Is It Bigger Than A Breadbox?

This was gold!Poulson, while trying to avoid questions about the exact size of a proposed stimulus package, answered "I don't want to play 'is it bigger than a breadbox?'"It's hard to say what the DOW (and hence the AUDJPY) is going to do with this. Obviously, it's better for the economy than not having incentives, so it must have some impact. It also shows the government is serious about the

Finicky Forex Friday

Well, in a while the president will be talking about some type of economic stimulus package.The question is, will the market think this is meaningful?So far, the market is up a bit but moving sideways. I guess we are all waiting to see if anything important is going to come out of this.My guess is that the market will rise a bit before the details arrive, but then fall in disappointment when the

Weaker USD-JPY in the short term

As we can see from the chart below we are looking at the USD felling to the JPY101.8 level in the short to medium term. The rationale for that is the more vulnerable US economy, the prospect for an Fed rate cut in the USD, and the unwinding of the carry trade.
At some point in time the USD might fall through this support, but it remains strong for now. Longer term I think it depends on what Japan does to arrest the impact of a softer economy. Historically Japan has been a country capable of radical reforms. eg. The Black Ships, Meiji Era, post-WWII reconstruction. But first it needs to develop some backbone. The current generation of Japanese people just have not suffered enough. The transition continues slowly.

It will take a charismatic leader with good advisors, but unfortunately they are likely to have streaks of nationalism in their air, so lets not hope for too much. But in true Japanese style, its just as likely to be just another pop-facade, ie. Kozumi - Mark II. My favourite Japanese politician is the Major of Nagano. He is a very smart guy, and he rides to work on a Harley Davidson with a side car if I'm not mistaken. Legend! Dancing with Richard Gere makes Kozumi a poor second. Having said that - you an't take Japan too seriously. Not for the time being. The US economy is by far the more flexible economy, so they are the odds-on favourite to hold that support at this time despite their problems in the debt & property markets.
- Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com

Range trading & consolidating in JPY-EUR

I actually dont forecast much variability in this cross-rate. I see both markets soft with global demand. The JPY will be strong because of the unwinding of the carry trade, but exports will be weak anyway with the US, though might hold up somewhat in Asia. So I largely see consolidation in this market. So expect range trading between JPY143-168.
The promise of reform looks stronger in Europe at the moment, but then they will struggle with their currency issues and I think a softer Japanese market could actually push reforms there long term. But first they need to find a leader with balls.
Japanese personal debt levels are not so high, so there is some possibility support in the domestic economy. But since the Japanese consumers are easily spooked, I dont see that strength for some time. We also have to remember that Japanese employees are alot more vulnerable than in the 1980s since we have seen an increase in the proportion of part-time workers. The positive side is that these are mostly students and women, so in many cases they can return home or rely on a 2nd income. Though it might mean more tired single workers, thus less spending on everything - except rail transport. So if i was to invest in equities in future, I would be inclined to invest in pure rail operators without property development interests. But we are 6mths away from that bet.
- Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com

New target for AUD-USD forex rate $US0.80

The AUD-USD has pulled back from its high of USD0.94 and is now trading at USD0.878. There are many factors working for and against the AUD - and I list the following:
Strong AUD arguments
1. There are alot of investments in commodities already in the pipeline that will feed through to higher commodity sales - albeit at higher prices. Bulk commodity prices (iron ore, coal) are locked in until Apr'08. Higher mineral and agricultural export capacity (from new new mining investments and farm restocking) will take time to feed through to export sales.
2. Australia is experiencing growing inflation. Alot of people think inflation is simply a demand phenomena, so as global growth stalls, so will Australian inflation
3. Australian inflation will require higher interest rates to offset the loss in real buying power of the AUD
4. The possibility of an improvement in agricultural exports as a result of the cessation of the drought
5. A fall in domestic spending will reduce imports, and in the short term strong export receipts should result in a much improved terms of trade, but the flight of dollars into JPY (carry trade) will weaken the current account deficit, and the AUD.

