Oil & Gas Co. With US Assets Has Solid 2022

Source: Stephane Foucaud  (2/16/23)

The 2023 outlook for this energy firm is positive, with production to come from the Williston basin and possibly the Paradox basin, too, noted an Auctus Advisors report.

Zephyr Energy Plc.’s (ZPHRF:OTCMKTS;ZPHR:LSE) full-year 2022 (FY22) production and income were in line with guidance and forecasts, reported Auctus Advisors analyst Stephane Foucaud in a Feb. 15 research note. The oil and gas company is about to start production testing a well in Utah’s Paradox basin.

Potential 228% Return

Auctus has a target price of £0.20 per share on England-based Zephyr. This implies a potential return for investors of 228%, given the energy firm’s current share price is £0.06, noted Foucaud.

“Success in [Cane Creek’s] C-9 reservoir around year-end 2023 could add a further £0.12 per share [to the target price], the analyst added. Cane Creek is in Utah’s Paradox basin.

Strong Production, Revenue

The analyst presented the operational and financial highlights of FY22, all pertaining to work in North Dakota’s Williston basin.

As for Q4/22, Zephyr sold an average of 1,192 barrels of oil equivalent per day (1,192 boe/d). The total average sales volume for FY22 was 1,490 boe/d, which was at the upper end of guidance and met Auctus’ expectations.

“This was achieved despite the fact that [a] number of Zephyr’s existing production wells were temporarily shut in during Q4/22 due to ‘frac-protect’ procedures while new nearby wells were stimulated and completed,” Foucaud explained.

In FY22, Zephyr generated an estimated US$42.9 million (US$42.9M), easily meeting the company’s guidance of US$40–45M. Full-year operating income was as Auctus expected, at US$35.7M.

Work Ahead in Paradox

Looking forward, Zephyr reiterated its guidance for net production in the Williston for 2023, which is 1,550–1,750 boe/d, noted Foucaud.

Also, Zephyr is about to begin production testing of and possibly complete the State 36-2 LNW-CC well in the fractured Cane Creek reservoir interval. The net contingent resource of the part of the reservoir on Zephyr property is 39,250,000 barrels of oil equivalent.

“This is a very important well for the company that could add production and reserves,” commented Foucaud.

Additionally, Auctus expects Cane Creek to generate significant cash flow starting in 2024. The amount will likely equal about 20–40% of Zephyr’s market cap next year and each year thereafter.

Disclosures:
1) Doresa Banning wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.

4) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports’ terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.

Disclosures For Auctus Advisors, Zephyr Energy Plc.,  February 15, 2023

MiFID II Disclosures: This document, being paid for by a corporate issuer, is believed by Auctus to be an ‘acceptable minor non-monetary benefit’ as set out in Article 12 (3) of the Commission Delegated Act C(2016) 2031 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. It is produced solely in support of our corporate broking and corporate finance business. Auctus does not offer a secondary execution service in the UK. This note is a marketing communication and NOT independent research. As such, it has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and this note is NOT subject to the prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.

Author: The research analyst who prepared this research report was Stephane Foucaud, a partner of Auctus. Not an offer to buy or sell Under no circumstances is this note to be construed to be an offer to buy or sell or deal in any security and/or derivative instruments. It is not an initiation or an inducement to engage in investment activity under section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Note prepared in good faith and in reliance on publicly available information: Comments made in this note have been arrived at in good faith and are based, at least in part, on current public information that Auctus considers reliable, but which it does not represent to be accurate or complete, and it should not be relied on as such. The information, opinions, forecasts and estimates contained in this document are current as of the date of this document and are subject to change without prior notification. No representation or warranty either actual or implied is made as to the accuracy, precision, completeness or correctness of the statements, opinions and judgements contained in this document.

Auctus’ and related interests: The persons who produced this note may be partners, employees and/or associates of Auctus. Auctus and/or its employees and/or partners and associates may or may not hold shares, warrants, options, other derivative instruments or other financial interests in the Company and reserve the right to acquire, hold or dispose of such positions in the future and without prior notification to the Company or any other person. Information purposes only

This document is intended to be for background information purposes only and should be treated as such. This note is furnished on the basis and understanding that Auctus is under no responsibility or liability whatsoever in respect thereof, whether to the Company or any other person.

Investment Risk Warning: The value of any potential investment made in relation to companies mentioned in this document may rise or fall and sums realised may be less than those originally invested. Any reference to past performance should not be construed as being a guide to future performance. Investment in small companies, and especially upstream oil & gas companies, carries a high degree of risk and investment in the companies or commodities mentioned in this document may be affected by related currency variations. Changes in the pricing of related currencies and or commodities mentioned in this document may have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of the investment.

Disclaimer: This note has been forwarded to you solely for information purposes only and should not be considered as an offer or solicitation of an offer to sell, buy or subscribe to any securities or any derivative instrument or any other rights pertaining thereto (“financial instruments”). This note is intended for use by professional and business investors only. This note may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of Auctus.

The information and opinions expressed in this note have been compiled from sources believed to be reliable but, neither Auctus, nor any of its partners, officers, or employees accept liability from any loss arising from the use hereof or makes any representations as to its accuracy and completeness. Any opinions, forecasts or estimates herein constitute a judgement as at the date of this note. There can be no assurance that future results or events will be consistent with any such opinions, forecasts or estimates. Past performance should not be taken as an indication or guarantee of future performance, and no representation or warranty, express or implied is made regarding future performance. This information is subject to change without notice, its accuracy is not guaranteed, it may be incomplete or condensed and it may not contain all material information concerning the company and its subsidiaries. Auctus is not agreeing to nor is it required to update the opinions, forecasts or estimates contained herein.

