Author: Forex Kong

JPY And Gold – Is It Happening Now?

Forex Kong 12 Comments

Consider this.

We know the Japanese stimulus program is over 3 times larger than that of the U.S Fed. Now that’s an awful lot of printing/liquidity injection coming at a time when the “U.S contribution” has pretty much run its course.

Yes the bond buying/prop plan continues in the U.S but we all know the stimulus money  more or less just sits on the balance sheets of the big banks on Wall Street. The “talk of tapering” would also have put a damper on any “impulsive buying” at this point – as we look forward to an environment where interest rates are on the rise.

As “Japanese Stimulus” is converted to U.S Dollars ( in order to buy assets denominated in USD ) we ‘ve seen “many a day” where USD is UP as well U.S Equities are higher. Makes sense right? Japanese “hot money” converted to USD to buy U.S Equities.

So what’s the “unwind” of that trade should things go to hell in a hand basket?

U.S Equities are first “sold” and USD moves considerably higher, and fast – as cash is raised. Then that “USD” is repatriated home ( converted back to the currency of its origin – in this case Japan) where we would see large flows “back into JPY”!

Gold would also move higher as USD is sold, U.S equities are sold, Japanese Equities are sold.

JPY fly’s out of orbit?

Take it for what it’s worth – I’m thinking out loud….but it doesn’t seem so difficult to get your head around. The big winners on a “risk off” trade being both JPY and Gold.

Forex Market Moves – Thursday Is The Day

Forex Kong 7 Comments

Once again we find that markets have more or less traded flat through the first few days of the week – looking to Thursday’s release of U.S data for the catalyst. I’ve suggest this several times in the past, and again am asking myself “what is the point of even entering a trade these days – if not on / around Thursday?”

This sets up a relatively dangerous dynamic, as that – in the past traders would usually have considered “holding trades” over the weekend a bit of a risk. Well these days, the way things are – you really don’t have a choice. The majority of intraday moves occur in the pre-market now ( before you even get a chance to see them) and now traders are faced with the quandary of entering trades late in the week, and holding through “risk laden” weekend volatility. Talk about a tough trading environment. I’d say the toughest I’ve seen – ever.

USD movement has also held traders hostage early this week, as we teeter on the edge of a breaking point. It’s touch and go here this time, as global concerns over Syria and a handful of other “risk events” have kept us hovering at relatively crucial levels.

I’m flat as a pancake more or less – with a couple “long JPY” trades a few pips in the weeds.

The Nikkei hit suggested resistance last night, and has formed a bit of a reversal but it’s too soon to call it. I imagine we’ll get our move (one way or the other) sometime this morning after U.S data hits the news.

 

written by F Kong

Intraday Trade Update – Early Signal

Forex Kong 6 Comments

My “Intraday Trade Alert” seems to have caused a bit of comotion.

I thought it would be a reasonable idea to “follow-up” and quickly touch base on “where I’m at” a full 24 hours later. As per usual my “signal” was a tad early.

USD has most certainly “swung high” here as of this morning, and trades in USD/CHF as well USD/CAD are doing well, with USD/JPY still a tough nut to crack. The weakness in USD has been “surpassed” by even greater weakness in JPY, as the Nikkei Index pushed “once again” right up into it’s over head resistance area.

Would we be considering a full on “breakout” in risk here?  And perhaps more importantly – how long would we expect this to last?

I find it a tad “unrealistic” that only days ahead of a proposed missile attack in the Middle East, that investors would be scrambling like mad to buy Japanese stocks no?

As well – considering the “safe haven” aspects of the Japanese Yen ( JPY ) I can only imagine it to “blast towards the moon” should we get firm word that indeed – war on.

Intraday activity is nearly impossible to pin down “forex wise” as these things never turn on a dime, and never happen “all at once”. Trading “small and wide” can make the difference in staying in the game – long enough to hit those “long smooth patches” we all dream about.

I’m very often early…..but rarely ever late.

