Date: 2010-07-14
Euro near 2-month high on U.S. earnings
LONDON - The euro held near a two-month high against the dollar on Wednesday induced by strong U.S. corporate earnings and easing concerns about euro zone sovereign debt, which also helped push equities higher.
Traders said funds were increasingly moving out of cash and low-yielding U.S. Treasuries to buy euro and growth-related currencies.
Intel Corp reported results above expectations and gave an upbeat sales outlook, pushing S&P futures higher .SPX.
Investors were also encouraged after a smooth auction of Greek government paper on Tuesday.
"We should continue to see a positive mix from firm stock markets and positive news out of Europe," said Roberto Mialich, currency strategist at Unicredit in Milan.
At 0828 GMT, the euro was down 0.1 percent from late U.S. trade on Tuesday at $1.2711, but not far from a two-month peak of $1.2739 hit the previous day.
Movements could be limited by options with strike price of $1.2700 set to expire later in the day.
Mialich said the next target for euro/dollar was the $1.30 area, in a head-and-shoulders configuration starting from the low below $1.20 struck last month. Intermediate resistance could emerge around $1.28.
The euro's downside was likely limited around $1.25, he added. Others said the next target would come in at $1.2780, which is a 50 percent retracement of its fall from mid-April to the June low.
"Having taken out a number of important technical levels on the topside, upward momentum in risky currencies can extend in the short term," analysts at RBC Capital Markets said in a note.
YEN LOWER
The euro rose 0.1 percent against the yen to 113.01 yen, near a three-week high of 113.29 yen hit earlier.
Good absorption of the Greek debt overrode concerns about Portugal's sovereign rating being downgraded by Moody's on Tuesday. It had a stable outlook, which some said had helped limit fears about the country's debt.
The yen remained pressured and fell 0.2 percent against the dollar at 88.86 yen, with talk of stop-loss bids above 89.25 yen.
Options with strike prices of 88.50 yen and 89.00 yen were set to expire, which may cap the upside, traders said.
The dollar index .DXY was unchanged at 83.664, having broken trendline support. New support is seen around 83.15, the 38.2 percent retracement of the index's November to June rally.
The Australian dollar hit a three-week high of $0.8851, though it later slipped to around $0.8819.
Other major U.S. corporates to report quarterly earnings this week include JPMorgan Chase & Co and Bank of America Corp
The market will also look to the minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest policy-setting meeting.
Euro near 2-month high on U.S. earnings
LONDON - The euro held near a two-month high against the dollar on Wednesday induced by strong U.S. corporate earnings and easing concerns about euro zone sovereign debt, which also helped push equities higher.
Traders said funds were increasingly moving out of cash and low-yielding U.S. Treasuries to buy euro and growth-related currencies.
Intel Corp reported results above expectations and gave an upbeat sales outlook, pushing S&P futures higher .SPX.
Investors were also encouraged after a smooth auction of Greek government paper on Tuesday.
"We should continue to see a positive mix from firm stock markets and positive news out of Europe," said Roberto Mialich, currency strategist at Unicredit in Milan.
At 0828 GMT, the euro was down 0.1 percent from late U.S. trade on Tuesday at $1.2711, but not far from a two-month peak of $1.2739 hit the previous day.
Movements could be limited by options with strike price of $1.2700 set to expire later in the day.
Mialich said the next target for euro/dollar was the $1.30 area, in a head-and-shoulders configuration starting from the low below $1.20 struck last month. Intermediate resistance could emerge around $1.28.
The euro's downside was likely limited around $1.25, he added. Others said the next target would come in at $1.2780, which is a 50 percent retracement of its fall from mid-April to the June low.
"Having taken out a number of important technical levels on the topside, upward momentum in risky currencies can extend in the short term," analysts at RBC Capital Markets said in a note.
YEN LOWER
The euro rose 0.1 percent against the yen to 113.01 yen, near a three-week high of 113.29 yen hit earlier.
Good absorption of the Greek debt overrode concerns about Portugal's sovereign rating being downgraded by Moody's on Tuesday. It had a stable outlook, which some said had helped limit fears about the country's debt.
The yen remained pressured and fell 0.2 percent against the dollar at 88.86 yen, with talk of stop-loss bids above 89.25 yen.
Options with strike prices of 88.50 yen and 89.00 yen were set to expire, which may cap the upside, traders said.
The dollar index .DXY was unchanged at 83.664, having broken trendline support. New support is seen around 83.15, the 38.2 percent retracement of the index's November to June rally.
The Australian dollar hit a three-week high of $0.8851, though it later slipped to around $0.8819.
Other major U.S. corporates to report quarterly earnings this week include JPMorgan Chase & Co and Bank of America Corp
The market will also look to the minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest policy-setting meeting.