The value of any securities or financial instruments mentioned in this note can fall as well as rise. Foreign currency denominated securities and financial instruments are subject to fluctuations in exchange rates that may have a positive or adverse effect on the value, price or income of such securities or financial instruments. Certain transactions, including those involving futures, options and other derivative instruments, can give rise to substantial risk and are not suitable for all investors. This note does not have regard to the specific instrument objectives, financial situation and the particular needs of any specific person who may receive this note.

Auctus (or its partners, officers or employees) may, to the extent permitted by law, own or have a position in the securities or financial instruments (including derivative instruments or any other rights pertaining thereto) of the Company or any related or other company referred to herein, and may add to or dispose of any such position or may make a market or act as principle in any transaction in such securities or financial instruments. Partners of Auctus may also be directors of the Company or any other of the companies mentioned in this note. Auctus may, from time to time, provide or solicit investment banking or other financial services to, for or from the Company or any other company referred to herein. Auctus (or its partners, officers or employees) may, to the extent permitted by law, act upon or use the information or opinions presented herein, or research or analysis on which they are based prior to the material being published.

Pound to bounce if post-Brexit Northern Ireland protocol deal confirmed

By George Prior

The British pound will receive a “significant bounce” if Britain and the EU reach a deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements in the coming days, affirms the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory, asset management and fintech organizations.

The bullish observation from Nigel Green of deVere Group comes as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak flew to Northern Ireland on Thursday evening for a previously unannounced visit for talks with the region’s parties.

He says: “Sunak’s arrival in Belfast on Thursday night and the foreign secretary, James Cleverly’s trip to Brussels on Friday for talks with the European Commission vice-president, Maroš Šefčovič, signal that a deal on the Northern Ireland protocol could be imminent.

“After weeks of difficult back-and-forth discussions, it seems negotiators are close to finding solutions at a technical level on matters including customs.

“Hopes the UK and the European Union will strike a post-Brexit trading deal for Northern Ireland is bullish for the pound.

“A new agreement could pave the way for improved trading relations between the UK and the EU and bolster investor sentiment on Britain’s economic outlook.

“It could help traders move past ‘peak pessimism’ regarding the UK, as it would likely help encourage a broader and healthier relationship with the EU which would boost economic performance.

“We expect the pound will enjoy a significant bounce should a negotiated solution between the UK and EU be agreed – which could happen as early as Friday.”

An accord has been signalled for around the last four weeks and is likely to include a settlement on the elimination of some checks on goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, and a new dispute resolution mechanism which does not involve the European Court of Justice in the first instance.

Nigel Green continues: “Since Brexit, the pound has been out of favour with FX traders, with the UK currency falling nearly 18% against a basket of currencies since the referendum.

“It has also been dragged down in recent months by fears over slowing economic growth and multi-decades high inflation.”

Earlier this week, the pound fell sharply, slipping to its lowest level in six weeks against the US dollar as a sharper-than-expected slowdown in UK inflation eased the pressure on the Bank of England to keep raising interest rates.

He concludes: Sterling was one of the worst-performing major currencies in 2022. A new post-Brexit deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol could herald the start of a reversal of fortunes for the beleaguered British pound.”

About:

deVere Group is one of the world’s largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of more than 70 offices across the world, over 80,000 clients and $12bn under advisement.

Ichimoku Cloud Analysis 17.02.2023 (AUDUSD, USDCAD, USDCHF)

By RoboForex.com

AUDUSD, “Australian Dollar vs US Dollar”

AUDUSD is declining inside a bearish channel. The instrument is going below the Ichimoku Cloud, which suggests a downtrend. A test of the Kijun-Sen line of the Cloud at 0.6920 is expected, followed by falling to 0.6695. An additional signal confirming the decline will be a bounce off the upper border of the descending channel. The scenario can be cancelled by a breakaway of the upper border of the Cloud and securing above 0.7015, which will mean further growth to 0.7105.

AUDUSD
Risk Warning: the result of previous trading operations do not guarantee the same results in the future

USDCAD, “US Dollar vs Canadian Dollar”

USDCAD has secured above the resistance level. The instrument is going above the Ichimoku Cloud, which suggests an uptrend. A test of the Tenkan-Sen line of the Cloud at 1.3445 is expected, followed by growth to 1.3635. An additional signal confirming the decline will be a bounce off the lower border of the bullish channel. The scenario can be cancelled by a breakaway of the lower border of the Cloud and securing under 1.3325, which will mean further falling to 1.3235. The scenario can be confirmed by a breakaway of the upper border of the bullish channel and securing above 1.3555.

USDCAD
Risk Warning: the result of previous trading operations do not guarantee the same results in the future

USDCHF, “US Dollar vs Swiss Franc”

USDCHF is getting ready for a breakaway of the resistance level. The instrument is going above the Ichimoku Cloud, which suggests an uptrend. A test of the Tenkan-Sen line of the Cloud at 0.9260 is expected, followed by growth to 0.9375. An additional signal confirming the decline will be a bounce off the lower border of the ascending channel. The scenario can be cancelled by a breakaway of the lower border of the Cloud and securing under 0.9145, which will mean further falling to 0.9055.

