Dollar catches a bid with gains vs AUD and NZd leading the way

The USD has moved higher and is the strongest of the major currencies as North American traders enter for the day. The government shutdown is into day 25. The NZD and AUD are taking the brunt of the dollar buying. They are the weakest (China, global worries? Not worried about the government shutdown and impact?). The AUDUSD fell below its 100 day MA at 0.71757 (close risk now). The NZDUSD fell below its 200 day MA and 200 hour MA at 0.6787 and 0.6780 respectfully (risk now for it). Both moves are bearish for the pairs.

The ranges are somewhat modest in the major pairs vs the USD with the exception of the NZDUSD (76 pips and above its 22 day average). The GBPUSD has traded above and below the unchanged line ahead of the vote of no-confidence later today in Parliament. The pair trades above the 100 hour MA at 1.28258, but below the 100 day MA at 1.28918 so far today (waiting for a push and break).

In other markets:

  • Spot gold is trading down $.30 or -0.02% at $1289.30
  • WTI crude oil futures are trading down $.36 or -0.69% $51.73
  • Bitcoin on Coinbass is trading up $69 and $3637.55

In the pre-US stock market trading, futures are implying a slightly higher opening:

  • Dow Jones, +38.41 points
  • S&P, +1.35 points
  • NASDAQ, +6.61 points

in European markets:

  • German DAX, unchanged
  • France's CAC, +0.2%
  • UK's FTSE, -0.4%
  • Spain's Ibex, +0.3%
  • Italy's FTSE MIB +0.7%

In the US debt market, yields are higher with the yield curve steepening a bit:

The 10 year benchmark yields in Europe are trading mixed:

Retail sales in the US would have been released today if not for the government shutdown (business inventories were also postponed). Boy, the backlog of data is getting long and meanwhile the traders are driving with blinders on.

The US will release import and export prices for December (not impacted). The national Association of housing brokers also release their housing market index for January with expectations of 56 versus 56 last month. The DOE (also not impacted) will release their most recent oil inventory data at 10:30 AM ET. The private data released at the end of day yesterday saw crude inventories fall -0.56MM.

The Federal Reserve release the beige book at 2 PM ET. Then there is the vote of no confidence in the UK at 2 PM ET/1700 GMT.