If Central Banks Are Cutting Rates, Someone Forgot To Tell USD/CHF

With the coronavirus running amuck causing fears of a stalled world economy for Q1 and possibly even Q2, there has been talk of possible rate cuts by central banks around the globe, including the Federal Reserve. Although many have questioned how this will help people get back on planes and cruise ships, stock markets are taking this as a positive signal. Over the last 10 years or so, bad news is good, as the Fed has been there as a backstop to falling stock markets.

If talk of central banks cutting rates is positive, someone forgot to tell USD/CHF, as the flight to safety seems to be in full effect. Granted, Manufacturing PMI for Feb from Switzerland did come out to better at 49.5 vs. 48.1 expected and 47.8 last, however the PMIs are not the driver of markets these days. The Swiss Franc has always been a flight to safety currency and as a result, it is still going bid (USD/CHF lower).

On the daily timeframe, USD/CHF moved lower in December to the target of the double top near .9662. Price then traded sideways through January, before bouncing to resistance and the neckline of the double top and the 200-day moving average near .9850. As stocks sold off in mid-February, so too did USD/CHF, as traders sought to move out of stocks and into the Swiss Franc. The pair currently is trading near horizontal support at .9550, which is the September 18, 2019 lows. Bulls may be looking to buy near here, with stops below the September lows.

Daily USD/CHF Daily USD/CHFSource: Tradingview, FOREX.com

On a 240-minute timeframe, the lows also coincide with the 127.2% extension from the low in early February to the highs at .9850. The RSI is diverging slightly, which may allow the pair to stay around there as the RSI winds. Horizontal resistance near .9615/30. Bears will look to sell bounce near this level. Support is at the 161.8% Fibonacci extension from the same time period, near .9430, which is also within a band of support on the daily timeframe.

4-Hour USD/CHF 4-Hour USD/CHFSource: Tradingview, FOREX.com

Whether or not central banks decide to cut rates in response to a slowdown from the coronavirus, it still seems as if not all market participants think it will help. We are still seeing the flight to safety trade in USD/CHF.