USDCHF

Article By RoboForex.com

Attention!
Forecasts presented in this section only reflect the author’s private opinion and should not be considered as guidance for trading. RoboForex LP bears no responsibility for trading results based on trading recommendations described in these analytical reviews.

The Analytical Overview of the Main Currency Pairs on 2023.02.17

By JustMarkets

The EUR/USD currency pair

Technical indicators of the currency pair:
  • Prev Open: 1.0686
  • Prev Close: 1.0672
  • % chg. over the last day: -0.13 %

The EU economy has not yet felt the full impact of an interest rate hike from the European Central Bank, two senior ECB officials said Thursday. Nevertheless, the Eurozone economy is holding up better than expected, and inflation indicators are trending downward. According to ECB policymakers, overall inflation in the Eurozone could fall below 3% by the end of the year if falling energy prices continue. Financial markets expect the ECB to raise the bank deposit rate to at least 3.5% by summer 2023.

Trading recommendations
  • Support levels: 1.0597
  • Resistance levels: 1.0695, 1.0839, 1.0906, 1.0926, 1.0967, 1.1017, 1.1077

The trend on the EUR/USD currency pair on the hourly time frame is bearish. The price forms a wide corridor, inside which there is a downward channel. The MACD indicator is negative again, but the divergence is becoming more pronounced on many timeframes. Under such market conditions, buy trades are best considered from the support level of 1.0597. Sell deals can be considered from the resistance level of 1.0695, but it is better with confirmation in the form of a reverse initiative on the lower time frames.

Alternative scenario: if the price breaks down through the resistance level of 1.0839 and fixes above it, the uptrend will likely resume.

EUR/USD
News feed for 2023.02.17:
  • – US FOMC Member Mester Speaks at 01:00 (GMT+2);
  • – German Producer Price Index (m/m) at 09:00 (GMT+2);
  • – French Consumer Price Index (m/m) at 09:45 (GMT+2);
  • – US FOMC Member Barkin Speaks at 15:30 (GMT+2).

The GBP/USD currency pair

Technical indicators of the currency pair:
  • Prev Open: 1.2021
  • Prev Close: 1.1986
  • % chg. over the last day: -0.29 %

The recent rise in the dollar has knocked the pound sterling’s confidence. St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard said yesterday that the prospect of the US Federal Reserve returning to larger hikes is not out of the table. Bullard’s comments echoed those of Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester, who said she saw a compelling case for a 0.5% rate hike at the Fed’s last meeting. The dollar index has short-term fundamental support right now. In the medium term, the US Fed and the Bank of England are at the end of the rate hike cycle. Therefore, traders should not expect medium-term trends in the GBP/USD currency pair.

Trading recommendations
  • Support levels: 1.1930
  • Resistance levels: 1.2055, 1.2118, 1.2188, 1.2311, 1.2416.

From the technical point of view, the trend on the GBP/USD currency pair on the hourly time frame is bearish. At the moment, the price is trading below the moving averages, and sellers’ pressure remains intraday. The MACD indicator has become negative but with signs of divergence. Under such market conditions, it is better to look for buy trades on intraday time frames from the support level of 1.1930 but with a confirmation in the form of a false breakdown. Sell deals are best sought from the resistance level of 1.2055 or 1.2118, but also better with a confirmation in the form of a reverse initiative on the lower time frames.

Alternative scenario: if the price breaks out through the 1.2200 resistance level and fixes above it, the uptrend will likely resume.

GBP/USD
News feed for 2023.02.17:
  • – UK Retail Sales (m/m) at 09:00 (GMT+2).

The USD/JPY currency pair

Technical indicators of the currency pair:
  • Prev Open: 134.09
  • Prev Close: 133.94
  • % chg. over the last day: -0.12 %

The appointment of former Bank of Japan policy council representative Kazuo Ueda as central bank governor has cooled rumors of an earlier interest rate normalization. In the past, Ueda has warned of the dangers of premature interest rate hikes, dispelling any fears of higher interest rates in the foreseeable future. However, a reassessment of the yield curve management policy cannot be ruled out, given that he has pointed out its potential shortcomings.

Trading recommendations
  • Support levels: 133.47, 132.95, 131.43, 129.68, 129.98, 129.19, 129.04, 128.16
  • Resistance levels: 134.65

From the technical point of view, the medium-term trend on the currency pair USD/JPY is bullish. The price is trading above the moving averages, but it has reached the daily resistance level. The MACD indicator is in the positive zone, and there are signs of divergence already on several timeframes. Buying pressure is present, but it is limited. It is best to look for buy deals from the support level of 133.47 or 132.95, but only with confirmation on the lower time frames. Sell deals can be sought from 134.65, but with additional confirmation.

Alternative scenario: if the price fixes below the 131.43 support level, the downtrend will be resumed with a high probability.

USD/JPY
There is no news feed for today.

The USD/CAD currency pair

Technical indicators of the currency pair:
  • Prev Open: 1.3384
  • Prev Close: 1.3456
  • % chg. over the last day: +0.54 %

The US and Canada are closely linked economies. Their economic health and financial flows between them are fairly stable relative to external exchange rates. The US Fed and the Bank of Canada practically go hand in hand in terms of raising interest rates, so only energy prices, especially oil prices, will cause an imbalance in USD/CAD pricing. The OPEC+ countries do not intend to lose profits on the background of falling oil prices and will try by all means to keep the quotations from falling, up to a reduction of the production volume. A significant rise in oil prices is also undesirable as it might trigger a new wave of inflation while the rates are already at their highest levels.