Weak AUD arguments
1. Higher interest rates and the deleveraging of the global economy are likely to unwind the carry trade that sees institutions selling JPY and buying riskier, higher yielding growth economies (currencies) like AUD, NZD, CAN. I think these funds will end up in the home economies.
2. The prospect of a slowdown in global growth is already affecting the perceived long term attraction of AUD. Commodity prices have actually been surprisingly resilient. I see 2 reasons for this: (i) China has yet to respond to the slowdown in the USD. As usual they tend to be the last to pick up on global outlook. They will slow purchasing only when they see softer orders. (ii) Weaker USD is actually helping support the USD price of these commodities. (iii) Post-Xmas, pre-Chinese New Year buying.
3. Higher inflation in Australia will undermine the real value of the AUD
4. Economic uncertainty, high household debt levels, rising interest rates, falling equity and property values will undermine Australian household consumption, which will slow economic growth.
5. Australia is more vulnerable than the USD because it is a smaller currency market - so there will be a flight to avoid volatility.
6. Interest rate differentials will not help the AUD because they are being achieved on the backdrop of economic softness, so the prospect of higher interest rates in Australia, and forecast Fed easing does not move me for now. Its also true that I think the Fed easing will do little to support the US economy, though will likely be justification for a short term rally in the Dow Jones.

As a result of this analysis I see the AUd-USD falling back to the strong $US0.80 support that was established between Jan-04 and Jan-07. Having reached that 'over-sold' level, I think you will see a retracement to $US0.87, and thereafter alot of consolidation for a number of years until debt levels are cleared to some extent, existing global industrial capacity re-absorbed and asset prices rising again. No doubt traders will have some fun in the currency market. But the lesson is - go easy on the leverage - this is a time for economic shocks. eg. Companies disguising weaker earnings, accounting scandals, failed banks and hedge funds. It has already started. This week the $US16 billion writedown by Citibank, then $US11billion by Merril Lynch.
- Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com

Thursday's Bernanke Dive

Well, as per my previous post, Bernanke maintains his negative signal status.I'm happy to say I was trading the AUDJPY downwards today. I don't usually trade the downside, as I don't like the chance of being caught in a negative interest income position, but with Bernanke on the microphone, I just couldn't resist.I also had some very well behaving trend lines on the 1hr and the 5min charts.

The Bernanke Signal

If you haven't noticed, Bernanke has turned into a Forex signal.The market will rise, anticipating that he'll say something useful, or helpful, but then he actually starts speaking and we get a precipitous drop in prices.Of course, when rate cuts are announced we will get a momentary spike, but it will only be lasting if the rate cuts are deeper than the market has already built into prices.Keep

Fundamental Forex Guesswork

Okay, so during the NY trading session today I did manage to get some AUDJPY positions protected under a stop loss.What I'm hoping, and I'll try to convince myself via fundamental issues, is that the foreign markets will rise based on US news. You see, the US economy came out luke warm today. Inflation didn't seem to be a big issue and various sectors were weak, but nothing was

Buying AUDJPY Under 94.00

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm excited to get my hands on the AUDJPY at current rates.At the risk of repeating myself, since most visitors are new visitors, this is a great time to acquire small positions, building size as they become profitable and have been protected with stop losses.Though it isn't easy, I've been working at bringing down positions that were purchased above current

Turbulent Tuesday - AUDJPY Opportunities

I was on the road today, so I didn't have to witness the inevitable slide in the AUDJPY as the DOW searched for it's navel.However, I was back in my technology haven in time to notice the AUDJPY bouncing off the 93.80 resistance point.I don't know if we'll be on our way further down, but we are getting to historically depressed levels. Now, what to do. I'm putting in a little bit here, with the

Why the Fed is such a Lousy Wizard of Oz

Another interesting articles from my friends over at Elliottwave.

********************************

Why the Fed is Such a Lousy Wizard of Oz
By Susan C. Walker, Elliott Wave InternationalSeptember 7, 2007

Central bankers who "follow the yellow brick road" end up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, every Labor Day weekend for their annual symposium sponsored by – who else? – the Kansas City Fed. (Who can forget Judy Garland saying to her little dog, "Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore," in the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz?)

