
USD Index - Daily Candle Chart 30 Oct 2009
The US dollar index continued its short term recovery on Friday, emerging from the depths like some half drowned swimmer, exhausted but still alive, and just managing to break the surface for air, or in this case the 40 day moving average, supported from below by some buoyancy tanks knows as the 9 and 14 day moving averages! Clearly both of the above are positive signals for the US dollar, and for currency options trading this week we need to be extremely careful as the middle of the week sees the FOMC meeting, followed by the Non Farm Payroll data on Friday. Last week of course saw the US economy emerge from recession and into positive growth once again, and should the FED see this as a sign that the economy is finally starting to turn, then they could signal that interest rates may have to rise sooner rather than later. This of course would be presented in the usual coded way in the associated statement to the interest rate decision ( rate will be kept on hold!) and if so, then this would provide a positive boost to the US dollar, and a possible longer term change in sentiment as the prospect of higher yields beckon. This would be further reinforced should the NFP data come in better than expected and add to the feeling that the worst is over.
Technically of course there is a long way to go yet, and the first barrier is the resistance all the way up from the current price point, through 78 and then above the 80 to 81 price region. Should all these be cleared then we can assume that the recent downwards spiral has come to an end and will be followed by a period of upwards US dollar momentum for currency options trading over the next few months.
You can keep up to date with all the latest fundamental news on the economic calendar, latest currency news and live currency charts by simply following the links. I have also included details on an excellent ECN broker.

US Dollar Index - Currency Options Trading
Life continues much the same for the US dollar index, and the US dollar for currency options trading, which seems to show no sign of pausing or reversing the long and unrelenting downwards trend, and in many ways trading is very easy at present, with only only one question that we need to bear in mind, which is simply ‘how far will the index fall before it finds some support’. Technically the next major support level is in the 72 region, so we have some way to go yet for any lull in this relentless pressure on the dollar, which is further increased by the weight of the three moving averages which are all adding the negative outlook. Fundamentally the picture remains the same as for the last few months, with the US dollar now the favoured low yielding currency of the carry trade, replacing the Japanese yen, and until the fundamental news is consistently positive to suggest that the economy is beginning to turn, and hence push the FED towards an interest rate change, then the picture is likely to remain unchanged for the foreseeable future for currency options trading, with the bearish trends continuing unabated for the US dollar and the dollar index. Despite yesterday’s doji candle, it is unlikely to provide anything more than a temporary reprieve for the index in the next few days, with a minor move higher, and the downwards trend will no doubt continue once this short squeeze is extinguished.
I have covered all fundamental items on the economic calendar relating to the dollar on the euro vs dollar site. You can also keep up to date with all the latest fundamental news on the economic calendar, latest currency news and live currency charts by simply following the links. I have also included details on an excellent ECN broker.

USD Index - Currency Options Trading 30th September 2009
The technical picture for the US dollar continues to get worse with each passing week, with the last five days simply adding to the gloomy picture, and suggesting that last Thursday’s positive up bar, was simply a one trick pony, and unlikely to provide any platform for a sustained recovery in the short term. Indeed, on every occasion of the last five days, the high of the trading session has stalled at precisely the same point each day, confirming the bearish view ( if any were needed, ) despite the fact that we are still trading marginally above both the 9 day and 14 day moving averages which have just crossed giving a potential bull cross signal. Given the repeated failures outlined above, this seems highly unlikely, and with the ADP figures early today coming in far worse than expected, this does not bode well for Friday’s NFP data, which if they follow a similar pattern will push the prospect of rate rises ever further over the horizon, leaving the US dollar as the low rate yield for the carry trade, replacing the once popular Japanese yen. If the figures are bad on Friday, then this could push the index below the 76 floor, and open up a much deeper move possibly as far as 71 or 72 in due course.
You can keep up to date with all the latest fundamental news on the economic calendar, latest currency news and live currency charts by simply following the links. I have also included details on an excellent ECN broker.

US Dollar Index - Daily Candle Chart 11th August 2009
As market sentiment towards the US Dollar appears to have turned more bullish it is a good time to re-visit the Dollar Index where this newly found optimism is clearly demonstrated on the daily Dollar Index chart. Yesterday’s narrow spread up bar continued the positive mood but was somewhat muted after Friday’s strong surge which broke back above the 9 and 14 day moving averages. The next two days will prove to be pivotal for the US Dollar with the fundamental picture largely dictating whether we see a breach of the strong resistance now directly ahead, or alternatively whether a further collapse will ensue. The reason, of course, is the two day FOMC meeting which gets underway later this morning in the US, and despite what technical traders may wish to believe the subsequent statement and interest rate decision will be all enveloping. Should the Committee indicate that the worst of the recession is behind us and hint at any raising of rates in due course, then this will be seen as a positive for the US Dollar and an opportunity to buy what, up until now, has been a lower yielding currency. If this occurs then we will see a surge of Dollars buyers and a consequent break above the resistance level outlined above which should then provide a good technical platform for a strong move higher.
You can keep up to date with all the latest fundamental news on the economic calendar, latest currency news and live currency charts by simply following the links. I have also included details on an excellent ECN broker.

US Dollar Index - Daily Candle Chart 10th August 2009
Friday’s wide spread up candle, finally provided some much needed help for the battered US dollar on the dollar index chart, but as I always say, one swallow does not make a summer, and there is a long way to go before we can assume that this is a full reversal in US dollar sentiment. With such severe congestion ahead any recovery will require a massive shift in investor sentiment if a reversal and move higher is to be maintained for anything longer than a few days, and the first problem is that the index needs to break and hold above the strong resistance now in place on the daily chart between the 79.50 and 81.0 price levels. Friday’s close finished above both the 9 day and 14 day moving averages, an encouraging signal, but with the FOMC two day meeting due to start shortly, the week could once again be dominated by one piece of fundamental news, as was last week with the NFP on Friday. So for any sustained rally we need to see two things – firstly a break and weekly close above the 81 price handle, and secondly a breach of the 40 day moving which should then provide the support required for the US dollar index to climb higher. With the thin trading volumes now a feature of the markets, trading can be volatile, and unpredictable, and this could be the case on Wednesday with the FOMC as the markets now wait for the next major piece of news.
You can keep up to date with all the latest fundamental news on the economic calendar, latest currency news and live currency charts by simply following the links. I have also included details on an excellent ECN broker.
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