Trading recommendations
  • Support levels: 1.3444, 1.3390, 1.3347, 1.3295, 1.3212
  • Resistance levels: 1.3497, 1.3520, 1.3554, 1.3595

From the point of view of technical analysis, the trend on the USD/CAD currency pair is bullish. The price is trading above the moving averages. The MACD indicator is in the positive zone, with no signs of divergence. Buy trades can be considered from the support of 1.3390, but with additional confirmation on the lower time frames. Sell deals should be considered from the resistance level of 1.3497 or 1.3520, but on the condition of a reverse reaction or false breakout, as the levels have already been tested.

Alternative scenario: if the price breaks down and consolidates below the support level of 1.3263, the downtrend will likely resume.

USD/CAD
News feed for 2023.02.17:
  • – Canada Producer Price Index (m/m) at 15:30 (GMT+2).

By JustMarkets

 

This article reflects a personal opinion and should not be interpreted as an investment advice, and/or offer, and/or a persistent request for carrying out financial transactions, and/or a guarantee, and/or a forecast of future events.

Factory inflation in the US shows no signs of easing. Gold is under pressure because of the rising dollar

By JustMarkets

In the US, the Producer Price Index (PPI), which shows the rate of inflation between factories and plants, rose by 0.7% over the past month. Meanwhile, initial jobless claims fell again, indicating a strong and resilient labor market. Fed officials are once again scaring investors into returning to more rate hikes as demand does not decline. St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard said yesterday that the prospect of the Fed returning to more rate hikes is not out of the table. Bullard’s comments echoed those of Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester, who said she saw a compelling case for a 0.5% rate hike at the last Fed meeting. Treasury yields jumped on these statements, which led to a decline in rising sectors of the market, including consumer and technology. As the stock market closed, the Dow Jones Index (US30) decreased by 1.26%, and the S&P 500 Index (US500) fell by 1.38%. The NASDAQ Technology Index (US100) lost 1.78%.

Tesla (TSLA) recalled 362,000 electric cars equipped with its “Full Self Driving” software, which can cause cars to “act unsafely at intersections.” The company’s stock was down by 5%. Roku (ROKU) reported outstanding quarterly results. The streaming device maker reported an optimistic outlook. The company’s stock jumped by 11% on the report. Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) reported better-than-expected quarterly results. The company’s stock rose by 5% after the report was released.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in the US issued a warning yesterday regarding the debt ceiling, which continues to be a contentious issue. The CBO stated that Congress has 5-8 months (depending on IRS revenues) to prevent a default, which could have widespread consequences for the United States.

Stock markets in Europe were mostly up yesterday. Germany’s DAX (DE30) gained 0.18%, France’s CAC 40 (FR40) added 0.89%, Spain’s IBEX 35 (ES35) increased by 0.35%, and the British FTSE 100 (UK100) closed up by 0.18% on Thursday.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said that they would raise rates by 50 basis points at the next meeting. And this is despite a slowdown in inflation over the past few months.

Huw Pill, a chief economist at the Bank of England, made it clear that policymakers are prepared to slow the pace of interest rate hikes, saying there is a risk of “over-tightening.” The Bank of England may approve a quarter-point hike at its March meeting — or even suspend the hike cycle itself. Officials expect the UK to slide into recession with no sustainable growth until 2025.

Gold prices continued to fall as stronger-than-expected US inflation data, and hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials raised fears of further interest rate hikes, while optimism about China’s economic recovery boosted demand for copper. The prospect of higher US interest rates is not good for the precious metals as it increases their opportunity cost. Rising rates also lead investors to prefer the dollar as a safe-haven asset, given that it offers higher yields.

Asian markets were mostly up yesterday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) gained 0.71%, China’s FTSE China A50 (CHA50) decreased by 0.20% yesterday, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) added 0.84%, India’s NIFTY 50 (IND50) gained 0.11%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 (AU200) ended the day up by 0.79%.

RBA head Philip Lowe said today that an interest rate cut could come next year if inflation declines steadily. Whether the RBA will raise rates at its next meeting depends on another labor market report. Strong labor market data will encourage further rate hikes and vice versa.

S&P 500 (F) (US500) 4,090.41 −57.19 (−1.38%)

Dow Jones (US30)33,696.85 −431.20 (−1.26%)

DAX (DE40) 15,533.64 +27.30 (+0.18%)

FTSE 100 (UK100) 8,012.53 +14.70 (+0.18%)

USD Index 104.05 +0.12 (+0.12%)

Important events for today:
  • – Australia RBA Governor Lowe Speaks at 00:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US FOMC Member Mester Speaks at 01:00 (GMT+2);
  • – UK Retail Sales (m/m) at 09:00 (GMT+2);
  • – German Producer Price Index (m/m) at 09:00 (GMT+2);
  • – French Consumer Price Index (m/m) at 09:45 (GMT+2);
  • – Canada Producer Price Index (m/m) at 15:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US FOMC Member Barkin Speaks at 15:30 (GMT+2).

