I guess the greatest tool to a trader is a drawdown….this exposes you, to your faults and
thoughts. Using a drawdown can be advantageous and help you improve your trading.
Drawdowns happen regardless. It’s what you decide to take from each one.
60. If there is one thing I can share with everyone. If your trading. Always Always Always pay
yourself…This game is about longevity
61. So you are left with a zero account after you had received margin call on a position to
only see it be closed out…the irony is, the moment you placed the trade, your mind said
“that’s too much”, but greed stepped in…be systematic, not impulsive
62. I guess the key to trading successfully is to accept that you have no idea how the market
will behave…However, have a very clear vision of how much money you are willing to
risk. Always make money management your priority
63. Always always protect yourself…I guess the #science of boxing and trading are really no
different. The battle you must overcome is the battle of ” I Against I”
64. There is no indicator that will manage your emotions during trading. However, executing
a plan, without hesitation will eliminate you responding emotionally to any circumstance that arises in the market

Samsung estimates Q1 profit fell 60% on lower memory chip prices

Samsung Electronics on Friday delivered an earnings shock for the first quarter with its quarterly operating profit falling 60 per cent, hit by lower prices of memory chips and display panels.

Operating profit at the South Korean technology giant was estimated at Won6.2tn ($5.5bn) for the first three months of this year, compared with Won15.64tn from a year earlier. Sales fell 14 per cent to Won52tn. 

The company’s projection was far below analyst estimates although Samsung issued a profit warning last week in a rare regulatory disclosure that blamed slow demand for memory chips and an expansion of panel capacity among Chinese competitors. 

The downbeat guidance is the latest sign of woes hitting global electronics makers as chipmakers have been hit by slowing demand and rising stock inventories following a slump in smartphone sales and a sharp fall in demand from cryptocurrency mining. The effects of a broader economic slowdown and worries over the US-China trade dispute have also been felt by the industry. 

Analysts expect Samsung’s earnings to improve in the second half on seasonal demand and lower inventories. Such optimism has driven up the company’s shares by more than 20 per cent since hitting a two-year low in early January.

Shanghai Composite :Chart looks scary !

-Above is the Monthly chart of Shanghai Composite.

Just watch 2956 level  very closely.Three Consecutive close below this level +Weekly close will take to 2821-2776 level.

Break and close below 2776 ,Nonstop slide upto 2640-2595 level.

Trend Reversal will be above 3200 level.

I will Update more (Next week ).

Updated at 12:42/23rd April/Baroda