The Jackson Hole Resort serves as the Federal Reserve's equivalent of the Emerald City, as Fed governors and presidents meet with central bankers and economists from around the world to discuss economic issues. This year, the symposium focused on housing and monetary policy. Usually, the Fed chairman kicks off the symposium and, this year, the new chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, did the honors. He closed his speech with these words:

"The interaction of housing, housing finance, and economic activity has for years been of central importance for understanding the behavior of the economy, and it will continue to be central to our thinking as we try to anticipate economic and financial developments."

Then came the other speeches. And it seems that some of the guests in Emerald City were waiting for their chance to pull back the curtain and prove that the Wonderful Wizard of Oz isn't such a wizard after all. Bloomberg reported that "Federal Reserve officials, wrestling with a housing recession that jeopardizes U.S. growth, got an earful from critics at a weekend retreat, arguing they should use regulation and interest rates to prevent asset-price bubbles."

Apparently, one academic paper presented at Jackson Hole graded the Fed an 'F' for the way it has handled the repercussions from the rise and fall of the housing market.

Truth be told, these folks are a little late to the table as critics of the Fed. We're glad they're joining us, but here's what they still haven't learned: It isn't because the Federal Reserve messes up by allowing credit, asset and stock bubbles to form that it's not a wizard. The Federal Reserve isn't a wizard for one particular reason that it doesn't want anybody to know – and that is that the Fed doesn't lead the financial markets, it follows them.

People everywhere want to believe in the Fed's wizardry. But all this talk about how the Fed will be able to help the U.S. economy and hold up the markets by cutting rates now is as much hooey as the Wizard of Oz promising Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion that he could give them what they wanted: a return to Kansas, a brain, a heart, and courage. Because when the Fed does do something, it always comes after the markets have already made their moves.

If you don't believe it, you should look at one chart from the most recent Elliott Wave Financial Forecast. It compares the movements in the Fed Funds rate with the movements of the 3-month U.S. Treasury Bill Yield. What does it reveal? That the Fed has followed the T-Bill yield up and down every step of the way since 2000. And the interesting question becomes this: Since the T-bill yield has dropped nearly two points since February, how soon will the Fed cut its rate to follow the market's lead this time?

[Editor's note: You can see this chart and read the Special Section it appears in by accessing the free report, The Unwonderful Wizardry of the Fed.]

We've got our own brains, heart and courage here at Elliott Wave International, and we've used them to explain over and over again that putting faith in the Fed to turn around the markets and the economy is blind faith indeed.

"This blind faith in the Fed's power to hold up the economy and stocks epitomizes the following definition of magic offered by Teller of the illusionist and comedy team of Penn and Teller: a 'theatrical linking of a cause with an effect that has no basis in physical reality, but that – in our hearts – ought to be.'" [September 2007, The Elliott Wave Financial Forecast]

Because, you see, what makes the markets move has less to do with what the unwizardly Fed does and more with changes in the mass psychology of all the people investing in those markets. The Elliott Wave Principle describes how bullish and bearish trends in the financial markets reflect changes in social mood, from positive to negative and back again. To extend the metaphor: The Fed can't affect social mood anymore than the Wonderful Wizard of Oz could change the direction of the wind that brought his hot air balloon to the Land of Oz in the first place.

As our EWI analysts write, "With respect to the timing of the Federal Reserve Board rate cuts, we need to reiterate one key point. The market, not the Fed, sets rates." Being able to understand this information puts you one step closer to clicking your ruby red shoes together and whispering those magic words: "There's no place like home." Once you land back in Kansas, your eyes will open, and you will see that an unwarranted faith in the Fed was just a bad dream.

Susan C. Walker writes for Elliott Wave International, a market forecasting and technical analysis company. She has been an associate editor with Inc. magazine, a newspaper writer and editor, an investor relations executive and a speechwriter for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Her columns also appear regularly on FoxNews.com.

*********************************

Happy Trading!!

ForexJourney

Sunday Forex Reflections

Today I am wondering if I'm trying to do this the hard way.Trading the AUDJPY is pretty perilous. There are all kinds of stock market driven perturbations that make the price gyrate around in a mad frenzy. This makes it difficult to get some funds into the market without risking some massive continued downturn.If you don't take your profits when they are presented, you risk seeing your profit