Intraday Strategies for Beginner Traders on February 17

[Ben Graham]

The holiday in the U.S. helped the American dollar rise against risk assets, including against the euro and the British pound.

Today, many reports are expected to be released in the first half of the day. Data on the consumer price index (CPI) in Germany, the ZEW Economic Sentiment Index for Germany, and a similar report for the Eurozone are expected. These key indicators can significantly impact the dynamics of the euro.

The CPI for Germany in January will serve as a barometer of inflationary expectations in the Eurozone's largest economy. Analysts forecast a month-on-month increase of 0.1%, which likely won't fuel speculation about the European Central Bank's future policies, so traders may overlook this data. Concurrently, the ZEW Economic Sentiment Index for Germany will be released—a leading indicator reflecting investor and analyst expectations. The current consensus suggests a value of about 65 points. Positive dynamics signal a recovery in confidence in the business environment, which will lead to euro purchases.

Completing the trio is the overall ZEW for the Eurozone, where a moderate increase to 45.2 points is expected. This indicator aggregates data from key countries to provide a panorama of regional prospects.

Regarding the British pound, traders will focus on labor market data in the first half of the day. Changes in unemployment benefit claims, the unemployment rate, and average earnings dynamics are expected. These indicators will serve as a litmus test for assessing the resilience of the British economy amid challenges and persistently high inflation, and for determining the trajectory of the British pound and Bank of England policy.

Strong reports could strengthen the pound; weak data may lead to a decline and a flight to safe assets.

If the data meet economists' expectations, it is better to act based on the Mean Reversion strategy. If the data turns out to be significantly higher or lower than economists' expectations, the Momentum strategy is advisable.

Momentum Strategy (Breakout):

For the EUR/USD Pair:

• Buying on a breakout above 1.1863 may lead to an increase in the euro towards 1.1889 and 1.1925;
• Selling on a breakout below 1.1835 may lead to a decline in the euro towards 1.1804 and 1.1770;

For the GBP/USD Pair:

• Buying on a breakout above 1.3620 may lead to an increase in the pound towards 1.3645 and 1.3667;
• Selling on a breakout below 1.3600 may lead to a decline in the pound towards 1.3575 and 1.3545;

For the USD/JPY Pair:

• Buying on a breakout above 153.15 may lead to a rise in the dollar towards 153.55 and 154.07;
• Selling on a breakout below 152.85 may lead to a sell-off in the dollar towards 152.47 and 152.10;

Mean Reversion Strategy (Return):

For the EUR/USD Pair:

• Look for short positions after a failed breakout above 1.1849 on a return below this level;
• Look for long positions after a failed breakout below 1.1835 on a return to this level;

For the GBP/USD Pair:

• Look for shorts after a failed breakout above 1.3625 on a return below this level;
• Look for longs after a failed breakout below 1.3596 on a return to this level;

For the AUD/USD Pair:

• Look for shorts after a failed breakout above 0.7082 on a return below this level;
• Look for longs after a failed breakout below 0.7050 on a return to this level;

For the USD/CAD Pair:

• Look for shorts after a failed breakout above 1.3649 on a return below this level;
• Look for longs after a failed breakout below 1.3626 on a return to this level;

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company - www.instaforex.com