By JustMarkets

 

This article reflects a personal opinion and should not be interpreted as an investment advice, and/or offer, and/or a persistent request for carrying out financial transactions, and/or a guarantee, and/or a forecast of future events.

Week Ahead: 3 reasons to watch NZDUSD

By ForexTime 

The New Zealand dollar (NZD) is the second worst-performing G10 currency against the US dollar so far this month, with NZDUSD having fallen by about 3.4% month-to-date.

 

But before we get into the reasons that could either worsen or offer relief to NZDUSD’s woes, let’s first look at the list of key economic data releases and events that could move FX markets next week:

Monday, February 20

  • CNH: China loan prime rates
  • EUR: Eurozone February consumer confidence
  • US markets closed

Tuesday, February 21

  • AUD: Reserve Bank of Australia policy meeting minutes
  • EUR: Eurozone February ZEW survey, PMIs
  • GBP: UK February PMIs
  • CAD: Canada January inflation, December retail sales
  • USD: US February PMIs

Wednesday, February 22

  • NZD: RBNZ rate decision, January external trade
  • EUR: Germany January CPI (final)
  • USD: FOMC minutes

Thursday, February 23

  • EUR: Eurozone January CPI (final)
  • USD: US weekly jobless claims, Q4 GDP (second), Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic speech

Friday, February 24

  • JPY: Japan January CPI; BOJ Governor-nominee Ueda to appear before Japan’s lower house
  • EUR: Germany Q4 GDP (final), March consumer confidence
  • USD: US January PCE deflator, personal income and spending, February consumer sentiment
  • 1-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

 

Now, here are 3 reasons why we’re watching NZDUSD:

 

#1: Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) rate decision

New Zealand’s central bank is expected to hike by another 50 basis points next week to bring its Official Cash Rate up to 4.75%.

But the RBNZ may be faced with a dilemma:

  • On one hand, policymakers may be forced to keep hiking to offset any near-term inflationary pressures stemming from supply chains that have been disrupted by Cyclone Gabrielle (think of destroyed fruit and vegetable farms, which in turn drive up prices of harder-to-find food supplies).
  • On the other hand, the RBNZ may opt for the relatively smaller 25-bps hike instead because of the deadly cyclone’s negative impact on New Zealand’s economy.
    (Note that interest rate hikes are intended to “destroy” demand to subdue inflation.
    But if some of that demand has already been destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle, more rate hikes risks sending New Zealand into a recession!)

Hence, amid this dilemma, NZDUSD could be rocked by:

  • the size the RBNZ’s incoming rate hike
  • and what the central bank says about its future plans for the official cash rate.

As a rule of thumb, the central bank that can continue sending its benchmark rates higher than its peers, should see its currency strengthen.

And as things stand, markets are now forecasting that the RBNZ’s official cash rate will peak around 5.2% in May this year.

If the RBNZ has to ease up on its rate hikes and stop short of that 5.2% forecasted peak, that may spell more near-term declines for NZDUSD, and vice versa.

 

But just as markets digest the results of Wednesday morning’s RBNZ meeting, attentions will quickly shift to the US Dollar side of the NZDUSD equation for the rest of the week.

And that brings us to our second reason …

 

#2: More clues about incoming Fed rate hikes

Arguably, the single biggest driver across FX markets has been the shifting expectations surrounding the Fed rate hikes.

The US dollar could extend its February recovery if any (or a combo) of the scenarios below materialize:

  • Minutes from the FOMC’s Jan 31-Feb 1 meeting suggest US policymakers are still wary about the inflation outlook, despite opting to hike by “only” 25 basis points (bps) earlier this month. (25bps is much smaller than the 75bps hikes triggered multiple times around mid-2022)
  • US weekly initial jobless claims remain around historically-low levels around 200k, which underscores the strength of the US jobs market.
  • Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic’s speech heralds even more Fed rate hikes (though Bostic is a non-voting member of the FOMC this year)
  • The US PCE Deflator, the Fed’s preferred way for measuring inflation, comes in higher than the 4.9% advance expected for January. That’s only slightly lower than December’s 5% year-on-year rise, suggesting that inflation still isn’t abating fast enough despite the Fed’s rate hikes totalling 450 bps already since Q1 2022.

Overall, if US hiring and inflation remain resilient while reinforcing the Fed’s hawkish chorus, that could strengthen the US dollar while heaping more downward pressure on NZDUSD.

 

And that brings us our final stated reason for this article  …

 

#3: NZD is forecasted to be second-most volatile G10 currency next week

Noting the uncertainty surrounding the RBNZ and Fed’s respective rate-hiking plans, no surprise that NZDUSD is expected to rather volatile over the coming week.

(The G10 currency that’s expected to be most volatile – the Norwegian Krone – is highly sensitive to commodity prices and broader risk sentiment).

While it remains to be seen whether the implied volatility actually becomes reality, make no mistake: NZD traders are ready to pounce on fresh signals emanating out of the RBNZ or surrounding the Fed next week.

 

Key levels for NZDUSD in the week ahead:

SUPPORT

  • 0.620 region: this psychologically-important area has supported NZDUSD on several occasions since May/June 2022, and most recently in January 2023. This is also around where this FX pair’s 200-day simple moving average currently lies
  • 100-day simple moving average (SMA)
  • 0.61462: 61.8% Fibonacci level from NZDUSD’s October 2022-February 2023 ascent.

