Talking Points:

 EUR/USD Struggles Ahead of ECB Rhetoric- S&P Calls for Larger & Longer QE Program.

 USD/JPY Range Vulnerable to Slowing China, Waning Market Sentiment.

– USDOLLAR Continues to Coil as ADP Employment Boosts NFP Expectations- Fed on Wires.

EUR/USD

EUR/USD Daily Chart

Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0

  • EUR/USD struggles to hold its ground ahead of key speeches by the European Central Bank (ECB) officials as Standard & Poor’s (S&P) anticipates the Governing Council to extend its quantitative easing (QE) program until mid-2018, with the non-standard measure increasing the central bank’s balance sheet byEUR 2.4T.
  • Despite the dovish tone held by the ECB, may see risk trends continue to drive EUR/USD in October as market participants treat the Euro as a ‘funding-currency;’ may need imminent signs for additional ECB support for the long-term trends to come back into play as the central bank largely endorses a wait-and-see approach.
  • DailyFX Speculative Sentiment Index (SSI)shows retail crowd remains net-short EUR/USD since March 9, but the ratio remains off of recent extremes going into October as it sits at -1.29, with 44% of traders long.
  • USD/JPY

    USD/JPY Daily Chart

  • With USD/JPY finally posting a closing price below near-term support around 11.90-90 (100% expansion), the pair remains at risk for a further decline in the month ahead especially as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) retains the bearish formation carried over from back in May.
  • Even though the Bank of Japan (BoJ) is scheduled to release the Tankan survey, the key prints coming out of China may play a greater role in driving USD/JPY volatility over the next 24-hours of trade as fears surrounding the global economy drags on risk appetite.
  • Despite the diverging paths for monetary policy, the BoJ’s wait-and-see approach may open the door for a more meaningful downside correction in the exchange rate amid speculation for additional monetary support at the October 30 interest rate decision.