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Markets Trimmed USD Net Specs in Period Ahead of Global Selloff

FOREX
  • Net specs on USD fell sharply in January following the strong USD consolidation in the first half of this month; net contracts are down 74.9K to 154.8K in the week ended January 18 (down nearly 140K from their high of 294K reached in the end of November).
  • The rise in Covid uncertainty, political instability in some EM markets and the hawkish Fed had supported the US Dollar in H2 2021; DXY index reached a high at 97 in the end of November before consolidating slightly lower in recent weeks.
  • We saw that the second consecutive miss in Payrolls in early January accelerated the downward retracement of the US Dollar, which reached a low of 94.63 on January 14th (supported by 100DMA).
  • However, investors’ concern over growth expectations has been rising in the past week and the recent selloff in risky assets has been supporting the greenback.
  • SP500 is now down over 10% since the start of January; further downward retracement could result in a more 'dovish' tone from US policymakers.
  • DXY index is up sharply against major crosses, currently testing its 96 resistance, which also corresponds to the 50DMA. A break above that level would open the for a move up to 96.46 (early Jan high).

Source: Bloomberg/MNI

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