 

RESISTANCE

  • 0.62702: February 6th cycle low
  • 0.63186: 78.6% Fibonacci level from NZDUSD’s October 2022-February 2023 ascent.
  • 50-day SMA

 

 

At the time of writing, Bloomberg’s FX model forecasts a 71% chance that NZDUSD will trade within the 0.6085 – 0.6344 range, using current levels as a base, over the next one week.


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Japanese Candlesticks Analysis 16.02.2023 (USDCAD, AUDUSD, USDCHF)

By RoboForex.com

USDCAD, “US Dollar vs Canadian Dollar”

On H4, the pair has formed a Longed Legged Doji reversal pattern. The instrument is now going by the signal in a descending wave. The goal of the decline might be 1.3315; later the pair may break through the support level and continue the decline. However, the price may pull back to 1.3410 before falling.

USDCAD
Risk Warning: the result of previous trading operations do not guarantee the same results in the future

AUDUSD, “Australian Dollar vs US Dollar”

On H4, the pair has formed a Doji reversal pattern. The instrument is now going by the signal in an ascending wave. The goal of the decline might still be 0.7000. After testing the resistance level the quotes might break through it and go on growing. However, the price may pull back to 0.6875 and continue the uptrend after the correction.

AUDUSD
Risk Warning: the result of previous trading operations do not guarantee the same results in the future

USDCHF, “US Dollar vs Swiss Franc”

On H4, at the resistance level the pair has formed a Shooting Star reversal pattern. The instrument is now going by the signal in a descending wave. The goal of the decline might be 0.9165. Upon testing the support level, the pair might break through it and further develop the downtrend. However, the price may pull back to 0.9270 before the decline.

USDCHF

Article By RoboForex.com

Attention!
Forecasts presented in this section only reflect the author’s private opinion and should not be considered as guidance for trading. RoboForex LP bears no responsibility for trading results based on trading recommendations described in these analytical reviews.

The Analytical Overview of the Main Currency Pairs on 2023.02.16

By JustMarkets

The EUR/USD currency pair

Technical indicators of the currency pair:
  • Prev Open: 1.0736
  • Prev Close: 1.0686
  • % chg. over the last day: -0.47 %

ECB head Christine Lagarde said yesterday that she would vote for a 0.5% rate hike at the next ECB meeting. The medium-term outlook for the euro remains bullish, but the EUR/USD is pulling lower amid a temporary rise in the dollar index. The dollar index is rising on the back of strong US economic data (labor market, GDP, industrial production), which opens up more room for the Fed to raise rates.

Trading recommendations
  • Support levels: 1.0696, 1.0651, 1.0597
  • Resistance levels: 1.0839, 1.0906, 1.0926, 1.0967, 1.1017, 1.1077

The trend on the EUR/USD currency pair on the hourly time frame is bearish. The price forms a wide corridor, inside which there is a downward channel. The MACD indicator has become inactive again. Under such market conditions, buy trades are best considered on the lower time frames from the support level of 1.0696 or after the impulse breakout from the descending channel. Sell deals can be considered from the resistance level of 1.0839, but it is better with confirmation in the form of a reverse initiative on the lower time frames.

Alternative scenario: if the price breaks down through the resistance level of 1.0926 and fixes above it, the uptrend will likely resume.

EUR/USD
News feed for 2023.02.16:
  • – US Building Permits (m/m) at 15:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US Initial Jobless Claims (w/w) at 15:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (m/m) at 15:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US Producer Price Index (m/m) at 15:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US FOMC Member Mester Speaks at 15:45 (GMT+2);
  • – US FOMC Member Bullard Speaks at 20:30 (GMT+2).

The GBP/USD currency pair

Technical indicators of the currency pair:
  • Prev Open: 1.2169
  • Prev Close: 1.2032
  • % chg. over the last day: -1.14 %

The UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell from 10.5% to 10.1% (forecast 10.3%) in annual terms. Core inflation fell even more, from 6.3% to 5.8% (forecast 6.2%). Such data on the back of a strong labor market may provide the Bank of England with at least another 0.25% rate hike at its next meeting. The report indicates that the January 2023 decline mainly reflects price changes in the transportation segment. There was also a downward effect in the services sector. Since there is no mention of energy, the peak of UK inflation has likely passed. But since inflation remains extremely high and much higher than in other economies, the British pound reacted very negatively to the data.

Trading recommendations
  • Support levels: 1.2000, 1.1930
  • Resistance levels: 1.2055, 1.2117, 1.2188, 1.2311, 1.2416

From the technical point of view, the trend on the GBP/USD currency pair on the hourly time frame is bearish. At the moment, the price is trading below the moving averages, and sellers’ pressure remains intraday. The MACD indicator has become negative, with no signs of divergence. Under such market conditions, it is better to look for buy trades on intraday time frames from the support level of 1.2200, but with a confirmation in the form of a false breakdown. Sell deals are best to look for from the resistance level of 1.2055 or 1.2117, but also better with a confirmation in the form of a reverse initiative on the lower time frames.

Alternative scenario: if the price breaks out through the 1.2416 resistance level and fixes above it, the uptrend will likely resume.

GBP/USD
There is no news feed for today.

