USDCHF Technical Analysis – The CHF weakens on the SNB cut

Fundamental
Overview

The USD has been generally
weaker this week after the strength seen last week due to some risk off
sentiment. In fact, it looks like it’s just sentiment that’s been driving the
market recently as the soft US
inflation figures just consolidated the market’s expectation of two cuts
for this year despite a bit more hawkish than expected FOMC
decision.

The CHF, on the other hand,
got a boost a couple of weeks ago from SNB’s Jordan comments where he said that if upward risks
to Swiss inflation were to materialise, these would most likely be associated
with a weaker franc, which could be counteracted by selling foreign exchange
reserves (buying CHF). On top of that, the Swiss Franc found support from the recent
risk-off sentiment.

Today, the SNB
cut interest rates by 25 bps to 1.25%. The market was pricing a 68% chance
of a cut going into the decision, so it’s not really a surprise. The central
bank also lowered its inflation forecasts, so that added to the Swiss Franc weakness.

The only thing bullish for
the CHF was the line saying that the SNB “will be ready to intervene in FX
market if needed and as necessary”, although we already know that, and they won’t
do it unless inflation surprises to the upside or they see risks of inflation
overshooting their projections.

USDCHF
Technical Analysis – Daily Timeframe

On the daily chart, we can
see that USDCHF yesterday broke through the key support
at 0.8885 and extended the losses as momentum players piled in. After the SNB
decision, the pair erased the losses and it’s now back around the support-turned-resistance.

This is where we can expect
the sellers to step in with a defined risk above the level to fade the reaction
and position for a drop into new lows with a better risk to reward setup. The
buyers, on the other hand, will want to see the price breaking higher to
increase the bullish bets into the 0.90 resistance next.

USDCHF Technical
Analysis – 4 hour Timeframe

On the 4 hour chart, we can
see that we have a minor trendline
adding some confluence
to the resistance zone around the 0.8885 level. The price is currently breaking out which should give the buyers a bit more conviction and see them increasing the bullish bets into the 0.90 handle. From a risk management perspective it doesn’t look good at the moment as the price got already overstretched as we will see on the 1 hour timeframe analysis and the decision wasn’t such a big surprise.

USDCHF Technical
Analysis – 1 hour Timeframe

On the 1 hour chart, we can
see that we also have the 61.8% Fibonacci
retracement level adding confluence to the trendline and the resistance.
This should technically strengthen this resistance zone. Moreover, the upper
bound of the average
daily range stands right at the trendline, which is just another confluence
for the resistance.

This gives the sellers a
very good zone where to short from with a defined risk above it. It’s unlikely
to see a decisive breakout to the upside today, but that’s what the buyers will want to
see to gain more control. If the price drops from here, the buyers will look for a dip to buy around the 0.8850 level.

Upcoming
Catalysts

Today we have the US Housing Starts, Building Permits and the latest US
Jobless Claims figures. On Friday, we conclude the week with the US PMIs.

This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at www.forexlive.com.