Market Analysis: Currencies in Tight Ranges ahead of Jackson Hole Symposium

Major currency pairs are trading near the previously reached extremes in anticipation of news from the US. The EUR/USD currency pair fell yesterday to 1.0800, but bounced back sharply, the GBP/USD pair tested support at 1.2600, but still remained above the alligator lines on the weekly timeframe, and USD/JPY is retesting the 145 figure. Apparently, investors and market participants are waiting for comments from the head of the Fed about the future monetary policy of the regulator. Tomorrow starts the annual symposium in Jackson Hole, where a report by Jerome Powell will be heard.

USD/JPY

In the US dollar/Japanese yen pair, the reversal bearish bar from August 17 near 145.60 worked out. At the moment, the downward pullback has encountered support at the Alligator lines. If the price holds above 145.00 for several trading sessions, a resumption of growth towards recent highs at 146.50 may occur. But a break of support at 145.00 may mean a deeper correction towards 143.00-141.00.

Today at 15:30 GMT+3 we are waiting for data on basic orders for durable goods in the US for July. Also at the same time, weekly figures on the number of applications for unemployment benefits will be released. Tomorrow early in the morning traders will pay attention to the core consumer price index (CPI) in Tokyo.

GBP/USD

Weak data on business activity indices in the UK services and non-manufacturing sectors, published yesterday, contributed to a sharp drop in the pair to 1.2600. Sellers of the pound are trying to break this support for the third time this month, but so far without success. At the moment the price is at 1.2700. If the range of 1.2700-1.2600 holds in the coming trading sessions, a resumption of growth towards 1.3000-1.3100 can be expected.

EUR/USD

In the euro/US dollar pair, we are seeing a rebound from 1.0800. The range of 1.0800-1.0860 is very important for the further pricing of the pair. As long as the price is higher, the chances of a resumption of growth are high.

Tomorrow at 09:00 GMT+3 we are waiting for data on German GDP for the Q2. At 22:00 GMT+3, ECB President Christine Lagarde will speak at the annual Economic Policy Symposium "Structural Shifts in the Global Economy" organised by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in Jackson Hole.