The USD/JPY currency pair

Technical indicators of the currency pair:
  • Prev Open: 133.10
  • Prev Close: 134.16
  • % chg. over the last day: +0.80 %

Kazuo Ueda, nominated by the Japanese government as the next governor of the Bank of Japan (BoJ), will inherit a number of difficult challenges when he replaces the current governor Haruhiko Kuroda on April 8. Annualized inflation in Japan reached 4% in December, the highest level since January 1991, while GDP in the fourth quarter did not meet expectations of a 2% rise on an annualized basis and grew by a modest 0.6%. The new Central Bank Governor will have to decide when and by how much the Bank of Japan should start cutting back on its ultra-soft monetary policy in order to restrain inflation while allowing a sufficient reserve of the money supply to allow the economy to grow. It is unlikely that the new BOJ Governor will make any harsh statements on his first day in office, but there is a high probability that the BOJ will abandon its soft policy this year.

Trading recommendations
  • Support levels: 133.47, 132.95, 131.43, 129.68, 129.98, 129.19, 129.04, 128.16
  • Resistance levels: 134.65

From the technical point of view, the medium-term trend on the currency pair USD/JPY is bullish. The price is traded above the moving averages while not falling below dynamic lines, supporting the upward movement. The MACD indicator is in the positive zone, but there are signs of divergence already on several timeframes. Buying pressure is present, but it is limited. It is best to look for buy trades from the support level of 133.47 or 132.95, but only with confirmation on the lower time frames. Sell deals can be sought after an impulse return of the price below the level of 132.95 or from 134.65, but with additional confirmation.

Alternative scenario: if the price fixes below the 131.43 support level, the downtrend will be resumed with a high probability.

USD/JPY
There is no news feed for today.

The USD/CAD currency pair

Technical indicators of the currency pair:
  • Prev Open: 1.3336
  • Prev Close: 1.3392
  • % chg. over the last day: +0.42 %

The International Energy Agency (IEA) raised its 2023 oil demand forecast by 500,000 BPD to nearly 102 million BPD. The agency also warned that an alliance of OPEC+ producers might try to cut production to support oil prices. What does this mean for USD/CAD quotes? With the Bank of Canada and the US Federal Reserve holding rates almost at the same level, only oil prices will be the imbalance in pricing. And since the Canadian dollar is a commodity currency, rising oil prices will strengthen the Canadian (USD/CAD decline).

Trading recommendations
  • Support levels: 1.3347, 1.3295, 1.3212
  • Resistance levels: 1.3390, 1.3472, 1.3496, 1.3520, 1.3554, 1.3595

From the point of view of technical analysis, the trend on the USD/CAD currency pair is bullish. The price is trading above the moving averages again. The MACD indicator has become positive, but there is some seller pressure inside the day. Buy trades can be considered from the support of 1.3347, but with additional confirmation on the lower time frames. Sell deals should be considered from the resistance level of 1.3390 but on the condition of a reverse reaction. Also, sales can be looked for after a false breakout of the 1.3439 resistance level.

Alternative scenario: if the price breaks down and consolidates below the support level of 1.3263, the downtrend will likely resume.

USD/CAD
There is no news feed for today.

By JustMarkets

 

This article reflects a personal opinion and should not be interpreted as an investment advice, and/or offer, and/or a persistent request for carrying out financial transactions, and/or a guarantee, and/or a forecast of future events.

The RBNZ is planning further interest rate hikes. Gold under pressure from rising government bond yields

By JustMarkets

The US dollar continued rising after strong retail sales data, which, together with CPI data, opened the door to further rate hikes by the US Central Bank. But stock indices rose along with the dollar yesterday, which is rare since, most of the time, these instruments are inversely correlated. As the stock market closed, the Dow Jones Index (US30) increased by 0.11, and the S&P 500 Index (US500) added 0.28%. The Technology Index NASDAQ (US100) gained 0.92%.

According to the US Commerce Department, retail sales rose by 3% in January from the previous month, the largest increase in nearly two years. This is a clear sign that household spending remains strong despite the central bank’s tough tightening campaign to slow demand. With a strong labor market, increased wage pressures, and solid consumer spending, the stars may align for further FOMC hikes and higher interest rates over the longer term. This scenario could worsen sentiment and create headwinds for stocks, especially in the technology sector. Nevertheless, the probability of a soft landing on the economy remains high.

Shares of Analog Devices (ADI) jumped by 7% to a 52-week high yesterday after posting quarterly results that beat Wall Street estimates. Roblox (RBLX) rose by 26% as it reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, helped by a jump in video game orders. Airbnb (ABNB) also provided an upbeat outlook after the company’s quarterly results beat analysts’ estimates.

Equity markets in Europe were mostly up on Tuesday. German DAX (DE30) gained 0.82%, French CAC 40 (FR40) jumped by 1.21%, Spanish IBEX 35 (ES35) added 0.42%, and British FTSE 100 (UK100) closed up by 0.55% on Wednesday.

The US crude oil inventories increased by 16.3 million barrels last week to 471.4 million barrels, well above the estimates of 1.2 million barrels. Despite the increase in inventories, black gold prices still rose yesterday as the International Energy Agency (IEA) raised its forecast for oil demand in 2023 by 500,000 BPD to nearly 102 million BPD. The IEA also warned that an alliance of OPEC+ producers might try to cut production to support oil prices.

It was originally intended that gold would exceed $2,000 per ounce in the first quarter of this year, repeating the rally seen in April 2022. But this did not happen, as a strong US labor market and GDP growth have increased the likelihood of a longer tightening cycle, fueling the dollar and government bonds. Gold and silver are inversely correlated to the dollar and government bond yields, so “precious metals” are now under pressure.