Intraday Trade Alert! – Short Term Views

Forex Kong 34 Comments

For fun I figured I’d throw out exactly what I’m looking at on a “per pair” basis.

I don’t generally make “intraday calls” but as it stands, let’s give it a go and you guys can beat me up over it later.

USD/CAD – short it….right here right now.

USD/CHF – short it …right here right now.

USD/JPY – short it…right here right now.

AUD/JPY – short it …right here right now.

I’ve got a pile more, but “assume” you get my drift.

JPY a “buy” here, and USD a “sell”.

Take it for what it’s worth ladies….and don’t go bet the farm.

Have a look at both EUR/USD as well GBP/USD but with “super small positions” – (I’ll debate a trade on these dogs later as well).

You get rich – thank me…….you lose your house? Talk to you later.

Forex Turning Point – Today Is The Day

Forex Kong 12 Comments

Ok “mother market”…..I’m gonna give you exactly 24 hours before you’ve got a major decision to make.

I know, I know , I know…….you are the boss – and I’m just a boy trying to make a buck but seriously…you’ve gone a bit too far this time and I’m close to running out of patience.

This “pesky little thing” you call “the dollar” has just about done enough to frustrate me and my friends to the degree that we will soon be pulling out our hair – short of you making up your mind.

Are you going to let this thing get away on you? Or are you going to do “stick to the plan” and toast it like a marshmallow?

Yes , yes I understand – you can’t just make these decisions on the turn of a dime, so let’s do this……

If USD doesn’t poke its head back under 82.23 and turn red (really red) mighty quick…..then we’ll just let you have your way,  and start to consider the opposing view.

I will look to get “bullish USD” should you decide to make such a mistake right  here…right now.

Personally, I feel it’s a tad early – but if this is what you want…..so be it.

24 hours – and I won’t bother you again.

Market Dynamics, Fishing – Short Term Trading

Forex Kong 2 Comments

First off…..there really is no such thing as “short-term trading”.

Short term trading is a fantasy.

Sold to you much like “a get rich quick idea” or some sad example of “network marketing” where you the “client” exist purely as the client in your own mind – when actually fulfilling the role of “customer” in an industry that just sold you a dream.

You don’t get rich quick. You don’t “make easy money”. More like you “put down your money”, read a couple of forex “how to’s” – and BAM! You’ve been had.

So let’s get back to the fishing metaphor.

I can lend you my fishing rod. I could even be so kind as to take you down to a river I know….point you in the right direction,  and even help you out by suggesting a fly or two. (This is fly fishing boys….we’re artists here are we not?)

  • Do you care that the river’s a little high? Ya…it rained a lot last night. Ok…I didn’t think so.
  • Do you know “where to cast” ( as the fish hold in very specific areas along the river) ? Ok…I didn’t think so.
  • Have you ever been up past your knees in water moving “juuuuust a little faster than ya thought it might be?” Ok…I didn’t think so.
  • Have you considered “what you might actually do – should you get a bite?” Ok…I didn’t think so.

So………let me get this straight “you fancy yourself a short-term trader” then do you?

Common.

It takes years to read a river. It takes even longer to catch fish.

Man Your Stations! – Volatility Awaits!

Forex Kong 6 Comments

Kong! Is USD going down? Kong! Is gold on the rocks?

Kong! Are my entire life’s savings going to wind up a smoldering pile of cinder if I don’t sell now??

Welcome my friends…….

This is what we call volatility.

Let’s face it…….this thing is a bloody mess no matter how you look at! There is no “rationalization” , no “justification” , no “orientation” – when you consider all facets ‘n factors.

We’ve got potential global war, the U.S debt ceiling, a new Fed chairman and a potentially “alien escorted comet” on track for Earth late 2013 ( please google this ) , along side elections in Germany, continued “question marks” over China’s real story……and ( if you can believe it ) a new dog living below me who’s “hell bent” on howling all hours of the day and night!

Volatility? Can anyone say volatility?

Can I get a “V” please?

