Yesterday’s trade saw USD/CHF within the range of 0.8682-0.8842. The pair closed at 0.8758, losing 0.43% on a daily basis.
At 7:41 GMT today USD/CHF was down 0.15% for the day to trade at 0.8739. The pair touched a daily low at 0.8708 at 6:40 GMT.
Fundamentals
United States
Housing Starts, Building Permits
The number of housing starts in the United States probably increased to 1.040 million in December from the seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.028 million during the prior month. Novembers figure has been influenced by a 5.4% drop in single-family homes. Single-family housing starts in November were at a rate of 677 000, or 5.4% below the revised figure of 716 000 in October. The November rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 340 000, according to data by the US Census Bureau.
Housing Starts represent a gauge to measure residential units, on which construction has already begun, every month. A start in construction is defined as the foundation laying of a building and it encompasses residential housing primarily.
The number of building permits in the country probably increased to 1.058 million in December from an unrevised annual level of 1.035 million in November. Octobers number of permits, or 1.080 million, has been the highest in six and a half years. Single-family authorizations in November were at a rate of 639 000, or 1.2% below the revised number of 647 000 in October. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 367 000 in November, according to the report by the Census Bureau.
Building permits are permits, issued in order to allow excavation. An increase in the number of building permits and housing starts usually occurs a few months after mortgage rates in the country have been reduced. Permits are not required in all regions of the United States. Building permits, as an indicator, provide information regarding demand in the US housing market. In case a higher-than-anticipated figure is reported, this will certainly support the greenback. The official housing data is due out at 13:30 GMT.
Switzerland
Economic Sentiment Index
At 10:00 GMT the ZEW Institute is to announce the official Economic Sentiment index reading in January. In December the index continued to improve, reaching -4.9 from -7.6, registered in the preceding month. In October the index was reported at -30.7, or the lowest since September 2012. The ZEW (Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung) economic expectations index is published on a monthly basis, with the study encompassing up to 350 financial and economic analysts. The indicator reflects the difference between the share of analysts, that are optimistic and those, that are pessimistic about economic development in Switzerland over the next six months. A positive value indicates that the proportion of optimists is larger than that of pessimists. A ZEW reading of -100 suggests that all analysts are pessimistic about the current developments and expect economic conditions to deteriorate. A ZEW reading of 100 implies that all analysts are optimistic about the current situation and expect conditions to improve. A ZEW reading of 0 indicates neutrality. In case the ZEW index marked a fifth consecutive month of being into negative territory in January and if it fell more than in the prior month, this would have a bearish effect on the franc.
Pivot Points
According to Binary Tribune’s daily analysis, the central pivot point for the pair is at 0.8761. In case USD/CHF manages to breach the first resistance level at 0.8839, it will probably continue up to test 0.8921. In case the second key resistance is broken, the pair will probably attempt to advance to 0.8999.
If USD/CHF manages to breach the first key support at 0.8679, it will probably continue to slide and test 0.8601. With this second key support broken, the movement to the downside will probably continue to 0.8519.
The mid-Pivot levels for today are as follows: M1 – 0.8560, M2 – 0.8640, M3 – 0.8720, M4 – 0.8800, M5 – 0.8880, M6 – 0.8960.
In weekly terms, the central pivot point is at 0.8726. The three key resistance levels are as follows: R1 – 1.0092, R2 – 1.1609, R3 – 1.2975. The three key support levels are: S1 – 0.7209, S2 – 0.5843, S3 – 0.4326.
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