Asian markets were mostly down yesterday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) declined by 0.37%, China’s FTSE China A50 (CHA50) fell by 0.77%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) ended the day down by 1.43%, India’s NIFTY 50 (IND50) added 0.48%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 (AU200) ended the day down by 1.06%.

Japan’s trade deficit widened to a record high in January amid a global slowdown. Export growth slowed sharply to 3.5%, with equipment for the production of microchips being one of the largest breaks, signaling weakening global demand in the technology sector. Imports continued to show double-digit growth, rising to 17.8% from a year earlier, as expensive energy supplies continued to drive up import costs. China’s change in virus policies has also hit Japan’s exports, as the number of Covid cases rose sharply after the Covid-Zero policy was canceled, causing disruptions across the country. Shipments to China and other Asian countries account for more than 50% of Japan’s total exports.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is forecast to raise interest rates another 0.5% to 4.75% next week. While still a significant increase, it is less than the 75 basis point increase the RBNZ had planned in its November monetary policy statement. The main reason for the rate hike is ongoing inflationary pressures. The rate is expected to peak at 5.25%, and rate cuts will not begin until 2024.

Australian labor market data has disappointed economists. The unemployment rate rose from 3.5% to 3.7%, while the number of jobs decreased by 11.5K. Australia’s economic data raise the question of how long the RBA will be able to remain hawkish.

S&P 500 (F) (US500) 4,147.60 +11.47 (+0.28%)

Dow Jones (US30)34,128.05 +38.78 (+0.11%)

DAX (DE40) 15,506.34 +125.78 (+0.82%)

FTSE 100 (UK100) 7,997.83 +43.98 (+0.55%)

USD Index 103.84 +0.61 (+0.59%)

Important events for today:
  • – Australia Unemployment Rate (m/m) at 02:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US Building Permits (m/m) at 15:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US Initial Jobless Claims (w/w) at 15:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (m/m) at 15:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US Producer Price Index (m/m) at 15:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US FOMC Member Mester Speaks at 15:45 (GMT+2);
  • – US Natural Gas Storage (w/w) at 17:30 (GMT+2);
  • – US FOMC Member Bullard Speaks at 20:30 (GMT+2).

By JustMarkets

 

This article reflects a personal opinion and should not be interpreted as an investment advice, and/or offer, and/or a persistent request for carrying out financial transactions, and/or a guarantee, and/or a forecast of future events.

Inflation here to stay: Where should you invest?

By George Prior 

Inflation is cooling gradually but remains stubbornly high in most major developed economies, including the UK and U.S., despite the efforts of central banks.

This week, official data shows that U.S. Consumer Price Inflation – CPI – is 6.4%, slightly higher than was expected, but down from a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022.  On Wednesday, the UK inflation rate was revealed to have fallen for the third month in a row in January to hit 10.1%, below economists’ expectations, but still five times higher than the Bank of England’s target.

Markets are now betting on a longer period of higher interest rates as they begin to take heed of the message from central bank officials, including those from the U.S. Federal Reserve, Bank of England and European Central Bank, that there’s still a way to go to cool inflation in the face of robust labour markets and wage growth.

Continuing hot inflation, agree experts, can impact an individual’s investments, leaving investors asking: where do I invest in an ongoing high inflation environment?

“Stubborn inflation affects stock markets because central banks, including the Fed, BoE and ECB, will have to continue to step in and raise interest rates. This means people adjust and rein-in their spending, it cools the economy and companies can struggle to make profits,” says Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory, asset management and fintech organisations.

He continues: “Stock markets are correlated to the profits of the companies within that particular index.

“In this environment of higher rates for longer than had previously been anticipated, some companies are going to find it difficult to maintain margin and, as we’re now seeing, are failing to report earnings as had been expected.

“In other words, if costs are going up firms can’t maintain margin, so that company is unlikely to be a good investment until things change.”

The deVere Group CEO identifies four key sectors that he expects to be “resilient in this current environment.”

He explains: “We’re looking at sectors that can maintain margin, despite inflation and interest rate hikes.

“These include healthcare, luxury goods, energy and agriculture.

“Healthcare is a robust sector as people will always need to stay healthy – this has come into focus more than ever since the pandemic. Also, despite wider market volatility, there’s strong earnings potential due to ageing populations and other demographic changes. Plus, healthcare is becoming increasingly tech-driven, which offers fresh opportunities.”

He goes on to say: “Luxury goods can maintain margin due to the inherent aspirational ‘elite and exclusive’ aspect of the sector.

“We’ll look at energy because there’s a shortage of energy in the world right now.

“Agriculture is another one as populations in emerging markets around the world are eating more meat. As they eat more meat, there needs to be more grain produced.”

In this, and all environments, there remains one clear way for investors to maximise returns relative to risk: the time-honoured practice of portfolio diversification. A considered mix of asset classes, sectors, regions and currencies offers you protection from shocks.

A good fund manager will help you sidestep potential risks and benefit from key opportunities.

“Inflation is going to be an issue for investors for a while yet,” concludes Nigel Green.

“However, these can also be times of opportunity if you stay fully and wisely invested.”

About:

deVere Group is one of the world’s largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of more than 70 offices across the world, over 80,000 clients and $12bn under advisement