There are no easy answers here. You get through these times as you’ve done in the past. You face it. You accept it…..you push through. We knew this year was going to be difficult, and now with the summer doldrums behind us guess what??

Things are about to get interesting………..real interesting.

Back To Trading Forex – War Averted

Forex Kong 1 Comment

Trading forex in the coming week should prove to be volatile to say the least. We’ve got all kinds of data coming out, as well whatever “monkey wrench” the U.S cares to throw into the mix “war wise”.

Overnight China’s manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (CPMINDX) was 51.0 in August, a touch better reading than expected – which could give AUD a boost. Similar reports are expected from both the Eurozone as well U.K, as well the European Central Banks policy meetings on the 5th.

Assuming that “no war” should be generally a positive for markets, I’m sticking to the theory that we will see continued weakness in USD in the coming week, leading into the “war decisions” scheduled for September 9th.

I imagine that whatever decision U.S Congress makes – this should provide an excellent “pivot” in markets, and likely provide the “needed catalyst” to get things moving in a more decisive manner.

In line with my originally suggested time line “mid September” looks to be an excellent time for USD to make a reasonable bounce, lining up quite perfectly with the typical flow “towards US Dollars” in times of extreme fear / risk aversion.

Trade wise my expectations are relatively low next, as I will likely be taking profits on just about anything and everything as I see them come in – looking to get to 100% straight cash for September 9th area, then “possible reversal” of intermediate time frame and “possibly” even fundamental market view.

YOU DON’T WANT TO GET CAUGHT SHORT THE U.S DOLLAR IN TIMES OF GLOBAL RISK AVERSION, AS THE MOVES CAN BE VERY SUDDEN AND VERY LARGE.

Russia Hosts G20 – Obama To Attend?

Forex Kong 9 Comments

Obama is headed for Sweden on Tuesday, then off to the next G20 meeting in…………if you can believe it – RUSSIA!

The uphill battle in looking for global support in attacking Syria looks to be moving as suggested. Britain’s out, and as suggested The U.N Security Council shows no support for the move, as well I believe NATO ( please don’t quote me as I’ve read a million stories here this morning) has also squashed the idea.

This leaves Obama “literally” on his own, as actions against Syria under these conditions would now put “HIM” in breach and violation of International Law.

I’m trying my best to wrap my head around a scenario where this quack shoots “unauthorized missiles” at a country where “proof of wrong doing” is still just a “headline in U.S news” , and then plans to sit around a table with other world leaders at the G20 in Russia  – just a few days later.

If this Bashar al – Assad guy is a nut bar, then we’d better create another category of “nut bars” for Obama.

You’d have to be out of your mind to do something like this – absolutely out of your mind.

My Readers -Thank You For This

Forex Kong 1 Comment

If the age-old saying that “idle hands are the devils workshop” holds any truth, I imagine myself a “shoo in” for the lead role should anyone ever take it to the big screen. As a boy I usually managed to get my school work done quite quickly, spending the majority of my time “pestering the hell” out of anyone within reach.

I was bored.

I didn’t know I was bored. Only that, with little else filling my time I “always” seemed to be “reaching out” ( he he he…. ) looking for something else to occupy my mind. For the most part this usually just meant “getting into trouble”.

These days ( dare I say ) little has changed.

I don’t “do well” when I’ve got nothing to do, and considering that I’ve been more or less “out in the jungle” some 15 years now – a number of other factors have also come into play.

“Survival” is generally not something that most people consider day-to-day.

Safe n sound in the daily grind, most people “may” see the odd “touch n go situation” in their lives ( if any ), and that likely wouldn’t include hanging their asses and entire life’s worth/savings on the line DAILY – choosing to “trade forex” as a means to get by.

Some might say it’s crazy….but for me “anything less crazy” would likely have me “well down the path” with our “pointy tailed friend in the red suit”………….and we don’t want that.

I want to thank everyone who reads here, and that contributes here.

This blog has become a significant part of my daily life – a good part of my life.

Thank you for this.

Kong……strong.